Chase POV:
How she ended up here, living among humans, and why she hadn’t sensed what I was, was a mystery I intended to unravel. But first, I needed to figure out how to not co off as a total creep.
---
The next day, I showed up at the café again, because of course I did. The sll of coffee, muffins, and her presence was too much to resist. My nose had healed overnight, though I’d have to explain away the dried blood on my shirt if she noticed. I could already hear her cutting down with a sharp retort if she saw it.
I walked in casually, trying not to make it obvious I was looking for her. The place was busy, the usual morning rush in full swing. And there she was, behind the counter, her dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, her face focused and determined as she worked.
I slid into a seat at the bar, waiting for her to notice . It didn’t take long. Her eyes flicked to mine, and I swore I saw her jaw tighten. She didn’t look thrilled to see .
"Coffee?" she asked curtly, not even bothering with pleasantries.
"Good morning to you too," I said, flashing what I hoped was a charming smile. "And yes, please. Black."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, but grabbed a mug and poured the coffee anyway. She set it down in front of with a little more force than necessary.
"Anything else?" she asked, her tone making it clear she hoped the answer was *no.*
I leaned back, trying to look relaxed. "Maybe a mont of your ti?"
She snorted, crossing her arms. "You want to take a break from my job to chat with the guy who was lurking outside my house last night?"
Ouch. "Okay, fair point," I admitted, raising my hands in surrender. "But I wasn’t lurking. I was... looking out for you."
Her eyes narrowed. "I don’t need anyone looking out for . Especially not you."
"Noted," I said, sipping my coffee to hide my smirk. She was fiery, alright. "But for what it’s worth, I didn’t an to scare you. I’m just... concerned."
Her expression softened—barely. "Concerned about what?"
"You’re new in town, right?" I asked, leaning forward slightly. "This isn’t exactly the safest area, especially at night. I was just making sure you got ho okay."
She stared at for a long mont, her eyes searching mine like she was trying to decide if I was lying. Finally, she huffed and turned away. "I can take care of myself."
I couldn’t argue with that. My nose was proof enough. But I also couldn’t help the small spark of admiration I felt for her strength. She was no damsel in distress, that was for sure.
---
As the day wore on, I lingered in the café, not wanting to leave just yet. I made small talk with the other custors, hoping to blend in. But my eyes kept drifting back to her. She moved with a confidence and grace that was srizing, even as she rolled her eyes at my occasional attempts to engage her.
When her shift ended, I saw her grab her coat and head toward the door. I followed, keeping a respectful distance this ti. She shot a glare as she stepped outside.
"Are you seriously following again?" she asked, her tone exasperated.
"I’m walking in the sa direction," I said innocently. "It’s not a cri, is it?"
She groaned, rubbing her temples. "Look, Chase, or whatever your na is—"
"It’s Chase," I confird, grinning.
"Fine, *Chase.* I don’t know what your deal is, but I’m not interested in whatever ga you’re playing."
"It’s not a ga," I said, my smile fading. "I’m just trying to help."
"Help with what?" she demanded, throwing her hands up. "You don’t even know ."
I hesitated. She wasn’t wrong. I didn’t *know* her, not really. But I knew enough to be sure of one thing: she was mine. The bond was there, even if she couldn’t feel it yet.
"Maybe I’d like to get to know you," I said finally, my voice softer than before.
She blinked, taken aback by my sincerity. For a mont, I thought she might soften. But then she shook her head, her walls snapping back into place.
"I don’t have ti for this," she said, turning away. "And I don’t have ti for you."
I watched her walk away, my chest tightening with frustration and longing. Winning her over was going to take more than charm, clearly. But I wasn’t giving up.
---
That night, I found myself outside her place again, keeping watch from a safe distance. She didn’t need to know I was there. I just wanted to make sure she was safe.
As I leaned against a tree, the scent of her lingered in the cool night air, my heart—or what was left of it—ached with longing.
She didn’t trust yet. But she would. One way or another, I’d earn her trust. And when the ti was right, I’d tell her the truth.
For now, I’d keep my distance. But not too far. After all, I wasn’t about to let anything—or anyone—harm my other half. Not while I was around.
Leila POV:
Call paranoid, but this Chase guy is creeping the *ever-loving hell* out of . Sure, he’s ridiculously handso, with those piercing eyes and that smug little smirk that probably has half the female population tripping over themselves. But still, good looks don’t excuse being a creep.
Walking back to my place? A total stranger? Major red flags.
I an, who does that? What kind of person just *offers* to walk soone ho when they barely know them? A weirdo, that’s who. I wasn’t about to let my guard down just because he had a jawline sharp enough to cut glass.
---
"So, Leila," he said, falling into step beside , like I’d invited him or sothing. "Do you always work these late shifts?"
"None of your business," I replied curtly, clutching my bag a little tighter. The guy might look like a model, but his overconfidence was getting on my nerves.
"Ouch." He chuckled, running a hand through his annoyingly perfect blonde hair. "You’re a tough one, huh?"
I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him. "Listen, Chase—if that’s even your real na—I don’t know what ga you’re playing, but I’m not interested. So why don’t you take your overly charming self and—"
Before I could finish, he raised his hands in mock surrender, that infuriating smirk still plastered on his face.
"Whoa, calm down. I’m just being nice."
"Nice?" I narrowed my eyes at him. "You’ve been hovering around for days, stalking at work, and now you’re following ho. That’s not *nice,* that’s *creepy.*"
---
He tilted his head, as if considering my words, and then he smiled. A genuine smile this ti, not the cocky one he’d been sporting all night.
"Fair point," he admitted. "But for the record, I’m not stalking you. I’m just... keeping an eye on you."
"Yeah, because *that’s* so much better," I shot back, rolling my eyes. "What are you, my guardian angel?"
"Sothing like that," he said, his tone light but his expression unreadable.
I stared at him, unsure whether to laugh, punch him, or run in the opposite direction. Sothing about him didn’t add up. He wasn’t just so random guy with too much ti on his hands. There was sothing... off about him.
But for now, I decided to play along. The last thing I needed was to cause a scene and draw attention to myself.
---
We continued walking in silence, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife. Every so often, I’d glance at him out of the corner of my eye, trying to figure him out. He moved with an unnatural grace, his steps almost too quiet for soone his size. And then there was the way he looked at —like he was trying to see into my soul.
When we finally reached my building, I stopped at the front steps and turned to face him.
"This is where we part ways," I said firmly.
He nodded, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. "Okay. But... you should be careful, Leila."
"Careful of what?"
"Just... be careful," he said, his tone suddenly serious.
---
I watched him walk away, disappearing into the shadows like so kind of phantom.
As I climbed the steps to my apartnt, my mind raced with questions. Who was Chase? What did he want from ? And why did he seem so... concerned about ?
Whatever his deal was, I wasn’t about to let my guard down. Not now, not ever. If he thought he could charm his way into my life, he had another thing coming.
Because no matter how handso or mysterious he was, one thing was clear:
Chase was trouble.
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