The Café

Chapter 3

Putting my blue high waisted jeans, a simple black, short sleeve crop shirt, and black ankle boots; I took my hair out of the bun I wear for work, letting my dark blonde hair loose down my back. I was ready to meet my friends at the pub. I said good bye to Mum and Sam and head out the door. I'm sure I will see Sam at the pub later once his shift ends after dinner rush.

My wolf was on edge again. What is with her today?! I continue walking down the street noticing how busy it is. Sure it was a Saturday night but I haven't seen it like this in ages.

I walked into the beer garden at the pub and noticed a larger than usual crowd gathered inside as well. People were crowded around the front bar all talking loudly and drinking. I glanced around briefly until I spotted my friends sitting in a booth along the wall of the garden. The sun was starting to set making the fairy lights and vines covering the beer garden look amazing.

"Tess!" Georgia called as I was walking closer. She caught the attention of a few guys from the booth across the garden as she yelled to me. Her bleach blonde hair, slim figure and beautiful tanned skin made her the envy of many men. I smiled at her greeting shyly.

"Come sit here!" Lee patted the empty seat next to him. Jenna, Issy, Lee, Ryan and Georgia were all sitting together. They shuffled over to make space. I slid in, joining the conversation.

"How was your day Tess?" Lee asked me, turning his body to me indicating I had his whole attention.

"Yea not too bad." I answered. "Yours?"

"Can't complain." He shrugged. He went to continue but was cut off by Issy.

"So have you seen what all the commotion is inside the front bar?" Issy asks everyone curiously.

"Nope! Maybe another out of town footy club is having their footy trip here?" Georgia suggests hopefully. She was a sucker for a footy player.

"Too much excitement for a footy team..." Ryan rolls his eyes at her keeping his arm around his girlfriend, Jenna's, neck.

"I heard it was some famous person!" Jenna adds, ignoring the argument that was about to start and Ryan's edge.

"Famous person?" Georgia asks even more excited than before.

I have already had too many famous people for one day I think as I roll my eyes..

Lee tried to include me in the conversation, "Who do you think it is Tess?"

I shrugged my shoulders. Georgia was probably right about the football team. Our little beach town was the perfect spot for footy trips. And the local girls sure loved out-of-town footy players!

"Well, well, well..." A voice from behind me calls. I see the mouths of my friends on the other side of the booth drop open. Not one of them blinking. Utter shock.

"Didn't expect to see you so soon!" the stranger continued. I turn to see who it was.

Tom Price.

There he was looking ruggedly handsome with a posse off adoring fans trailing behind him. I received a few devil glares from several of the girls while he was talking to me.

"What are you doing here?" I ask. I was shocked. I should have known the crowds were for him. A real celebrity in Point Cornes. The excitement is real.

"Having a beer!" He cheers, holding his glass up to prove his point. He took a large swing and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, grinning like a school boy at the same time.

I smile in response. He has obviously already had a few of those beers.

"I thought I'd have to come into the café to see you again!" Tom continued. "I have to admit, I am disappointed I didn't have to catch you this time." He chuckled teasingly.

"The café? Catch you?" Georgia interrupts suddenly, "You guys have met?" She turned to me glaring like I had kept the worlds most important secret from her. "You met Tom Price and didn't mention it to anyone?!" Georgia was annoyed. I knew she was a big fan. It just didn't seem that big of a deal to me. My wolf was at attention. Taking in everything that was happening. My back where Tom's hand was holding onto my chair was warm like earlier. It felt like tiny, little fireworks going off along my skin from the contact.

I shrugged my shoulders in response to Georgia trying to move away from our contact. It was distracting.

"You didn't mention me?" Tom asked feigning hurt by clutching his hand on his chest. "I'm wounded!" he adds dramatically.

"Obviously wasn't that memorable." I snap back feeling irritated at his cockiness. I earned a snicker from Tom.

"You going to come and have a drink?" Tom asks me.

"I'm spending the night with my friends. Sorry." I reply shortly. I felt Georgia kick me under the table. I glare at her in return.

"You sure?" Tom asks again, leaning closer. I could feel his breath on my cheek. It was sending shivers down my spine but I fought hard not to show it.

