12. Don't Break-In

**MAEVE**

I watched Xander stiffened before me and drew in a shaky breath. What could possibly be the reason behind this madness, or is it some kind of 'vision' issue of mine? Either way, I needed some answers to make myself feel a little saner than normal. Bad enough that my life was complicated beyond reason, and every day I fought harder than ever to wade off my feelings for Xavier.
There has to be a clarification.
Scrubbing a hand over his morning face, he exhaled loudly and husked a small chuckle. "I don't really think that's possible, Maeve. Glowing eyes?"
"I...:" Wring my nervous hand, I tried to reason with him. "I know that, which is why I am curious too. The first time I thought it was my mistake, but the second time? I don't think so," I stressed.
God, I hope I am right.
I can't go on having visions and premonitions...and then watching his eyes glow.
"The club lighting, I think," he deduced, sounding pretty convincing. Only that I still wasn't convinced yet. "It sometimes flickers for special effects. Maybe it caught a glint or something."
*...And he had a point.*
I tried to think very hard about the club's last evening, but the remnants of spiked chemicals made it difficult. It was almost impossible to crawl through the cloud of hazy memories from last night and find rational answers, but I still tried.
"What about that night when you took me to that diner?" I countered.
Xander pushed an exasperated sigh like he was trying to logicize a five-year-old. "Maeve, I wish I had an answer for this, but I really don't. All the more reasons that I have never been told that my eyes glow." I clamped his hands over my shoulders and really looked into my eyes. "Next time it does, let me know, and I might actually have an answer."
I gave a long thought, and against my better judgment, accepted his answer. Even though I was not wholly convinced, maybe there was some truth in his words. Or maybe, I just wanted to--desperately--believe him.
Either way, I was not getting an answer right now.
Exhaling a loud sigh, I slowly shook my head to shrug off the thought. "Maybe I just tried to read more than what it is."
He reached out with his hand to bracket the side of my face, and involuntarily, I leaned into his warmth. "I might not know you for a long time, but I am almost convinced that you are too hard on yourself."
A wry smile spread over my lips. "Some might say I am conscious of what I put out about myself."
Xander didn't seem to agree, given the way his expression projected. "There's a wide berth between self-censor and self-criticism. But right now, let's shelf this conversation for another time. Let me get you something to eat."
"Oh, no, that's really not necessary." I shook my head, stepping away from his intoxicating touch. "You have done enough already, Xander. I should go now."
I was just about to shoulder away when he caught me by the elbow. His expressions were half-mad and half-dominating, boring into me like a lesson. "Let me rephrase that: sit down while I get our breakfast. Am I clear now?"
"Bossy," I muttered but nodded nevertheless. "Yes."
A splitting grin broke out on his face, and for the first time, I realized that smile really agrees with him. "Good girl," he said, almost condescendingly and disappeared out of the bedroom.
Turning around, I finally noticed my cell phone planted by the side of the bed, where I woke up and reached for it.
As expected, missed calls and panic messages were in abundance. But as luck would have it, the battery was on two percent, and the second I tried to text my Heather, it died on me.
"Great! My day couldn't get any worse!" I huffed into the empty room.
"Maeve, are you okay? Do you need anything?" Xander hollered from the kitchen, making me wonder how accurate telepathy this guy has.
"Umm…no, I am good." Dropping the phone on the bed, I gingerly came out of the bedroom and into the kitchen aisle to join him. "Do you mind if I help?" I offered, reaching out for the coffee mugs before he could affirm.
"Thanks."
The breakfast was pretty quiet and civil by the standard. Xander made eggs, bacon, and a whole lot of other proteins. Not willing to overeat after a terrible hangover, I decided to be careful about food choice.
Our talks were mostly vague and generalized, and I realized he was careful not to reveal too much about his family other than his brother, Blaize.
"You really seem to know this town well," I commented conversationally and tried to reach for the salt. Accidentally, my elbow toppled the nearby juice glass.
The entire liquid sloshed over me and embarrassingly stained the cleavage. No matter how badly I pawed at it with the napkin, but it just wouldn't go. "Shit!" I am so sorry!"
