Chapter 54 Running Out of Luck

Chapter 54 Running Out of Luck
Aurelia

Three days among the humans and the urge to run back to OnyxFang was already clawing at me like a living thing. But I wouldn’t dare.
I was wanted, hunted, actually, by the very pack I'd never really belonged to.

Staying low, staying invisible, figuring out what the hell to do with the rest of my life… that was the only goal that mattered now.

I didn’t want to brag, but my looks and body had worked a small miracle.

On the very afternoon I stumbled into the city, I found a restaurant with a sleek neon sign glowing outside: Lia’s Deli-Spot — Now Hiring Female Servers.

I didn't really know what possessed me, or what made me think it would work, but I walked in and told them my name was Lia (hey, it wasn't entirely a lie, my name ended with Lia) and I was running from an abusive ex who wouldn’t leave me alone.

The lie slipped out so easily it almost felt true. I felt guilty, because Zhayad was not abusive, and he was not my ex.

But I couldn't really say we were in a relationship right now, because he'd chosen a clone over me. Zhayad, one of the smartest and most feared Alphas chose a clone over me.

They hired me on the spot. They asked no questions, and they didn't bother with a background check.

I got my uniform that day with strict instructions to resume the next day. It helped that the manager and owner of the restaurant offered to rent out the apartment on the top floor to me for a reasonable amount.

So here I was, the second day on the job, dressed in the tight black skirt and crisp white blouse that made up the waiting uniform. 

A serving tray balanced on one hand, pen tucked behind my ear, moving between tables like I belonged. Was there anywhere that I truly belonged?

The new customer who’d walked in one minute ago hadn’t answered when I asked what he wanted.

I tried twice, politely, professionally, but the dude was glued to his phone, his thumbs flying across the screen.

I still didn’t have one of my own. It was damn too risky. Zhayad could track me with a single call, a single ping.

I wasn’t ready for that yet. I cleared my throat and tried again.

“Hello, here’s our menu. We offer extra cents for anyone who wants to try our premium deli—”

“I’ll have the premium,” he cut in without looking up. “Now can you give me some space? You reek of shifter scent, by the way.”

His eyes finally flicked up, slow, appraising, disgusted.

“Are you one of those girls who lets those wolves fuck them for cash? Because you certainly look the part.”

The words landed like a slap, casual, vicious, and loud enough that heads turned at nearby tables.

I didn’t reply. I couldn’t afford to lose this job on day two. Losing it meant losing the tiny apartment on the top floor of this building, the only safe place I had right now.

I couldn’t risk that. Not when I was still running.
I turned away, swallowing the fire in my throat, the words that wanted to burn him alive.

His hand shot out, his fingers closing around my wrist, twisting just enough to force me back around.

“Answer my fucking question,” he snarled, his voice rising, unbothered by the eyes and heads swiveling our way. “Did you let them fuck you? Because we don’t tolerate werewolf whores around here.”

“With all due respect,” I said, forcing every word through clenched teeth, “kindly release my wrist so I can go get your order.”

I could feel it, the tug deep inside me, my warlock power coiling, begging to be let out, to lash, to burn.

“You’re going nowhere, bitch.”

He rose to his feet, tugging me forward, his other hand roaming, inappropriate, invasive, sliding up my side. “Until you tell me who you really are. You look different… like you’ve been fucked over and over by one of them.”

“Step back from me,” I warned, in a low voice.

I expected someone to intervene, to speak up for me and ask him to stop harassing me.

Not one person lifted a hand.

I didn’t know they could smell it, the faint trace of werewolf DNA on my skin, the ghost of Zhayad’s touch that still lingered no matter how many days I’d been gone.

His roaming hand reached my breast, squeezed roughly and possessively.

Something inside me finally snapped.

I grabbed his arm, twisted hard, and brought my knee up at the same time I forced him to bend, my kneecap slamming into his ribs with a sickening crunch.

He groaned, a loud, pained sound that surprised me because I didn't expect it to hit home like that.

He went staggering backwards, cursing, fumbling for his phone.

“Are you truly a werewolf whore?” a voice asked from behind me, sharp and accusing. “You know we don’t let girls who fuck those creatures live with us.”

I turned. It was one of the other waitresses. Her name still unknown to me, actually, I hadn't tried to memorize it. Her arms were crossed, and her eyes narrowed.

Behind her stood Lia, the manager, her mouth drawn into a thin, furious line. The restaurant had gone quiet.

All eyes were on me.

The man I’d just kneed was still wheezing, clutching his side.

“This bitch just assaulted me!” He accused, pointing at me with one crooked finger.

Lia stepped forward, and spoke in a clipped tone.

“You need to leave. Now.”

I looked around, at the staring faces, at the way no one had stepped in when he grabbed me. The humans weren't any different from the shifters.

My throat tightened with emotion.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. He assaulted me. I was just doing my job and he grabbed my wrist and started touching me. He insulted me on top of it.”

Lia’s eyes flicked to the man, then back to me.

“We don’t want trouble here. Take your things and go.” Her stoic expression matched the look of indifference on her face.

I stared at her, then at the waitress, then at the man still clutching his ribs and smirking through the pain.

My warlock power hummed under my skin. It was still hot and restless, begging to lash out.

But I didn’t let it. Now would be the worst time to use it.

I turned, walked to the back, grabbed my bag and left without another word.

The neon sign outside flickered as I stepped into the street.

Three days. Three days of freedom, and it was already over.

I was alone again, like I'd been before that night of the maiden selection.

I was wanted. Not only that, I was being hunted, too. And running out of places to hide.