6. Familiar Feeling

Camellia / Lia

It’s been a week now. Every single day, he comes in, orders the same thing, Caffe Macchiato and a caramel rum cannoli, and sits at the same table. He doesn’t say much, but he doesn’t need to. I know he’s here for me. 

Nero. Just saying his name in my head makes my heart flutter and my mind whirl with fragments of memories I can’t quite grasp.

Something in my heart tells me I know this man, but I have no way of confirming it without looking like an idiot. It was mortifying enough last time when he looked at me with pity; I’d rather not see that look ever again.

Today is no different. The café is bustling with the usual morning crowd, and I’m in my element, serving customers, chatting with the regulars. The bell above the door chimes, and I don’t even need to look up to know it’s him. I can feel his presence; like a magnetic pull.

“Morning, Lia,” he says, his deep voice cutting through the din. Gods, he always smells so good, and it takes everything in me not to pull him close and be a sniffing weirdo.

“Morning, Nero,” I reply, smiling. “The usual?”

He nods, his gaze never leaving mine. “Yes, please.”

As I prepare his coffee, I can feel his eyes on me. It’s both comforting and unnerving. I place the cup in front of him, and he reaches out to take it, our fingers brushing briefly. The touch sends a jolt through me, like an electric shock.

“Thank you, Lupina,” he says softly, and everything stops.

Lupina. The word hits me like a punch to the gut. Suddenly, I’m not in the café anymore. I’m somewhere else, somewhere warm and safe. A younger Nero is peering down at me, his eyes full of love as he leans down to kiss me. 

The memory is so vivid, so real, that it leaves me breathless.

Then pain slices through my head, and I groan, my hands flying to my temples. “Ah, Gods… not again…”

“Lia, are you alright?” Nero’s voice is filled with concern, and he reaches out as if to steady me.

“I’m okay,” I manage to say, though my voice is shaky. “Just…just a headache.”

“Are you sure?” he asks, his gray eyes searching mine. “You don’t look okay.”

“I’m fine,” I insist, though the pain is still throbbing behind my eyes. “Really.”

He hesitates, then nods, stepping back to give me some space. “Alright, if you’re sure.”

I nod, trying to smile, but the memory is still lingering, making my heart race. “Why did you call me that?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Call you what?” he asks, though there’s a knowing look in his eyes.

“Lupina,” I say, the word feeling strange yet familiar on my tongue. “Why did you call me that?”

He shrugs, giving me a smile that makes my heart beat faster. “It’s just a term of endearment. It suits you.”

I feel my cheeks flush, and I look down, trying to hide my reaction. “Oh. Well, thank you.”

He nods, taking a sip of his coffee. “Lia, would you like to have dinner with me?”

The question catches me off guard, and I look up at him, my heart pounding. “Dinner?”

“Yes,” he says, his smile widening. “I’d like to get to know you better.”

There’s something in his eyes, something warm and genuine, that makes me want to say yes. But there’s also a part of me that’s scared, unsure of what this all means. “I... I don’t know, Nero. It’s a lot to…”

He nods, his expression understanding even as I don’t complete my sentence. “I get it. But no pressure, okay? Just think about it.”

I bite my lip, feeling torn. “Alright. I’ll think about it.”

“Good,” he says, his smile never wavering. “Take your time.”

As he heads to his usual table, I watch him, my mind racing. There’s so much I don’t understand, so much I want to know. But one thing is clear now—Nero is a part of my past, and I need to figure out why. 

The rest of the day passes in a blur, my thoughts constantly drifting back to Nero. By the time my shift is over, I’m exhausted, both physically and emotionally. As I walk to pick up Nereo, I replay our conversation in my head, trying to make sense of the feelings it stirred in me.

Dinner with a handsome man who seems to only have eyes for me, and said eyes happen to match my son’s. I stop walking; there’s no way he could… No, I’m being silly.

Nereo comes running up to me, his face bright with excitement. “Mamma, can we go to the park?”

I smile, ruffling his hair. “Sure, sweetheart,”

We head to the park, the evening sun casting a warm glow over the playground. Nereo runs ahead, his laughter filling the air as he heads straight for the playground. I follow at a leisurely pace, enjoying the fresh air and the sight of my son’s happiness.

When Nereo runs off to join his friends, I find a bench where I can watch him play. As I sit there, I can’t help but let my mind wander back to Nero. His intense eyes, his confident demeanor, the way he seemed so familiar yet so mysterious.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot someone running through the park. My breath catches when I realize it’s Nero. 

