The Rogue’s Initiation Part 9
2016 Words
I followed Sunny's directions to the restaurant. It was a standalone building with shrubs in multi-level planters and a parking lot that wrapped around the building. There were a few cars parked there, but not a lot. Completely normal for a restaurant on a Monday evening.
Getting out of the truck, I rushed around to the other side and opened the door, helping Sunny out. She smiled and waited for me while I locked it up. No one was going to steal my truck, but it was a habit I couldn't help.
We walked into the restaurant. There was a small waiting area with benches for people to sit on. They didn't look particularly comfortable, so I was glad we weren't going to have to wait.
A woman came up to the host stand and glanced at us. She smiled brightly. I could see Sunny returning that smile.
“Sunny! I didn't know if you were coming back! We were all wondering how you were doing!” The woman exclaimed.
“Things got pretty busy at work for a while and I just didn't have the time to really go out. How've you been, Lana?” Sunny asked.
“Oh, same as usual bills, kids' stuff, grumpy husband. All that stuff. Who's this?”
“This is my boyfriend, Vaughn. He lives a few hours away and came for a visit.” Sunny answered.
“He's not another ex-pack, right?” Lana asked in a whisper I was sure even a human could hear.
Sunny blushed. “He's rogue born, like me. And he heard that.”
Lana looked embarrassed. She had a blush that started in her cheeks and spread, even turning her ears red. I felt bad for her. Humans, even if they knew about us, had a hard time understanding how much more advanced our senses were.
“Don't worry about it, Lana. I know all about Sunny's exes. She's trying something new this time. I'm more than happy to be her experiment.” I smiled with a wink.
“I'm glad. Maybe you'll be just what she needs to start taking care of herself and see her worth. What do you do for a living, Vaughn? I'm pretty good at guessing. Do you want me to use my superpower on you? I can use it to guess exactly what you do. I'm never wrong.” Lana beamed.
“Please.” I replied.
On the way to the restaurant, Sunny told me a little about the people I’d meet. She told me how Lana always tried to guess what people did for a living and was always wrong. Like massively wrong. She still did it, though. It was a pretty good ice breaker for some people.
“Hmm…. I’m getting a computer-y vibe from you.”
I raised an eyebrow. I wondered what she’d guess.
“Got it. You’re an accountant.” She said with a grin.
Sunny covered her mouth. I was very much the opposite of an accountant. I shook my head.
“Wow. How did you figure it out?” I asked.
“I got one right! I’m going to go tell Frank. You know where the menus are. I’ll find you in a bit!” Lana told Sunny as she bounced out of the waiting area.
Sunny laughed as she went behind the host stand and grabbed a couple menus, then looked at something on top of the stand and used a marker to write something. I followed her as she walked through the restaurant, shaking her head and giggling the whole way.
When she pointed out an empty table, I took her hand and pulled out a chair, helping her into it before sitting in the chair right next to her. Sunny handed me a menu and ducked behind hers. She was still laughing.
“I didn’t realize it was that funny.” I whispered.
“Frank said if Lana ever guessed right, he’d give her five hundred dollars.” She snickered.
“Oh. I think I owe Frank five hundred dollars, then.” I chuckled.
“She always picks something that is almost the exact opposite of what the person does, so no one has ever told her she’s right. You’re going to be in so much trouble if they find you out.”
I gasped comically. “Dear goddess, what will become of me?”
“Just look at your menu and hope he doesn’t come out to grill you.” Sunny ordered.
“Yes, ma’am.” I replied with a little salute.
This was a pretty basic mom and pop restaurant. Mostly the same things as the restaurant at my motel. I never felt ordering food could be a test until just this moment.
I could go with my safety meal, or I could pick something else. Eating a burger may not be proper date etiquette. Something with a knife and fork?
“You smell like you’re freaking out.” Sunny whispered. “Haven’t you ever been to a restaurant before?”
“Only the ones where you speak into a clown’s head.” I joked.
“Is there anything you don’t like to eat?”
“I’m a werewolf. I’ll eat pretty much anything.” I replied quietly.
“Let me order for you, then.” She said.
Lowering my menu, I looked at her. She didn’t look like she was joking. I closed the menu and nodded. It was embarrassing, but I’d let her order if it made her happy.
“Sure.” I smiled.
Lana came to the table with two waters. Sunny ordered two of her usual. I didn’t know what that was, but I liked the idea of her sharing her favorite foods with me. Lana took our menus and we were left with nothing separating us.
Sunny smiled at me. Goddess, I wanted to see that smile all the time. I’d just stare at her all day. No, that was creepy. Get it together, Vaughn.
