Her eyes scanned the freezers for frozen pizza, irises practically glowing in their hazel hue. He couldn’t describe her skin, but by the way the light bounced off of her, he would have mistaken her for a walking halo—lips full of life, like strawberries harvested in the winter.
His heart faltered as he turned to gaze at her properly; the smell of pine still wafting off of her. And in such a long time, he was reminded of home –the vast Wakerlin woods that he would zip through. He warmed at the thought of the place. It had been some time since he had visited the pack. And he was now somehow longing for it.
His mind drifted back to focus. And, the peculiar woman had trotted quite a many paces away now.
Marco's head was heavy with curiosity. Generally, he'd catch many beautiful women crossing his way. He felt the need to steal another glimpse of their faces. But this woman, she was different. Marco felt it in the very core of his chest. It was almost like an intoxicating yearn to walk up to her and get to know her better. She was definitely not from around here. But then again, from exactly had she come?
“Amelia.” The woman almost jumped, startled as she tried to keep the basket from toppling. A man appeared beside her from the aisle across.
“Amelia, huh?” Marco whispered, feeling the soft touch of her name perch on his tongue like it was home.
Amelia.
“I’m almost done,” she whispered hurriedly, knuckles white over the handle of her basket.
“Well, make it quick,” he growled, “The boy will be over soon, and I’m not missing a minute of game night.”
Marco felt like a sharp claw had plucked his heart. Pain. Where did that come from? Men like the one around Amelia couldn’t bother him. He was Marco William Farkas. Leader of the Wakerlin Woods. And hence, he was undoubtedly far more intimidating than a plump man in a striped top and khakis that did a lousy job holding in his pot-belly.
But Marco realized that it was pure rage that he felt coursing through his veins. It was rage at the man who faced his girl with an uncaring face with coarse lines of indifference creasing it. Marco had a strong urge to smack him in the jaw and teach him a lesson for daring to speak like that. Fucking piece of shit. God, it was tough restraining the urge. The last thing he needed to do was cause a scene in front of her. It could be something that could lead to consequences for her later on.
Marco looked at Amelia deeply. And, for a split second, their eyes locked all across the rows and rows of people dividing them. Her whole existence felt like some token of beautiful remembrance. A remembrance that had been long-lost, yet right now, it was finally before him. A shiver ran through Marco's body. He shook off the very thought since it was preposterous beyond measure. But suddenly, it all dawned upon him. The world melted beside him as realization carved deep in his mind. And it was all so sudden to him, clear as day what was going on. But it didn’t make any sense.
She couldn’t be my mate.
She was clearly human.
***
Amelia finally made it to the counter, placing her things on the conveyor belt and waiting behind a small family of three as they got their groceries checked out. Kyle left to start the car. As she stood, waiting in line, Amelia hoped that she had brought enough cash to cover the shopping, because her credit card had maxed out. Anxiety tore at her mind. It was a feeling that had become a constant plague. She couldn't understand how she would make up for the growing debt. Kyle was no help at all, having lost his recent job only a few hours ago. Workplace indecency, they had claimed.
Amelia still remembered the ugly argument that followed his sacking, the anger flaring through his body that he would take out on his wife and kid. But Amelia had stood her ground then. She angrily reminded him how he needed to contribute more to the household and his responsibility as a father, even though he had long forgotten that of a husband. But the argument had only concluded with his rough hand on her cheek. Amelia's breath lost in vain yet again.
It had all but become standard now. The perpetual agony that corralled her mind had become Amelia’s rueful partner.
But payday was around the corner. It was the only thing Amelia had to be relieved about. Amid Kyle’s unemployment and Alex’s after-school tuitions, she could barely make ends meet for simple groceries. And now she has to spend the last of her cash on…candy and chips? All to assure the comfort of an overgrown child. But Amelia didn’t mind it. Alex was her only piece of solace in this miserable universe. The single flame of faith that kept her going kept her hustling, despite her husband's general mistreatment of her. She knew she had to do something about it. For months, she had been gathering the courage to finally speak her mind. But fear gripped her senses and, she would always surrender. Kyle would kill her this time if she brought up a divorce again. The last time she brought it up was six months ago, and she had barely made it out that day.
Amelia shook off the memory with a sharp shiver. It was all too vivid – rage etched across his face, his hands gripping her tight, foul clouds of breath hitting her face, and a slew of spit flying in the air. No, Amelia silently pleaded with her mind to stop. Not again. She could not afford to break down in front of all these strangers.
Finally, it was her turn.
The beeping, mixed smells of food, the fluorescent bulbs, it all felt so magnified. Too bright. It was too overwhelming there as her head started to throb with pain. A pang was pulsating through her mind.
“Ma’am, it’s twelve dollars.”
Oh no, she was a few dollars short. Color rushed in her cheeks as she grabbed the milk, ready to return it until she caught a credit card pushed towards the cashier followed by a deep voice that reached into Amelia's chest and gripped at whatever remained of her heart.
“I’ll take care of it.”
His voice. It was so gentle, yet so husky and strong at the same time. The way a sharp-toothed wolf would stand guard around their cub, nuzzling them with comfort. Amelia felt drawn towards it. She could sink into it, and let it wrap around her like a sheet of satin.
Amelia cocked her head, trying to steal a glimpse of the stranger as her breath caught in her throat. A wave of insecurity washed over her, and she felt so small standing next to him like that. Embarrassment stained her cheeks red, pulling her hands closed around each other. Amelia despised such a feeling of weakness. She didn't want to be indebted to this debonair man. Hell, he was too intimidating. The white shirt was snug against his lean body, his shoulders broad and her eyes followed a stubble on a strong jaw that would make anyone mistake him for an Abercrombie model. But his eyes. They were such a warm shade of grey, looking into her so deeply that it was almost impossible to tear her gaze away from his without pain. Her heart hit her chest with an uncomfortable ripple, yearning for another look at him.
But she couldn’t. If Kyle is watching from somewhere; somehow, she could be in serious trouble. Amelia instantly turned her head away from him, her lips pursed, and gaze hitting the very floor she wished so hard would swallow her.
“Thank you,” I whisper, “Let me pay you back when I can, though.”
“You don’t have to, re-”
