Alpha's Hidden Precious Luna-Chapter 25

Lily POV

The evening air was thick with the scent of motor oil and fresh paint when we pulled up in front of the automotive repair shop.

I turned to Celeste, surprised. “What are we doing here? Does your car have any problem? I didn’t notice anything,”.

“Yeah, I know that!” Celeste giggled reaching for my hand “Come on, the longer we wait, the more you die of curiosity. Let me put you out of your misery,”.

Together we went inside. Once inside, the first thing that caught my eye was my car. I blinked in surprise as my eyes widened with delight when I spotted it, gleaming under the fluorescent light of the garage. The once-dull paint job had been transformed into something else.

All the dents and squeezing and crashes that had happened with it a couple of days ago were nowhere to be found. The car looked brand new. I started walking briskly towards the car when suddenly the repair shop door swung open and a man who could have easily graced the cover of a fitness magazine stepped out.

Tall and broad-shoulders, with arms that strained against the fabric of his work shirt. He was so handsome and annoying dashing and he knew it too because he moved with the easy confidence of someone who knew their own appeal. His chiselled jaw had overnight or maybe two days stubble on it and his eyes twinkled with mischief as they landed on me.

I felt my cheeks warm as I offered a shy smile, tucking in a stray strand behind my ears, suddenly aware of my own appearance.

The repairman came closer eyes brimming with admiration “Am I dead? Somebody pinch me? Are you an angel? Because there’s no way I am alive and can still see all of this beauty right in front of me. Are you even real?” he quizzed further making me blush deeper.

“I must have done something right for you to bring me this beautiful customer. I’m not one to give compliments but I can tell you for free that you’ve outdone yourself this time. This angel in my humble shop? I’m beyond words, Celeste. I owe you one,”.

Celeste’s eyes narrowed and she stepped forward, placing herself slightly between me and the repairman. “Watch it lover boy,” she warned, her tone light but with an unmistakable edge. “Lily’s not one of your usual conquests. She’s off-limits except you’re not interested in seeing the light of another day,”.

The repairman raised an eyebrow as genuine surprise flashed across his features. He held up his hands in mock surrender. “Easy there, Celeste. Can’t a man appreciate beauty when he sees it? Why are you acting all protective? Tired of men already?” he said in conspiratory tones as he leaned in and then straightened “Well, I can’t blame you, Lily can make anyone’s blood boil,”.

His grin widened as he moved closer to me, wiping his hands on a rag before extending one to me. “You must be the owner of this beauty,” he said nodding towards my car, his voice a rich baritone that sent a shiver down my spine. “I’m Jake by the way,”.

“Lily,” I managed to reply, my voice barely above a whisper. I cleared my throat and tried again. “I didn’t think my car had a chance but seeing it here... it’s like it’s like a new flower. Thank you so much,”.

“You could thank me by walking down the aisle with me,” Jake teased again giving me a wink. “I swear you’ll not know a day’s labour if you ditch Celeste for me,”.

I felt my embarrassment deepen, a mix of flattery and discomfort at the compliments that seemed to be coming too much today swirling in my stomach. I wasn’t used to being the centre of attention, especially not from someone as attractive as Jake.

“Thank you again for your work,” I said quickly, hoping he would stop with the words that rolled so easily off his tongue. “The car looks amazing,”.

“It was my pleasure,” he said with a soft smile. Ignoring Celeste who was openly glaring at him now. Then lowering his voice, so that only me could hear, he added. “You know, if you’re ever looking for a part-time job, I could always use an extra pair of hands around here. And I promise, the pay’s not bad or if you just need someone to show you around town...” he winked.

“Jake!” Celeste glared even harder at him now but he seemed unfazed by her disapproval, if anything, the dimples on his chin deepened. “I’m warning you, this one is really off-limits,”.

We spent the next few minutes with the last processing the details of the car and whatnot. Then Celeste gave him the address to have the car delivered too. As we prepared to leave, I couldn’t help but steal one last glance at Jake. He caught me looking and winked, causing my heart to skip a beat. I quickly turned away, following Celeste to the car.

Once we were on the road, Celeste let out a long sigh. “I’m so sorry about that. I should have known Jake would pull something like that. He’s always been a terrible flirt,”.

I fiddled with the hem of my shirt, not sure how to respond. “Well, he seems...nice,” I offered weakly.

“Oh, goddess!” Celeste groaned “Don’t tell me you fell for all those sweet words. You’re off-limits, Lily... except you don’t want Jake to live,”.

“I am?” I turned to her for an explanation. I heard her mention it severally to Jake, but I assumed she wanted to scare him off. I didn’t know she meant it.

“You know!” she shrugged “With everything that happened to you... you need time to heal...recover and stuff. Now is not the best time to be in a relationship,”.

“Who said I want to be in a relationship?” I laughed. “Jake seemed like a really nice car, that’s all. Don’t worry,”.

She snorted. “Oh, he’s nice alright. Too nice if you ask me. Just be careful. Guys like Jake can be in trouble if you’re not prepared for them,”.

“Sure thing, Mom,” I teased and we both laughed.

The rest of the drive passed in comfortable silence with me lost in thoughts of Jake’s easy smile and the warmth of his gaze. I knew Celeste’s warning was because of this, but a part of me couldn’t help but feel a thrill at the attention. I already had a good feeling about my new pack.

A pack where even the sweaty soldiers think I am beautiful and curvy... it was definitely an upgrade from what I was used to.

As we approached the bustling area, Celeste turned to me with excitement. “Now, let me show you where all the cool kids hang out,” she said turning down a street lined with trendy cafes and boutiques.

My eyes widened as I took in the scene. The sidewalks were filled with young people, many of whom looked to be around my age. Groups of friends lounged at outdoor tables, sipping colourful drinks and laughing together. Others browsed the shops, arms linked and heads bent close in conversation.

“This is amazing,” I breathed, drinking in the beautiful atmosphere. For the first time since arriving at the pack, I felt a genuine spark of excitement for my upcoming college experience.

Celeste beamed with pride. “I knew you’d love it. This is where most of the university students come to unwind after classes. There’s always something going on – live music, art shows, you name it,”.

As we cruised down the street, my gaze darted from one group to another, imagining myself among them. I could picture myself studying at one of the cosy cafes or browsing the vintage clothing stores with new friends. The possibilities seemed endless, and for a moment, the anxiety that had been my constant companion since I arrived faded into the background.

“Oh, and there’s this great little bookstore just around the corner,” Celeste was saying, “They have the best selection of used textbooks which will save you a fortune once classes start,”.

I nodded, making a mental note of all the places Celeste pointed out. I was about to ask about nearby grocery stores when something – or rather, someone – caught my eye.

There, emerging from a high-end restaurant, was a familiar figure that made my heart stop. Kai, looking as devastatingly handsome as ever in a tailored navy blue suit, was making his way towards a sleek sports car parked at the curb. But he wasn’t alone.

Trailing behind him, her hand resting possessively on his arm, was quite possibly the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.