First Sighting

[Travis’s POV]

"Here’s your latte." A waitress who was being much too friendly announced, "Is there anything else I can get you?"

"Uh-hum." I bit back the laugh that wanted to escape as my eyes took in Kim’s pursed lips and clearly narrowed eyes that were hidden by large sunglasses. "Did you forget my drink?"

"Oh, I..." the waitress stammered, clearly seeming uncomfortable. "I’m so..."

"Sorry," Kim chirped, flashing her teeth. "Then get to it!"

I watched as the waitress quickly scurried off, leaving just Kim and I at our table. Letting out a chuckle, I met Kim’s amused gaze.

After Thomas’ news, we had agreed to come to town the following day to keep an eye out for Marissa. Apparently, she had appeared in this area multiple times in the past few weeks. I could only hope that today was one of the days that she showed.

"You know, if Marissa saw that, she’d beat the shit out of you." Kim pointed out now, causing my light-hearted mood to crumple completely. "Oh, whoops."

"It’s fine." I sighed, lifting my drink and taking a sip. "I know that you meant well."

"Mmm." Kim purred as the waitress returned with her berry tea. "Thanks sweetie," she giggled as the waitress scurried off.

Rolling my eyes, I began to take in the area around us. Due to it being a Saturday, the streets were filled with people moving about enjoying the day. If we wanted to find Marissa, we'd have to keep a close eye on her to avoid getting lost in the crowd.

"You know what would be easier?" Kim mused, tapping the table in front of us with a manicured finger. "Using those alpha senses of yours."

"Oh, right."

Shit, I needed to calm down. I wasn’t even thinking straight right now.

Closing my eyes, I began to reach out, searching the area for the familiar energy that I knew to be Marissa’s. I had to admit that with all the different energies around me, it was proving to be difficult. However, I continued to push, reaching out as far as I could until suddenly... there... in an alley with an odd energy that was neither human nor wolf... was Marissa’s comforting energy.

"Found her." I hissed, my eyes flying open. "Come on!"

"W-wait!" Kim gasped, getting up and beginning to follow me. "Are you serious? That quickly?"

I didn’t bother responding as I waded through the crowds, being cautious not to bump anyone or knock them over. 

"Travis!" Kim called. "Slow down! Do you know how suspicious we look right now?"

"I don’t care!" I called.

I didn’t care. I didn’t give a damn if I looked like a fucking criminal. My missing mate had reappeared and I would be damned if I was going to let her get away.

"Come on! In this alley!" I called, motioning for Kim to follow.

This was it. She was here. She was actually here. Unable to contain my joy at finally getting to see her again, I rounded the corner and let my eyes rest on the scene ahead. 

There was Marissa, but she didn’t look like my Marissa, and she was sitting on the chest of a man with much too pale skin and glowing red eyes. He was saying something in a language I didn’t understand while she held a knife to his throat.

"Who..." Kim murmured, coming up beside me. "Is that?"

"Marissa." I responded, taking in the woman with the short blonde hair and a full figure wrapped tightly in black leather.

Suddenly noticing our presence, she looked at me with those all-too familiar piercing blue eyes that were filled with confusion and then hesitance.

"These your buddies?" She demanded, pressing her knife harder against the man's skin. "Didn’t I warn you not to call your friends?"

"N-no," the man gasped as Marissa yanked her blade hard enough to cut deep into the man’s skin.

"Sorry, but I don’t believe you." She laughed, getting to her feet as the man began to bleed out. "You’ve proven to be useless anyway, but maybe these two will have the information I’m after."

Finished with the man, Marissa turned her attention to me and Kim as a vicious smile began to form on her face. Flashing a toothy smile, she moved forward, almost so quickly I could barely keep up with her movements.

Wow, I wasn’t sure exactly what she had gone through these past two years, but she was much stronger and more agile. Taking advantage of my distraction, she leapt up, letting her legs wrap around my neck and then twisted, sending both of us crashing to the ground. Before I could get myself together, she jumped up and sat on my chest and pressed her knife, which was still covered in blood, against my skin.

"No sudden moves, kid." She warned me as Kim prepared to assist me. "Otherwise, I’ll kill him."

"Woah, woah." Kim gasped, holding up her hands. "We aren’t your enemy."

"It’s fine, Kim." I said, shooting her a look. "Just stay back."

"Best to listen to him, sweetie." Marissa purred, fixing her now red gaze on mine. "I’m not particularly fond of the thought of having to kill a child, so just run along."

"Marissa," I said slowly, letting a slow smile spread across my face. "It’s really you."

"Who?" She asked, seeming confused. "Who the hell is Marissa?"

"You." I responded, confusion beginning to rush through me. "Don’t you remember?"

For a moment, Marissa didn’t speak as she considered what I was saying. I wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, but from the look she was giving me, it was clear she didn’t believe a single thing I was saying.

"Do you not remember your own mate?" Kim asked, unable to stay silent. "Or your best friend?"

"Is this some type of trick?" Marissa asked, frowning. "Do you think if you make me believe that we are somehow associated that I will spare your life?"

"What happened to you?" I whispered, trying to make sense of what was going on here.

"Do you think that snap fried her brain?" Kim tried, seeming slightly intrigued. "Does this mean that I may be able to steal her from you after all?"

"Don’t you even try?" I growled, shooting her a glare. "Marissa is mine!"

"Says who?" Kim countered.

"Could you both shut up?" Marissa growled, pressing her blade harder against my skin. "I don’t have time for this!"

Didn’t have time? What exactly was she even doing, and why was she beginning to seem anxious?

"What’s going on?" I demanded, unable to control my anger at whatever was haunting Marissa. "Where have you been all this time?"

Before Marissa could respond, a dark figure appeared at the end of the alley and whistled. Cursing under her breath, Marissa jumped up and made her way towards it without saying a word.

"Wait!" I gasped, scrambling to my feet and making my way towards where they stood.

"Stay back!" Marissa warned as a cloud of smoke suddenly surrounded them. "Count your blessings, wolf!"

With that, the smoke disappeared, leaving nothing but an empty space where the figure and Marissa had just been standing. She was gone, and I was now left hoping that I would be able to find her again.