Marked By My Alpha King

5

Amie

I

walked into the backdoor of the bakery, put down the two bags of flour and got a kiss on the cheek from Mrs Andersen.

“Thank you, Amie. I don’t know what I would do without you,” she happily told me.

“I’m happy to help,” I said, and it was the truth. The two sisters had helped me feel at home in the small town, introduced me to all the right people, according to them, and made sure I got out of my apartment for things other than my work. In return, I gladly offered them a hand with some of the heavier work. The sisters were getting older, and I felt bad for them working so hard. My strength was nowhere near that of a full werewolf, but I was stronger than the average human. I had made peace with being a latent wolf; a werewolf who didn’t have a wolf, or where the wolf was so weak, it didn’t manifest. It made it easier for me to live amongst humans.

“I have a treat for you on the counter over there,” Mrs Anderson told me.

“You didn’t have to, thank you,” I said before I sank my teeth into a still lukewarm danish and sighed with joy.

“Seeing you eat my pastries is a delight,” the older woman said with a warm smile. We did this every morning. I would bring her the flour from the storage, she would give me a treat and some of her amazing coffee and I insisted she didn’t need to, and she insisted she did.

“I have the lunch shift so I’ll be back before it gets dark,” I told her as I left, holding the to-go cup of coffee.

“Have a nice day dear, and maybe say yes if Jessie asks you out again?” I heard before the door shut behind me. Jessie was the town’s most desirable bachelor, not that it said much in this town. But he had been the high school football star. He was good looking, hardworking, owned his own farm that actually made a profit and was, overall, a decent guy. Jessie had tried hitting on me since I arrived four years ago, but unlike the local women, I turned him down. Not just the first time, but every time since. It had become a running joke in town, and I knew people were placing bets on when I would finally give in. The thing with Jessie was that he never took offense at me turning him down. He joked about it just as much as anyone else and over the years, we had become good friends. As I walked into the diner, I was greeted by Rich, the cook, and Mrs Jones. I emptied the last coffee from my cup, careful not to spill anything on my mint-green uniform.

“CeCe is marrying the ketchups. Could you start with the napkins?” Mrs Jones asked.

“Sure thing,” I said as I walked out into the front part of the diner to greet my other friend. Yes, during my time in this town, I had only made two real friends. But that was two more than I had expected. CeCe was a year older than me and more upbeat than I had ever been. Usually there was only one waitress needed at the time in the diner. But it was tourist season, which meant we would be two. It also meant we had to take in a third, temporary, waitress as CeCe and I couldn’t cover all shifts. It sucked as this year we were stuck with Dara. Dara wasn’t a bad kid, she was just clumsy, unfocused and lived more in her own head than out in the real world. To be honest, she usually caused more work than she helped. But Mrs Jones said Dara needed to get out of the house and into the real world. She had a thing for rescuing people, like some old women rescued stray cats, Mrs Jones rescued stray people. I couldn’t object as she had rescued me. She had rescued CeCe as well, but in a different kind of way. We were both loyal to the old woman, so we didn’t object to having Dara in the diner.

“Am I happy to see you,” CeCe said as I walked up to her. We hugged and got back to work.

“How was your trip?” she asked as we got going.

“It was fine,” I said. It had been my day off yesterday and I had told everyone I was going to go away for the day, sightseeing and relaxing. What I was really doing was driving as far away as I could possibly get and still make it back home to my shift today. It was my mother’s birthday in a couple of days and that meant I sent a postcard to her. I usually just said I was doing well and I hoped she had a good birthday. I did the same for my father’s and brother’s birthdays, as well as for the end of the lunar cycle. It’s like Christmas and new years all wrapped into one for werewolves. I drove to remote towns so the postage couldn’t be traced back to where I lived. I didn’t know if I was being kind or cruel by sending the four postcards every year. I just wanted them to know I was still alive. They didn’t need to worry. And I was okay. Life was maybe not perfect, but it was okay. The dull ache was still there in the pit of my stomach, but it had stopped hurting. Or maybe I had got used to the pain. Either way, it didn’t bother me as much now as it had in the beginning. It was a reminder that I was alive, I was a survivor and a fighter. I had built my life from scratch and I was proud of what I had, even if it wasn’t much.

“Have you seen the hunk who just sat down at your table?” CeCe asked me. We were in the middle of the lunch rush and the diner was full of both locals and tourists. I glanced over at the table I knew she had to be referring to, as it had been the only free one in my section. My body froze as I saw him. He was a werewolf, all my senses told me that much, and to add insult to injury, he was an Alpha. My mouth got dry and my legs refused to move.

“CeCe, could you do me the favour and take that table for me? I can take two, or three of yours in return. I’ll even trade you the one with the four children,” I asked. I heard the desperation in my voice.

“Are you sure, Amie? Have you seen him? Yummy,” she said.

