The Café

Chapter 7

My Mum walks in with my bag of stuff interrupting the laughter.

"I've got you some clean clothes and underwear!" Mum announces before realising I have company. I see her cheeks flush as bright red as I feel mine must be. Horrified, puts it lightly.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Mum stutters, fixing her hair and walking to my bedside. "I didn't realise Tess had company." She explains while assessing the room. She looks surprised at the 4 large men squished in my hospital room. Tom laughed out loud in response.

"Only her rescuers!" He states proudly. I roll my eyes. Absolute arrogant arse.

"My goodness!!!" Mum flusters around the bed to hug each man standing in my room. Links eyes seem to soften when my Mum embraces him. So its just me that angers him then?

"Thank you all so much! I am so thankful for you all! I hate to imagine what would have happened if you had not arrived at that horrifying time!" Mum continued gushing.

"It was nothing really." Evan adds coyly.

"Please, I would love if you could all come to dinner tonight! Our way of saying thank you!" Mum insists. I glare at her but she is too busy fawning over my rescuers to notice.

"Are you sure Tess is up to that?" Pete asks politely, glancing at me quickly.

"Of course!" Mum states, tapping my leg. "Come to ours at 6pm and I'll whip us up something special!"

The boys all look at each other nodding. Link remains impassive. I can't get a read on him. The thought of him being in my house sends a thrill through my body but the memory of his cold glare brings me back down to earth.

"We would be most thankful!" Tom replies smiling his most devastatingly handsome smile. His over-the-top politeness irritating me beyond words. Then he had to continue; "Well, we should let you get dressed now your mum has delivered you clean underwear. We'll catch you later!" He fare-welled with a teasing wink. I sigh in response - I don't have any defence.

The boys all say their 'goodbyes' and 'see you laters'.

Pete stops next to me to give me a quick hug, "I'm glad your feeling better Tess. See you tonight." He smiles caringly. It was a sweet gesture that gained a low growl coming from Tom's chest. Pete instantly backed away and hurriedly walked out the door. Tom bowed his head politely to my Mum then followed behind him.

I can feel my body aching for the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies as soon as the group have left.

All 4 men walked out the door leaving Mum and I alone.

"What the hell Mum?" I whine. "Dinner!?" I flop myself back onto the bed dramatically. Strangely, I find myself longing for the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies again. I shake the thought from my head quickly.

"What?!" Mum objects before continuing, "They saved your life Tess! The least we can do is have them around for dinner!" She demands. I know not to bother objecting her plans any further.

She hands me my clean tracksuit pants, shirt and underwear - I couldn't wait to have a shower and get into some clean clothes.

The warm water falling on my skin feels heavenly. I can feel the tension and stiffness of my muscles release under the pressure. The familiar smell of lavender body wash instantly makes me at ease. I start recalling how hostile Link was to me. I attempt to think back to what I could have done to offend him so much. I had no idea and wasn't sure if I wanted to know. I decide to let it go and just enjoy my shower.

*knock * knock * knock *

I am interrupted.

"Tess? You alright in there?" Mum calls through the c***k in the door, "We need to head home so I can make dinner for everyone!" She reminds me and I am bought back to Earth instantly.

I get myself dressed and sorted then re-enter my hospital room. Mum has got my belongings already packed into the small backpack she bought. She was waiting on the couch with her foot tapping. She must be anxious for tonight's dinner. Feeding 5 fully grown male wolves (Tom, Evan, Pete and Link as well as Sam) was going to be a mammoth task to say the least.

"Do you think you can make chocolate chip cookies for dessert tonight Mum?" I ask casually. I was having a serious craving now.

"Yea, why not!" Mum replies, "That should keep a group of big, hungry wolves happy!"

Mum leaves to sign the nurses forms discharging me from the hospital while I wait in the room.

"Ready to go Tess?" Sam asks as he walks in the room to pick up my bag.

"I didn't realise you were here?" I say surprised.

"Mum made me wait in the car to save the good car park." He shrugs, "So, I hear you have an admirer?" He adds, tongue-in-cheek.

I rolls me eyes at him, over exaggerating the action for his benefit.

"So Tom Price is interested in my little sister, hey?" He slouches onto the couch.

"What are you talking about? It's Tom Price... he's interested in any girl." I respond.

Sam laughs, "Not as much as you apparently. I've heard he has been telling everyone he intends to woo you. In turn hoping everyone will back off"

"Can he even do that?" I ask confused. His? Who the hell decided I was his? I was enraged. It wasn't as if I had guys lining up for me but options are nice.

"Dunno." Sam shrugged his shoulders. "He is the Alpha's guest, so he has a bit of sway. A little bit self-righteous if you ask me but whatever you're into." He joked. I totally agreed.

"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!" I try to sound light-hearted but I was trying desperately to hide my fury. "As if people actually pay any attention to that!" I add.

"You're one lucky gal!" Sam teased me, clearly not noticing how utterly old-fashioned it all sounded. I reach my foot across the walkway to kick him in the shins. He yelps out as my foot makes contact.

"Well we've got dinner with him tonight - so lucky us!" I poke back. Sam groans in response.

"All right! That's enough lazing around! Time to get this girl home!" Mum announces as she walks back in my room.

Sam peels himself off of the couch and leads the way to the car.