Chapter 49
Diego’s POV
Like a guard patrolling a pack’s border at night, I patrolled the hospital’s vicinity.
How can I leave after smelling that scent?
No, of course, I couldn’t. I needed to stay close and watch over Rose. Something in me told me she saw something ‘but I didn’t know if it was what I noticed.
When I figured she’d rather bottle it up, I avoided pressing her with questions.
I needed to stick close and watch over her.
What if those rogues are targeting Rose this time? I’m totally worried, my wolf said, his ears flattened at the last words.
Hell, I’m just as worried as he is.
‘I don’t know what to think again, Feral, I just hope that isn’t true. I offered and he only scoffed.
The stretched silence between me and my wolf granted me the opportunity to throw my eyes around again.
My nose perked, drawing in that particular scent among the many scents that wafted the air.
Whisking my eyes around in searching, I found nothing.
‘Do you think the owner of the scent is close?‘ My wolf asked, extending his snout
“Sort of. I ventured, surging very slowly to my feet. Using my wolf’s eyes, I looked very carefully through the throng of people moving by the sidewalk.
Nothing sure felt suspicious but why the scent? I thought, feeling the whirlpool of anger.
“And I will love you more…
My eyes turn to the blind bronzed–skin guitarist singing by the sidewalk while strumming his fingers over the guitar.
People who had gathered around him dropped money in his duffel bag, enjoying the synergy of his lyrics and guitar.
That seemed to undo the tension I felt–tension that could well be slathered on bread.
I settled onto the bench, crossing one knee over the order.
“You tensed man?”
Hearing the voice, I turned and glimpsed the old man with a gray beards sitting a fraction of an inch away from
- mc.
“Kinda,” I stated with ease, relaxing into the seat.
Арг
Chapter 49
“Ah. I thought as much. You seemed tensed by the way you acted.” He said, turning to the next page of his magazine. “You worried someone will take your girlfriend or mate?”
“No.” I snapped. I didn’t know why that grated on me so fast. Dammit, I believe Rose had given us a chance. I doubt any man can take her away from me. “Kinda.” I added at last.
Rose is a beautiful young single mother, I’m sure men will be lurking around, wanting to stick their hands on her.
I don’t want to miss that opportunity of making her mine.
“There you go again, thinking about the woman.” The old man’s words cut through my train of thoughts, again.
“Sorry, I zoned out,” I muttered, watching him.
He blinked a small smile at me and then swiveled his head back to his magazine.
“You come here often?” I asked, wanting to introduce a light banter.
“I go everywhere the opportunity lies for me.” He said, his words seeming vague to me.
“By that you mean?” I threw at him, wondering.
Someone his age shouldn’t be working again, not unless he owned a shop.
He gave a crooked smile at my question. Then. “It’s a little deeper than you’d know, boy.”
A deep trench formed between my brows as he went for those vague answers again.
What the hell did he mean? I thought to myself, hoping I’d unravel the man or the words that gushed from his mouth.
That seemed kinda impossible, but I shrugged mentally.
My eyes are still out, sharp, and looking for the owner of that scent. At the same time, pondering on what Rose had seen made her nerves go haywire.
“I guess you’re always vague. I dropped to the man, throwing my eyes back into the road.
“I guess, I am.” Was what he offered. I didn’t look to know he was fiddling with another page of the magazine.
Old men, always acting weird. I thought with a little mental head shake.
“I sell coffee, wanna buy some?” A tiny voice impaled the silence–filled air that took residence between me and the strange man.
“Yeah, boy.” The man pealed, I saw him dig his fingers into his wallet and shoved ten dollars into the guy’s hand.
The boy, smilingly, accepted the money and dashed off.
About whirling my head away, the man’s gruff voice said. “Here you go, push down the tension.”
It was at the tip of my mouth to reject the offer but then he already bought it right?
With an appreciative nod, I took the cup from him. I waited five minutes before I thought of drinking it.
11:21 Sat, 20 Apr
Chapter 49
I held the cup tightly, bringing it to my lips, then…
50%
Latching my mouth on the rim and taking a slug from the cup, that that powerful foul scent, that very one I was looking out for hit my nostrils as the liquid slipped down my throat.
My eyes went owl–wide instantly. In a brusque manner, I whipped my head to my side, wanting to watch the man
but….
He was gone.
“That was him!” Feral said aloud, sending his eyes into every corner.
I brushed to my feet way too quickly, my heart diving into my chest as I scouted my surroundings in search of the old man.
Skipping any second thoughts, I activated down the road, weaving through the hordes of people, my eyes searching.
*Seen anything, Feral?” I asked my wolf inwardly as my searching eyes continued their work.
‘Nothing. Can’t even whiff his scent. roguel‘ Feral grunted, his anger palpable.
My jaw set, I continued down the road until…
The boy! I realized as I ran down the road and paused, my figure looming over him.
“Sir…” He stuttered.
I paused momentarily at the tears rimming his eyes. What the heck is happening?
“It was you…” I couldn’t
finish when he said.
“He took my mama and made me give it to you!”
Was he lying? I thought, still gauging him when a pain–filled voice lanced through the air.
“Ahhh…”
Surprise flickered on my face but it wasn’t the same with the boy. His was recognition
“That’s my mother!” He announced and we started running toward the alley.
True to his word, the woman lying helplessly was his mother.
“Akim….what… his mother said in an admonishing voice but the sizzle of pain cut her words short.
“He still hurt you!” The boy, Akim, said in a voice tinged with sadness.
I couldn’t waste another minute seeing the gushing flow of blood from the woman’s hand. I reached her in short strides and scooped her up.
“Let’s take her to the healer. The boy said almost in tears.
11:21 Sat, 20 Apr M ***
Chapter 49
“Lead the way.” He did and we barrelled through the road until we arrived at a one–story building. We went up through the stairs by the side of the building and he rapped lightly on the door.
“We need your help…” I gushed gesturing to the woman in my arms, wheezing in pain.
“Come in.”
The healer had regained Akim’s mother after the series of herbs and medicine she gave her.
Now, Akim’s mother was boring her curious eyes into mine.
Breaking the silence she asked. “You were the one he asked us to deliver the coffee to?”
I nodded, my face stern. “How did you know him?” I asked.
She gave a resigned sigh. “He threatened to hurt my boy if he didn’t do what he asked. So I stepped in and agreed for my boy to do it.”
As she was saying that, my fists were balled.
“What does he look like?” I asked, itching to know it all.
“Nothing I can describe. He only showed his face in darkness.”
“What?” I asked and she managed a nod. “How about his scent?”
“I know nothing about him. He was actually scentless when he approached us. I thought I had lost my sense of smell but Akim here didn’t smell him too.”
That made everything clear now.
The man disguises himself.”
As well as his scent.
He’s a rogue…but who is he truly? Thoughts brimmed my mind as I pictured images of the old man from earlier.
That was when his words made sense to me.
He goes everywhere opportunity lies…I thought with a shudder, knowing what that opportunity might be…..
