~Chapter 6~
1171 Words
"My name is Rose. I am also from Bright Moon pack, you'll get to know me better soon. What will it be this morning?" the girl says pleasantly.
"No, um, Rose. I've no money on me. I came to inquire about the job advertisement poster I saw outside."
"Oh, that. Yes, the owner of the cafe needs one more waitress. We are only two of us here and it gets really busy. Can you manage?"
Lucea stares at Rose. For her to come looking for the job means she can manage, doesn't it? Realizing the tactical error of her words, Rose smiles apologetically.
"I will call the owner. Wait right there!" She goes towards the kitchen while Lucea waits by the table.
Two minutes later, Rose emerges followed by a medium-tall guy with blonde hair and freckles on his face. The guy is not conventionally handsome but he sure is striking and so confident in his movements. He also looks too young to be the owner of this cafe, but what does she know?
"Hi, there!" The guy says cheerfully. "Let's start with the introductions first. I already know your name. You are Lucea. My name is Lucas."
Holy hell. She has finally met the guy that robs her friend of sleep every night. Lucea wonders if Lucas has any idea that Mia has a thing for him.
"Nice to meet you, Lucas. I have already heard about you."
Lucas' eyes beneath the specs register a flicker of interest. "You have? From whom?"
"Never mind," Lucea laughs, then gets a more earnest look. "Are you the owner of this cafe?"
"Yes. It used to be my father's but he gave it over to me. He is too busy working as a makeshift Alpha. But I think he will get back to being the owner once again. I am going to be Beta once Roderic is ready to become the Alpha, and therefore, too busy to run it."
Lucea sighs. The boy seems to be extremely chatty. "While you are still the owner, do you think you can add me to your list of employees?"
"Of course. I happen to be looking for a waitress as we speak. You are welcome to join us!" Lucas says cheerfully.
"Thank you. But I have to let you know this; I am a student. I hope I can work evenings."
"He also goes to school, " Rose says.
"You will be working half day. In the afternoon after school."
"Lovely. Can I start working right now?"
"Whoa!" Lucas laughs. "So eager to start work, are we? Well, then, Rose is going to show you what to do. You can come in the afternoon to report for your first day."
"Sure. Nothing else to do."
Rose shows Lucea how to go about the business, and before long, Lucea finds that she enjoys doing it. It will be the perfect place to spend her afternoons after school.
After knowing everything she needs to know, Lucea is given breakfast. The food is delicious, and Lucea points out that it is no wonder the place is so busy.
She goes back home feeling happy, but her mood dampens when she discovers her sister still gives her a cold shoulder.
She goes into the forest alone to get some fresh air, since it is too early in the day and she can't think of anything to do.
While walking aimlessly, she stumbles upon a river, it's beauty instantly soothing her.
Fascinated by the sight, she stands watching the water as it swirls gently in an inviting manner. Lucea glances behind her. Would someone find her if she took off her clothes and swam in the water? It is quiet, but the path she used looks like it is often used. She decides to sit by the river and dip her bare feet in the water. The wolves may be used to seeing each other naked but she grew up with humans who take covering their bodies quite seriously.
She wouldn't like anyone to find her in her underwear.
She closes her eyes and moans. The water feels good on her feet.
Suddenly, she hears sudden rustling of dry leaves and then a loud "Hey!" From behind her. Whipping her head around swiftly, she notices it is Mia. She looks back into the water.
"You scared me!" she says.
"That was my intention!" Mia joins her on the ground, removes her shoes and dips her feet in the water too.
"Wicked," Lucea mutters. "Anyway, are you not upset with me? I thought you hated me after I talked to Cassandra."
"I am sorry." Mia rubs the bridge of her nose. "I behave so childishly sometimes. It's just that...I have never had a friend, and I am jealous of that Cassandra girl stealing you away from me. She is popular, she is rich, she makes friends with whoever she wants...and now she wants to snatch the only friend I have ever made in my life. You are the only one who makes me feel like I matter, Lucea, I don't know why."
Lucea feels sympathetic towards the other girl. Mia is pretty, in fact, prettier than Lucea herself and Lucea fails to understand why people would hate her. Her behavior is not bad either, from what she has observed so far.
"You are lovable. And you are not childish. I understand you, don't worry," Lucea says. "I am not going to be friends with Cassandra, if that will make you happy."
"I wish I could discourage you from doing that, but it does make me happy. I can't stand Cassandra and her minions, always giggling while she bullies other students. I remember she once caught me staring at Lucas and she must have realized that I like him. She started flirting with him and in the end managed to get a kiss from him. I was broken."
This issue is getting serious.
"She kissed Lucas while she was dating Roderic?"
Mia nods. "Yup. She is a useless slut, that one."
"Did Roderic find out?"
"He didn't do anything if he did. Roderic doesn't love anyone, only himself. I will be happy the day that someone will pin him down and make him fall so deep in love he will just be like a fool."
Lucea grins at that.
"He will, one day. It could even be my sister. She is trying hard to get him right now."
"Sorry. But your sister wouldn't be a good match for the soon to be Alpha. He needs a strong woman who can stand up to him and who is also suitable to be the Luna. Your sister is a little too naive."
She has a point. Which leaves... Cassandra? She can't imagine Cassandra as their Luna either. For some reason that she can't understand, that thought makes her upset.
"I think Ruth would make a badass Luna, just that she is too young. But whoever it turns out, it better not be his current girlfriend!"
- Writer
