The next day, Maia woke up with that same groggy feeling. These nightmares were getting much worse by the day. She thought about telling her father, but decided against it. He would just use it as an opportunity to give her a lecture about her duties and whatnot.
She sat up and looked at the time on her alarm clock. It was 7 am. "This is quite early after last night.", she though to herself. After the encounter with Kai last night, she had slept around 2 am in the morning, which means she only got five hours of sleep. She put off her alarm before she slept to stay in bed, but her internal clock had other plans.
She touched her groin. She was still sore after last night. Kai was really good in bed.
Kai the Alpha.
This person came to her mind more frequently. It scared the shit out of her. What if he eventually left her just like the others. I mean, it was very probable given the circumstances of their relationship.
No, not a relationship; a situation ship. That was a safer term. Maia didn't like placing terms on things she wasn't sure of.
Just as she was about to escape her thoughts and get out of bed, her phone buzzed, quite vehemently at that.
She turned in annoyance. Who could be calling her this early?
A name flashed across the screen. Zac.
Maia smiled. To her, Zac was good company, always making sure she was in high spirits. She would answer the call. She knew she had promised they would keep up with each other now that he was on a business trip.
Zac was also quite the handsome fellow. He was astonishingly tall at 6'6, had salty pepper hair like Damien and has quite the muscular but slender build. If Maia was her teenage self, she would've fawned and swooned over him like her middle school female classmates with boy bands.
But Maia knew better than to follow one's exterior. There was a popular saying she believed that beauty is only skin deep. Even though Zac was easy on the eyes, she couldn't really know him just from his good looks, corny jokes, and flirtatious comments. Those were things people projected as the exterior. Maia obviously couldn't trust that.
However, she was willing to see how things went with him.
Bzzzzzzzzz!
Maia realised she hadn't even picked up the call.
Maia: "Hello Zac. Good morning. How are you doing?"
Zac: "Hello Maia. I'm alright thanks. Funny cos I was calling to ask about you. You've not really been in touch lately."
Maia realised her mind was basically crammed with Kai the last few days. Maybe she really needed to stay away from him for a while.
Maia: "Oh, sorry about that. I was occupied with a lot of stuff."
Zac: "Yeah it's cool. It's not easy being a billionaire's daughter. The functions, the meetings, the reputation. It's just overwhelming at times."
Maia: "Oh my god yes! Yesterday I was basically jumping from one meeting to another, putting on fake smiles and shaking literally everyone, even the people I don't like."
Maia had attended a business function with her dad after work that even the Mayor of Silvermoore was present. It was everything she didn't like. A huge pool of stuck-up rich snobs that only cared about connections and climbing up the power ladder.
She was surprised he knew about the experience though. So far as she knew, Zac was part of the working middle class. He talked like he could relate to what she was going through.
Zac: "Can't imagine. I would literally die of boredom. Sounds like you need some spice in your life. I could be your chef if you want?"
Maia laughed hysterically. Was he really flirting after she just told him some of her problems? Zac always knew how to lighten the mood.
Maia: "I mean, if you get the seasoning just right, I can employ you full time."
Zac: "But you'd have to test me first wouldn't ya?"
Maia: "Of course! I gotta let you cook to know if you're a keeper. I mean that literally too though."
Maia, like any other person out there who likes enjoyment, loved good food. It was her life and soul when all seemed to fade away. So of course, someone who knew how to whip up good meals would be close to her heart. Unknown to her, Zac was a master chef both literally and "whatever-they-were-doing-lly".
Zac: Alright. You know what? Let me take you up on that. How's 5 pm at the Butcher's Palace for ya?"
Maia couldn't believe her ears. She hadn't realised where this was going until now. A date? Guess she walked into that one.
Maia: "Umm sure. Five sounds great."
Zac: "So I'll come pick you up then?"
Maia: "Of course. I'll see you then. Bye Zac."
Zac: "Bye Maia. Take care."
Maia hung up.
