Nothing but a lowlife

[Seline's POV ]

'You are nothing but a lowlife. A poor girl barely trying to treat her sick mother.' It had been two days already, but those words echoed in my head. That night, I had cried my eyes out, hitting my hand against the wall. 'This wasn't like me.' Was that how it felt, being rejected by your mate? Tossed and seen like nothing—many people had told me that countless times. I cared less; I always walked out without a single word, without a single falter in my expression.

This was the same word that Austin had said, so why does it hurt so much coming from him?

My mom's condition had worsened in these days; her cough persisted. I wanted to help out, but the words were true in the end, weren't they? Even after all I had done, I still wasn't able to take care of Mom, nor help with her treatment. 'I can't lose her,' I said.

Even with all they had spread, with many looking down on me, I couldn't give up now. 'I will help with the treatment,' I won't stop until my mom was all better. The loan sharks would surely be preying soon; they were merciless when the due loan passed.

So, I finally decided on what I had thought for a while, and now here I found myself in one of the restaurants. "Auguste's Restaurant"—it was one of the best in Arrow Brooke.

I made my way in; my job had begun today. I signed up for a work shift, giving me time to return to my job at the bar when my break was over.

"Oh, you are here, Seline!" Flora gestured with a smile playing on her face. Getting a job here was all thanks to her. Flora worked here, and the owner of the restaurant was her father himself. They were both humans, but still, even with all the criticism roaming around, the restaurant had really stood its ground and was still the best, one that all the travelers branched for some delightful food to fill their appetite.

Flora was the next in line to be the owner; sometimes I found myself listening to all her words—the same human friend I was wary of, the same one I wasn't sure whether to call a friend. Yet, I had always loved her company. Back then, I never knew we had already turned friends.

Well, she was the least who cared about me being a hybrid, but maybe because she was human in the end.

I wore the waitress's dress, giving my job at the bar a break. Flora thought, a waiter would be the best role to give me here, because of my experience in the bar.

The restaurant grew busier earlier than I had thought. I made my way, taking the customers' orders, which I let the chef in the kitchen know about before they had it dished out. And when it was afternoon, I had to leave for the bar immediately, so I was watching the time while I kept taking the orders.

"Take this to table 18," the chef said, giving me the dish. I arrived at the table only to find out it was them. I had recognized them from the bar; they were members of Austin's pack. There was no doubt I had sighted them that night, also, when I had confronted Austin.

I tried taking a breath, laying the food on the desk. They said no words; they had seen me with their Alpha the other time, so I thought I would expect some questions from them. "Thanks for the meal," one of them simply said, and I gave a nod, hoping to make my way and leave the place. "Wait," a voice caused my legs to halt in the moment, as I turned, watching one of them take to his feet. "Can we get a bottle of water, please?" he said, as I exhaled a breath I never knew I had been holding.

Why was I even feeling this way? It was a question I wasn't able to answer. Something about them didn't quite fit in, did it? Even after Austin's words and rejection, I couldn't bring myself to hate him. I should despise him at the moment. I wanted to rip out my heart that even after everything, still hoped for a chance, maybe things would change, and he would be back. That was long gone, so why "the bond"? I mated to the man who never wanted to look me in the eyes?

Now gazing at these men, the presence they left, I could sense it—they were bad news. And a side of me hoped they wouldn't find out.

"Alright," I replied, taking my leave as I made my way to the kitchen backdoor. I stepped outside, letting out more heavy breaths.

My hand curled into a fist; my eyes swollen.

"Seline," I heard my name being called, as I turned to notice Flora, who I had little idea when she had followed me.

"What are you doing out here?" she asked, but I merely managed a smile in those moments. "Nothing, Flora, just needed a breath," I said, as she approached my side. "Is this about Austin?"

Was I to reply yes? Even I wasn't sure why I felt this way. The sudden changes in my mood whenever I thought about him. I was scared of the presence those men had, and now I was here questioning why I had to find myself mated to Austin. His words kept on hunting and hurting me more than I had imagined.

"This is about him, right?" I still left no response, but Flora already knew. "If he was your mate and true love, Seline, I believe he would have never hurt you and said all those words that night," Flora said.

"But still, why does my heart feel this way? Why does it hurt so much?"

The truth was that I had decided to do multiple jobs together, not only because I needed the money for Mom's illness and to pay some fees. One of the reasons was to forget everything about him, Austin, but that alone I still found hard to do.

