The Hybrid Luna & Her Alpha Mate

Chapter 5. Hope

Hope's POV

Well, the last couple of days have been very interesting. After school on Wednesday, I headed to work like I did most days. I work at the local diner and there are a few regulars that make my day almost every day. Ya know, those elderly kinds that make you remember your grandparents, well makes me think about what it would be like to have some. Well, after the incident at school, things started to get weird.

Flashback

Trying to forget about all the weirdness from school, I walked into work and got into the groove. Then one of those customers that I hate was at the counter. She kept yelling about everything, not enough ranch, her chicken sandwich wasn't hot enough, she needed more napkins and me walking to go get them was taking too long. At some point, I had enough of it and was secretly hoping that her salad would spontaneously combust and get her out of this place, and wouldn't you know it, her chicken sandwich and fries went up in flames. I couldn't help it. She had belittled me enough, so with a smirk I asked "Is it hot enough now? You know you could have just asked, and I would have them remake it. "You didn't need to set it on fire." I knew I needed to get some water to put it out and then water just flew into it and extinguished the flames. This can't be a coincidence anymore, and I'm starting to get freaked out.

flashback ends.

Well, since that day, things like that have kept happening, especially with fire and water. Now it's Friday and my birthday. I skipped my graduation ceremony. It's not like I have anyone in the crowd cheering me on. I have my diploma and that is all that I care about. As a foster kid, nobody expected me to amount to anything or even graduate. I made it, though I'm officially 18, I didn't end up 16 and pregnant and I didn't drop out. One thing that I didn't expect to happen but kinda should have with how this week has gone is that this morning I would wake up to someone talking to me in my head. She hasn't shut up since!

"Hope please talk to me. I can help you", this voice pleaded with me again. Earlier, she said that her name was Isla, and she almost sounded sad, but how could my own delusions have their own emotions? Now it's almost 11 pm. Most of the kids from school are starting to come in here because the owner doesn't care how old you are as long as you have the cash. In walked Bev the b***h and my used-to-be only friend Bre, and, of course, they sat in my section. Here I thought that working this extra shift would save me from having to see them. I moved into a hotel room this afternoon, not that I had much. I only have a large duffle bag that is half full and that includes my books and hygiene items. I have a total of 3 pairs of shorts, 6 T-shirts, 1 pair of long jeans, my flip-flops, and my sneakers, worn mostly for work. I also had 6 books and a toothbrush, toothpaste, a brush, a basic body wash, and a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, plus socks and underwear. Patrica and Monty went through my bag to make sure I didn't take anything from the house. Of course, I didn't. I wanted nothing to do with them. The only thing that I asked for was the hygiene items. I didn't want to have to buy them right away, I only had about $1500 to start over with. Ruby, the elderly lady from CPS, came by first thing in the morning and informed me that the Paterson's no longer wanted me in the house. If only she had known what they had done in the almost 7 months that I had lived here. She handed me an envelope with about $400 to help "get me started". She told me that once I got settled she would bring something to help me out. I went to the local motel and checked in. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but I can eat at least once a day at the diner and I will be picking up as many shifts as I can. Frank's, the diner I work at, is not fancy, but it is a staple with its black and white checkerboard floor and red tabletops and countertops. It had a lot of 1950s vibes, including the jukebox that was filled with classics ranging from Frank Sinatra to AC/DC.

"Hi, Welcome to Frank's Diner. I'm Hope can I get you something to drink?" I asked, bracing myself for the berating and insults to come. I noticed there were two new people in the group. I figured it was just family in for the graduation. Bev looked like she had just stepped in s**t and Bre snickered. The two new people smiled warmly and introduced themselves as Scarlet and Asher.

"I'll have a coke," the guy named Asher asked.

"Me too", Scarlet added.

"We will have two beers," Bev said, motioning between her and Bre.

"Can I see some ID?" i knew that I would be forced to give them the beer no matter what their ID said.

Tom, the manager, walked up and said" Oh, Hope you know that these are some regulars and don't need to do that. "Why don't you go get their drinks, OK?"

With a sigh and a roll of my eyes so hard I'm pretty sure I saw my brain, I went and got the drinks.

"Hey Darlin, could you get me two ham and turkey sandwiches and fries?" Asher asked with a wink, adding "I'm a growing boy and need the extra food, maybe we could have a little workout later just you and me?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"He is barking up the wrong tree. "He isn't our mate!" that stupid voice chimed in. What the hell does she mean, mate? "Ew are you really flirting with a freak?" Bev asked, looking like she was disgusted by the very thought that her new crush might be interested.

"Why do you talk to her like that? "I can tell that she is special," Scarlet added," I don't know about special, but I'm glad that the two new people were at least kind. Throughout the meal, Asher kept flirting, and that Isla voice was starting to get angry. At the end of the meal, Asher asked for my number, and to my shock, there was a loud growl coming from the guy at the door. I froze, standing in shock at the voice chanting" Mate, mate, mate, mate".

What the actual Hell is going on? Why is that guy so mad, and why has all the color drained from Asher's face?