Chapter 3 3.

RACHEL'S POV

He clenched his jaw, threateningly holding his finger to Edward. "Get out of here." Edward furrowed his brows in annoyance as he moved forward, attempting to come closer to me.

He was, however, stopped by the handsome stranger, who effortlessly pushed him back. Causing him to stumble back and fall back in his seat. He moved threateningly closer towards Edward. "I'll not have you stay here and harass innocent women; do not make me repeat myself."

I shifted my glance between the two of them; he looked furious, like he was about to pounce on Edward. Fear was contorted on Edward's face as he quivered helplessly on his seat.

Edward's eyes darted back and forth between the stranger and me before he nervously got up and walked away. Heading straight towards the exit.

We stood still, silently looking at each other, as I fought back the urge to lean in closer towards him. Our eyes still locked in with each other, and he remained silent. Then I turned, wanting to walk away.

I hurriedly reached out, holding him by his wrist. "Please stay; at least let me get you a drink." A stoic expression was etched across his face.  "I can get my own drinks."

"I know, I just wanted to thank you for saving me back there. I mean, it's the least I could do." His eyes darted between the door and me as if contemplating his next course of action.

He let out a sigh. "Very well, just one drink." We took our seats, and the drinks came moments later. The air was tense between us as neither of us said anything to break the awkward silence.

He is insanely attractive; I'll give him that. His chiseled jawline was prominent underneath his facial hair stubble, making his lips stand out. I fidgeted with my fingers in my glass of beer, trying to think of something else.

Something to fight the urge to lean in closer to him, so I could feel his breath. I'm my nostrils and maybe even kiss him. I couldn't do that, it'll be so weird.

I didn't know what was wrong with me, why do I suddenly feel this way to someone I don't know. He's literally a stranger, I took a deep breath as I tried to compose myself. I wouldn't be swayed away by these flimsy emotions.

I hesitated, trying to think of what to say, "Thank you! I really appreciate what you did back there, um… I'm sorry I didn't quite catch your name."

His eyes were glued to the glass of beer in his hands, for whatever reason he thought it best to avoid my gaze. After a moment of silence he finally looked up to me, "Devon!"

I couldn't explain what it was about his eyes that lured me in with a sensual pull, and I didn't know why.  "My name is Rachel."

I tried to strike up a conversation with him, but he shut down all my attempts. Like he wasn't interested in whatever I had to say. I liked staying with him, even if he had a rather strange behavior. It felt like I finally found something I didn't know I was searching for, his mere presence was therapeutic.

Devon empties his glass in one big chug, "I'd love to stay and chat but I have things to do." He gave a cordial nod, as he exited the table and headed towards the exit.

His attitude all evening was what I could only describe as strange, he gave curt replies all through and seemed rather in a hurry to leave. There was nothing I could do about it though, it's possible that that's just who he is.

I should just be thankful he showed up when he did. My jaw dropped  when I saw him and Maria exchange a few words on his way out. I quickly got up from my seat, and hurried towards Maria. "You know Devon!?"

Maria's face contorted in an obviously feigned state of confusion, "Who is Devon!" I picked up my pace, finally catching up to Maria who had refused to stop and wait for me.  "That guy you were talking to just now."

Maria headed into the backroom in rather quick steps as she began washing the dirty dishes. "I don't know what you are talking about, Rachel; I say goodbye to all our regular customers."

My brows furrowed as my suspicions peaked. "He's not a regular; this is the first time he's been here since I've been working here."

Maria was peeved; her brows furrowed as she glued her eyes to the dishes she was cleaning.  "He stopped coming for a while now; he used to frequent here regularly. That was before you started working here."

I don't know what it was, but I could tell she wasn't being honest. I crossed my arms. "You are a horrible liar, Maria!"

Maria glared at me, an intense fury in her eyes I hadn't seen before. "Look, Rachel! I have work to do, and so do you. Stop questioning me and do the job you are being paid to do."

I sighed,  "No need to be so feisty. I met Devon earlier; he seemed distant. I just wanted to get to know him better."

Maria's eyes widened in what I can only describe as horror as she dropped the glass cups in her hands.  "No! Stay away from him; trust me, you don't want to have anything to do with him."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes in disbelief. "Don't be a drama queen; I already miss him. He's a genuinely nice guy."

Maria came closer to me, her eyes glazed with horror as they narrowed in on mine as she whispered threateningly.  "Devon is one powerful Alpha wolf you don't want to have anything to do with."

My face puzzled as the weight of her words sank in. Alpha wolf, I just met a werewolf. My jaw dropped, and my face contorted in shock and disbelief. "You told me I was crazy for believing in those factions. And you've known them all this while?"

Maria's face sterned in further, "I'm doing this to protect you, Rachel; you don't want to get involved with these factions. Especially Devon, he despises humans."

I couldn't believe it. Maria, who I had known for almost two years since I had worked here, had been lying to me all this time about these factions.

She told me they didn't exist, and she had dealings with them all these years. I clenched my jaw, "You've been lying to me about these factions."

Maria's face was stern. "You don't know what you are getting into by mixing up with these factions. You lost your dad to the factions—big fucking deal. Some of us are being chained and forced to deal with them; get away from it all while you still can."

My heart dropped into my stomach as a thought suddenly crept into my head. Immediately escaping through my lips, "Are you even human? You could be one of them."

Our heads immediately turned to the door as it crept open, and Robert came in, his eyes darting between Maria and me. "There you too are; the boss has been looking for you too."

Maria and I glared at each other; the fury in her eyes immediately convinced me that Robert knew nothing of it. We exchanged a nod towards each other, immediately agreeing to end the discussions.

We returned to work, and Maria and I exchanged passive, aggressive glares at each other all through our shift.

Underneath all the anger I had towards Maria was a hint of gratitude. All my searches for a lead to the fractions had finally come to an end; I finally had a clue. Who basically presented itself on a platter of gold.

Devon would definitely have something to do with those Factions. Maria said it herself: He was an Alpha, meaning he had a whole pack waiting for his every command. He would be my key to getting those bastards that killed my dad.

That's if he isn't the leader of the anti-human factions I'm searching for; Maria said it herself. He despised humans; he could've been the one who gave the order for my dad to be killed.

If he despised humans so much, then why did he help me? He could've easily looked the other way, like everyone else in the bar did. But he chose to do something about it instead.

I shouldn't be so quick to believe Maria either; she's lied to me for so long about the existence of these factions. What is stopping her from lying about Devon as well? Whether she was lying or exaggerating the truth, it doesn't matter.

All my long search has finally come to fruition; I finally had a clue. Devon. He is going to lead me to the anti-human factions, I'm sure of it. I'll get whatever information I can from him by any means necessary. No matter the cost, I'll do it.