"Maeve, it's okay," Xander soothed, rounding around the table at lightning speed and offering help. "If you want to use the washroom, it's that way," he pointed over my shoulder at the back.
"Thank you." Dropping the stained napkin on the table, I quickly scampered away and shut the door.
"Why will this happen to me, every-gooddamn-time!" I gritted out in frustration, all the while trying to lighten the stark stain on my neckline. I would not mourn for the fabric, but I completely made an ass out of myself in front of him.
If last night's record weren't bad enough.
Finally, when I was decent enough to make my return, I heard the doorbell, and subsequently, a male voice was conversing with Xander.
Now, it wasn't really my nature to put my nose where it didn't belong, but, for unknown reasons, I was slightly curious—about anything related to Xander. Instead of announcing my appearance, I tried to go incognito and peeped through the slightly ajar door.
This unknown male—I have seen him once or twice with Xander and on the first day in the elevator too. Clearly, the conversation didn't seem to go Xander's way as he angrily slammed the napkin and raked a hand through his thick, short hair.
"The alpha sent this over for you look over. He was specific that you go through them all," the man said, as he placed a thick white envelope right beside my half-eaten plate.
What could possibly be in there to piss off Xander so much?
"Give it to me." He snatched it away and shelved it into one of the drawers and locked it up. "Tell him I will get back after tomorrow," he told the man in an irritant voice.
"The hunt could wait," the other guy said. "He insisted that…" He stopped mid-sentence and, all of a sudden, turned around towards the washroom—towards me as I quickly shied away behind the wall.
Thankfully, their conversation was still within my earshot.
"Is that the smell of…" asked the guy in a hushed tone, like he was suddenly aware of my presence.
*Smell?*
Did he have some kind of dog superpower?
I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't encounter crazy visions myself.
"Carter, you need to go now," Xander ordered, suddenly slipping into a panic mode. "I don't want her to see you."
Woah. What?
"Okay, okay," he acquiesced as if he fully understood the silent exchanges between them. "I am leaving. But please keep in mind that this is important."
"I will. Now go!"
By the thudding footsteps and slamming of the door, I could only assume the man—Carter—left. And with that, whatever little shred of trust I had for Xander escape as well.
I was still clueless as to how the 'glow' of his eyes were connected to the opaque white envelope he hurriedly stashed into the drawer, but my instinct told me that he was hiding something.
Something that he specifically didn't want 'me' to see or find out.
Collecting my thoughts, I headed out to the kitchen as if everything was perfectly normal.
"Are you okay now?" he asked as I reappeared.
"Well, it's better." I smiled, masking it up. And instead of taking up the seat, I added, "Xander, I really wish I could stay longer, but I have to rush. If I don't return home, I will be terribly late for my shift."
My answer seemed to be penetrated well into his mind as he cast me a solemn look and finally nodded. "Okay. But you do not have any headaches, right?"
"I am feeling better after breakfast," I lied. "And thank you…" I waved my hands around shyly, "…for all of this."
He smiled warmly. "Let me know if you need anything else."
"Sure."
As far as awkward neighborly conversation and hospitality went, this was it. I quickly returned to my apartment, which was just a few steps away, and shut the door.
What the hell was this morning?
In the next couple of hours, I took a long shower and indulged in another steaming cup of black coffee, which was meant to be relaxing, but I ended up more worried than ever. For the first time in my life, I wanted to have a vision.
A vision of Xander or anyone else, just so I could have a glimpse of his past.
But what happened later was even better.
A collective of hushed voices conversed outside my door as I peeped out of my keyhole. There were Xander and two other men I have never seen, and within a couple of minutes, they rushed out of the place so fast it looked like they wouldn't be back for a long time.
Standing straighter, I slowly wrenched open my door and stared across the empty hallway and at Xander's door. I contemplated that it would take me less than five minutes to pick up the lock and retrieve the envelope he so badly wanted to hide.
The epiphany of spontaneity hit me so hard that without a second thought, I reached for his door.

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***It's not a good idea to break-in your neighbour's door now, is it?" Haha. Hope you guys are enjoying the story.***