Chapter 22 TWENTY-ONE

MORGIANA'S POV I've only been to the city hall a couple of times and I've never really got the chance to admire the interiority of it. While I was standing there together with the other servers, I couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful it was. It was opulent and one could really tell the creators took their time to make it. The town of Great Oaks was small but the city hall isn't. "Tonight is one of Great Oaks' most important celebrations. You will serve important people tonight so I want you all to be on your best behavior and service. Is that understood?" said the lady who eyed me earlier the moment I arrived. We all said yes and she nodded at us, signaling us to start what we needed to do. We all went to the kitchen to prepare and I felt someone walking beside me. I looked only to see Adrian grinning at me. Something's weird about him. He feels too...friendly. As though it was almost forced. "You don't seem too delighted to talk to me," he said, causing me to raise my brows. "Am...I supposed to?" His smile broadened at that and I shrugged before I walked ahead. But just when I thought I was free of him, I felt him walking beside me again. "It's just that most people I talk to would feel delighted to." "Yeah, good for them. I came here to work and not to talk. Excuse me, Adrian." Before I could even walk ahead, I felt his hand on my arm, gripping it so I couldn't walk off. I looked at the way his hand was on my arm and then at him. There was no smile on his face but it was replaced instantly with another grin before he let go of my arm. "I apologize. I was just messing with you. See you around, Morgiana." I did not say anything and just walked toward the kitchen. I found Hanna waiting for me by the door. I was expecting she would harass me for talking to Adrian but she linked her arms to mine before she whispered, "He's hot, isn't he?" "He is," I answered. "But you'd do well if you stay away from him." She looked at me as though she wanted to know more but we already arrived at the kitchen and we already heard the mayor's wife speaking outside. The head lady gave us orders on what to do and we followed. It wasn't very hard for me since I worked at a pub before. We started going out to the yard where the people are and I tried not to marvel at the sight of them. The founding families are also the richest in town and they never fail to show it on their clothes. Clad in glamorous gowns, they all stood and socialized with the others. I swear they sparkled under the lights. There are people whom I saw in the town center and people I've seen at school. I could see the wolves at camp and there are also some I don't recognize. I started going around bringing glasses of champagne. Some called for me so they could get a glass and I spotted Arleigh and her bunch. I already knew where I should and shouldn't serve. If they see me serving, they probably won't stop messing with me. I can use compulsion on them but that would risk my exposure especially since there are witches around. I wonder who are the witches around here. "Today marks the 58th charity event this town has ever held. As a tradition, the founding families and the other factions are going to do the tradition of giving back to our beloved town." The mayor's wife, Glenda Hawthorne, raised her glass of champagne. "This town has given a lot to us. It has provided us a place we can call home. It is only right that we give back by auction!" The people cheered and clapped their hands at that. Auction, huh. "For this year's event, we will be auctioning some rare materials for a considerable price, of course. The money we are going to earn will go straight to Great Oaks High School and Oaks' Home for Children. Isn't that amazing?" The people cheered once again and I continued to make my way to the crowd to stand in the corner and observe. Glenda Hawthorne looked elegant in her white fitted dress and I could really see the resemblance to Arleigh. She was all smiles and grins and I couldn't help but wonder that a mayor's wife should be someone who can socialize like Glenda. "To officially start the auction, let's cheer for a more prosperous year at Great Oaks!" She raised her glass of champagne and the people did the same. "To Greak Oaks!" she said and the people followed. I looked around, wondering where Alaris could be but I couldn't see him. Earlier, he was wearing his casual clothes and I think he wasn't planning on attending the event. However, I was completely wrong when I entered the foyer and saw him there, talking to Mr. Hawthorne and a guy I don't recognize. Our gaze met but I was quick to know that he was in the middle of what humans would call a business meeting so I averted my gaze and walked to where the kitchen is. But just before I could even enter the kitchen, Mr. Hawthorne called my name. I was frozen but I managed to make myself turn around. Mr. Hawthorne was looking at me and the unknown guy too. Alaris was sipping in his glass and with his rugged look-tie loosened and the first few buttons of his shirt opened-he looked like a walking disaster. A beautiful one. "Careful with this other guy. He's a witch leader," I heard his voice in my head but he wasn't even looking at me. When I stood in front of them, Mr. Hawthorne smiled at me before he said, "I'm glad to see you here, Miss Davis." "Likewise, sir," she answered. "Hawke, this is Morgiana Davis. Morgiana, this is Mr. Hawke." "He's a witch, Morgiana," said Alaris in my head. "Act normal." I smiled at Hawke and accepted his hand for a handshake. He's a witch which means he could sense what I am. Alaris had told me that my wolf side is the dominant one so that is what Hawke will sense first. Indeed, when our hands touched, he looked at me with eyes slightly wide. I could definitely see the surprise in his eyes but instead of saying anything, he just smiled at me. Whatever hint of surprise he had earlier, they were gone and were replaced by a pleasant grin. "A pleasure to meet you, Morgiana," he said and I smiled back. I don't know how much I could trust my supernatural instincts but I don't feel uneasy with Hawke. Unlike Adrian earlier. I really don't have a good feeling about that guy. "She is also my student at Great Oaks High. I must say she's an excellent student," Alaris said and glanced at me. An excellent student. I couldn't count how many failed quizzes and exams I got in his class. "And speaking of quizzes, I need to talk to Ms.Davis about something. Will you excuse us?" Hawke looked at me and Alaris before he nodded. Mr. Hawthorne looked at me and maybe he was trying to see if it was alright with me. I gave him my most reassuring smile and said, "I will be back to serving the customers once Mr. Alaris is done to lecture. I think I got the lowest score in the latest exam." Hawke laughed at that and Alaris gave me a look. I saw the relief on Mr. Hawthorne's face. He really must not trust Alaris. Well, he knows what he is and what he is capable of but he doesn't know what I am. That I am a hybrid. Right now, Alaris is suspecting the mayor to be involved with the hunting that happened in the mountain. Alaris told the mayor about it but of course, Mr. Hawthorned denied it, saying that there is a bigger possibility it was the rogue wolves that did it. I don't know much about wolves so far but I know they wouldn't ask humans to hunt other wolves when they could do it themselves. Alaris made Mr. Hawthorne believe he believes him but we are going to find out tonight if Mr. Hawthorne was telling the truth or not. I followed him to the study room and when we were both sure that there was no one, I looked at him. There are supernaturals around the area. I can't risk talking freely so I used my head. "There's a guy who's also a server. Adrian's the name. He's...weird," I said inside my head. He nodded in my direction. "I'll have Nico check." He took his phone out and started typing. "What do you want to talk about?" "There's a room upstairs, down the hall to the right. That's the mayor's office. You get inside and you can see the rare items they plan to auction tonight." "What? Why me? Nico or Laurent could jump inside the windows easily-" "They can't get inside the window, Morgiana. It has to be you. And besides, the mayor doesn't suspect. He's actually protective of you." "Don't put it that way. I feel bad." "You won't feel bad if you think he's the one who initiated that wolf hunting." We can't say for sure yet but there is a huge possibility, indeed. "Fine," I groaned inwardly. "How am I supposed to get in there." Alaris walked closer to me and touched my shoulder. The contact made me jump slightly and he noticed it that he furrowed his brows. "Why are you so jumpy?" he said aloud. "Well because you suddenly patted my shoulder?" His eyes narrowed but he did not say anything else. "Now do your job and serve wine," he said, and then he continued inside his head. "That's how you will get in."