Delinquent (Athens Wolves Series Book 1)

7

Last night I heard knocking on my door every 30 minutes, each time it was the same scent emanating from the other side. But when Gene came and woke me up. She had a huge smile on her face and asked me what I was doing today. I told her that I had to go to Jack's place and work and her smile widened.

"I guess I can meet you there around lunch, talk about what you wanted to talk about yesterday." She was really cheery and it was kind of annoying because I knew I wasn't going to have one of the best days today.

"Yeah." I nodded and she smiled. "What time is it?" I asked and she looked at her phone.

"7:13." She said and I nodded.

"How long does it take to get to Jack's burger joint?" I asked and she shrugged.

"I can get my mom to drive you." She said and I just shook my head.

"No, that's okay. I can take a shower and then shift and run there." I nodded at her and she smiled again before attacking me in a tight hug. "You okay?"

"I'm just happy." She said pulling back before skipping down the hall. I just shook my head and closed and locked my door up before heading to the closet. I grabbed a blue long sleeve and then some black jeans before heading into the bathroom.

I showered and let my hair dry as I shifted into my wolf. I had packed up my clothes and I grabbed them before running out of my room and heading right out. I didn't stop to look at anyone or eat anything.

Once I got to Jack's I shifted the same place as before and walked in. He was behind the counter and had a wide smile on his face. "Morning Reese, here." He tossed me the apron I hadn't gotten back yesterday and I nodded wrapping it around my waist. "How does it feel to be in a pack?"

"I don't plan on staying forever."I shrugged and started refiling the napkins and take down chairs.

"What do you mean?" He asked and I heard a couple sizzles from the grill.

"Exactly what I said. I am here to make Genevieve better and then I am gone." I told him and he tensed.

"What's wrong with her?" His eyes narrowed and seemed actually concerned.

"Ask her yourself. I don't gossip." I told him and turned away.

"If you know what is wrong with her then tell me." He ordered and I turned to him and gave him a look.

"Listen here. You are my boss. You are not my beta yet. You can not order me to tell you anything that does not pertain to work. Got it? If I get fired over that then so be it." I flared at him and he growled.

"I have the right to know." He growled and that was when it hit me. He was the one who rejected her.

"And why is that? If she didn't tell you, or the Luna or Alpha didn't, why do you have the right to know?" I asked and walked forward, glaring. I can't say he was horrible for doing it because I was about to do it myself just last night. I wouldn't be any better than him, or my father by rejecting Ian. I would be worse because I was letting my past control what I didn't know.

"Because I am her-" He stopped and took a deep breath. "I don't know if you know this but her older brother is my best friend... air-go she's like my little sister."

"Your argument is not valid. You are like her older brother but you aren't actually him are you? It is not my place to tell you anything about someone else." I shrugged and he glared.

"You mean like it isn't my place to tell you to give my best friend a chance at being a mate?" He growled out and my eyes widened but I covered it up quickly. "Yeah, I know. He told me, his sister and his parents." He smirked and I growled.

"And how is he going to react when he realizes it was you who rejected his baby sister?" I asked and it was his turn to be speechless. "Yeah... thought so. Don't you dare tell me what I should and shouldn't do unless it pertains to this job." I seethed and went towards the other napkin tins just before someone else walked in.

"Hello Reese." The wide smile appeared back on Jack's face when Ian's voice appeared.

"Hey Ian. Do you want to know a fun fact?" I asked glaring at Jack before turning to Ian fully.

"Sure... as long as it is the answer to why you were going to reject me last night."

"No, it's not that... in fact I am sorry for that. But I was wondering if you knew about why your parents wanted me to come here." I said and I heard Jack pushing the kitchen door open.

"Yeah, my sister." He nodded and crossed his arms and looked at me worried.

"I know why she was being the way she was being... and it was because her m-" I felt a hand come over my mouth and I grabbed Jack's wrist before spinning out from under his hold and pushing his arm behind his back as far as it will go. "Don't ever touch me." I hissed and he growled lowly.

