Elvira.
As consciousness crept in, I was met with the harsh embrace of sunlight streaming through a tiny crack in the curtains, making me groan in annoyance. I pushed myself upright, but the pulse of discomfort in my head was a relentless reminder of last night's escapades.
"Just my luck!" I muttered, cursing the situation. Clarity felt like a distant dream, almost out of reach. Did I take alcohol last night? I thought I didn't. I never ever did when I was on a mission. My inner Omega confirmed that I only had water through a little voice, so why did I feel like I had been partying last night?
Taking a couple of deep breaths, willing the dizziness to ease, before summoning the strength to get up and make my way to the bathroom. Inside, I grabbed a few painkillers, swallowing them with a desperate hope that they'd kick in quickly.
Standing under the shower after what felt like an eternity, the throbbing in my head finally began to dull, and my energy started returning.
While drying off, I was startled by an unknown sound coming from the bedroom, which sent a jolt of adrenaline through me. For a split second, I just stood there frozen in place, vulnerability washing over me as the towel was my only protection.
My heart raced as I tried deciphering the source of that soft, unexpected noise. There was somebody in my room because what else could it be?
Slowly but steadily, so as not to make any sound, I roved around the bathroom to see if I spotted some clothes I had left behind from yesterday, but to my dismay, I did not see any. Taking a deep breath and with a broomstick as my only weapon, I slowly opened the door…
"What the hell, how did you come in?"
In front of me, sitting like a king in his own kingdom, was a beautiful fox munching on my snacks! When the fox's intelligent eyes turned to me, he stopped chewing immediately.
"Get out, you sneaky little…" I snapped while running towards him with my hands stretched. I missed him by a hair,, and the sneaky bastard just sat in the corner laughing his head off.
Thrown off by the creature's crazy, somewhat cute reaction, I put down the broomstick and kept my gaze plastered on the fox, who, on his turn, stared right back at me with a mischievous glint in his beady eyes.
"You can try all you want, human, but you will never catch me!" A pleasant-sounding man's voice echoed through the room, startling me.
"Who's there? Come out, show yourself!" I yelled with the broomstick back in my hands, ready for use.
The fox snickered. "Funny human, nobody but me and you are in this place, so relax!" the Voice spoke again.
My wolf Alexis was snarling, begging me to let her out and have her way with the annoying fox, but I hushed her. Now, it was not the time. Maybe after discovering who that voice was, I would let her chase the fox.
"Human, it's me talking; my name is Mr. Fox; what is your name?" The voice said. I could not keep it together and burst out laughing like a crazy woman. A talking fox? Yeah right. Now, I really lost my marbles last night, it must have been, right? I thought inwardly.
"If you can speak, you can also understand what I say, right?" I say, still chuckling, catching my breath.
"Talk, understand, and hear thoughts; you just said in your mind that you think you lost your marbles last night, am I right?"
With wide eyes, I stare at him. "You can do all that?" I whisper, and he grins smugly.
"Yes, now tell me, what's your name?" He asks again.
My scrambled brain is trying to process the fact that I am talking to a fox while I sit in the chair.
"Elvira," I answered almost simultaneously, cursing myself for giving him my real name.
"Nice name, Elvira, so what brings you here to Silver Ridge?" He asks while munching on one of my pieces of chocolate.
"Sightseeing, just sightseeing," I replied, not wanting to repeat the mistake of revealing too much.
"Hmm, are you sure, Elvira?" Came his response while he watched me intently.
"Yes, what else? Why are you doubting my answer?"
"Nothing, relax, Omega. I am not your enemy! But beware. Things can happen, and so can humans. Even if they are part human and part animal, that does not mean they are either completely good or bad. Always remember that Omega, you can't get out of trouble before you get yourself in trouble!" he stated sincerely.
A frown made its way up my forehand upon hearing him. "You sound like you know many things, Mr. Fox."
"I do, Elvira. I've been around a long time in this place and have watched humans and shifters from afar and up close, so yes, I know a thing or two. I feel that you are not telling me the complete truth, but I like you, and I hate to see you getting hurt, so whatever it is you are up to, be careful. If you need help, ask the hotel lady. She knows who I am and how to contact me."
After that, he gets up and walks on two legs to the trash bin to drop off all the papers from the snacks he ate. He then opens the door and waves one last time before he disappears.
Still watching the open door in a daze, I get up to close it when I spot in the corner of my eye a person wearing a hoodie from where long black hair is sticking out, caught by the wind.
That hair, I've seen that before…last night.
"Miss Gossip!" I whisper, surprised to see her half-hiding behind a parked car. Tired of all the weird stuff, I grab the key, wrap myself in a coat, and walk toward the parking lot. But before I reach there, she is gone, vanished in thin air. Alexis huffed, annoyed in my head. "I know, me too, girl, me too, let's go back and see what we can find about her on the internet, and then later, I will see Melanie talk about Mr. Fox," I say while returning to my room.
Later that evening, I went to dinner again with my laptop and ordered the same as I did the first evening after my arrival.
"Good evening, Miss. How are you doing?" Chef Dimitri asked while passing my table.
"Good, and you?" I replied while signing into my secure account.
"Same, not much except for that annoying fox; everything is the same," he replied.
"Annoying fox, you mean a fox as in an animal? What did he do?" I asked, my interest triggered.
"Ah, you know him then? Well, he's been an unofficial guest of the hotel, and sometimes, he sneaks into the kitchen and steals food, especially chicken. He really loves chicken," Dimitri muttered.
"Ow, I see, and yes, I've met him; he's different than another fox I know, though; do you know he can…talk?" I whispered the last part.
"I have heard some stories, but if he can, he never said a word to me."
"Okay, well, if you want, I can ask the next time I see him."
"Maybe anyway, I've got to get going. I have a lot to prepare for the upcoming ball of the pack, and the Alpha expects perfection, so enjoy your meal!"
"Thank you and good luck!" I tell him while mentally noting that he also knows my target!
After I finish, I look around to see if Melanie is available, but she is not around, so I just go back to my room. I am about to enter when my ears pick up the unmistakable sound of an arrow hurling through the air. I duck down just in time, as above me, a red arrow splinters the wood of the doorframe with a note tied around it.