by Rowan Thalia
I’m not sure I even want to go into the back room, so I opt to put away the glasses Lewis brought. Erica bustles around, cleaning and straightening the same napkin holders two and three times. There’s tension in the air, all the wolves have exited the back room and are making themselves busy sweeping or cleaning. I hope this isn’t going to continue, or they might not let me stay.
“Order up, Faith,” Ty taps the counter.
I startle, then turn and grab Giancarlo’s plate. Before I can move from behind the counter, Ranger walks out of the backroom and takes it from my hands. He sweeps over to Giancarlo’s table, sets the plate down with a clatter, and stares the big man down. Giancarlo chuckles as he stuffs a fry in his mouth and starts chewing. Lewis whistles from behind me, and Omega waves start filtering through the air from Ty.
“Enjoy your meal, Giancarlo,” Ranger growls. He prowls my way and stops when his body is almost pressed against mine. “Your first shift is over. See you tomorrow at noon,” he sniffs my hair, pulls a cigarette from his ear, and stalks out the front door.
“Don’t let him get to you, Faith,” Ty comforts. “He’s always a bear around new people. See you tomorrow!”
“Thanks, see you guys,” I smile as I untie my apron and hand it to him.
Erica brings me my purse, which I forgot I had and wishes me goodnight. The other three wolf’s wave as I pass through the glass door. The night air envelops me, and the gravel crunches under my feet. I look up at the neon sign and marvel at the stars in the sky behind it.
“Beautiful night,” Ranger grumbles from beside me.
“Yes, it is,” I answer tightly. “Is there somewhere I can run around here?”
“Yeah, we have space carved out that’s safe. There’s not a shifter pack on this side of the mountain, but there are two conventional packs that we try not to bother,” He points along the ridge behind the diner.
I stand there for a minute, hoping he’ll take the lead and offer to show me, but he doesn’t. Fucking dick. Shuffling my feet, I stare through the window and catch the eye of Giancarlo. He smirks and blows a kiss my way. Ranger must have caught the movement from the side of his eye, he grabs me by the arm and leads me around the back of the building with wolf speed.
“You can change in that shack,” he points to a small shed. “There’s a shelf for your clothes.”
“This close to the diner? Won’t someone see me?” I look around.
“Nah, one of the regulars, is a witch. She owed me a favor, I had her cloak my residence and everything behind the diner. His hand waves toward a log house built a few hundred yards behind the restaurant, up on the hill.
My heart stops for a bit, I’ve never met a real witch. I wonder if she’s still around, and part of me wants to know if he slept with her. The hairs on the back of my neck rise, and I roll my shoulders. Fuck. Before I say something I’ll regret, I turn on my heel and enter the shack.
A dim light flicks on automatically, illuminating the small room. There’s just enough room for me to undress comfortably. Against the far wall is a pallet where one of the males must crash from time to time. Sniffing the air, I scent Ty and let out a low growl of pleasure. There’s something to be said about an Omega. They’re good at making you feel all fuzzy and usually excellent in the sack, from what I hear. ‘What if Ty is great in the sack? He’s so fucking cute. And I haven’t had sex in over a year, not since that thing with Joey.’
My wolf surfaces. She’s done with my sex talk and would like to get out. Shrugging, I set my clothes on the shelves. My body trembles with anticipation as I drop toward the ground and allow my wolf reign. I’ve been gifted with an easy change; she takes over before our paws even hit the floor.
The door creaks open, and a giant wolf noses inside. His fur is black as the night sky, a stark contrast to my snow-white coloring. He whines low in his throat before disappearing. My feet are moving before I can even decide to follow. The door grazes my sides as I slink out into the night. Fresh ocean-laced air washes over me, and I chuff with glee. Two twinkling eyes wait for me in the tree-line, I bunch my haunches and take off toward Ranger as fast as my legs will go.
Pine mixes with the brine in the air as we run through the brush. Ranger leads me up a steep incline, and then down the back of the ridge and along a flowing river. My wolf and I loll our tongue and sprint through the shallows. Ranger’s harshness from the diner is gone and in place is a frisky male. He pounces in front of me, initiating a game of chase, and I jump at the invitation.
