CHAPTER 9

Hunter? Syringe? Melisca's ears caught those two words. A couple of thoughts run through her head. The hunters they were referring to are maybe the ones she's searching for. Perhaps they were connected to her mom.

Back then, her mother had told her that hers and her father's side were enemies. But fate had brought them together when they were destined for each other. Regardless of being at each other's throats.

Melisca's parents haven't told her much about each of their family backgrounds. All she knows is her father, the son of an Alpha, who got him exiled for choosing her mom. Then years later, ordered to have them killed both, but Cabril, her father, made her escape.

Then, Melicia, her mother, had run away from her clan to be with Cabril. Years after, people from her group barged into their homes with the intention of killing Melisca, but her mother fought for her to let her run away.

Now that she has to know about this hunter, it could be her chance to finally find her mother's killer at last. Turning around, she just remembered, What was about the syringe? Could it be the reason the werewolf in the restroom died? So many questions in mind, yet no answer to anything.

Wondering also if it was the same syringe that struck her days ago in her last assignment as a bounty huntress. But she had survived the attack, though being a half-wolf only. So, a pure-blooded one shouldn't be dead by it, for their system was much able to heal faster.

Frustrated, she has to move to get an answer. Hunters are just humans also, but they have such courage to get on the bad side of powerful creatures.

While everyone was busy about what happened, the werewolves dispersed the people's thoughts that their friend was killed by announcing that he just slipped and then passed out. Melisca looked around the place to see if anyone was suspicious enough.

"Come on, folks, get back to your seats. Nothing to worry about. He just got unconscious. We will take care of it." A double-sized guy, wearing a chef's uniform, urged the people to get back to their tables. He's probably the cook here. She approached him.

"Hello, I just finished my meal earlier, and it was all great. I love your cooking." Smiling at him with the compliment. Melisca and her food could really get the best of her, regardless of any situation.

The man grinned. He's in his late 40's maybe, with almost indistinguishable wrinkles on his face and the laughing line. The man looked friendly. "Thank you. Glad you liked it, miss. I should return to the kitchen now. Sorry for the commotion."

She nodded, then he walked away.

"Lorna, where are you? Help Vic with the customers." She heard the booming voice of the chef, calling for his waitress through the turmoil.

The people slowly returned to their seats. But the wolves were still in the restroom. While they were occupied in their meeting, she had to take the chance to get to know this hunter. They can't find out what she's after. Besides, she doesn't really care much about the wolves' enemy. She has her battles to fight.

She went out to stroll around the diner. The suspect could get away. When she opened the door, the glare of the sun really got to her skin, and she wanted to glare back at it. Before continuing on her search, she walks up to her big bike to put on the helmet she's carrying and put on the motorcycle gloves that she left on the seat. Still, her backpack is with her, and she then resumes her plans.

Going around the area, turning a corner, she stumbled upon the waitress there. She took a step back, hiding herself by the wall. She carefully moves her head to peep at what she's doing.

She saw her with the garbage bags, and then Lorna turned her head around from side to side, clearly wanting no one to witness what she was doing. Melisca, get back on hiding her head.

She carefully sneaked a glance after a few seconds. The girl pulled something from her apron pocket, and a quick glare of the sun reflected the vertical object in her hand. It almost blinded Melisca. Lorna quickly transferred it inside a garbage bag she had opened. After placing whatever she put there, she closed the bag and tossed it carefully inside the large garbage bin.

She caught a glimpse of a smile on the girl's face, feeling triumphant. That got Melisca frowning. What is she smiling about just by stuffing the trash in the bin? Asking herself again.

Lorna started to walk back inside, through the back door.

When she saw her enter and the door closed, she waited a few seconds before stepping out of her hiding spot.

She walked up to where Lorna had stood before. Also, she turned her head around, not wanting anyone to see her. The area is still clear.

Even just from outside the bin, the strong smell of trash, scraps, spoiled food, and whatever made that horrible air made her nose scrunch. Her mask doesn't even stand a chance of protecting her sensitive nose.

The feeling of what she had eaten wanted to come back up her throat. Then she decided to inhale a large amount of oxygen to keep in her lungs while she rummaged through the trash. She didn't want her gloves to be stained by the filthy garbage, so she took them off and inserted it into her jacket pocket. She likes her gloves. Actually, she likes the only few things she has.

Holding up her breath, she raised the cover of the trash bin with the tip of her thumb and index finger, as her other hand covered her already masked face.

Her chest constricting already, and she exhaled finally. Frustrated, she chided herself to just get on with it. Just think of the money she had paid for her lunch. It would be wasted if she burst out what her stomach had consumed.

She easily found the black garbage bag Lorna had thrown earlier on the very top of the garbage pile inside. Opening it carefully, untying the knot, she directly saw a syringe.

Her eyes wide and breath held, this may be what she caught a glimpse of the bright reflection of the sun in the object Lorna transferred to the bag. The long sharp needle is what caused the sudden glare of the light.

She picked it up carefully and examined it closely. It is the same size as the syringe that had struck her and she felt the familiar feeling of it in her hands when she pulled it out.

The content was already empty, but she realized the color of the tiny bit drop that was left inside was exactly the color that had been put in her system before. The effect was terrifying. But if it was what had been filled to the system of Jethro's friend, why did he die?

"So, you're the hunter."

She flinched when she heard the voice of the person who had joined in her seat earlier. She hadn't noticed that someone was in the area. Cursing herself in her mind.

Oh, how lucky can she really get?