Chapter 12.1

I noticed heavy stares from the counter. Miles gaze was on the situation, almost as if he was hearing everything from a far distance.

"Alright. You clearly said you wanted two shots of whiskey but I guess you've changed your mind. What can I get you?" I was surprisingly calm.

"Are you talking back at me?" She spiked up. That flew the calmness I was cultivating over the damn window. What the hell was her problem?

"Julia what's your problem?" I heard Stefan voice intrude, but Julia didn't even glance his way. I could still feel Asher's eyes on us, staring with an unreadable expression on us.

"She is a bloody waitress here isn't she? That's her job to take orders and trashes" She said.

"Julia stop. Cirilla is our friend" Lyra's attempt to yank senses into the poor idiot was failing.

'I told you we should have killed her sooner' My inner voice was trying to fuel my rage but I couldn't have that. Having this job was important to me.

"Alright Julia.I can see you are clearly upset about something, but I suggest you take your frustration elsewhere" I said.

Her eyes sparkled with rage and something else, was it hate?

Miles walked over to the table. "Is something wrong here?" He said, regarding everyone. His eyes dwelling more on Asher who have been rather quiet. He had his hands folded against his chest as watched the whole drama.

"There's no problem Miles," Lyra said, the manner she addressed the manger gave me the feeling she knew him quite well.

"She insulted and disrespected me. I want her fired" Julia spoke like she owned the whole place.

Stefan was up on his feet, clearly angered. "Don't bother Miles we are leaving" He grabbed Julia's arm but she snatched it away from his grip.

"What did you do Cirilla?" Miles focus was on me.

"I didn't do anything. I guess someone is obviously on drugs and just forgot to take her pills before coming here tonight. Please don't blame me for that" I said.

Miles face creased slightly furious. He never liked me one bit. "You insulted and disrespected her. She's a customer. Apologize"

I must have heard wrong right.

'No. You bloody didn't!' The voice sounded. 'We should kill Miles too!' It was unbelievable how she kept talking about murdering someone like it was the most normal thing, ever.

"Miles, Cirilla didn't do anything wrong to apologise for" Dorian voiced on my behalf. But Miles stare was still on me. I felt like he was trying to find the slightest reason to fire me.

'I swear to the goddess, apologize and I'll kill you myself' came my inner voice.

"Like he said, I didn't do anything to apologise for" Now almost half of the customers and waitresses were watching this drama. I'd be damned to apologise to Julia. Not on her life.

"I'm sorry I can't apologise to this crazy bitch. It's not my fault she's fucking crazy" I swerved from Miles to a fuming Julia.

"Then you leave me no choice. You…." I knew the words that were about to follow. But before he could finish, a deep and husky voice interuppted right on cue.

"Enough" Came Asher's voice. There was a knife edge authority and superiority in his voice. I met with his emerald green crystals, he stared at me briefly, "Cirilla didn't do anything wrong" His eyes shifted on Julia and then on Miles. "Sorry for the trouble Miles, we'll be leaving now" He was up on his feet, they all were, including Julia.

"No Asher. She still haven't apologized" She said.

"Julia" Asher's gaze shifted from me to Julia. His call warningly.

"But Asher…"

He cut her off, not caring. "We are leaving"

"Urggghhh!!!" She squirmed, grabbing the glass of drink on the table, and tossed the content at me.

Immediately, familiar tingles formed on my wrist and my eyes watched as Asher's perfect godlike body stood in front of me, covering me from Julia.

I felt a squeak of excitement in my head.

Julia gasped and I heard few breaths leave Miles lips. The air suddenly grew cold and frightening. I couldn't see Asher's face because he had his back to me, but his breathing was rough and laboured and his hold on me tightened.

"I told you to stop" His voice was low and different, not the usual deep and husky. Like an animal growl, one I've heard before. It reminded me of the creatures that attacked me and for some reason I can't seem to remember but I'm sure it wasn't a dream and that it did happen.

"I'm--- I'm s-sorry Alpha, I---" Julia began.

Alpha. As in wolf? These guys had the weirdest nicknames.

"Leave" He told her, but sounded more like a command because she scampered away in fear, without muttering a word. She didn't even look my way. She was terrified of Asher.

"That bitch outdid herself this time" Lyra said, taking a seat. So did Wren who'd been quiet.

"Are you alright?" My lips moved stupidly, and he turned giving me his attention. The brown liquid smeared his face and his white tee shirt. It wetness causing his shirt to stick to his body, exposing the defined muscles of chest and keeping his six packs in complete view.

