Rori sat accross the table from Retsu at the diner and stared at him. He was so different than the man who she had once shot with a shotgun. That felt like forever ago but it was really just yesterday, right?
His hair had turned black, and his eyes looked younger, even though they were still kind of broody, she couldn't deny that. She doubted that would ever change. It's not like becoming revitalized could do anything for his personality.
She didn't know anything really about her new alpha, but she trusted the moon gods and they had paired him with the Luna so it had to be for a reason.
She mentally made a face. This alpha looked like he was a bad boy, a delinquent. She hoped that whoever was her fated mate would be cuter.
She too was a guarded person. She was moody and aggressive. So she couldn't judge him. He was not only her new guardian, but also her king. He was dangerous, but he was on her side so far.
She shook her head, why was she caring too much about whether they got along? He owed her, so she was going to be his shadow and live a good life. And not just a good life, but THE good life. Yes. Just as soon as he decided to go home, the Luna would surely take him back and he would claim his throne.
And she was going to be his beta. Hehe. She was unaware of this, but right now she was making a face that was scarier than Retsu's ugly mugshot.
She was surprised because he was actually not that old. He had to be in his twenties, only five years older than her, maybe ten. He was so easy to guilt trip into giving her anything she wanted.
And she hadn't even told him that he ate her parents. He would give her anything she wanted as penetence. She tried not to think about yesterday. Its best to be tough and not show him any weakness. Between the two of them, she was determined to be the dominant one. He was so young, at first she thought he had to be in his thirties because of all of his scars and his grey hair, but now she knew his grey hair was because of his wolf genes or his zombie genes, one of the two. Either way, when he was using her transformation skill, he had changed it back to its original color, that was a choice, so he must feel self conscious about having grey hair.
She decided that was a good way to tease him in the future when they became all buddy buddies, living the good life and remembering the hard work of the working class, knowing they would never have to work again.
Yes. She was headed for the life of relaxation. She was sure. She had never relaxed while running the farm with her parents and siblings. Every day the cows had to be milked. They never went on vacation or took a break because if they did, the cows would be in pain, perhaps ending up with clogged milk ducts and infection.
So they woke up before the sun and worked until the sun went down as far back as she could remember.
"There ya go honey." The waitress, a skinny woman in her 60s with dry tanned skin and a tattoo on her shoulder, said, snapping Rori out of her train of thought. That was when she realized she was making a sad face.
Nope. Rori was not sad. She put on the biggest smile as the waitress placed the bowl of 'the soup of the day' on the table, a bowl of chicken noodle soup with crackers, a side of steamed broccoli, and a buttered roll.
Then she placed the same thing in front of Retsu, "and there you go sir, enjoy." She said.
Rori smelled the soup and really did miss her mom though. That was something she did like about the farm, fresh chicken noodle soup. Not anything like the stuff from a can. With celery and soft carrots.
With a sigh she pushed the soup around with her spoon and just as she thought Retsu was about to ask what had gotten her so down the minute she saw the soup, Rori drank the broth and emptied her bowl quickly. Then she stood up, "I'm going to go rent a room, this place is also an inn." She said.
And then she left him to pay for the food.
"Great. Just great." He mumbled helplessly as the moody teenager he had found himself in charge of left. He had planned on using his Alpha title to tell her to pay for the food, but now he was on his own. He had been in the dungeon of a werewolf pack for the past ten years. Thanks to that, he had never even had a job! That and thanks to juvy. He chuckled, it was always his fault when he ended up without money. Juvy. It seemed like a long, long time ago now. "Well," he said to himself as he cracked his knuckles, "Time to see if I've still got it."
He considered waiting for Rori to come back. He finished his meal and watched the waitress laughing as she chatted with someone at the bar. She didn't even glance his way. The feeling of adrenaline crept up his spine as he thought of the thrill that used to get him in trouble. Escaping. Oh how he used to love escaping. But then the day in the rain when he was suddenly thrown into the dungeon fogged his mind.
He stood up to leave; hoping to walk out without the waitress noticing. "Hey are you two all finished up?" She asked suddenly appearing behind him as he turned to face the door.
She had been watching him the whole time. Waiting for him to finish eating without even looking at him. She was a pro. She probably thought he was the type to try that the moment Rori left him there. That was when he noticed that the huge man she was talking to had turned to listen to their conversation. He cracked his knuckles and dared him with his eyes to try leaving without paying for the sweet lady's meal.
He was cornered, and he didn't like being cornered.
Eat them! His wolf said, with his horrible timing. Eat them and you don't have to pay.