“Talking to yourself?” The same waitress returns and sets my milkshake down in front of me with a friendly smile. I nod, my focus on the milk shake and reaching for the creamy goodness before inhaling it, quenching my thirst.
“I figured you were thirsty, so I brought two for you.” She chuckles as she sets a second glass down in front of me, shaking her head as she looks at me with amusement.
“Thank you.” I thank the waitress, reaching for the glass and setting my empty one aside as I slowly sip on the second milkshake.
“No problem, darling. Now-“ She stops mid-sentence to sit down across from me, folding her hands on the table and looking me right in my eyes. Her posture states that what she is going to say next might ruin my day, but as long as it doesn’t stop me from moving into this town, she can say all she want.
“What is a rogue doing here on my pack’s territory?” I freeze with her words, fear taking hold while I sniff the air, smelling her carefully. My eyes widen when I finally take in her scent and learn that she, too, is a werewolf.
“It’s not what you think. I was running away from my old pack.” I state, and she just stares at me with squinted eyes, not believing a word I say. But as a rogue, I know that trying to convince anyone of my innocence will be difficult. All I can do is tell her the truth.
“Your pack probably has Breeders like mine, and I was forced to be one, so I ran.” I continue my explanation, hoping to gain her sympathy and help to settle down. I am tired of running and need a place to safely raise my pups.
“Breeders are illegal now. The Great Elders told all Alphas this new law two years ago.” The waitress nearly shouts, and I’m happy that there was only one other person here in the dining area, and he had disappeared to what I assume is the washroom a little while ago.
“B-but that’s impossible. The pack I’m running from always had twenty at a time.” I exclaim, my brows furrowed in confusion. If Breeders are illegal now, then why did Sam continue it?
“Listen, I am calling my Alpha. Then we are going to get the Elders, and we are setting that pack straight.” The waitress states with a small growl, running a hand through her hair.
“Don’t worry about paying for your food. It’s on the house. You have been through a lot already, and you need a break. If you need anything, go to the counter and ask for Eeva, that’s me, and I will come see what I can do.” Eeva offers me a smile as her once suspicious eyes turn to ones filled with sympathy and sadness for me. Her hand reaches out for mine and squeezes it in a reassuring way filling me with all the hope I had lost over four months ago.
“O-okay.” I stutter slightly as Eeva stands and leaves me alone to my thoughts. She disappears to what I assume is an office, hopefully calling her Alpha. I put my wallet away and sip at the milkshake, sighing slightly. What had happened to me was illegal, and yet it still happened. The thought that I was forced to be bred like an animal for someone's own gain causes a shudder to travel down my spine. I spent several days in a drug-induced state for something that was abolished two years ago. Another waitress brings me out from my swirling thoughts, placing my meal on the table. I thank her before I dig in, savouring the warmth of the poutine. I was almost done when the door to the diner opens and the bell above chimes at the arrival of a newcomer. Now that I know I am on someone else’s pack lands, I make sure to pay attention to the coming and going of customers and take a deep breath, inhaling the new-comers scent. The scent of an unfamiliar male floods the diner, causing slight tingles to run down my spine and confusion to swirl once more inside my mind. Something tells me this is the Alpha, but there is something else, something that tugs at my mind, body and soul.
“Alpha Tate, this way.” Eeva’s voice rings clear through the diner, and my eyes widen. The reason why Sam had been terrified earlier stands just inside the door to the diner, and dread settles inside me once more for the umpteenth times this month. I am in Bloodsvain territory, and the man that just walked in is Tate Randall-Silvermoon - the Blood Alpha. The man who slaughters packs that anger him, who is possessive over the she-wolves he dates. The only other mate-less Alpha in Canada that is feared by all but wanted by she-wolves. And he now blocks my way of escape.
I feel the power radiating off of the Alpha, feeling it get closer and envelop me as Eeva and Tate near my booth. Shivers continue to run down my spine, some are shivers of fear, but the rest are a strange feeling that I couldn't put my finger on. The Alpha’s scent wraps around me, causing my body to unconsciously relax even though part of me wants to run away and move on to a new town.
“Alpha, this is the girl I told you about on the phone earlier.” Slowly, I stand and turn to face her Alpha, my head bowed in submission. I am on his territory and need to show that I am not a threat if I want him to help me.
“You don’t have to be afraid.” His voice is gentle, something I did not expect from the infamous Blood Alpha, whose hands have been covered in blood on multiple occasions. So is his touch, as his fingers are gently placed under my chin while he raises my head, causing me to look him in the eye. My eyes widen in shock as sparks of electricity trail from his fingertips, down from where his skin touches mine and right to my toes. My breath is caught in my throat when I see his dark green coloured orbs staring back into my own, and a trace of possessiveness flickers through his gaze.
“Mate.” He growls out, pulling me closer to his body, barely giving me time to press my hands against his chest to leave some room for my protruding baby bump.
“Tate, be careful. She is pregnant.” Eeva warns, only to get a possessive growl from the Alpha who holds me like some delicate porcelain. I feel his arms release me for a moment, only to watch as Tate moves my bags to the other side of the booth and sits down, pulling me down carefully beside him and wrapping a protective arm around my shoulders.
“Don’t be so possessive.” I state boldly, glaring at the wolf before me and hating how within our first meeting he stakes his claim on me as if we were a bunch of barbaric beings.
“I can, and I will. You are mine.” He retorts back with a bemused expression on his face as if what he says is the right answer.
“I belong to no one.” We both glare at each other for a moment, neither of us wanting to back down, as the idea of him staking his claim on me rubs me the wrong way.