The Luna's Prophecy

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

When we finally get to Cynthia’s I glance through the window, checking to see if I recognized anyone inside. I’ve been going to this café for as long as I remember, Gigi was fairly close with the original owner Cynthia, but she’s then left her son and daughter in control of the café.  “You’re in luck.” I point to Patrick behind the bar chatting to a customer. He was a good looking guy, but just not my type. He was tall, lanky with sandy blonde hair and blue-grey eyes. He was really sweet and maybe a little nerdy. Chelsea has had a crush on him since he started working at Cynthia’s a couple months ago, but she has never had the courage to ask him out.

“You go order, get your flirt on and I’ll grab us a table.” I shove her towards the counter and watch as huge grin appears on Patrick’s face as he takes in my best friend. I secretly think he has a crush on her, but like Chels, he’s too shy to make the first move. I swear one day I’ll have to Parent Trap them.

I chose a table by the windows facing the street. Chels and I liked to people watch and pretend we know what was going on in the passersby lives. I was smiling to myself watching an elderly lady sitting on the bench feeding the pigeons when suddenly all the hairs on my body stood up. I had an uneasy feeling I was being watched. I quickly glanced around the café but didn’t notice anything suspicious. I looked back to the street, searching outside for a familiar face or anyone who seemed to be looking in my direction but again, nothing. I suddenly felt a light breeze and turned expecting to see Chelsea taking her seat across from me. Instead, I came face to face with icy blue eyes that froze me in my place.

“Hello mate.”

“Um, hi. I think we went through this last night already, but I’m not your mate,” I gave him a small smile.

“Um, hi. I think we went through this last night already, but you’re my mate. I know who my mate is, and it’s you. You know it too,” He mimicked my voice. Who did this guy think he was? Just because he was hot, especially in that fitted grey t-shirt, it accentuated all his muscles perfectly, didn’t mean he could act like a prick. I was too hungover for this s**t. I had zero patience and was not in the mood to play nice with this nutcase.

“Listen, ‘mate’ I don’t know who you think you are speaking to me like that. I don’t know who you are, nor do I want to. We’re not friends, and we’re most certainly not ‘mates’. Now I’d really like if you could leave, and literally never come back,” I gave him a sarcastic smile, my blood beginning to boil.

“I don’t get it. You can feel the mate-bond, right? Are you playing some sort of game?” He looked at me quizzically.

“What? Dude, I don’t know what drugs you’ve taken, but seriously I’m not your mate. Please go bother some other poor chick with your weird fetish.”

“What are you doing here?” Chelsea starred daggers at the stranger as she took a seat beside me.

“Is this a joke? She knows she’s a werewolf, right?” the stranger looked at Chelsea. A werewolf. Did he just say I’m a werewolf? This guy must be on some heavy ass drugs if he thinks I’m an animal.

“I, uh, don’t know what you’re talking about. Please leave,” Chelsea said nervously as she put our coffees down, her hands trembling slightly. It seems like she was just as weirded out by this guy as I was. I was debating if I should secretly dial for the police.

“That’s bullshit. You’re a werewolf too. I can smell it,” His blue eyes started to darken.

“Anyone with a brain knows that werewolves don’t exist. This isn’t f*****g Twilight,” Chelsea slammed a fist on the table, a slight crack appeared where her fist made contact. Has Chelsea been working out? I looked at her sideways. Chels wasn’t one to lose her temper so quick, but something about this man had her on edge.

“Why are you trying to deny this when we all know the truth?” He raised his voice and gripped the edge of the table, knuckles white.

“Just. Leave,” Chelsea said through clenched teeth.

“Not without my mate. She belongs with me.” He brought his face closer to hers. Their faces were so close they could almost kiss. The thought of them kissing sent a wave of anger through my body. Why? I didn’t even know this guy. Yet I was feeling…jealous at just the thought of them kissing. Do I need therapy?

“If you know what’s good for you, leave. Now,” Chelsea said pointing her finger at his face, just a breath away from his nose.

“Can one of you tell me what the f**k is happening right now? Do you two know each other? Am I being pranked?” I looked between the seething stranger and my friend.

The stranger rubs his temples before turning his attention to me. “What’s happening is you’re a werewolf and I’m your mate. We’re meant to be together, and I want you to come back to my pack with me. Obviously certain aspects of your life have been hidden from you. Something is also wrong with your wolf because you’ve clearly never shifted, and I can’t sense it presence.” He growled at Chelsea.

“I don’t get it,” I scrunched my face at him, “You come in here, telling me some weird Teen Wolf s**t, claiming to be my mate and you want to kidnap me.”

“The Moon Goddess would punish me like this,” He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He finally looked up and into my eyes. When our eyes locked, I felt an electrical shock rip through my body. “I honestly don’t know where to begin. You seriously are telling me you didn’t know you’re a werewolf?”

“No, because I am not one. Maybe I’m a little hairy, but I’ve never shifted into a harrier beast. Is this a s****l fantasy of yours?” Chelsea choked on her coffee at my question.

