Midnight Mate

Stay

Katya POV

**Trigger Warning Assault**

The sharp vibrations of my phone ringing jolted me awake. The wild wolf stood nearby, still present. I couldn't comprehend why it hadn't attacked me, behaving more like a domesticated dog. Yet, strangely, I felt a strange sense of comfort in its presence. It almost felt like it was protecting me.

I fumbled to retrieve my phone and discovered a slew of missed messages and calls from Trevor. Panic set in as I glanced at the time and gasped. I had less than an hour to get to work. I had unintentionally spent a significant part of the day in the forest. "Will I see you again?" I whispered to the wolf, as though it could understand me. I held onto the hope that our paths would cross once more.

Without wasting any more time, I dialed Trevor's number while making my way back to my apartment. As I walked, clarity filled my mind, and I knew what I needed to do. "Kat, what the hell? Why have you been ignoring me? I'm coming over now," Trevor's voice erupted from the phone as he answered.

"Don't come. I have to work," I responded, taking a deep breath. "Look, Trevor, I've had some time to think, and after what happened in the forest, I'm really not comfortable with you. I think we should break up. I'll bring the watch you bought me to my workplace so you can come get it, but please, don't cause a scene."

"Don't do this, Kat," he snapped.

"I'm sorry, Trevor. I've made up my mind," I replied firmly.

"You're not thinking clearly, Kat. I won't accept this. I'm what's good for you. No one but me will want you," he asserted.

"Sorry, Trevor, I'm going to end the call now," I said, pulling the phone away from my ear. His angry shouts echoed in my ears as I disconnected the call. I focused on controlling my breathing, despising the idea of being alone again. But I couldn't stay with someone who would hurt me. I had been foolish not to end things earlier, but now I needed to be stronger.

Leaving the forest behind, I sprinted to my apartment, eager to change and get ready for work. Today, I would be working alongside Greg, the owner's son. He greeted me with a warm smile once I arrived at my job, always kind and friendly. The café was already busy, filled with the sounds of live bands playing for the night. I knew I would be busy, but the tips would be generous, which I desperately needed right now.

I eagerly got to work, walking around the café, taking orders from the customers. The lively atmosphere was accompanied by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the melodic chatter of people. As I went about my tasks, Lucy, a familiar face, waved me over with a warm smile. "Katya, I heard you finally got your own place. Congratulations!" she exclaimed, handing me a small envelope. I gratefully accepted it, tucking it into my apron. "It's nothing big, but I wanted to get you something for your housewarming," she explained. Overwhelmed by her kindness, I thanked her profusely.

"You didn't have to, Lucy. Thank you so much," I said sincerely.

"You deserve it. Your smile is what keeps us regulars coming back. I hope the café appreciates you and treats you well." She reassured me. Her words touched my heart.

"Thank you. That means a lot. Can I get your usual for you?" I asked. She nodded appreciatively, and I hurriedly made her drink and a slice of our homemade cherry pie, her favorite. Carrying the tray, I approached her cozy window table and placed her order in front of her.

"Thank you," she said with a smile as I walked away to attend to other customers.

The hours flew by as I busily served the crowd, keeping my mind occupied and momentarily distracting me from thoughts of Trevor. However, I couldn't help but steal glances at the entrance, knowing he might show up for the watch. As time ticked on, he failed to make an appearance. Finally, the last hour of my shift arrived. The band concluded their performance with a final song, and the patrons began to depart. I diligently cleared the tables, while Greg worked to clean behind the counter. Taking a brief break, I packed a couple of desserts, using my comp credits for the shift. After finishing my cleaning duties, I found myself excited to see Falcon again. My heart fluttered at the thought of him. Though still a stranger, I wanted to know him better.

Finally, as I finished my shift, I clocked out for the night and walked outside into the cool night air. The faint hum of distant traffic filled my ears as I stepped onto the dimly lit sidewalk. "Do you need a ride?" Greg offered.

"No, but thank you for the offer," I replied, my breath visible in the chilly air.

"Be safe, Kat," he said before walking off to his car.

I began my short walk home, the streets still busy with activity despite the late hour. The faint scent of street food wafted through the air, mingling with the crispness of the night. Living close to my job had its perks, and I couldn't help but appreciate the convenience.

As I approached my apartment building, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed behind me. I turned swiftly to see Trevor, my heart skipping a beat. "Kat, we need to talk," he said, his voice urgent. My body tensed, and I instinctively took a step back.

"I don't want to talk with you," I replied.

I fumbled through the contents of my bag, and offered him the watch. "Here, take it," I stammered, my voice quivering. But instead of accepting the watch, he forcefully grabbed my wrist, his grip like a vice.

"I don't want the f*****g watch, I want you," he snapped, his words laced with anger.

Pushing me against the entrance of my building, I could feel the rough texture of the brick against my back. His proximity made my heart race, the sound of its pounding echoing in my ears. "Now let's go inside and talk, or I'll make a scene and get you kicked out of this building," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin.

Desperation filled my voice as I pleaded with him, "Don't do this."

"Let's go, Kat," he demanded as he tugged me forward. I fumbled with my keys, finally managing to unlock the door. As soon as it swung open, he forcefully pulled me into the unit, his grip on my arm leaving bruises. The door closed behind us with a resounding thud.

Cornering me against the wall, I winced at the pain as he tightened his grip on my wrist. "Do you really think you can break up with me after everything, Kat?" he seethed. "I'm not allowing it. You're mine. Do you really think anyone else will want a poor orphan like you? Do you really think anyone else will love you?"