“All yours,” I said. She wasn’t wrong. The Alpha looked like most Alphas, big strong, self-confident. Pair it with blond hair that looked to have a will of its own in a playful way and deep blue eyes and you had yummy. But Alphas were trouble, especially for me. He was the first wolf I had run into since leaving the pack and I didn’t want to bring any more attention to myself than necessary. I knew he already knew what I was. If I could detect him in a room full of humans. He, with his fully developed Alpha senses, would have no problem noticing me. CeCe walked over to him and took his order. I saw her flirt with him and he smiled politely back at her. I tried my best to ignore him and keep my distance. It was hard since he sat in my section of the diner, but I think I did a good job. When he paid and left, I felt relieved, he hadn’t tried to speak to me.

“You missed out on that one. Handsome, nice without being creepy and a great tipper,” CeCe said. “Want me to split the tip?” she then asked. I shook my head. She had earned it and even if the family with four children hadn’t left a huge tip, they hadn’t been skimpy either. I would gladly sacrifice the tip to avoid him. The rest of the day, I was on high alert. I was jumpy and kept checking to make sure the unknown Alpha wasn’t anywhere near me.

“Are you okay, dear?” Mrs Jones asked as I was getting ready to leave.

“I’m fine, but thank you for checking,” I told her.

“You seem a little… I don’t know,” she said.

“Skittish,” Rich helped.

“Yes, that is the right word,” she agreed.

“I’m fine, just didn’t get enough sleep last night. I was going to go home and take a nap. I’m sure that will make it better,” I lied. It gave me an excuse for staying home.

“Oh, poor dear. You do that. Do you want me to send Dara over with some dinner?” Mrs Jones asked. She really was a wonderful woman.

“No thank you, Mrs Jones. I appreciate it, but I was looking forward to the dinner I was planning to cook,” I told her. So many lies in one day, I would get a stomachache if I continued like this.

“Well then, run along and call me if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Mrs Jones,” I said and gave her a hug. I hurried home and closed the door behind me. No Alpha. I was safe and he would leave town and everything would go back to normal.

Normal quickly went out the window as the Alpha came back the next day for breakfast. He sat down at one of my tables again, but not the same as at lunch the day before. I had to take almost all of Dara’s tables to make her take the one he sat at. I worked my ass off and tried to keep an eye on him at the same time. I groaned when Dara tripped and spilled most of the coffee pot in his lap. Mrs Jones came out and apologised and I prayed to all the gods I knew she wouldn’t make me take over the table. One of the gods apparently heard my plea. Mrs Jones took his table personally.

“Poor man, getting hot coffee all over his privates,” she told me later, after the Alpha had left.

“Yes,” was all I could say.

“And such a handsome and nice man. Not even a little angry or offended. He even gave a generous tip at the end.”

“Probably because you charmed him,” I said.

“Oh stop it,” Mrs Jones said, blushing. Rich was chuckling. “Maybe hiring Dara wasn’t the best decision,” she added.

“Maybe not. But we won’t find anyone else now. I’m sure we can survive the season,” I told her.

“You’re right. Let’s just keep an eye on when she goes for the coffee pot.” We all agreed. Dara didn’t seem to realise what a commotion she had caused. She was happy she hadn’t needed to tend to as many tables as she usually did. Thankfully, Dara didn’t work the lunch shift. CeCe came in and together we set the diner in order and CeCe told me the latest gossip. If it weren’t for her and Mrs Andersen, I wouldn’t have a clue what happened in town. In the middle of the lunch rush, the Alpha came back and again sat in my section, but again at a different table.

“Please CeCe, can’t you just take that table?” I pleaded.

“Why? I won’t take it unless you tell me why you are so hellbent on not serving him,” she told me.

“I just don’t like his vibe,” I said.

“His vibe? Come on, Amie, there has to be something else,” she insisted.

“I don’t know, I just have a bad feeling about it. Can you take him? Pleeeease.” I tried my best at puppy dog eyes.

“Fine! But I’m only doing it because we don’t get men like him that often and he’s a good tipper. And god knows he deserves some decent service after what happened this morning,” she relented.

“Thank you. I’ll be forever grateful.”

“If you really want to thank me, could you take care of Jessie?” she asked. I looked and saw that Jessie had sat down at one of her tables.

“Sure. Something wrong?” I asked. I knew CeCe and Jessie had a thing in high school. A month of flirting leading to a one-night stand that fizzled out into nothing. But neither of them had held a grudge and had been friends.

“Oh, ehm. Well, I might have done something I shouldn’t have the other night,” CeCe said.

“You slept with Jessie?” I asked.

“Well, yes. I didn’t mean to. It just sort of happened.”

“Yeah, sure. You just stumbled, undid both of your pants and accidentally speared yourself on his meat sausage,” I said, nodding.

“Shut up! And who says meat sausage?” CeCe giggled.

“I’ll take Jessie and you take my table and everyone is happy,” I said.

“Deal.” I walked over to Jessie and saw him looking towards CeCe.

“Hi, Jessie,” I said.

“Hi, Amie. Looking good today,” he told me, but his usual line sounded flat.

“Thank you. Don’t worry. She’s a little freaked out at the moment, but give her a day to digest it and everything will be fine. Then you can ask her out for real,” I told him. He looked at me like I was speaking martian.

“What?”

