20

When I opened my eyes tiredly, it was slowly getting dark again outside. So I had successfully adapted to the people living here. Were they even allowed to be called human?

I pushed the covers off me and stood up to stretch with relish. My muscles felt tired, as did the rest of me. On the way to the door, I quickly grabbed a pair of black jeans and a red blouse and then dragged myself down to the bathroom.

"Good Morning Sunshine." My grandma beamed as I walked past her, holding a cup of coffee. "Good morning," I mumbled and quickly disappeared into the bathroom.

The daily routine began. Showering, brushing teeth, putting on make-up, getting dressed and finally blow-drying my hair, which was the most annoying thing.

I stood in front of the mirror for a moment and looked into my own blue eyes. Was I strong enough to live here? Would it be a good life? Would Jayden leave me alone, or was bonding really that important to a werewolf?

I didn't know any of this and snorted, overwhelmed, and then left the bathroom and got a coffee from the kitchen. "Did you sleep well?" Lisbeth asked me and handed me a cup from the red cupboard. "Yes, but I'm used to other times."

She laughed briefly and then looked at me in amusement. "You'll get used to it," she giggled, pouring the coffee into the cup I was holding in my hands. We stood silently in the kitchen and drank the coffee while there was an awkward silence that I really wanted to break.

"I'll look for something else to work for because I certainly don't want to work in the Wialtrama, where I would meet Jayden and his disciples every day," I told her and she then looked out the window thoughtfully until she looked away again after a short while turned to me.

"Do that. I just wish you'll be happy here and thank you for choosing to stay." She put down her cup and hugged me tightly in her brown cardigan. I felt so much love and warmth in that hug that I wished it had never stopped.

"I gotta go now. Some business waiting. See you later or tomorrow," she whispered in my ear, pulling away from me to grab her purse from the counter and wave to leave the house. She was really a cheerful person who took everything as it came.

Looking out the window, I was kind of tempted by the thought of going to Wialtrama, but I pushed the idea out of my head, finished my coffee, and headed into the living room to curl up on the couch.

The silence made me nervous. The quieter it was around me, the louder the voices in my head became and I tried to prevent that.

I got up, ran upstairs to my room and pulled a white and blue jacket over my red blouse. I tied my hair because I could see the wind coming out of the window, which was blowing stronger than usual. My eyes fell on my backpack and I had to imagine what it would be like if I had managed to escape.

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my key and ran down the stairs, only to leave the house and be overcome by the cold.

I didn't want to go to Wialtrama or Jayden's. The only one I wanted to see that night was Ludwig, but I didn't know if he would be at home or in that dirty shed, so I had to check there first.

I turned the corner and walked down the main street. On the left the dark forest and the road, on the right darkened houses. So I walked down the sidewalk, mumbling into my thick jacket.

Eddie sat on his stool as usual, but unlike usual, this time he got up and came towards me. I looked at him confused and wanted to pass him, but he grabbed my arm. "You're not wanted here anymore," he informed me and pulled me back to the street by the sleeve, whereupon I pulled away from him.

"Who says that?" I asked, even though I already knew. So he really thought he could run my life. I glared at Eddie, who didn't answer me. "Then at least tell me if Ludwig is here," I asked him, and he just shook his head slightly.

Behind him I suddenly saw Chace and Jayden coming out of the Wialtrama laughing and both had beautiful women by their side. I felt sick at the sight of these smoking, arrogant idiots and turned away to walk down the path to Ludwig's.

As I walked, one thought stuck in my head. Jayden was a wolf, so surely he could smell me from afar. Then why did he come out of the club laughing with a woman? Did he want to provoke me? Make me realize that as a person I'm too bad for him? Too small and insignificant?

After a short time, these thoughts got on my nerves so much that I angrily kicked a garbage can and hurt myself. I cursed that bastard and couldn't calm down until I finally reached the street with the wonderful houses and walked towards Ludwig's house.

The light was on in the windows upstairs and that let me breathe easy.

Excitedly, I ran across the pebbles and pressed my index finger firmly on the bell, which brought a grin to my face. He would certainly talk to me and he would never judge me for being human.

