VALERIE'S POV
"You don't expect me to sit there and do nothing, right? Why should we bear it? They have been coming regularly and causing chaos in the cafe," I sighed.
"Things are like this when I am here. Tomorrow, I will be leaving for a three-day trip. How will you guys manage that? Even Mr. Bodyguard isn’t here," I looked at the manager and my co-worker, who pressed their lips into thin lines, making me sigh.
"I know you are angry, Valerie, but we have to stay quiet. I know it’s anguishing, but this is how it works. They are influential. We can't afford to go against them. Nothing will happen to this cafe, but our lives will be in danger. They have connections around here," The manager tried to hush me, and I looked at those jerks in pure annoyance. I could see the fear in my co-worker's eyes.
This wasn't good. Why should we live in fear? They are wrong here.
"I will handle this. If something happens, it would be to me, but I won't allow these jerks to make our female customers uncomfortable," I looked at the manager sternly before nodding at my co-worker.
It was already evening, and the rush was comparatively low in the cafe.
This is when most office ladies visit the cafe after a hectic day. I won’t let these drunk cowards make them uncomfortable by passing useless comments.
Even after being warned multiple times, they are not stopping. It's getting on my nerves. The only reason the manager won’t do anything is that one of the boys here is the son of a mayor in the city.
Hell, if I care about that.
Walking to the bunch of jerks, I stopped at their table before looking at those ladies.
"You don't need to worry, mam. They won't be able to do anything," I smiled, and they nodded gratefully, making me look back at the cowards.
"Sir, we would appreciate it if you don't make others uncomfortable. This is a cafe, not a pub. We all are trying to have a peaceful evening here," I bowed respectfully.
"Damn, where did this b*tch come from? Make others uncomfortable? You are making me uncomfortable," one of the boys stood, and I was about to show him his place when one of his friends held the boy's hand and pulled him down.
"We are sorry, miss. It won’t be repeated," He nodded at me, and I smiled.
"You are really fearless. Where did you - Valerie!" My coworker shouted in fear, and I looked into the glass in front of me and noticed a boy raising a beer bottle at me.
I was about to dodge the bottle because I knew I won't be able to hit him back, but before I could do that, I heard an agonizing sound in the cafe before the sounds of things crashing echoed.
I turned around in shock to see what happened, and seeing the scene, I widened my eyes.
"Was he troubling you, miss?" He asked with an intense gaze, and I looked at his hand pressing the boy's face on the table.
I know he wasn't even using any strength. If he would, this boy's head would crush like a watermelon.
"What the hell, man? Hey!" The boys stood from their places and tried to attack him, but before they could even touch him, he beat them all up, not breaking his eye contact with me for a second.
He threw the last boy on the ground like a sack of potatoes before walking to me, his gaze freezing me in my place.
"Are you okay?" He cupped my face, and I looked at the mess he created before looking back into his gray eyes, which looked full of concern.
After Logan, this alpha is the first person who fought a human just to protect me.
Beating humans was considered rule-breaking in our werewolf world because they were considered not to be messed with.
This alpha broke rules for me? What was he trying to do? Doesn't he know he can get some serious warning from the council? What will he say? He was trying to save a rogue?
"I will throw these boys out, sir," the manager immediately went into work mode as he asked someone to pull the boys out.
"Miss Valerie?" The alpha asked me again, and I came back to my senses.
"Yeah, I am fine," I stepped back before looking around at everyone, who was looking at us with confused and curious gazes.
"Thank you so much for helping us, sir. What can I get you? It will be on the house," I asked to keep it professional, and he smiled softly, making my heart skip a beat.
"Your recommendation for an order and your five minutes, please?" He said, and I nodded absentmindedly before going back to the counter.
"Geez, how do you know the owner, Valerie?" The manager gushed as soon as he returned.
"I... I know him from the University. He is the inspection officer," I nodded, and the amused look on the alpha’s face told me he heard me very clearly, making me look away in embarrassment.
I can't exactly tell them that he was like a dog while I am a cat. I mean, we both are wolves, but he is the good and powerful one, while I am considered as bad, and he is like my hunter or someone who would want to keep me in line.
"You go and ask what he wants to talk to you about. I am sure it's about the university. You don't know how busy he is. He owns 12 major companies here and employs more than 2 lakh people in this state. Maybe you can make a little of his work easy," The manager said, and I looked at the alpha busy on his laptop now.
