Warrior's human mate

Chapter 6

Laila

Bright smiles lit up the faces of two lovely girls. One was tall and lean with dark brown hair and brown eyes, while the other was shorter, with brown hair and striking green eyes, the same as Mrs. Montgomery. Their high cheekbones, button noses, and full lips made it clear that they were siblings. They reminded me of my sister, though Linda was blonde. A warm feeling tugged at my heart as I thought of my baby sister. Well, she wasn’t a baby anymore, but to me, she was always that chubby-cheeked little girl.

The shorter brunette let out a small squeal as she gave me a tight hug. It surprised me—I'd never met anyone so excited and friendly to meet me. Was this typical American fake friendliness? She stepped back, looking me up and down with a bright smile.

“Oh, James! She’s so pretty!”

I was a little confused. What did my appearance have to do with James? The other girl extended her hand to me.

“I’m Adriana, and this happy ball of energy is Fay. We’ve heard so much about you from James!”

She smiled warmly at me, then at James. I shook her hand, still processing everything.

“So much?” I asked, turning to James, who was grinning sheepishly. I raised an eyebrow.

“I met him once, and he barely knows five facts about me. I’m curious—what could be ‘so much’ to talk about?”

I gave him a questioning look. He simply shrugged and gave me another sheepish smile. Adriana’s smile faltered slightly.

“Oh, my brother is an i.diot. Don’t mind him,” Fay said with a wave.

I continued to eye James, still unsure.

“Well, I guess that makes two of us who think so highly of him,” I teased with a smile. James' smile faded, and there was a hint of discomfort in his eyes. He squinted at me, pressing his lips together in clear frustration.

Had this guy never been rejected before? Had every girl fallen for him just because of a few cheesy lines? I couldn’t help but feel a little irritated by his arrogance.

Fay snickered.

“Ha! You’re funny! And bold. I like you already!” she said.

I found myself liking her too. She took my elbow gently.

“Come on! You don’t know anyone here. Let me introduce you to some lovely people.”

I relaxed a little and allowed her to guide me across the room.

“Hey, Aunty Harper! Uncle Henry! This is James’s…”

She paused, as if realizing something, and I frowned. James’s what? I was nothing to him.

“Laila is our home re-decorator. She came from abroad. We’re so glad to have her here,” Fay quickly corrected herself.

I was taken aback.

“Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” A kind woman with a few gray hairs said warmly. Her brown eyes sparkled with affection, and her smile radiated kindness. I’ve always admired older women with such a loving and gentle presence.

“The pleasure is mine,” I replied sincerely, offering her a genuine smile.

“I’ve known James since he was in diapers. He’s been waiting for you for so long!” she said, her tone filled with nostalgia.

I raised an eyebrow, slightly confused. “Wait, how is this connected to James?”

“Wasn’t it Mrs. Montgomery who wanted the house redecorated?” I asked, genuinely puzzled.

Harper’s smile faltered as she glanced at Fay, her expression shifting slightly.

“Oh, um... Yes, Mom wanted it, but actually... it was James’s idea first that we should do it,” Fay stammered, her words coming out a little hesitantly. There’s something off in the way she’s speaking. Why are they acting like this?

Just as I started to process the awkwardness of the moment, a man—an older version of James—approached and stood next to Uncle Henry. His dark hair and brown eyes are distinct, but his face mirrors James’s in almost every other way. His gaze met mine, and he smiled warmly, though there was a certain intensity in his eyes.

“Dad! Have you met Laila? She’s the designer our mom hired,” James’s voice carried a note of pride, and I noticed his father’s expression brighten at the mention of my name.

His smile widened as he turned his attention toward me. “Nice to meet you, Laila! We’re so happy to finally have you here.”

Finally? We’d finalized the project months ago. Was this some kind of odd slip, or had they experienced previous disappointing projects? I started to mentally scramble, trying to piece together an explanation for the strange behavior I’m witnessing. Is it just me, or is something really off about this family dynamic?

“It brings me peace to learn that you are Ja...that you... exist,” he continued, his words trailing off awkwardly as if searching for the right thing to say. He smiled brightly again, then winked at me.

I frowned, my confusion deepening. His words... my existence brought him peace? What was that supposed to mean? The whole interaction feels unsettling. There’s a palpable sense of unease that I can't shake. Between the changing statements, the hesitation, and the constant mentions of James, something feels way off. I can practically feel the tension hanging in the air.

Before I could dwell on it too much, Mrs. Montgomery approached us, brushing past her husband with an affectionate glance. She moved toward me, and before I could react, she planted two quick kisses on my cheeks.

Oh, well, I guess we’ve moved past all the formalities now.

“I’m so happy you could make it, dear!” Her voice was warm, and she took a step back to assess me with a bright smile. “Is James tending well to your needs, dear?”

