Page 51 of The Lone Wolf Café
“Hey Fritzi?” I asked as I strolled behind her, plodding through the snow in my too-thin boots. Fritzi stopped bounding through the snow and froze, her little crystalline head tilted back at me.
“Can I ask you something?”
Fritzi nodded, and anxiety bubbled in my stomach.
“Why is Rowena so… ostracized by everyone in this town? All the other witches seem to be avoiding her.”
If an ice elemental’s face could drain of color, Fritzi would’ve been even paler than she already was. She shifted her weight from one icicle-shaped leg to the other, clearly uncomfortable with my question. Eventually, she shook her head, flicked her foxy tail, and continued bounding through the snow.
I sighed. Clearly, I wasn’t going to get answers out of her.
Once I obtained the icing and sprinkles and returned to the kitchen, I decided to ask Mavro the same question. He was fast asleep, his long body curled up in a little fiery ball on top of the wood-burning oven. I noticed when he wasn’t needed, he wasn’t as keen to pop out of existence as Aria was. Instead, he enjoyed lounging around the café and snoozing in random places like a housecat.
Unfortunately, his response was much the same as Aria’s. Except once he recovered from his discomfort, instead of ignoring me or walking away, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
I groaned, plopping the frosting containers on the kitchen counter.Seriously?
But it confirmed my suspicions. There was a reason Rowena was an outcast. And the fact that it made Fritzi and Mavro so uncomfortable meant the reason wasn’t a pleasant one.
I don’t understand,I thought as I walked up to the kitchen door. Through the window, I saw Rowena at the counter, wiping down the now-empty pastry case while she hummed a sweet, melodic tune. My eyelids softened as the soothing sound flowedthrough my ears. She looked happy. Content. Just like any other witch in this town.
What deep, dark secret could she possibly be hiding?
A shudder ran through my body. I was falling for her. With every passing day, I grew more accustomed to her little shrugs and eye rolls, her sweet smile, and the way she immersed herself in her work. She was a remarkable woman, and anyone who caught her fancy would be lucky to have her.
But the barriers between us seemed insurmountable. Because whatever secret Rowena held, no matter how taboo or horrifying it may be, it still paled in comparison to mine.
I was lying to her. I had been this entire time. I’d let her assume I was some lonely, wayward human in need of money. But the truth was, I was a werewolf – one of the beings witches hated and feared most. We’d been fighting each other for centuries. Millenia.
Not to mention one of my kind was responsible for the death of Juniper’s mother. Every time I saw that scar on Juniper’s face, those deep lines gouged across her cheek, it made me sick with guilt. Even if I wasn’t the one responsible for her trauma, it still haunted me. It made me remember what I was capable of.
I watched as Rowena stacked the paper cups and lids on the counter and lifted them in her arms. She spun around on her heel just as the song she was humming crescendoed, and her embroidered black skirt twirled in the air. My heart melted, and a warm, dreamy smile crept across my face.
I wanted her.
As Rowena turned back around, she caught a glimpse of me watching her through the window. Her big brown eyes flickered with surprise, which quickly softened into glee as she grinned at me through the door.
She liked that I was watching her.
Guilt surged over me, sending a tidal wave of nausea roiling through my body. She was gazing right at me, that beautiful smile spread across her dark lips, and all I could do was flinch and turn away.
Get ahold of yourself,I scolded as I crouched below the window, gulping down deep lungfuls of air.
I was letting my anxiety get the best of me. Like it always did. And I was tired of it.
You want to be with her?My conscience continued lecturing me.Then enjoy the moments you have. Take advantage of that time, and stop dwelling on the future. You know there isn’t one for you and her. All you have is now.
I heard Rowena’s boots clicking on the hardwood floor, and I bolted away from the kitchen door just before it swung open.
“Oh, hello Nettie,” Rowena greeted innocently, as if she hadn’t just noticed me spying on her through the window. She held a cleaning rag in one hand, and she rubbed her temples with the other. “I may close up shop a bit early today. We haven’t had a customer in almost an hour.”
“Oh.” My gaze flicked over to my still-unfrosted sugar cookies. I hadn’t even opened the frosting containers.
“You can still work on those,” Rowena replied, setting her cleaning cloth on the counter. “You can bring them into the front of the shop. I can help you. I’ll even make us some coffee and tea.”
I froze, my heart fluttering.Is Rowena… asking me to spend time with her?
“I thought you were closing the shop early?” I asked.
