Booki Chapter35
Trash/Treasure
Waffles and milkshakes start our day.
This isn’t your greasy breakfast joint. It’s hipster chic…waiters with wiry beards and soft brown hues serve us. Wearing their beanies, tattoos that travel the length of their arms, plugs in ears. Pants that sag slightly in the ass. The background music is indie, playing songs I have never heard of, but the hipsters, they are all humming along to the tunes.
My fork crunches through the top crust of the golden waffle, digging into the soft fleshy middle. I ordered a vanilla fried waffle, with cinnamon and maple–poached apples, topped with coffee whipped cream. I close my eyes slightly with every bite.
feel like should use a spoon to ea
The coconut vanilla chai milkshake is so thick I feel like I should use a spoon to eat it instead of trying to suck it through the straw. My cheeks pull in with the effort. Dallas is wide–eyed watching me, a flush creeping on his face, his hands going underneath the table.
“Rya, can I ask you a question?” “Sure.” Isip
www.ky shake again.
“Have you dated many wolves or humans?”
Melanotant choke
“No, Dallas, this is actually my first date. Does this
on the thick liquid in my mouth.
E
as a date?” He smiles at me. “You haven’t been on a date before?”
“No.” I shake my head, not meeting his eyes. “Really?” H
“Dallas, you were the first male that I have ever kis
big breath in, and a big breath out.
S
surprised.
>>
My confession makes me turn that shade
of
red I was
drinking last night. He stills in his seat,
Kimberly and a few other juvenile femalesIdon’t knowsit down just a few tables away. Ismile toward them; they are the only other wolves in this human place. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice their heads tilted up, scenting the air. They all look at each other, leaning in, soft whispers. Phones come out, fast fingers spreading the news like wildfire through a forest deep in a drought. They remind me so much of my youth, the cool girls…the untouchables… the ones who could make your highschool years miserable or bearable. They have no power over me anymore. I’m a full–grown female, not an impressionable juvenile that just wanted to fit in.
by
Kimberly holds my eyes, a judgment behind them, as if I am in the wrong, as if they just caught me cheating on my mate. She must feel all puffed up her friends, who surround her with confidence. I hold those eyes of hers until her confidence fails her, and she looks away with her tail curled under.
Dallas takes my milkshake away, sucking it back using the same straw I just had my lips on. He smiles with his teeth, showcasing them to the females. They get all big eyed, shoulders hunching forward. It’s not a threat; it’s just meant to say,
“I see whe
what you’redoing, andIdon’t like it.”
Curiously enough, some more pack members start to arrive, gawking at the sight in front of them until more wolves than humans populate the place.
The alpha saunters in with his two betas in tow…big males with scowls on their faces. I see Dallas prickle up slightly. Tense muscles twitch in his jaw, and he leans back in the booth, legs spread wide, with a wickedly sexy smile on his face.
The males approach our tables, mouths open with the breaths they are taking. Quiet settles in, the hushed voices only waiting for something to break it.
I creating a deeper quiet…like it’s
The three are standing shoulder to shoulder, almost touching. One is Kennedy’s father, the Alpha’s best friend, raised together like brothers. Dallas looks up to all three of them, meeting each of their eyes. I’m holding my breath, waiting for that silence to break.
The Alpha’s fingers tap on the table before he leans in close to Dallas’s ear. “Do you understand what you’redoing?”
“Perfectly.” It’s Dallas’s turn to lean into the Alpha. “Rya.” His focus is on me now.
“Why don’t we set up a meeting?I think we should have a sit–down and discuss some things that are important to the pack’s future.” His head is turned to the rest of the wolves in the room. It’s as if I have already decided I would meet with him.
“You’re right. Ido need to discuss some stuff with you. I applied for a transfer out of this pack, but the Luna won’t allow it. I expect that you can have a talk with her, let her know that it’s my choice that I choose to leave. She might not like my choice, but it’s mine to make.” His hands are off the table
now.
“We don’t have a replacement for you.” He just walks away from me. The conversation is shutdown. Taking a seat close to the door, they order breakfast while the wolves look on.
“You want a transfer out?” “Idid.” He smiles.
“You did?” His eyebrows shoot up in question. Cutting into his waffle, he takes a bite, leaving a little on the fork before putting it the rest.
up
to
my lips to finish
“I have two years left on this contract. After that,I get to go wherever I want. Maybe I could go home.” He’s looking as if big decisions are resting on his shoulders. “Maybe you could come with me if things work out?” I take the bite from his fork, the food he’s offering me in front of the watching eyes of pack members. I hear some rumbling growls from the wolves eating breakfast around us. Not very loud, it’s on the lower level of the hearing spectrum, but loud enough for them to sound their displeasure.