Chapter 37
LAKE:
I waited for her to come close to me. Something in me sparked on seeing the strange woman. My heart seemed to melt in my chest, I shivered like a rain-beaten pup without its mother.
“Good day, Alpha.”
She greeted, bowing slightly. I pulled myself back to the present and nodded in acknowledgment with a slight bow. There was nothing particularly new about her features. She was the same as almost every middle-aged female wolf in the pack. So, why did I feel as though I had met her before? She was tall and lean, hovering above our table.
Her eyes drifted away from me and landed on my best friend, her sparkle returned. I felt my fingers curl with… jealousy?
“Kenji. It’s so good to see you here again.” Her tone was bubbly, and Kenji grinned in ecstasy.
“You too, Mrs. Smith. You’ve gotten even prettier from last time.” His compliment caused me to arch a brow. The woman feigned a blush, covering her mouth.
“You and your flattering words. Thank you. You don’t look bad yourself, and neither does the alpha.” She replied.
I did not need to look at her to know her eyes were on me. It had been so since she stepped foot in front of our table. The strange woman and Kenji exchanged some more pleasantries before she turned her back to leave.
“Who is she?” I found myself asking.
“She’s the owner of the restaurant, she wanted to sit with us,” Kenji replied.
My eyes narrowed at him.
Sit with us?
I tilted my head back to look at her. She had a grim smile on her face, reaching the back of her ears. It was the nervous smile of someone who was hiding something.
I turned back to Kenji, only to find him smiling at her. He must have visited here on more than one occasion because they seemed to be close, too close for my own comfort. Something wasn’t right, Kenji couldn’t be loyal to a person, apart from the pack and me, so how could he be loyal to a restaurant?
My curiosity continued to prick the hairs on my skin.
“You’ve been here a couple of times?”
He jerked up and turned to me.
“Yes, I have. It’s a new favorite spot.”
I scoffed. Indeed.
There was definitely something wrong here. And that something had to do with why the woman was continuously staring at me. She began to walk back to our table.
“Are you enjoying your meal, Alpha?”
I dropped my fork, even though involuntarily. Why was she so particular about me? What tricks did Kenji have up his sleeves? I rose my eyes and looked at her.
“A little too spicy, but good, overall.”
Disappointment flashed through her eyes. I ignored it and stared down at my meal. She spoke again.
“I was not the one who made this but if you want, the next time you come here, I’ll make something for you, myself.”
Okay, really? What was wrong with this woman?
“It’s okay. You do not have to.” I was as polite as I could be, but she was more resilient.
“I’m afraid I cannot take no for an answer. Please, alpha, let my restaurant and I do have the honor.” She leaned forward, into the table.
My eyes found Kenji, but he made all possible efforts to ignore me. I was used to being worshipped, but hers was different. I wasn’t being worshipped, I was being cherished. Like a mother did for a stubborn sick child, not that I knew anything about that.
“Alright then.” I finally agreed. I saw her smile in satisfaction, while I continued to focus on my plate.
We were done with the main meal, with hopes that I would be able to leave this awkward table, and the presence of a more awkward woman. But, Kenji just had to order dessert.
When did he even become a fan of dessert? I declined the offer of dessert when she brought the menu to me.
Kenji began cutting insignificant slices of his chocolate cake. He did so once every five minutes while coming up with weird stories that made me want to raise him from the ground, plant him on my shoulder and bounce out of this place.
“You know alpha, I had a son who looks just like you.” She spoke with glee. Kenji’s right hand flew to his mouth. I could tell from how he forcefully swallowed his piece of cake, that he had almost choked.
“You had?” I asked. My emphasis is on the past tense of the word “have”. I noticed her look away from me, to hide the tears that threatened to well up in her eyes.
“I lost him.” She spat out, sniffing in her tears. I corked my head.
“Oh. Death’s a big fucker, isn’t it?”
She seemed to blush at my choice of words, before she shook her head, attempting to wipe the tears. She was too late, they stained her cheeks,
“He did not die. My precious little boy was… sei… seized from me.”
I noticed Kenji’s eyes narrow at me, as though watching every move I made with eagle eyes. I looked back at the strange crying woman and shrugged my shoulders.
“I’m sure you’ll find him someday.”
My statement was followed by a long stare from Kenji. He looked away from me and gave the woman a reassuring smile, concurring with my statement.
“I will.” She muttered against her breath. It felt more like a reminder to herself than a reply to my statement.
I did not allow myself to waste any more time with them. I checked the time on my Rolex, it was already late into the night. I got up on my feet and prepared to leave.
She rose beside me. I paid her no mind.
“Meet me in the car now, Kenji.”
With that, I began to walk away. I paid no mind to the paparazzi outside, or my guards fighting to get them away from me. Kenji was keeping something away from me, something too important. There was a feeling in my gut, something that told me what it was, but it was also impossible to believe. Surely, he did not think I would not notice, he could not have thought me to be that stupid.
Now that I was this upset and tired, I could only imagine how I’ll feel when I finally saw my father again. I thought of seeing granny, I did miss her, but I would go home and face my demons instead.
The driver’s seat opened and Kenji slipped into the car.
“The suite.” I snapped.
He glanced at me, as though he wanted to protest. But when my eyes met him with a cold stare, I was certain he immediately decided against it.