Luna For Hire

Chapter 7 I'll say a proper goodbye next time

　　An hour later, Ava was seated at a table she had only been sharing with her foster father a few minutes ago, but that he had stepped out to talk with someone who waved him over.

　　The chairman of the council, a human dressed in a grey suit was on the raised podium above the level of the tables surrounding it, with a microphone in his hand. He was a middle-aged man with brown, graying hair and a serious countenance on his face as he spoke. He held a glass of wine in his other hand.

　　"...From time immemorial, it had been the job of the Council to mediate between the factions; to maintain peace and order; to restrain arbitrariness; to allow each faction enjoy and partake in society optimally without causing unnecessary imbalance or strife. We have passed the dark ages where we witch-hunt and brand each other with debilitating labels. In this new world, we choose to coexist and respect each other. We choose to restrain and correct one another. That is the only way to move forward. That is why the Council awoke. In times past, it used to be a small room with a handful of supernaturals and even less humans. And now we are a body with adequate representation across the world. But our motive has not changed. We still stand to mediate; to enforce; to restrain; to resolve dispute. And today, we can proudly say we have been successful. Each and every one of you in this hall has been instrumental to our success- that is why you are invited to this August occasion in the first place. So a toast to us and you- cheers-"

　　The audience raised their wine-filled glasses up with the chairman and then sipped from it.

　　"...Once again, we have been successful. We have reached an agreement with representatives of each faction to support inter-order jurisdiction by the Council. The Council will now have powers in mediating even within the orders of each faction....Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy your evening. I'll invite the director of the Rogue Containment Agency in another half hour to give a concise summary of the Agency's achievements in curbing the rogue phenomenon among supernaturals. Thank you."

　　Applause greeted the end of the chairman's speech as he stepped down the short flight of steps connecting to the podium.

　　Ava turned to her phone, her other hand gripping the glass of wine she now sipped. Her thumb went over the screen of her phone as she felt the noise of the hall increase as people began to exchange pleasantries amongst themselves while they entertained themselves with refreshments and awaited the next address by the Director of the RCA. Craig Anderson would be making the address in another thirty minutes.

　　Ava tried to shut out the noise as she pressed on her phone. On the employees' online group at the marketing firm she worked, some of the employees were sending some memo on a possible salary raise and those who were eligible to apply for such...That was interesting and so Ava scrolled through the messages.

　　"Alpha Adrian, nice to meet you here," someone said. "You are usually scarce these days."

　　Alpha? Ava thought, raising her head from her phone. It couldn't be, she told herself. She turned her concentration back to her phone.

　　"I am usually not in the country these days," came a deep… familiar voice. "You will be seeing me a lot often in council meetings after now."

　　"I do hope so. We have a lot to discuss, you and I."

　　Ava raised her head up in mild puzzlement. The voice- the other voice behind her- sounded very familiar. It sounded like the voice of the Werewolf: The werewolf she had met on Friday night last week. Ava shook her head. It wasn't him, she told herself.

　　She kept denying it when she heard a voice behind her. "Hello gorgeous."

　　She whipped her head back to see Adrian joining her three-chaired table and sitting on the chair opposite her. She looked surprised to see him here as he was, her. He was dressed in a black suit and a crisp white shirt and handkerchief with no tie. His eyes and hair were as dark as ever- green eyes a deep dark shade in the night. And his face, still insanely handsome.

　　Ava did not say anything as he sat opposite her. She did not protest when he reached for the small rectangular shaped ID card next to her purse and he glanced at it.

　　"Rogue Containment Agency," Adrian said thoughtfully. "I underestimated you that night- in more ways than one," a small smirk hung on his lips. "I however did not know you worked for the RCA."

　　Ava snatched the ID card from him and slipped it inside her purse. "Confidential information," she said.

　　"So you knew then," Adrian said, looking straight at her.

　　"That you are a werewolf? Yes," Ava answered. "That you are an alpha? No. It seems I was not the only one hiding things that night."

　　"Would it have mattered?"

　　"At least I would have understood why you were so cocky and arrogant," Ava said.

　　"Am I now?" Adrian asked, laughing lightly.

　　"You could have said goodbye, at least," Ava said. "Not sneak off like a ghost."

　　"It was not necessary to say goodbye," Adrian answered. "Pleasantries like that are meaningless if I was going to leave anyways and not come back."

　　Ava did not say anything.

　　"I hope you were not expecting to see me again after that night?" Adrian asked. " We met today by chance. I had not expected to see you here. I considered that night a one-night stand."

　　"As did I, " Ava responded. "I'm happy we can move on now. I only thought you should have shown a level of courtesy."

　　"I am sorry then. I'll say a proper goodbye next time," Adrian said, a small smile tugging at the ends of his lips.

　　"There will be no next time," Ava replied firmly.