“I’m talking about CeCe. Don’t pretend with me, Jessie. If you don’t stop pretending and start acting like the adult you are, I’m going to have to kick your ass,” I told him.

“Right,” he said, a small blush on his cheeks. “So, a couple of days?”

“Yes, no more than two. Come in with a nice bouquet of flowers and be sweet to her.”

“I can do that,” he said with a nod.

“Of course you can. Do you want your usual, or are you ready to try something new?” I asked.

“No, I’ll have what I always have. Thank you, Amie,” he said.

“No problem.” I handed the order to the kitchen and made sure my tables had what they needed and kept an eye on the Alpha. I needed to think of a strategy for dealing with him. It didn’t seem like he would give up, but at the same time, he hadn’t approached me. So I had no clue what he wanted. Again he left the diner without so much as a glance in my direction. Maybe I was overthinking things? Maybe he was just a tourist? I didn’t even know if my lack of wolf and all the years living with humans had masked my wolf scent. To be on the safe side, I went straight home after work and stayed inside until just after lunch the next day. I had the late shift and was happy to see CeCe talking to Mrs Jones.

“There she is,” Mrs Jones brightly said.

“Hey guys, what’s up?” I asked.

“CeCe has just been filling me in on your blond, mysterious hunk of a man,” Mrs Jones told me.

“Who?” I don’t think I fooled anyone.

“Mr hot coffee pot in the knee,” Mrs Jones reminded me.

“Oh right, him. What about him?”

“He was here for breakfast, and lunch, seemed disappointed not to see you here,” CeCe told me.

“Oh please. He doesn't know I exist,” I said.

“I don’t know. I think you have a new suitor,” Mrs Jones said, sounding giddy. I just shook my head and got on with work. If the Alpha had come in twice again today, I could scratch the idea that it was just a coincidence. What did he want with me? Did he think I was a rogue? There were no packs in the area, so he couldn’t be worried I was going to poach on his pack’s territory. My thoughts occupied me all through the dinner service. The Alpha hadn’t come in. Maybe he didn’t do dinner service. Could I talk to Mrs Jones and be put on the late shift everyday for a couple of weeks? I was just trying to figure out a good reason to ask when the door opened and the Alpha stepped inside. There went my new plan out the window. As usual, he sat down in my section.

“CeCe,” I started, but before I could say anything else, she held up a hand.

“No, Amie. It’s time to put on your big girl panties and deal with him. He is obviously trying to get you to wait on him. He is always sitting in your section, each time choosing a table he has seen you serve. Now, put on a smile and go over there and see what that hunk of a man wants,” CeCe said.

“I don’t want to,” I objected.

“Too bad. Now shoo, I have my own tables to handle. I’m only doing this because I love you,” she told me. Okay, so I needed to do this. It would be alright, I was in the middle of the diner and nothing could happen to me here. The worst he could do was to talk to me. I took a deep breath and walked over to his table.

“Hi, I’m Amie and I’ll be your waitress today. What can I get for you?” I said in my cheerful work voice.

“Hello, Amie. I’m Finlay and you are one hard waitress to get hold of,” he said in a rich and soothing voice.

“Excuse me?” I said. He chuckled.

“Nothing. I’ll have the pork chops,” he told me.

“Sure thing, and to drink?”

“A Coke please.”

“Coming right up,” I said, grabbing his menu and disappearing to hand his order to the kitchen. I gave him his Coke and then his food. We were polite to each other, but he didn’t try to start a conversation. I felt relieved, I had overreacted. Nothing was going to happen. That was until I brought him his check. The dinner rush had been over for a while and the diner was almost empty except for a couple of locals sitting around, drinking coffee. I walked up to his table and put down the check. I was just about to leave.

“Amie, wait a moment,” he mumbled, low enough not to be overheard, but loud enough for me to hear. I froze and turned back towards him. “I think we need to talk,” he told me.

“I don’t think we do,” I said, using the same low voice as him. A smile appeared on his lips. It didn’t make him look even sexier. Not even a little.

“I don’t mean you harm, little wolf. I just want to talk,” he said. I scoffed. Little wolf, my ass.

“So talk,” I dared him.

“Not here. Too many interested ears. Someplace, private.”

“Yeah, I don’t meet strange men, especially strange wolves, alone. I don’t have a death wish.”

“I promise you are safe with me,” he told me.

“Said no predator ever,” I remarked. It made him chuckle again.

“I guess you are right. Is there a public place we can talk then?” he asked. I sighed. I didn’t want to talk to him, but on the other hand, I had a feeling he wouldn’t leave me alone until I did. I could tell the sheriff that Finlay was stalking me, or I could tell Jessie. Either way, I knew they would try to run him out of town. The operative word was try. There wasn’t much they could do against an Alpha.

“Fine. Behind the library there is a trail leading to the lake. There are some picnic tables there. No one uses them before noon,” I told him. He nodded.

“When can I meet you?”

“I have tomorrow off. Meet me at ten in the morning.”

“I’ll be waiting for you, Amie,” he told me.

“Okay, that isn’t creepy at all,” I said and walked away. I could hear him chuckling. He left shortly after, leaving a good tip. I sighed. It felt like I had sealed my faith.