CHAPTER 11

 "I believe you. And I can help." Lorna stated behind her, in a non-argumentative tone.

    Melisca erased the triumphant smirk on her lips before facing Lorna again. She wore a bitter smile rather. "T-thank you." Biting her bottom lip as halting to get into tears.

     The servant girl closed the distance between them. "You said it was a human-sized wolf, right?" Looking up to her, searching Melisca's face for confirmation. Probably scrutinising her if she's telling the truth.

     "Yes." She answered without hesitation. "I know what I saw. But you don't have to force yourself to believe me just to make me feel better." Staring straight into Lorna's eyes. "It just makes me feel worse." About to turn around, the girl held her arm.

     "No. I really believed you. I know they truly exist." The girl insisted, the grip on her arm tightened unknowingly.

     Melisca glanced at Lorna's hand wrapped around her arm. Then the girl let go of her as she just realised what she's doing.

     "Oh, I'm sorry." Her high pitched voice again. "Anyway, you're not alone in this..Um.."

     "Liz, my name is Liz." She filled in. Remembering that she hadn't introduced herself yet.

     "You're not alone in this, Liz. There are other people who would take your words seriously. And we can help you."

     Her forehead knotted. "Help me? How?"

    Melisca's breath halted as her body frozen on the spot. Blinking rapidly as she focused her senses.

    "We can't talk about it here. Someone might hear us." Lorna continued talking, "Can you wait for me after my work?"

    Someone is outside the door. A werewolf, she can feel it. She thought they'd already left. But it turns out someone stayed behind to continue investigating. Seriously, how stupid can she really get? Of course, they won't just let this thing slide when already one of their group members died. They won't stop until they get the hunter. And now, maybe they've known it's Lorna.

     She won't let them take away her prey. But she also just can't expose herself publicly.

     "Sure. I can wait." Trying to even her breathing, she hopes Lorna wouldn't notice how nervous she is at the moment. Still calculating in her head what to do.

     "Right, just a moment." Lorna quickly fumbled her apron pocket, and she brought out the order slip and pen and wrote something there.

     "Here, and please, don't tell anyone about what we are talking about." She handed the paper to her with a warm smile on the face. 

     Snatching it from the girl, she saw some numbers on the paper. A contact number, she sighed inwardly. This could be by far the luckiest moment she felt that day. She doesn't have to voice out for the girl's contact in case they get separated. She inserted the paper into one of her zipped pockets to secure it.

     The wolf won't know that she has a way to communicate with her even if they are apart. Right then, she got a plan.

    "Of course, I had enough of their crazy looks on me." She huffed. "I'm thankful enough that you didn't think I'm one. I really appreciate it."

    "Let's go. You can wait at a table outside, Liz, I'll tell Mr. Chef that you're my guest." She beamed excitedly and pushed her out the door as the girl followed.

     "Okay, okay." She mumbled as they got out of the girls' restroom.

     Then she immediately met Jethro's intense gaze from where she had sat before during her lunch. Just as she'd thought. It was he who eavesdropped outside the door. He's the only wolf she can feel around, too. At least he's her only problem now. She's not that outnumbered if the worst could happen.

    She also felt Lorna behind her stiffen. Right, that's the same reaction she had earlier. The girl also didn't expect one wolf to remain in the place. Turning her neck to look at the girl behind, she said, "Don't worry, I'll wait for you." She even gave her a reassuring smile. But she can see the panic in her eyes. If only she could say that she would protect her instead. But knowing that would just blow her cover, she bit her tongue. Only hoping that the girl won't just flee easily, for she has a plan on her mind.

      Lorna just nodded and walked onto the kitchen just as the chef called her name.

    Remembering her takeout orders, she moved to the counter to get them. Not really minding Jethro's gaze that wouldn't leave her as she walks around. Fishing the mask in her other jeans pocket she had taken off earlier before she had gone to the restroom. 

    She's not that comfortable displaying her full face to a lot of people. Maybe it's just that she's gotten used to her old job as a bounty hunter. She doesn't want anyone to easily figure out what she looks like when hunting.

     "Thank you." She mumbled to the guy at the counter. Her orders were completed, and she looked around for a seat. A spot that can easily help her protect Lorna in case Jethro might jump on the girl anytime possible.

     But based on what she'd heard before, he doesn't want any human involved in a situation because of beings like him. Still, she wouldn't take the chance. She had already been careless enough.

    Since there's no other wolf in the area, she would just watch out for a certain someone that was left.

    She turned around and looked at Jethro while striding towards him. Bags of food in her hands. That burning look in his eyes, she won't cover under that.

    "Can I join you?" Now it's her turn to ask him. What happened before just played in reverse. Only now that the game is real and still officially ongoing.

    His eyebrows almost drew a single line. Like he hadn't expected her to come to him. She hasn't thought about it either in herself.

    "Of course." His tone was gruff and almost hiss.

    That made her frown, and she bit her bottom lip. "Maybe not. It seems like you're not in the mood for anyone right now, I understand." Looking down, she nodded at him, saying that it's fine, and turned to look for another seat.

    "No! It's fine." He had stood abruptly and grasped her forearm.

    "Are you sure?" She faced him and searched his face for reassurance.

    Jethro's expression turned from an emotionless, cold, hard gaze into a worried look in his eyes. "Please, sit with me." He let go of her arm as she glanced to his grip.

    She then placed her bags on the side of the table. Taking the seat across him, making herself as comfortable as she can in their situation.

    "So, I thought you already left." She started, carefully picking up her words, for she is treading with fire. She leant forward, propping her elbows on the table, and lifted both her hands as she placed her chin on her knuckles.

    "I thought you too." He retorted, playing along with her.

    "Yeah, but I decided to have some takeouts. So I won't starve myself if I can't find any restaurants that are as good as their chef here. And I'm waiting for a friend." She gave him a shrug. No use lying when she knows that he had heard her conversation with Lorna earlier inside the restroom.

    His eyes changed into an edged look as he now leant forward on the table.

    "A friend? Really?"

    "Yes. We just became friends a while ago. It's Lorna, the waitress." She said, even pointing her eyes at the girl, and he followed.

     Lorna's oblivious to what they were talking about. The girl's back was on them. She's taking someone's order.

     Melisca had to be on his competitor's side too. So he won't target her directly. He would just think that she's a naïve girl that had just gotten involved in the war of two enemies. Like she is the middle ground. When clearly she has no side to differ, she was on her own.

     "I see. You two had plans later?"

     "I don't know. She just told me to wait for her. How about you? What made you stay?" Her turn to question him.

     "You." He looked away after that word came out from his lips.

     She would have chuckled at his lie if only she hadn't noticed that he averted his gaze and a red colour spreading from his neck to his ears.

    It was not a lie after all.

     "Yes, I did come out of the door, but I returned, hoping to get your number." He scratched the back of his neck as he looked at her through his lashes.

    That made her curve her lips.

     "You know I want to see you smile without that mask of yours."

    She just remembered that she had put her mask back on.

    Melisca then removed her mask. He had seen her face before anyway.

     "I mean, that fake mask of yours, Liz." He smirked dangerously.