He's wearing a gray pair of sweats and a black t-shirt soaked through with sweat. His dark hair is slicked back, and those slate-gray eyes are as intense as ever. A light beard frames his chiseled jawline, making him look rugged and incredibly sexy.

I blush, feeling a bit self-conscious as I watch him run. When our eyes meet, I quickly look away, but it’s too late. He’s already seen me. He changes direction and jogs over, a smile spreading across his face.

“Hey, Lia,” he says, slightly out of breath but grinning. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Hi, Nero,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. “I didn’t expect to see you here either.”

He sits down on the bench beside me, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “I like to run in the evenings. Helps clear my head.”

I nod, my eyes drifting to Nereo playing on the jungle gym. “It’s a nice park. Nereo loves it here.”

“Your son?” Nero follows my gaze, his expression softening. “He looks like he’s having a great time.”

“Yeah, he always does,” I say, smiling. “He’s got so much energy. I can barely keep up sometimes.”

Nero chuckles. “Kids will do that. They’re like little balls of endless energy. I’ve had my share of roughhousing with the pups back home and they definitely make me feel my age.”

I laugh, feeling more at ease. “Exactly. It’s like they never get tired.”

There’s a brief silence, and I can feel my nerves starting to get the better of me. “So, um, how’s your day been?”

“It’s been good. Busy, but good,” Nero leans back, his eyes never leaving mine. “So, have you thought about my dinner invitation?”

“Oh, right,” I say, my heart skipping a beat. “About that... I’ve decided I’d like to go. To dinner, I mean. With you.”

Nero’s smile widens, and I can see a flicker of relief in his eyes. “That’s great to hear, Lia. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Me too,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “I haven’t… I mean, I haven’t been…”

His eyes widen slightly. “Are you telling me no one has taken you out on a date in a while? You? The most beautiful woman in this town?”

That blush on my cheeks deepens as I nod. “Thank you, but yes… I haven’t had the time to include it in my life. Nereo keeps me busy.” 

“I can respect that,” he says and leans back, stretching his arms over the back of the bench. “You know, I’m glad we ran into each other today. It’s nice to see you outside of the café.”

I laugh softly, feeling more at ease. “Yeah, it’s nice. And it’s good to see you looking so... relaxed.”

He chuckles, his gaze warm and teasing. “Are you saying I don’t look relaxed when I’m at the café?”

“No, not at all!” I say quickly, my cheeks flushing. “I just mean, you look different when you’re not in... business mode.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he says, his smile making my heart flutter. “I like seeing you relaxed too.”

I blush deeper, looking down at my hands. “I talk too much when I’m nervous,” I admit.

“I find it endearing,” Nero says softly, and I glance up to see sincerity in his eyes. “So, what do you do when you’re not working at the café?” 

I shrug, a bit embarrassed. “Not much, honestly. Most of my time is spent with Nereo. We go to the park, read books, watch movies. It’s a quiet life, but I love it.”

“It sounds wonderful, actually,” he says, his voice soft. “And Nereo’s lucky to have such a devoted mom.”

I smile, touched by his words. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask…” he trails off and I tilt my head, confused. “Do you… well, are you part of Matteo’s pack?”

My heart lurches. “Ah, no… No, I’m not,” I say as I bite my bottom lip. “I, well, I know it sounds weird, but I feel like I belong to another pack and it didn’t feel…right to pledge myself to another Alpha even if he was helpful in my first few days here.”

I watch as Nero’s eyes widen slightly. “That must be a hell of an allegiance you have if you can feel it even through your amnesia,” he says softly, and honestly, I don’t know what to say to that.

Yes, I feel loyalty to an Alpha I don’t remember. It sounds odd, even to me.

We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, watching Nereo play. Then Nero turns to me again. “So, what’s your favorite kind of food, Lia?”

“Hmm,” I say, thinking. “I love Italian food. Pasta, pizza, you name it.”

“Well, you’re in the right place for that,” he says with a grin. “There’s a great little restaurant not too far from here. How about we go there for dinner tomorrow night?”

“That sounds perfect,” I say, smiling. “I’d love that.”

“Great,” Nero says, looking genuinely pleased. “Seven o’clock, right?”

“Seven o’clock,” I confirm, feeling a flutter of excitement.

Nero glances at his watch. “I should probably finish my run, but I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yes,” I say, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As he stands to leave, he gives me one last smile. “I’m looking forward to it, Lupina.”

I watch him jog away, my heart pounding in my chest when I realize I didn’t get that flashback after he calls me that again. There’s something about Nero that makes me feel safe, yet exhilarated. As I gather Nereo and head home, I can’t help but feel like our dinner might be the start of something … familiar.