Her Return As An Alpha

Chapter 8 : The Travellers

As the conversation continued, Liana found herself growing more anxious. The other men introduced themselves as Lucas, a wiry man with sandy blond hair and sharp features, and Daniel, a broad-shouldered guy with dark skin and a friendly demeanor. Despite their casual conversation, Liana couldn’t shake the feeling that they were testing her, probing for information.

“So, Liana,” Lucas said, leaning back in his chair. “Do you have any interesting stories to share? Working at a diner, you must meet all kinds of people.”

Liana forced a laugh. “Oh, nothing too exciting. Mostly just regulars and travelers like yourselves.”

Daniel chuckled. “Well, we’re glad to add a bit of excitement to your day, then.”

Ethan’s gaze never left her. “Tell us, Liana. What do you do for fun around here?”

She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “I like to read, take walks in the woods, things like that.”

Ethan’s smile faltered for a moment. “The woods, huh? Sounds nice. Ever see anything interesting out there?”

Liana shook her head quickly. “No, just trees and animals. It’s peaceful.”

The conversation continued, with Ethan and his friends asking more questions, their curiosity relentless. Liana answered as best she could, careful not to reveal too much. She was relieved when Sarah called her back to work, giving her an excuse to leave the table.

As she walked back to the counter, Liana couldn’t shake the feeling that Ethan and his friends were more than just curious travelers. She glanced back at them, their eyes still following her every move. She needed to be cautious.

For the rest of their time at the diner, Liana did her best to avoid further interaction with the werewolves. She focused on her work, her heart pounding every time she caught a glimpse of them. When they finally left, she breathed a sigh of relief.

That night, as she lay in bed, Liana’s mind raced. Ethan’s eyes, so similar to her own, haunted her thoughts. She couldn’t help but wonder if he knew more about her than he had let on. She needed to stay vigilant, to be ready for anything.

A week passed without incident, and Liana began to relax again. The memory of Ethan and his friends started to fade, replaced by the routines of her new life. She continued to work hard at the diner, her days filled with friendly faces and kind words.

One evening, as she was closing up the diner, she heard a noise outside. She peered through the window and saw Ethan standing there, his eyes fixed on her. Her heart skipped a beat.

His curly hair was pulled back into a small pony, and his eyes were disturbed. He wasn't much taller than, maybe just an inch or two, but his lean frame took on an undertone of lethality. Liana gulped.

“Liana,” he called softly. “Can we talk?”

She hesitated, her mind racing. She considered running, but she knew she couldn’t avoid him forever. Taking a deep breath, she stepped outside, closing the door behind her.

“What do you want, Ethan?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

He took a step closer, his expression serious. “I wanted to apologize if we made you uncomfortable the other day. We didn’t mean to come on so strong.”

Liana nodded, unsure of what to say. “It’s alright. I’m just not used to so many questions.”

Ethan’s gaze hardened. “I understand. But there’s something I need to ask you.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. “What is it?”

He took another step closer, his eyes locked on hers. “Are you... Are you a werewolf?”

Liana’s breath caught in her throat. She had known this moment might come, but it still took her by surprise. She looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of malice or deception. But all she saw was solemnity.

“Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I am.”

Ethan nodded, as if he had expected her answer. “I thought so. I can barely smell it on you, but it is there. You smell of the forest, the scent of rogues. Why are you here, Liana? What happened?”

Tears welled up in her eyes as the memories came rushing back. “I... I had to leave my pack. They didn’t want me. I wasn’t strong enough.”

Ethan’s eyes widened. He retreated a step. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories.”

Liana wiped her eyes, trying to compose herself. “It’s alright. I’ve found a new home here.”

He nodded. “I’m glad to hear that. Just know that if you ever need anything, you can come to us. We may be travelers, but we’re always willing to help a fellow shifter in need.”

She smiled through her tears, grateful for his kindness. “Thank you, Ethan. That means a lot to me.”

He took her hand gently, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Take care, Liana. And remember, you’re not alone.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Liana standing there, her heart full of mixed emotions. She watched him go, wondering if she would ever see him again. But for now, she was content knowing that she had made a friend, someone who understood her struggles and offered a helping hand.