His green eyes bored into my soul before letting go of my wrist. "Do you have a spare shirt?" He turned to a muted Miles.

Miles nodded. "There's a bunch in the storage room" He sent a glance my way. "Take him there"

I nodded, leading the way through the door beside the private area of the counter. We passed the locker room and reached the door to the storage room. I pulled up my phone turning on the flashlight. The storage room was small, very small for storing items we barely use or have in excess. Asher tailed behind me, even in the darkness I felt his eyes boring holes at the back of my head. The short pace of distance between us not doing me any good. The air around carried his scent.

I found the pile of the bar's customized work outfit and searched for an extra large shirt. I pulled it out and handed it to him. Sparks ignited the place where our fingers brushed, but I sucked in the moaning wanting to be heard. I didn't want him knowing he still affected me.

"The guys locker is right opposite the…." I draw on the instant my phone flashlight fell on Asher's naked chest. I lost the ability to breathe, his broad chiseled chest and toned abs. I restrained myself from the urge to brush my hand on his chest, trail my fingers on his perfect and flawless skin. My eyes wandered on his body, appreciatively, admiring heaven's perfect masterpiece. My blue crystals fell to the v-line that was hidden by the waistband of his jeans, it made me want to know exactly where it leads.

I smacked sanity into my head and the voice purring in my head. "You could have done that in the guys changing room"

His fathomless emerald green eyes pulled up to me with an unreadable, amused face. "Why? Is the sight that tempting to you?" A smirk played on his cherry full lips that I wanted to kiss so badly.

Yes it damn is. Please put on a shirt before I loose what little is left of my control. "Why would it be? I've seen better"

His smirk didn't at all fade. He wiped off the liquid from his face and chest with his smeared shirt, donning on the fresh one, taking his sweet time.

When he was all done, I flashed to the doorway, leading the way but he unexpectedly grabbed me.

"I'm sorry about Julia" He said.

Why was he sorry for what his girlfriend did to me. "Why should you be sorry over something your girlfriend did?"

"She's not my girlfriend" He said lowly. The voice in my head felt excited but I wasn't.

"Oh. She's your fucking buddy then" I really didn't intend to say that aloud.

His gaze hardened, before masking it with a short, gorgeous smile. There was absolutely no way anyone could resist such lips. But No! No Cirilla. Focus.

"We should go"

I stormed out of the storage room back to the bar. The mess Julia made had been cleared already and everyone acted like nothing happened so I went on with it, burying my head into my job.

I felt Asher's stare on me every minute here and there. I had few more minutes before my shift ended. The guys finally decided to head back home.

After they were gone I did more rounds of serving before handing my position at the counter to another part-timer. I changed, grabbed my things and left the bar.

The night air was welcoming atleast, I pulled into the alley that lead to the main street where I could get a cab. I doubt if it was paranoia but I felt a creepy presence stalking me. I scanned the alley but there was no one. I kept walking when I noticed something at the end of the alley. A creature with glowing eyes. A wolf. Similar to the ones from my memory of what really happened that night. It was watching me, regarding me, glaring hard at me with so much hate, like it wanted to harm me. I stopped abruptly in my tracks as it began to lunge at me viciously, I took a step back affright,

'I can help. Let me out' The presence in my head yelled.

I began to move backwards. "What?"

'Give me control now' She demanded, confusing me the more. Control? For what? I was more concerned about the creature racing to me with an intent to kill. I scanned around but there was nothing to defend myself with.

'I can help you!'

"What? How?" I yelled back, getting furious.

'I can't tell you because you won't understand, blockhead. Just trust me'

The creature lept in the air and closed the distance between us. Speedily, I ducked from it's path, stumbling on the harsh ground.

'LET ME OUT. STOP FIGHTING ME!!' The voice yelled, I felt a surge of power within me. A force battling me, wanting control. Fighting for control and dominance. I crippled to my knees, groaning in pain. I felt my bones ache and my consciousness was slowly tossed aside by a far much powerful force. It was almost in control but still I found another side of me fighting back.

The chaos inside of me halted when the grey wolf lept in the air almost pouncing on me but it didn't. From nowhere another wolf emerged and pushed the former aside into the obscure darkness of the alley, it was pitch black and was the size twice the former wolf. Or was it thrice? It stopped momentarily, standing on all four paws, exuding power and authority. It's head snapping my way and then I saw it eyes. A pair of familiar, deep emerald green. I gasped as the storm within me had quietened and the presence in my head seemed to have vanished as well. But my horror filled gaze never left those pair of emerald green ones. I could never be mistaken. It was him. Asher….