“Noah.”

He frowned. A muscle twitched in his jaw.

“Noah… Noah what?”

“Bexley. Noah Bexley, sir.”

Barlow narrowed his eyes.

“Bexley… Don’t tell me… Like Damon Bexley?”

She hesitated.

“Yes. He’s my uncle… Do you know him?”

There was a heavy pause. Barlow looked away thoughtfully, then nodded slowly.

“I served with him. A long time ago. Does he still limp on his right leg?”

“A little. When it rains.”

Barlow seemed to almost smile at the memory.

“Good man. One of the best. Stubborn as a mule, but… reliable. Is he in town?”

“Yes. He bought a sawmill near the forest. We moved in a few days ago…”

“The son of a bitch didn’t even come to visit… I’ll have to go see him then.”, Barlow laughed deeply and smiled at Noah. “Can you start tomorrow?”

“I don’t know if you heard, but I’m an expert.”

“So what?”, Barlow looked at Ace, confused. “Teach her the ropes, Ace. I have an appointment now. Don’t forget the list of supplies to buy at the end of the day.”

Ace made a fist pump gesture, as if he had won a bet with himself.

“I knew it! I knew it was you from the moment you walked in.”

Noah still seemed to be digesting everything, but before she could ask anything, Ace stared at her with eyes more intense than usual.

“You’re… different. I’ve never met an eximius before, so it’s… Wow.”

Noah held her breath. She had never told anyone this. Not even in Brévan. But there, in that strange and welcoming space, it seemed there was no way to lie.

Ace moved a little closer, without invading her space, and spoke more softly:

“I’m a divine. We sense these things. And you being what you are explains the smell of ash in the air when you came in. Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. Not even Barlow. I know what it’s like to be someone no one really understands.”

Noah looked at him for a long moment. Something was reassuring about Ace. Maybe it was his transparent sincerity, maybe it was because, for the first time in a long time, she felt like she wasn’t hiding.

Ace winked at Noah.

“Well… Welcome to our strange and chaotic pub. I bet this is going to be the beginning of something interesting. Oh! Before I forget…”, he exclaimed before entering a door that seemed to lead to the kitchen. “We’re a mix of a pub and a coffee shop. We open early to serve breakfast, with sweet and savory items, and from lunch onwards, we’re a pub/restaurant hybrid. So some shifts can be quite strenuous, physically speaking. Is that a problem?”

“Not at all.”

And Noah, without understanding exactly why, was sure he was right.

It did seem like the beginning of something interesting.

Three years passed without any major events in Berkshire.

Noah became close with Ace, and both, by a twist of fate, became friends with a regular customer at the pub, the son of an influential family in town. During this time, she was able to put aside the act of pretending to be an alpha and lived freely as the witch she is.

She used her powers in small daily doses to make her life easier and help others, in a hidden way. It wasn’t a fact, but a fear that if she didn’t use her powers, they would overflow and consume her. As for the specifics of her class, well, that was still a secret to many.

Moreover, she made a point of following Ace’s advice: to avoid using her powers to avoid the Council’s attention. The city was ruled by a Council composed of influential families; at the top of the hierarchy, the Sutherlands ruled with diligence and care. This was because, in addition to being the richest and strongest – a family of pure alpha lineage – they were the ones who created what Berkshire is today. Coincidentally, the regular customer who had become her friend was one of the young Sutherlands.

Noah lazily wiped down the pub counters. The place was empty at this time of the afternoon, and she was more interested in following the unfolding of the town judge’s encounters with the recently divorced florist across the street. She already knew what would happen. She could clearly see the red thread that bound them together.

“Damn threads…”, she murmurs.

Noah didn’t wish unhappiness on others. But she hated the idea of having her life predestined by someone other than herself.

“They make a beautiful couple, don’t they?”, Ace comments, drinking water beside her.

“Yeah. They do.”

“Again with the hatred of fate?”

