Chapter ten: Renee

Renne

Normally I would stay the whole night and wait till the end to talk to the host who hired me. You know to make sure everything was to their liking. But I couldn't do that tonight. I just simply couldn't stay behind and go another round with Jace Night.

I was rattled after dealing with him outside. The emotional high of finding my second chance mate and waiting for the rejection to happen would have been enough to anyone. But then the confirmation with Alex? Shit that alone who have been enough. Combine the two together then add Jace getting him away and kicking his ass? Yep I'm done. Time to get off this fucked up ride. So as soon as the last desert went out, I cleaned as fast as I could, and I got ready to leave.

I untied my apron and walked over to my bag grabbing it stuffing the apron in not caring if it had food on it. Again, in case it was missed, I am so over today. Hoping the door would lock behind me, I leave through the door that led to the alley way Jace brought me to earlier. I walk as fast as I can but at a pace that wont draw attention, leave the alley walk around back of the building finding my car. The whole time the hair on my neck stands and I feels eyes on me.

When I reach my beat-up little Camry I look around. Unable to stop myself. I don't see anyone but most they time that means nothing. I take a big sniff. Alex thinks I don't have a wolf so he wouldn't know to stand down wind or far enough away. I don't smell him or anyone from his pack. But that doesn't easy the tightness in my chest. So I get into my car, locking the doors behind me. That would stop a wolf but it will a human.

"Please Molly, in the name of everything do fight me tonight." I beg my car as I turn the key. Squeezing my eyes praying. Thankfully she sputters a few times and turns overs starting right up.

I pull out of the parking lot, my heart still pounding in my chest. I can't shake the feeling of being watched, and I find myself constantly checking the rearview mirror, half-expecting to see Alex's smirking face appearing out of the darkness. The fact that he found me burns in my head. The fact he said he changed his mind makes a knot grow in my stomach and a lump in my throat.

 I take a deep breath and try to focus on the road ahead, but I can’t keep my mind from also wandering back to Jace. I know I should feel relieved that I escaped Jace's clutches, but instead, I feel a pang of sadness. The way he seemed to truly want to be with me. He didn’t actually seem bothered by the fact that I am weird. But at the same time I have no idea what he was going to say before that guy introduced us. But also he saved me from Alex.

 I can't help but wonder if I'll ever see Alex again. As I drive, I find myself replaying our brief encounter in my mind. The way he looked at me with those intense eyes, the feel of his hand wrapped arm my arm tightly... I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I can’t think about either of them. I can’t get my hopes up about Jace and I can’t worry about Alex. But somehow, I can't bring myself to let go of the feeling that Jace is different. That maybe, just maybe, he could be the one. No, nada not happening. I put on my favorite play list. Turning up the song that it starts on Surface Pressure by No Resolve. I love them, the sing Disney songs that are rock music, people don’t look at me quite as oddly when they hear it. And it’s my favorite genre so it’s a win win in my book. I sing along as loud as I can hoping to drown out my own thoughts. One song leads to another until I am fully jamming out driving around the city avoided my street while I take turn after turn trying to shake the feeling of being followed. When I can’t but I also feel the exhaustion starting to set in, I finally turn on my street. I pull into the driveway of a typical New Orleans home, single-story homes with steeply pitched roofs and front porches that almost touch the street. It’s the perfect blend of Caribbean and French-Canadian design. It’s quite cute. I keep driving past the house to the very back where there stands the garage built in the same style. Above it is where I live. A small apartment. It’s a simple studio. Everything in one room minus the bathroom of course. But I love it I can see everything no real rooms for anyone to hide in. That brings me peace.

I turn off the engine and sit in the silence for a moment, steeling myself for whatever might come next. With a deep breath, I step out of the car and looking over my shoulder as I head to the stairs around the side that leads to my door. As I walk up the stairs, I pull out my keys having them ready when I get to the door unlocking it quickly. Then I step inside turning and closing the door and relocking it just as quick.

Its only then that I feel like I can take a full breath. I sigh turning and setting my bag down.

“Hedwig I’m home!” I yell. Of course, no one actually answer back, because Hedwig is a build a bear stuffed owl, I had to get him when I saw him. After all he gave his life to protect Harry so I mean I could use someone to do the same for me. I swear I am not crazy.

“You would never believe the day I had.” I pull my apron out of my bag and put it in the basket to be washed. Then I walk to the dresser to pull out something for bed. “That alpha that hired me? Yeah, well guess what he is my second chance mate. Oh, and somehow, he knows Alex who also showed up tonight.”

I pull out a stitch night gown and a Tigger onesie looking them both over trying to decide which one I wanted to wear.  Deciding on the night gown I head to shower so I can go to bed.

Unfortunately that feeling of being watched again settles over me as I lay in the bed cuddling Hedwig to my chest.