Suddenly he was out of my grip and Ian was holding him against the wall. "She's mine." His voice was gruff and I knew his wolf pushed him to do this so I walked over slowly and pulled his hands from Jack's shirt.

"Thanks, but I think I can handle myself." I said pushing him away. My eyes turned back to Jack and narrowed into slits. "Don't push me." I told him and he looked at me and then Ian.

"Fine." He whispered and looked at Ian, "You, come with me." He ordered before waving them into the back.

I felt a hand on my waist and lips on my forehead and before I could react I saw Ian's back going through the kitchen. I shook my head and started with the napkins again for the last four tables. I finished and heard chatter behind me. I knew it was Ian and Jack.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned seeing both of them standing there. "Yes?" I asked and blinked at them.

"You now have the day off."

"No can do, at lunch I have Gene coming in to see me and with what happened yesterday I can't bail on her today because Ian wants to talk with me all day." I said and went back towards the kitchen to get a notepad for customers.

"What happened yesterday?" Ian asked looking from Jack to me.

"You can't be serious, it was the reason Jack wasn't here yesterday when you got here... or why your dad was glaring at Dean most of the ceremony yesterday." I said and he just looked between us before glaring at Jack.

"What happened?" Jack just gulped and looked away.

"Big baby." I mumbled and Ian turned to me. "Dean and I have a past, I almost killed his sister a couple years back during my first shift and he hates me for it. When he walked in and his mate was going to introduce us things got out of hand." I shrugged and I noticed how Jack was cringing and before I knew it Ian was pushing me out of the restaurant. "What are you doing?" I asked pushing him away from me.

"We are going to go see Dean Harper and set that asshole straight. No one touches what is mine." He growled out and I huffed before starting to avoid his hands. I had gotten pretty good at that. Whenever there was a fight and we all got locked up in our cells for it we all made a game of dodging the officers.

"First of all, I am not yours. Se-"

"You are my mate Reese." He ground out and tried to grab me again.

"Yeah I am. But I am not yours. You do not own me. I am your mate... that is it." I told him slowly so he would get my meaning. "I handled Dean by myself yesterday, he got the message. You going over and pounding his face in won't work. He won't hurt you because you are his future Alpha. Besides, I have a job to do." I said avoiding his arms one more time and booking it back into the restaurant.

He walked in and sat on one side, my side.

He was there all morning as I walked around taking orders and dishing out the food. Sabine had some in and gave me a small smile before getting to work and Dean was present just like Ian. When Dean first walked in I heard a growl and moved down towards Ian immediately and gave him a look and he stopped but he kept his eyes on Dean.

Around lunch Gene came in and gave me a hug despite the two plates I was carrying and told me that she will be with Ian at his table. I finished dishing and went to get her order. "Sit down, we do have to talk." She said and Ian scooted over while Gene didn't move an inch over.

I sighed and sat on Ian's side and she smiled at us. "Now I know why you were so happy this morning." I grumbled as she tried to hide her smile. "Now what I was thinking about for you, is to just put your energy into something else." I told her jumping right into it.

"Like what?"

"You can try a lot of things. You can run off your daily anger, you can work out, like punching a guy in his face everyday, or a punching bag... or you can start doing more school work, getting better grades and getting scholarships to college, joining clubs... anything to absorb your time." I said and slapped Ian's hand away as he started touching the side of my neck with his fingers and making swirls. I rubbed where he had so I didn't scratch.

He laughed lightly and started again this time adding a bit more pressure. Gene looked at both of us with longing and I bit my tongue from telling her that this was going to work. "Reese! Order up!" I heard Jack and all eyes at my table turned to look at him.

"Think about what makes you most comfortable, maybe you might want to try everything... I'll be back to get your lunch order." I nodded at her and started my way towards the food. I grabbed my tray and piled up before turning and dishing the fries, shakes and two burgers out to a mated pair.

"I'll have a vanilla shake and a BLT." Gene said with a soft smile and I nodded writing it down.

