Chapter 404

Enzo

“She said she ordered something special for you.”

The team member’s words gave me pause. I had only intended on coming out tonight for one drink, seeing as how I had a flight in the morning. But it seemed as though both Mila and the team had other intentions.

I raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit uncomfortable about Mila’s persistent attention. “Oh, did she now?” I replied after hesitating for a moment.

My teammate nodded as we headed back to the table. “Yeah. Said she wanted to treat you since you’re heading out tomorrow.”

Feeling a bit awkward but not too perturbed, I headed back to the table and took my seat, where Mila was still sitting beside me. She leaned over and touched my arm, her smile almost too sweet.

“I ordered something special for you, Enzo,” she said, her voice low and maybe a little suggestive.

I looked at the drink in front of me, realizing it was already there. “Oh, thanks, Mila,” I replied, trying to be polite. I took a sip of the drink, not wanting to seem ungrateful.

But about halfway through the drink, I started to feel a bit strange. My senses tingled, and a subtle shift occurred inside of me. It was as if my instincts were on high alert, and my wolf, usually a silent presence in the back of my mind, spoke up.

“Enzo, be careful,” my wolf warned. “There might be something in that drink.”

I frowned inwardly, my suspicions growing. I had never encountered a situation like this before, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Mila had ulterior motives.

Thankfully, my size and my werewolf nature made me more resilient to whatever might be in the drink, but I couldn’t ignore the strange sensation coursing through me.

Mila gave me a sideways look, her eyes locking onto mine before flitting over to my drink. “Why aren’t you finishing your drink, Enzo?” she asked, her tone slightly perplexed.

I debated my response for a moment, not wanting to cause a scene but also not wanting to put myself in a vulnerable position. “I’m actually feeling a bit tired,” I said, hoping it would be a good enough excuse. “I think I’m gonna head back to the hotel.”

Mila’s eyes flickered with disappointment, and she leaned in closer. “Oh, come on, Enzo,” she purred, her hand inching up my arm. “You don’t have to leave just yet. The night is still young.”

I felt increasingly uncomfortable, not wanting to engage in any further interaction with Mila. “I appreciate it, Mila,” I said, trying to remain polite. “But I really should go. Thanks for the drink.”

I stood up, grabbing my coat off of the chair.

“So soon, Enzo?” Tim asked, his eyes meeting mine.

I nodded. “Early flight tomorrow,” I said with a smile. “I’m tired.”

Tim nodded and stood, and circled around the table to meet me. He extended his hand for a shake, and I took it, shaking it firmly. “Don’t forget about my proposal,” he said quietly, clapping me on the shoulder.

I managed a tense smile. “I won’t.”

As I said my goodbyes to the team, Mila stood, her eyes slightly narrowed as she took me in. The look she gave me as she approached made me uncomfortable, almost as if there was something knowing in her gaze. Did she put something in my drink? Did she expect it to affect me more than it did?

“Goodnight, Enzo,” she said, extending her arms for a hug. “It was nice seeing you.”

I paused, stiffening a bit, before I extended my hand, silently refusing her hug. “Likewise.”

Mila shot me a dirty look, but said nothing. She shook my hand briefly before turning on her heel and disappearing into the throng, leaving me feeling both confused and all too vulnerable.

…

The next morning, I awoke with an ache in my head and in my chest. But it wasn’t from the drinks; it was because of Nina.

I had talked to her last night, and she was still in Mountainview. I couldn’t blame her, though. How could I? Her friend was in the hospital.

But, as much as it pained me, I knew that I would have to take her to the supernatural realm when I got home. She needed to be taken care of, and Jessica… I knew she’d understand.

As I finally forced myself to get up and start packing my bags, my mind raced with thoughts of the night before. There had definitely been something in that drink.

But why? Could it really have been Mila who did it? And if so, what should I do?

I wanted to tell Tim, but right now, I wasn’t so sure. I needed some time to think. After all, my career was on the line; and I couldn’t afford to be one of those people who had a smear campaign started against me.

No, I needed to think about this rationally. But first, I needed to worry about Nina, about our child.

I was lost in my thoughts when there was a knock on the door of my hotel room. I hurriedly finished packing and went to answer it, not expecting to find anyone there other than housekeeping.

But to my surprise, it was…

“Good morning, Enzo.”

“Mila? What are you doing here?”

Her lips stretched into a thin smile, painted red. The lipstick still looked wet and fresh, like she had just put it on. “Tim asked me to drive you to the airport,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. “He didn’t tell you?”

I furrowed my brow, finding Tim’s request rather unusual. “He didn’t mention it,” I said, a hint of suspicion in my voice. “But I can take a cab or an Uber. You don’t have to go out of your way.”

Mila shook her head, her expression determined. “No, Tim insisted, and I’m here to make sure you get to the airport safely. Please, let me take you.”

I sighed, realizing that arguing further would be futile. “Alright, Mila,” I said, feeling resigned. “Thank you for your help.”

As we made our way out, the atmosphere in the car was tense. I couldn’t help but feel that something was off, that there was more to this situation than met the eye. I kept my guard up, ready for whatever might come my way.

The drive to the airport was quiet, and I was lost in my thoughts as I stared out of the window. Finally, the airport came into view, and I felt relieved.

Mila pulled into a parking space and turned to look at me. “Here we are,” she said with a grin. “Are you excited to head back to the middle of nowhere?”

I nodded, reaching for my jacket on the back seat. “Yeah, I’m looking forward to going home,” I said. “To see my—”

But then it happened. As I was turning toward the back seat to grab my jacket, Mila suddenly leaned closer, grabbed my face in her hands, forced me to look at her, and…

She kissed me.

I was taken aback and pushed her away instinctively without so much as a second thought. But I pushed her with more force than I intended, and she hit her head against the window with a thud.

Blood began to trickle down from her forehead, and I immediately felt a wave of panic wash over me. “Shit. Mila, I’m so sorry,” I exclaimed, reaching for a tissue to help stop the bleeding.

But as I tried to tend to her injury, I realized that something was terribly wrong. Mila’s grip on my wrist was far stronger than it should have been, and her eyes... her eyes were a strange, inhuman shade, a color I couldn’t even begin to describe.

I managed to wrench my arm free, but not before her nails dug into my skin. “Mila?” I asked, my eyes narrowing.

Mila’s eyes, still that eerie color, locked onto mine. She spoke in a low, threatening tone.

“If you tell a soul about that kiss, Enzo, I’ll show everyone this cut on my forehead,” she said, her voice dripping with malice. “And I’ll tell them that you sexually assaulted me. You’ll lose your entire career, your reputation, everything. Even your precious wife.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was like a nightmare unfolding right in front of me. All at once, I felt like a fool and a coward for not doing something sooner, but now here I was, caught in a trap that, judging from the look of things, was very carefully set.

She blinked, and her eyes returned to their normal color. She leaned back in her seat, a smug smile playing on her lips. “Now, get the hell out of my car,” she ordered.

I didn’t need any further prompting. I practically bolted out of the car, my mind whirling with what had just happened.

I quickly retrieved my things, and watched as Mila sped off, tires screeching on asphalt.