VI

"Where to next?" Grandma's voice clipped behind me as we exited the fragrance store, the wafting smell of florals being left behind us as we stepped onto the pavement. 

My legs ached and my back strained under the weight of the heavy bags my arms where attempting to uphold. My muscles begged for a place to sit down and rest but alas that was not an option. There was no stopping in Grandma's books, at least not until she had successfully fulfilled what she was out to buy in the first place.

And today, we were buying presents with my mother in mind. It was her birthday tomorrow and we were planning on making it the most special day ever. A birthday to top all of the rest, which was going to be hard because me and Grandma are pretty expert at throwing amazing birthdays but we were up to the challenge.

I think for a moment in deliberation "We still haven't bought the cake yet?"

"Blast!" Grandma gasped at me "I would have forgotten if you hadn't of reminded me. I called in early this morning, to the cake shop and requested for Rose to whip up your mother's favorite cake. It should be ready to pick up now"

"Red velvet?" I smiled knowingly, it was my favorite too.

She hummed in answer before saying with a slight laugh "I need to get some more money out, I'm all spent out!"

And by all spent out, we had bought my mother a new bed linen set for her bedroom, as the one she was using now was in serious need of an upgrade. We had also got our hands on her signature lavender perfume with matching creams and oils. Later, we were going down to Mattie's Photography studio to get a picture of me and Grandma framed for her as it was a touch of something personal and mom was sentimental about that kind of stuff. She could never have enough pictures and it's become a kind of a tradition to get one made every birthday.

"Hold this for me, will you?" Grandma placed her bouquet of tulips in my arms, not waiting for a response. She then swiveled on the balls of her heals and headed in the direction of the nearest ATM, shoulders back and head poised as she walked. She may be a sixty-six year old werewolf, but she walked with the elegance of a supermodel.

To Grandma good posture was everything. Never get caught slumping or slouching around her or trust me, there'll be serious trouble.

From the other side of the cobbled road a young couple emerged from the jewelry store, hand in hand and bubbling with laughter. The bell above the door chiming at their exit which drew in my attention. They must have been in their late twenties, the woman was younger though, eyes twinkling with amusement as her curly dark raven hair fell in front of her face as she leant into the man's shoulder giggling loudly. The man, who looked handsomely aged with a darkly defined beard threw his head back in laughter, a deep radiating sound emanating from his chest. The both of them unashamed and blissfully unaware to the onlooker watching them.

I don't why it hurt so much to watch them, a twisted pain in my gut startled me. Two days since Joshua had gone and left for college. Perhaps I was already missing him.

As the couple passed I found myself drawn to the Jewelry display window. Before I could register my actions, I was crossing the street and stepping onto the opposite pavement, stopping only a few inches from the glass.

The display was rich with gold, necklaces and pendants draped over fine red satins. Diamond rings glistened in their velvet a boxes and feminine rose-gold watches were lined up over black silk. It felt like luxury as if only the finest royalty would be caught dead wearing any of these items.

It was for that reason that a glistening silver circle pendant hanging on a thin delicate chain caught my eye. It stood out from all the rest, against the midnight black mannequin neck it hung from. It's sheer simplicity was its odd and compelling beauty.

Somehow it felt familiar to me. The silver circle looped effortlessly around the chain, resembled something of an iris ...

I gasped and reached a hand up to the glass, feeling my heart start to stutter. Those unnatural eyes blessed from the moon . . .

A few days had passed since the encounter with the mysterious silver eyed wolf. I had decided against telling Grandma or my mother about what I had encountered in the woods that night as I didn't want to scare them. Chances were, the wolf had just been passing through the forest and wouldn't be back ever again. So it didn't warrant worrying them for nothing, when I'll likely never see the wolf again right?

Besides I had barely any time to tell them, they had been so distracted with Joshua visiting last weekend that the subject had slipped my mind. They had been so happy, pampering him like a son they've always wanted but never had and I didn't want to ruin their weekend. It was likely nothing.

Nothing to get worried about at least.

"Here you are!" Grandma's voice behind me made me jump out of my skin in fright "I was looking all over. What are you doing over here?"

I tore my eyes away from the necklace and to my Grandma's questioning eyes "I was just looking at the display" I shrugged.

