Chapter 10
1668 Words
"Are you sure you don't want to take the day off?" Maggie suggested seeing how pale Monica was growing.
"I'm fine, it's just a fever. I can manage!"
"Good because today is pretty packed up and Susan is slacking as always."
"I'm acting my wage, a couple of dollars is what I get at the end of my shift. Not even enough for anything!" Susan hissed bitterly above the vetting machine.
Knocking off the last breath from her lungs.
Bruno walked into the food store, his eyes scanned the small area which was cramped up with a few pack members munching on their lunches.
He spotted her behind the counter. In a red shirt matching the two other waitresses that were behind the counter as well. Her hair was swept into a nice and neat ponytail. Her interest in whatever it was she was doing. He cut across the room, straight to the counter.
As he approached, she glanced up from the machine. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach. Her pulse kicked up a note.
"Hey!" He stopped by the counter, taking her in sharp focus.
"Welcome in!" She responded, realizing she used the usual chant for customers, she shot him a brittle smile.
Mentally searching for reasons he stopped by. They hadn't spoken in a few days and having him show up here was unsettling.
Feeling her stomach build up. In no time she was going to throw up. She should've taken Maggie's advice to take the day off but to what? Nagging fears of what would become of her if Bruno rejects her? Or thoughts of if she'd ever live up to the standard of being Crescent's Pack Luna. Or if Bruno would ever love her the way she deserved.
She knew the answers to those questions, they plagued her day and night.
Finding the entrance to the staff bathroom, she hurried away.
When she returned, Bruno had left the counter, hopefully, the shop. Her prayers came unanswered when Maggie handed her a note from him.
'Let's talk—H'
She blanched. All the breath in her got knocked out by the tiny letters finely scribbled on the paper in her hand. She was about to throw up. Again.
Calm down! Calm down. She mentally steadied herself.
Talk about? What was there to talk about? He was her mate, they made love, and he marked her. What else was there to talk about other than—
"Are you okay? Goddess! You're white!"
"Can I take the day off?"
Changing out of the staff uniform into her sundress, she walked out of the glass door into the sunlight.
She spotted his parked car on the lot.
Bruno was quiet the entire time since she got Into the front seat of his Porsche. So much for 'Let's Talk'.
He drove from the food shop into the main street ran the traffic light and drove.
"Where are we going?" She asked, feeling herself boil from the fever.
Bruno left her question to hang, he turned on the radio filling the awkward silence with something to listen to.
She nuzzled up against the seat, trying to find comfort for her.
"What's wrong with you?" He broke the silence turning down the radio.
It was her cue to let his question hang. Sweet.
He didn't take it so well as his face knotted up. His eyes left the road lingered on her face then back to the windshield.
"You look sick."
"I'm fine."
"Sure you are!"
"It's just a headache, okay!" She looked out the window. "Now you have your tongue back, could you please tell me where you're taking me?"
"Somewhere we can talk. It seems today's not the day."
"I can manage, I guess." Her head found a comfortable position, she remained that way.
He slowed down as he reached the traffic, waiting.
Looking back at her, her eyes closed in a soft sleep.
"Your fever must be high." Was the last thing she heard before she dozed off to complete darkness.
Waking up, feeling refreshed as ever. Her headache was gone, and so was the fever. She sat up, her gaze darted around the room. Recognition washed through her eyes registering in her brain.
The room didn't look any different from what it was the first time she was there, well, except for the change of curtains and sheets.
How did she end up in Bruno's room? All she remembered was being picked up at the food shop, then falling asleep and—
She glanced at the window from where he stood the last time, the curtains were draped.
As if summoning him with her thoughts, Bruno walked in with a cup of tea in his hand. He'd changed out of the white crew-neck shirt he wore earlier to a gray sweater.
"Cinnamon tea." He handed her the cup.
Her fingers lightly grazed over him beneath the saucer.
He moved to the window, pulling the blinds.
"My headache is gone." She announced.
"I know!"
"Strange!" Seeing his face she asked, "Did you have anything to do with it?"
