“No, please. I insist."
“Very well. If that’s what you would like, sure,” he said, a reassuring smile at the edge of his lips. She could feel the warmth in his voice, and it was very kind. “I’m Marco, by the way. Marco Farkas.”
“Amelia Jones,” She replied softly, watching the cashier putting her things away in a plastic bag. If she were honest, she felt a little too ashamed. She was indebted yet again. “I could transfer you the money on the cash app.”
“I’ll text you the details on your number, then.”
Wait; what? Did he ask for her number? Amelia was caught off-guard.
“Oh, uh…” She didn’t know what to say, “Of course.”
He handed her his phone that looked like a brand-new iPhone XR. How do people afford these things? Nevertheless, she punched in her number and handed it over, sneaking a look at him as his fingers brushed her. It was electrifying, and she could only be glad she was in sweats, or he would’ve seen her arms and known. He was a handsome man, well-built with a chiseled face. He was so beautiful, that it hurt knowing that she could never have him. Gosh, what?
No, she was married, and a stranger was the last person to take ahold of her mind. She watched him tap away at his phone, and Amelia felt hers ring soon after.
“Marco. Remember.” He said, his voice once again sending a wave of warmth over her body. What was this feeling?
"Thanks again, Mr. Farkas." She caught him flinch as she inwardly smiled to herself. She grabbed her bag and scurried out, hoping Kyle hadn’t seen anything through the window. Luckily, he’d just pulled up to the entrance.
“The car’s acting up,” he grumbled as she hopped into the car. He smacked her knee with the back of his hand, “I told you to take it in for a tune up.”
“I-I-” the stammer had become a norm around him, “There just wasn’t enough money.”
“Then get another fucking job.”
He floored it.
Chapter 2
Moments after their brief interaction at the supermarket, Marco had run a comprehensive research on Amelia Jones. Getting home, he slumped into his bed with his laptop cracked open.
Amelia Jones was a twenty-nine-year-old blogger who worked for Bleacher Report, had a wrecked-up apartment (where she lived with her husband and son), and loved coffee. The introduction on her website had turned out to be quite helpful.
As the very next day, Marco strolled to the most famous coffee shop in the town named ‘Impresso Espresso.’ It was a spacious place and he found it to be warm and cozy. When Marco entered the shop, he felt welcomed with a multitude of voices, and a roar of laughter issuing from all corners. Instantly, a smile licked his lips. He scanned the room with his keen eyes but caught no sight of Amelia. Deciding to wait a little longer, Marco helped himself to a strong cup of steaming Espresso and settled into a corner. At his side, the window offered a curtain, and sunlight sieved in, casting shadowy branches over his face. Around him, Marco could easily see that most people had come here accompanied by their friends or families. That explained the endless gossip that was permeating the air.
Behind the incredibly clingy couple sitting right across from Marco, he noticed someone sliding past the glass doors. He let out a jagged breath, his throat suddenly feeling too dry.
Amelia Jones was too much for Marco to handle.
* * *
Marco withdrew his sunglasses from his jeans pocket and put them on. Sliding into his black Mercedes, he hit the engine, pushed hard at the pedal, and sped into the city. He was well away from her car, at least enough so that she couldn’t notice him in her rear mirror.
Amelia Jones was a strange woman. Unlike all the previous women Marco had encountered, she hadn’t fallen head over heels for him. Was it the other way around? Marco couldn’t say. He’d tried reading her mind in the library, but her willpower had proved too strong, and Marco’s mind was unusually blocked. Some wolf members had done that too before…but never a human.
And right now, as Marco chased her secretly, he didn’t know whether he was doing it to retrieve the wolf, or to simply…follow her. His stomach twisted in perplexity. It was a highly odd feeling. One he’d never experienced before, and to be very honest, Marco didn’t know how to react to it.
As Amelia’s car closed upon her destination, Marco felt an evil feeling wash him. This sudden rush of emotion was similar to the one Marco had felt back in the alley where he slew those grotesque. Like some evil magic was at play.
Discomfort tugging at his senses, Marco quickly parked his car a good ten miles away from hers and got out. It was late afternoon, and the sun had lost itself behind the clouds. Amelia’s apartment building stood in pale darkness. Marco looked at her with keen eyes.
Something was odd.
Marco could sense it in the air. He could feel his body intensely twitching as if wanting to transform. He’d gotten quite close to her now. Amelia’s car had pulled over, and now she was sliding out. However, instead of walking up to her apartment, she made her way to the book store next to it. There was a narrow lane right next to it and Marco hurried towards it.
While Amelia shopped, Marco patiently waited. Right there, in the arms of the gathering darkness, Marco had no clue what he intended to do after she exited. Follow her to her apartment, and then murder her? For a second, and probably for the first time in his entire life, Marco felt discomfort at the thought of murder. It felt unnecessary. However, denying the Wolf Mage’s orders was no less than treason, and thus Marco was left with no choice.
Confused and deeply upset by the idea, he could feel his stomach twisting. Scratching the back of his neck in thought, he craned his head back when a man caught his eye. Dressed in tight pants and a black vest with a silver chain glinting at his neck, the man looked like a complete punk. As he edged closer into the light, Marco’s breath hitched.
