Chapter Four—An Uncanny Myth

Chapter Four—An Uncanny Myth

I winced loudly, reluctantly putting on my apron for my first shift at the diner. Madeline cussed at me, calling me a whore and a lazy drunk as the news of my unconscious body being taken home by the lieutenant spread all over town. According to him, I was found right on the highway, snoring, with my head resting on my bike and my painting in front of me. A bunch of no-good teenagers found me and called the police.

My hands went to the back of my head, according to the Sheriff I was drunk but I knew the events of last night leading up till now. I was at the creek, I painted, I met a very handsome creep who watched me bathe naked—Asher. His name was etched into my memories. My mysterious lurker in the shadows, Asher Blackwood. He was the start of my crazy night.

Madeline waltzed in with a bowl of carrots, placing them right on the counter and in front of me, her ever vile self, “Grate these for the slaw, or are you too drunk to work you lazy slut.”

I sighed, with too much of a headache to argue with her, or engage in her pettiness. She walked out, murmuring as I didn’t give her the reaction she so badly wanted. I grabbed a knife from the other side of the kitchen, ready to work and I winced loudly again.

A sharp bout of pain pierced through my head, my hands scrambled to the back,as I reached to feel where the source of my pain was coming from. There was a blow to my head, irrespective of what the sheriff and gossips say, I remember the night now and well.

Someone hit me.

It wasn’t with a club, or a bat.

A rather peculiar blow to my head. Unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.

Madeline made her way back into the kitchen with other condiments, her eyes reeking of disdain as ever, “We have customers coming in. Go take their orders.”

“Uhh I don’t feel so good.” I said to her, my head woozy as the time passed.

She scoffed, “You’re getting paid to work and not make excuses girl. You’re feeling cuckoo now but I bet once the night comes, you’ll skedaddle off with your fancy brushes like the slut you are.”

“Ohhh shut up Madeline!!” I finally snapped, the urge to take off my apron and quit right it front of her filled me greatly. Instead I stormed out the kitchen, grabbing my waitress apron along with to take the orders.

My head ached even harder, I grabbed a jug of water and drank directly from the spout, ignoring the horrified looks from the customers—like it was, the Diner wasn’t exactly a place known for its cleanliness. I let out a breath of relief, feeling a little better when my eyes caught the sight of a familiar person.

“You!!” I yelled, storming towards the corner of the diner where Asher Blackwood remained seated quietly, “You creep!!!”

**ASHER**

Maybe she was right.

Maybe I am a creep.

After last night I couldn’t get the sight of her naked body in the water off my head. The genteel wave of her brush on the canvas, her beautiful blue eyes that shone under the moonlight which she didn’t know about. I still didn’t know her name, I wanted to know her name.

My heart thumped all night, right after I admonished Saul in front of the pack. Every bit of darkness brought a view of the painter again, like a force tugging at my very being. I went back to the highway where I had gently placed her after I found her unconscious body near the redwood tree. Someone had attacked her last night and I wasn’t sure who. She was gone by the time I returned.

Saul was injured, his ego torn to shreds, he also knew better than to go against one of the biggest rules of all—NO HUNTING HUMANS.

I waited till morning to track her scent. It was uncanny, the attraction I had towards this human, tugging and pulling hard, despite my best attempts to fight it off. The connection I felt with the painter was one I have never felt with a woman before….almost like she was my mate.

Impossible.

Connections between humans and werewolves were myths, forbidden myths. Yet I found myself at a diner, her scent strong as ever.

The painter was even more beautiful during the day, her hair a golden auburn, blue eyes and a mouth that tested my primal urges. She was taller than the night before, thanks to the pumps she wore on her foot, her skin….bronze. I poured myself a glass of water, feeling the adrenaline pump through my veins when she stormed over.

“Answer me you creep!!” She yelled again, garnering the attention from the other customers, “Have you been following me?! How did you find me here?!” Then she gasped as her eyes widened, touching the back of her head, “You…You did this to me!!”

“No,” I finally replied, wishing she would be a lot quieter, “What are you claiming I did exactly?”

She groaned, point hard at me, “I was attacked last night and you know it!! First you watched me bathe the you attacked me, now you’re here to finish the job to cr—

“I didn’t attack you,” I cut her off, her tantrum for a moment almost seemed charming as I reached for my pocket, “As a matter of fact, I came to return this.”