Avenging Luna
Chapter 116: Strange Stranger

Chapter 116: Strange Stranger

CHASE’S POV:

Like usual, I headed to the café to grab something hot to drink, a habit I’d picked up ages ago. I could already hear the hypothetical voices in my head—But you’re a vampire. Aren’t you supposed to be guzzling down blood and lurking in the shadows? Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble, but not every myth about us is true. In reality, vampires can eat and drink normal food if they choose. Sure, it’s not exactly nourishing, but it’s... satisfying, in its own way. We only truly feed when we find that rare and elusive thing: our other half, our soulmate, the one we were destined for, just as the Moon Goddess intended.

Yes, she’s our goddess too, even if the wolves think they have a monopoly on that connection. We’re creatures of the night, but we’re also bound by the same forces, blessed with the ability to feel our mate’s presence like a whisper of warmth in the dark. The only difference? A vampire mate bond is especially dangerous. If we aren’t careful, the bond can quickly become an obsession, a hunger, turning our mate into something we crave more than blood.

I could hear it already—the incredulous questions from humans if they ever found out. But you’re a vampire... How can you drink coffee? Why aren’t you hiding from sunlight? Aren’t you all supposed to be bloodthirsty fiends of the night? Funny how the myths took on a life of their own, but most of them were pure fiction.

Sure, we can drink blood. Some might even say we need it to fully experience our powers, especially when it comes from a soulmate, which grants us life and power unlike anything else. But we’re also free to survive on ordinary food and drink, which feels surprisingly... satisfying. That’s our choice, one of the few we’re given. It’s only when we cross that line into feeding on humans for sport or sustenance that things take a dark turn.

Those vampires? We call them rogues. They give up what humanity remains in them, choosing to drink human blood exclusively. As a result, their power and speed multiply beyond reason. But their choice comes at a steep price: rogues lose their ability to walk in the daylight. The sun’s rays become lethal, instantly incinerating them to dust. So, yeah, I can walk in the sunlight just fine—because I haven’t turned rogue.

But I am a hunter of those who have.

My job, or rather my calling, is tracking down the rogues who’ve chosen bloodlust over balance, chaos over control. They’re drawn to power but shackled by their need to hide in the shadows. In their desperation, they’ve become creatures that prey on others, posing a threat not just to humans but to us all. That’s where The Order comes in. It’s a vampire council, a kind of government that watches over us, keeping us from falling into chaos and exposing our existence.

Each time I track down a rogue, it’s not just my duty. It’s my redemption. Because unlike them, I’ve chosen the shadows without succumbing to the lure of darkness. I don’t drink from humans. I don’t embrace the easy path to power. It’s why I can walk under the sun, sit in cafés, and live in plain sight. It’s also why I carry the responsibility to eliminate those who do fall—and if I’m lucky, I get paid for it. A small reward for protecting the delicate balance between our world and theirs.

Even if we can walk under the sun, eat, drink, and blend in, there’s always that subtle edge that sets us apart. The fangs hidden behind our smiles, the strength that feels restrained even with the slightest movement, and the speed that could have us cross a room in the blink of an eye. Most humans would never suspect a thing, and that’s exactly the way The Order wants it.

Right now, I’m just another guy in a café, watching Leila with a fascination that borders on obsession, but careful to keep it hidden behind a smirk and a few half-hearted jokes. She has no idea what I am or the danger that her mere presence puts me in. If she knew, would she run? Would she ever forgive me for hiding it? I can’t think about that now. Right now, I need to keep my cover, keep her safe from the darkness in my world.

But if my secrets ever came to light? I might end up fighting not only for her trust but for her life.

That’s why I’m at this café every day. I knew from the moment I first saw her that she was mine. Her scent was unlike anything I’d ever experienced—warm, rich, and with an unmistakable spark that set every fiber of my being on high alert. It was as if my entire existence had narrowed down to her.

Leila.

The name rolled through my mind like a soft, warm flame, one I wanted to get closer to even if it risked burning me. But there was one catch—a big one. She was human. Had she been like me, our connection would have been immediate and undeniable, and she would have felt it too. But Leila didn’t have the faintest idea who I was. To her, I was just another customer, a mildly annoying guy she had to serve each night.

Every charm card I played, she shot down without even blinking. And honestly? It made her even more irresistible.