She asked this sweetly, but I can’t help but notice the underlying tone—she’s clearly assigned James to watch over me tonight.

“Oh, James, what are you doing all the way over there in the back?” she scolded playfully, her tone light but with a hint of authority.

“Come! I can see that Laila’s glass is already empty. Please, son, take care of that for her!”

She motioned for her son to come closer to us.

“Let me refill it for you,” he said in that smooth, soothing voice. A fresh wave of goosebumps spread across my arms. I was too surprised to protest. He gently brushed his fingers against mine as he took my glass. A sharp breath escaped me. The warmth and subtle tingle from the touch lingered on my skin, but I quickly tried to focus my attention back on Mrs. Montgomery.

“Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Montgomery. I do hope this event proves to be very successful, as the cause is close to my heart,” I said sincerely.

“Really?” James’s dad asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

“How so?” he inquired further.

“I used to volunteer at an orphanage,” I explained, my voice becoming more somber. “I saw and heard many heartbreaking stories. The struggle these children face is all too real.”

I kept my explanation brief, as sadness started to pull at me. I could still vividly recall the faces of those children, their longing for love and a place to call home. The painful memories of their nightmares, and how they would plead to be adopted, stayed with me.

“Wow, you’re really admirable,” Adriana said warmly.

“James! It’s official—I love her!” Fay declared, beaming as she looked at her brother, who had just returned with my glass.

What does that have to do with James? I wondered. Were they trying to pair us up? It was such an odd thing to do, at least I’ve never encountered, maybe from older generations, but not youngsters.

“Well, thank you! You’re certainly very… friendly,” I said, feeling a bit awkward but trying to smile through it.

Sensing my discomfort, James stepped in. “Fay can be a bit much sometimes. But bear with us. At least you don’t have to live with her.”

He gave me a playful wink as he stood beside me, and I noticed his parents exchange small, affectionate smiles as they glanced at Fay.

Fay stuck her tongue out at James. “You’re a d.ick, James!”

I couldn’t help but snicker inwardly at the exchange, despite the awkwardness.

“Language, young lady!” Mrs. Montgomery gently reprimanded.

“But it’s true, mom!” Fay protested with a pout.

Mrs. Montgomery waved her daughter off and turned her attention back to me.

“Dear, you truly have a loving heart. Please, call me Claire. No need for formalities anymore.”

Her kindness was warm, and it made me smile softly.

“And you can call me Dad, Laila,” Mr. Montgomery added with a wink.

I blinked, unsure how to respond. Dad? Was he teasing me? Was he just being super friendly? We weren’t family, after all. The words caught in my throat, and I stood there, frozen, unsure of how to reply. A quiet moment stretched between us, and I realized I was actually speechless. That was rare for me.

Thankfully, Aunt Harper changed the subject, sparing me from further awkwardness. They began talking about previous charity balls and reminiscing about other family events. The conversation moved on, but I felt somewhat left out. No one was addressing me directly, and I couldn’t help but grow bored as they exchanged stories.

I excused myself quietly with a soft, “Excuse me,” and made my way away from them. I figured I could slip into the bathroom for a brief respite to gather my thoughts.

As I reached the bathroom door, a strange feeling washed over me—goosebumps spread across my skin, the kind of sensation that only one person seemed to provoke. I turned, and sure enough, James was following me.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you planning to sit next to me while I pee?”

Annoyance bubbled up, but he merely grinned, his smile turning amused.

“No, no. Take your time. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

I narrowed my eyes again, irritated by his persistence. I’d never had someone follow me like this. Ignoring him, I pushed open the bathroom door and locked it behind me.

Sighing in relief, I leaned against the door. I had been around strangers countless times, and yet, it had always felt comfortable. But with James… I couldn’t shake the tension. Every time he was around, I felt on edge, never able to completely relax. Now, behind the locked door, I could finally let out a breath and feel like myself again.

Why was he being so persistent? He started to feel like a bugger. Why couldn’t he just leave me alone?

I took my time, longer than necessary, in an attempt to avoid facing him again. I was sure he was waiting outside. I didn’t have time to go through or analyze the whirlwind of emotions from our previous encounters; but I had a wall up—high and strong—pushing him away with every chance I got. But, despite all that, his bright smile lingered in my mind, making it hard to shake him off completely.

I grabbed a paper towel, soaked it in cold water, and placed it on the back of my neck. Pushing James away was making me tired. Usually, I was a calm, easygoing person, never bothered by unwanted attention. I had a way of deflecting advances with just a few sharp words. But James… he was different.

I dried my neck with another paper towel and stared at myself in the mirror. It was clear: I wasn’t used to dealing with a playboy like him.

I blew out a heavy breath and braced myself to face James again. Slowly, I opened the bathroom door just a c***k to peek outside. I wanted to make sure he wasn’t waiting for me, so I could slip past him unnoticed. But when I didn’t see him, I opened the door a little wider. Relief flooded through me as I realized he wasn’t there. Still, a sense of suspicion lingered. I cautiously scanned the room, taking care to look for any sign of him.

