Page 5 of A Love Bite

Maybe, just maybe, my dream is trying to tell me something about the dangers—and the mysteries—that lie ahead.

As I sip my tea and watch the first light of dawn creep through the window, I make a silent promise to myself. I’ll figure out what this all means, no matter how strange or terrifying it might be. And I’ll be ready for whatever comes next.

I’m still trying to shake off the remnants of my strange dream when my phone rings, breaking the morning silence. I glance at the caller ID and see that it’s Kathy Myer, a friend and fellow reporter. Instinctively, a knot of worry tightens in my stomach.

“Hey, Kathy,” I answer, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Alex, have you seen Opal?” Kathy’s voice is tense, a stark contrast to her usual calm demeanor. “She didn’t show up to work yesterday, and no one’s been able to reach her. I’m getting really worried.”

I sit up straight, my investigative instincts kicking in. Opal Zall is a dedicated reporter, always punctual and reliable. For her to miss work without any notice is completely out of character. “No, I haven’t seen her,” I reply, my mind already racing with possibilities. “Have you checked her apartment?”

“I called her landlord, and they said her car is still parked outside, but she didn’t answer the door. They haven’t seen her since the day before yesterday,” Kathy explains, her voice tinged with frustration and fear.

“I’ll head over to her place and see if I can find anything,” I say, my voice firm with determination. “Don’t worry, Kathy. We’ll find her.”

“Thank you, Alex. I knew I could count on you,” Kathy says, relief evident in her voice. “Please, just let me know as soon as you find out anything.”

“I will,” I promise, already grabbing my bag and heading for the door.

5

Jake

Around noon,I find myself back at the bar, the familiar rhythm of work providing a welcome distraction from the turmoil of last night. The regulars are starting to trickle in, and the bar slowly comes to life with the usual hum of conversation and clinking glasses.

As I’m busy cleaning up behind the counter, Tom sidles up to me, a teasing grin plastered across his face. “Hey there, lover boy,” he says, his tone dripping with amusement. “Still thinking about that human girl from last night?”

I roll my eyes and focus on wiping down the bar, refusing to rise to his bait. “Drop it, Tom,” I mutter, trying to keep my voice even. “I’ve got work to do.”

Tom chuckles, clearly enjoying himself. “Come on, Jake. You were like a lovesick puppy the whole night. Can’t say I’ve ever seen you that flustered before.”

I ignore him, concentrating on organizing the bottles behind the bar. The last thing I need right now is Tom’s relentless teasing. My mind is already preoccupied with thoughts of Alex and the growing tensions with Elias and his pack.

Tom leans in, his expression turning slightly more serious. “All jokes aside, Jake, you know the rules. Getting involved with a human is dangerous, especially now. You need to keep your head straight.”

I sigh, pausing for a moment to meet his gaze. “I know, Tom, but there was something about her. I can’t explain it, but I can’t just ignore it either.”

Tom nods, his grin fading. “Just be careful, all right? We’ve got enough on our plate with Elias and his crew causing trouble. We don’t need more complications.”

I give him a curt nod, grateful for his concern despite his teasing. “Thanks, Tom. I’ll keep that in mind.”

As the afternoon wears on, I throw myself into my work, trying to push thoughts of Alex to the back of my mind, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to shake the feeling that our paths are somehow intertwined and that her arrival in my life is more than just a coincidence.

Between serving drinks and listening to the latest gossip from the pack, I keep an ear out for any new information about Elias and his pack. The tension in the air is palpable, and everyone is on edge, anticipating the next move in this escalating conflict.

Despite the growing sense of unease, I find myself glancing at the door now and then, half-hoping to see Alex walk through it again. It’s irrational, I know, but there’s a part of me that can’t help but wonder what might happen if our paths cross once more.

I try to focus on the task at hand, reminding myself of the responsibilities I have to the pack, but deep down, I know that the mystery of Alex and the dangers posed by Elias are two threads of the same tangled web, and sooner or later, I’ll have to confront both head-on.

6

Alex

As I makemy way to Opal’s apartment, the unease from my dream still lingers in the back of my mind, but I push it aside, focusing on the task at hand. Opal is not just a colleague; she’s a friend, and I can’t shake the feeling that something is seriously wrong.

I arrive at her apartment building and park my car, my heart pounding with anticipation. The building is quiet, the morning sun casting long shadows across the parking lot. I make my way up the stairs to her floor and knock on her door, waiting for any sign of movement inside.

“Opal? It’s Alex,” I call out, my voice echoing in the empty hallway. “Are you in there?”

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