"Your mother doesn't usually wear jewelry" She said peeping into the shop window and scanning over the display "and wow! Just look at the prices Arielle"

I hummed knowingly, it was expensive but unsurprising so. Most of the Jewelry was antique, which in Miss Gideon's eyes- the shop owner- the older it is the more expensive it is.  I didn't understand the beauty of many of the objects in her window yet the silver pendant had me awed. I envisioned the pendant hanging from my neck and how beautifully it would sit there and I suddenly realized how much I wanted it.

"Something caught your eye?" Grandma asked and I realized I had been staring at the silver necklace for quite some time. I quickly averted my eyes, coughing slightly as a blush arises to my cheeks. Why was I embarrassed?

"No" I said a little too quickly. I stepped away from the window and shook away the thoughts of the necklace, I was being silly. It was far too expensive of a thing to desire.

"Come on, Rose's cake shop is this way" I gestured up the street and beckoned for Grandma to follow "We better hurry, the shop closes at four"

• • •

Later in the day, after me and Grandma had long finished our shopping trip I found myself in the diner, clad in my tightly fitting waitressing uniform. I tugged at the clinging material that left little to the imagination and sighed cursing the time I had left it in the dryer too long and it had slightly shrunk. It now hugged to my figure like a rubber glove and it was suffocating.

The sun was setting over the horizon as I was busy taking down customers orders, I had a late shift tonight and I was going to be here until dark.

"Is that all?" I smiled brightly at the bald headed man who had a long vicious scar running down his jawline. He had just ordered a black coffee and from the dark circles under his eyes, I assumed that's all he wanted.

I passed a longing glance at the door, wishing I could leave and help Grandma arrange my Mom's birthday instead. It was going to be a long night without any company to brighten my mood, I wished it were a Saturday then Catherine would find a way to make this night somehow enjoyable. As it was a Tuesday, nights weren't usually as busy and only one waitress was required.

"Thats all" The man shook his head, averting his eyes back to the newspaper on his table.

I turn on my heels and made my way to the kitchen, pushing my way through the door and expecting to find Marcel but instead I find it vacant of any person.

"Hello?" I called, into the emptiness.

Lydia suddenly jumped up from behind the counter, a saucepan and whisk in hand "Heya, just one moment!" She smiled, running a hand through her blonde hair as she moved over to place her utensils down.

"Uhh .. hey?" I said "When did you get here?"

"Oh! About five minutes ago" She shrugged.

"I hadn't thought you had a shift until tomorrow" I said.

"I don't. Marcel said it would do me some good if I spent some more time in the kitchen" She shrugged.

"Speaking of Marcel, where is he?" I stepped further into the kitchen, looking around the corners as if to find him lurking behind the counters too. "I've got an order of coffee here"

"He just ran out, he'll be back in a second though" She explained as she slipped her hair into a hairnets and then whipped the order out of my hand "I can take care of it though. Coffee? Should be simple enough"

"Are you sure?" I couldn't help feeling wary as her animated blue eyes feverishly stared back at me "Maybe it's better if you just wait for Marcel. What he's doing anyway?"

"He's on the phone" She said waving her hand flippantly in response "But I can handle it Arielle. Don't you trust me?"

Honestly I didn't, but I wasn't about to tell her that. The only reason Lydia got this job in the first place was because Marcel as her older brother took pity on her and vouched for her to take this position as his apprentice. She's been fired from all her other jobs and this was her last chance.

It was at that moment the back door of the kitchen opened and Marcel walked in, a wide smile on his features.

I breathed out a sigh of relief "What were you doing out there?"

"I was just on the phone" He smiled with a wink, obviously not willing to disclose the secret as to who or why.

"Well you've got an order of coffee to be getting on with" I said before leaving the kitchen and reentering the quiet diner. Apart from the gentlemen siting lonely at the table in the corner, I doubted anyone would be entering the diner soon.

I walked around the counter about to retrieve my phone that was sitting in my purse, stuffed under a stall. When the small bell chime of the door pulled my attention up.

A gust of wind blew into the diner as a group of rowdy boys walked into the diner, voices raised and egos so big you could practically taste it in the air.

