Silver Mist

Chapter Two

As the last waitress came through the kitchen doors, the room breathed a sigh. Another night done. Grabbing their coats everyone gradually filed out, leaving Dani to lock up, her parents having left with the chefs earlier. Kim hangs back with her and they walk to the pack cabins together.

They need no light, the clear sky allowing the moon to illuminate the snow, making the hills and mountains around them almost glow in the darkness. It wasn’t hard for their wolf eyes to spot a few pairs of shifters out patrolling in the distance. There wasn’t a territory boundary, with packs being quite far apart the Northern Colonies were all friendly and peaceful towards each other, outside of tournaments and parties, it wasn’t common to meet members from other packs unannounced. Occasionally when shifters went travelling, more often than not searching for their mate, a request would be sent to the Alpha out of respect. It wasn’t until the Eastern Colonies had problems with the Lycans that regular patrols were introduced throughout all the colonies.

Watching two wolves walking along the ridge, Dani longed to stretch her four legs and go running. With all the humans around, the Alpha had enforced strict times that they were allowed to shift, always under the cover of night. When she had the evening off, Dani would always get up super early to run, there was a small, secluded ridge about halfway up the mountain that was a great spot for watching the sunrise. It wasn’t an easy climb, her wolf was small and agile, easily navigating the steep and rocky terrain that would cause larger wolves difficulty. She would just have to wait until tomorrow.

Breakfast at the restaurant ran from 7o’clock until 10. It wasn’t anywhere near as busy as the lunch or dinner shifts so Dani had a bit of time to do a few plans for Kim’s birthday the next day. Ralph’s were holding a small gathering after the lunch shift in honour of the waitresses 18th birthday. Dani had managed to get a invitations out to their few school friends to attend and a complimentary one for Alpha and Luna. She highly doubted they would come but it would be rude not to invite them. She had guilted Kim’s older brother Patrick, into driving the hour long trip to the large neighbouring town for party supplies. The little stationary shop on Main Street sold a few bits and pieces for the resorts guests but Dani wanted something a little more special for her best friends big birthday.

The decorations and food were sorted. Her mums friend Kelly, who ran the bakery next door with her mate, was going to make the cake. Dani wouldn’t be able to set up until the morning as they needed the upper floor for the dinner shift that evening.

Shaking out her hand she finished the list for Patrick just in time for him to walk through the restaurant doors.

“Morning Dani, you alright?” Super charming and devilishly handsome, Patrick was one of the few older male bachelors within the pack at 20.

“Hi Patrick, nothing to complain about, you?” Dani got up from the table she had commandeered and walked over to the counter.

“Ah, you know, nothing new.” He shrugged with a slight grimace on his lips.

“Any plans for after the season? A bit of travelling maybe?” She asked tentatively. Dani knew from Kim that Patrick had been a bit down about not finding his mate yet. His cheeks flushed and he glanced around the restaurant.

“Well, actually, I think maybe I don’t need to.” He said hopefully with a small smile. Dani grinned.

“You found her?! Kim never said! That’s great news!” She congratulated.

“Ah, not quite. It’s not much, just the last couple of weeks I get a strange feeling when I see her. She’s not long been 17 so her wolf is only just starting to come through. I think the only reason I can sense her so early is because I’m older. It will be 10 or 11 months before she might even start to feel me.”

“It’s something though. You’ve waited long enough.” She said lightly squeezing his arm. “Here’s the party list” she said handing him the paper.

“Thanks, should be back around 4o’clock I reckon if none of the guests are late.” Patrick was part of the guards rotation and was currently driving guests to the town and train station in the resort buses.

“Ok, thanks Pat.” Dani waved him off before clearing a recently vacated table. Not long after Patrick left the door went again. Looking up from the table she was setting, Dani was startled to see Luna and her daughter Isabelle walking into the restaurant.

“L-Luna,” Dani dropped her eyes to the floor as a mark of respect before meeting her gaze. “What can I assist you with?”

“It is Danielle, correct?” Gina Harris was a striking woman, she had sharp facial features, ice blue eyes and platinum blonde hair. “Are your parents here? I would like to speak to them.”

“Of course.”

While Luna and her parents spoke, Isabelle turned to Dani. “So Danielle, is it?”

“Just Dani is fine.”

“Ah right, I’m just Izzy. I was in the year below you at school, do you know my brother, Will? He was in your class.”

“I know of him, can’t say we’ve ever talked.” Dani shrugged.

“Yeah he can be a bit of a snobby s**t, no offence.”

“None taken.” Dani smiled.

“Do you work here all the time?” Izzy asked.

“Not all day, everyday. I manage to get in a couple of slopes a week. I imagine with no school you are out there everyday.”

“Nah not really, mum drags me around all day doing pack stuff, bit boring.” She rolled her eyes at the Lunas back. “I was 17 a couple of weeks ago and ever since she’s been a bit of a nightmare with Wills birthday soon. I think she’s a bit worried his mate will be one of those i***t groupies.”

Dani recalled her earlier conversation with Patrick and wonders. Izzy seems like a nice girl, she has softer features than her mother but the same piercing blue eyes. From what Dani can remember from the school rumour mill, she didn’t have any close friends and spent most of her time by herself. Odd for the child of an Alpha but definitely better than her brother’s reputation.

“We’re having a small party tomorrow afternoon for my friends birthday, you can come if you want a break, starts about 3:00 when we close from lunch.” Dani smiled.

“I’d love to! Thanks!” Izzy turned to the door at the sound of her name. “I’d better go, see you tomorrow!”