Choosing Between The Alpha And The Dragon King

The plate shattered against the wall, barely missing Jamie’s head. She froze, her breath catching in her throat as the greasy scent of food filled the air. Slices of still warm pizza slid down the cracked tiles and landed at her feet. “You useless girl!” the head cook, Marla, snarled. “I said no onions on table five’s order! Are you deaf, or just stupid?” She clenched her fists at her sides, nails biting into her palms. It wasn’t her mistake. She hadn’t even plated that dish. But she knew better than to argue. The kitchen erupted into laughter. “Maybe she can’t read,” someone snickered. “Probably can’t even smell the food right,” another added, voice dripping with mockery. Jamie swallowed the lump in her throat and bent to clean up the mess, her face burning as the humiliation settled deep in her bones. She was used to this, used to being treated like she didn’t belong. Because she didn’t. She wasn’t a werewolf like the others. And in this town, where strength meant everything, being human was the same as being nothing. Marla huffed, crossing her thick arms. “Forget cleaning. Since you like making mistakes, you can take the next table.” Jamie stiffened. “But, I’m on break,” she muttered, already knowing it was useless. The older woman smirked. “Not anymore. Now move before I decide to dock your pay too.” Laughter followed her as she pushed through the kitchen doors, frustration making her eyes water. The second Jamie stepped into the dining area, the bell above the door chimed. Great. Just perfect. She grabbed a notepad and turned toward the entrance, ready to plaster on her best customer-service smile. But the moment she laid eyes on who had walked in, her entire body locked up. The world seemed to slow. He was tall, impossibly tall, towering over everyone in the diner. Broad shoulders, lean muscles wrapped in a frayed tank top, with a towel wrapped around his neck. She’d bet one half of her brain that he was just coming from a gym, or the shower. The lower part of her body didn’t find it difficult to imagine. And his eyes. A cold, piercing gray that settled directly on her. She swallowed. A hush fell over the restaurant. Jamie barely heard the whispers that started spreading, the sharp intakes of breath from the other waitresses. She didn’t need to. She knew exactly who he was. Lucas. The Alpha. The most powerful man in the pack. And for some reason, he was staring at her. She picked her brain back up from his feet and moved closer, reaching him as he sat. “Would you like to place your order now, sir?” Her voice came out steadier than she felt, though her pulse was hammering so hard she swore he could hear it. Lucas didn’t answer right away. Instead, his gaze zeroed in on her neck, where her pulse was beating, before trailing down her dress to her chest region, where her n*****s were getting hard. She swallowed again. His smirk was lazy, almost amused. “Sure, Jamie.” Her stomach dropped. He knew her name? Instinctively, she took a step back, but his hand shot out, catching her wrist. Not rough, just firm enough to make sure she didn’t run. The contact sent a jolt of something warm and unsettling through her skin. “Steady, love.” She sucked in a breath. “How do you know my name?” Lucas tilted his head, then flicked his gaze downward. She followed his eyes—straight to the name tag pinned to her uniform. Oh. Heat flooded her cheeks. i***t. She yanked her hand away, willing her embarrassment to disappear. “What would you like to order, sir?” Lucas picked up the menu, barely glancing at it before his eyes met hers again. “Depends, sweetheart. Are you on the menu?” Her brain short-circuited. She blinked at him, struggling to form a coherent thought. Did he just…? The sharp intake of breath from the nearby table told her she hadn’t imagined it. “Wait.” Her voice came out too loud. “Is this really happening?” A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest, and her cheeks flushed hotter. The other servers were staring angrily at them and she just wanted to find a table to hide under. Lucas leaned back in his seat, smirking. “You’re cute.” ‘Cute.’ She gritted her teeth and scribbled on her notepad. “I’ll, um, I’ll just get you the special.” “Good girl.” She spun on her heel and practically ran toward the kitchen, ignoring the heat of his gaze still following her. “Jamie.” She stopped in her tracks, taking a minute before turning back. He motioned to her with his fingers, and without thought, her feet led her back. His expression hadn’t changed, but there was something in it that sent a shiver down her spine. That lazy smirk was still there. But his eyes? His eyes had darkened slightly. “Don’t run. There’s nowhere you can go that I won’t find you.” Her breath hitched. She didn’t have to understand to know that was a threat. She forced herself to nod before hurrying into the kitchen. She barely had time to catch her breath before the other waitresses surrounded her. “Don’t even think about it, freak.” Brianna sneered, arms crossed. Jamie stiffened. “Think about what?” Kaycee scoffed. “Don’t play dumb. We saw how he looked at you.” Jamie clenched her jaw. “I don’t care how he looked at me. Now move. I have work to do.” Brianna stepped forward, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Switch tables with me.” Jamie swallowed hard, his threat echoing. “No.” Kaycee’s eyes flashed. “Do you have a death wish?” Jamie kept her chin high, even as fear curled in her stomach. “If Lucas has a problem with me serving him, he can say it himself.” The silence that followed was thick and tense. Then Brianna let out a laugh, sharp and cold. “Fine.” She took a step back, smiling. “Seems like we’ve been too welcoming.” Jamie didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Not when her hands were trembling as she grabbed the plate of food and rushed back out. When she set the dish in front of Lucas, she expected him to look at her. To say something. But he didn’t. He just ignored her. Jamie bit the inside of her cheek. Why did that sting? It wasn’t like she wanted his attention. Not really. She forced herself to turn away, shoving down the ridiculous pang of disappointment. The rest of the meal passed in silence. To avoid meeting the others, she puttered around the dining room, waiting on the others as soon as the bell jingled. And when Lucas finally stood, leaving behind a tip that made the other waitresses seethe, Jamie barely allowed herself to watch him leave. She wasn’t stupid. She knew better than to get caught looking. But apparently, not well enough. A heavy hand shoved her at the shoulder. Jamie turned, only to find Brianna standing there, a slow, saccharine smile on her face. “Careful,” she murmured, her voice sickly sweet. “I’d hate for you to trip and fall on something sharp.” Jamie’s stomach clenched. The threat was subtle. But it was there. Loud and clear. And as she stared down at the money and caught the glint of white paper, Jamie had a sinking feeling that her life had just become much, much harder.