When I didn’t spot him, I started to walk in the opposite direction, making sure I didn’t turn a corner and run straight into him. But then—bam—I bumped into someone.

“Sh*t!” I exclaimed, the impact making me stumble sideways. The person quickly caught me by my forearms to steady me. My eyes widened as I looked up at him.

“I’m so sorry!” I blurted out before even fully seeing the person. My gaze was at chest level—though I was wearing 3-inch heels, I still felt like I had bumped into his stomach. I had to crane my neck to look up at his face.

Jeez. The guy was huge. Was he over two meters tall? I wondered if he played basketball. He had dark hair and thick black eyebrows that framed his deep brown eyes. His nose was sharp but slightly crooked, and his high cheekbones were covered by a few days’ worth of stubble, giving him a rugged, s.exy edge. His full lips curved into a smirk.

Great. Another rich, hot playboy. What was it with the men around here?

“And what is a little human like you doing here?” His deep, playful voice snapped me back from my thoughts, and my eyes shot up to meet his. "Little human" was an interesting nickname to give me. Was he mocking me?

“I was definitely not trying to bump into a big human like you,” I retorted, trying to stay composed despite the heat rising in my cheeks. He tilted his head slightly, an amused smile playing on his lips.

He finally released my arms, and I noticed how warm his hands had been when they touched me. He looked at me with a piercing gaze, his eyes searching mine, and for a moment, I was frozen, standing there staring at him. My mouth slightly parted, I found myself breathless. Was it from sneaking away? Or the sudden jolt of bumping into him? Or maybe it was because this guy was just… too handsome?

“Well, see you around then.” He nodded and turned to disappear into the crowd, leaving me standing there, still trying to steady my heartbeat.

What a night. I wasn’t usually this clumsy, but here I was, tripping over my own feet in front of a stranger. And on top of that, trying to sneak away from a guy like I was some teenager.

Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I made my way to the bar to grab a glass of water. I needed something to calm my nerves. These events could get boring, especially when you didn’t know many people, and that was definitely my case.

I retreated to the furthest, darkest corner of the room, hoping James wouldn’t find me there. I was wrong. Ten minutes later, a cheerful smile greeted me.

Looking up, I saw James’ handsome face, and once again, a shiver ran down my spine. This time, though, it was different. It was more like a wave of desire.

Oh, come on, Laila. Get a grip.

“There you are! Sorry! I had to talk to some other guests. Business stuff,” he said, his smile bright and apologetic.

I furrowed my brows and instinctively shrank into the corner. In my head, I imagined that I could somehow step back, melt into the wall, and disappear, like that GIF of Homer Simpson vanishing into the bushes. I couldn’t help but smile inwardly. Sometimes my imagination really ran away with me.

“You can talk with your guests all evening long,” I said, shrugging nonchalantly. “You don’t need to apologize. It’s okay.”

James looked at me with that mischievous glint in his eyes, his smile still wide. “Ah, but I want to spend my night in your lovely company.”

I snorted, almost spitting out my water in the process. Not the most ladylike reaction, but it slipped out before I could stop myself.

“Well, James, I think we both know that I’ve been everything but lovely tonight,” I said, looking at him pointedly. It was the truth. No need to butter me up or fake-flatter me. I valued honesty and bluntness—even if it made things awkward, uncomfortable, or hurtful. The truth couldn’t be changed even if it was ugly, so it had to be accepted.

I could feel myself growing tense again, and with it, a wave of exhaustion. I was ready to go home.

“Well, true,” he responded in a serious tone, nodding his head in agreement. “But we both know that’s just a fake side of yours, and in reality, you’re a very sweet and lovely lady.”

He winked at me with a pearly smile, locking his gaze onto mine, as if he could see through me and into my heart. I froze, unable to move or think, just holding his gaze.

Before I could react, another handsome guy approached us.

“Brother, my man!” The newcomer exclaimed, grinning widely as he hugged James and clapped him on the shoulder. “Haven’t seen you around much lately! Drowning yourself in work, huh?”

James responded with a nonchalant, “Well, you know… a lot to do.”

His tone was odd. It felt… off. I squinted, wondering if he was avoiding something.

“And who is this beautiful lady next to you?” the new guy asked, his eyes lighting up as he turned to me.

James coughed, clenching his jaw. He seemed… upset? The guy noticed and exchanged a look with him, as if they were having a silent conversation. I looked at James, trying to decipher what he was saying without words. His lips were pressed tightly together, and his eyes were the only part of him conveying anything.

“I’m Laila. Their house decorator. Unexpectedly, I got invited here,” I said, extending my hand to interrupt the odd moment.