‘Get him,’ my wolf chuffs.
Ranger’s wolf is fast as he speeds ahead, even faster when he torques and pounces on my backside, nipping the space between my legs and tail. With a yelp, I turn and graze his neck with my teeth. He barks playfully and sets off again. His black fur shines in the moonlight, his back long and sleek as he stretches into a long run. My loins clench, and I splash through the water to catch up, the cooling water prickling my underbelly.
We run and play for the better part of an hour. The moon lights our way as we hunt mice, then settle into the bush together to catch our breath. I haven’t felt this free since I was a young pup, my heart is racing, and my wolf is overjoyed. Ranger’s huge form curls against my side. His fur is long and comfortable as I run my snout along his neck, memorizing his scent. In this form, it’s like we have always been together, and there’s no question that we belong side by side. I catch myself dozing off and shake myself alert.
‘Are you ready to head back?’ His voice caresses my thoughts, and I startle.
‘How? Nevermind. Yes, I need to go home and sleep,’ I answer.
Ranger lets out a low rumble, noses my haunches, and stands beside me waiting. I’m not dumb, I know True-mates can hear each other’s thoughts even when they haven’t claimed one another, but it still surprised me. His voice is like a soft caress, and my wolf is eating it up. Suddenly confused and flustered, I growl and shoot past the black form in front of me. I’m not interested in being anyone’s True-mate. I don’t want magic or duty deciding who I love. I left my own pack to have a choice.
It’s nothing to follow our scent trail back and slip into the shack to change. Once my clothes are back on, I pry the door open and look outside. The back of the diner is empty. With a sigh of relief, I walk around the front and make my way back to the hotel. The click of my heels on the pavement and a quiet rustle in the bush are my only company as I travel the few blocks. I can feel Ranger out there, but he’s choosing to be discreet. Suits me.
The quaint hotel is lit brightly. I forgot to leave the lights on in my room, so when I open my door, it’s dark. My skin tingles as I close the door behind me and flick on the nearest light. My wolf side is appeased and intrigued with our evening, but my human side is a mixed bucket of emotions. I still can’t believe I actually left my home, everything I knew and loved. I miss my mom and siblings. A tear runs down my cheek as I flop onto the bed. Why couldn’t I have been born a Beta or even an Omega? Then I would never have been looked at as a mate to the Alpha who would ruin me.
“Please, don’t let them come after me,” I pray.
As homesick as I might be, I know I can never go back. Stealing power from my wolf, I straighten my spine and force myself to rise. The best thing I can do for myself is to blend in here and hope to make a new life. Pushing the fear and hopelessness down, I stomp into the bathroom and turn on the shower. There’s really nothing in the world that a hot shower doesn’t make feel better.
The grease from the diner has its own distinct smell as I pull my dress over my head and drop it to the floor. I can also smell the musk of Ranger’s wolf in my hair, and it does things to my core that I’m unwilling to admit even to myself right now. Biting my lip, I step into the spray and let the water sluice over my body. The heat seeps into my bones and relaxes the muscles along my shoulders. Tension leaves my frame, and I allow tears to fall with the flow of the water.
“One day at a time, Faith,” I croak.
Wa
king up in a place that's not my own is unsettling. My wolf wants to rub on the walls, roll on the ground, anything to make this place smell more like home. As soon as my eyes open, my nose twitches, and I groan. As clean as this place is, it still feels… weird. With a groan, I stretch and get out of bed, padding over to the bathroom to shower and start the day.
Just as I'm zipping my polka-dot dress, there's a knock on the door. "Housekeeping," a sweet voice calls.
"Come in!" I stride toward the door just as it opens.
"I can come back?" The older lady states. She smells of wintergreen gum and mothballs.
"No, please. I'm about to go get coffee and then leave for work," I check my reflection and give her a smile. "It's supposed to be a lovely day today. How long have you worked here?"
"Nine years, ma'am." She starts pulling the bedding off the bed. "You're new in town. Are you planning on staying?" She questions then cups her mouth as if she's said something wrong. I look at her nametag, then chuckle.
