Will he show up again today?

[Seline POV]

"The only reason I got the job..." I brought a cigarette pack out, removed one as I lit it up, taking a long drag. He had just left. The mayor. But he was sure to be back for more information. I still wonder what was happening, the presence of too many warlocks. I wanted answers, and maybe, just maybe, the answers I seek will help me out in forgetting—or just taking my mind off him, Austin.

I took another drag before heaving a sigh, making my way back in, even though I still wanted to stay outside some bit more just to avoid his sight. I guess that won't be possible now, would it?

The music echoing in welcomed me back, with the words exchanged between each pedestrian.

I returned back to the bartender seat, attending to some of the customers. As I served the wines, still I wondered when he would be back. Lysander. The scene I had witnessed the other time, it told me something and went on. But at least I wasn't involved in whatever was happening.

The night hours came faster than I had expected. The bar was now empty. As all that remained was me and the silence that filled the room. After tidying some parts of the bar, I made my way outside, returning back to my apartment. Arriving at my doorstep, I paused.

"No… let me go… just let me go…" I heard Mom's screams coming from inside.

"Mom…" a whisper escaping my mouth as I acted, my hands reaching for the handle, one that I twisted, opening the door. I made my way inside in a hastened footing.

"is she in danger? The panther shifters? The loan shark thugs?" I kept on wondering who this could be. Even with no answers, my legs never ceased from running towards my mom's room. I didn't waste a single sec before slamming the door open.

"Mom!" I called out my mom's name, but I didn't find any sign of the enemy—only my mom seated there, hands cradling her head as she kept on screaming, "Let me go!"

Still, I rushed to her side.

"Are you okay, Mom? What happened?" I asked. Only for a push from my mom to cause me to land on the ground, my skin grazing the floor as it left a sharp pain exploding in all my veins.

"Stay away from me. Don't come any closer, you devil!" she shouted.

So much hatred she had harbored toward me. Still, I hoped for the day when that would all vanish. But would that day ever exist?

I tried managing a stance back. Mom's breath ragged and rough as she grasped harder. I could tell her sickness was getting more serious than I had imagined.

I reached for her before she lost consciousness and almost collapsed.

My grasp remained on her for a while as I helped her to lay on the bed, not taking a single glance away from her.

"Is this all I can do?" The drugs wouldn't be able to hold my mom any longer. She needed good treatment, and that would only be offered by one of the best medical spots in the town—but would that even be possible with my current financial stage? Working on multiple job, now I wondered, if it would really help me out with this?

I left my mom's room after, returning to the living room. As I laid on the couch.

I let out a breath, the denial fact hitting me that it was possible everything might not be alright. But even so…I can't give up.

I closed my eyes slowly as everything went blank.

"Seline! I'm coming, I'm going to catch you!" A gesture filled the air. I was being chased. No, this wasn't a nightmare. I was smiling. Happy for the first time in a long while. The kid I was playing with—I found it hard placing his figure into proper view. Just then I fell—only to find myself waking up from my slumber.

Most of my dreams had been nightmares. Some of me losing my mom. Some of the painful memories I had wanted to forget so much but still haunt me.

"When was this, and who was the kid?" I wondered about that.

My gaze went to the clock as I checked the time. It was already close to the morning hour. So I decided to prepare for work more early than my schedule. As I made do with the little foodstuff I had at home.

I sat down eating breakfast after bathing and dressing for work. Done with that, I made my way back to my mom's room. A last glance back at her as I placed her breakfast nearby.

A smile played on my lips as I left for the day. But today I wasn't starting work at Flora's place. I had a night shift there today. It was more like a midnight shift. I may not be back home early, and it would surely leave some strain on me, but I was sure I could handle that. I had to.

I made my way outside the apartment as I walked through the street.

"Will he show up again today?" Austin. I only hoped not.

It didn't take that long before I arrived, standing right in front of the bar. I let out a sigh before making my way in.

My eyes left a scan round. "He wasn't here; Austin," I thought. As I sat at the bartender seat, it seemed like the normal usual days. But Lysander—he didn't come today either.

"Seems you came early today, Seline," a voice drew my attention back to Jade. She also worked at the bar with me. But what was she doing here? It wasn't yet her shift.

"The boss told me to switch places with Lysander. Seems that fool got himself in a whole lot of trouble now," Jade chuckled slightly. "So now seems we get to stick together for a while. How about that?"

This wasn't something I had a choice in. Between Lysander and Jade, they both were quite the same. But I will say—Jade had the most hatred towards me. I could feel it in those fake smiles.

"Alright," I said as she smiled, making her way to the bartender seat also.

Some customers showed up as we both served them drinks. And just like then, I watched some of the shifters gathered together for some information.

But a word from one of them caught my attention.

"Seems a lot of warlocks have been showing up lately in town."

This only made me recall the mayor's words.

"I will take this to the table, Jade," I said, taking the tray of wines. Jade wanted to serve at the table—the same one that caught my attention. She didn't let go at first, her eyes trying to wonder why I would say that. But in the end, she replied,

"Alright," handing over the tray to me.

As I made my way to the table serving them the wine. I should be returning back to the bartender seat. But I remained lingering—not close but not far either. Just enough for me to hear what they were saying.

"Could they be up to something?" I heard one of them say.

