Page 5 of Beautiful Sight

“All right, how do you want me to place this?” the elderly woman asked.

“If you’ll hand me the dishes, I’ll place them,” Tessa said with a smile.

She had learned long ago that if she allowed others to place dishes in front of her, there was sure to be a mess before the end of the meal.

“All right, Miss.”

One by one, Tessa accepted two plates, along with a warm mug of what smelled like chocolatey deliciousness, and finally a glass of water. She set them down carefully in accordance with the vision in her brain and hoped she wasn’t taking up too much room.

Once her food was on the table, Tessa dropped her hands to her lap and knotted her fingers together to keep from attacking the delicious-smelling treats. She hadn’t eaten since hours before the big gorilla had carried her out of her house and she had to admit she was starving.

“Coffee and three BSC biscuits for the alpha. Are you sure that’s all you want, Jefferson?” Mystic’s voice sounded light and teasing as she placed more dishes on the table.

“For now. Thanks, Mystic,” Jefferson said.

“Wave or call if you need anything else.”

“We will,” Jefferson answered.

Tessa listened as Mystic walked away before turning her attention to her meal, not sure if this was breakfast, dinner, or something else.

“What time is it?”

Her watch was back on her dresser at Theo’s house, and she had no clue what day it was, much less what time.

“My name is Jefferson Carstairs, and it’s two-thirty on Thursday morning,” he said after she heard several beeping sounds as he apparently checked his phone. “Now, please eat or Mystic will think I’m torturing you.”

Tessa found herself smiling at the thought of Jefferson using a very special kind of torture on her. Moving slowly and carefully, she picked up the glass of water and drained it. She hoped that would help fill her stomach so she didn’t look like a ravenous beast as she ate.

Setting the glass down right where she had picked it up from, she turned her attention to the breakfast sandwich on the plate directly in front of her. She reached for it and took a giant bite. Chewing it quickly, she swallowed and took another bite, the water not quelching her hunger as she had hoped.

Jefferson did not speak until she had finished the biscuit and half of the croissant.

“There are some things I have to explain that you’re going to have to take on faith, okay?”

She nodded and took another bite of food, wondering if she should order something else now, or wait a few minutes and hope this filled what felt like was a Grand Canyon size hole in her stomach.

“You’ve seen movies and television shows about vampires and witches and shape-shifters, yes?”

Tessa nodded. “Yes, though nowadays I listen to audiobooks about them.”

“What would you say if I said that humans are not alone in the world? That those supernatural creatures in books and movies are real and living side by side with humans?”

Tessa was surprised that Jefferson’s words did not shock her.

“I’d say that explains a lot of things. Like why the landlady of the apartment we lived in when Theo was young turned into such a bitch around the full moon every month. And why I’ve sworn I’ve had encounters with vampires who suck my energy until I need to take a nap after visiting with them.”

“Sounds like you’ve already had encounters with some supernaturals. Okay, since you already believe in the world of supernaturals, you need to know that I am a shape-shifter.”

“What kind?” Tessa found herself asking, even as her heart began to beat slightly faster. Fear or excitement, she could not be sure, but the need to curl up in his arms grew.

If the books she had read and listened to were true, being called “Alpha” meant the man was not just a shifter, but an important shifter. A leader of his pack.

“I’m a wolf shifter and the leader, or alpha, of all the shifters who call the city home. I also sit on the council that governs supernaturals in the city.”

Adding that information to what had happened earlier, Tessa nodded her understanding. “And you think I’m your mate?”

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