Scent of A Rogue

Chapter 11 - A Woman on a Mission

Riva

Waking up to the memory of my shameful behavior, I wanted to get right back under my blanket. If there was anything to be grateful for was that the wolf was – gasp - somehow a gentleman. It still stung, though. I still felt turned down. After being rejected by the Coven, I probably was a little sensitive. When my mind had cleared, though, I understood it for what it was. Respect.

I believed that I got the same respect from Stan.

I met Stan through a chance encounter at a bookshop. It was a painfully dull meet-cute, I suppose. The only excitement I had then was trying to hide the occult book I was holding. I didn't want the handsome lawyer to have the wrong idea. My closest relationships with men were with my absentee father and a few hormonal college classmates, who often shouted "frigid" whenever they saw me.

So, when a kind, well-adjusted male took notice, I had turned to jelly. No, scratch that. That wasn't true at all. When I met him, I saw a solid future. It wouldn't be white picket fences and a large yard, but it could be a large condo in the city. I didn't want to bring Stan close to my Coven. Still, he seemed like a logical choice. I found someone who could take care of me. Very few people thought that I needed to be taken care of. I always said I was orphaned from childhood. I'd like to think I was, but the truth was that I wasn't sure.

I rose from the bed and went through my morning routine. I found the note in the living area. So, Gideon stayed until morning. I didn't know what to feel about that. It was difficult to come to terms with the wolf beyond the stories I'd heard of them.

Today would be my first day as an official city woman, not a witch hiding among humans. I had to hold on to my new identity: ordinary. But maybe not quite as ordinary because I had a lot of things to do. I sighed. The car. The job.

I dressed in a grey pencil skirt and white blouse. I completed the look with a matching blazer. Then, I slipped into a pair of black pumps. I had gotten so used to wearing slippers and sneakers that it felt strange.

Because I didn't know how long it would take to negotiate at the bank, I drove straight to a car buying service. It was in a shady part of the city, hidden from most. However, I had been here before. I had sold a car here before, too. After my first attempt at initiation, I had to get rid of everything I wore and used. I even had to use a spell to make the target forget my face.

He was trembling. At that moment, he was grateful, but I could not risk him identifying me.

"Another car?" the greying man in front of me asked, quickly bringing me back to the present.

It had been six years, and he remembered. He was a little anxious when I first went to his place to sell my Honda Civic, a starter car for an eighteen-year-old. He thought that I was getting cash for my parents' gift. He thought I was sixteen. After I showed him my ID, he relented, but he still gave me the eye.

He was still doing the same thing the second time around. I was twenty-four, but this man still felt it weird that I was selling my car. He might even think it dishonest.

"It's been six years, Mr. Peters," I grunted. "You can have it for a lot less than it's worth."

"And that makes it less suspicious, um, Miss Albrecht?"

He remembered. He must have let my identification details burn in his brain.

"I guess not. But I just need to get – a new car."

I was close to saying that I needed to get rid of it. That would certainly place me on top of his most suspicious list. I was probably already in the Top Ten with the way he watched me.

"Don't get me wrong, Miss Albrecht. You checked out the last time. It's just that you always have this harried look on your face."

"I do?" I laughed.

"Yes. You're too young to look like the world has fallen upon your shoulders. Add to that the fact that you like selling your cars cheaply and quickly. It makes me take notice."

"I'm just tired all the time. I also lost my job recently," I said, not exactly lying.

"I’m sorry to hear that. Okay, I will buy your car. Oh, something else…”

Suddenly, I heard the hesitation in his voice.

“Yes?”

“You look like someone I know.”

I felt a chill. Somehow, I knew who he was talking about. Who else could it be?

“Go on,” I urged him, my throat dry.

“He used to often come here, selling his old cars and other things, too.”

“Huh. Tall. Dark-haired. Green eyes. Shifty?” I asked bitterly.

Mr. Peters chuckled. There was nothing funny about it, though. I wanted to know where the hell my father had been or if he was actually dead.

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“It’s been a while, Miss Albrecht. Maybe around three years.”

“Here’s what you can do for me and I just might be the one to give you money this time. If you see him again, message me on this number.”

I quickly took a piece of paper and a pen from my bag and scribbled the number.

“Would you be comfortable with giving me your number?”

“No. Not really. This one's my burner phone number.”

“Ah,” he murmured knowingly.

I bet he already realized who I was to Dorival Grant. Mr. Peters was probably mulling over the possibility that both father and daughter might be criminals of some sort. Let him think whatever of me.

“Well, what say you?”

“Why not?” he grinned.

“Well, you can get your advanced payment right now. Take one grand from the money you were about to give me.”

“That generous?”

I didn’t want to tell him that I could afford it. It might land me in all kinds of trouble. I’d rather be the criminal type who was always strapped for cash.

“He’s that important,” I muttered. “Don’t forget to identify yourself when you send me a message, or I won’t reply.”

Mr. Peters gave me my cash. I left his place without a vehicle, walking through the dark alley heading to the main road. Under my blazer was a small knife. If ever anyone wanted to give the working woman a beating, they would be in for a surprise.

So far, I got to the main road without any scrapes except for a few wolf whistles. I didn’t have the time and energy to waste on a few young hooligans. If they had tried something more, I would be ready for them.

I reached the bank at almost 10 in the morning. My friend Jane Foster was there. She immediately hopped-ran toward me. Yeah, she was pretty bouncy. Her blonde curls were made for such movements. I could not help but smile back at her.

“You’re back. I knew you would be,” Jane hugged me, her head reaching my collarbone.

“I’m here to apply for a position. I know I left, but now, I’m here for good.”

I inhaled and exhaled sharply. Jane was too happy to care.

