The Alpha King's Mate

Chapter 8: ECHOES FROM THE PAST

Kate sat alone in the empty restaurant, the gentle hum of the dishwasher and the occasional clink of utensils the only sounds breaking the silence. Christian’s words echoed in her mind, mingling with the image of his piercing grey eyes and the feeling of his intense gaze on her. The day had been a blur, and she was still reeling from their conversation.

She glanced at the clock on the wall; it was past midnight. Maddy had already left, and Kate was alone with her thoughts. The restaurant, once bustling and alive, now seemed like a distant memory. The place felt hollow, just as she felt inside. Her mind wandered back to Christian’s cryptic comments.

*“You feel the connection. Don’t you?”*

She touched her chest as if it might somehow soothe the strange, aching sensation she felt there. Christian’s words seemed to have ignited something deep within her, a spark she didn’t know existed until now. She had to admit it; there was something undeniably magnetic about him. But what did it mean?

As she began to clean up, her thoughts turned darker. The encounter with Christian stirred more than just curiosity; it had awoken fears she thought she had buried. She picked up a damp rag and started wiping down the tables, though her motions were more mechanical than purposeful.

*Why did he save me? Why did he come to see me now?* The questions twisted in her mind like a maze she couldn’t navigate.

A soft chime from her phone broke her reverie. It was a message from Maddy:

*“Hope you’re okay, Kate. Call me when you get a chance. I’m worried about you.”*

Kate sighed, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She considered ignoring it, but the words of concern felt like a lifeline. She typed a quick reply:

*“I’m fine, Maddy. I’m just tired. I’ll call you tomorrow. Thanks for checking in.”*

After sending the message, Kate slipped her phone into her pocket and finished tidying up. The sky outside was dark, and the streetlights cast long shadows on the snow-covered ground. She walked out of the restaurant and started heading home, her thoughts still on Christian.

When she reached her house, she noticed something odd—a black SUV parked across the street. Its tinted windows made it impossible to see who was inside, but the presence of the vehicle set her nerves on edge. She hesitated for a moment, feeling that familiar prickle on the back of her neck.

*Is it him?* she wondered. The SUV remained stationary, and she couldn’t see any movement through the windows.

Taking a deep breath, Kate quickened her pace and went inside. The warmth of the house did little to ease her unease. Her aunt was already asleep, and the house was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the old floorboards.

Kate went straight to her room and locked the door. She pulled out her phone and stared at Christian’s message. *“We will meet again.”* The words replayed in her mind.

As she lay in bed, she tried to focus on something else—her schoolwork, her friends, anything to distract herself from the enigma that was Christian White. But her thoughts kept returning to that night in the woods, the wolves, and the secrets that Christian had revealed.

She tossed and turned, unable to find any comfort in sleep. Finally, she gave up and sat up, her mind racing.

She needed answers. And there was only one person who could provide them: Christian. But how could she find him? She had no idea where he lived or even if he wanted to see her again.

The next morning, she woke up groggy and disoriented. The memory of Christian’s visit was still fresh, and she found herself dreading the day ahead. She got ready for school with a heavy heart and a mind full of questions.

The day dragged on, each minute feeling like an hour. During lunch, she sat alone, picking at her food while staring out the window. Maddy’s text from the night before had been forgotten in the whirlwind of her thoughts, and she was left to stew in her own confusion.

When the school day ended, she made her way back to the restaurant, her footsteps slow and heavy. The tension in her chest was almost unbearable. As she approached the restaurant, she saw the black SUV again, this time parked across the street, just like the night before.

Kate stopped in her tracks. Her heartbeat quickened. She glanced around but saw no one. The vehicle was silent and still.

*What do I do?* she wondered. She had hoped to avoid any more encounters with Christian, but it seemed fate had other plans.

Summoning her courage, she walked towards the restaurant. As she neared the entrance, the SUV’s engine roared to life, and the vehicle slowly pulled away from the curb. Kate watched it disappear down the street, her thoughts racing faster than ever.

Inside, the restaurant was just as she remembered it—warm, inviting, but somehow not as comforting as it used to be. She had to face her fears and find out what Christian wanted from her.

*I need to talk to him again,* she resolved. She couldn’t ignore the strange connection she felt with him, no matter how terrifying or confusing it was.

That night, as she prepared for bed, she decided to be proactive. She would look for any clues about Christian. Maybe there was something—anything—that could lead her to him.

She took out her laptop and began searching for information about Christian White. There was no way she would let this mystery consume her life.

She typed his name into the search engine and watched as the results populated. News articles, company profiles, and a lot of glossy photos of him. But she wasn’t interested in his business achievements or public persona. She needed to dig deeper.

As she scrolled through the pages, one headline caught her eye:

*“Christian White: The Man Behind the Legend”*

Kate clicked on the article and began to read, hoping it would shed some light on the enigmatic man who had saved her life and captured her thoughts.