Chapter 2 The man at the pub

The Last Alpha Chapter 2

MY COAT becomes slightly heavy in the strong wind outside the hospital premise. How long I have been wearing casual attire when going inside the workplace.

In my first interview and application to be a volunteer, I can only remember that in my first interview and application. How I miss that fresh start and this feeling when walking up to Sir Jeffrey’s office to get the confirmation letter.

I walk like an ordinary person, but I cannot forget what this place makes me. When I go to the entrance of our Midwifery department, I see Jeffrey at the table, holding a piece of paper in his hand.

I moisten my parched lips. My hands touch the door as I slowly push it—the chimes notify him of my presence.

Sir Jeffrey looks at me with bewilderment. “Good morning, sir….“

His left-hand points at an unoccupied chair beneath his long wooden table. I humbly sit on it.

“Oh, Evan.“ He made a nervous chuckle.

“I received this approval from our director to send you to Forks Community Hospital. Your contract starts when you sign as their volunteer at Angel’s clinic. All the best, you, mate,“ he continued.

The feeling is hefty for me to swallow this pill down my throat.

“Well… I will still report quarterly to you, sir. I need to go—“

He grips my wrist, making me immovable for a second. “Evan, thank you for being with me for two years. Best of luck with your new career as a midwife. Don’t forget to suggest my name for a newborn baby.“

I give him a light laugh before I smile at Sir Jeffrey. “Of course, I will intentionally put it so it will be permanent,“ my response becomes a sarcastic yet evil plan for someone innocent, such as a newborn.

However, this will be the last meeting with Sir Jeffrey in the preceding months. When I go out of the hospital—holding the approved letter in my hand.

I can feel the wind takes me away for a moment of ecstasy. Kayden is waiting outside the hospital. His smile gives me a ray of hope as I go inside the vehicle.

“Mom and Dad are waiting at home,“ he confirms before I stretch a smile on my face.

Kayden and I had a short conversation before he reached our home. Indeed, they are all waiting outside with my luggage at the front of the mailbox.

They made up their minds when I informed them a week ago. I didn’t expect Auntie Ashley and Ara are here with Uncle Elias and Travis.

“You’re making a move for a new life… Evan,“ Uncle Travis’ words are soothing in my ears.

“Yes, uncle,“ I responded like our casual conversation while Uncle Elias put my luggage in the vehicle compartment.

“Well, good luck in your stay at Auntie Accalia.“

I nodded when Auntie Ashley uttered the name of Grandma. They’re not talking about Grandma for a long time because it hurts me so much.

“I visited the ancestral house when you said you would go to Forks last week. Suddenly, I cannot guarantee your security because of wolves sighting in the town. Auntie Accalia’s home is near the sighting spots in Forks. However, don’t worry, Evan, because I asked the Sherriff to look for you since you’re a government worker for their community.“

Katy and Kayden look at each other when Uncle Travis says it with worriedness in his tone. I give a raw laugh to ease their doubts about my security—especially when Grandma’s home is at the end of Zepeda road.

To be honest, I am so nervous about it. Moreover, Auntie Ashley and Ara kiss my cheek before going inside the vehicle. I salute my two Uncles before Kayden starts the engine of his car.

Katy is on my side, looking outside the window. I breathe deeply before uttering the words my mouth wants to escape.

“Thank you, cous….“

Katy instantly tilted his head in my direction with a sweet, curving smile as well as Kayden’s gaze in the rear mirror.

“What if the werewolf society you’re paranoid before becomes true, cous?“ Kayden interrogates with a hint of seriousness.

Katy flicks Kayden’s ear, so it turns reddish after a few seconds. I am mute when looking at both of them. Nothing comes to my mind but the question of my beloved cousin to me.

What if it is true? What if Grandma was correct? That was not a mere fairy tale. Consequently, what I heard from Katy triggered my goosebumps in crawling on the surface of my skin.

“Do you believe in werewolves? Let me tell you a story about the last Alpha, who migrated from a faraway land just to get to the runaway Luna of his pack. They are fierce, strong and agile like the wind before the storm comes. The last Alpha is almost a hundred-year-old and remains in a youthful human form. He’s like a thief in the night—lurking in the dark and shadows ready to bite you with those glistering eyes, sharp fangs and claws piercing through your flesh. When the big moon shines… his body gradually grows thick fur like a wolf. Running through the wild and ready to get you!“

I look at her with bewilderment in my eyes.

“How come you still know it?“ I asked directly.

“She always said it to us before we go to sleep before. Do you think this is true? Oh, come on, Evan. If there is a werewolf society… I have seen one before my eyes, right?“

Kayden hum in the driver’s seat. He looks at the rear mirror while we’re waiting for the traffic light to turn green. He looks back, leaning his elbow on the driver’s seat.

“You’re paranoid in Lycanthropy, Evan, Don’t tell us that when you go there… you will see an actual werewolf. That’s only imaginary; don’t apply it in real life.“

I was hushed when he said it. Kayden had a point in his words. Maybe I am paranoid about it, but one percent is not zero in hope. The discovery in our ocean is still five percent. What if scientists find Atlantis.

I didn’t want to argue with my cousins, but Grandma told me… I need to come back where I was born and raised. That is Forks, and my body wants me to go back there after this long drive from Seattle.

A werewolf society? I asked myself about it a long time ago, but still, I want to know why Grandma wanted me to go back. She left me when I was only ten years old. A sad moment in my life.

It was already a decade and a half, but I still miss her. I adopted the belongingness of my other family, but there’s nothing to compare in my Grandma’s love.

After my parents died in a car accident… Grandma focused her attention on me, so she let Kayden and Katy go with me until she passed away.

