"There you are!" Luca came down the bright hallway, two take-away coffee cups in his hand. A cream knitted sweater, double breasted jacket, jeans and sleek trainers; he was sporting his Roman runway look as usual. Alex stepped back from her suite door, checking her watch in surprise: 8:37am Sunday December 1st. They didn't work on recipes on Sundays so Luca normally came in just before the lunch shift.

"Isn't it your sleep-in day?" She took the cup he offered, drawing in the scent of the freshly ground arabica beans.

Luca, the smell of coffee, this casual conversation; it felt good after the madness of the day before. After using every meditation technique she learned at the monastery, her mind was calmer but she was no closer to settling on a path of action. That was why she had meant to go for a run, but looking at the riverbank where the thugs had attacked her only hours ago, had sent her back inside.

"It snowed overnight so it's a great morning for a walk," Luca smiled his boyish smile.

A walk outside with Luca? Yes, she could do it. She had to push past the fear once and it would dissipate.

Luca took a step closer, looking over Alex's running tights, fleece jacket and fingerless gloves. "You look almost set to go."

He handed her his cup, then took off his beanie hat and popped it on her head. The cashmere was warm and smelled of peppermint shampoo and aftershave.

"So you ears don't get cold," he grinned taking his cup back. "Shall we?"

"Alright." They walked down to the Lobby. The crystal snowflakes on the giant Christmas tree the staff put up overnight gave the place an added sparkle and many of the early risers had chosen to sit in the seats near it to chat.

"It's like you," Luca nodded towards the tree.

"What is?" Alex raised a brow, expecting something ridiculous to follow.

"The star," he pointed with his coffee cup. "Beautiful, bright and untouchable."

"Just keep walking," Alex sighed, looking at the doors that were only a few feet away. Outside, beyond the revolving doors, snow was falling in large silent flakes. Her nerves stirred slightly, but she ignored them by taking a sip of coffee and moving a step closer to the laughing Luca.

"Alex, we've been working together for a while. now. When will you tell me why-"

"Luca!" A high-pitched voice cut off his words and had them both turning back towards the check-in desk. A dark haired beauty with voluptuous hair and an even larger bosom came at them with her embossed Louis Vuitton bag swinging. "Luca bay-bay, I can't believe it's you!"

Alex heard Luca mutter an Italian curse under his breath and could barely contain her amusement, "I'll wait outside."

"Forgive me, amore," Luca's urgent whisper was accompanied by his arm coming around her waist and pulling her to his side. The coffee cup in her hand shook as his ailments seeped into her body; a burning sensation on the left wrist, a stinging pain in the elbow and an ache in the lower back. Alex grimaced, trying to breath through the initial wave of pain.

"Giselle, it is a surprise. What are you doing here?" Luca asked, speaking over Alex's head.

Giselle raised a perfectly plucked brow at Alex, her bright pink lips pursing, "What is this, Luca? Since when has your taste become so...pedestrian?"

Alex would have laughed. She really would have, if she wasn't so mad at the idiot beside her. "Yes Luca, why don't you get your damned hands off this pedestrian?" She hissed.

Luca, to give him credit, managed to ignore both of them completely, "Anyway, Giselle, it was nice to see you-"

"Oh no you don't," Giselle latched onto his free arm. "You never called after that night in Cannes..."

Alex tuned out their conversation, her eyes going to the front door. Now that the initial pain was down to a light throbbing, she was going to give Luca ten seconds to let her go. After that the Michelin starred chef was going to find himself on the floor.

Alex was almost done counting when two long limousines pulled up to the hotel distracting her. The drivers came around to open the passenger doors while the bellboy rushed forward from beside the concierge, propping the side door and letting in the heavy scent of Bergamot. Werewolves.

Alex forgot about Luca and Giselle as she watched two tall men step out of the first limousine. Blonde and wide shouldered, they wore black jeans, fur trimmed coats and looked like they could take out at least half a dozen people in a brawl. A younger man and woman slid out of the second limousine; they had the same colouring as the first two. The group walked into the hotel while the bellboy loaded up their suitcases. The guests seated around the entrance all glanced up; they had a magnetic kind of presence about them, especially the oldest among the group. Alex watched as he removed his sunglasses, revealing a pair of piercing dark-grey eyes. He must have been in his early forties and radiated strength in a strangely similar way to Gabriel.

The younger man took his gloves off and the smell of blood reached her nose, making Alex shiver. Before she could contemplate what he might have been up to, the leader of the group spotted someone behind her and raised his hand in greeting.

Gabriel. She caught his sent before she turned to see him walking in her direction. The light grey cardigan he wore made his blue eyes appear lighter than usual as he spoke to the woman beside him. His companion, a pale blond with high cheekbones and a sharp nose, clung to his arm and laughed prettily before she noticed the greeting. "Ivan!" She rushed forward in her skintight leather pants, her stilettos making a racket on the marble floors of the lobby.

Alex didn't like the feeling of distaste that came over her as she watched the woman run. This was a good wake up call. That was the type of woman Gabriel Moncrief belonged with. What happened last night obviously meant nothing to him and would mean nothing to Alex too. That's how it would be.

Still, her eyes went back to Gabriel, hoping to find something there. Some kind of explanation or some warmth? She wasn't even sure what she was looking for, but he failed to deliver regardless, because Gabriel didn't look her way. Not for a moment. His eyes glued on the group ahead, he walked right past her without a glance.

He had blanked her.

"Hah," Alex laughed, drawing the attention of the two people beside her. Luca looked confused, but Giselle who was unhappy with how her conversation with her ex-lover was going, decided to vent her anger.

"Did you just laugh at me?" She took a threatening step forward.

"Don't be silly," Luca began.

"And if I did?" Alex asked calmly. Suddenly she too was itching for a fight. Since last night, her life had spiralled out of control. She had been pushed around, assaulted, injected and kissed all in the span of a few hours. And now, the man who had kissed her, saved her and then tried to convince her that she was a half-turned werewolf was blanking her. "Hah!"

"She just did it again!" Giselle pushed against Luca's outstretched arm, lifting her hand as if she was going to strike. Alex didn't move. She wondered if maybe the slap would knock her skewed world back in gear. If not, it would give her an excuse to hit back.

"Chef Bisset." The deep voice that came from behind her stopped Giselle's struggles. Alex felt Gabriel's presence like a physical sensation and became acutely aware of the fact that Luca's hand was still around her waste. "Aren't they expecting you at Petrichor?"

Luca looked at Gabriel with relief, agreeing immediately. "Yes, of course, Alex come on, we have to go!"

Alex stepped out of the chef's grasp, refusing to look at the man standing behind her. Was he bothered by the scene they had been making in his hotel? It was childish, but Alex wished she had caused actual trouble. "You go ahead. I'm going out for a walk." She turned to Giselle who was staring in Gabriel's direction with entranced eyes. Bloody bastard had to have that effect on all women, didn't he? "Hey you, Giselle. Care to follow me outside and try that slap again?"

The woman's eyes turned to her in surprise and whatever she saw had her taking a step back.

"Pity," Alex shrugged, then ignoring them all, she headed for the revolving door.

As she left the hotel and walked into the silent snowfall, Alex could feel the gazes of the blonde werewolves on her.