CHAPTER 54: NOISY

The moment Kael stood up, the owner who had been keeping an eye on him surreptitiously felt a sudden chill crawl up his spine. The customer had not touched a single bite of food and was already preparing to leave.

It was unusual, though not unheard of. But it was that smile—too calm, too deliberate—and the faint golden glow that flickered in his irises that made the owner’s stomach twist. Something about it screamed trouble. Trouble was brewing, and it was heading straight for him.

Panicked yet determined, the owner moved quickly to block the man’s path, his heart hammering at the audacity of what he was about to do. He knew he was risking his own neck, but letting this man walk out unchecked felt even more dangerous. With a strained but polite smile plastered across his face, he looked up at the towering figure and forced his voice steady.

"Sir, what would you like to eat? Today’s chef’s special is a premium beef burger that you might—"

His words faltered mid-sentence, swallowed whole when the stranger turned his head slightly and looked at him.

Damn it.

The man’s expression had not shifted in the slightest; he was still smiling pleasantly, as though he were any ordinary guest. But that look in his eyes... why did it feel like being caught in the gaze of a predator? Why did it send shivers up his back? The owner swallowed hard, suddenly regretting every decision that had brought him to this point.

Then he noticed the man slipping a hand into his coat and pulling out a thick wad of money. His breath caught in his throat. No ordinary traveler carried that kind of cash around unless they were asking for trouble- or planning to cause it. Did he wants something illegal. He knew all sorts of deals happened at his place but he did not participate in them!

"Sir, we are a legitimate business," the owner stammered, his palms sweating. "We don’t—"

Before he could finish, the stranger placed a hand on his shoulder. The owner winced, bracing himself for an attack, his pulse spiking so high he thought his knees might give way. But instead of pain, there was only a steady pressure. He dared to look up again.

The man gave him what looked like a benevolent smile and said one word," Compensation..."

The cafe owner’s eyes widened. His thoughts spun wildly. What? What was he talking about? Compensation for what?

Before he could stutter out his confusion, the man continued without missing a beat.

"Which way is the restroom?"

For a moment the owner simply blinked, dumbfounded. Of all the things he had expected, that question had not even crossed his mind. Washroom?

Blankly, almost automatically, he raised his hand and pointed toward the narrow corridor at the back of the building. He watched as the stranger turned and walked off in that direction with the same smooth, unhurried pace he had shown since the moment he entered.

It was only then that the owner looked down at his own hands and realized he was holding the thick wad of cash. His eyes nearly popped from his skull. He hurriedly stuffed the money deep into his pockets, his mind racing with questions.

Was this man actually compensating him for using the restroom? What kind of logic was that? Who in their right mind did such a thing? His bathrooms weren’t gilded palaces made of gold. The tiles were cracked, the faucets rusty. They were certainly not worth the kind of money he was holding now. But if the customer wanted to call it compensation, who was he to argue? He would not tempt fate by questioning it.

***

Outside, Kael stepped into the narrow pathway behind the cafe, with the same slow pace that was in direct contrast with the feeling of urgency that seemed to be coming at him in waves. He paused, his nose lifting slightly as he drew in the air. The sharp stench of the place made him grimace-he had no interest in sniffing filth-but his senses quickly filtered past it, finding what he wanted.

The faint trace of the Omega’s scent lingered, fresh enough to confirm she had come this way. He followed the trail a few steps further before stopping abruptly, his golden eyes narrowing, a low hiss of irritation escaping through his teeth.

Damn it. Did she have to go looking for trouble or was she some trouble magnet?

With a shake of his head, Kael watched as the Omega was shoved roughly into the back of a van. A man climbed in after her, while another circled around toward the passenger’s side and another driver, sitting at the driver’s seat.

That was when Kael moved. In the blink of an eye, he stood in front of the man, blocking the van’s door as he stood between the man and the van.

The man glared at him and Kael could already feel his panic despite the little act of bravado as he said, "What is it? Why are you blocking my way? Do you even know the consequences of standing here? I am transporting important things to the Moonville Pack! Do you think you can interfere if you are an Alpha and I am a beta? Let me tell you, if you dare interfere, Alpha of the Monville Pack will..."

His threat never finished. Kael’s hand closed around his neck, lifted him effortlessly, and then hurled him aside as though discarding trash. The man’s body smashed through the wall of the nearby washroom, the entire side collapsing in a roar of stone and dust.

"Too noisy," Kael said, his tone flat, almost bored.

Inside the van, the driver jolted in panic. He started the engine, hands fumbling on the wheel, ready to slam down the pedal and flee. But then, something unseen seemed to grip his mind. His pupils shrank, his body stiffened, and without warning, he flung open the door and stumbled out.

Moving like a puppet on strings, he staggered to the far side of the rubble-strewn building. Then, with horrifying force, he began to smash his forehead against the wall of the very building that was still half-standing. Over and over, his skull cracked against the stone, blood smearing the surface as the sound echoed in the silence.

Kael ignored the spectacle entirely as he made his way to the back of the van, caught the handle and yanked hard, causing the door to come off the hinges. What he saw inside made his eyes narrow.