I nervously tiptoed back and forth, waiting for the door to open. I heard footsteps inside and he was standing in front of me with a grin so cute it made me blush.

"Who do you have if? Come in," he said amused and took a step to the side so that I was standing in the hallway I was familiar with. "I didn't expect you to come here again," he said and I looked deep into my eyes as if he wanted to know what I was doing here.

"Yeah, me neither. But here I am," I replied, shyly avoiding his gaze, which was embarrassing me more and more. Especially since he looked really good in a sweat. "Were you just about to exercise?" I asked and he finally took his eyes off mine and closed the door behind us. "Yes, a little. Come on. I'll open a bottle of sparkling wine for you."

He walked ahead past the stairs and I found myself in a beautiful brown kitchen with a counter and two bar stools in the center. "Sit down," he instructed, helping me take off my jacket.

I looked around curiously and then watched him take two glasses out of the cupboard and put them on the counter in front of me. A grip on the fridge and the blonde already had an expensive-looking bottle of sparkling wine in his hand. "How are you?" he asked, but I studied his face curiously and asked a question in return. "Can you wolves even get drunk?"

A loud bang made me jump. Ludwig stood there in his white t-shirt and stared at me reproachfully. I widened my eyes and felt my heartbeat in my fingertips. The bottle of sparkling wine, which at that moment was only in pieces, spread the sweet smell throughout the room.

"You seriously think I'm a wolf? That's almost an insult given their childish and idiotic behavior." He seemed tense, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice. Maybe it was hubris. I had no idea because I was still in shock.

"It wasn't my intention to offend you," I clarified, standing to help him sweep up the shards. Just as I was about to bend down, he did too and we bumped our heads slightly, only to leave a few millimeters between our faces afterwards.

"I...I should," he stuttered, and I probably went red in the face. "Yes, you should," I replies, embarrassed, not knowing what he was talking about. I tore myself away from his beautiful eyes and got up to sit back in my seat. He hurried out of the room and returned a few seconds later with a dustpan and broom.

"I'll put that away for a moment. If you would be so kind, there's another one in the fridge. It would be better if you opened it." I nodded to him and got up again to walk around the counter and open the fridge. I took a bottle, closed the fridge and went to the counter.

With a skillful grip, I opened the bottle and poured enough for both of us. "That's how a pro does it," I whispered under my breath, but he must have heard it. "I have other things that I'm a pro at," he winked at me, which made us both laugh heartily. "I believe you Casanova," I joked and sat down in front of him to toast with him.

The cool sparkling wine tingled pleasantly and after the first glass was drunk, I finally asked him the questions that were on the tip of my tongue. "If you're not a wolf, then what are you? Maybe a goblin?" I joked and he shook his head with a grin. "That would probably suit you. Luddi the goblin," he laughed. "Would definitely be interesting," I replied and poured myself a new glass.

"I'm a human like you, but I have special abilities," he said in a creepy tone, as if he wanted to scare me, but I just grinned and leaned micj a bit further forward. "And what skills would that be?" I whispered, at which point he raised and lowered his eyebrows provocatively. "I'm just kidding, Chiara," he winked and emptied his glass.

I was putting my glass on when he said something and I choked violently. "And so you are now the leader's wife."

It took me a while to get my breath back and glared at him. "Certainly not!" I hissed and saw that he didn't seem to believe me. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked him, but he just waved me off. "Nothing, it's just Jayden. You won't be able to resist it forever," he said and I just rolled my eyes in annoyance. "After all, he has already tagged you and is on his way here," he said suddenly and I got up confused.

"What do you mean?" I asked him, frowning as he ran his fingers through his long hair and gave me a pitying look. "I can smell him and feel his presence."

He said that like it was the most normal thing in the world and I cursed that stupid marker that always seemed to let him know where I was. I looked at Ludwig and quickly poured myself another glass that I drank in one gulp. "You're not human, are you?" I asked him, putting the glass down. "Who is that anyway?" Just at that moment the doorbell rang.