Chapter 6
Evie
We got to the nearest train station, got our tickets, and when it was time to leave, I held Ethan close as we got into the train. The ride home was silent as we both sat beside each other. I took a glance at him, but he just sat there bowing his head in remorse.
He probably thinks I hate him now, I thought. “Hey, baby,” I called softly, but he still didn't move an inch. I placed my hands on his chin, raising his gaze to meet mine as we locked eyes with each other.
“Hey,” I called again with a smile on my face. “Mommy isn't mad at you, alright?” I said reassuringly.
“I really didn't mean to cause you any trouble, Mommy…” he said, his voice shaky as he spoke.
“It's okay, son, it's not your fault…. We'll figure this out together, alright?” I replied, wrapping my hands around him as I pulled him in for a hug.
He curled his tiny hands around me, making the shirt he wore pull up a bit, revealing the lunaris tattoo he had on his lower back. My gaze flickered to the next person who sat beside him as I noticed the woman staring at his mark with furrowed brows.
I quickly drew his shirt down, covering his back as I stared at her with a wry smile on my face, shifting my gaze back to him as I held him tightly.
The lady beside him quickly moved her gaze forward, her face etched in confusion, making me swallow hard, praying to the goddess for the train to get to my stop so we could get down quickly, before he drew any attention.
I've lived long enough here to know that when someone else saw the tattoo on him, they'd think I was violating some sort of child rights, but I can't possibly explain that he was born with it. Yes, Ethan has had that mark since birth, similar to the one I had, but mine was on my lower neck.
Growing up, Dad said my mom had a similar mark, that it was a blessing, so I just saw it as nothing but a generational thing and nothing special. Each passing day, living here makes me scared not for myself, but for Ethan's growing powers.
They weren't supposed to have surfaced until he turned eighteen, just like every other alpha, but from the tender age of five, Ethan had already begun to hear voices and experience things every other wolf experienced, aside from one thing, which was unlocking his wolf.
I wished desperately that too doesn't come into play until he has come of age to control it. As a mother, I made sure I didn't hide his heritage away from him; the only thing I never told him about was his father, and he respects my decision to keep him hidden as it was best for us both.
Right now it was just us against the world, I thought.
The train came to a halt at our stop, making me pull Ethan, who was already asleep, up as we headed out. We got to our house, which was in the smallest town on the outskirts of the city. We had just a few neighbors around, and it was peaceful for us here since our home was close to the woods where I could go hunting for us to eat daily.
It's really been a hassle trying to master eating what these humans take here – just some bunch of grasses and meats here and there – it didn't quite sit well with us, except for something they called burgers and pizza… Those were the only things we could manage to eat.
We got into the house; by this time it was already almost dark, and I was running late for my job at the club. I took Ethan to his room as I put him to sleep.
“Mommy…” he called with sleepy eyes, his hands holding onto mine tightly, “please don't go… I'm scared.” He cried, tightening his grip on me.
I stared at him with glassy eyes as my vision became blurry. “I'm sorry, son, but I really have to go; else, we wouldn't be able to get money to survive in this world… I'll be back before you know it,” I said reassuringly.
“I'm scared…” he whined, clutching his hands tightly to mine.
I bit my lower lip as I stared down at him as he spoke, wishing I could make him understand. Make him understand that I had to keep working if I wanted to keep him with me. I've done a lot of reading on human culture, and my worst nightmare was reading about something they called child support.
I don't know what I'll do if Ethan was ever taken away from me because I couldn't fend for his needs; that's the number one reason why I worked tirelessly every day. Just then, I felt his grip on my hand loosen as he was now fast asleep.
I tiptoed out of the room, heading to mine to freshen up, take a little dinner, and get dressed for work.
I got to work a bit late as I quickly went to take over from my colleague, Corey, who's been sitting there waiting for me for hours. She twisted her face in a scowl the minute she saw me; I quickly rushed to her with pleading eyes, knowing she'd be very angry.
“Evie, you're late… Again!” she spat at me sternly, her voice laced with venom.
