Chapter 54 Liza
LIZA
Igripped the steering wheel tighter as I glanced into the rearview mirror.
The assigned security guard for the day trailed close behind me, looking all badass in his blacked-out SUV.
I’d finally managed to convince Ty that they didn’t need to be in the car with me, but it still felt strange having a bodyguard trailing after me.
How much my life had changed in such a short amount of time.
It had been a week since the incident at the library, and we hadn’t heard a word from Castro.
Much to Sabrina’s relief, I’d resumed my daily catering jobs, and Ty had returned his focus on Keller Enterprises.
It was far from over, but we couldn’t stop living, and living meant going about our day-to-day lives, albeit with everyone still on high alert.
Even though a week had gone by, I didn’t allow contentment or ease to become the norm. Castro loved the element of surprise, and I feared I would become complacent and drop my guard just in time for him to attack me.
It could happen anywhere and at any time, especially since he probably had a team of people working for him, slipping in and out of the Presley Acres city limits completely unnoticed.
The thought frightened me, but I couldn’t stay holed up in my house with Ty all day, though I was surprised to realize that wouldn’t have bothered me in the slightest. He was so attentive to my every need, which only made my affections for him stronger.
The more time we spent together, the more I found myself watching the clock, waiting for the workday to end so we could be together.
I pulled into the grocery store and checked my list for what felt like the hundredth time. My brothers were in town, and we planned to have dinner at my parents’ house. I was in desperate need of some family time after the weeks I’d had.
Locking the car door, I glanced over my shoulder to check the bodyguard was close by.
He nodded. “I’ll stand at the door and keep an eye out for anyone who looks suspicious.”
I thanked him and walked inside, the blast of the air conditioner sending stray hairs into my eyes. Pushing them aside, I pulled out my list.
The store was busier than usual, with only a few grocery carts available at the front. I cursed under my breath, hoping I didn’t run into anyone I knew.
I made my way down the aisles, mentally crossing items off on my list. Just as I was about to check out, someone called my name.
I turned to see Cecily holding a bottle of kombucha in one hand and her designer purse in the other. “Liza? I wasn’t sure if that was you or not.”
I sighed. “Yep, it’s me.” Who else would it be?
I pushed past her, hoping that would be the end of our interaction, but she held up a hand. “I’m surprised you come out in public looking like that.” She gestured up and down my body.
What the fuck? Sure, I hadn’t washed my hair today, but the rest of my body was clean.
I brushed my teeth and even swiped some lip gloss on my lips before walking out the door.
Maybe I could’ve spent more time getting dolled up, but a full face of make-up wouldn’t help me in the kitchen, and this was just a quick trip to the grocery store, for fuck’s sake.
“Excuse me?”
Cecily scoffed. “Well, as the future mate to the alpha, I question your decision-making skills. Shouldn’t someone of your… stature put more care into her appearance?”
I turned to face her, my wolf stirring. “Are you serious?” I glanced at the other shoppers as they walked by nonchalantly, not realizing that I was about to tear into Cecily in the middle of the cereal aisle.
She rolled her eyes and tittered. “Of course, I’m serious.
Everyone knows I’m the one who sets the standards in this godforsaken town.
So, yes, I’d say that I’m the most qualified person to call you out on your appearance.
It’s the right thing to do.” She shook her head, full of fake concern. “Really, Liza, you can do better.”
My hands balled into fists as a low growl escaped my throat. “I think you should apologize for speaking to me like that, Cecily. It would be the right thing to do.”
My voice was so low I wondered if she had even heard me.
Cecily opened her beverage and took a sip. I wondered if she’d even paid for the drink—wouldn’t surprise me if that was a no.
She eyed me as if I were crazy. “Is this your attempt at intimidating me, Liza? I have to say that it’s not working. Again, you can do better.”
My heart raced as I stared at her fucking smug face.
I shook my head as my pheromones emanated from my body.
“How dare you, Cecily? Who the hell do you think you are? You’re just a stuck-up snob who’ll fuck anything with two legs, maybe four.
Is that how you got that purse? How many losers did you go down on to afford it? ”
Oh my God. Did those words really come out of my mouth?
“Does Ty know you talk to his pack members this way?” Cecily pulled her phone out and snapped a picture of me. “Maybe he’d like to see how you represent the pack when you’re out in public.”
