Lyra's Pack: A Werewolf MC Romance

Lyra Starhorn had just finished her first shift at Maggie's Diner. She was worn out from being on her feet all day but grateful for the opportunity to work. It was a chance for her to earn enough money to get away from here, away from the Hell that was her past. She was a few towns over from her ex-boyfriend but still not far enough for her to feel safe. She was just wiping down the counter when Maggie, the owner, stopped by and asked her how she was doing. "I'm doing all right," she said tentatively. "I'm grateful for this opportunity I hope you know that," she said. "Of course, hon," Maggie said, kindness radiating from her eyes. "I'm glad to have you on the team. I can already tell you're going to be a great worker and pleasant to be around. The customers already seem to love you." It was a relief to hear it, Lara thought. She'd been worried that they wouldn't like the outsider, even if she was from just a few towns over. Being new and talking to people had always been a struggle for her. It was one of the reasons it was so easy to get wrapped up in Hal. He made her feel special in a way that no one else ever had. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that she'd never given anyone else a chance to make her feel special. He didn't do anything differently. She did. "Well, Maggie, I'm happy to be here. I know you're going to be a great boss." Maggie smiled at her sweetly, the older lady already feeling motherly and tender. "I'd rather think of us more as friends than owner and employee," Maggie said. "It's how I talk to everyone who works here. I want you to know that you're doing well here. I want to know that you're happy here, and if you have any troubles with your job or otherwise I hope you know you can come to me," Maggie said. "I'll keep that in mind," Lyra said. She knew then that it wasn't true though. She would never tell anyone about her issues with Hal. She knew she shouldn't be embarrassed. It wasn't her fault, what had happened between them. But she was embarrassed that she stayed so long. It made her feel stupid and she was afraid that other people would see her that way too. Maggie moved along with her own duties, mostly counting out the money that they made for the day. While she was doing that Lyra went on with her own tasks: wiping down all the tables, closing the blinds, sweeping the floor. She actually didn't want to leave. A waitressing job isn't exactly glamorous but it gave her something to think about besides her own problems. She got to smile and chat with people. They weren't her friends exactly, but they were people that she could see becoming her own regulars. People she knew by name, who knew her. It was a new start that she wanted as badly as she wanted to be away from Hal. And with this also came money. She desperately needed money. The house she was living in was a rental and it was only $400 per month, which was cheap but still more than she could afford with her meager funds. She didn't have a car yet and was stuck walking back and forth. Luckily, this town was small and nowhere was too far to walk. But unfortunately, this also meant that everyone knew everyone else's business, which meant everyone knew she didn't have a car. One of the younger guys that she worked with earlier, Tyler, had asked her if she needed a ride, but she declined. He was a teenager and she felt safe enough with him but she still wasn't comfortable taking rides from men that she didn't know. Another leftover from Hal and his abuse. Trust issues. Every man, no matter how old or what size, was a potential threadt. Tyler had looked uncertain that she would be safe walking after dark, but she said she would be fine. He didn't seem thrilled by the idea, but he accepted it. As a deer shifter she was pretty quick but she didn't have many defenses. She would just have to take the path that was laid out throughout the woods between her house and the diner. She picked up her purse and left the restaurant crossing the lit parking lot slowly. She was reluctant to leave the safety of a public place but she needed to move on. It didn't take long for her to get halfway home. The dirt path was worn enough that she didn't have to watch her step to not trip over tree roots and rocks. She heard a rustle in the trees and briefly saw movement but she didn't think anything of it. Probably just squirrel, she thought to herself and she considering shifting. She was much quicker in her deer form than human. Suddenly those sounds were a lot closer and felt hurried, before stopping right behind her. "We wondered when we would see you again, little Lyra," she heard from behind her. She turned and found Sonny, one of Max's friends, smiling cruelly at her from a ray of moonlight through the trees. "Max has missed you something horrible." Lyra tried to look braver than she felt and summoned all her bravado to speak. "On one of his missions, Sonny? Still taking his orders like a good little dog?" She knew she hit her mark on the German Shepherd shifter when he started to growl. "You always were a b***h Lyra. i actually volunteered to come teach you a lesson." Before she could blink, he was on her, her hair wrapped around his fist with her back pushed against a tree. He'd slammed her head when he pushed her and she was feeling woozy. "Might have some fun with you first, though. After all, you and Max aren't together anymore. I don't think he would mind." "No, please." Suddenly pride didn't matter quite so much. "Please no." "The lady said no," came a voice in the trees. "Or did you not hear her, dog? "Move along, whoever you are. This doesn't concern you." "You're on Long Fang land, dog. So I'd say it does concern me." Lyra could see just well enough to make out a well-muscled man in a leather vest before she passed out.