Chapter 4 : Scars and Second Chances
1080 Words
The doctors were amazed by Nolan's healing ability. They didn't know he was a werewolf, but they knew there was something unique about him having never met a patient so unique. There's never been a point where someone wakes up from a coma and just starts doing basic things. They wanted to keep him for longer, to do more tests.
But Nolan didn't want to stay.
It was a few days after he'd woken up and he wanted to leave. Tamara had told him the best she could about the family's misfortune, how hard she'd worked to help with his medical bills and he wanted to take charge a bit. He wanted to participate in helping out. He may not know much about this world, but he was a fast learner and felt like there was definitely something he could do to make money for them.
“You could work at a bar."
He faced his cousin, a curious look on his face. “A bar?"
They were taking a stroll outside the hospital building, in the garden, because he wanted some air. It was his last day before leaving and he was feeling a bit angsty.
“You asked to work, and I'm not going to ask you not to even if you just woke up. It's not like you've ever really listened to me whenever it came to your health," Tamara remarked.
"True.”
Even back then, the reason why he'd ended up in a fatal condition that needed Thea to help so something was because he partially didn't listen to his older cousin. He wondered what would've happened if he'd listened.
He turned to look at her profile as they say on a bench by the fountain. "Tamara?”
"Hm?”
“Did you believe anything I said?" he asked.
She looked confused for a moment before her expression cleared. With a sigh, she rubbed her temple for a bit before responding with a, "I don't know what to believe. I'm inclined to believe you, sure. But how am I supposed to accept that my cousin who I've seen for most of his life is some sort of reincarnation?”
Nolan nodded. Maybe telling her right away wasn't the right call. But she didn't look like she distrusted him or anything. It was probably too much.
“Sorry," he muttered.
He felt an arm go around him. “Don't be sorry. Considering the fact that you called me Faith and your detailed explanation of everything… it's hard to say that you're lying about anything. You have that serious look on your face whenever you're telling the truth.”
He knew it was hard for her to accept his explanation, but she'd always been smart even back then. If there was anyone to trust, she was there. Even if she didn't believe him, he knew she would try to dig deeper to get more information. She'd always been willing to give him the benefit of the doubt no matter what. It could be because he'd always been her favorite cousin or her only companion.
“We could check the history books later… do we have those?” he asked, carefully wrapping an arm around her.
“That's the only thing that survived in the fire," Tamara said after a thoughtful moment. "I always thought they weren't of importance, but your parents always kept them in a safe space, so I took them. It's the only thing they had left so I kept them.”
"But you never opened them,” he concluded.
Tamara smiled. "That's always been your thing. I got too much work to do to read some damn pages, sorry.” She didn't look apologetic. Just that made Nolan let out a laugh for the first time since he'd woken up.
“So before we go back to werewolf history, would you like to know where you'd be working?"
He nodded.
He'd gotten a job at a bar. A very expensive one. Tamara praised that his good looks even with his fire scars would help him get women- and men- to buy more drinks and help with tips. He didn't understand what tips were till he did some research, with help from her. Getting used to the technology wasn't very easy. It wasn't like back then there weren't any great inventions, it was just that none of them compared to anything he was currently looking at.
“Hi. I'm Gracie."
He raised his head, quietly looking at the brown haired woman with bright red lipstick leaning forward on the counter and giving him a look he was very familiar with.
“I’m Nolan," he introduced himself with a charming smile. “What can I get you tonight?"
The look she gave him was one of leer before she answered with an expected, “Are you available for tonight?"
"I'm not, Gracie. Unfortunately for you. What drink would you like to order?”
His voice remained calm and charming as he forced out a laugh. It was getting much darker as more people entered the building and he didn't have any intention in cursing anyone out. Tamara wouldn't be happy. Plus, this was a woman. Being respectful to them even when they weren't with him was his thing. Unless they pushed his buttons.
“That’s too bad,” she pouted. "I really like your scar. How did you get it?”
"Fire.”
"I'm sorry. It's hot though.”
He nodded, feeling himself get impatient as he waited for her to order.
“A whiskey would be nice. With ice," she finally let out when she realized the looks she was giving him weren't working on him.
He nodded in relief as he got ready to make her simple drink.
This was a job that he'd just started this night, a day after he'd gotten out of the hospital and he was going to do his best. He'd never had a problem with talking to women so he knew this would be smooth.
He was suddenly distracted as the doors bursted open.
He paused to stare into very familiar green eyes in shock, his heart beating heavily as he could pick out her flowery scent from the crowd of people in the building.
If he didn't believe in destiny, he did right now. Because there's never been a point where he expected to find the love of his life so soon. His mate.
“Thea," he croaked.
- Writer
