Chapter 10

With her hands full with the eggs and toast that had gone cold, she binned them and opted for some cereal instead. When she seated herself back at the dining table, she began eating while she dialled his number.

“Ana, how are you this fine morning?”

She couldn’t help but laugh softly at his chipper tone. “What’s got you so happy this early in the morning?”

“I’ve got Justas to thank for that.” He whispered quietly into the phone and Anastasia threw her head back and laughed, the insinuation not lost on her.

“Did he bone you good?” She asked him in a teasing tone, a large, bright grin on her face.

“Real good.” He whispered just as quietly as before, his tone wispy and light; in love.

Anastasia sighed wistfully as she continued to work her way through her cereal, not much of a fan of it anymore as she preferred it crunchy rather than soggy.

“I could do with someone boning me good.” She said, shovelling a spoonful of soggy cheerios into her mouth.

Raphael chuckled. “You could have plenty of people sticking it to you if you only let them.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“All I’m saying is that you have plenty of suitors who would love to be given a chance, but you’re just too damn picky.”

“Perhaps.” Anastasia pouted, not that Raphael could see through the phone. “But funnily enough, I didn’t call you to discuss my non-existent sex life.”

“What? You want to hear more about my sex life?” He teased, following the chuckle with a quiet chuckle.

“Anyway, I actually called you to talk about something and not just chat bullshit.”

“And what did you want to talk about?” Raphael asked, his voice far more serious than a moment before as he picked up on her tone of voice.

“This wolf was watching me this morning.”

Momentary silence sounded on the other end of the line, though it was soon followed by some shuffling.

“Someone was watching you?” Justas’ voice sounded on the other end of the line. “Is that correct?”

Anastasia nodded but was quick to follow it up with some audible words. “Yes. A wolf was watching me this morning. Just sitting outside my kitchen window and then when I saw him, he turned around and ran away.”

Some quiet murmurings sounded on the other end of the line but she wasn’t able to make out what they were discussing.

“What are you guys saying?” Anastasia asked, not wanting to be left out of the loop. Especially when it was her that they were currently discussing.

They both paused and silence filled the other end of the line before Raphael sighed and answered her on behalf of him and his mate.

“Do you think it was a werewolf or just a regular wolf?”

“I’m not sure exactly but I think it was a werewolf.”

“How can you be sure?” Justas asked, concern dripping off his face.

“That’s the thing,” she frowned, “I’m not sure exactly but I just had this strange feeling that it was a werewolf, you know?”

Raphael hummed but it was Justas who answered.

“It could just be a regular wolf or it could be a rogue. But if it was the latter then I doubt he would have run away.”

“Also, I live on neutral territory so a rogue wouldn’t just be able to get in.”

“You’re got a point there.” Justas hummed in agreeance. “It doesn’t sound like something to get too worried over, but I’ll let the Alpha and Beta know about it, just to be on the safe side.”

“Thanks, guys.” She sighed in relief, her lips curling up slightly.

As she had some things that needed attending to, they kept the conversation light and Anastasia finished off her appetising bowl of cereal before booting up her laptop and getting started on the first chapter of the day.

Since it was Sunday and she had finished her lesson plans yesterday over lunch, Anastasia had the rest of the day to spend working on her latest novel. It was a romance wrapped around in a sheet of mystery and thrill, exactly the kind of story she loved to read, one which she hoped would translate tremendously on the big screen one day. But for now, that was only a pipe dream and all she could do was finish the novel, polish it off and then start looking for a literary agent.

When she was about halfway through her second chapter and right in the middle of a steamy scene, one which had her core throbbing slightly and squirming in her seat, Anastasia decided to take a break for lunch. Closing her laptop, she rose to her feet and headed over to the fridge only to find it mostly empty, and definitely not containing enough ingredients for the nice, hearty meal that she so suddenly craved.

Oh, fuck it! She declared before grabbing her jacket and slipping her laptop into her purse. Within a few minutes, she was out of the house, in her car and already driving down the street, internally debating between a burger or a lasagne even though she knew that just like last time, she would probably end up ordering both.

She wouldn’t be able to use the eating-for-two excuse once she gave birth so she intended to make as much use of it while she still could.

When the friendly waiter approached her table, she ended up ordering both meals as well as a side of fries and a chocolate milkshake to wash it all down with, not the least bit ashamed despite the funny looks that he had given her and her never-ending order. Once that was all sorted, she pulled her laptop out of her bag and decided to get some more work done before her food arrived but unfortunately, it appeared that she was faced with another distraction.

“Mind if I join you?”

When the voice sounded, Anastasia glanced up and gasped.