“I'm so sorry, Corey, I had to put Ethan to sleep before coming,” I apologized.
Corey was the only one who knew I had a son, and she's always been helpful in times like this, preventing me from getting into trouble with the manager. She taught me most of the things I know about humans, but I never left a clue as to why I was so curious, so she wouldn't suspect that I wasn't like her.
“It's okay,” she replied softly, curling her lips in a smile as she stood up to leave, “and oh, that reminds me,” she said, stopping in her tracks, “you have to be extra vigilant tonight if you want to be paid in full, alright? I've dealt with quite a number of imposters in the past hours, so make sure you collect every penny for whatever they take, alright?” she said before turning to leave, but I just responded with a nod.
“And Evie,” she called out midway to the changing room, making me turn my gaze in her direction, “don't forget to be fierce; don't play it cool when it comes to your money, get that?” she added with a stern voice.
“Don't you trust me?” I replied with a smile on my face, making her do the same before finally leaving.
With that, I sprang into action as I kept serving whoever placed an order. I kept track of time as my shift was supposed to end at 10:00 pm. Everything was going smoothly until an unfamiliar face arrived with two bodyguards.
I've worked here for quite some time, but I've never seen this face here, ever before. He had a great dress sense and looked expensive; I could catch the amazing scent of the cologne he wore from where I stood. He was everything a woman would desire to have, I thought.
“No more Kieran, Evie, you promised!” Cyan growled at me, her voice sending a sharp pain through my skull.
“Ouch!” I groaned. “Cyan, I was just staring at him; I didn't say I liked him!!” I fired at her, but the only response I got was a defining silence.
Ever since Kieran's rejection, Cyan has been so adamant about anything or anyone that looked like the male gender… Kieran's rejection broke us to the core, and I kind of understood why she's so protective when it comes to smiling or even speaking to the opposite gender.
But I also thought it was a great idea; at least it gave me time to focus on Ethan and me.
“Give me ten hot shots of tequila!!” a hoarse voice echoed in my ears, making me jolt back to the present.
I locked eyes with Mr. Handsome, who stood in front of me with a straight face. Without a word, I served his drink and watched as he gulped everything down at a go and even asked for more. At first, I was hesitant about serving another one, but who was I to care? ‘I'm only here for the money,’ I mumbled to myself.
A few minutes had passed, and he was about to leave without paying. I approached him, and as instructed, I brought out Miss Fierce Lady in me, making him almost hit me, but I cared less, as all that matters to me now was my money and Ethan's wellbeing, so I was so ready for whatever stunt he was about to pull.
Surprisingly, he hung his hands mid-air, curling his face into a smirk as he stared at me.
“Get me Mr. Pete,” he instructed one of his guards.
I jerked my head in his direction, wondering how he knew who the manager was, but I wasn't afraid as Mr. Pete has supported me several times for matters like this. At this point, the air was already filled with whispers.
My senses heightened as I tried to focus on what they were talking about.
“She's so brave for standing up to Don Lucian,” a voice echoed from a distance.
“Oh please, I bet she doesn't know what he's capable of yet,” another added.
“He's sure not letting her go Scott-free,” a husky voice echoed.
I stopped listening to their words; I'm sure they were all cooking up some sort of story, I said to myself.
A few minutes later, Mr. Pete came down and asked what was going on, but the minute he locked eyes with the imposter, I could hear his heart racing loudly in his chest as he bowed his head in fear.
“Don Lucian, what a pleasant surprise…” He greeted with a smile on his face, but Mr. Handsome just raised his hands upward, making him go mute.
It was at this moment I knew I was dead meat.
“Save it, Mr. Pete.” He fired at him. “Do you now employ incompetent individuals in my firm?” He fired at him, but he just stood there, speechless and clueless about what was going on.
“Uhm… How do you mean, Don…” he stuttered.
“I want her fired,” he blurted out, his voice laced with venom as he spoke, making my eyes widen in shock.
“What?!” I exclaimed.