As she turned to return to the diner, she realised that Ethan had left something in her hand when he squeezed it. Frowning, she opened her palm to see a golden pearl suspended in a crystal ball, glowing in its supremacy and emitting warmth to her fingers. Liana gasped.

"A protective charm! How did he find it? And... why would he leave it behind?" Liana panicked, wondering how she was going to return the rare magical enchantment to him, when she noticed a piece of paper beneath the crystal ball. Glancing around, she unfolded it.

We hunt wild rogues to ensure peace within the Werewolf Court. Since you are not a rogue by choice, keep this charm. It belonged to my grandmother. It will hide your scent.

A string of numbers was scribbled below the words with a smiley face. Liana's eyes reddened, emotional at the stranger who provided her with an extremely coveted charm just so that her meager scent wouldn't be detected. Wiping her tears, she smiled and cleaned up the diner, unaware that the crystal ball could also be used to track the movement of the owner.

The evening air was crisp and cool as the group of young men gathered around a crackling bonfire at the edge of the woods. The sky was clear, dotted with stars that provided a sparse but comforting illumination. Ethan, Lucas, and Daniel, all clad in rugged, casual clothing, relaxed by the fire after a long day of travel.

Ethan Nash sat with a cigarette dangling from his fingers, the glow of the ember adding a warm orange hue to his face. The fire crackled and popped, sending occasional sparks into the night air. The men were preparing for their nightly routine, which involved patrolling the woods and dealing with any rogue wolves they might encounter.

Lucas, a wiry man with a sharp edge to his demeanor, poked at the fire with a stick. “You know, I still can’t shake the feeling that there’s something off about that girl we met. She seemed... familiar.”

Daniel, the broad-shouldered, friendly one, took a swig from his flask and leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “Yeah, she did look familiar. But why would she be here, and why didn’t she just say she was a rogue wolf if she was?”

Ethan blew out a cloud of smoke and stared into the flames, his face partially obscured by the shadows. “She’s not a rogue,” he said, his tone casual but firm. “She’s just a mortal who happened to get lost and ended up in our town.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, skepticism evident in his voice. “Are you sure about that? Because she smelled like...”

Ethan cut him off with a wave of his hand. “Trust me, she’s just a mortal. We have other business to attend to.”

Daniel nodded, seemingly accepting Ethan’s explanation without question. “Alright, but still, I can’t get her out of my mind. She had this look, you know?”

Ethan sighed, looking at the fire with a contemplative expression. “Yeah, I know. It’s probably because she looks a lot like my mother did before she died.”

The mention of Ethan’s mother brought a contemplative silence over the group. Lucas and Daniel exchanged glances, the weight of Ethan’s words settling in.

“You never really talked about your mother much,” Lucas remarked, breaking the silence. “What was she like?”

Ethan took a long drag from his cigarette before tossing it into the fire. “She was kind and strong, but also incredibly resilient. She had this presence that just commanded respect.”

Daniel nodded. “Sounds like she was a great woman.”

Ethan’s expression grew somber. “Yeah, she was. Seeing Liana... it just brought back memories. I’m not saying she’s my mother’s reincarnation or anything, but the resemblance is striking.”

Lucas prodded the fire again, his face illuminated by the flickering light. “So, if she’s not a rogue, what’s our plan for tonight?”

Ethan glanced at the forest edge, the shadows of the trees stretching into the darkness. “We’re sticking to the usual routine. There have been reports of rogues in the area, and we need to make sure they don’t pose a threat to the townsfolk.”

Daniel stretched, his muscles tensing as he prepared for the shift. “Alright, let’s get moving then. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”

Ethan stood up and dusted off his jeans, his demeanor shifting to one of determined readiness. “We’ll keep our eyes and ears open. If we run into any rogues, we deal with them. But for now, let’s not let anything distract us from our mission.”

The men rose, preparing to shift into their wolf forms and head into the woods. Their tough lifestyle was evident in their rugged appearance and no-nonsense attitude. The firelight flickered on their faces as they made their way into the shadows, ready to face whatever challenges the night might bring.

As they left, the warmth of the bonfire was replaced by the cool embrace of the forest, and the crackling of the flames was replaced by the sounds of their quiet, purposeful movement through the underbrush. The conversation about Liana lingered in Ethan’s mind, a reminder of the past and the complexity of his feelings, even as he focused on the task ahead.