Reality came crashing on her in waves.
She hooked up with a freaking werewolf the previous night. The Alpha for that matter. And now, she was going to go on a date with a quirky, flirty human. How abnormal could her life get?
Maia sat for a minute on the bed with her PJ's. She was sceptical of the whole idea, but she kinda liked Zac. That should've been enough to make her go, but it felt wrong when Kai is still in the picture. In short, she felt like a slut.
Tap! Tap!
Maia's door rattled with two slight knocks. She breathed an exhausted sigh.
"Who is it? You can come in", she yelled.
An petite woman who was the chef poked her head through the ajar door.
"Breakfast is ready Miss Maia. I made your favourite: pancakes with poached eggs and baked beans and blueberries. Of course the syrup is also available."
Maia smiled. The house chef really knew how to brighten up her day in the best way.
"Thank you Regina, I'll be down in ten minutes."
The chef left Maia to her silence. Maia heaved and glanced at the time. It was 7:45 am. Whatever she was going to accomplish today, it won't be done with her thoughts or on her bed.
The morning routine was quite typical, Maia freshened up for the day, had her breakfast and prepared to go to the Stockyard. The only weird thing she saw that morning was Michael and Diana with her father in his living room. Diana clutched her arm, seeming injured, and her dad had a concerned look on his face.
Maia did not have the time to bother herself with all that. Her father wouldn't have even let her into his living room in the first place. Yes, HIS living room. They are freakishly rich, Duhhh.
She arrived at the Stockyard and for the first time in three days, Flora and Damien were not at their usual spots waiting for her. She was really looking forward to talking to them. That might've even been the only reason she came to work in the first place. Yes, she could decide if she wanted to come to work. Her father freaking owned the bar, Duhhhh.
She realised she would just have to do without them for now, and decided to get to work. Her boss-ish rounded the corner.
"A friend of yours dropped this for you.", he said as he dropped quite a large package in her arms.
Maia turned it over, wondering what it was.
"Thank you."
Her boss replied with a curt nod and went back to his quarters.
Maia didn't really like that guy. Just another fake person looking to find favour in the eyes of her father. He always bothered her about putting in a good word for him to her father. Maia groaned at the thought. Her boss wasn't even valued enough by her father to be promoted. If only he knew.
Her thoughts were disrupted by the heavy package straining her muscles. She set it down and read the note at the side.
Hope this would spice up your day at work.
Love, Zac.
Maia melted. She was suddenly enthusiastic as to what was in that package. She tore into it.
"Hey, easy champ." Damien strolled in like he owned the place.
"Oooohhh, birthday gift came early. Open it quick I wanna see." The bubbly girl Maia had come to know as Flora skipped in right after.
"You guys came! Thought I was going to have to go through today without company."
"Of course we would come. You wouldn't get anything done if we didn't."
"Oh shut up Damien." Maia knew deep down that what he said was true.
Meanwhile, she had finished unwrapping the present.
It was a coffee machine.
You know the moment when someone gets you something you desperately needed but haven't got the time to get it yourself. That was exactly the situation Maia was in. It was like Zac read her mind.
"A coffee machine?", even Flora seemed disappointed. That didn't happen often.
Maia loved coffee. And usually while at work, she needed coffee to keep running and keep herself in high spirits. The coffee machine at The Stockyard had a customers only policy. So she couldn't use that. It was strange that Zac knew all of that.
"Oh my god guys I really needed this. Coffe is my fuel. Zac is quite the surprise."
"Who is this Zac anyway?" Damien asked in mock exaggeration.
"No one actually." Maia replied almost robotically.
"Yeah sure. You'll come around in tears eventually when it all goes downhill."
"Stop it Damien", Flora chastised.
Maia didn't like where this was going. Her friends were beginning to start that good cop-bad cop thingy.
"Whatever you guys. So what's up?"
Damien and Flora exchanged a look before
Damien spoke. "We've been talking, and we think it's time to explore the woods and find the werewolves' hideout."
