Chapter 75 Stranger
ADRIANA
The car eventually slowed down at a small and somewhat tattered-looking house at the far end of a quiet street.
“Hi Mrs. Neil.” Hazel knocked on the front door.
When there was no answer, she turned to me.
“She has OCD, so things are done a bit differently here.”
My brows furrowed. “Isn’t that like being obsessed with cleaning or things like that?”
She shook her head.
“No, it means this.”
She raised her hand to knock again.
“Hi Mrs. Neil.”
And again.
“Hi Mrs. Neil.”
After the fourth time, the door suddenly opened and an elderly woman stood in the doorway. Her bright orange hair caught my eyes first, contrasted by her beautiful green eyes that sparkled with warmth.
“Beta, I’ve been expecting you. Come in, come in.”
As she walked away, Hazel gave me the explanation I’d been waiting for.
“Things have to be done in fours or else she feels bad things would happen to her or the people around her.”
Wow, that was… something.
We entered the house and I was completely blown away. The first thing I noticed was how everything was grouped in four sets throughout the entire space.
Four chairs arranged neatly. Four flower pots on the windowsill. Four pictures on the wall in perfect alignment.
She came from the kitchen, holding a tray that held coffee and biscuits for us. They smelled freshly baked and absolutely delicious.
“Who’s this lovely lady with you today?”
I stopped looking at her house like a creep and smiled. She called me lovely.
“This is Adriana. She’s new to the pack.”
A look of realization crossed her face.
“Oh, she’s the one people call the outsider. You’re very welcome to our pack, dear.”
I was expecting her to give a side comment about me being an outsider, but she didn’t. That was refreshingly new.
“Thank you, you have a lovely home.”
She looked around it just as I’d done a few minutes before.
“Oh please, call a spade a spade. It’s weird and I know it.”
“No, it’s unique and beautiful in its own way.”
She was a colorful person, that was obvious from everything around us. There were beautiful flowers at almost every corner of the house, it was impeccably neat and it felt warm and welcoming, like a real home.
“Thank you, dear. I’m guessing you’re here to pick up the Alpha’s fruits. Right this way.”
She stood up and Hazel followed suit immediately.
“I’ll be back in just a moment.”
“Shouldn’t I come with you? Oh no, stay and enjoy your coffee and biscuits.”
I gave her a look but stayed seated, enjoying the peaceful silence while looking around the house. If I ever got to live alone, I would really like to have a house like this.
It felt so peaceful and warm. No wonder she was such a lovely lady. Her house portrayed it perfectly.
I started hearing screams from outside and at first, I wanted to ignore it, but when they got louder and more distressed, I had to stand up and go to the window to see what was going on.
My eyes widened when I saw the scene before me and I rushed outside without thinking.
“Wait! Wait! What do you think you’re doing?”
The group of teenagers stopped to look at me with confused expressions.
“And who do you think you are?” One of them snared at me.
“That doesn’t matter. What did that boy do for you to beat him up like this?”
I looked at the boy on the floor who appeared to be covered in blood.
“We’re rehearsing for our school play. It’s not real blood. It’s ketchup.”
I felt so incredibly stupid.
“Oh, sorry for disturbing you all. Please carry on.”
I wanted the ground to open and swallow me whole. I started taking steps backward when I bumped into someone solid.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” A deep voice said.
“No, it’s fine.” I paused and looked up at the stranger with such a heavenly voice.
Obviously very much taller than me, I looked up at this blue eyed stranger whose dark hair fell over his face in an attractive way.
“I’m Luke. I saw what you did back there. It was really nice of you.”
He saw that? How embarrassing.
“Oh, it was stupid. I just thought that he was in real trouble and that was why I intervened. I should have assessed the situation properly first.”
He laughed and my eyes dropped down to his lips. They looked so soft.
“No, it wasn’t stupid at all. It just showed that you really care for people. Only a good person would do that. Look around you, do you see anyone else who wanted to step up?”
Who was this man?
“Anyways, what is your name?”
I had to snap myself out of my daydream to answer the question.
“Adriana.”
He stretched his hand out and I gently took it, feeling unexpected warmth spread through my arm.
“Adri. What a beautiful name.”
For some reason, I didn’t like him calling me that shortened version. Only Elijah and Hazel called me by nicknames and I didn’t mind when they did it.
“No please, just Adriana. Are you from around here?”
He hesitated before answering.
“Yes actually, I am. And—”
“Adriana!” I heard Hazel calling for me from back at the house.
That was when I realized that I had actually turned the corner in my bid to be a superhero and rescue someone.
“I have to go meet my friend now. I’ll see you later.”
I didn’t even know who he was and I was already planning on seeing him later? Have you learned nothing, Adriana? Following handsome men around. He could be a serial killer for all you know.
“I’ll walk you back.”
I wanted to protest but he was already moving in that direction.
I could see the look on Hazel’s face when we rounded the corner. She looked so worried at first, then her expression changed.
“Where were—” she stopped short when she saw Luke behind me.
“Um, I kind of ran into a situation I wasn’t supposed to. It was so embarrassing. Anyways, this is Luke.”
She looked at him for a long moment and nodded curtly.
She didn’t seem awestruck by him like I was. She didn’t even really look at him when she responded to his greeting.
“Let’s get going, Adriana. The car won’t start so we have to carry these boxes home.”
She walked away and I turned to Luke apologetically.
“Goodbye.”
“Oh, wait. Can I help carry them?” he asked.
I looked at Hazel for an answer.
“Don’t you have anything better to do with your time?”
I’d never seen her like this before. It was obvious she didn’t like him for some reason.
He laughed though, seemingly unbothered.
“Not exactly.”
“Of course you don’t.” It was a mumble but I heard it clearly.
So that was how Luke ended up following us home. If only I knew the trouble that awaited me.