Now that the manager has mentioned it, I could see how stressed this alpha looked. I am sure he is tired.
If he was tired, why did he come here? He should've gone home. Well, it's not like it's my position to ask.
I walked to him with his order before sitting in front of him.
"Your coffee and five minutes," I said, and he nodded before looking at me.
His gaze, like always, was intense and full of emotions. Like he was trying to figure out some kind of maze.
"Are you not going to start talking?" I asked after two minutes, and he smiled.
"I just wanted to see you. It was a rough day," He said before he drank his coffee in a single go and left after three minutes, leaving me flabbergasted.
What is this man's deal seriously? He can't just come and make my heart flutter like this. Who does he think he is? I clenched my teeth before standing and taking my stuff.
My shift was over anyway. I hope I can have a relaxing trip. I sighed, walking back to my apartment.
As I rounded the corner, I sensed someone's presence near me, and I immediately placed my hand on my dagger.
I don't sense any werewolves around me. Maybe it's just some human. This weird feeling of being stalked randomly will make me go crazy one day. I told myself, rushing to my apartment and locking the door nonetheless.
After two days~~~~~~
"It was fun. I wish it could be longer," Eve pouted her lips, and Monty looked at her. I noticed how Eve started blushing.
I am sure something happened between them when Eve had gotten lost in the woods for an hour, and Monty found her. Maybe he confessed his feelings or something.
Anyways, it's their private matter. I shrugged before walking inside the building, bumping into someone.
"Easy there, sweetheart," I looked up at the man behind this deep masculine voice.
Sweetheart? Is it normal for people to randomly assign nicknames here?
Who was this man? I stared into his crystal blue eyes.
This man, why does he feel so familiar? Like a bond or connection? I kept looking at him, and he smiled at me mischievously before walking away and turning around the corner, not before giving me one last look.
He wasn't a human, for sure. I didn't feel the same warmth from him as I feel around humans, but for some reason, he felt like somewhere I would belong. But how can it be possible? Maybe he is a human with zero warmth or a bad past? As much as alluring it was, I can't miss the dread and negative vibes like death and blood he radiated -
"Hello?" I heard someone whisper, and I shook in shock.
"Woah, this is the first. Even Valerie gets startled," Monty commented, and I turned to look at him, my gaze meeting the man standing behind him.
"Well, I see her well-wisher is here. We should take our leaves," Monty said, and I looked at my friends, who betrayed and left me alone in the corridor.
"Hey, wait -" I couldn't complete my words as I felt the alpha's presence behind me.
"Running away from me, sunshine?" He bent and whispered in my ears, and I turned to him with a calm look ( or that's what I believe I had).
"You said you would join the trip," I raised my brows.
"Did someone miss me?" He looked at me, amused, and I scoffed.
"Miss, my ass. I was just curious that you didn't come because of what happened at the cafe and you got an earful from the council or because now I am a possible threat to your reputation. I would like to know if I am the problem here so that I can happily stay away as far as I can," I smiled, and he scoffed before backing me into the wall.
Grabbing my neck, he massaged my chin with his thumb before raising his gaze to me.
"You are the first one who dared to scoff at me multiple times, and I still can't bring myself to be angry at you," his voice was deep. It was as if he was restraining himself before he bent to my eye level.
"And no council has the powers to give me an earful. I didn't come because I didn't want to burden you with my overbearing presence. I thought you could use a little break," He smiled, stepping closer to me and gazing at my lips before he looked back into my eyes.
Placing his thumb over my lips, he bent and kissed his thumb, making my heart go crazy and my eyes as wide as saucers.
"See you during the lecture?" He stood straight before leaving the corridor, and I stood there, confused.
What is with people leaving me like this, all bothered today? First, that mysterious man who God knows is what, then my friends, and now this alpha, who left me all hot and bothered.
I ran my hand through my hair before taking a deep breath to calm my nerves. I can't go inside looking disheveled like this.
After using the restroom to fix my expression, I went to the class, where Mr. Alpha was already waiting for me.
However, rather than sitting in my usual seat, I sat on the last seat in the middle row. I could see his piercing gaze when I placed my bag on the bench, but I was not letting some alpha play with me.