An old friend

Arnie alighted from the taxi. She paid the man the amount they agreed on before she turned towards the building behind her.

Before her arrival, she had already rented out a house for the month.

The house happened to be next to the main pack house.

But that wasn't what surprised her.

Back when she still lived in the pack, the only humans who lived with them were the ones mated to the members of the pack.

However, from the little she witnessed since she stepped her foot into the pack, she was able to see how much it has developed.

The pack wasn't the small town she left, any more. Everything in it has changed. Humans now live among them.

"Good."

Arnie smirked.

This way, she can keep her identity hidden from the pack members who knew her.

She hurled her luggage up the flight of stairs before she got to her room.

Arnie glanced around to be certain that there was no one watching her from the shadows before she unlocked the door, and stepped into her room.

It was a mini flat with a kitchen, toilet, study, parlour, and room. Though the rooms were small, it was enough to serve her purpose.

She ran a hand through her blonde hair, which she didn't even bother to comb before she left the hotel, she lodged in a night ago.

"Fuck."

She plopped down on the only sofa the room came with.

The first step had been made. All she needs to do is fully mingle with the crowd, to avoid being caught.

****

She got dressed in a blue high-waisted jeans bum-short and a black crop top which stopped above her navel.

Should she raise her hands, her white lacy bra will be on full display. Not that she intended to flash anyone.

She checked her reflection in the only mirror in the entire house, which happened to be a broken mirror.

The former tenants of the house might have likely cracked it when packing out.

She loosened the ribbons she tied her hair with, and left her blonde hair cascade down her back.

"I'm ready."

With a grin at her reflection, she picked up her house keys and purse, which contained her mobile phone and a little change.

She locked the door behind her and glanced around to be certain no one was watching her from the shadows before she left the building.

Getting a job is the next on her list. She needed something that will help her blend in so perfectly that no one will raise a brow when she walks past.

***

For half the day, she went through the town, seeking jobs, in small establishments. She would have gone to the companies, but she didn't do that when she realized that the three companies in the town belonged to the triplets.

Getting a job there meant she might get exposed before she was ready to show her face to her bullies.

She gently opened the door of a library and stepped in.

"Hello."

She called out.

The library happened to be on the outskirts of the town. It was separated from the other shops, making it seem like a lonely being out there.

And that was what made Arnie eager to check it out. Though it was a bit deserted, the location seemed promising.

She was hell-bent on getting a job. And should she get that in a library this old, she wouldn't mind.

Unlike the outside of the library, which looked like a run-down house, the inside of the library looked cosy.

It has more than ten shelves loaded with enough books to last a bookworm for at least 10 months.

The sweet smell of old and new books permeated the air.

By the corner are chairs and tables, while a small loveseat was placed next to the window.

Arnie took a step towards the librarian's desk not too far from where she stood.

"Hello?"

She called out but got no reply.

There was no sound in the library and no sign of any more.

"Hello? Is there anyone here?" She went close to the librarian's desk, only to frown when she noticed it was empty.

She wondered if the library was deserted. But that couldn't be possible.

It doesn't look like a deserted place. The windows were clean and sparkling. There was no sign of cobwebs.

The books were arranged neatly, and there was no speck of dust around.

Yet, there was no one around.

"Hello? I came over because I saw your advert when I passed the coffee shop next to the highway." She explained.

However, it felt like she was speaking to herself.

Not only was she the only one in there, but it seemed the shop was deserted.

Yet, she wasn't ready to leave.

"Hello?"

Immediately, the door to the library opened, and a woman stepped in.

She's putting on a red gown with a white belt. Her blonde hair, though packed in a bun, looked like something she ran a hand through several times.

The heels she had on, clinked as she walked. She looked to be rushing with the way she was breathing.

Arnie turned at the sound of the door being opened. "Good day, are you— Mrs Claw?" She gasped.

The woman slowly raised her head. At first, and thought it was one of those high school students who love buying books. However, when her eyes met the familiar green eyes of her favourite student, she took a step back.

"Arnie?" She blinked, to be certain her eyes weren't deceiving her.

Arnie was the last person she expected to meet in her library. She had given up hope of ever seeing her student.

But there she was, looking more mature than she was when she still lived in the pack.

"I'm the one." Arnie took a step towards her. "Arnie!"

Mrs Claw closed the distance between them and enveloped her in a bone-crushing hug.

"So you are alive, Arnie." She sobbed.

"I missed you." Arnie signed. "I missed your warmth."

It was part of the things she missed when she left the pack years ago.

"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving!" She broke from the hug. "How could you be so heartless to your teacher!" She glared at Arnie, with a murderous expression on her face.

She looked like she was ready to kill, with just a look.

"I'm sorry," Arnie apologized. "Back then, I had to leave when the opportunity struck."

"Well, tell me about it all! I need to know how you survived." She dragged Arnie towards the tables by the corner of the room.