“I am not playing games, this isn’t a fantasy, and you really are a werewolf,” He pounded his fist on the table making me jump. This guy genuinely believed everything he was saying. Maybe he had recently escaped from an insane asylum?

“Okay, well it seems like we’ve entertained this enough for today. Please seek help,” Chelsea grimaces at him and started to get up.

“Sit. Down.” His voice boomed and several people in the café turned to look at us. I suddenly felt a wave of power flowing off of him. I wanted to slide down my chair and melt into the floor. Chelsea hesitated, but sat back down into her chair.

“This is clearly not a great place to have this conversation. Fancy going to the police station with us?” She raised her eyebrows at him.

“I am an Alpha, little pup. I allowed you to disrespect me and my authority long enough,” He glared at her. Alpha? Pup?

“Alpha?” I asked.

“The leader of my pack,” He stated as if it was an obvious fact. I wanted to punch his perfect face.

“Honestly, this conversation is making my head spin. I just want to go home. I would say it was nice meeting you…whatever your name is, but it really wasn’t. Common Chels, lets head back.” I got up, grabbed my things and headed for the door before he could stop me. Gigi always said not to talk to strangers, I was finally listening to her.

I was walking on the sidewalk when I could feel that I was flanked by Chelsea and the stranger.

“Ryker,” he called out to me.

“What?” I stopped and turned to face him.

“My name, it’s Ryker. And yours is?” I bit my lip, contemplating if I should tell this stranger my name, but something inside me told me it was harmless. I think I need therapy. Who trusts someone they met less than twenty-four hours ago?

“Willow.”

“Willow.” He breathed. Hearing him say my name sent a shiver down my spine.

“Are you going to follow me home?” I raised an eyebrow at him.

“As a matter of fact, yes, I am. Someone in your life has been hiding the truth from you, and I want to be there when you finally find out who you really are.” He smiled and began to walk ahead.

“Um, you could see how this is a bit stalkerish right?”

“Willow, you can trust me, I’d never harm you.” He gently held my shoulders, sending a wave of electricity through my body. His eyes softened as they met mine, and despite everything I’ve ever learned about avoiding strangers, I genuinely believed he was being truthful.

“Okay.” Yep, someone please get me some help. They’re going to make a murder documentary about me one day.

“See, it’s the mate-bond,” He grinned.

“Oh shut up already,” Chelsea muttered and stalked off.

We all walked the remainder of the way in an uncomfortable silence. The silence itself wasn’t what was uncomfortable, it was more the strange looks I was getting. Chelsea kept looking at me with worried eyes and would throw the occasional glare Ryker’s way. He watched my every move. I began to feel self-conscious and was overthinking every single step I took, praying I wouldn’t fall and embarrass myself.  I could feel his eyes searching my face, almost like he was trying to commit every detail to memory. I couldn’t help but cast a few glances his way, each time he would smile, and each time I would blush and immediately turn my head away, staring forward.

“Gigi?” I called out to my grandma once we entered the apartment.

“Yes love, what is—" She stopped when she saw Ryker standing beside me, her blue eyes widening.

“Strange, you’re not a werewolf?” Ryker turned his head to the side.

“Sorry, a what?” My grandma said nervously tucking a silver strand of hair behind her ear.

She always touched her hair or face when she was uncomfortable.

“If you’re not a werewolf, what are you? How are you related to Willow?” Another shiver went down my spine as he said my name. Something about the way my name came off his lips made my body feel strange things. He made my name sound silky. How is that even possible? How can a word sound like a material? I’m honestly losing my mind.

“A werewolf? Are you feeling well child?” Gigi gave an uneasy look to Ryker.

“Ah, so you’re the one hiding the truth from her,” I could see the realization in Ryker’s eyes. At least one of us understood what the heck was happening. I glanced over to Chels, her face was pale, and she was staring straight ahead. It seemed like she was refusing to meet my eyes, which only left an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

“I’m sorry my dear, I haven’t the slightest clue what you’re talking about. Is this some strange trend you kids are doing these days?” Grandma smiled at us, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Cut the s**t, you know damn well what I’m talking about.” Ryker clenched his fists beside me.

“Kids these days, so strange. I will never understand,” Gigi shrugged and began to make her way to the living room.

Suddenly Ryker launched himself at my grandma and shoved her against the wall, holding her up by her collar.

“I said enough!” He roared, “Tell me the truth. Now!”

“Ryker put her down!” I ran over and tried to pry his hands off of her.

“Not until she tells you the truth,” He looked at me, eyes dark.

“Please, don’t hurt her,” I begged, placing my hand on his strong bicep. His eyes began to soften as he glanced down at my hand on his arm. His eyes then met mine and he held my gaze for a minute before he sighed and released Gigi.

“You have thirty seconds,” He glared at Gigi.

“Son, you have no idea what you’ve just done,” Fear clouded her eyes. I even heard Chelsea mutter a swear. What could possibly be so bad?

“What I’ve done is find my mate. A mate who has no idea who she truly is.”

“It’s for good reason she doesn’t know,” She exclaimed.

“And that is?” he raised his brows at her.

“She’s the flower.”