CHAPTER 2

The next day, I did what most humans do. I bought some things from the grocery. I also visited the local market for a cheaper meat and vegetables. I can’t take risks about buying expensive meals and personal things. I have savings but no one knows what lies ahead so I chose to take the safest way. I also have to maintain a low profile as I’m living as a human here.

That’s not really an issue because Coraline can mask our scent. No one would know that there’s a werewolf residing at the heart of this city.

“What? Why don’t you complain to your company’s human resources department? This is not the first time that a jerk from your company flirted with you. Well, that’s not even flirting! It’s clear that he wants to take advantage of you!” Mina nagged at me. I told her on the phone about what happened and she’s now mad.

I continued washing the dishes as Mina, my human friend, continued to nag and rant. She’s been my friend since I left the pack and it has just been months since I agreed to live near her. I am renting the apartment next to her and she has been my confidant since we met.

Mina is a strong and kind human, the reason why I almost pushed her away but she’s persistent to be my friend. She asked me to live with her to lessen my bills but because of my real identity, I couldn’t do that. I also want to make sure that she’s out of my trouble.

“Ceci!” Mina held my arm. She’s now mad. “You’re always like that, letting everyone do what they want. You have to voice your thoughts, too!”

I smiled and faced her. If I’m not hiding, Mr. Morris wouldn’t have a head after that talk. But I have to act as a human, I have to endure everything.

“I’m fine, Mina. I also planned to resign so it’s no big deal.”

“Resign? Why?”

I shrugged my shoulders. I started drying and organizing the clean dishes. I’m already jobless and had no reason to stay here. I’m planning to pack up and head to the next city.

“Are you going home? You should not!” my overprotective human friend shouted. “You’ve been abused by your adopted parents. You don’t need to return to your home!”

I was covered with bruises after I ran away from my pack. I’m not prepared and I have nothing with me. Because of the sudden escape, my arms and legs were bruised and cut by the trees’ branches and roots. I was running for days without any food or even water making me look like a stowaway and abused child. And the first human I happened to meet was Mina.

She took me in, tended to my wounds and gave me food. She had so many questions back then and due to the bruises on my body, she almost made a report to the police. I have to lie for her to calm down. I lied about being physically abused by my adopted parents. Of course, that was a white lie.

To assure her, I held her hand and brought her to my small living room. “I’m not returning home. I just want to take a rest and have a short vacation.”

“Vacation? Really? Where? Can I come with you?” Mina’s eyes were filled with excitement.

I laughed a bit before shaking my head. “We can do that after I return here. Let me take a break alone.” And that’s another lie. I have no intention to return. That is the only way to protect Mina, to stay away from her. I don’t want her to get involved with my problems.

“When do you plan to leave?” She asked, eyeing the luggage I prepared the day after I resigned from Midas Corp. She’s frowning while looking at them warily.

“I planned to spend at least two weeks so I need to bring some extra clothes with me,” I explained to ease her worry. “I’m leaving the day after tomorrow.” Well, I’m leaving at midnight today.

“Okay.” Mina shrugged her shoulders. “How about this, I’m going to a club later. Come with me.”

I secretly bit my tongue. If I refuse, she won’t believe what I told her today. It’s better to let her have her way, even today. Just for today.

“That’s not a bad idea, Ceci,” my wolf hummed on my head. “Let’s join our cute human friend even just for tonight.”

With the plan of coming home early, I nodded at Mina. “Of course. But you know me, I don’t have any party clothes. Can I wear shirts and pants?”

“Let me solve that problem of yours, Ceci!” She grinned.

And true to her promise, Mina made an art out of me. Standing a couple of feet from her mirror, I’m more than shocked while looking at my reflection. I almost didn’t recognize myself!

We’re here at Mina’s apartment. Just like what I told her, I don’t have any clothes for what she’s planning today so she opened her wardrobe for me. Mina chose one bloody red dress with a high slit on both sides. It’s a tube dress and it compliments my pale skin. She even let me use her ruby set of jewelry, a black purse and her glittering red stiletto! My hair is in a bun style with a few strands on both sides of my face.

“Wow! You’re glowing, Cecilia!” Mina screamed while looking at me with awe. “And I have no idea why you were hiding in those traditional clothes of yours.”

I giggled at her words. She hates the way I dress, my long skirts and oversize blouses and shirts. She’s not aware that I’m doing that for the sake of hiding.

“They looked expensive. I can wear something cheaper than this,” I stated while looking at the jewelry on my reflection.

“Oh, no big deal, Ceci. They look good on you.” Mina’s excited and by the way I saw it, she has no time for my small talk.

I let Mina take me. It’s already ten in the evening and according to her, we’ll spend an hour and a half before we reach the club she’s talking about. And during that time, I listened to her rants, praises and even her complaints about her job. She’s still talking when we arrived at our destination.

“Mina…” I gasped after looking at the club’s exterior. “I thought we’re going to an ordinary club. A bar perhaps?”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course not! I would never waste my effort of dragging you out of your apartment and dressing you like that just to go to those places!”

I touched my face in dismay. The club she chose looks quite expensive and I bet the people inside were famous or rich. I have no plan to get close to those kinds of people. What if I encounter a powerful werewolf? I don’t know if I can still mask my scent if that was the scenario. One more thing, despite the cozy ambiance, this place looks dangerous!

“Come on, Ceci! Let’s go and have fun tonight!” Mina’s already out of the car. She handed her keys to the valet.

Just like what I was thinking, I smelled some werewolves. But they are just ordinary wolves and the place is infected mostly with humans. I calmed myself and after a few exhale, I got out of the car.

“Look at these precious tickets. I’m going to treat you real tonight!”

I just smiled at Mina. I want to go home now but I have no heart to wipe those smiles out of her face.  

“VVIP passes,” I said the obvious while looking at the tickets. “Where did you get them?”

She giggled. “I got lucky during one of our company outings. I won these tickets from one of the activities and here we are! We’re going to party until dawn!”

Mina held my hand and pulled me towards the club’s entrance. She showed the tickets to the bouncer-like security and then, we’re already inside. I almost covered my ears when the loud music greeted us. There are so many humans partying in the center part of the ground floor. Even on the second floor, where I smelled some werewolves.

“To the VVIP room on the third floor!” Mina shouted while pulling me towards the staircase.

I almost staggered because of the stilettos but I managed to follow my friend. The loud music, the people dancing and the smell of different alcohol almost gave me a nauseous feeling.

“Come on, Ceci!” Mina held my hand again when I stopped walking.

Then, despite the foul smell from everyone and everything, I smelled the most delicious and fragrant smell. The scent is a mix of mint and lavender. It's so strong yet calming.

I gasped when a realization hit me.

Coraline howled in my head. “Mate!”