Lucifer's Keys

Food and Pheromones: Part 1

It was about a thirty-minute ride from their apartment to the Flaming Lotus Hibachi restaurant in Crest city.  They had, and most often did, ensure that anywhere they went was neutral territory, and this city was as neutral and liberal as you could get.  Considering that the three went to Seacrest University, which was also neutral and had open enrollment, they needed a place that accepted all of them, regardless of pack affiliation.

The minute Mason stepped out of the Uber, the amazing aroma of freshly grilled Hibachi dinners jolted him out of his inner monologue.  He realized he hadn't eaten since breakfast.  It was now just after 9:30 and he was starving.  John and Kevin climbed out of the Uber behind him, thanked the driver, and inhaled deeply.  Apparently he wasn't the only one who realized he was hungrier than he thought. 

"I really hope we don't have to wait for a table," Kevin stated, mouth-watering.

"Same here, I already know exactly what I want," John said.  He'd only been reading the online menu the entire ride over.

They walked toward the entrance and Mason said a silent prayer to the Goddess that he would not come face to face with his mystery mate as soon as they walked in.  As they passed the first set of double doors he found himself mumbling to himself about the host or hostess of the establishment.

"Please be a host, please be a host..."  

"Mason, what are you mumbling about?  You've been in your own world man, you're acting weird, are you good?" John asked him, squinting and giving Mason his best side-eye glare.

"Uh..what?  Oh, yeah, I've just got the weird feeling tonight and I was..." Mason hesitated, both reluctant and unsure of how to tell John about his recent interaction with Cyrus.  "Hoping that our host or hostess was actually a host...because...well...Cyrus was acting strange and said something about meeting our mate and I'm just not ready for all that man."  He blurted out finally.  

Both John and Kevin looked at him, clearly surprised, but in a moment the surprise was gone and huge toothy smiled plastered themselves across both of their faces.

"Oh! Well, you can't really help it anyway.  If it happens, it happens right?  Moon Goddess gives us exactly what we need exactly when we need it and there is no use trying to control things that are beyond you," John said.  Always the optimist.  Kevin, however...

"You could always reject her..." He suggested with a shrug.

Both John and Mason stared at him with wide eyes and slightly opened mouths.  John, who had been waiting ever so patiently for his mate, was the first to speak.

"Have you lost your mind?!  Do you know the pain and agony wolves go through after rejecting a mate or being rejected by one?!  I understand that sometimes there are extreme circumstances where one mate is a total Piece of Sh*t but that is rare.  Do you even believe what you're suggesting right now?!"  He was so defensive it caught Mason and Kevin off guard.

"I was just reminding him that there are other options, they may not be the desirable ones, but they do exist," Kevin said matter of factly.  

"You are right," Mason sighed, "that is an option.  But I don't think I could ever do that.  The way my parents still look at each other after all these years.  The way they would happily sacrifice their lives for one another without a second thought and feel each other's pain, sorrow, and joy...I couldn't cause someone so much pain.  I'm just sure she would ruin my life in some way or another and I'm just not ready to give up my laissez-faire lifestyle just yet.  She might expect me to do things, like...be more active and motivated."  He grinned when he said the last bit which made the others laugh as they entered the restaurant.

Mason breathed out a sigh of relief when the host was indeed a host and seemed to be in no way interested in the three of them, other than to assign them an escort to their seats.  The restaurant was tastefully decorated. There were marble columns throughout the restaurant and the adjoining bar looked like it was well carved out of marble too.  The tables were polished and ornately carved dark cherry wood, and the grills were set up in the traditional Hibachi grill style, a single grill in the center of four tables for the patrons to watch the skilled chef and his cooking performance.  The ceilings were all vaulted and had soft lighting, the fixtures were hidden from view above, and the walls were covered with tasteful and traditional wallpaper which depicted, what one may imagine, was the dynasty era Japanese countryside.

The escort silently and politely brought them to their seat at the front of one of the grill islands and told them that their waitress would be with them shortly to bring drinks and take orders and the chef would be along shortly after that.  She bowed slightly and hurried back to seat other guests.  

"I'm so hungry!  I hope they hurry up!" Mason spoke up, deliriously happy that he hadn't found any life-altering people thus far and relaxing a bit.

"I think I'll go grab us all a drink while we wait.  What do you guys want?"

"Thanks for offering. Now you're talking!  I'll have a Jack and Coke" Kevin offered

"I think I'm in the mood for a Burbon on the rocks," replied John.

"Ooo so fancy," Mason teased.  

John rolled his eyes, "Please, just go get 'em.  I got the next round."

Mason laughed, stood and strolled to the bar.  He placed his hand on its smooth hard surface.

"Huh, so it is marble," he said aloud. 

"...mate..." Cyrus' voice echoed in his head.

"No." He replied simply.  He didn't smell her, so how could Cyrus think that she was near.

"Mate." He insisted

"Cyrus how?  We can't smell her and we said we wouldn't go looking!  We made a deal! Not until we were both ready!  We said we would avoid her!!"

"Can't." He said.  Then he was silent again.  

"What the actual Fu*k?" Mason said aloud.

"Japanese marble, it was imported" Came a reply from across the bar.  "What can I get for you?"  The bartender looked at him with a quizzical smile.  She was a petite blond with pale blue eyes and pale skin that looked as if she had tried to tan but failed.  She had a few freckles sprinkled across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose.  She was cute, and apparently had a sense of humor, but neither Mason nor Cyrus reacted to her at all.  She was not the "mate" Cyrus was talking about.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to say that out loud.  Anyway, one Jack and Coke, make it a triple, one triple Burbon on the rocks and I'll have a Vodka and Redbull please."

The commercials said "Redbull gives you wings," maybe a jolt of caffeine would help him shake the heavy feeling.  

The blond made his drinks and he carefully took them to their table where the waitress had just arrived to take their orders.  He placed the drinks on the table, slid them to the rightful owners, and immediately took a giant gulp from his.  Cyrus was stressing him out and they were both agitated now.  The waitress came around to the chef's workspace so she could get their attention fully.  They were the only ones at this table tonight.  She looked at john...and that was it.  John sat mouth agape, staring at her as if he had just had a minor seizure.  His eyes and his wolf Colt's eyes were locked on the waitress and hers were on him.  She hadn't even been able to ask what they wanted before she seemed to be paralyzed, staring right back at John.  She was about 5'2 and maybe 120 pounds, incredibly small in comparison to John's 6'3, 230 pound frame.  She had jet black hair and green eyes, she looked to be about 25 and she was possibly the most attractive Japanese woman Mason had ever seen.  

"Mine!" John growled possessively.  He looked as if he were going to jump over the now heating grill and claim her right then.

"Mine!" She responded, her green eyes flashing and letting us all know that she too, was one of us.  

"Ugh! Wonderful! I'm sooooo happy for you!" Kevin broke in, pulling them partially out of their trance, "But can we PLEASE order food before you start making pups on our table.  I'm starving, and I'm begging you!"