"Strawberry shake and a BLT too." Ian said and I nodded again before walking away. Milly and Georgia walked in and said hi before sitting in my section as well.

I walked in and set the orders down but Jack whistled for my attention. "They are already done?" I asked seeing the milkshakes and the two BLT's.

"I have wolf hearing you know." He smiled and I crossed my arms.

"And you haven't been this fast with any other table because?" I asked making him turn around nad start with another order.

"That's my best friend." He said slightly and I nodded at him.

"Sure, nothing to do with eavesdropping on what I am talking about with your mate... or are you making sure I don't let your name slip?" I asked before taking the orders for them out and walking right to the table that now had four people sitting at it.

Milly was sitting awful close to Ian and giving him goo goo eyes. I caught the end of the conversation. "You'll be there for my birthday won't you Ian?"

"Here we are... what can I get you two?" I asked looking between both girls.

"Oh Ian and I will just share." Milly said grabbing his milkshake and taking a straw from my apron and then sipping on it.

"Okay... Georgia?" I asked turning to her but keeping the couple in my hindsight's.

"Coke and a medium fry." She said and I nodded before walking away.

"You help me out I help you out?" Jack asked as I walked in ready to get another tables orders.

"What does that mean?" I asked walking over and filling a coke for Georgia.

"Milly has had her eyes on Ian since she heard the Luna inherits a lot of money." He told me and I shrugged.

"And that helps me how?" I asked moving to get fries on my tray as well. "Hold that thought." I said pushing the door open with my butt and walking out. I gave the burger and fries to one table before walking back over to Georgia. "Here you go."

I walked back towards the kitchen and let Sabine come out first. "You are on break... what do you want to eat?" Jack asked and I huffed grabbing a cup to get some ice water.

"Cheese burger please." I muttered and hopped on a freezer. "What were you saying about Milly?" I asked after opening a small door beside me.

"She thinks that the attraction she has to the Luna position and the fact Ian isn't bad looking means she is his mate. Word has gotten out that his wolf is pinning for his mate, which means that his mate is about to, or just turned 18... her birthday is in 3 days." He added and I shrugged. "She thinks she is his mate." He said slowly and I just blinked.

"But she isn't..."

"Aren't you mad that she is trying to claim your title or mate?" He asked and I shook my head. "Why not?"

"She isn't and the way Ian is watching over me like a momma wolf with her cub sort of tells me he won't claim someone else just because she wants it. Besides, they can't mate if they aren't true mates." I explained and he came over with my burger and then slipped it on a plate.

"How do you know that?"

"I've seen what happens... you know, when they aren't true mates." I added with a shrug before focusing on finishing my burger so I can get back to work.

"What happens?" He asked giving me a narrowed look.

"Which ever one bites the other first get's really sick. But the one bitten, if she or he is forced she get's enraged to kill the man or woman who tried to claim her... but if she was allowing it, she would get hives all over her body... they don't itch, they hurt. Eventually they fade or so I think." I shrugged and continued eating.

"How sick are we talking?" He asked and my head snapped up to meet his.

"Is that why you rejected your mate before she is even of age? For another?" I growled out but I kept my voice low so no one else heard me.

"No, I rejected her because me and her can never happen."

"It was meant to happen Jack. If you keep denying she she might be able to petition the moon goddess for a new mate." I said finishing up and ignoring the growl from Jack as I walked back out. I had a person waving me down and I walked over and nodded before ripping out the check.

Milly and Georgia stayed with Ian and Gene until I got off around 4. They then proceeded to follow me and Gene around acting like they cared about what was going on with her.

We went for a run, me running as fast as I could, and since Gene was part of the Alpha family she was almost as fast. Milly and Georgia hung back and we eventually lost them on the trail before getting back to the pack house.

Somewhere along the ride home I heard something about Ian moving back into the pack house and how easy that was going to make things for Milly. I honestly wasn't upset about her being interested, I just felt secure, like no matter what she did it would never work.

I have a small part of me that was hoping that was true.