"Ann, don't worry, it's okay. I don't mind. It's nice to have someone to talk to. Yes, I think I might stay, for a while at least," I stare out the window.
"Well, if you need to know where to shop or anything about the locals, I'm your girl," she grins.
"Thank you. I'll remember that. Have a nice day, Ann," I wave as I walk out the door.
The hotel has a breakfast bar with bagels, donuts, juice, and coffee. I grab a donut and coffee to eat on my walk to work and head out the door. The morning air is crisp, so I hug my coat close. I guess I'll need an upgrade on apparel, maybe add a scarf for the wind coming off the ocean. I've always wanted to live in a place where I needed to wear one, they look so cozy and cute. I bet Ann could tell me where to get one, I'll have to ask next time I see her.
I'm so wrapped up in my scarf thoughts, it barely registers that I've walked all the way to work. The diner looks a little lost without the glow of the neon. Swinging my purse through the air, I walk through the door. Ty is already behind the grill, and Erica is chatting up the two older men at the counter seats.
"Faith!" She waves, "Ty drove by the uniform shop! You can use Ranger's office to change. I embroidered your name myself!" She beams.
"Oh! Thank you," I nod and head toward the back.
Ranger's office door is open, and a dress is hanging on the hat rack. Closing the door behind me, I pick up the dress and hold it up over my front. The wolf is a good judge of size, I'm pretty sure this will fit perfectly. Shrugging, I turn and lock the door before undressing and changing to the uniform. My hands barely inch the top button when the door handle wiggles, and I hear a grunt from the other side of the door.
"Who the fuck?" Ranger's voice growls.
"Sorry," I squeak before opening the door. "I was just changing."
"Well? Hurry and get to work, Petit Louve. A group just walked in."
The door opens more fully, our eyes meet. Ranger's usually brown eyes flicker golden with his wolf and his lip curls. The pine of his aftershave floats in the air, and I find myself panting. Neither of us makes a move for the longest second of my life, then Ranger snarls and brushes past me into the office. His body molds against mine, and my wolf perks up. It takes every ounce of my self-control to walk out of the office when all I want to do is slam the door and climb him like a tree. Fucking mate bond.
"Faith?" Erica's voice sings from the front.
"Coming," I answer, frowning at the office doorway.
"You fucking will be," Ranger's voice is just above a whisper, I almost don't hear it as I push open the door to the dining room.
Heat singes my core, and I bite my lip to keep from reacting. How am I going to work here with my wolf acting up? I could always leave and try to find another pack. No - emotionally, I can't handle being on the run again right now. And, who knows, maybe I'll start to like my True-mate. I should at least stay to see where it goes. As much as I pretend to hate it, I can't imagine leaving without knowing for sure. And I certainly don't want to be off in the human world without other wolves.
"Welcome back, Faith!" Ty greets from the grill. Lewis is beside him. The contrast between Ty's long and lean form and Lewis's more stocky build is stark when standing side by side. Two totally different flavors of sexy. As if he can sense where my thoughts are, Lewis winks over his shoulder before grabbing a spatula and getting to work.
"Faith, can you take the order for that table?" Erica points to the far corner.
Nodding, I grab a notepad and head over. The booth is filled with a group of older ladies, I can smell their collective perfume from a few steps away. Taking a deep breath, I step up and plaster a bubblegum smile to my lips.
"Good morning! What can I get for you?" I beam.
"Hi! Can we all get coffee and Ty's special breakfast?" One of the lady’s answers with a voice as sweet as honey.
"Sure thing! I'll grab some water for you too. Anything else?"
The four shake their heads, and I bow slightly before whisking away. As soon as it's safe, I take a deep gulp of non-perfumed air and slide up to the counter.
"Order up!" I perk as I hang the ticket.
The coffee cup rack is empty, so I turn and head to the back room. With a skip, I push through the doors and walk over to the crates of dishes stacked by the sinks. Of course, the coffee cups are under the glasses, so I bend to move the first crate. Heat sears my back, and a body presses me against the counter. I freeze, the pine scent in the air telling me all I need to know.
"Can I help you?" I breathe as I stand back up, my back flush with his hard chest.
"Maybe," Ranger's lips brush my ear, and I gasp. "You do realize that I will have you soon, right?"
