Speaking of work… Senan grabbed hold of the clipboard, ticking off the last of the jobs, so he could take the paperwork into the office on Monday.
Putting that down, he picked up a cloth, giving one last wipe over the surfaces and then collected the dirty cloths and put them in the hamper provided by the convention center.
He was leaning against the sink, reading through the checklist one last time when he heard an unfamiliar voice.
“Excuse me. Can you tell me where I can find some bottled water?”
Senan immediately spun around so he was facing the wall, his magic blaring it’s distress. There’s a wolf shifter in the room.
“Excuse me? Did you hear me? I’m just looking for water.”
He’s not here to see me, he’s not here to see me. I’m just a staff member. Pull yourself together. “I believe there’s a cooler farther down the hallway, on the way to the lobby,” Senan said, gripping onto the side of the sink to keep him upright.
“Thank you. By the way, I don’t think we were introduced. I didn’t notice you with the serving staff when we arrived.”
“I wasn’t rostered on the server side of things this evening. Somebody has to take care of the dishes. If that’s all, I need to head out now.”
Senan had no idea how he’d managed to keep his voice so calm, but he didn’t dare turn around.
It was an instinct, as if the moment the man, whoever it was, saw his face, he would know .
Senan couldn’t name the fear, but he knew there was one there.
Just go. I can’t get out of the door if you’re standing in front of it.
But the man behind him was persistent. What was worse, he was sniffing the air. Senan could hear him. “Shit, that’s unusual. Why can’t I smell you? Why don’t you smell of anything?”
“I’m sure I do.” Senan waved the clipboard in the air as if he could shoo the man away.
He could hear the shifter getting closer.
“It really doesn’t matter if I smell of anything or not,” he added quickly.
“You’ve had your meal. There’s water in the cooler down the hall.
If you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to go home. Good night.” Piss off!
“Humor me, if you don’t mind. I need you to turn around. I want to see your face.”
I don’t fucking think so . But even as he thought that Senan felt a rush of anger, along with a push from his magic to be set free. No wolf shifter had the right to accost him just because he’d wandered into a room and was being nosy.
The wolf shifter wasn’t even supposed to be in a prep area reserved for staff.
Senan had done his job, a job that he got paid for, and nothing in his job description said he had to spend any time with a wolf shifter who he didn’t know and had no intention of getting to know – no matter what his magic thought.
Swinging around, the clipboard still in one hand, Senan got his first look at his intruder, and his eyes widened. It’s just not possible. “You! What are you doing here?”
He got a frown and a slight head tilt. “I definitely don’t think we’ve met before. I sure would’ve remembered someone who looks like you, especially a person with no scent.” The wolf shifter did seem genuinely confused.
Narrowing his eyes, Senan looked at the wolf shifter, picking up subtle details like the thickness of the neck, the length and wave of his hair, and the dark eyes.
“You’re right. Not the you I was thinking of.
You’re someone similar in looks to a person I have no wish to see. Why are you bothering me?”
“I’m just curious.” The wolf shifter had the audacity to look him up and down.
“You can call me Felix the Cat. I want to know why a man like you, who clearly has paranormal origins, is hiding among humans, in a prep area, washing dishes, and working for a catering company. Acting as though you’re human with limited means when you and I both know you’re not. ”
“It doesn’t matter who or what I am, because you and I will never see each other again. Leave. Now. I’ve had a long day and want to get home.”
“Just one more thing…” That was the problem with wolf shifters. They never fucking listened. “Keep your name to yourself if you must, but what are you, and who the hell made a mess of your face? Why didn’t you heal?”
He reached out as if he wanted to touch Senan’s face and Senan snapped as he leaned back.
He was exhausted, his magic had been sending alarm bells for the last twenty minutes.
He’d worked a full evening terrified of simply being near the largest known predators and not being able to show it.
It was almost a relief when that control shattered.
Senan’s glamour fell away, his wings split his shirt as they unfurled, and his scent suppressor fell to dust.
The wolf shifter took a step back, clearly affected by him, although Senan had no idea why.
Barely holding himself together he said, “Look if you must. Look long and hard because this is the last time I will ever be within touching distance of you.” He pointed to the mark that was so much more ragged without his human glamour, and grimaced.
“Do you have someone in your life or family that looks almost exactly like you? Another Alpha wolf shifter – the heir of the Luna Pack perhaps?”
The wolf shifter’s nod was sharp and decisive.
The man seemed to be wrestling with himself, his hands fisted by his side and his whole body seemed to be humming with tension.
“I’m a twin. My older brother, Morgan was the host of this evening’s event.
He’s the Alpha of the Luna Pack, though, not the heir anymore. ”
Shit, the older Alpha must’ve died. If Senan had known that he would’ve quit his job rather than worked the event, no matter what Gabby said.
“If you have any more questions about this then, Mr. Felix the Cat in a wolf suit” – Senan tapped his scar – “you can ask your damn twin. I’m ordered to wear this scar for eternity as penance because of the lies he told.
That’s why I’m here, washing dishes, so I can pay my rent just like everyone else.
And no, before you ask, I have nothing left to say to him… or you.”
Pulling on the last shreds of his magical reserves, Senon translocated.
He was shattered, completely broken. There was no way he could catch an Uber or try to act like a normal human being in the time it would take for him to get home.
He didn’t even bother to pick up the clipboard that he dropped as his magic came through.
Someone at the convention hall could get the papers back to Jeffrey.
He absolutely could not pretend to be someone else for a minute more. He was done!