"Hev healed you."
"Who's Hev?"
"My wolf."
"Your wolf has healing powers?"
"It doesn't extend, so no, I can't heal an entire pack." Seeing her face drop, he joined her on the bed, "Our wolves are filled with abilities, super ones that if you just free your mind and acknowledge it then I feel Ray can surprise you."
"I know!"
"What do you mean?"
To give him reasons to believe her wolf was fit at least not as a warrior but at least she was not completely useless.
"Ray flamed up, it radiated through my human frame."
Bruno stared longer than expected at her, his face expressionless.
"That's impossible. Flaming is a special power possessed by the wolves which comes once in every generation.
Laughing nervously, she back-paddled. "I only said my wish out loud!"
"Next time wish for a.."
Her hand flew to her neck. Realizing her medallion was gone, instinctively, she put the tea away on the bedside table, lifting the duvet she searched for it.
Bruno silently and delightfully watched her.
When she couldn't find it, she broke it to him, "Did you take my amulet?"
Shuffling into his pocket, he brought it out, handing it to her. "Couldn't heal with the amulet around your neck."
"It's precious. It's the only thing I inherited from my mother." She took it avoiding contact with his fingers as possible.
Bruno watched her the entire time.
"What is it you wanted us to talk about?"
Bruno left the bed to the window, staring out to the elegant garden.
She watched him. His back against her, his height by the window, his sandalwood. His tousled hair. He looked magnificent.
"C'mere!" His voice was husky.
Monica obliged, tossing aside the covering, ignoring the amulet that dropped to the bed.
"When I was a kid," he began when she reached him by the window, "I used to think growing up things just became easier. Or maybe life would've been easier if I had a normal life."
"You should be grateful for the life you have, people wish to be in your position. A lot of people adore you and would do anything to please you."
"Do you?" He whirled round to face her. To see her face. Her flushed face was enough to answer. Feeling his chest tightened, he looked back at the window. "Mother used to say what would be, would be. It's the mantra I base my life on." He paused, fighting the emotion in his throat, "There's a lot you might not understand, Monica." He paused again, considering her face before adding, "A good Alpha must put the interest of his subordinates above his desire..." he trailed off.
"Bruno," she reached out for his shoulder, quickly deciding against it.
"The fate of the Lycans rests on my shoulder. The perils are there but victory lies ahead." Taking her hands, seeing the tears in her eyes, he muttered a curse. Her vulnerability smacked him upside the heart, causing him to wish he could protect her from the things he was yet to say. His marshmallow side didn't surface very often, yet it struck with a vengeance that evening.
Dropping her hands, he stepped forward, leaning in, sealing their lips in an ardent kiss.
His arms encircled her lean body and held it possessively, feeling her lean further into him. Her fingers raked through his tousled red hair, drawing his mouth closer to hers, his tongue deeper. Deepening the kiss into a raging wave of desire that left them breathless, yet longing for more.
A moan escaped her mouth. She wanted this. Wanted him, so badly even though it was the last time she'd ever be in his arms. She wanted to experience the bliss one more time.
Savoring the taste. Feeling the heat. The way her body seemed to fit right in his arms as though it was made for him.
He broke the kiss long enough to speak, and when he did his tone was raspy.
"I Bruno Hemsworth Alpha of Crescent Pack rejects—"
He stopped abruptly at the sound of the door drifting their attention to the flung open door with Kiara dashing towards them. Towards him.
Her slip dress was partly covered in blood, her eyes wide and desperate. "Alpha Bruno, come with me please!"
"What's going on?" Bruno moved away from Monica, away from their unfinished conversation... rejection!
Before he could say another word, Kiara turned back out of the room with urgent strides.
Bruno matched her pace, leaving the room.
Leaving her alone in the room. She was torn between vacating his room or waiting for him to return and carrying on with the rejection, but Ray couldn't handle a second rejection. That would cripple her forever.
Washing her face in the bathroom, savoring his intoxicating sandalwood one last time, she left the bathroom, to the room, and out the door.
- Writer
