Chapter 8

Clutching my chest, I asked David for help. "David, let's not go outside. I want to take a nap instead. Can I do that here?" I didn't know why my instinct was to avoid Eli at all costs, but that was the only thing I wanted right now. "Sure. But are you really okay? I think I should take you to the doctor instead." "No," I insisted. "I'll go there later. I just want to sleep first. Is that okay?" "Oh, sure!" said David, who seemed confused at first. "You can rest at the quarters right next to the storage room. There's a bed there. Come on. I'll inform Chef Jack about this later." "Thank you," I mouthed, feeling grateful that David didn't ask questions further. He just helped me get to the staff's quarters, which was a small room with a bed in the corner. There was no window here so it was perfect for hiding just in case Eli was outside trying to find a way in sneakily. I immediately laid down on the bed with David’s help. He even gave me a glass of water. He seemed genuinely concerned about me, which melted my heart. "The boss said that you can have a half day," he said as he sat at the edge of the bed, smiling at me. "But if you still need rest, you can stay here the whole day if you want. I'll bring you food later." "Thank you, David. I'm really grateful that you're here. And I'm sorry that this is happening already." "No worries. Health comes first, after all." He was still observing me, probably worried that I might wince in pain again. "Are you feeling better now?" I nodded, trying to fight the two clashing emotions in me right now. One was the slight panic and fear about the possibility of Eli being here in New Forks while the other was the youthful excitement that the butterflies in my stomach have been giving me ever since David came at me back in the restroom. My wolf had finally calmed down, but it was still growling softly as if it was greatly annoyed by my decision to not go outside the restaurant. I ignored it and tried my hardest to keep my cool in front of David, who's a cute and sweet person. "You're a nice guy, David. I'm glad that you're not the bossy type that tortures the new hires." I said that out of the blue and it made David laugh. Even his laugh was so cute that it sounded too good to be true. "Well, my seniors here were also good to me when I was the new hire. I'm just paying it forward, you know. Bullying really isn't my style. And I'm the only one left from the original employees here, so I make sure that I can get along with the new hires who usually are much younger than me." "I see. I'm liking this place more and more. Wait, I just realized, I don't know how old you are. You look like you're just in your early twenties, but you said 'much younger'." David laughed again. "I'm twenty-four. I just started here very young. You're eighteen, right? You're still young, but I prefer co-workers your age because you make me feel younger." He winked at me again and I just couldn't believe that he was already twenty-four. He's so good-looking that it's hard to picture him a few years older than me. I guess it's his sweet and upbeat personality that makes him younger than his actual age. "Anyway, I'll go back to the kitchen. Call me if you need something." I was still smiling to myself after David left. I knew it was too early to say this, but I thought I might like him more than I had imagined. And because of my failed relationships with both Eli and Kayden, this swelling crush that I had for David was making me believe in another chance at falling in love again. However, I also couldn't help but worry about my wolf, who was still hung up on its mate. Could my wolf and I really survive being away from Eli for a long time? I hope so because I now kind of wanted to stay here longer in New Forks. *** I knew I was dreaming, but this dream felt so real. I was barefoot while walking in some foggy, dark forest while I called out for somebody or something. In this dream, something else was there with me, but I couldn't see what it was. Or who, if it was a person. I looked up to the dark sky and saw the full moon. I was crying to it like it was a person for some reason. I was crying for help as I sensed danger was coming for me. But then I woke up and heard the loud ringing of my phone from the bedside table. I was still here at the quarter's, but based on the clock on my phone it was already nine in the evening. "Oh my God, I overslept. The boss will surely fire me now." And then my phone rang again and I saw that Emma was actually calling me so I answered it. "Hello?" "Thank you for finally answering! I already called you like five times!" she said over the phone more loudly than usual. "Why? What's the matter?" "I have news for you, Ariella. Eli came to my house a few hours ago, asking where you are!" I was stunned for a couple of seconds. "Did I hear you right? Eli came to you?" "Yes, girl! He's looking for you and he was mad!" "Mad? Why?" "The hell I know why! But I got into an argument with him because he wouldn't believe that I don't know where you are! He stormed off, warning me not to cover up your whereabouts!" I could sense the panic from Emma's voice. She was obviously shaken from the confrontation with Eli. "Relax, Emma. I'm sorry he did that to you. I don't know why he's looking for me, but thank you for everything that you have done for me." "Well, at least now we know that the spell I cast on you works because he couldn't track your scent. But I'm still worried for you, Ariella. He might still find you." "What? How?" I asked, shocked that Emma would say that when no one else knew where I was, not even her. And if my scent couldn't be tracked, how on earth would they be able to find me? But Emma had the answer to my question right away. "Eli knows what I am, Ariella," Emma explained. "It's not like what I did to hide your scent is a secret. There's a chance he might put two and two together, and then ask for another witch to locate you." "Witches can do that?" I asked, half-scared and half-amazed. "Of course. There's an old spell that we use when we search for a missing person. We just need anything that the missing person owns, and then we could use it like a tracking device to find the missing person." "N-No way..." "Yeah. That's why I'm worried, Ariella. And we know that Eli isn't dumb. Let's just hope he doesn't realize all those things that I said." That made me fidget. "Yeah... But even if he did find out what we did, I'm not scared of him." "I know. But he looked so mad that I'm worried he might hurt you." "He wouldn't do that," I said, and both me and Emma were surprised that I defended Eli just like that. "I think I still need rest. Let's talk again tomorrow, Emma." I was scared as I hung up until I got out of the restaurant. I used the back door because the restaurant was still open, but as soon as I reached the road outside I saw a familiar black Jeep pulled in front of me. A man jumped out of it and it was Eli.