The world didn’t stop, not even when Seline felt like hers had shattered into pieces. Days blurred into weeks, and she forced herself into a routine that left little room for thought or emotion. If she stayed busy—if she worked hard enough—then maybe she could drown out the ache in her chest and forget that her fated mate, the one person who was supposed to love her unconditionally, had rejected her.
The pub became her second home. She took on every shift she could and picked up odd jobs wherever possible. Washing dishes, cleaning the storage rooms, restocking deliveries—anything to keep her mind from wandering to him. The shadow of Austin’s rejection loomed over her, but she refused to let it crush her. Instead, she used the pain as fuel, pushing herself harder.
But even her packed schedule couldn’t save her from the debts she owed. The loan sharks weren’t patient, and their messages became increasingly threatening. They didn’t care about her struggles or the fact that she was barely making ends meet. All they cared about was the money she didn’t have.
To deal with the pressure, Seline picked up additional side jobs around town, no matter how small or menial they were. Cleaning homes, delivering packages, mending clothes—she took on anything that would pay. It was exhausting, but it was necessary. She couldn’t afford to fall behind, not when the alternative was having those thugs show up at her doorstep.
Still, the small town wasn’t big enough for her to escape Austin entirely. His packmates frequented the bar, their presence a constant reminder of the rejection she was desperately trying to forget. They would glance at her occasionally, as if gauging her reaction, but she always kept her head down and focused on her work.
Then there was Austin himself. He wasn’t a regular at the bar before, but lately, he had started showing up more often. Whether it was coincidence or intentional, Seline didn’t know—and she didn’t want to find out. Every time she saw him walk through the door, her heart would leap into her throat, and she’d quickly retreat behind the counter or send someone else to serve his table. She refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing how much his presence still affected her.
But Austin’s gaze always seemed to find her. She could feel his eyes on her, watching as she moved through the crowded bar, taking orders and delivering drinks. It was unnerving, and no matter how much she tried to ignore him, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was keeping tabs on her.
---
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the bar filled with its usual mix of locals and travelers, Seline found herself cornered by Mayor Donovan. He was a regular at the pub, his presence a comforting constant amidst the chaos of her life. The mayor was a tall, broad-shouldered man with salt-and-pepper hair and a commanding presence that seemed to demand respect. He was also an Other, though Seline had never been able to pin down exactly what kind of creature he was. He had always been vague about it, brushing off her questions with a sly grin and a twinkle in his sharp blue eyes.
“Busy night, isn’t it?” Donovan remarked as Seline brought him his usual—a whiskey neat.
“Always is,” she replied, wiping her hands on her apron. “People around here love their drinks.”
He chuckled, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “And their gossip.”
Seline arched a brow, leaning slightly against the bar. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
The mayor’s expression grew more serious, his sharp gaze scanning the room before settling back on her. “Have you noticed anything… strange lately?”
Seline frowned. “Strange how?”
“More strangers in town than usual. Unfamiliar faces. Unfamiliar energy.”
Seline’s eyes darted to a group of men sitting in the far corner of the bar. They were dressed in dark, tailored suits, their presence starkly out of place in the small, rustic town. She had noticed them earlier, their low voices and watchful eyes making her uneasy. They weren’t the first newcomers she had seen recently, either.
“There are definitely more people passing through,” she said carefully. “Warlocks, mostly. It’s like there’s some kind of convention in town.”
Donovan’s lips twitched in a faint smile, but his eyes remained serious. “And what do you think they’re doing here?”
Seline shrugged, trying to keep her tone light. “Probably just sampling the local ale. You know how warlocks are.”
The mayor didn’t laugh. Instead, he leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “Keep an eye on them, Seline. Let me know if you see or hear anything unusual.”
She nodded, her pulse quickening. “Of course.”
This wasn’t the first time Donovan had asked her to keep her ears open. Her job at the pub wasn’t just about serving drinks and cleaning tables. It was also about gathering information. The pub was the heart of the town, a place where secrets were whispered over pints of beer and deals were struck in the shadows. Seline’s sharp ears and keen instincts made her the perfect eyes and ears for the mayor, though the arrangement was informal and unspoken.
“I’ll let you know if I hear anything,” she said, her voice steady despite the unease bubbling beneath the surface.
Donovan gave her a curt nod, his expression unreadable. “Good. Be careful.”
As he left, Seline couldn’t shake the feeling that something was brewing—something big. And for the first time in a long time, her mind wasn’t consumed by thoughts of Austin. Instead, she focused on the warlocks and the strange tension that seemed to be growing in the town.
---
Over the next few days, Seline kept a close eye on the newcomers who frequented the bar. They were an odd mix of individuals—warlocks, witches, and even a few other shifters. They spoke in hushed tones, their conversations guarded and their gazes wary. Seline couldn’t make out much of what they were saying, but she caught snippets of words that made her skin crawl: “ritual,” “sacrifice,” “power.”
She reported everything to Donovan, who listened intently but offered little in the way of explanation. “Just keep watching,” he told her. “And stay out of trouble.”
That was easier said than done. The tension in the town was palpable, and Seline couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. Whether it was the warlocks, Austin’s packmates, or Austin himself, she didn’t know. But the weight of their gazes made her skin prickle, and she found herself constantly looking over her shoulder.
One evening, as she was clearing empty glasses from a table near the back of the bar, she felt it again—that familiar, burning gaze. She didn’t have to look to know it was Austin. He was sitting at a table near the bar, his packmates gathered around him, laughing and drinking. But his eyes were on her.
Seline’s grip on the tray tightened, and she quickly turned away, heading for the kitchen. She couldn’t deal with him right now—not when she was already on edge. She handed the tray off to one of her coworkers and busied herself with restocking the shelves, her heart pounding in her chest.
Why couldn’t he just leave her alone? Why did he have to keep coming here, keep watching her, as if he had some right to be a part of her life after rejecting her so cruelly?
The thought made her stomach churn, and she clenched her fists, willing herself to focus. She had bigger problems to deal with—problems that didn’t involve Austin or the bond she couldn’t seem to sever.
But no matter how hard she tried to ignore him, the weight of his presence lingered, a constant reminder of what she had lost—and what she could never have.
---
That night, as she locked up the pub and walked home under the pale light of the moon, Seline couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being followed. She glanced over her shoulder, but the street was empty. Still, the unease refused to leave her.
She quickened her pace, her senses on high alert. The shadows seemed to shift and move, and every rustle of leaves or creak of a branch sent her heart racing. By the time she reached her small apartment, her nerves were frayed.
Seline locked the door behind her and leaned against it, letting out a shaky breath. She couldn’t keep living like this—always looking over her shoulder, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Something was coming. She could feel it in her bones.
And she wasn’t sure she was ready to face it.