"Thanks but I think I've had enough of your company today." I smile at him. He laughs out loud now.

"I have never been rejected so quickly Tess. But you have intrigued me." Tom adds playfully. Issy, Jenna and Ryan are still sitting open-mouthed across the table. Not surprised he has never really had to work to get the attentions of any female. I'm sure female wolves would happily deny their mate bonds for his attention. I was not one of them.

I was about to tell Tom where to go when Lee suddenly stood up and let out a low growl that only werewolves would hear. We are very aware of the humans present in the pub as well as the fellow werewolves.

"She said she wasn't interested." Lee demands. He was holding his body rigid as he stood in front of Tom. His muscles were shaking as he was trying to control his wolf. He was a little bit shorter than Tom but Tom sensibly took a little step back out of Lee's way.

"Woah! Chill dude. No need to get all growl-y at me." Tom defends putting his hands out in surrender while retreating.

He's a werewolf. I should have noticed before. His scent is stronger than the humans, his scent is actually quite alluring - Vanilla and pancakes, although washed out by alcohol now - and he is quite larger than a human man, almost as large as an Alpha. I guess I have been too preoccupied by my embarrassment to notice.

"Well Tess, I'll see you round. You're working tomorrow right?" Tom teases while walking back into the crowd of girls waiting behind him. "For Ian, yea?" He adds, rubbing it in that he knows more about me than I do of him.

Lee sat back down rigidly next to me. Clearly uncomfortable. he was no longer trembling so he had regained control of his wolf.

"That's not the type of guy you want to be mixing with Tess." Lee scowls.

"What are you talking about Lee?!" Issy almost yells. "He is just the type of guy Tess wants to be mixing with!" She adds. winking at me.

"He is very nice to look at, that's for sure!" Jenna agrees, finally speaking after Tom's presence.

Lee sighed defeated. "I just meant that Tess is on of our females, I don't want some out-of-towner with airs to hurt her." Usually I would have been furious that he called me on of our packs females but my head was all over the place. And Georgia took the lead on that argument.

Everyone continued talking about what just happened. I was still taking it in. I didn't know what I felt. I was furious at him for being so forward and confident, but I was also drawn to him, the smell of him, his touch.

"You alright?" Jenna interrupted my thoughts.

I smiled in response, "Fine... just a bit weird!" I admit. Jenna smiles back at me kindly.

"Do you think he'll come and see you again? You seem to have definitely turned his head." She asks.

I shake my head. "No, I am pretty sure he won't even remember tomorrow - he is pretty canned." Honestly, I hoped I didn't see him again. Both my head and my wolf are so dishevelled when he is around. I have no clarity or common sense. I am literally a ball of nerves.

A few hours later and I head to the toilet. Most of the crowds have left so I assume Tom had too. I dodge around the people on the dance floor and make my way to the bathrooms.

My wolf was pacing. She was restless still and would not let me calm. I internally scolded her, telling her to chill out.

I keep walking and notice the line up for the girls bathroom trailing around the corner. Groaning, I change direction and head to the other toilets on the other side of the building, hoping the line up will be shorter.

I round the corner and hear a growl from my wolf. The hairs on my arms stand up and my stomach feels like I ate some really bad chicken.

I look up to see how far I am from the toilets and notice what was waiting for me.

There was Tom. Entwined with what looks to be the same red-leggings chick from the café earlier. She was all over him. Hands moving all across his body. The image made me feel sick. I wasn't sure if I wanted to rip them apart or turn and run. My legs couldn't decide. I just stood there unable to move. The howling in my head was giving me a splitting headache.

Finally I willed my body to move. Turning around to leave but my wolf was still howling.

"Tess!!" Tom calls, ripping his lips off of the girls. I turn my head to him disgusted.

"Why don't you join us?" Tom slurred. I glared at him. I am suddenly reminded of why I was so guarded with him - his reputation. He lives up to everything I had heard. I knew my wolf was warning me about something - don't trust the famous stranger.

I turn on my heel and stomp off. I leave right then and there. There was no coming back from the anger I felt now.