"You think so?" I growl even as wetness soaks my panties from the pure sexiness emitting from him.
"Both my wolf and I can smell how wet you are, so yes," he husks as his hand squeezes my hip and a hardness nestles between my ass cheeks. "Soon, Faith," he rumbles and then backs away whistling.
My heart crashes against my ribcage with the force of a stampede. All I can do is grip the stainless steel in front of me and blow out the air trapped in my lungs. Goddess help me, I want him to take me right now, but I refuse to give in ... just because of this mate bond. I want a fucking choice in my mate, not to be ordered to by my Alpha or my damn hormones.
"Shit!" I curse as I grab the mugs I was after.
The rest of the day goes by in a blur, except for the run-ins I have with Ranger. Anytime he can catch me unaware, he takes the opportunity to mingle his body with mine. I know he's purposely marking me with his scent, I'm not dumb. My fucking wolf is eating it up, which irks my nerves to no end. Horny Bitch. I'm even more mad that she isn't allowing me to sense him before he sneaks up on me, I didn't even realize she could do that.
'You realize we're a team, right?' I snarl at her. She snorts, then drifts to the back of my thoughts and blocks me. How in the hell am I fighting with my own she-bitch?
"Faith!" Erica's voice pulls me out of my own mind, and I look up. "Push this food to table 14, please," she hands me two plates.
The plates are hot and heavy, so I move to the table without thinking twice. It's only after I've placed the first plate that I get a look at who I'm serving. My first customer, Giancarlo, winks at me as he pops a fry into his mouth. I can't help but smile as I set the second plate down in front of an equally stunning, sawdust-covered male specimen.
"So, Giancarlo, you brought a friend?" I place my hand on the table. "Can I get you two anything else?"
"I'm still waiting for your number, sweet thing," Giancarlo grins.
"I'll think about it. Anything else?"
"Nah, this looks great. Thanks, Faith," Giancarlo picks up his burger and takes a huge bite.
Seeing a man eat does something to me, I don't know why. I stand there for a minute, openly gaping before turning and hightailing it to the back room. The walk-in freezer seems like the right place to cool off, so I tug the door open and step inside. Goddess knows
I don't need anything in here, but I scan the shelves anyway. It's only been three days since I left home, and the stress of moving combined with my raging hormones is enough to make me go mad. I growl in frustration and lean my head on one of the shelves. Footsteps startle me, and I look up just in time to see Ranger's eyes go wolf.
"Tell me you aren't going to give that… man your number," he stalks toward me.
Turning my body toward him, I raise a hand and narrow my eyes. Of course, he heard my interaction with Giancarlo, he's an Alpha male with strong powers and a fucking psychic link to me. Thanks, Goddess. "It's none of your business, Ranger."
"I'm making it my business," his body reaches mine and presses me against the cold wall. "You and I both know you belong to me."
"Correction, your wolf and my wolf are fated mates. You, Ranger, have to win my affection," I snarl.
His mouth widens and a half bark, half-laugh leaves his lips, sending a shiver of need between my thighs. Ranger leans his face down to mine and takes a deep breath before pressing into me harder, his hands splayed on the wall beside my head.
"Faith. I don't need to win a damn thing. You are mine, and I will have you. The longer you keep me away, the angrier and hornier your wolf will become. I can't wait until your bitch gets out and lets me fuck her silly," his breath feathers over my lips. I groan but refuse to let my body show how much I want him. Fuck that, I'm not giving in just because the Goddess wills it. I will make my own choice, even if it hurts.
"You're wrong, and you need some new moves, Dirty Beast," I practically moan as the cock in question rubs against my open palm. My fingers itch to grab it, but I don't.
"Dirty Beast, huh? Petit Louve, you have no idea," he rubs against me one last time before slamming his fist into the wall above me. I have to hand it to him; he's shown fantastic restraint for a wolf. My heart is hammering. Ranger's nostrils flare. Without warning, he turns and shoots out of the cooler quicker than an armadillo being chased. I want him, he's right on that account. But I want love, not fate or alliances to determine my mate. I know he's the match for my wolf, but what about me?