“Mr. Edgar would have no problem taking you back, Riva! We are a little understaffed.”

“Understaffed? When has the bank ever been understaffed?”

“One of the girls disappeared last week. She’s not qualified for the position, but Mr. Edgar took her in, anyway.”

“Oh.”

Strange.

Then, I smelled a whiff of something citrusy with lavender. Usually, it meant someone had been to Bath & Body Works and had a shopping spree. In this case, there was a hint of sulfur, too. It was the smell of dark magic.

I could not get into the details of the girl’s disappearance, nor could I investigate the source of the smell because Jane was too busy dragging me towards Mr. Edgar’s office. The sixty-ish, stout man had always been like a father to me. He was glad I was there. It was final. I was getting the job.

A girl’s disappearance making way for me to work at the bank made me anxious. I did not like getting in because someone had ended up dead or kidnapped. Still, the idea of getting a job on the first day I looked for one was tempting. It was necessary to keep me sane. I vowed that I would step back if the girl managed to return.

“This is all very strange, Jane. I didn’t expect to be employed right away, not after I resigned.”

“Mr. Edgar appreciates that you were frank about not knowing if you were coming back or not. We always thought you would be back.”

“Always?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Yes.”

I was dragged right into work. I guessed it was a good thing. It made me forget about all the things that had happened the past few days. For a short while.

The rest of the day was uneventful. Even calling a cab was easy since I was right in the middle of the city. The highlight of the day was selling my car. Oh, boy. I wondered how I could stand another one of these days.

As I stepped towards my building, I saw a familiar figure lurking by the lamppost. Large and imposing, Doug Sheffield was not easy to miss. Though not a wolf, Doug could be predatory. Even his cousin Stan did not like him.

One night after Doug came to have dinner with us, Stan had seemed to feel relieved that his cousin had left. He had let out an audible sigh of relief.

“What’s that about?” I remembered asking.

“You wouldn’t want to have anything to do with Doug, Riva. He’s bad news.”

“What kind of thing is that to say about your cousin?” I had teased him then.

“I don’t want him to get judged for his juvie record, but there’s more to it. He’s violent.”

“Based on his juvie record?”

“No. Based on what I saw with my own two eyes. Doug had hit his own brother on the jaw. Poor kid ended up in the hospital. No charges were pressed because their parents relied on Doug too much.”

“He seems well off,” I had observed, considering that he had a unit in the building I lived in. He also didn’t look like he had a job, or perhaps he had one of those casual offices.

“Yeah, I don’t know where he’s getting money. Try to distance yourself from him. I also think that he likes you.”

“Wouldn’t that be a plus? He wouldn’t hurt me if he likes me, or would he?”

Stan thought I was a helpless woman since he never knew who I really was. I felt guilty about it, but it had to stay that way.

“No, Riva. He likes you likes you, if you know what I mean.”

I had to admit that had some effect on me. Doug was an imposing man, not just tall but also broad. He looked like he was a regular in gyms. If I didn’t use magic, I would have a hard time fending him off. Yet I bet that he didn’t know I could put up a fight at all.

“Don’t worry, Stan. We’d be fine. I think he would stay away from me since I’m with you.”

I saw the anxiety on Stan’s face then. He didn’t look convinced.

I was hurled back into the present day as Doug waited outside the building like a jilted lover. How dare he?

“Riva.”

“Doug.”

Then, he started following me.

Into the elevator and out again. My heart raced as Doug followed me to my door. During the argument, he said that he wasn’t concerned about Stan and me. What did that even mean? I didn’t want to know. I just wanted him out of my way.

Then, I sensed something. I smelled Gideon before he made his presence known. He was walking carefully. Slowly. Despite myself, my heart went out to him. He was trying to disguise his limp. He didn’t want this asshole in front of me to know. It was probably something that never mattered when he was in charge of his pack. I had an idea that nobody would dare say anything against an Alpha.

But he was no longer one now? Wasn’t he? He had gone rogue.

I assured him that I was okay. I was surprised that he read my mind, and I could tell he was just as shocked. We needed to be careful not to alert this buffoon.

Thankfully, Doug realized that I would not give in to whatever crazy idea he had. He stalked away. When he was gone, Gideon surprised me with his good news. It was strange how glad I was for him and that I had somehow gotten over the awkwardness of the situation.

Then, he said goodbye. I was tempted to invite him inside but hesitated. What would he think of me, then? Would he think that I would jump him again?

So, I went into my apartment alone and crashed on my couch. Inside, I checked my phone’s messages. One was from Jane, gushing about how happy she was that I was back at work. Then, there was one from Willa.

How are you? I’ll come to you if you want me to. You need to be back here. You have more right to be in the Coven than some of the initiates. They got it easy.

No. No, Willa. I could only take so much rejection. I didn’t push myself where I was not wanted. It made me think of Gideon and how he had gently calmed down my lust. My heart twisted at the thought – at my humiliation. Of course, he was still in love with his mate – and they did mate for life, didn’t they?

To distract myself from my thoughts of my new wolf neighbor, I turned on my burner phone to check if Mr. Peters had anything to tell me. I didn’t really expect that he would work fast, but as soon as I turned on the phone, there was a ping.

“Huh?”

Have you looked for Stan lately?

The text was sent around an hour ago. I typed furiously.

“Is this Mr. Peters?”

Then, I placed the phone on the table. I watched it while jiggling my right leg up and down. My breath had become ragged, and my palms clammy.

Then, it vibrated. With one shaking hand, I took the phone and checked the message.

When was the last time you talked to Stan? This is not Mr. Peters.

Was Stan playing a prank on me? He and Willa were the only ones who knew this number – and well, there was Mr. Peters, too.