Chapter 127 Recognized In The Noise.
Chapter 122
Jax POV
"Your high…"
Every part of me surged forward before my mind could. I jumped up so abruptly from my chair that it nearly crashed into me. My hand clamped over my mouth , silencing her before a single word could spill into the space between us.
I stunned myself with how fast. I could move, pure instincts like dodging a strike.
How had she recognized me? Because I had disguised putting on an old cloth reeked with beer and dirty.
I had also put on a cap which had perfectly covered my face.
That night, nobody else could recognize me nor looked at me twice as an important figure in the pack.
She saw the shock written all over my face. I had the intention of walking towards her, by slightly tapping her shoulder from behind to properly introduce myself.
But now that was no longer necessary.
"Sh…" I stated, my voice barely above a whisper.
My eyes quickly moved to all the small compartments around me and not too far from us. To be If there were pack members sitting. I didn't want anyone to know anything about me. My heart pounded tremendously when I leaped forward to check the booth behind her and the one across the aisle.
Wolves drinking, chanting, partying and a few of them had drunk to stupor.
"I... I'm sorry..." The utterance narrowly escaped from my lips and muffled itself against my palm. I could feel it. The warmth of her breath against my damp skin.
She quickly reached for my hand, caught up with my wrist and eased my hand away from her lips. Her touch gentle and warm but there lies a quiet strength behind it that caught me off guard
"Where on mother earth have you been?"
Her voice overwhelmed with excitement, like a pup who had found her long lost toy.
Her eyes darted to the ceiling of the building, her pupils dilated rhythmically like some special had glued to it.
Then she bit the tip of her finger, a gesture so innocent and charming it made me smile despite myself.
"Owl..." I quickly cut-in, helping her out before she struggled too long.
"Yeah! Owl!" Her whole face lit up like someone had turned on a lamp behind her eyes. "Where have you been?"
She looked at me as if I was a ghost. Her eyes travelled down from the crown of my head to the soul of my feet.
I looked like some kind of ghost to her. Some kind of angel that had re-appeared from no-where.
Then my clothing caught her attention, from the thick cardigan I had worn with a faded collar . Her eyes too couldn't look away from my fake swollen belly to the cheap pant trouser I had worn. My shoes too had sold me out. Dirt and filth clung on every part of it.
I had to dress this way. It was the only way to come here without being recognized as who I really was. It was necessary for my safety and for my mission. I was sure she understood that. She seemed smart enough to figure it out.
Then she started laughing, not a little giggle or a courteous chuckle, but a deep, genuine laugh that came from her belly and shook her shoulders.
She looked me up and down again, but this time her eyes were different; they were warm and playful, as if we were old friends who hadn't seen each other in years and she was making fun of a poor fashion choice.
It was strange and unexpected; we'd only met once, and it had only lasted a few hours, but the way we spoke to each other felt natural and comfortable, as though we'd known each other for much longer than we actually had.
"You disappeared into thin air that day . Just like that. I searched everywhere for you." She waved her hand in the air with a flourish, like a magician making something vanish in a puff of smoke.
"I know you wouldn't blame me," I said, leaning a bit closer so no one else could hear our conversation. The noise around us was loud, but I wanted to be careful. "I thought you were dead. Remember? I warned you not to go that day. I told you to stay where it was safe. I begged you not to leave. But you didn't listen."
I tried to keep my voice steady and calm, but the memory made my chest feel tight. Like someone was squeezing my lungs. That night had been complete chaos. Blood everywhere. People screaming in terror and pain. The smell of death was thick in the air. I'd looked for her afterward, searched through the aftermath, but found nothing. No trace. No sign she'd ever been there.
"And you didn't bother to come back to check on me," she shot back, her tone playful but with an edge to it. Her eyes locked onto mine, sharp and challenging. Piercing. It felt like her gaze could strip away all my excuses and defenses and see right through to the truth underneath. The real reasons I hadn't returned.
"How... am I..." I threw my hands up in the air, feeling a bit helpless and defensive. "I didn't even know your name! How was I supposed to find you?"
"Sorry for that," she said quickly, cutting me off before I could say more or build up more steam. "I'm Frassie."
"Oh! What a name," I said, trying to sound casual , friendly and normal.
Then something shifted in the air between us. The energy changed. She leaned toward me, getting so close I could smell the sweet scent of whatever perfume she wore. It was light and delicate, like flowers after rain. Fresh
and clean. She brought her lips right up to my ear, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from her skin.