Maia's smile vanished, replaced by a look of alarm. "What? That's a terrible idea. You have no idea how dangerous it is out there."
Flora stepped forward, her expression earnest. "Maia, we need to know what we're dealing with. This could be some really useful info."
Maia shook her head vehemently. "For who Flora? No. I forbid it. You don't understand what you're getting into. The werewolves are not to be underestimated. They're dangerous, and this is not some game."
Damien frowned. "But Maia, we can't just sit around doing nothing. If we find their hideout, we can report it to the hunters and end this once and for all."
Maia's eyes flashed with frustration. "End it? By getting them wiped out. Is that an end? And what if you get caught? Or worse, killed? Do you really want that on your conscience? I'm telling you, it's not worth the risk. You all know what we faced that night. If Kai hadn't been there…"
Flora bit her lip, her resolve wavering. "But we can't just do nothing. We have to take some action."
Maia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Look, I understand how you feel. But there are other ways to help. Just stay away from the woods for now, okay? I can't lose either of you."
Damien and Flora exchanged another glance, their expressions conflicted. Finally, Damien nodded. "Alright, Maia. We'll stay out of the woods. For now."
Maia sighed in relief, her tension easing slightly. "Thank you. Now, can we talk about something else? I have a date with Zac tonight."
Flora's eyes lit up with interest. "Zac? Really? How did that happen?"
Maia smiled, feeling a bit of her usual excitement return. "Yeah, he asked me out. We're going to the Butcher's Palace."
Now, "The Butcher's Palace would've sounded like a glorified slaughterhouse, but it was the fanciest 5-star restaurant Silvermoore had seen.
Damien smirked. "Look at you, going on dates and everything. I remember when you used to think boys were gross."
Maia rolled her eyes playfully. "That was a long time ago, Damien. People change."
Flora giggled. "So, what are you going to wear? You have to look amazing."
Maia grinned. "I have just the outfit in mind. Something simple but cute."
They spent the next hour chatting and teasing Maia about her date. It was a welcome distraction from the heavy burden she had been carrying lately.
By 5 p.m., Maia was ready to leave. She checked her reflection in the mirror one last time, feeling a flutter of nerves in her stomach. She had chosen a casual black dress that accentuated her figure without being too flashy.
"Wish me luck," she said, smiling at Damien and Flora as she grabbed her bag.
"Good luck!" Flora called out. "And don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
Maia laughed. "That leaves a lot of room, Flora."
Flora was quite the social personality in their college days. She had recently decided to calm down.
As she stepped out of the house, Zac was waiting for her by his car. He looked up and smiled, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.
"Hey, Maia. Ready for our date?"
Maia nodded, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks. "Yeah, let's go."
As they drove off, Flora watched them from the porch, a wistful look in her eyes.
Damien nudged her. "Come on, let's go inside."
Flora hesitated, her gaze lingering on the spot where Zac and Maia had been. "You know, I can't help but feel a bit jealous. Maia always seems to know what she wants."
Damien raised an eyebrow. "You think so? She's got a lot on her plate."
Flora nodded. "I know. I just... sometimes I wish I could be more like her."
Damien laughed. "Well, speaking of being like Maia, remember our little escapade?"
Flora looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
Damien's eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Exploring the woods. Come on, Flora. We can do it without Maia knowing. It'll be our little adventure."
Flora's eyes widened. "Damien, you heard what Maia said. It's dangerous."
Damien shrugged. "We'll be careful. Besides, think about it. If we find the hideout, we'll be heroes. We can do it tonight while Maia's out on her date."
Flora bit her lip, torn between her desire for adventure and her loyalty to Maia. "I don't know..."
Damien leaned closer, his voice coaxing. "Come on, Flora. When have I ever let you down? We'll be in and out before anyone notices. Just a quick look around."
Flora hesitated a moment longer before sighing. "Alright, fine. But we have to be really careful."
Damien grinned triumphantly. "Deal. Let's get ready."