The Protector of Wolves

Chapter 10: 2 Years Later

Lacy's POV

2 Years Later

I glance at my phone: 8:22pm.

Where is she? It's not like her to be this late... I hope she's okay.

As I'm waiting, I notice a young couple sit down next to me at the bar. The female is tall and slender, and her straight, blond hair is in a high ponytail that reaches just past her shoulders. Her face has a subtle shimmer from her makeup. It may be a little overdone for the pub, but she looks lovely. The male with her is also tall, but a tad lanky for my taste. Not that I'm interested in dating humans anyway. However, since I am unable to find my fated mate, I will admit that in the past I had thought about finding a human "mate." But my relationship with Caleb turned sour very quickly, so lately I've decided I'm probably better off alone.

I'm deep in thought when I feel my phone buzz.

Selena: OMG

Selena: I'm sooo sorry Lacy.

Selena: I'm not going to be able to make it. Rain check?!

Me: Oh no! Everything okay?

Selena: Yeah. Just ran into some issues at the coven that have to be taken care of asap.

Selena: Have fun without me though!!

Me: Hah, I'll try

Selena: Text ya later!

I let out a soft sigh. I haven't been out with Lena in weeks and I was looking forward to tonight. I decide to stay at the bar and finish my drink though. I notice the female next to me stand up and announce to her date, "I'll be right back. Gotta run to the lady's room really quick!" Her date, lanky guy, watches her walk to the back of the bar towards the restrooms. Once she is out of sight, I notice him sneakily pull something from his jacket pocket and I pretend not to notice. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him very slyly drop something in his date's drink.

I feel my cheeks becoming heated. I can hear my wolf cursing in my head. I take a slow deep breath to calm myself down. I stand up, reach for my purse from on top of the bar, and "accidentally" knock over the spiked drink which spills all over his lap.

"OH MY GOD. I'm so sorry!" I say as sweetly and innocently as I can, the insincerity evident in my tone. He turns his head to me, and his eyes lock onto mine. I stare back, rivaling his intensity. The bartender catches onto the tension between us.

"Is there a problem?" he asks, shifting his eyes between us.

"Yes, I just watched him put a tablet in his date's drink," I calmly explain, while still staring at the perpetrator. I do not dare to break eye contact with him; I will not show weakness.

He's looking at me too, tension stretching across his whole body. His fists are clenched. The anger in lanky guys eyes is soon replaced with panic as he realizes he’s been caught. He quickly stands up and bolts out the front entrance. His date comes back from the restroom just in time to catch a glimpse of him leaving. She looks between me and the bartender with furrowed eyebrows.

"Did I do something wrong? Why is he leaving?" she questions, a mix of confusion and disappointment evident in her voice. The bartender looks to me, unsure what to say.

"Why don't you report this to the police, and I will talk to her." I suggest to him. He gives me a quick nod and then begins dialing on the phone.

"What do you mean report this to the police?" she asks me with wide eyes.

I motion to her to sit at the bar stools with me. "I know it probably doesn't feel good watching your date walk out, but you didn't do anything wrong – he didn't leave because of anything you did," I try to explain as carefully as possible. She stares at me, waiting for me to continue. "I don't know how else to tell you this...but while you were in the restroom, I caught your date slipping a pill in your drink."

"A pill? Like... he tried to drug me?" Her nose scrunches up. "Ugh! What the hell!"

"Yeah, I know, It's awful what he tried to do. I saw him drop the pill in your drink after you walked away, so I knocked it over and onto his lap. He got very angry, and the bartender came over to us. When I told him what happened your date ran."

She looks away from me with a pensive look on her face. After a moment, she looks back at me.

"You know, I've always heard 'don't leave your drink unattended!' and all that jazz, but I never really gave it much thought. I just didn't think it would happen to me, or that anyone would do such a thing," she admits as she looks down at the floor. "He seemed so nice. People are horrible." she says.

"The world is not perfect and it defnitely has some terrible people in it, but the world is also full of wonderfully amazing people, too. Don't let that one loser discourage you from seeing the good in the world." The words come out of my mouth so naturally, but I feel slightly pained at the truth of my own words; I've had a somewhat despairing view of the world for a while – or at least my world.

"Well, it's good to know that there are kind people like you looking out for others. I don't even want to think about what would have happened if you weren't here..." she turns a little pale.

"Do you have anyone who can come pick you up and help you work through this? It's probably better you aren't alone tonight. It might not feel like it now, but this might start to feel kind of traumatic for you and I'd hate for you to be alone.”

"Yes, I live with my older sister. I will have her come pick me up. Thank you." She gives me a forced smile. "I'm Brooke, by the way."

"Nice to meet you, Brooke. I'm Lacy."

The bartender turns to us. "Don't mean to interrupt. But the police would like to speak with both of ya."

Brooke suggests that I go first so she can call her sister. I nod in agreement and the bartender hands me the phone. I give my report to the police and they ask me several questions. After I've finished talking with the police, I hand the phone to Brooke. While she's giving her report, I notice that another young woman with blond hair walks through the door. She spots us and then runs right over.

"Brookie! Are you okay?!"

Brooke holds up a finger to the woman I assume to be her sister and mouths 'one sec!' She wraps up the conversation with the police and hands the phone back to the bartender.

"Brooke, I am so sorry! That guy is a scumbag!" She pulls Brooke into a tight hug, then looks at me and thanks me for helping her sister. We say our goodbyes and Brooke and her sister head out the door.

I sit back down at the bar stool and put my face into my hands. That is definitely not how I pictured tonight going. If Lena were here, I might have been too distracted to notice him slip the pill in her drink.

I'm pulled from my thoughts when I notice a guy standing next to me at the bar. He's above average height and pretty buff, too. After he orders a few drinks, he turns to me.

"Hey, my friends and I saw what happened – lucky you were here! Would you like to join us? Figured you might want some company." He leans in closer to me and whispers, "Plus, my friend over there in the light blue shirt has been staring at you all night. He won't admit it, but I think he has a thing for you," he says with a huge toothy grin and a wink.

I give him a soft chuckle and turn to look at his friend. We lock eyes and my breath hitches in my throat.