Ember
I went to work and looked around. It looked the same as it did yesterday. Everyone was getting ready for the day to start. All these people were werewolves. It amazed me just how…. normal, it still all felt. I went into the kitchen and saw Ivy. I watched as her eyes fell behind me and turned to see Jax talking with Ivy. I came to the conclusion before that they were mates, but now I’m certain. It’s funny, because neither of them seems to acknowledge it. I suppose that is my job.
I still was not sure of all this Luna business. Mother of the pack, and such. A pack of over five hundred wolves. I am still just a human. How the hell am I supposed to handle a pack of over five hundred wolves? Actually, it wasn’t handling the wolves that I was most afraid of. It was protecting them. How could I protect them? I had no powers, though Jax hinted I could. I really was just a human. No wonder Seth hated me already. A human Luna. Should be blasphemous. Ivy came my way and greeted me with a hug.
” I heard what happened last night with the rogue. Are you okay? You must be so shaken up”, She asked me, so we started on prep duty. I wasn’t going to cook today since I saw Seth’s name on the Chefs’ schedule. Carter would have the extra help now. I would only help if I felt it was needed like yesterday.
” I’m fine. It was a lot to process. I had never even heard of werewolves, and now look at me. Working in a den full of them”, I joked around. My co-workers laughed. I figured with their hearing; they were listening. Citrus and Honey hit me but I didn’t turn around. I just kept my head down and kept cutting. I could feel their eyes burning into my back.
“Good morning, Mr. Moonstone. Mr. Lightwood”, I greeted them. I could hear the intake of breath. They would find it very hard to sneak up on me now that I know their scents. I felt an arm around me, and knew it was Carter. I could see the staff looking my way. No one still knew I was their mate, minus a few, but this was a sign, and I could hear the whispers starting. Carter whispered in my ear.
“Good morning, Little Red”, he said before letting me go and walking in front of me to start his grill. Seth had already started his. I looked at the schedule. Shouldn’t all of the grills be filled? There was an empty one right between Seth and Carter and, by the smirk on Carter’s face, I already knew it was mine. What were they planning? The orders started filling in right away. For a Tuesday, this place was already super busy. The call-in orders were back-to-back. Like yesterday, around noon, the orders started piling up. I took charge as I did yesterday, and thankfully neither Seth or Carter fought me about it, as I lit the grill and went to work on it. I could feel Seth watching me, probably waiting for me to make a wrong move somehow so he could find a way to criticize me, but I knew my way around a kitchen, and could spin circles around almost anyone in here. Occasionally, I would hear ‘Hrmph, or hm”, from him, probably annoyed because I did everything by the book. I smirked at that.
Around one, we took a lunch break, and I sat in the break room, taking some fruit they had laid out. I loved how the break room was so chill and open. There was always an array of fruit, snacks, baked chicken, and veggies all laid out and kept fresh. I guess working wolves burn off energy and need to keep it up. Really no different than us. I was alone in the break room until I heard the door open and in walked Seth. He avoided me and went to grab an apple. I looked at my phone, pretending to be interested in something on it. When I looked back up, he was gone, but his scent was in the room, and it felt like someone was behind me.
” And you call me nosy”, I said out loud and heard his sigh.
“Got to make sure you’re not texting the authorities about us”, he said. I spun around on my chair, and it landed on him, sitting on top of a table behind me. His hazel eyes invited a challenge, and I was not going to give in first.
” Now why on earth would I do that?”, I asked him, raising my eyebrow. He smirked before taking another bite. I watched the juice fall from his plump lips. The things I could do with that mouth, ugh. I looked back into his eyes. He shrugged.
” Humans are greedy and selfish. Maybe you thought you could get a reward or something for exposing us. I mean, you would be dead before you even attempted it, but yea”, he said. The way he so casually threatened me with death annoyed me. If I really was his mate, I knew just how to get back at him. I stood up and walked to him until I was close enough before leaning in and whispering in his ear.
” You would kill your own mate, Seth. Really. I highly doubt that”, I said seductively, before kissing his cheek. He was stuck and looked shocked. With my mission successful, I smiled and winked at him before leaving the break room. I walked right into Carter.
” Now what on earth are you smiling about?”, he asked me.
” Ask Seth”, I said before kissing him on the cheek and going back to work. For the rest of the day, Seth could barely look at me. I had wondered if I had done something wrong. Was he mad at me? Even Carter looked worried. Seth seemed to ignore both of us and just work. Occasionally, our arms touched, and I felt the tingles, but he would pull back instantly as if I burned him. Maybe I went too far. I focused back on work. It was closing time, eight on the dot. I had finished cleaning and was about to get into Jax’s car when Jax suddenly went really still and his eyes glazed over. I knew he was being linked.
” Um… Luna, it seems one of your mates will be taking you home tonight,”he said, and I smiled. I knew it was Carter.
” No worries, Jax. See you tomorrow.” I told him.
” Behave”, he said to me, laughing, before pulling off. Honey filled my nose, and I turned around. There was Seth, and his eyes seemed to just see through my soul sometimes. He kept a straight face.
” Where is Carter?” I asked.
” He has a packed business to attend to. I guess you’re stuck with me tonight, sorry”, he said. I hated the way he said that. As if I wanted nothing to do with him.
” Must you always have a stick shoved up your ass”, I asked. I could tell tonight was going to eat at me in a negative way. He always had that effect. To want to curse him out , then fuck him after. I bet he fucks really hard, I thought to myself.
” You forget who you’re talking to, human”, he said before turning around and getting into his car. I sighed and opened my door, climbing in. Fresh honey filled my nose. Yes, this was without a doubt, his car. His smell was in everything. I found myself relaxing more and more.
“I hate that you’re always so quick to say I’m human, as if I were your enemy”, I said silently. I knew by his hearing that he heard me.
” Well, you are a human. I’m not saying you are the enemy. I just am not fond of your kind”, he said.
” Well, I’m sorry you got stuck with a freaking human like me for a mate”, I said before looking out the window. I could see in the reflection he was looking at me, and his eyes looked sad. I guess I had hurt him, somehow. I watched the lights fly by as he took me home. When we arrived, I didn’t bother saying thank you. It’s not like he would have cared anyway. I opened my door and climbed out, walking to my apartment and not looking back. I heard the car pull off.
“Well, that fucking sucks”, I said to myself. I had gotten into my condo and hopped in the shower to wash the day away. I put my clothes in the washer and put away the new work outfits I had received. After I fixed dinner, I laid down on the bed. Seth invaded my thoughts. I heard a knock at my window. Startled, I grabbed a knife. Who the fuck is at my window? I pulled back the curtain, but no one was there. Feeling a presence behind me, I should have smelled the air before I stabbed, but my senses were off. Fight was the only sense in my mind, and without thinking, I threw the knife and pointed the gun I had with me. It landed right in the chest of none other than my dear mate, Seth.