A Luna's Revenge

equally shocked

“It’s no use,” the waitress said, snapping me out of my thoughts. I turn my head to catch her knowing smile. She was beautiful, if I had to say so myself, her long brown hair was neatly braided to one side with her dark brown eyes standing out against her tanned skin. She worked at the coffee brewery around the corner from Noah’s store, I could tel this much from the blue apron tied around her waist. I had followed the smell of their ground coffee beans when the caffeine percentage in my blood stream was becoming dangerously low, putting those around me at risk of injury. Coffee wasn’t a luxury to me, it was a survival tool, and this was my lunch break.

“I’ve been there too,” she says pulling out a seat for herself, “but he only has eyes for Annabella,” she concluded with a sigh. She had caught me staring... I didn’t even realize that that was what I was doing until she brought me back to earth, with heated cheeks. I am becoming that which I had always loathed, and I resented him for it, he was shaking whole identity and he didn’t even know it.

“Phoenix,” I held out my hand to shake hers in greeting, formally introducing myself to my new friend.

“Robyn Tramell,” she smiled as she took my hand, “are you new in town?”

“Sort of,” I hesitated, “we are newly returned... been gone for six years.”

“Right, so let me give you an update on the saga of Mr Tall, Dark and Dangerous over there,” she said leaning closer, speaking in barely a whisper so that our conversation remained private. “He is studying Business Management in order to take over the family business... and it’s billions along with it. He has started taking over from his father, and as I understand from the customers chatting away over here, he rules his kingdom with an iron fist. Blondie over there has her claws so deep in him that it’s hard to see where she ends and he begins, but that doesn’t stop the rest of us poor folk from trying though, especially since that pretty little neck of hers bares no mark...” She was clearly gossip central, but from experience the gossip girls always proved their value to us seeking to uncover secrets. I was nodding regularly, encouraging her to share more, all the while keeping an eye on Damian who stood across the road. Annabella was hanging on to him as if he were her life support. Pathetic, I thought to myself as I watched her giggle and flaunt herself at him.

“I used to go to school with them,” I mentioned, contributing somewhat to the conversation... or more fittingly, the information dump.

“You are her!” she exclaimed excitedly, touching my arm at a revelation I had not yet had the privilege of grasping, “you are the girl the pack members are all talking of! The badass babe who kicked the Beta’s butt!” I covered my face in shame, officially distracted from watching the object of my ridiculous obsession. I was not fond of being in the public eye, not because I was scared of the attention but because... well... because I hated being faffed over. It was all foreign to me, and I didn’t know how to handle it. “I should be asking for your autograph!” Ugh...

“Please don’t,” I groaned uncomfortably.

“Don’t look so worried!” she laughed, her infectious happy laughter calmed my nerves and settled my churning stomach, “I’d love to hang out after work, meet up over here after five?” Work! s**t! I look down at my watch and see my lunch hour had passed twenty minutes ago. Although I was housed by the store owner, I was far from immune to being reprimanded for tardiness. The consequences would be increasingly severe as I lived with my boss, but more than my apprehension at being disciplined, I didn’t want to disappoint the old man... I owed him my life after all.

“Yes... sure! See you later!” I spoke with rushed words as I flung my bag over my shoulder and snatched my to-go cup off the small table. I raced out of the coffee shop, along the sidewalk and around the corner... straight into the unmovable concrete slab that was Damian Black. The collision sent me falling back, flat on my ass, a newly established habit I would love to avoid when I happen to see him again, which I unavoidably would.

Looking up I met his icy blue eyes with his ink black hair that fell in front of them while he sat on his haunches in front of me, extending a hand to help me up.

“Phoenix,” his deep rough voice sent shivers down my spine, “are you alright?” he frowned. I placed my hand in his and immediately a restless energy coursed through my veins, sending an unfamiliar tingle between my thighs. I watched his eyes darken as his large hand enveloped mine. Quickly helping me to my feet I ended up standing so close to him our chests were almost touching and I could feel his breath on my skin. I inhaled deeply allowing his scent to fill my lungs. He smelt like smoldering matches, a scent I found surprisingly pleasant.

Get a grip Phoenix! I scolded myself, pushing away from him and his intense gaze.

“You should be more careful,” he said in a low raspy voice with his eyes almost black as he radiated an irresistible and domineering energy.

“And you should...”

“I should what?” his lips curved into a mischievous smile as his thumb stroked the top of my hand, reminding me that we were still holding on to each other.

“You should let me go before I snap your arm in two,” I said with a hiss as the memories of him mocking and threatening me all those years ago came flying through my mind. My words shocked me just as much as it did him. He let me go at once and stalked off with his hands pulling at his hair... again.