The man from yesterday

## 5

Ashton's POV 

     “ Betro... thed ? ” 

I speer rhetorically igniting a puzzled look on my father's face . He adjusts his robe gently,his watchful gaze not leaving my sight for a second and then he turned suddenly who has being quiet since we sat at the table .

“ Jerome , talk some senses into your friend maybe he is suffering from amnesia . ” 

My father spoke authoritatively and with that he left the dining table leaving Jerome and I to ourselves. 

“ what was the meaning of that ? ” Jerome inquires not sparing me at least a minute to inhale or exhale 

“ what is what ? ” I responded feigning absolute ignorance of the situation he mentioned .

“ You know the reason we came here is that you meet your betrothed , why act astonished ? ” 

“ Not in two days ” 

I fired back at him sparing him no room for saying further to me .

“ it has to be sooner than later ” 

Jerome said tapping my back in a soothing manner before heading out leaving me all alone .

 Nothing made sense to me at this moment , yes I was prepared to come take my betrothed as my wife not in my wildest dreams did I think I would find my mate at a restaurant two days before going to see a betrothed I have never set my eyes on.

“ .... You should have atleast spoken to our mate ” Nate my inner wolf growled lowly and angrily at me 

“ just shut up “ I growled back at him 

“ what does a wolf like you know about just mate ” I sneered grudgingly at him aggravating his anger

“ I am your strength and you should go to our mate right now “ 

“ This is not how love works Nate , I suggest you shut up ” thundered lowly ignoring his inward rants and compelling anger trying to take over. 

“ Clearly , you are the one who doesn't know how it works . You act like a walkie-talkie ”

“what the hell ? ” 

I muttered to myself shutting Nate out even if his words resounded in my ears . I wondered why he is my inner man because we are loggerheads sometimes .

    I munched on the last piece of deliciously prepared meat on my plate before finding my way to my bedroom to sleep and clear my head for a while .

         ** The next day **

Layla's POV

        The entire highs and lows of the kitchen was like iron undergoing melting process in a blacksmith workshop . Beads of sweat was the only makeover I wore as I hurriedly oiled the pans for another round of making croissants .

There were red patches on my wrists from the constant opening of the oven to take out the baked croissant . 

 “ ouuucch ” I moaned in pain as the handle of the hot pan greets my soft flesh wickedly. 

I wasn't alone in the kitchen when I scale my skin but the fear of receiving brown paper from a scowling boss made them all blind to my minor kitchen accident . 

“ To the counter and start serving you lazy fool ” Lady Sia yelled from her office . I needed no soothsayer to tell me that I was the fool she was referring to so I quietly left the blazing kitchen to serve the customers at the counter . 

I grabbed the menu with my left hand and a little pen with my right hand , my sharp eyes moving around the restaurant to search for any unattended customer when someone caught my attention .

The man's friend from yesterday , he wore a white shirt and a beige coloured suit , the second button of the blazer was left undone. 

    I quickly averted my gaze from him but it was rather too late , he had caught me staring deeply. 

I looked away sharply hoping it will make him go but I was wrong . He stood up and walked towards my direction , his peering sight never left me as my belly churned in dread wondering what would happen next . 

 My pupils dilate from their usual size into a what not , I shrieked in fear clumsily moving backwards and in no time my back hits a tray which contained delicious lamb roast and spaghetti , its content scattered and spilled the sparkling floor .

      I had barely let a loud a gasp when five fingers struck my smooth cheek causing pain like I was stung by a bee. 

I shut my eyes tightly waiting for the next lash from that palm that was like thorn in a flesh but it never came instead I heard a masculine voice .

“ Don't raise your hands on her . I'll pay for the meal ”

He is the one . The man's friend of yesterday standing up for me . He held Lady Sia's hand firmly before dropping a three hundred dollar on the counter .

 “ you can see the embarrassment you have brought to me .... How dare you ?”

Lady Sia yells stretching her hand and grabbing the hem of my dress , her face knitted into a scowl .

“ Don't you dare ! ” 

 It came out a growl , his fist was clenched and his eyeballs flickered scaring the living hell of me . I shuddered against the counter like it could save me from whatever is about to occur .

“ you are werewolf ? ” 

I heard Lady Sia mutter rhetorically beneath her breathe , her eyes balls dilatiballs shock as she slowly leaves the counter area to her office while Mr werewolf threw a bundle of dollars before leaving the restaurant. 

   The murmurs in the restaurant did not stop, we had cause a scene hence the customers trooped casting pitiful glances at me ,my stomach churned in disgust as I left for the back of the restaurant to clear my head. 

Many things ran through my mind , who was he ?

Why did he come back today ?

Where they looking for me ?

Was he hunting for her kind ?

Why did her aunt mellow hearing his growl ?

    I managed to sit on the stone when I felt a stinging pain on my head , it was hard like rock .

I heard the second voice I dread the most and for a second my heart stopped racing 

“ what are you doing here ?”