Althena

27. Bazaar District

For training the next day, we play baseball. I'm horrible at it. I'm actually afraid of the ball. I can't swing the stick right. It's just bad. My team wins, but they had no help from me. If he ever says we're doing that again, I am running away.

Then I go for a walk. I think I remember how to get back to the magic coffee shop. It would be neat to see what other stores are there. An hour later, I'm in the trees. That's it. Trees in every direction. I have no idea what to do. Then I see the ladybug. "Go?" It takes off.

I try to follow it and fall on a rock. I bang up my knee, but I can still walk. Lost the ladybug though.

Monte shows up after 10 minutes. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to find the coffee shop."

"You went the wrong way."

"I noticed. I sent the ladybug. Did it find you?"

"No. You tripped the alarm for the pack border."

"Sorry."

"Are you hurt?"

"No. It's fine. I'm just clumsy. Which way is the coffee?"

The alpha and 12 warriors come running over. "What happened?"

"I couldn't find the coffee place."

One of the warriors cracks up laughing. "You went the wrong way."

The alpha rubs his eyes. "Monte."

"Yea, we'll have a nice woods walk tomorrow for training."

"She's bleeding."

"I'm alright."

Phina shows up with a fire in her hand. "Why in the world are you out here?"

"She couldn't find the coffee store."

"This way, sweetie. Oh, take your bug back. It keeps buzzing me."

I hold out my hand. It lands on me and sinks in. Then a door appears out of nowhere. She does something to it and opens it. We walk into the coffee shop.

"Welcome, how can I help you today?"

Phina smiles. "She'll have a spirit and spice awakening blend coffee."

"No." Monte rubs his face. "Do not give her liquor. She's too young."

"Well, it'll wake her ass up."

"Or knock her out. Give her awakening with mocha magic."

I cross my arms. "I wondered why it burnt so much last time."

He nods and the alpha shakes his head.

"Here you go. Mocha Magic."

I take a sip. "Mmmm. This is so good. What's in it?"

"Coffee mixed with chocolate."

"This is the best thing ever."

Prina smiles. "Wait until she figures out about chocolate milk."

They laugh and I get guided through the door. We're back at the park. "Can you get home from here?"

"Yep. Thank you."

Granny is coming outside when I get there. "Wonderful. Just in time for lunch."

After lunch, she has me blow up pumpkins. Then Clover comes. I can't help but notice she smells like Monte. They must be together.

"Monte said he's been too busy to show you the gardens. He sent me."

"I'm surprised he remembered. There was a lot going on at the party. But I love to garden. It's my favorite thing."

"I'm surprised. You're so fancy."

"Everyone keeps saying that, but I'm really not. It's just a different clothes style. If you went to the inner city, you would look different too."

"I never thought about it like that. I wish I could see that someday."

"You've never left the district?"

"No. My family doesn't have much money. We make it work. I'm happy here anyway."

"Change of plans."

"What?"

"Let's go to the city instead."

"We can't do that."

"Sure we can. I'll borrow granny's car. I know how to get around a city. What districts are close?"

Her eyes are so big and she's shaking. "Bazaar is an hour south. Central is 2 and a half hours south."

"We can go through the bazaar. Central might be too far. Come on."

She follows me up the steps. "BUT I LOOK."

"It doesn't matter how you look. I'll let you borrow a dress if it makes you feel better though."

"Ok."

Granny is concocting something in the cauldron. "Can we borrow the car? We want to go shopping."

"Hello, Clover. Of course, you can. Clover knows where she's going."

I grab her and pull her to my room. "That's fine. We have permission."

She puts on a dress that matches her shoes and off we go. Granny gave us some money too.

I drive and she stares out the window. "I can't believe we're leaving."

"I can't believe you've never left."

"It seems so different out there."

"It is."

She stares out the window in awe for an hour and I keep going south. The bazaar district is easy to find. I find a free parking lot, and we take off on foot. She is completely amazed and keeps looking in the windows.

Some teenagers walk by us. "Look at her shoes." They point at Clover.

Clover looks like she could cry.

I shake my head. "Ignore them."

"That's what you feel like when we call you fancy."

"Yea, it's not fancy. It's just different. It doesn't matter what's on your feet. Let's go in here." I get some rolls, and we sit at a table outside. "I know I'm not from here. But it seems like I missed this place. I have a shop in the market area of Crystal Falls. I spend most of my time there."

"It's so different."

An alpha walks by us, then he turns around and comes back. He sits at our table. "I'm Jax."

"Nice to meet you, sir." I shake his hand.

Clover about jumps out of her seat. "I'm Clover. She's May-Eve."

"Very pretty name." He smiles at me.

"Thank you."

"What's with the pack marks? Where are you from?"

"Crystal Falls. I'm visiting Darkburn for a month. I had to see the market here. This is like home."

"What do you do there?"

"I own a coffee shop s***h bakery. What do you do?"

"I'm the alpha of the Night Stalkers Pack. It's located here in the Bazaar District."

"I could tell you were an alpha, but I don't know anything about this place."

Clover crosses her legs and tries to be formal again. "Night Stalkers Pack always helps our pack when we get attacked. They're the first ones there."

"Where are you from?"

"Mystical Moon Pack."

"Yea, we're the closest to your pack. You are far north. You're defending from rogue attacks basically. Is that where you're staying?"

"Yea." I show him the mark on my arm. "My grandma is there. I'm staying with her."

"Alpha, the car is waiting." A man in a suit stands at our table.

Jax nods and stands up. "I'll come say hi. I'm interested in your story."

"I look forward to it, sir. It was nice to meet you."

He roams off and the man in the suit says, "She's a child, sir."

Clover about dives on the table. "He likes you."

"He doesn't know me. I'm different and mysterious with the marks. He'll forget."

"I've never talked to him. I've only seen him and his warriors. They are ferocious."

I shrug my shoulders and watch him walk away. "He seems sweet."

He glances at me before he gets in the car and winks. I smile and look away. He is sexy. But he's got nothing on Mike.

My phone rings. "That's my boyfriend. I'll get him off the phone quickly."

"Don't worry about it. I'll get us some coffee."

I hand her some money. "Hello, love. How are you?"

"Missing you, babygirl. What are you doing?"

"Shopping with a girl from the pack."

"Having fun?"

"Yes. Actually I am. I met another alpha today."

He growls.

I laugh. "What was that?"

"They can stay away from you."

"You have nothing to worry about. He wasn't near as sexy as you. And it was only briefly anyway."

"That makes me feel better. Who are you with now?"

"Clover. I think she's a little older than me. She has a permanent mark."

"Yea, that would make her older."

She sits down and gives me a coffee.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure."

"I'll let you get back to your visit and call again later, baby. Send me a pic. I miss your beautiful face."

"I miss you too. I love you."

"I love you, babygirl."

"He wants a picture." We lean towards each other and smile.

"How long have you been with him?"

"The day before I came here we made it official. But I've known him my whole life. I have no doubt he's my mate."

"How old is he?"

"22. I have a picture." I find a picture where he's in a fancy suit and show her.

"He looks nice."

"Yep. He's my love."

"I wish I could find someone."

"I thought you're with Monte?"

"Only when he wants s*x. He ignores me other than that."

"I'm sorry to hear that. That would be a hard situation to be in. I'm sure you'll find someone who's into you soon. You're pretty and try to fit in. So many other girls try to be the center of attention constantly. Guys see right through that."

"Yea, those girls come off as annoying. I thought guys liked them though. They're always looking at them."

I nod. "They're like us. They can't look away from the stupidity."

We laugh and walk around for an hour. Then we head back.