Ugh High-schoolers. My least favorite crowd to serve.

They usually don't come at such late hours, especially on a school night. Usually Catherine or the other waitresses on shift are ones to deal with the more rowdier groups. So I regret to see them walk over to a table, loudly joking with one another and pushing each other around as their voices fill the once quiet diner.

My eyes narrow on the group as my heart thuds at the prospect of having to interact with them. The desire to run and hide, knowing that I won't have anyone here to back me up if they say anything out of line. This is stupid Arielle, their high schoolers, don't let them intimidate you.

I breathed out a shaky breath, pushing my shoulders back and head high as I walked around the counter towards them. Grandma says, good posture can fake all the confidence in the world.

However as I walked closer to the table of boys, their laughter painfully loud and carefree, I wondered if good posture could attempt to conceal my shaking limbs?

Their eyes rounded on me when I reached them, laughter dying on their lips as all gazes turned to me.

"Good evening. Would you like some Menus?" I squeaked out, my voice as quiet as a mouse and I wondered briefly if they had heard me. I then coughed and said "If your hungry today's special is on the board and I can run and get the drinks menu also if you'd like?" 

The tanned boy who was closest to me, arched his eyebrow and leaned back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest. He then addressed his three friends who were already sniggering around him "Are you hungry boys?"

The tallest hummed in appreciation as he locked eyes with me, his dark chocolate eyes running down my body "What's today's special, can you read it to me sweetie? I forgot my glasses"

"A blowjob in the parking lot, perhaps?" The ginger haired boy sniggered under his breath, bumping shoulders with his large muscular friend as they doubled over in laughter.

I pretended not hear "It's vegetarian lasagna" 

"Vegetarian?" The muscular boy spat out in protest, squaring his shoulders in irritation. Clearly he was a fan of protein.

"Menus?" I asked again but the tanned boy closest to me shook his head.

"I think we can order without" He arched his eyebrow at his friends and they all nodded "Just get me a Diet Coke with extra ice, minus the lemon"

I jotted down the order on the pad and whilst I was scribbling in my somewhat illegible hand, the door chimed signaling another customer. I felt like crying out loud 'how many more people?!' It's never usually this busy on a Tuesday night.

I looked up from my pad at the tall, chocolate eyed boy to find him having already been staring quite intently at my cleavage. When he noticed I had caught him, he merely smirked and gave me his order "I'll take a Diet Coke also but leave the fruit, I'm not afraid of a little lemon"

"Ice?" I wrote down, not meeting his gaze as I avoided his suggestive looks.

"Sure" He smirked, waiting for me to look up before saying  "Oh and if you're down for it. I'll take that special anytime . . ." I watched, feeling repulsed as he ran his tongue over his top lip " . . .anyplace."

His friends sniggered with laughter as my cheeks heated and my heart thudded in embarrassed. I didn't know what to say, what to do, how to react.

All I wanted to to do was sink into the ground and disappear forever. But that was hardly an option, this was my job.  I was a waitress and learning how to handle myself in situations like this was all apart of the job description.

So I looked to the ginger boy, who was currently wheezing in laughter and asked "Your order?"

He didn't stop laughing, as it didn't appear he could, grabbing onto the sides of the table as he tried to pull himself together.

If I hadn't of been so embarrassed, I would have rolled my eyes at his immaturity. How old were they? Ten?

That's when I felt it. A presence behind me.

I don't know how I hadn't noticed it when he had entered, but I had been so distracted.

The scent from that night, that had enveloped me in a mouthwatering and tantalizing trance, was back.

I shuddered, as a deadly aura radiated from behind me. A warmth spread through me, relaxing me against my will. I didn't want to believe it to be true but their was no denying it . . .

My heart raced, speeding ahead as I scrambled to get my thoughts together. He shouldn't be here, why is he here? What did he want from me? My mind ran wild with the possibilities, dread pooling the pit of my stomach. All the while I'm cursing my stupidity for not telling Grandma about this, she would've known what to do in a situation like this.

When I finally pulled myself out of my thoughts, I was shocked to find that all laughter stopped at the table as the boys sat frozen, staring up at the person behind me.

Even the ginger boy had stopped, his eyes wide like saucers as he swallowed down, hard.