“I don’t hate fate for bringing people together. But you have to admit that it doesn’t always work out.”

“Are you afraid that will happen to you?”

Noah laughs.

“As if I accept fate without a good fight.”

“Hey, Noah, Ace… I have to take care of some things at home. Can you guys watch the store for me?”

“Sure, Barlow, no problem.”

“Don’t forget to lock up! If there’s any trouble, call me… I’ll send Sketch over to help you guys.”

Ace frowns. “Did you forget we have Noah? She can handle any problem.”

“You’re the biggest problem, Ace.”, Barlow comments. “Don’t get into trouble while I’m gone, kid!”

Ace nods, but as soon as Barlow turns his back, he begins to caricature his boss’s posture and manner of speaking.

Noah throws the orange flannel at her friend and watches Barlow get on his motorcycle and disappear from view through the pub’s large windows. Dellia, an employee who helped out on weekends, was finishing her shift right on time. And, as always, Dellia threw her apron at Noah and left without saying a word.

“Isn’t it funny how she feels so badass and powerful? She’s a fucking beta… nothing special…”, Ace said as he finished drinking his water.

“She’s still part of a larger group than us wizards.”, Noah said as she placed the mugs on the shelf behind the counter. “Well, no more than our dear alphas…”, she complained, looking outside.

Berkshire had many alphas, betas, and omegas. Very few wizards.

This was something that irritated her greatly. This hierarchy, where alphas are above everyone else and must be obeyed blindly. Only Noah knows the thousands of times that Barlow, or her uncle, and even Ace had to get her out of somewhere because she didn’t follow this rule.

No matter who you are, respect is essential.

“The world is screwed if people still live like this…”, he put a cigarette in his mouth, without lighting it.

“Being a witch is pure bad luck.”

Ace sighs.

“It’s hard to find a soul mate when you’re a feared race… I think I’m getting old. I’ve been feeling strangely lonely.”

“Weren’t you the king of casual encounters?”

“I’m tired of it. I want the same thing they want…”, he nodded his head toward the judge and florist talking across the street.

“Ace, you’ve been reading too many books… Soulmates? Are you serious?”

Ace grimaces and grabs his friend’s wrist.

“You have the nerve to say that to me when this is here!“, he points to the red string around her ring finger. “This is on your finger? Seriously, Noah?”

Noah presses her lips together. She does not argue that. But even if she has a red string on her finger, it’s not like she’s obligated to accept what comes with it.

Noah began to see the threads that connect people when she was fifteen. At the time, her uncle had given her a large book with a brown leather cover that, according to him, belonged to her mother, Noah’s grandmother. Most of the pages were blank, but one began to fill with what the threads meant. She then learned about them.

The red thread indicated that her destined partner was somewhere nearby. But she didn’t care about finding him.

“Destined mates, okay, I can believe that. After all, I see these things. But… soul mates? That… deep and eternal love that people talk about? No, that doesn’t exist.”

“You’re very skeptical, Noah…”

“Realistic, Ace, I’m realistic.”, she sighed, ignoring the itching sensation in her finger that grew worse with each passing day.

Ace then put his arm around her shoulder and looked out at the street.

“One day, listen to me carefully… One day, you’ll discover that soulmates exist because you’ll meet yours. And then, I want to be the first to know. And I’m going to make fun of you…”

“Fuck you, Ace.”

Ace laughed loudly. But then his laughter died.

“Oh, shit. Look who’s coming…”

Noah looked where Ace’s eyes were directed.

Cole, or “Mr. Arrogant,“ as they call him, was at the door, behind her, with his troupe of thuggish alphas who didn’t have a shred of respect.

“That’s great, isn’t it?”, she says. “Just when Barlow isn’t here, this idiot had to show up.”

“Behave yourself, for God’s sake, Noah. It’s always witch–hunting season.”, Ace whispers before leaving her and returning to the counter.

Noah laughed and turned, also going behind the counter.

As soon as he opened the door, Cole snorted at Noah and Ace.

