Little witch

The Pull

Adeline's POV

The diner had slowed to a crawl, the steady hum of voices from earlier fading into a dull silence. I wiped down the counter with shaky hands, trying to ignore the two men sitting in the back. My heart raced every time I glanced in their direction, the weight of their presence pressing down on me like a physical thing. The couple I'd just served had left, which meant there was only one table left to take care of.

Titus and Zander.

I'd been avoiding them, lingering behind the counter as long as I could, but I knew I couldn't stall any longer. I didn't need anyone telling me twice that the Alpha and his Beta weren't people you ignored. Not unless you wanted trouble.

A knot of anxiety formed in my chest as I grabbed my notepad and forced myself to walk toward them. Every step felt heavier than the last, my mind racing with all the things that could go wrong. Wolves weren't known for their patience, and even though no one had confronted me directly yet, I knew they could snap at any moment. Especially Titus.

I reached their table, feeling his eyes on me before I even looked up. Zander was the first to speak, a lazy grin already tugging at his lips.

"Looks like it's just us left, huh?" he said, his tone light, teasing even. He leaned back in the booth, his arms resting casually behind his head as if he hadn't a care in the world. "Guess that means we get the VIP treatment."

I swallowed hard, nodding slowly. "Anything else I can get you?"

Zander's grin widened. "Well, since you're offering..." He trailed off, glancing at Titus with a mischievous glint in his eyes, clearly waiting for him to say something.

Titus hadn't spoken much since he'd walked in. He'd barely glanced my way, though I could feel his attention, heavy and impossible to ignore. There was something about him, something that made my skin tingle and my heart pound whenever he was near.

His gaze lifted to meet mine, and for a second, I couldn't breathe. His dark eyes were intense, like he was searching for something in me, and I felt a strange pull, like a thread was being drawn tight between us. I didn't understand it. I didn't want to.

"Coffee's fine," he said, his voice deep and calm, but it held a weight that made me shiver. It was like there was more he wanted to say, but he was holding it back, like he was trying to control himself.

I nodded again, my throat dry as I jotted down the order, though it felt pointless. I could already feel my cheeks burning under his gaze.

"Just coffee?" Zander chimed in, clearly enjoying the tension in the air. He gave me a wink. "What, no pie? This place has the best apple pie around."

"I—uh—" I stammered, my mind blanking for a moment. The air around them was thick with something I couldn't quite place, but it made it hard to think straight.

Zander laughed, his tone playful. "Relax. We're not here to bite." His grin widened. "Unless you're into that sort of thing."

I stiffened, heat flooding my cheeks as I tried to process what he just said. I wasn't used to this kind of banter, not after years of avoiding people, but Zander's light-hearted teasing wasn't threatening. If anything, it seemed like he was trying to put me at ease. It wasn't working, but I appreciated the effort.

Titus shot him a look, his expression hardening for a brief second, before he turned back to me. His gaze softened slightly, but he was still quiet, the intensity of his presence overwhelming.

"We're not here to make trouble," he said finally, his voice low but steady. "Just coffee."

That pull—whatever it was—tugged at me again. My heart thudded in my chest, and I felt a strange warmth bloom inside me, almost like... no, that was impossible. I didn't know what it was about him, but it unsettled me. I was drawn to him, and it scared me.

"Right. Coffee," I murmured, feeling flustered. I quickly turned on my heel and hurried back to the counter, trying to catch my breath. My mind was racing, and all I could think about was how strange this whole thing felt.

I busied myself behind the counter, pouring their drinks, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Titus. There was something about him. Something that made me feel like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to fall, even though I had no idea why.

When I brought the coffee back to their table, Zander was still grinning, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Titus, though, was watching me, his gaze never leaving my face, making my skin prickle.

"So," Zander said, his voice breaking the silence, "what's a girl like you doing in a town like this?"

I froze for a second, my hands gripping the tray tightly as I set down their mugs. My mind raced for an answer, something simple and believable, but the truth was, I didn't even know what I was doing here.

"Just passing through," I said softly, my voice steadier than I felt.

Zander raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he took a long sip of his coffee, his grin never fading.

"Well, passing through or not, we're glad you're here," he said, his tone light but meaningful. "The place could use some fresh faces."

I nodded, not sure how to respond, and quickly retreated to the safety of the counter once again. I needed distance. I needed to clear my head. But even as I stood there, trying to act busy, I could still feel Titus's eyes on me, like he was watching my every move.

That pull I felt whenever he looked at me... it was getting stronger. I didn't understand it, and it terrified me.

All I knew was that this town was more complicated than I'd expected. And somehow, Titus Hunt was at the center of it all.