“Are you okay?“ Katy’s hand lands on my shoulder. I sniff and wipe my tears away.

“We’re not yet in Forks, cous. What if we will let you sleep for a night only by yourself?“

I pressed my lips—sealing the reason I cannot answer right now.

“I-I’m fine.“

Katy pats my head. “I miss Grandma too, Evan. However, you need to face this alone. Seattle is far from here,“ she says while we are now heading to Forks.

Kayden is silent along the ride until we arrive at our destination. The trees are now so tall, and the place gives me an eerie feeling. Grandma’s place has tremendously changed.

Kayden stops the car as we go to get my luggage. I heave a sigh when looking at the house. The nostalgic feeling when the wind touches my skin.

I hold the key firmly in my hand before I stroll to the door. Uncle Travis indeed goes here because the place seems clean. Every summer, he goes here in Forks to go fishing at the Calawah River and travel to La Push to have a beach bonding with his friends.

When I open the door, the smell and memories of those years come back in a glimpse of an eye. Kayden goes to my side as he wraps his hand on my shoulder. He pats my bicep before I look at him.

“Look at this… I remember when we were young, running around all over the corner. Are you sure we will not stay in here even for a night?“

“Kayden and Katy… thank you for bringing me here. I don’t want to disturb your work tomorrow. You already bring me here in your rest day—“

A light punch on my shoulder landed when Katy heard my humble answer.

“Yeah, you’re right anyway. We will not be here for too long, Evan.“ They start helping me transport my belongings in my respected room as I look at Grandma’s locked bedroom.

Uncle Travis gave me the key, but I kept it in the cabinet. Finally, when we were finished, Katy went back with food from the town. To be honest, this place is so far in the town that I need a vehicle.

When we were eating our food, Kayden spoke, “I hope your new workplace will give you a vehicle while you’re on duty. You can’t walk to the town proper in this situation. Also, the vehicles here are not that many.“

He is correct. I also hope so… because I need to go to the town proper.

“The community hospital is kilometres away from here, not a walking distance,“ I say to them. Kayden breathes dismay in my words while holding a cold glass of soda.

“Thank goodness. Nonetheless, our neighbourhood is not that far away from here. You can ask for help from the new captain of this rural area. Yet, this is still Forks, but far from the proper town. The help is still accessible.“

They’re concerned about my security, and I appreciate it a lot. Kayden, Katy, and I decided to go to the town proper, so I could buy groceries for myself.

I get the essentials first before the things I want inside my home. Kayden is pushing the cart while Katy and I keep on arguing about some things that are out of my budget.

In the end, I just put it on the cart while Kayden is simply laughing in the back of his head. I wait with him as Katy waits at a distance from the cashier.

My heart is palpitating when the price seems higher than my monthly budget. I gulp, but I don’t want Kayden to see my terrible expression!

“It’s a total of two-hundred bucks, sir.“

My pupils dilate in extreme shock; I look at Katy with a tense facial expression. I gulp when picking my wallet, but suddenly my hand halts.

“Here, please,“ Kayden swiftly gives his debit card, and I am dumbfounded by his benevolence.

I cannot thank him many times, but I get the free groceries.

“Cous, you’re so kind—“

He chuckles before I even finish what I am saying. Katy and Kayden leave me surprised. I am so ecstatic because my budget doesn’t move a little bit. They don’t have enough time to stay because it will be a long ride when going back to Seattle.

“Take care, Evan. We love you, cous.“ Katy hugs me, and Kayden pats my head before starting the engine. I am holding back my beading tears when hearing the revving sound of their vehicle—leaving Forks. I gulp and keep on waving my hand until the car is gone in my sight.

Luckily, my will is adamant when making this decision in my life. It’s already past five in the afternoon as I go to a subway shop and buy myself some foods to eat.

After I eat… I realize... something is peculiar. My body shakes in anxiety even I don’t drink coffee this morning. I blow a loud breath while holding my grocery.

My eyes dart at a small bar in town. It has been a long time since I drink alone. Maybe this is because of the lack of alcohol in my system. I go inside, and no other people are inside except the Bartender, who patiently waits for me to sit down at the front bar.

“You’re new here, sir?“ he asked immediately when I sat down.

“Indeed, sir. Nice to meet you,“ I humbly responded.

“Can I order a mojito?“

“Coming up, sir.“

I let him prepare while I check my messages from Katy. She sent me a picture that they are at the welcome to Forks sign. For sure, my cousins are having a good time on the road.

I sent her a picture at the bar, but currently… she was offline.

While waiting for my Mojito. I feel something strange in the air, as if it’s vibrating and sending so many shivers in my spine. I cannot move a muscle.

On the other hand, the door opens, and the tense goes down in my groin. My teeth are chattering in an unknown fear that I don’t feel before. An odd moment for me.

The Bartender puts the Mojito, but I can only look at it as the lime keeps moving with the liquid.

“You’re new here….“ A man in his late thirties says when he sits on the chair next to me. My throat is arid at the moment, but my curiousness makes my neck tilt in his direction.

This is so strange! His amber eyes are glistering even the place is dim-lighted. My words are going back inside my mouth. His big muscular body and some part of his exposed skin have scars all over. Still, his pale complexity and gorgeous appearance hook my eyes at first glance.

“One whiskey on ice… please,“ he requested, and the Bartender went inside the back.

This time… it’s only us. There’s something in me saying I saw this man before, but I cannot vividly remember! My head hurts so much when his amber eyes are looking at mine.

I drink the Mojito straight without looking at him. However, he doesn’t care and continuously looks at me without breaking a simple blink. My sweat is so cold, and the end of my fingers is freezing when I am near him.

This is trouble! I can sense malice in his existence.