Chapter 5
5
J ake
Around noon, I find myself back at the bar, the familiar rhythm of work providing a welcome distraction from the turmoil of last night. The regulars are starting to trickle in, and the bar slowly comes to life with the usual hum of conversation and clinking glasses.
As I’m busy cleaning up behind the counter, Tom sidles up to me, a teasing grin plastered across his face. “Hey there, lover boy,” he says, his tone dripping with amusement. “Still thinking about that human girl from last night?”
I roll my eyes and focus on wiping down the bar, refusing to rise to his bait. “Drop it, Tom,” I mutter, trying to keep my voice even. “I’ve got work to do.”
Tom chuckles, clearly enjoying himself. “Come on, Jake. You were like a lovesick puppy the whole night. Can’t say I’ve ever seen you that flustered before.”
I ignore him, concentrating on organizing the bottles behind the bar. The last thing I need right now is Tom’s relentless teasing. My mind is already preoccupied with thoughts of Alex and the growing tensions with Elias and his pack.
Tom leans in, his expression turning slightly more serious. “All jokes aside, Jake, you know the rules. Getting involved with a human is dangerous, especially now. You need to keep your head straight.”
I sigh, pausing for a moment to meet his gaze. “I know, Tom, but there was something about her. I can’t explain it, but I can’t just ignore it either.”
Tom nods, his grin fading. “Just be careful, all right? We’ve got enough on our plate with Elias and his crew causing trouble. We don’t need more complications.”
I give him a curt nod, grateful for his concern despite his teasing. “Thanks, Tom. I’ll keep that in mind.”
As the afternoon wears on, I throw myself into my work, trying to push thoughts of Alex to the back of my mind, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to shake the feeling that our paths are somehow intertwined and that her arrival in my life is more than just a coincidence.
Between serving drinks and listening to the latest gossip from the pack, I keep an ear out for any new information about Elias and his pack. The tension in the air is palpable, and everyone is on edge, anticipating the next move in this escalating conflict.
Despite the growing sense of unease, I find myself glancing at the door now and then, half-hoping to see Alex walk through it again. It’s irrational, I know, but there’s a part of me that can’t help but wonder what might happen if our paths cross once more.
I try to focus on the task at hand, reminding myself of the responsibilities I have to the pack, but deep down, I know that the mystery of Alex and the dangers posed by Elias are two threads of the same tangled web, and sooner or later, I’ll have to confront both head-on.