Page 4 of A Love Bite
Tom adds, “And we need to look out for each other. Make sure everyone’s safe. They’re playing dirty, and we can’t afford to underestimate them.”
I take a deep breath, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. “All right,” I say, my resolve hardening. “Let’s spread the word. Make sure everyone knows what’s going on and what they need to do. We’re stronger together, and we need to show Elias and his pack that we’re not going down without a fight.”
As the conversations continue and plans are made, I can’t help but think about Amelia and the danger she might be in. The rival pack’s aggression affects us all, but her connection to Barrett and the recent attack make her especially vulnerable.
With a final nod to Tom and Eric, I get back to work, my mind racing with thoughts of strategy and protection. This is our home, our pack, and we’ll do whatever it takes to defend it. The night may be filled with uncertainty, but one thing is clear. We won’t back down from this fight.
Try as I might, I’m torn between my worries for the pack and the lingering thoughts of Alex. Humans just don’t come in here, and the way I can’t get her out of my head… it’s unsettling, to say the least. I try to focus on the task at hand, but my mind keeps drifting back to her—her smile, her laugh, the way she seemed so at ease despite being surrounded by werewolves.
As I serve drinks and listen to my packmates’ concerns, I find myself glancing at the door, half-hoping she’ll walk back in. It’s irrational, I know, but there’s something about her that I can’t shake.
“Jake, you with us?” Tom’s gruff voice pulls me back to reality. He’s giving me a concerned look, and I realize I’ve been staring off into space.
“Yeah, sorry,” I mutter, shaking my head to clear it. “Just got a lot on my mind.”
Eric, who’s been standing nearby, raises an eyebrow. “You mean the human girl who was in here earlier? What’s her deal, anyway?”
I sigh, leaning against the bar. “She just wanted to check out a new place, that’s all. She didn’t seem to know what kind of place this is, but there’s something about her… I can’t explain it.”
Tom and Eric exchange glances, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.
“Jake, with everything going on…” Tom says carefully.
“I know,” I reply, my frustration evident. “But I can’t just ignore it. There’s something about her that feels… different.”
Eric leans in, his voice low. “Look, if she’s important to you, maybe there’s a reason she came here tonight, but you need to be careful. Elias and his pack are already a problem. We don’t need more complications.”
I nod, appreciating their advice but still feeling conflicted. The pack comes first, always, but Alex… there’s something about her that I can’t just brush off. Maybe it’s fate, or maybe it’s just a distraction I don’t need right now. Either way, I need to figure it out.
For the rest of the night, I juggle my duties at the bar with my swirling thoughts. The pack’s concerns are valid, and we need to stay vigilant, but I can’t help but wonder if Alex is somehow connected to all of this, if her arrival is more than just a coincidence.
As the night draws to a close and the bar begins to empty, I make a decision. I’ll keep an eye out for Alex and try to understand why she has such a hold on me, but I won’t let it interfere with my responsibilities to the pack. There’s too much at stake, and I need to be ready for whatever comes next.
With a heavy sigh, I finish cleaning up and prepare to head home, my mind still a whirlwind of worries and unanswered questions. Tomorrow is another day, and maybe, just maybe, it’ll bring some clarity.
4
Alex
That night,as I finally drift off to sleep, my mind is a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The bar, Jake, the strange tension in the air—it’s all been swirling around in my head, but as I sink deeper into slumber, my thoughts become fragmented, and the line between reality and dreams begins to blur.
In my dream, I’m standing in a dark forest, the moon casting an eerie glow through the trees. The air is thick with tension, and I feel a strange sense of anticipation, like something is about to happen. The ground beneath my feet is soft, almost spongy, and the silence is so profound that it’s almost oppressive.
As I take a step forward, I hear a rustling sound behind me. I turn, but there’s nothing there—just the shadows shifting in the moonlight. My heart begins to race, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched.
Suddenly, a pair of glowing eyes appears in the darkness, piercing through the shadows with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. I can’t move, can’t breathe, as the eyes draw closer. And then, from the shadows, emerges a figure—tall, dark, and unmistakably predatory.
The figure steps into the light, and I see the glint of sharp fangs, bared in a menacing snarl. My pulse quickens, and I take a step back. My mind screams at me to run, but my body is frozen in place. The fangs seem to grow longer and sharper, gleaming ominously in the moonlight.
“Who are you?” I manage to whisper, my voice trembling.
The figure doesn’t respond, but the eyes—those piercing, haunting eyes—seem to bore into my soul, as if searching for something. And then, just as quickly as they appeared, the eyes and the figure vanish, leaving me alone in the forest, my heart pounding in my chest.
I wake up with a start, my body covered in a cold sweat. The room is dark and quiet, but the dream lingers in my mind, vivid and unsettling. I can still feel the weight of those eyes on me, the sharpness of the fangs imprinted on my memory.
Sitting up in bed, I try to shake off the lingering fear. It’s just a dream, I tell myself. A strange, unsettling dream, but nothing more. Still, I can’t help but wonder if it means something—if it’s a warning or a glimpse into a hidden part of myself.
I glance at the clock and see that it’s early morning. Sleep is out of the question now, so I decide to get up and make myself a cup of tea, hoping to calm my nerves. As I move through the quiet apartment, I can’t help but think about Jake and the bar, and how everything seemed to change the moment I walked through those doors.