The Lycan’s Human Mate

Claire ushered me inside. There are few occupied tables. Upon entering, Kate immediately showed up from the kitchen with a surprised expression written on her face.

I waved at her. “Hey”

“Oh my god! You came” she exclaimed upon getting near us.

Claire replied, “I told you, my persuasion power is real”

Kate rolled her eyes and grabbed my wrist as she dragged me onto a vacant table, saying, “Oh please, Claire.”

I laughed at the two and took a seat while Kate suddenly stared vacantly into space for a second. My mind immediately goes to Sally at the pub and Claire and Cayden in their home when I see this action. All of them had these fleeting flashes when their thoughts seemed to be elsewhere. Claire patted my hand before I had a chance to think anything about it.

Claire said, “Her soup was great. It is my favorite here”

“Really?” I turned to face Kate and said, “Then I would like to have that please”

Kate grinned at me and said with excitement. “I already ordered it along with Greek salad, and ricotta pound cake!”

“You already ordered? But there is no one coming to our table”

Kate simply winked at me, “Communication through the mind”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

I grinned at her, despite not understanding what she meant by her words. Instead of thinking it over, I settle on the fact that maybe she had her staff know what to provide to someone she knew who came by her diner because there is no way she could have known we would be here if Claire hadn’t called her at the time we were together and I had questioned her about whether or not she had informed Kate of our arrival. Claire claimed that she didn’t contact her because she wanted to surprise her.

“When did you start running a diner?” I asked instead, looking around. My gaze passed on to other customers who for some reason also looking at me or our table causing me to settle my attention back on Kate and Claire, feeling self-conscious now at their obvious stares.

But of course, Claire and Kate seemed to notice it as they also glanced at other customers and turned to face me with a nervous giggle,

“Don’t mind them, they are always curious whenever outsiders come to our small town” Kate said, shrugging. “And going back to your question, I opened my diner about seven years ago and I am telling you it’s a mess”

“It is. I and Sally practically became her staff while she was stuck in the kitchen”

I exclaimed, “Wait, you’re a chef?!”

Kate nodded, “Yeah, a lousy cook”

“I honestly didn’t peg you as a chef”

Claire laughed, “I told you, Kate”. She faced me still laughing, “That’s what I and Sally told her when she took a culinary course. She suits a strict librarian since she constantly wears a serious expression whenever she’s alone and in the crowd”

“Stop mentioning it, Claire”

The sound of the door being opened resounded and a familiar voice echoed in the room followed by footsteps in our direction. I snapped my head towards the door and found Sally in a casual outfit of jeans and a flannel shirt.

She waved at me and said “Why? Mrs. Olga really like you to be the next librarian”

Kate rolled her eyes, “I don’t want to be a spinster without finding my mate and be stuck in a building full of books about our kind”

Sally laughed and went to my side, hugging me for a second before pulling out a seat next to Claire. The cheerful and carefree chortle of Claire and Sally and the glare of Kate at the two made me laugh. The three were hilarious but Kate’s last words also hang in my mind. About our kind? And mates? Those words again. Being a professor for years, I can’t help but analyze and pick every word and remark they make. Handling students who have different ways of thinking and perspective make me much more attentive to comments. I always wanted to absorb and understand my student’s answers whenever I called them. That’s why I can’t help but pick on those words that seemed to have a different and deeper meaning among them.

But once again, I pushed the thoughts and doubt forming in my mind.

I asked, catching their attention. “Who is this Mrs. Olga though?”

“She was our town’s librarian. She is quite elderly and has always wanted Kate to take over the library but this woman refuses it” Sally pointed to Kate who rolled her eyes.

“Has she managed to find someone to handle it?”

Kate nodded, “Yes, the woman who frequently goes there”

Sally scoffed, “Yeah, Lara. The one who always flirts with the Alp-Traian. I’m not sure if her desire to work as a librarian was genuine or motivated by a desire to interact with Traian, who often pays Mrs. Olga a visit”

“Oh,” I said, nodding.

That should be expected. Traian is a handsome man who oozes so much masculinity and power around him. It was not a surprise that women wanted him to be theirs. But despite my conscious thought of being aware of it, I can’t help but feel a bit of disappointment maybe? Dismay? Or that particular feeling I’d rather not admit. I have no right to be envious of someone who lives in the same town as Traian and sees him frequently. No, I don’t feel that way. This is simply due to my last interaction with him. My emotions are still haywire. Right, that’s the reason.

I noticed how Claire gave a warning stare to Sally who promptly faced me and cleared her throat. “What brings the two of you here?”

Upon seeing a small smile from Claire, I immediately foresaw what she would say next. “I am luring Jaidyn to stay here using Kate’s cook”

Kate and Sally’s eyes widened as they cast shocked glances in my direction.

“You’re leaving?!” Kate exclaimed.

I diverted my gaze to the opened window where I could look over the clear sky. “Yeah, I plan to”

“Why? Why all of a sudden?”

I cast a fleeting peek at the other tables who seemed to be frozen in their seats as well before turning back my attention to the two. I shrug, “I don’t intend to stay for long either”

Sally mumbled, “You’re barely a week here so why are you leaving so early? Is there something wrong here for you?”

I wanted to say that there is. Me. There is something wrong with me. But I held back myself. I chuckled, “Nothing. Your town was beautiful. It’s just I think I need to go back now”

The three exchange glances before Kate grabs my hand and comfortingly squeezes it.

“Stay with us for a few days, please. We have yet to show you around”

“What I see is enough-”

“What do we need to do to lure you?” Sally offered and I couldn’t help but chuckle at how determined she seemed.

“Nothing. I don’t think you can offer something much more to the wedding Claire bribed me about”

Sally blurted out, “Wedding?!”

“What wedding?” Kate added, frowning.

“You two weren’t aware? Claire is tying the knot”

The three of us looked at Claire who stared at Sally and Kate for a second just like earlier. And just like that, Sally and Kate nodded as if realizing something and had a grin plastered on their faces.

Kate stated, “Yeah. Now I remember, Claire is getting married to that Scottish guy”

“Please stay with us. Just till the nuptials? What do you think?” Sally pouted, batting her eyelashes at me which made me chuckle. “Please, please, stay with us”

“It would be meaningful to all of us if you were here,” Kate added with such sincerity and depth that it touched my heart.

Claire is likewise awaiting my reaction while sporting a hopeful expression. I’ve already made up my mind to leave, maybe tomorrow, but right now I don’t have the heart to hurt the three further.

I smiled, “I’ll think about it,” and I meant it.

Our conversation stopped when a young waitress came carrying our food, expertly putting our food on the table before walking away but without giving me a warm smile.

I feel incredibly loved and welcomed by the residents of Grevis Town. Something I could take on me when I leave.