Desperate to escape his gaze, I tried to turn my head, but he used his free hand to forcefully hold my face, forcing me to look into his eyes. The intensity of his stare made me feel trapped, as if there was no way out. "Take it back, Kat," he demanded, his voice filled with possessiveness.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I pleaded, "Let me go.”

"Please, Trevor, you're hurting me," I pleaded, my voice trembling.

"TAKE IT BACK," he demanded, his voice growing louder, his grip tightening around my arm, causing sharp pain to shoot through me.

"Let go," I said again, desperation in my voice, as he forcefully pressed his lips against mine. In that moment, a loud bang echoed through my apartment, followed by the sound of Trevor being forcefully pulled away from me. As my vision cleared, I saw Falcon, holding Trevor back.

"She said let go," Falcon's familiar voice boomed, filled with authority.

Trevor, filled with anger, snapped at Falcon, "Who the f**k are you? So, is he the reason you broke up with me, Kat? So you're just a w***e then?"

In response, Falcon punched Trevor, causing him to stumble and fall. "Get out and don't bother her again," Falcon ordered, his voice firm and unwavering.

Trevor, still full of rage, stood up and moved towards me, but Falcon effortlessly grabbed him, asserting his dominance. "I'll give you one last warning, and trust me, you'll want to take it. Get out and do not bother her again," Falcon demanded, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Trevor chuckled, his anger still evident. "Fine, I'll leave. You can have the worthless b***h," he spat, running out of my unit. I stood there in shock, my entire body trembling with a mix of fear and relief. How did Falcon know to help me? How did he even know which unit I was in? As I processed my emotions, I felt Falcon's gentle touch on my hand, causing me to jolt in surprise.

"Sorry, you're hurt. I just wanted to see how bad. Let me help you," he said, his voice filled with genuine concern. Tears streamed down my face, overwhelmed by the events that had just unfolded.

"How did you get into my building? How did you know?" I stammered, my voice trembling.

"I heard the commotion. I was by the building since we had plans to meet. I broke the entrance door and followed the noise," he explained.

"Thanks for saving me again," I whispered, my voice trembling. I couldn't control the shivers coursing through my body. He took a cautious step towards me, his movements deliberately gentle, as if trying not to startle me.

"Can I see your wrist?" he asked, and I nodded, allowing him to reach out. A sharp pain shot through me, causing me to yelp, as he attempted to move it. "He sprained it," he uttered angrily, his eyes scanning the room.

"Sit down, I'll fetch some ice," he instructed, walking towards my freezer. He returned, wrapping a few ice cubes in one of my kitchen towels, and knelt in front of me, delicately applying it to my injured wrist. His gaze then shifted to my face, and he shook his head. "You'll bruise, but you should be fine," he reassured me before standing up. "Get some rest. I'll keep watch over your building tonight, making sure he doesn't return," he informed me, making a motion as if to leave.

The thought of being alone in this state was unbearable, even though we barely knew each other. "The dessert I brought..." I mumbled, taking a deep breath. "Please stay. I-I know we're strangers, and I've caused you nothing but trouble, but I don't want to be alone. I don't have anyone else. Please," I pleaded, my words catching in my throat.

"Okay, I'll stay for a few hours. I won't leave you alone," he agreed, bringing me a sense of relief.

"Thank you," I whispered gratefully.

I made a move to stand up. However, he reached out and gently grabbed the small bag I had brought with me. I breathed a sigh of relief, noticing that it hadn't been damaged, and watched as he placed it delicately on the table in front of my couch.

Pausing for a moment, he seemed unsure whether to sit down or not. I shifted slightly on the couch, making space for him. "Make yourself comfortable. Sorry, my place is quite small," I said. "Feel free to have whatever you'd like."

He opened the bag. "Which one can I get for you?" he asked.

"I guess the cookie." I replied, a hint of a smile on my face. He handed me the cookie before taking one for himself.

"Thank you for this," he said gratefully as he settled into the seat.

"So, are you new to the city? I've been working nearby for quite some time, and I've never seen you before." I inquired, genuinely curious.

"Yes, I just moved here," he admitted, his eyes scanning the room.

"If you'd like, I can show you around sometime," I offered, hoping to make him feel more at ease. "My work keeps me busy until after midnight, but I wouldn't mind taking a walk with you afterward, if it's not too late some night," he responded, a hint of excitement in his voice.

"I usually work the night shift, so I'm often awake at this time," I confessed, noticing a small smile forming on his face. His smile was warm and inviting, filling the room with a sense of comfort.

I don't know why, but I immediately felt at ease conversing with him, as if we had been old friends for years. "You don't plan on going back to that guy, I hope," he suddenly interjected.

"I don't," I confessed, "I actually ended things with him earlier today, which is why he was so angry."

"There is no excuse for how he treated you. You didn't deserve that," he consoled me.

"Thank you. I've always known that deep down. I'm lucky that you were nearby; I can't imagine what could have happened otherwise. I owe you so much for saving me twice now." I thanked him.

He shook his head, dismissing my gratitude. "You don't owe me anything. I'm just glad I had the chance to meet you, although I wish the circumstances were different. It seems we have something in common, both being alone here. How about you tell me about yourself? I'd like to get to know you better, so we can be friends."

His words filled me with an indescribable joy as we spent hours engrossed in conversation, completely losing track of time. Eventually, he glanced at the clock and stood up. "I have to go, Katya, and I'm sure you need some rest. But I'll be around again after midnight if you want to take a walk or spend more time together." He made his way to the door, leaving before I could ask for his number. However, I believed him and felt certain our paths would cross again. Despite everything that had happened, I went to bed with a smile, feeling a sense of happiness that had eluded me for far too long.