I felt Flora's hand warm on my cheek, wiping the little tears I had no idea had trailed down my cheek, as we both hugged; she didn't let a word out, allowing silence to echoe between us.

The afternoon hours came, and as signed, I was done with my shift at Flora's father's restaurant. I made my way, hoping to arrive as fast as I could back at the Bar. I took one of the shortcuts as I arrived there in no time, but I paused on getting close to the entrance, standing right there were two of the guards.

As Lysander knelt there, his head bowed on the ground, "P-Please, boss, I wasn't the one," he pleaded. Standing in front of him was Zane, a sly grin playing on his face. His feet stomped on Lysander's head, slamming it harder into the ground. "So, did you think you could have really outsmarted me, Lysander?" Zane said, and for a moment, his expression darkened. "Those who do that don't live to tell." They were meant for a whisper, but I was still able to hear. My legs frozen on the same spot as all I could do was watch, clueless of what had happened. Was I possibly involved? I could only have that thought since it was Lysander.

Just then, Zane noticed my presence, my breath skipping for a second as I watched him check the time on his wristwatch. "You are late today, Seline," I heard him say, his gaze back at me. He then took further steps approaching me.

As my steps backed a little, he was standing close, too close. His eyes narrowed, as I wondered what he was planning to do this time. Then he smiled. "I guess I will let this go for now." He whispered, as he leaned in close to my ears. "I have some business with Lysander. Doubt he would be back after. Sure you can handle things alone in the club?" Zane withdrew back after, his face didn't fit his words. He turned back at the two guards. "Bring him to my office." Zane said, as the guards gave a nod, grabbing Lysander. "No...no...please, boss," Lysander pleaded, but his words were silenced by a fist crushing his mouth.

He was forced away, while i remained there, still in the same spot. "What happened?"

I made my way back inside the bar, the loud buzz of music and glass clinking in the air welcoming me.

Returning to the bartender seat, my eyes scanned the whole place. "A wine, sexy," one of the men said.

I left no response, pouring a wine in a glass as he gulped it up in a single wince. "Not bad," he said. "But I'm sure you have something tastier than this...you."

He may be drunk, but I knew he wouldn't be stupid enough to let the words out or try and force me to agree. He left with no further words since i didn't give a response. I found myself checking each one of the men seated. I mean, the panther shifters the other time, what if another man was sent this time? It felt like everybody present was looking at me now. Was this just my imagination, or was this real?

I tried avoiding everyone's gaze, resuming my work. "Sure is a lovely day today, now isn't it, Seline?" That voice, without a doubt, I knew It was him, the Mayor of Arrow Brooke. "A glass of my regular," he said. The Mayor was a regular customer in the bar. "Seems you are here again," I gestured as he chuckled softly. "I guess the Mayor also needs some moments to cool up."

The Mayor and I weren't close; no, that was never in the circle. "Tell me, Seline, you notice anything stranger in town? I mean, I feel so..." He said, gulping up the glass of wine. I didn't leave a response at first, helping in pouring another in the cup. "You mean the presence of too many warlocks in town?"

That was something I also noticed. Having this many here in Arrow Brooke wasn't that common, so it was quite strange, and I couldn't but stand curious about what was going on and why many had shown up. "Seems your eyes are really sharp on that," the Mayor said. This time, I poured another wine in a glass, but gulped the whole myself. "Isn't that why you hired me in the first place?"

The Mayor's expression changed after his eyes checked his left and right. "Care for a little chat outside?" He said, and I gave a nod. The Mayor made his way outside the bar after. I waited for some minutes before making my way, but just then, my gaze caught sight of him, Austin, seated with some of his pack members. Our eyes met for the moment. "Why was he here?" I couldn't but ask myself that again. The last I wanted was seeing him again, wanting to escape the thoughts of him being my mate.

He always showed up here in the past two days. Even after everything, he acts like we never met. Like I never existed. And he just did that again, returning his gaze back at a man and woman seated in front of him as they discussed. I remained there, my eyes not off him, not taking any steps, only staring.

Sometimes he would order for wines, and I had to request the others to serve him for me. I also wanted to avoid him, try and forget everything. He as already, so why was it so hard for me to do that?

Taking a breath, I made my way outside the bar with the Mayor already awaiting my presence at a side. "So, tell me, Seline. What information do you have for me this time?" He asked.

This was one of the reasons I found a job in this bar. I wasn't merely picked by the owner. The Mayor had helped me, working his way, and he wanted something in return. The bar was the best place to find information, after all, so he needed me to act as his eyes and ears in the bar and find out things that would be of help to him.