Little witch

A Slice of Peace

Adeline's POV

The diner was almost empty, with only Titus and Zander left. The stillness pressed in around me, but I couldn't stop thinking about the way the conversation had gone. It wasn't tense, at least not outwardly, but there was something under the surface. Something between Titus and me that I didn't understand.

I cleaned up the counter, glancing over at their table. Zander was laughing at something, and Titus—well, he was watching me. Again. His gaze felt like a physical thing, making my skin tingle every time I caught him looking. I wasn't sure what to make of it.

I wiped my hands on my apron and decided to do something I never would've imagined doing a week ago. I cut two slices of apple pie, placed them on plates, and walked over to their table, trying to steady my breathing. If I was going to be in this town for a while, I couldn't avoid them forever.

"On the house," I said, placing the plates down in front of them.

Zander's grin spread wide as he leaned back in his seat, eyeing the pie like it was the best thing he'd seen all day. "Now, that's what I'm talking about," he said, his voice full of playful enthusiasm. "You sure know how to win a guy over."

Titus glanced at the pie, but his focus shifted back to me almost immediately, his gaze dark and intense. It made my heart race, the pull between us stronger than ever. I had no idea why I felt like this around him, but it was undeniable.

Before I could slip away, Zander motioned to the chair across from him. "Why don't you sit for a minute? We're not in a rush, and you've been running around all night. Take a load off."

I hesitated, looking from Zander to Titus, but the Alpha said nothing, just watching me with that same unreadable expression.

"Well, he doesn't bite," Zander teased with a wink. "At least, not unless you ask nicely."

Heat flooded my cheeks, and I glanced at Titus, expecting some kind of reaction, but he remained stone-faced. Finally, I nodded and pulled up a chair, trying to act like sitting with two wolves wasn't the most nerve-wracking thing I'd done in a long time.

Zander wasted no time filling the silence. "So, how are you liking our little corner of the world so far? Quiet, huh?"

"Yeah, quiet," I echoed, unsure of what else to say. I wasn't ready to reveal how uneasy I'd been since arriving, but Zander's lighthearted tone made it easier to talk.

He kept the conversation going, talking about the town, the diner, and whatever else came to mind. I was grateful for the distraction, though I couldn't help but be hyper-aware of Titus sitting across from me, barely speaking.

Every time I glanced his way, I felt that strange pull again, like something was drawing me to him even though I didn't want it to. I didn't understand what it was, but it left me feeling on edge, unsettled.

After a while, Zander stretched his arms out and let out an exaggerated yawn. "Well, as much as I'd love to sit here all night and eat pie, we should probably get going."

I stood up quickly, eager to get away from the intensity of the moment. "Thanks for coming by," I said, grabbing their empty plates. "Glad you liked the pie."

Zander grinned, standing up and slipping his jacket on. "We'll be back for more, don't you worry about that."

Titus stood as well, his eyes still locked on me, though he didn't say anything. He didn't need to. That same pull was there, stronger now, and I had no idea why it affected me so much.

I turned away and busied myself with cleaning, my heart still racing as they walked out. When I finally finished my shift, I grabbed my bag and headed for the door, trying to push the encounter out of my mind. I could still feel Titus's gaze on me, even though he was no longer in the room.

The night air was cool as I stepped outside, the streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement. I was halfway down the street when I noticed them—Titus and Zander, standing by their motorcycles.

Zander gave me an easy grin as he stepped forward. "Need a ride?" he asked, his tone casual, like it was the most natural thing in the world for them to wait for me.

I hesitated, glancing at the two bikes. "I'm fine," I said quickly. "It's not far."

Zander shook his head, still grinning. "Come on, it's dark, and we're headed that way. Besides, walking's overrated."

Before I could respond, he motioned to his bike. "Hop on."

I took a hesitant step forward, ready to climb on behind him, but before I could reach for the helmet, I heard a low growl.

I froze, glancing over at Titus. His expression was hard, his dark eyes narrowing as he stared at Zander. The growl wasn't loud, but it was unmistakable, and the tension in the air shifted instantly.

"No," Titus said, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. "She rides with me."

Zander raised his hands in mock surrender, a playful grin tugging at his lips. "Easy, Alpha. I was just offering."

Titus didn't respond. His eyes were still on me, and I felt my heart skip a beat under the intensity of his gaze. I swallowed hard, unsure of what to do, but there was no way I was going to argue with him. Not when he looked at me like that.

Without a word, I walked over to Titus's bike, my legs feeling shaky as I stood beside him. He handed me a helmet, his fingers brushing mine for the briefest moment, sending a shiver down my spine.

I climbed onto the back of the bike, my heart racing as I settled in behind him. I wasn't sure where to put my hands, but before I could think too much about it, Titus reached back and gently pulled my arms around his waist, securing me in place.

The warmth of him against me was overwhelming, and I tried to focus on anything else—anything but the strange feeling that being this close to him stirred in me.

The bike roared to life beneath us, and we took off down the dark streets, Zander following close behind. The wind whipped through my hair, and the town blurred around me as we sped toward the motel. I held on tighter, the sensation of being pressed against Titus more comforting than I wanted to admit.

As we neared the motel, the ride was almost over, but the questions were just beginning. Why did I feel this way around him? And what was it about Titus Hunt that made me feel like I was about to fall off the edge of something I couldn't control?