Chapter 119


    Tessa’s POV


    I sit quietly at a counter seat near the front of the 24-hour cafe, sipping the disgusting coffee and barely


    edible omelette while I scroll through the burner phone to catch up on the news.I watch out of the


    corners of my eyes as people queue up in a line to enter the store across the street.


    They all seem very excited and happy to be there.


    The window of the store has the silhouette of a wolf wearing a pointy witch''s hat.


    Above the image, in curly purple and white lettering, are the words ‘Patisseries de’ and below it are ‘


    Loup Magique’ meaning ‘Magic Wolf Pastries’.


    I roll my eyes at tant call out to the owners of the little bakery.


    The lights in the front of the store turn on, and a petite woman in a purple and white apron opens the


    door.


    A security guard dressed in a purple shirt and ck pants stands guard next to the front door, while


    another shoos away photographers from getting too close.


    "Excuse me," I call to the waitress behind the counter.


    "Yes, Miss? Would you like some more coffee?" she asks in her powdery voice that reminds me of a


    grandmother.


    "Oh Goddess no...I mean...No thank you.I was just wondering, what is that ce over there? Where all


    the people are standing,"I point to the little bakery, "Is it that good that people stand in line for it and


    why are there photographers?"


    "Oh yes, Loup Magique is the best bakery in town.We get our pies and cakes from there.The owner is


    Bronx Mason’s wife," she wiggles her eyebrows at me as if that is supposed to be impressive news.


    "Ohhbhh, how...ubh cool,"


    I make my eyes a little bigger and emphasize the word cool, for effect.


    When in reality, I don’t give a shit that the owner is Bronx’s wife.


    "You''re staying at Mrs.Kirby’s, right?" she asks with a tinge of sympathy in her voice.


    "Uhh, yeah, temporarily, until I can find something else," I responded without looking at her.


    "Well, Kas and Delh, those are the girls that own the ce.They are both sweethearts.They are


    always looking for people to work in the back.Baking, decorating, cleaning, things like that.I can put in a


    friendly word for you if you’d like," I feel her touch my wrist of the hand holding the coffee cup.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    I stiffen, fighting the urge to snap her fingers for touching me.I clear my throat and gently slide my hand


    away from hers, looking at her out of the side of my eye.


    "Sorry, dear.Edna and I are friends.Anything I can do to help get her girls back on their feet, you know,"


    her voice lowers as she thinks she made me ufortable.I look around the cafe.I’m the only


    customer.


    "Oh, no no.It’s alright.I-I just get a little nervous about people knowing my business," I give her a little


    nervous smile.


    "I understand.How about this? I will cover the cost of your breakfast.Keep your money and pay it back


    once you have a steady job.Unfortunately, I''m fully staffed, but why don’t you go stand in the line


    across the street.The littledy with sparkly hair, that’s Kas.You can speak to her about a job.I also


    rmend the cookies with the caramel chips in them, even if you do chicken out on asking for a job,"


    she gives me a little wink as she finishes speaking.


    "I really appreciate it. Thank you,"


    I give a relieved sigh and a small smile, "Can I use the restroom before I go?"


    "Of course, child.Take your time," she picks up my te and cups and walks away.


    I pick up my bag, head to the bathroom, and lock the door behind me.I put blue contacts in my eyes,


    then French braid my hair, pinning it up, before putting on a blonde wig.


    After I adjust the wig so it looks more natural, and decide to put a baseball cap and sunsses over


    just to be safe.I peek out of the bathroom and don’t see the overly friendly waitress.I quickly make my


    way out of the restaurant, conveniently dropping a couple of one hundred-dor bills on the floor, where


    she can easily see them as I make my way out.I look onest time at the line of people in front of the


    store and make my way to the end.


    The girls in front of me go on and on about which cupcakes they want to try.I try to ignore them as I


    assess security and escape routes.I calcte the distance between the door and various cameras


    around the shop.


    The guards are all carrying semi-automatic handguns, clearly visible for people to see.


    The one controlling the photographers seems to handle them with kid gloves.


    Interesting tactic, keeping good rtions with the paparazzi.I look at my watch, nine-thirty in the


    morning.


    The line moves quickly and before I know it; I''m at the register, looking at the smiling young woman


    with sparkly silver hair and violet irises.I take off the dark sunsses and look at her with a smile.


    Her nose twitches slightly as she recognizes I have a wolf scent.She looks at me for a moment and


    blinks hard.


    For a split second, I worry she remembers my scent.


    Then I remember that isn''t possible.She wouldn''t be able to remember anything from the Waiting


    Room.


    Especially for how many times she touched the door, resetting her memory while she was in there.


    I breathe an internal sigh of relief.


    "Wee to Patisseries de Loup Magique," she says with a smile, "Can I interest you in our wolf spirit


    special? It’s a coffee with two cookies or a cupcake.I highly rmend the cupcake option.They really


    transform in your mouth."


    I turn my attention from the board with vors listed to the woman.She is stunning, with a sly smile on


    her face.I feel my breath catch in my throat, standing this close to her.


    "I..uh...," I falter before I speak, "Yeah, I’ll take that, please."


    "You look familiar.Have we met before? At a business meeting maybe?" She asks with a tilt of her head


    while she counts my change.


    "Oh, no, I’m not from around here," I say shyly, avoiding eye contact with her.


    As I say it, I realize my tone is genuine, causing me to blush slightly.


    Does she recognize me even with the blonde hair and blue eyes? That''s impossible.


    Do I still look too much like her Beta Female?


    "Well, I don’t know where you’re staying, but I am happy to rmend a couple ces, if you are


    interested," she hands me a business card, "Call this number, my rtions manager, Ashley ter, can


    give you the information."


    "Thank you.This really means a lot to me," I look at the card.


    What is happening right now? Did she just covertly give me an invitation to the Blood River packhouse?


    I thought when I saw the extra security, it was going to make things more difficult, but now I see this


    was going to be a piece of cake.


    Parden the pun.


    "I will be sure to callter," I grin at the card.


    Before I can take the paper bag and coffee cup from her, the guard approaches her, "Mrs.Mason, we


    need to go.Right now."


    I see a quick mind link between them before she sucks in a quick breath, looking slightly flustered


    before she collects herself and turns back to me.


    "I- I’m sorry Miss..."


    "Oh, you can just call me Tessa," I nod as I take the bag and coffee from her.


    "Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Tessa, and I hope to see you again soon, but something’se


    up and I need to leave now," she points over her shoulder with her thumb with a big grin.


    "Thank you so much," I say, holding up the card while I back up toward the door, watching her guards


    whisk her away for whatever emergency they were alerted to.