CHAPTER 13: CURIOSITY KILLS THE CAT

OLIVIA’S P.O.V

“How did you sleep last night?” Austin asked as I made my way down for breakfast. “Fine and you” I was stunned by his question, he doesn’t normally try to make small talk in the morning, like Keith mentioned earlier, Austin isn’t really a morning person. “You still look tired, are you sure that you got enough sleep?” he asked, the smirk on his face told me that these questions were only a game for him, he already knew the truth. “Yes I slept well, thank you,” I said. “That’s good to hear. It’s Saturday today, what do you plan on doing?” he asked. “I don’t know, I haven’t really thought about it as yet,” I said. “Why don’t you explore the town, I think that you would really like it since you like exploring, but take a guard with you and make sure that you have your tracker in the whole time,” he said, hinting once again that he knew that I was exploring last night. “That’s a good idea, thank you,” I said as I began to eat my breakfast just as he had finished his. I was relieved when he woke up to leave the table, “Oh and kitten, don’t go exploring too far, curiosity kills the cat” he turned around and said before he left the dining hall.

What was that? He obviously knew that I was exploring the forbidden North wing last night! Did he not see the ghost/creature? Or does he know about it? Is he afraid? Is he trying to protect me? What is he doing? What’s on his mind? Oh and the last part ‘Curiosity kills the cat’, what did that mean? Was that a threat or a warning? Tell me more Austin! I need more from you because right now you are being extremely hard to read…

……

It was awkward walking around this town, all eyes on me but not in the way that I was used to like in New York. There people stared in admiration, here they are stopping to stare like I am some sort of alien. I couldn’t tell if it was because there were two muscular bodyguards, dressed in suits and dark shades, following me wherever I went or if it was because I was not from this town and I’m the first new face that this town has ever seen. If no one new is allowed to move into ‘Stermyer’, it means that everyone here knew everyone, but no one knew Olivia Nightingale.

Apart from the stares and awkwardness, Austin was right, I like Stermyer. It literally has everything, from name-branded stores to top restaurants and beauty parlors. All in the comfort of a small little town.

Going to the beauty parlor, I was happy to find out that they didn’t have a lot of appointments today and that they could fit me in their schedule. I decided to give myself a little treat, which I think is well deserved. So I booked in for a hair trim, facial, full-body massage, manicure and a pedicure. Spending almost the entire day at the salon, I was quite amused when I saw how bored my two masculine bodyguards were. The hairstylist trimmed my hair perfectly, cutting it just an inch enough to remove all the damaged strands. My facial was worth the 200 Euros that I spent on it, it had me glowing as bright as the sun. And the full body massage…oh there was nothing as relaxing as that. All of this was exactly what I needed and slowly I felt like I was getting my old life back…the life that I thought I left behind in New York. My pedicure was done and I found myself engrossed as I usually was when a nail technician worked on my manicure, except for this time a very interesting conversation distracted me…

“I have to look my best, you know! The Stermyer annual ball is coming and The Alpha is still single” one girl said to the other. “Haven’t you heard? He has brought some girl back with him from his last trip abroad. Apparently she is his mate” the other girl replied. This is where the conversation got interesting, Firstly these girls were in their 20’s yet they seemed to be huge werewolf movie and book fans since they are referring to a guy as an Alpha…which I think is a leader of a werewolf pack. Secondly, I think that they were talking about Austin and me. “I have heard, I have also heard that she is human and weak so he is going to reject her, which means now we all actually stand a chance,” the first girl said. “Good luck with that, you should know that every girl in Stermyer is drooling over him so you have competition,” the second girl said. “May the luckiest girl win,” said the first girl…

What is up with these people and this town? It keeps on getting creepier and creepier! I’m not a fan of mythical creatures but I’m pretty sure that these girls are obsessed with it! Like what on Earth is wrong with them? It’s okay if some werewolf move teen fan refers to an attractive guy as an Alpha but for two grown-up women to be doing that is ridiculous! However, my manicure was finally done which meant that I don’t have to listen to these two empty heads anymore, I thought to myself as I paid my bill and left the beauty parlor.

………

“Did you do something with your hair?” Austin asked during dinner. “Yes, glad you like it,” I said, concentrating more on my food than him. “I didn’t say that I did” his words stole my attention. “But you noticed,” I said. “Yes, I noticed but that doesn’t mean that I like it” I sighed at his words. “Well, it’s a good thing that I don’t care what you like or what you don’t, neither do I care about what you say! I did it for me not you” I said, it annoyed me when he started laughing. “You are a cute little kitten, aren’t you,” he said, making me blush. “Cute?” I repeated. “I thought that you didn’t care about what I say and yet are sitting here looking like a tomato,” he said, my eyes popped as I realized that he just complimented me to prove that what he says and how he feels does have a big effect on me. “Tell me, Olivia, do you find me attractive?” he asked, lying back on his chair. “Er- n- ye- wh-what makes you ask such a question?” I stammered in shock. “Hmmm, maybe because I know that you do but I just want to hear it from you,” he said. “Does it matter?” I asked. “More than you think Olivia” and he starts with his riddles again. “I do find you attractive” I admitted, my eyes on my food as I couldn’t bring myself to make eye contact with him. He didn’t say anything else, rather he woke up from his seat across me and sat next to me. I couldn’t distract myself with my food any longer as he played with the stands of my hair. “Olivia, you are mine!!!” he said and leaned in to kiss me, I swear I saw something different about his eyes before I could close mine and anticipate for the kiss…unfortunately we heard the voices of Keith and Jake, making their way to the dinner table and I’ve never got my satisfaction for the kiss that I now crave…