---

Tonight, as I walked through the café door, I spotted her instantly. She was wiping down tables with that efficient, no-nonsense look on her face, her long dark hair pulled back. Her back was to me, but I could already feel the pull, that electric awareness sparking through me. She hadn’t noticed me yet, so I took a moment to just watch her. It was a small indulgence I couldn’t resist.

I could feel the other patrons moving around me, their conversations buzzing in the background, but it all faded. I knew I was staring, probably a little too intently, but it was impossible to help myself. She was my other half, after all. Being near her was like holding a single ray of sunlight in the cold, dark existence I’d known for so long.

*Alright, Chase,* I reminded myself, taking a deep breath. *Time to try again.*

I approached the counter with my best "harmless" smile. She turned just as I leaned forward, and the moment her eyes met mine, my dead heart might as well have jumped. Her gaze was sharp, no hint of a smile, just that steady, slightly annoyed look that always made me want to laugh.

"Evening, Leila," I greeted, enjoying the way her name felt rolling off my tongue.

She folded her arms and narrowed her eyes. "Back again?"

"Can’t help it," I replied with a grin. "This place has the best coffee in town. Plus, it’s not every day you get service with such..." I pretended to search for the right word. "...enthusiasm."

She snorted, rolling her eyes as she turned to grab a cup. "Enthusiasm? Really?"

"Maybe ’disdain’ is more accurate," I chuckled, raising my hands in mock surrender. "But either way, I’m here."

"Lucky me," she muttered under her breath, though there was the tiniest twitch of a smile at the corner of her mouth. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she actually enjoyed sparring with me.

"So, Leila, you work here every night?" I asked, pretending I didn’t already know the answer. For the past few weeks, I’d been here almost daily, staking out my own place in her routine, even if she didn’t realize it.

"Yes, though why that matters to you, I can’t imagine." She placed my cup on the counter, her eyebrow raised in that way she had when she was particularly unimpressed. "Why are you so interested, anyway? Most customers just order their coffee and go."

She was challenging me, her gaze unwavering. And I loved every second of it.

"I’m just a friendly guy," I replied innocently, taking my coffee and leaning a little closer, testing the boundaries. "Or maybe it’s because I find you... intriguing."

"Oh, I’m sure." She shook her head, giving me that familiar exasperated look. "Look, if you’re going to sit here and drink, can you do it without all the... theatrics?"

I tried to stifle a laugh. "Theatrics? You wound me, Leila."

She rolled her eyes and walked away, probably hoping that would be enough to make me give up. Little did she know, the harder she resisted, the more it fueled my desire to get through to her. Every night, she drew a line, and every night, I pushed just a little bit closer.

---

As she worked, I tried to keep the charm subtle, watching her and occasionally throwing out small comments or questions whenever she was near enough to hear. I noticed her irritation easing, bit by bit, though she wouldn’t dare let on that she was warming up, even slightly. At one point, I complimented her on her no-nonsense approach to handling some rowdy customers, and though she rolled her eyes, she didn’t hide the tiny smirk that crept onto her face.

Eventually, she came over with a rag, wiping down the counter near me. "You know, if you’re trying to impress me, you’re failing spectacularly."

"Hey, I just come here for the coffee," I replied, feigning innocence.

She scoffed, folding her arms. "Right. And all this casual flirting is just... what? A side hobby?"

I shrugged, unable to hide my grin. "Can’t blame a guy for trying, can you? Besides, you’ve got to admit it’s a little fun."

She shook her head but didn’t argue, instead glancing at the clock. I’d learned that her shift ended soon, and part of me itched to follow her, to make sure she got home safe. I knew her path home by heart now, but I could sense she wasn’t one to take help easily.

"Alright," she said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Your coffee’s getting cold. Drink up and clear out."

I chuckled, holding up my hands in surrender. "Yes, ma’am. But I’ll be back tomorrow, and the day after that."

"Can’t wait," she said dryly, though for the first time, her words lacked the sharp edge they usually held. I knew she wasn’t ready to let me in—maybe not ever—but if I had to sit in that café for another hundred nights, I’d do it gladly.

---

That night, as I watched her lock up and walk home from a careful distance, I couldn’t help but smile to myself. Leila might be stubborn, but the connection was there, pulling at both of us, whether she wanted to admit it or not. She thought I was just some human who couldn’t take a hint, but I knew the truth: she was my other half. And no matter how many walls she put up, I’d be there, chipping away one night at a time, until she was ready to let me in.