"No. I'm sure this must be because of the upcoming festival," another whispered.

But whatever reason it was, I had to figure that out.

After staying for a while and hearing what they wanted to say, I decided to return back to work. The night hours had come much faster than I had expected. I went outside for a breath. It was almost time for me to leave and go to Flora's restaurant.

I could feel a strain on my shoulder. My legs heavy. But even so, I kept telling myself, "I can do this." I knew I can and would no matter what.

I brought out a cigarette, only to find myself leaving a long gaze on it.

"Are you alright?" he had asked when we met. Just like then, I was outside also.

I felt the cold wind blow past me, a tingling feeling on my skin.

"I should forget it." Remembering him only seemed to leave more scars on my wound—ones that ache and pained a lot.

The bar still had a few customers. Some were Austin's pack members.

"Seline!" I heard my name being called back inside, but this voice—it was Jade. I only wonder why she was calling me. Couldn't she handle serving the rest of the customer drinks?

I placed the cigarette pack back inside my pocket as I made my way inside the club. But what welcomed me left a stun.

Words clashing at each other. Fangs ready to strike as I watched two packs facing each other.

What had happened?

One of the packs was Austin's. While the other one—I had little idea who their alpha was. They seemed like the new pack I'd caught sight of. The ones that recently arrived in town. To think they would engage in a fight so early on their arrival...

The bar guards already had their presence available.

I approached Jade's side.

"What happened here, Jade?" I asked her, hoping for a clearer explanation.

"I have little idea. Seems like an argument between the two packs," she said.

But that little wasn't much of a help. Still, I had to intervene. I expected Austin's pack to know the rules that run the bar—ones they mustn't break. The new packs might not.

I made my way to the two packs, eyes locked at each other as I could feel the tension in the air. They were really ready to attack now, weren't they?

Given one of the rules of the bar, whenever such fight had broken out, I had to intervene and call for each of the packs' alpha. Even though the last thing I wanted was to have myself dealing with him—Austin. Should I say fate was mocking me? Or it was just the curse of us living in the same town?

I ended the fight, intervening. I was sure it was temporary. The guards remained watchful on them as I had their alpha called, hoping they could settle this out.

I'm sure Zane must have found out about the fight. But just as always, I was the one to clean up the mess, while he only shows up when it truly matters to him.

I waited for a while, hoping for their arrival—fast, at the very least. My eyes checking the time on the wall. I had to leave soon or would possibly be late back at Flora's father's restaurant. I was still a new worker. Wouldn't want to leave a bad impression.

"You must be Seline, am I right?" a voice drew my gaze to the stranger that had just spoken, his eyes gleaming.

He was striking—tall and relaxed in posture, with a defined jawline and tousled dark hair that fell just above his eyes. His skin had a warm, olive tone, and there was an ease in his smile that made it feel like he belonged to no trouble, yet somehow commanded attention. The sleeves of his shirt were slightly rolled up, revealing strong, veined arms.

But what was wrong with me? I shouldn't be glaring in such a way. I told him about the situation, and he merely apologized as he walked up to his pack, having a discussion with them. They heeded with a nod, even though I had little idea what he had told them. His pack members made their way outside the club, saying they would wait for his presence.

Then I watched him, the same alpha, approach me again—this time requesting for a drink. I had little time, but still couldn't leave until Austin showed up. Jade had already left. I served him a glass of wine, one that he gently took a sip from.

"I am Loyd. Alpha Loyd," he introduced, stretching his hand for a handshake. I resisted for a while before shaking it.

"Seline," I replied, even though he already knew that. My gaze darted back at the door. "When is he going to come?" I wondered.

Only for me to catch Loyd's eyes on me—a smile playing on his lips. I couldn't tell much from his appearance.

"You must be a warlock, if I'm right," he said, his words leaving a stun in me.

How did he know that? But still, he was wrong in a way.

"Half warlock, half lycan," I replied.

As a silence filled the room after—just as I expected—the same expression I received from everybody. Or so I expected, only for me to watch those smiles playing on his lips widen, as though he was happy to hear that.

"I have heard tales and searched for your kind. How lucky I am to finally bask in such wonders," he said. I couldn't tell if those were meant to be bluffs, but something in me said he was telling the truth.

"It's a pleasure, I must say," he added.

I wasn't sure of what to leave as a response, as all I could do was stand right there.

"Wish to become friends? I mean, I surely need one to tell me more about this new town. And show me around."

I still didn't answer, hesitating for a longer while.

"Alright," those words eventually escaped my lips before I could think about them.

He was the first not to hate the fact that I was a hybrid. Nor despise me. He gestured, happy. And somehow, his presence left a calm atmosphere, allowing—just for that second—to forget everything. All the pains that had swollen in my chest, the scars that never wanted to leave.

He then raised a toast. But I asked why.

"A celebration, of course. An end to my search. A new friend," he then leaned in closer, whispering in my ears. "A beautiful one, I must say."

"Seline!" Those words echoed, followed by a slam on the door, as Loyd withdrew a bit. My gaze landed on Austin standing there. He was finally here. But I could see the way his hands tightened in a fist, his clenched jaws, narrowed eyes—a fury that flashed through.

I didn't have to see him properly before I could feel that anger radiating from him.