I drove right to work and ran into the back to get changed. The recent changes of school cut an hour into my shifts so I was losing money trying to make my life work. Losing money meant more shifts on the weekends to even out the money. No matter what I did life always seemed to give me hard choices any more hard work. Somedays it felt never-ending but I had put enough money in my savings that if I needed to cut down on hours by a few shifts a week I could still be comfortable for a year or so. It was a percussion I though I needed if I got laid off or something equally bad happened.
I rushed into the back only waving to Cara as I ran past her. Cara was my best friend. A person that made working in a restaurant worth it. Every time we had a shift together we just gossiped about boys and the annoying children that walked through the door or the older group of men that seemed flirting with us was the way to get better service. My special part was when the men think we aren't looking and instead of looking at my eyes they were looking everywhere else. These times did not help myself from repelling away from the opposite sex.
She didn't know about my past or that I could turn into a wolf with the thought of it but she never asked just like I didn't ask about hers. The only one at work that knew I didn't have any parents was my boss and he didn't think little of me because of it. He always made sure I had enough shifts to pay my bills and have some money left over for groceries. When there was extra shifts needed to be filled because someone dropped out I was always the first to know. Out of the many hardships I had had over the years I was grateful for this small easiness.
The shift went by slow but the most memorable part was when the boy I couldn't bring my mind to stop thinking about walked through the door and sat at my table. At first I thought I was dreaming. There was no way that he drove all the way here, found out where I would be at this very moment and then sit in a table that I had to serve. But after I asked Cara if there was a boy there she wouldn't stop going on how I was lucky I was to finally get a cute boy on one of my tables when I didn't even want to be in a relationship. To her I was the one girl that would not accept the love even when it was handed to me. Yes boys had flirted with me but I never really batted an eye at them. They only wanted my attention when they didn't have it but as soon as I chose to give it to them they disappeared. I had given up on love way before I came of age to look at boys anyway.
This boy though was the one person I longed to see but also dreaded going up and actually talking to him because then the fight is finally done, all the hatred and loss would consume me, all the hard work that I had taken to get here to this point would all be wasted because it was like telling that young girl that she was doing all of this for nothing, breaking my young heart.
He stared at me waiting for me to walk towards in and even though I didn't want to my legs started moving involuntarily.
"Hi what can I get you or do you need a few more minutes?" I asked. I didn't think of saying the words they had just come out. So many times rehearsing them in the back making sure I said it with the right amount of sweetness that when I went up to him it just came out, like a well oiled machine.
"Some coffee and a conversation instead of you running away" He replied. I had no idea how to respond. No matter how many times I ran away from him he kept coming back and wanting me.
"I will get you coffee but the second request will not be possible because I am far to busy"
"Please it will only take five minutes and we need to talk. You cant just avoid this. We are meant to be together whether you like it or not. It isn't your choice."
"I can avoid it as long as I want because guess what it is my choice if I claim you or not"
"You wouldn't do that, you need me to make your life better"
"I don't need anyone especially not some stuck up Alpha who thinks that he can have everything he sets his eyes on. You can't keep the blood line of that stupid pack without me so really I have all the power in the world. Just watch me use it." I stomped away frustrated but I still got his coffee. Making sure that it is especially bitter just for him. Before I went back though I studied him. His brow was furrowed, I wondered if anyone had ever said no to him. He was an alpha after all but that didn't excuse his need to constant reassurance that he would get everything he asked for. After a while though I finally went back to him and sat down.
"You have five minutes so you better make it good"
"Fine. I want to get to know you. The visions I saw are not who you are, they are the old you. I want to meet and talk to this girl I saw walk into my classroom. The first time I saw you I got lost in your eyes. The dark blue orbs of purpose. You kept your head down and eyes forward not even noticing me. Only focusing on the pile of paper handed to you. I also noticed that you added those papers to what looked like a never-ending pile of homework. The next day that you came to class I noticed that you had dark circles under your eyes, constantly yawning like you didn't sleep a wink that night before, but my favorite part was when you gave the pile back to the teacher with a satisfying smile on your face. I learned that you like to prove people wrong. Everything that I learn makes me want to know more about you"
"That was a lot, I didn't even realize that you were in one of my classes my mind has been a little distracted lately"
"Yes I can imagine. New school, new people, new mate. I would be overwhelmed too if I were you but I really want this to work. I know what my parents did to you was wrong and I am willing to do anything to have you even if it means defying my alpha fate and running away for you."
"You would really do that"
"I would do anything for you"
"Please just let me have some time to process this all. To make a decision about you and how to proceed, I have to admit the main reason I didn't want to talk to you was because I realized what pack you lived in but I guess I shouldn't hold something against someone that wasn't even old enough to have any sway in the decision. I just need time please just give me a few days to think this over."
"Ok but I will be waiting. As long as it takes."
After I made sure he didn't need anything else I walked away avoiding Cara's questioning glances. He was so charming and so unexpected. Every part of him made me shiver with a familiar feeling of safety. Something I didn't know I could feel ever again after losing my parents. He felt like home and that scared me more then I ever thought it would.