That was it. The bitch was going to die.
Before I could move any closer to her, an odd movement over Cecily’s shoulder caught my attention, keeping me from lunging for her neck.
A man in his twenties drifted down the aisle as if in a trance. He sniffed the air as he continued to walk in my direction.
Suddenly, I realized what was happening. My pheromones were drawing him in like a moth to a flame, just like that time at the diner.
Cecily, who was none the wiser since she wasn’t an unmated male, continued to stand in my way. It was as if she wanted me to fight her, but right now, I didn’t have time.
“Shit.”
I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, allowing my muscles to relax. I must’ve calmed myself down just in time as the rage dissipated. The man turned the corner, sniffing the air. He’d lost my scent and looked confused.
He was a scary-looking bastard, and I knew better than to stick around for him to realize the scent was coming from me.
“You know what, Liza?” Cecily took a step forward, lowering her voice and spitting her words in my direction. “You’re not worth all the trouble you cause Ty.”
I wanted nothing more than to give her what she deserved, but I blocked her out and pushed past her, nearly jogging to get the hell out of the store.
I breezed past my security guard. He could tell something was wrong, so he hurried over to me. “Are you all right? What happened?”
Before I could answer, he was spinning in circles, his hand on the butt of his weapon, surveying the parking lot for any suspicious activity.
“I’ll be fine. Let’s get out of here.”
Grateful that he didn’t ask any more questions, he just followed me across the carpark, waiting until I was safely locked in my car before getting into the SUV.
As I buckled my seatbelt, I looked up to see the man who’d caught my scent standing at the entrance. He stared right at me, a look of animalistic desire written all over his face.
I groaned before booking it out of the parking lot. As I drove, I called Ty using the Bluetooth in the car.
“Hey.” He answered after only one ring. I hated that I was phoning him to admit I’d lost control of my pheromones because the town bitch had goaded me, but after seeing the expression on the man’s face when he stared at me in the carpark, I didn’t want to take any risks. I had to tell Ty.
“Listen, I don’t want you to worry, but—”
“What happened?” The panic was loud and clear in his voice. “Are you okay? Where’s your guard?”
“I’m fine, Ty.” I sighed. “When I was in the grocery store, I ran into Cecily. She was being a total bitch.”
“What’s new?”
“Exactly. She kept pushing me more and more, and I’m ashamed to admit that I almost lost control.”
Ty was silent on the other end, and I wondered if he was picturing the buck I’d killed. It wouldn’t have surprised me since it had crossed my mind.
“My pheromones must’ve been stronger than I realized because there was a man who picked up on my scent.
” I made a U-turn, suddenly remembering I’d left my cart of groceries in the store, so I needed to make a stop before heading to my parents’ house.
“I calmed myself down enough to get out of there, but he was standing at the entrance staring at me when I left. What if he hunts me down?”
“Shit.” Ty was silent for a moment. “All right. It’s going to be okay. Don’t worry. I’ll find out who he was and take care of it.”
I adjusted the rearview mirror and noticed my hand was shaking violently. “This can’t keep happening, Ty. I’m driving straight to the clinic now to see if I can get a prescription and go back on the suppressants.”
“I think that’s a wise decision. It’s the best we can do for now.”
He didn’t say it, but I knew in his mind he was thinking that our completing the mating ceremony would take care of it. He loved me, though, and he didn’t want to push me into something I wasn’t ready for.
I hung up just as I pulled into the clinic. This time, I wasn’t taking any risks. I asked the security guard to come inside with me. He gladly sat next to me in the waiting room and stood outside the lab door as my blood was being drawn.
After waiting thirty minutes in a consultation room, Doctor Reynolds finally came in. Without a word, the security guard got up and went to stand outside the door. The look on the doctor’s face didn’t give me the warm fuzzies.
“Hello, Liza. I understand you’re hoping to go back on the suppressants. Is that correct?”
“Yes.” I shifted in my seat. “I had a scary experience today with my pheromones, and I’m afraid it’ll happen again.”
“Well…” He skimmed the pages in my chart. “Unfortunately, we may have a minor problem.”
“Damn it.” Of course, there was a problem. If I’d learned one thing, it was that nothing could be easy. At least not where I was concerned. What the hell else could go wrong?