Chapter 12

STELLA It's nice inside. Not bright, but not too dark, rustic and homey. There are many wooden tables and very few people. Did he bring me here to hide me or something? I just can't tell with him anymore. It's tough to read this roller coaster guy. "Do I see Xavier Grayson with a girl?" I hear a voice and see a woman getting out from behind the bar. She appears to be in her sixties. She is wearing jeans and a plain grey knit jumper, with shoulder-length grey hair and the warmest smile I've ever seen. "Jackie!" Xave gives her a hug, and then they both turn to me. "This is Stella. She is… very special to me! You know what I mean!" She looks me up and down and smiles, "Can't believe you have found your.. someone special, Xavi! Nice to meet you, Stella!" I go to offer her my hand, but she pulls me by it and gives me the tightest of hugs. My bones are almost cracking when she quickly lets me go, and looks.. surprised. She sniffs the air around the two of us a few times. What the hell? Do I smell? I took a freaking shower before I left! "Oh!" Is all she says and looks at Xavier with a bit of sadness in her eyes, and he smiles back weakly. Now I am sure that something is wrong here! "Nice to meet you too…" I really don't know how to address her after the weirdness of the situation. "Jackie," she smiles warmly again, "You can call me Jackie, dear! And you can come here if you ever need anything. Anything at all! Please, remember my words. You'll always have protection here!" "Okay," I stretch the words and nod, not knowing how to react to the offer of "protection". Why would I need it in the first place? "Jackie is like a grandmother to me," Xavier explains. "She was my actual grandmother's best friend, and I grew up with her by my side." "It must be nice to have someone like that!" I smile, remembering that I do not have people like that anymore. "You have her now too," he says as if he could read my mind. "Why are you two still standing!?" Jackie exclaims and starts pushing us to a table in the corner. It's covered by a little wooden wall, so it has some privacy to it. We sit, and I am about to open the menu when Jackie slaps my hand lightly and takes it away. "Dear, you won't be needing that here! Trust me!" She winks at me. "I got you both covered." She walks away, singing some old song, and I look at Xavier questioningly. Really? I don't even get to choose what to eat? "Relax," he laughs. "Jackie is good at what she does. Food-wise – she reads your mind! She will cook you something you didn't even know you wanted. But you do!" "No offence," I whisper, "But that's really unlikely! I have very particular tastes." "Oh, really, little Miss Skeptical?" he chuckles. "How about a bet?" "What kind of bet?" I roll my eyes. "Let's say that if I win and you like what you get…" he smirks. "You'll give me a kiss!" "Erm, no." I shake my head. "Not happening!" He looks disappointed but quickly recovers. There's an evil spark in his eyes. And this only makes him even hotter. "Okay, let's think of something more innocent then?" He suggests. "How about if you lose, I can… hold hands with you whenever I want?" This guy! "I don't know," I snort. It seems ridiculous. "Oh, are you afraid of holding hands?" He wriggles his brows, and I start to laugh. "Okay, deal." I shake his hand. "But if you lose – you will be my ride any time I want!" "Deal." He seems even happier now. We talk about school and teachers. Xavier knows them all and has tons of useful info and funny stories. I don't think I laughed so hard in a while. My belly hurts quite literally. Our food arrives, and Jackie proudly places a huge hot plate in front of me. It looks like Hunter's chicken with a salad and curly fries. After she leaves, I glare at Xavier, happy as can be. "Well, you lost! I would have never ordered that!" I grin. "Try it first!" He chuckles. "The deal was about whether you like it or not!" Annoyed, I cut a piece of chicken and put it in my mouth and... it's heaven! The sauce, the smoked cheese on top – the chicken is melting in my mouth. The salad is fresh and crispy, and the fries are yummy. I enjoyed my meal. I look at Xavier's happy face. Damn it! I lost, and he knows it. "That's okay, little bird." He smiles. "You didn't have a chance to win this one! Jackie is never wrong about food. Unless she wants to be." He says that as his fingers brush over my hand on the table. I raise my brow and realise he is already exercising his prize. Smooth, Xavier, very smooth! He is looking right into my eyes, and I feel my cheeks getting hot. We are having our deserts when I hear a familiar voice. "Look! There is an available table there!" Elle sounds cheerful. Xavier's grip on my hand becomes tighter, but as soon as Cain and Elle turn to see us, he takes his hand away. That coward! For someone as bold as him, this is weird! "Oh, hi!" Elle jumps with delight and pulls her brother to us. "So that's what your plans were? Cain, she chose Xave over us! Bahahaha!" While Elle giggles, I can't help but notice how Cain and Xavier are looking at each other. Hatred. Pure hatred. It's exactly how Maddie looked at me before she pushed me on that field. The two of them definitely have some history. And it's not good! "Isn't it nice to meet you both here?" Cain smiles at me, "Having fun?" "More or less," I smile back, "The food here is delicious." "Really?" He raises his brow. "Everyone always says that. But I find this place and the food rather… plain." "Maybe the fact that nobody wants to see you here is an important factor then?" Xave smirks. "Or maybe, it's just because no one here is professional enough!" Cain retorts easily. "Stella, when we go out next week, I'll show you far more interesting places to…" But he doesn't get to finish as Xavier throws our table upside down. What the actual hell?! "Are you crazy?!" I shout at him. "You could have hurt someone!" "Stella, are you okay?" Cain takes me by my shoulders and looks me up and down. "I'm fine," I shrug and get out of his hands. I put my coat on and storm out of there. "Stella!" I hear Xavier's voice, but I don't care anymore. I should have never agreed to go out with him in the first place. I should have trusted my gut and just laid low at this stupid new school. I have two years of studies left, but I will be eighteen in just a few months. It will be my chance to fight my aunt and get back what's mine! And most importantly – to get back home! I shouldn't get involved with anyone here! I should be looking for a lawyer and leave as soon as I am able to! XAVIER She runs away, and all I can hear is that son of a b***h chuckling in front of me. "Well," he smirks. "If that was an attempt to hide your feelings for your mate – it all went to waste!" Damn it! He knows! Of course, he knows! That f*cking bastard always knows everything! That's probably why he provoked me in the first place. And I reacted like the i***t that I am. "Cain!" Elle interferes, "Why did you do that just now?" "Do what?" He snaps at his sister, his eyes red. "I promised to take you and your friend out. The fact that the Alpha pup here cannot handle a simple conversation is not my fault!" "I am sorry," Elle mind links me, "I'll take him out, and you go get Stella!" "She wouldn't want to see me!" I reply. "She would! Trust me! Go and fix everything, and I'll take my dickhead of a brother away!" "Mind linking, are we?" Cain rolls his eyes. "A little too late though". "You know what?" I say, calmly this time. "I think it's well over your visiting hours. Why don't you f**k off back to your own pack?" "I was just going to go," he smirks. "After all, my job here is done."