Chapter 22 The next day was a Saturday. Naomi had originally intended to spend the day with Alex going to a soft play centre and even though these places were her personal idea of hell she'd literally pay to be doing that rather than her actual plans, coffee with Theon. \getting herself out of bed was a chore but she could Alex wide awake and talking to his toys in the next room so she knew she had to get up and she knew that she couldn't hide in bed all day, Putting on some jeans and a hoodie and Naomi decided if she was going to face him, she wasn't going to hide behind the façade of Natalie Lane, so she dropped the glamour and the soft blonde young woman, of her past appeared before her. 30 minutes later, after securing Alex with Lottie and a getting a much needed pep talk from her friend to get her out the door, Naomi arrived at the café she had suggested to meet at. She knew Theon was inside before she even went inside. Between the hum of the bond between them and being able to smell him she knew when she was on the same street as him. Sometimes werewolf senses really sucked she thought. The worst part was how much comfort it brought her. Instinct told her to run to him and just have him hold her and all the anxiety and anger would go away. Even Artemis who had been huffing on the journey over about how pissed she was at the idea of seeing him again, was trying to encourage Naomi to hurry up so she could be near his wolf Neo. Traitor Naomi said to her wolf. As she entered the café there he was. Theon, sat at the back of the half empty café, his beautiful grey eyes sparkling and a wide smile across his face. For a brief second Naomi allowed herself to enjoy this illusion of this being a happy reunion before reality snapped her back and told her to grow up and put her poker face back on. Naomi began walking towards the table and Theon jumped up towards her clearly intent on hugging her. "Woah, slow your roll there!" she said putting out a hand to stop him coming any closer. He halted looking at her confused and a little hurt by her rejection "I'm not having you cover me in your scent or the bond or pheromones or any of that shit. Not today." Theon playfully pouted a little and Naomi tried to pretend that she didn't find this adorable or make her feel a little fluttery inside. "That's okay" he said in a frustratingly understanding tone "I am just glad you came and even happier that you look and smell like you again. I missed your beautiful face." Naomi scoffed a little and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, you know I don't like the charming guy act, so stop that please. What did you want to talk about?" She didn't mean to be so hostile or bitchy, but she was so on edge it was affecting her ability to be herself. Theon noticed how tense she was and that she kept looking around nervously. "Nai, you seem like you think someone is going to jump out and attack you any second. Relax it's just us." Theon tried to sound reassuring, but Naomi's eyebrows shot up and she looked both amused and surprised. "That's very accurate actually" she replied "But it's from experience" Theon looked puzzled. 1/2 "Last time I got a message from you saying you wanted to meet and talk with me I was attacked and killed so you know, can't blame a girl for being a little wary." Theon had no idea how to respond to this. He just sat staring at Naomi, with his mouth open and his eyes blinking rapidly. After a few moments his brain started digesting what she said. "you died?" he uttered in a shocked voice "Yeah" Naomi said, winking at him and flinging her hair over her shoulder "I look bloody good for a dead woman don't I" 2/2