The man took my hand but twisted it and kissed the back of it, still looking me in the eye with that same bright smile. Another player, I thought to myself. James coughed again, and the stranger glanced at him, his smile never faltering.

“Well, yes, you do stand out from the crowd as a human,” he said with an exaggerated grin.

I raised an eyebrow. “Ha! Yeah, homo sapiens are a rarity these days, right? Which species do you belong to?”

He chuckled and looked at James before replying, “Well, I like to be called…canis lupus.”

James coughed again. I blinked, processing his words. “Canis lupus?” I’d heard that term before, but I couldn’t place it right away. I’d Google it later, I decided. Meanwhile, I glanced at James, noticing his hands clenched into tight fists. Was he upset?

I couldn’t resist pushing further.

“Do you dance?” I asked the stranger.

“Yes, I do, ma’am,” he replied with a grin.

“Okay, canis lupus, show me your moves!” I challenged.

A growl-like sound escaped from James, followed by another cough. Jealous much? Meh, not my problem anymore. The man’s face lit up even more, and he shot a quick look at James before winking at him. He took my hand and led me toward the dance floor where couples were swaying to the rhythm of the music.

As we danced, he held me firmly, and I couldn’t help but appreciate the strong grip. It made a welcome change from the usual soft, sloppy touches. But then, a guilty thought struck me.

“I’m sorry. I’m just using you to get away from James,” I admitted, feeling a little bad.

“Hahaha!” The guy burst out laughing.

“Is he bugging you that much?” he asked, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“Unfortunately,” I said with a sigh. “I understand he’s partly my client, and I should be polite to him, but I guess he’s never heard the word ‘no.’ Even when he hears it, he doesn’t understand the meaning of it.”

“Hahaha!” He laughed again though I’m not that funny. It was strange to see someone find my discomfort amusing.

“So, my cousin’s not good enough for you?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I froze for a second, realizing my mistake. I had no idea who he was, and now I was speaking about his cousin. “Cousin?!” I thought. Great, I should have asked before opening my big mouth. Oh well.

“Ha! Good enough!” I replied sarcastically.

“I understand that the male perspective is different, but I value myself more than being another girl on a guy’s never-ending list,” I added, trying to brush it off.

He chuckled. “I like you! Though I love my cousin a lot, I’ve never met a girl who was so bold and said ‘no’ to him.”

“Jeez, I’m truly a mess tonight,” I muttered. “Pouring my heart out to a stranger... I don’t even know your name.”

He smiled warmly. “I’m Lucas! And don’t worry, princess, you’re doing just fine. I like honest people.”

“Princess?” I squinted at him. Was he just another flirt? Had I gone from a wolf to a bear?

“Well, don’t get me wrong,” I said, “I’m just using you to get away from James. I hope this one dance will buy me enough time, and he’ll find a new target to hunt so I can go back to minding my own business. And you can find yourself a different lady, too.”

He laughed again. Seriously, I’m not that funny! This wasn’t even a joke.

“And here I was hoping a beautiful lady would fall into my hands without much effort,” he said with another dazzling smile.

“Uh-huh, my previous statement applies to you too,” I replied, raising an eyebrow.

“You know,” Lucas continued with a more serious tone, “my cousin is a great guy. I have a feeling he’d treat you right.”

I looked at him, seeing the sincerity in his expression. “Ah, men’s loyalty. Should’ve known better before I poured my heart to his cousin,” I joked, though my mind was already processing his words.

“No, seriously,” he said, growing more earnest. “You should give him a chance. I’m almost 99% sure you won’t be disappointed. He wouldn’t treat you like a casual fling.”

I shook my head. “I’m here temporarily. I’m just here for work. A guy is a distraction at this point. So, sorry, but I’m still saying ‘no’ to your lovely cousin.”

It was the truth. I had to remind myself of that. I wasn’t here for a fling. I had a career to focus on.

As a new song began to play, I felt a wave of relief, the dance momentarily providing me with an escape.

“I am forever grateful for letting me use you for this one dance,” I said with a playful grin, stepping out of his embrace. I gave him a small bow, bending my knee slightly while holding my dress in an old-fashioned manner, just for fun.

“If you need a house redecoration, give me a call. I could offer you a discount,” I added with a teasing smile.

Lucas chuckled and kissed the back of my hand again, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Ah, so many slithery moves. I couldn’t help but smile to myself.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he replied, winking at me.

I waved at him, my smile lingering for a moment before turning away. As I walked through the room, I started to wonder just how long I should stay. The night was still young, but I could already feel a sense of weariness creeping in.

I found myself leaning against one of the walls, once again observing the crowd. My gaze swept over the guests, my mind pondering if there was anyone here I could connect with. Events like these were unpredictable—sometimes, you could meet a stranger and, in the span of a few hours, find a soul friend. The potential for unexpected connections was one of the things I enjoyed about these events.