“I swear I don’t understand how they still allow people like you into this town… I think my father will have to have a serious talk with Mr. Sutherland.”, Cole said, his eyes shifting between brown and green.

This was typical behavior for alphas, betas, and omegas when acting on their primitive instincts. To Noah, it was nothing more than a foolish attempt at intimidation.

And it was at times like these that problems arose.

People below alphas are always intimidated by the tone of voice they use and automatically bow their heads.

But not her. Because she was sure she could easily beat him in a fight, being an eximius had its advantages.

“Good afternoon. Welcome to Barlow’s. What would you like to order?”, she smiled as best she could while thinking about the thousands of injuries she would like to inflict on him.

Seren’s presence also bothered her. She always showed up at the worst times.

One of the men who came in with him, tall and tanned, was the only one who didn’t treat anyone that way. He was always quiet, which led her to believe that there was something very wrong with him. Either he was stupid for hanging out with Cole, or he was being blackmailed.

As usual, he ignored everyone else and went to the counter.

“I’d like a beer and a medium portion of fries.”

Noah had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at Cole’s incredulous face. That man always acted unpretentious and indifferent. After a few quiet curses at the man, Cole and his group placed their orders with Ace. Although he was a wizard, to them, Ace being a man put him above Noah.

Taking advantage of the momentary calm, Noah decided to finish cleaning the tables while Ace prepared the fries.

But Cole wouldn’t be himself if he left her alone.

Noah didn’t notice that Cole had slipped his foot in her direction. She fell face–first onto the floor and hurt her arm when she tried to hold onto a nearby chair.

Seren didn’t like it one bit. Noah felt her skin being scratched from the inside. She felt as if Seren was going to materialize at any moment. Her arm was getting redder and redder. She took a deep breath as she slowly got up. The room seemed to go silent, and all sounds seemed distant.

She could hear Ace calling Barlow. She couldn’t make out what was being said, but she could guess. Something like, “Hurry here, she’s going to lose control.”

Noah stood up, raising her head. It wasn’t anger she felt, no. Over the past three years, everything Cole had put her through had made that anger a stronger, more raw feeling. She was filled with hatred.

“Apologize.”

“What?”, Cole asked before bursting into laughter.

Everyone else laughed, except for the tall, tanned guy. He kept his distance, watching everything with curiosity. Every second of Cole’s laughter made not only Noah, but also Seren, increasingly angry.

Cole stood up and grabbed the collar of Noah’s red plaid shirt.

“Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Your worst nightmare.”

In one swift motion, Noah struck his head with her own, causing him to fall dizzy and hit his head on one of the chairs. She knew she couldn’t use her powers excessively, so she switched to physical strength, something alphas prided themselves on having. But that only made her feel the essence of being an eximius coming to the surface.

“Apologize…”, she asked once more.

She could feel Seren’s erratic behavior trying to take control of her consciousness. Bad sign. Seren only needed a spark to end it all.

In seconds, Cole pinned her against the wall while one of his hands squeezed her neck. This time, both his eyes were green. But a smile took over his face as he watched Noah turn redder and redder, desperate for air.

“I don’t know where you came from, but here in Berkshire, there’s a fucking hierarchy, bitch. Alphas rule this place. You should bow your head and obey me, understand?”

Noah laughed. Her face was no longer red, and she certainly wasn’t short of breath. But she felt even angrier than ever and grabbed Cole’s wrist, digging her nails into his skin.

She was right when she thought she could easily take him down.

With little resistance, she managed to pull his hand away from her neck; no alpha could compare to an eximius in terms of strength.

“I think you should see a doctor. How could a filthy witch like me get your hands off me so easily? Are you sure you’re an alpha? Weak… as… fuck…”

Cole clenched his hand, and just as he was about to hit her in the face, another hand grabbed his fist even tighter.

“Don’t even think about touching my best friend, Cole. You don’t want me as your enemy.”