“What are your plans for tomorrow?” I asked as I sipped my water.
“Not much. I usually take a couple days off after a big project. I have a meeting with Queen Bellamy in the afternoon, otherwise, I was going to paint.” Sunny answered.
“I have a meeting with her in the morning. What’s the deal with her? Her collective is called the Eaten Heart, but she doesn’t look like she’d be capable of that.” I said.
Sunny swallowed her water like she’d forgotten how for a moment. She looked a little pale and sick. Did I say something wrong?
“Trust me, she’s more than capable. She’s scary as hell. Never get on her bad side, Vaughn. Ever.” She whispered in a shaky voice.
“What happened, Sunny? Why are you so scared? Is she really that terrifying?” I asked.
She sighed and closed her eyes. “I didn’t really want you to know much about my past, because I like you, Vaughn. I saw Queen Bellamy kill several men I knew and eat the heart of at least one of them. If I’d made the wrong decision, I could’ve met the same fate. Queen Bellamy is an awesome and wonderful leader. She’s also a terrifying and cruel enemy.”
None of that really meshed with the woman I’d seen last night. I hadn’t done anything wrong, though. There was no reason to be scared. I respected Queen Bellamy more now. Sunny’s description was exactly what a rogue wanted in their leader.
It reminded me of what I read about Queen Bellamy’s dealings with the Rogue Kings gang. She killed all the ones who opposed her and spared the ones who submitted to her. Sunny had been one of the ones who submitted.
I reached out and took her hand. Sunny jumped a little, then smiled and squeezed my hand. I wanted to take care of her. I wanted to take her away from here.
“I’m not going to get on her bad side. I promise.” I said softly.
“Damn. I probably seem pretty weak.”
“No. The man who runs my motel told me about you being in trouble with the law. I did some research online and found out about you and the Rogue Kings.”
“You did?” Sunny replied sadly. “I didn’t want you to know. Most people, especially other wolves, avoid me because of that. You still came on the date, though. Probably because I paid and Queen Bellamy would be pissed if you stiffed me.”
She tried to pull her hand from mine, but I gripped it tighter. None of that made me change my mind. My parents always taught me being open and honest with your mate would give you a solid relationship. I’d start before I ever offered for her.
“Sunny, I’m here because I wanted to go to dinner with you. I’d like to take you out to dinner again tomorrow. I plan on being here for a week. I want to take you out every day. I want to take you home with me when I leave.” I told her.
Her eyes widened in surprise. I could imagine she was used to people wanting to get away from her, not be with her. Once they knew her history, others might consider her an undesirable option.
“I can’t. I’m still on probation. Eighteen months, I have about seven months left. I can’t leave town until that’s done or Queen Bellamy will kill me. It’s part of the deal we made when we submitted to her. We get punished by human law, then she’d give us jobs in the collective. If we did anything bad again, we’d be killed.”
“Sunny. I know we just met, but I want to offer for you. I know you did bad things in the past, but you’ve been making things right. You got your life back on track. We mesh so well together. I felt a connection with you from the moment you told me you owned me.” I murmured.
“Oh. This is awkward…. I have your food.” Lana chuckled nervously.
She’d obviously heard the last part. I let go of Sunny’s hand and sat back in my chair, smiling at Sunny’s friend. There was nothing I could really do to get out of this situation. Explaining it could give away Sunny’s plan. I wasn’t going to be responsible for her getting embarrassed.
“You know how female rogue born werewolves are when they meet a male they like. Very possessive.” I chuckled.
Lana put the tray on the edge of the table and started unloading plates and cups. She nodded along. I don’t know if she believed me or not, but pressing it would only make it seem like I was making something up.
When she was done putting our order out, Lana gave a tight-lipped smile. She took her tray and disappeared. I looked at the plates.
There was a full plate of pasta, a steak with vegetables and mashed potatoes, and a dinner sized salad, not a side salad. It seemed Sunny’s usual was three entrees, a side of fries, a milkshake and something that looked like soda water with a cucumber, lemon slice, and a cherry in it.
“Impressive.” I murmured as I looked over everything.
“It’s hard filling up on human portions. I found this mix was the most filling. The soda water is best toward the end with the salad.”
“There’s a specific order to eat them in?” I asked.
Sunny scoffed. “Of course. First is the pasta, because cold pasta is gross, then the steak. The fries are to be dipped in your milkshake. After all that, then finish with the salad and the soda water.”
It appeared that she’d recovered. I was glad to see my Sunny again. She focused on her food, and I did the same.
- Writer
