Chapter 41: New Friend

Chapter forty-one: New Friend

Elena

"You are lucky to have him as he is lucky to have you." I said to Veronica.

"Very true, what about you?" She beamed.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Do you have someone in your life?" I shook my head but that was a lie. I do have someone but that was not the information that she needed to be privy to. Bernard and I were just secret right now, we would reveal ourselves to everyone when the time is right. As for now, it would be a secret that I guarded jealously.

"Don't worry, you will find your true one and when you do, never let home go. There are very few good things in the world we live in and mate is one of those beautiful things we need to cherish." I nodded my head in agreement. I knew exactly what she meant, I used to be crazy to think I could walk away from Bernard and still have my heart intact. But now, he is like a life source for me and I couldn't live in a world that didn't have Bernard in it.

"I need to get the shop ready to open now, Elena. I will see you first thing tomorrow morning." She said to me.

"Okay, Veronica. See you tomorrow." I walked out of the bakery with an extra kick in my steps. It was still early in the morning when I left the lodge. It was around six o'clock but now, I was pretty sure that Bernard would probably still be sleeping so visiting him would have to wait till later.

I decided to go and see if I could get a few hours of sleep to fade away the fatigue that I could feel taking over my body slowly. Little by little, I am making a home for myself in Bernard's Pack. I hadn't had a home for ten years and I found a new one in the most unexpected but best way possible, I found peace here which was something I had not had for a very long time.

My years on the run had left me jaded and skeptical, I always felt like someone wanted something for me or was trying to hurt me in some way. It has caused me to build multiple walls around my heart as a protective barrier. One of the major reasons that I stayed long in a place is because I didn't trust people's intentions but I felt safe here. It was a feeling I was not used to but it is a welcomed feeling.

As I trudged into the lodge, it was silent. It was still early in the morning and most people were only getting up and Alisha was still one of those people who were knocked out. By the time we got all my stuff into my room and unpacked, the sky started tinting a lighter blue. Her eyes were bloodshot and she started yawning at two-minute intervals. Her body was spent but she insisted on helping me fully unpack. I dismissed it and told her to go to sleep. Now, it was my body that was slowly giving out, I was even struggling to keep my eyes open as I trudged up the stairs that led to my room. As I got to the door, I tried to insert my key to open the door but every time I tried, it would refuse.

"What the hell!" I tried to turn the key again but it failed. I jiggled it a little bit but each time I twisted the knob, it would refuse. Then, suddenly, the door flew open and I stood gaping at the man I saw before me.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my room?" I squealed while staring at the half-naked man before me. He was wearing pajama pants and socks on his feet.

"Your room? I think you are mistaken. This is my room." He responded with his brows furrowed.

"No, it is not. This is number 15A." I pointed to the door that had the number on it and stood in shock.

Goodness, this is 25A. That is great, I was in the wrong room. my check heated as I looked away from the very shirtless and attractive stranger. This is embarrassing.

"I am sorry, my mistake." I said hurriedly.

I didn't even bother waiting to hear his response, I made a mad dash down the hall towards my room. I didn't dare to turn back or look at his reaction. Hopefully, I never saw him again but that was highly unlikely seeing as we were staying in the same place. When I got to my room, I reached into my pocket to pull out my key when I felt nothing. I searched my other side pocket but there was also nothing. I had the key a few seconds ago but then it registered to me. I left my key back in the guy's room. I leaned my head against the hardwood of my door and let out a frustrated groan. I was going to have to see him again sooner rather than later.

"And this is why sleep is important, Elena. It stops us from doing silly things like this." I scolded myself.

"Do you always talk to yourself or this is just a once-off occurrence?" His voice came from my left. The mortification that washed over me was indescribable. Not only had I tried to forcibly enter his room but I also just embarrassed myself further by making myself seem like a psycho.

As far as the first impression went, I was doing a great job. I pushed off the door and turned to the man slowly. As if me going slower was going to do anything for the current embarrassment I was feeling.

"Hi." I waved to him like a total loser. This is not going well at all. He held them up in his hands and jiggled them in the air.

"I think you left something." I laughed nervously looking at him.

"Yes, thanks for bringing them to me. I was actually about to come and get them but thank you, anyway. I am usually not this forgetful but I didn't get a good night's sleep last night and I am heavily sleep deprived but you…didn't need to know all that." I was rambling and I needed to stop. Silence fell upon us for a moment before he let out a soft chuckle.

"You are quite the character, aren't you?" He said.

"I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or as an insult." He waved me off, his eyes gleaming playfully.

"It is complicated, I haven't seen you around here before. Are you new to the Pack?" He asked.

"Something like that." I kept my answer very vague, I didn't want to get into the nitty gritty details of my business with a complete stranger. He didn't seem satisfied with my answer but he didn't press the issue further.

"I am Jack Morgan by the way and you?" He introduced himself.

"Elena." I rushed out.

"Just Elena? No last name?" He chuckled.

"Well, Elena with no last name, it is my pleasure to meet you." He added.

"Nice to meet you too, Jack." I responded.

"So since you are new here, that means you don't know the town very well, do you?" I shook my head.

"Not really, I just know where the important buildings were located like the Alpha's house and the hospital. I don't think I need to know much, do I?" I muttered.

"Have you been to Veronica's yet? She makes the best croissant you will ever taste. The woman knows her way around a stove." I nodded to his words.

"I am actually working there. Well, I got hired today although I didn't get to taste anything but everything there smells great." He looked slightly surprised.

"Wow, really? Veronica doesn't normally hire people, she is one of those do-it-on-my-own types of people. She must really like you if you manage to convince her to hire you." I waved him off.

"Yes, Jana was able to pull a few strings for me. I just kind of showed up."

"And you know Jana as well? You got all the big people in your corner, don't know, new girl?" He was teasing me and I am enjoying it. There was a playfulness about him that reminded me of a little child.

"I guess, I am just special like that." I joked with him.

"So, tell me, Jack. What is your story?" He leaned against the wall of the hallway and crossed his arms over his naked chest.

"You want to know my secret, Elena?" He asked.

"Only the important ones, they are the ones that count." I replied and his face split into an even large smile that brightened his entire face.

"Smart girl." I blushed at his words.

"So tell me." I muttered.

"There isn't much to say about me. I was born and raised in this Pack. My parents were Gammas and I grew up the same way. I didn't have much growing up but I had enough. I am a simple guy, I work at the local mechanic shop downtown and I love to fish." He explained and it took me a moment to catch what he meant but then it finally clicked in my head.