Hidden Secrets

Chapter 8: Dinner Date

Stella's POV

It may be a little restaurant, but it is one of the best Italian restaurants in the area. Personally I think it's the best in the state, but I can’t say that as I’ve only been to this one town. Normally we have an hour-long wait list but tonight is pure madness. I don't know what it is about tonight, but it is more packed than normal.Tonights madness has thrown everyone for a loop. Servers are running around, kitchen staff screaming, and bartenders are running behind on orders. Majority of our customers tonight too are all couples, ugh all their kissy faces and lust covered eyes. The women are dressed to the nines and I feel somewhat self conscious about the dirty black pants and apron with a white dress shirt, Yeah Sexy.

"How are we all doing tonight? My name is Stella and I'll be your server today, would we like to start off on some drinks?" I repeated with a smile, I have said this speech so much that it's just imprinted into my brain. I'm writing down the couples order when I hear some commotion by the patio door. I don't look up until I hear the evil laughs and run to get the orders into the kitchen and hide behind the bar peeking over. I can see them all in a group heading straight for the largest table I have to serve... f**k!

"Ugh I didn't know that human b***h works here," Eva said, and it wasn't for my werewolf hearing I wouldn't have been able to hear her

"Why did we have to come here anyway, it's not even good food,"

"Eva! we are here because one I said so and two Alpha says so," Marcus whispered

"Plus we have to be nice to our guest, who is looking for his mate so Eva please act like somewhat of a lady," Marcus hissed, which got a laugh from me and Mark.

I was still listening to their conversation when someone touched my shoulder, scaring me half to death. "AWWWWWW!"

"s**t, Stella, no need to scream, here are your plates for table six and eight are still waiting for drinking," another server said, handing me a tray filled with food. I'm walking over to the table with food and I can feel the daggers drilling into my back. The downside to serving is that even if it's a table of people you hate. When everyone is this busy and both Sophia and Stephanio are in the kitchen you have to take the table.

"Hello, Marcus, Eva, Mar…"

"Yeah, not all of our group is here yet so red, and three glasses of water while we wait," Marcus interrupted me. Which forced a smile onto my face and just turned on my heels walking away. I go back behind the bar cursing and mumbling under my breath, walking back to their table to give them their drinks. I'm walking around to all of the tables to make sure everyone is perfectly happy with their meal or if they are done with their dishes. I finally pause and look up at the moon and see the lunar eclipse starting to happen, and it is very slow but you can see the silver moon being replaced by a ruby red moon it was wonderful to look at, it was completely full when I start to see surrounding stars start to fall and it was the most beautiful sight to see. I was completely consumed by the raining stars and ruby moon that I caught a scent that was almost too perfect. It was freshly fallen rain, mint and wind.

"MINE!"

I tried to move my legs but they felt as heavy as lead. Panic sets in when I smell the scent get stronger, and the server from earlier passes me. I stop her shoving the wine and water into her arms.

“Please take table four,” I didn’t wait for her to answer as I started walking toward the back. I don't know what to do when I feel something burning in my side. It’s like the pain from earlier ten fold. I don’t know how I make it toward the back and stubble into the employee bathroom. I rip off my shirt to see what the burning pain is. My sight is almost completely blurry and I slightly notice a glowing symbol on the side of my stomach. I can hear River in pain and between both of our pain I can only handle so much more. The whole room is spinning and I feel the cool sensation of a wall so I slide down. I don’t know if I’m screaming but everything just becomes a blur and the darkness starts to take over. Pain has finally won.

Damon's POV

The only good thing about being introduced to all these packs is the endless food but it always had a catch. Like tonight, both Alpha Blake and Beta Marcus invited me to have dinner with them, and surprise! The daughter from earlier and two i***t sons are joining. I told them that I would meet them as promised I needed to let Shadow run. I walk out of the guest bedroom they have made up for me and make my way to the surrounding woods. I throw a bag to the ground and strip down to my birthday suit. Putting the clothes into the bag I let Shadow take control. I feel the first bone rearrange itself, and the fur pushing out. Trying the exercises from the Silvertails about a quick shift but I feel too stiff. I try to breathe with every break of bone, but again I’m too stiff.

Once I've opened my eyes I see that my once hands are now paws. Shadows fur is pitch black, my eyes glowing a sliver storm gray. Picking the bag up with my teeth I trot toward the bright city. I let loose feeling the moon fuel power into my run and I can just feel Shadow smirk when we push just a little harder. When I look up at the sky I see that the moon is gone and stop right on my hind feet, and I see the moon is changing to the color red, that's when it hits me... "Follow the morning sun" A LUNAR ECLIPSE.

I can feel shadows excitement and we turn to and start running right toward the moon. That's when we come to a little Italian restaurant, 'Sophia's Little Italy" Isn't that where I'm meeting the Alpha and Beta. I go behind an ally and change into the clothes that I had in the bag. I quickly but calmly walk through the restaurant telling the host that I’m meeting my party here. I’m walking through the building taking the stairs two at a time making it to the patio. When I reach the doors I rush outside and I see Marcus and Blake on the other side of the floor sitting with their families. They wave right at me but I ignore them scanning the rest of the tables and patio. I look at the moon again and see that the stars are starting to rain and shock has taken a hold of me. The warm breeze blows past my face and I breathe in a scent of cinnamon and sugar. I look right below the moon and see a girl with brown hair that is in a tight bun, and she is wearing the restaurant uniform.

HER! HER! That one!

"MINE!"

Fuck, man….

I sniff again and that when it hits me

Umm, Damon... we might a small problem, she doesn't have a wolf, she is human

In the middle of my thoughts, I see that she had disappeared toward I’m guessing the back. I’m following her scent when I start to feel the howling pain from times before. Is that my pain or is that her pain? I easily push past all the pain and continue to follow with my nose like a rabid dog. The smell becomes clear in one of the back rooms, but the door is locked when I reach for the handle. With the pain growing I start to pound on the door. I hear her scream and I ram into the door with my shoulder ripping it off its hinges. Shoving past the door I see that she ripped her shirt apart and I quickly cover her with my shirt gathering her up in my arms. I'm too distracted with helping her that I didn't notice the pain that was subsiding on my side when I looked in the mirror. Where the burning sensation was it's is now a design of a swirling moon and sun. Almost like a tattoo.

"What happened?!” One server came rushing in, I know it doesn’t look good but I try to explain as best as I can

“I found her this way,” I say still holding her in my arms.

“ Stella?! hurry lay her here," an older lady pushed through the gathering bodies, "la mia Bambina, cosa è successo?" (My little girl, what happened?) she pointed to a small bed in the back room and I laid her down. she rushed over placing a loving hand on her face. “What the hell is going on?” An old man rushed in, “Everyone back to work,” He yelled, turning back toward my mate. Stella….

“Stella?” He looked at the old woman and walked up to Stella, “What happened,” He asked, placing a hand on her forehead.

"Down boy,” He said, mocking a trainer and his pet.

"It’s alright Stephanio, its her mate,” the old lady said still staring at stella

“So you know of magic?” I asked trying but failing to hide my shock

"Yes,” She smiled up at me