Chapter 8

Valerie's POV

It took a lot to suppress the rage in me as I watched him sit at the table eating and having small conversations with April. I folded my arms, tapping my feet on the ground, suddenly regretting that I didn't even try to poison his food and make him die right away.

I was quite infuriated that April did not listen to me, even after warning her not to sit at the table today. It was the first time she was going against my word. Although I understand she was excited about the customers we had, I just feel she should've listened to me. She would definitely freak out when she finds out the person she was chatting with was the one who killed her parents and caused her nightmares.

"Come on, April, you don't want to be late for school." I couldn't hold it any longer and walked to April, ready to get the hell out of here.

"I'll be done soon. Give me a few minutes." I nodded and turned to walk away, mistakenly brushing my hand against the bastard's arm. I turned around swiftly when he suddenly hissed, his hands pressing hard against the table. He suddenly seemed to be battling with himself, letting out small groans like he was in pain. I rolled my eyes and walked out, holding back a hiss. If he thinks whatever show he was putting up would get me, then he must be making a mistake.

In a few minutes, April was done, and we left the motel, leaving Grandma to take care of the customers while I took April to school and myself to work. After dropping April off at her school, I hurried off to the restaurant close to the mall I worked at. I did not have breakfast today and dinner last night, so I needed some food for strength for today's work.

"Thank you," I muttered to the familiar waitress as she dropped the tray of food on my table. I hurriedly dug in, glancing at the watch on my wrist, already knowing I was late for work.

"I don't think you need to worry about payments Valerie, someone already settled them." My brows knitted in confusion when Kayla, the waitress, spoke, rejecting the money I stretched out to her.

"What do you mean?" It was the first time I would be hearing such words. Even though I knew very well what they meant, I tried as much as possible not to believe them. Why would anyone pay my bills? Not like I was complaining, though. I've been very distant from people and had no friends here apart from Jones from the mall. It was quite surprising someone would do that.

"Somebody already paid them. It's quite your lucky day. Val." She replied with a smile on her lips.

"Who? Who did it?" I couldn't help but ask, still trying to process the whole thing.

"I'm not supposed to reveal, but it's the dude sitting three tables away from you." She reveals with a smile—not a full smile though, but rather a strange one.

I turned swiftly to see who she was talking about, but a disappointing feeling sank into my belly and my face contorted into a frown when I sighted Tyler sitting some tables away, his eyes fixed on me. I scoffed and shook my head, trying to suppress the anger rising in me. "Well, see you later Kayla, I better hurry to work now." I didn't wait for her reply but grabbed my bag, hurrying out of the restaurant.

Isn't this all the answer I needed? First of all, he suddenly showed up at the motel, like he doesn't have a house and now showing up at the restaurant and paying for my meal! I knew right from the start that he was up to no good and was even stalking me. Has he found out we were the hybrids he and his father have been searching for? And now want to finish what they started? I was already feeling paranoid, not for my safety but for that of April. I could take care of myself, but that wasn't the case for April. The worst was that she attended the pack elementary school which the Alpha owned. It wouldn't be hard to get her. I let out a tired sigh, knowing we had no choice but to run far away from this pack again.

Pushing all thoughts away, I walked into the mall. I worked at answering a few greetings from a few workers. "Hey Val, Magnus wants to see you," Jones greeted, at the same time passing the information. I nodded with a smile, heading to my boss’ office. I tried to ignore the worry I felt after the information. He has never called me to his office, at least not so early. It sounded like there was something wrong.

"Good morning Magnus." I greeted as I stepped into the office, noticing him sitting behind the desk.

"Valerie." He leaned forward, placing his glass on the bridge of his nose. He picked up an envelope from the table, handing it over to me. I looked at his face one last time before collecting the envelope from him.

"What?" I let out a heavy breath, swallowing the heavy lump already forming in my throat. "But I've done nothing wrong. Why would you fire me?" Reading the letter in that envelope sent a thousand needles piercing into my heart. We depended so much on this job, to feed, to pay April's fees and now I lost it? What am I supposed to do? How are we supposed to survive?

"I'm sorry, Valerie, but I do not have a choice here. You have to leave. It was great having you work for me honestly. You were hardworking, but you need to leave. Thanks." I let out a heavy sigh, biting hard on my bottom lips to stop the sobs welling inside me.

"Okay," I muttered and nodded, blinking repeatedly to stop the tears burning in my eyes before scurrying out of the office.

"Val-"

"Later, Jones." I hurried past him, heading out of the mall before letting the tears fall freely from my eyes. I cleaned them off quickly, sniffing repeatedly. It was the only job I was able to keep for over a year and a half. The others I had previously done did not work out well, and I kept getting fired over and over again for absolutely no reason. Has he found out the ID I used was fake? I don't think so. Well, I guess I better look for another job quickly before we starve to death.

"Valerie?? You're home so-" Grandma paused, placing her hands over her lips, staring at me sympathetically. "Dear goddess, I'm so sorry." She pulled me into a hug, stroking my hair softly.

"It's fine, granny. I'll get a new one." I spoke, though, trying to reassure myself.

"Sometimes I wonder if there's something wrong with this pack. No one ever has a stable job except the ones working directly for the alpha." Grandma muttered to herself as she walked over to sit on a sofa in the lobby.

"Grandma, something happened today." I sat on the sofa beside her, gaining her attention. "Tyler, the customer from last night paid for my meal at the restaurant today. I don't know, Grandma I just feel something is wrong. Like he's stalking me."

"What? Tyler? Tyler wasn't here- you mean Wesley?" She knitted her brows together in confusion, squinting her eyes.

"No, grandma. Tyler, I don't know who the hell is Wesley."

"The guy from last night, the alpha son. He's Wesley, not Tyler. Tyler wouldn't lounge here, never." She rolled her eyes, staring around the motel in distaste.

"What do you mean? I thought he was Tyler, isn't that his name? Or am I missing something here?"

"You know what Valerie, I don't think you should be bothered about that family. Their names don't matter to you, but I advise you stay away from them. That family has a lot of trouble and you don't want to get tangled with them. Stay away from him."

"Okay, Grandma." Sorry Granny, I wasn't going to stay away from him. He's my parents’ killer, your daughter's murderer. If avenging them is the last thing I'll do on earth, then I'll gladly do it.

"Oh, the Tax guy is here. I better go pay some money." She said and stood up, heading out of the motel. With a heavy I leaned against the sofa, staring up at the ceiling. I ended up taking a nap and woke up a few minutes after three pm, hurrying to go pick up April from school. The sight I met right outside the school wasn't one I expected but was sure enough to make me explode in rage. Tyler was crouched down before April, saying some words to her while she kept on giggling.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I rushed towards him, swiftly grabbing April away, and pushing her behind me as I took a protective stance.

"Hey, Valerie." He called, standing up with a smile on his face.

"Don't you fucking try to pretend, stay away from us! Don't you get it? What the hell do you want?!" I couldn't keep my anger at bay, not anymore. Not when it involves April!

"Miss Valerie." I snapped my head to the school building to see the principal staring at me with a warning look. "Not in front of the school. You can take your discussion somewhere else." I ignored her, turning back to face Tyler.

"You would stay away from us. I don't ever want to see you around her ever again! Do not dare me!" I warned in a cold voice and glared hard at him before walking off.

I think I understand what is going on here. They found out April was my weakness and wanted to use her to get to me, knowing I wouldn't let them hurt her. What they don't know is I will kill them before they execute any of their stupid plans. If only April would listen to me! What the hell has gone wrong with her now?!