The Lycan's Prey

Chapter 3

The sun shone into a small slit in the curtains. I got up frantically looking around when I didn't recognize my surroundings. Panic surged through my entire body as I looked around the unfamiliar room. I approached the window with soft hesitant steps. The town lay peacefully bathed in morning light, its streets bustling with life, triggering the memories of the day before when I drove in with Dutch. I was in the coffee shop Cara ran.

As I stepped out into the hallway after placing on fresh clothes after realizing I'd slept in the ones from yesterday. I dawned some blue jeans and an oversize cream sweater and hurried down stairs. I could hear every conversation before I reached the bottom steps. It was already busy in the coffee shop and a smile graced my lips as I watched how busy the waitresses were walking up and down serving their customers. The aroma of coffee once again fills my nose with the savory scent of pastries also filling the air.

Cara stood behind the counter, her warm smile lighting up the entire room as she greeted and served customers. Her gaze after a while reaches mine as if she could sense my stare and she sports a welcoming grin towards me.

"Well, look who's finally awake." She exclaims rounding the counter and heads straight for me after giving the reigns to a brunette. "Take a seat, dear. I'll fix you something to warm you."

I don't protests as she's gone as quickly as she approached. I seat myself at a cozy corner table, watching the rhythm of the coffee shop play out before me. Conversations hummed like a soothing melody. tune into one of tables where two girls are chatting in hushed whispers, but to me it isn't so hushed.

"Who do you think will win the wood chopping competition this year?" Girl number one says as she leans into to girl number two.

"Lynx of course, that boy has some strength. Have you seen those muscles of his?" Girl number two argues and the two giggle at the thought of this Lynx.

A steaming cup of coffee appeared before me, the rich aroma filling my nostrils. It's been a while since I'd had coffee. I admire the coffee art before I say thank you to Cara as she sits down opposite me. I take a sip of the coffee and almost melt into my seat at the taste. I never knew a taste could make me want to jump and scream at the same time until I took a sip.

"Do you like it?" Cara asks as she watches me closely. I smile at her and wipe away the foam that had settled onto my lips with my tongue.

"It's really good." I say once I managed to take my lips away from the cup enough to even speak. Cara looks at me with amusement as I continue to sip my coffee.

"I'll cut to the chase." She says once every drop from my cup is gone. My attention is fully on her and not cut between her and the delicious coffee I just had. "How long do you think you'll be staying in Half-Away?"

I couldn't be honest with her. I may have to leave late at night if the bounty hunters find me. They shouldn't be far away with their tracking skills. My mate may or may not have led them away but not for long.

"I'm grateful, truly for all the things you and your husband have done so far." I say with a smile to her. I'm mostly stalling as I really don't know what to say. "This place feels like... a new beginning."

It would be a shame to leave so soon. I don't say this part aloud but I think it.

"Half-Away has a way of doing that." She says a smile gracing her lips. I found myself easing into a conversation about the history of the town, unsure of if I really should get involved with day to day life in this town.

"Everyone I've met so far have been nice," Cara listens attentively and laughs at the comment Lynch made about Dutch bringing in strays, like me. Cara soon gets up with the intention of showing me my job as one of her new waitresses. I follow after her and try my best to take in everything she tells me about how to use the cash register. By the time the afternoon sun bathes the coffee shop in its heating glow, I'd already worked a shift and I'm ready to call it a day.

"You did a good job today," Cara says a smile on her face. I return her smile. Before I could reply she'd round the counter towards me. "You should take a look at the town, get to know Half away on your own."

"I haven't finished my shift." I say confused. It was my first day how would it look to the other employees if I just left halfway through.

"I'm the boss, I get to say when your shift is over." She says lifting my apron over my head and basically shoves me towards the door. "Get to know, town Half-Away."

She places a hundred in my hands and shuts the door behind me, cutting off any protest I might have had. I paused for a moment replaying what had just happened. Was she trying to get rid of me?

I shake off any thoughts and begin walking with the intention of going to the town center, to see the large Christmas tree. Or at least I would have if I could remember the way towards it.

I continue walking when the feeling of someone looking at me. Heat kisses my skin the place the person was staring at. I look up, trying my best to find the creep who wouldn't stop staring.

I looked across the street and there in all of his glowing stood my mate, in jeans and a beige sweater much like mine. Our eyes lock like the first time I saw him. I try my best to memorize his every feature. He has an almost commanding aura even from across the street. His face is chiseled with stubble growing from his chin. Dark locks frame his face but not too much to, that they block his brown eyes. He's a blend of hunter and protector all in one.

Then in the most cliche way possible a truck passes and one minute he's there looking into my eyes and the neck he's gone. It was as if he wasn't there at all.

I stand there for a second no longer feeling the eyes of someone looking at me;unsure of if to continue to the tree or go back into the coffee shop and up to my room. I decide to continue toward the tree as thoughts about my mate floods my mind.

How had he found me? Were the other hunters right behind him waiting for him to draw me out?

Before I knew I was walking right into the tree almost stabbing and eyeball. I look up at the massive tree. It hadn't looked this big from Dutch's truck. I sigh,unsure of my next course of action. My mate was here in Half-Away and I had no doubt that the bounty hunters would be following after him.