BECOMING: A Luna Awakening

CHAPTER2

The only thing Danika hated about her escapades on her only day off was the hangover that came with it. But today, it seemed there was no hangover. No nauseous feeling. No grogginess whatsoever. She didn't even feel the headaches she usually felt after drinking too much alcohol nor did she feel drowsy.

She got out of bed and grabbed the bottle of water on her night stand, chugging it down. After going out one night every month for nearly two years, she had learnt to prepare adequately even before leaving the night before. She stared at the tablets sitting in a small plastic bag and realized that she didn't even need the painkillers. She felt alright and somehow couldn't explain it.

She got up and did a stretch before padding over to Isabel’s room

‘Isa?’ she called lightly tapping on the door.

She heard a groan from inside which she took as a signal to push it open and poke her head in. She then walked into Isabel's room

As usual, there were clothes strewn about. Her dressing table was a mess of medication bottles, make-up products and other knick knacks. Her bathroom door was wide open - a telltale sign that Isabel had been throwing up. She sat at the foot of Isabel's bed and gently shook her. Isabel turned to the other side.

‘Isa’ she called again, shaking her not too gently this time. Isabel groaned and cracked her eyes open

‘What time is it?’ she asked groggily trying to get a glimpse at the digital clock on her night stand

‘About time to get your ass off the bed and get ready for work, girl. You know we only have one day off’

‘And what a day it was’ Isabel mumbled

They had started the day quite well and the night ended up even better

‘How is it that you're even up?’ Isabel asked dragging herself to sit up ‘You’re usually so difficult to drag out of bed’

‘I have no idea,’ Danika mused

‘I just feel really good. You better get up though’ she continued ‘we most definitely do not want to be late. Get up and get dressed. I'll bring you some Advil and water’

Danika stood up and left Isabel's room.

She hurried through her routine of brushing her teeth, taking a bath and throwing on her work uniform. She didn't bother with makeup, not when she knew she was going to deal majorly with self absorbed and entitled karens. She knew Isabel matched her for every activity. Breakfast was usually taken whenever they were out in the form of a latte or smoothie.

‘Danika!’

She knew that nasal, cheery, whiny voice anywhere and loathed it with a passion she didn't even understand. She grudgingly turned plastering a saccharine sweet smile on her face

‘Trevor’

‘Pleasure as always, Danika, you look absolutely ravishingly beautiful today’ Trevor flashed a smile

Danika laughed awkwardly.

‘You know, I was thinking the other day ….’

‘oh, you were?’

‘Very funny, Dani, but……’

Danika zoned out

Trevor had been a steady face that had been trying to get into her pants since she could try to remember. He only shopped at that store because he knew Danika worked there and he never missed the opportunity to try and flirt with her.

‘I bet you've changed your mind about that date, huh?’ he smirked.

Danika groaned

‘I still do not want to go on a date with you Trevor’ she grounded out with clenched teeth. Her face was still flawlessly holding her smile.

‘Even if you were the last guy on earth’ she muttered under her breath

Trevor's smirk dropped

‘You’d come around one day’ he said going towards the exit slowly ‘I just know you would. And by that time, you'd be begging for me to take you’

Danika breathed out a sigh of relief once he walked out the door

‘Guy can't take a hint, can he?’ one of the other cashiers asked

‘Never’ Danika replied ‘it's completely exhausting’

‘I don't envy you’ she laughed

‘I’m going on a water break’ she said moving to stand up as the bell above the door just chimed signalling an entrance.

Danika looked up towards the entry door to find the same pair of grey eyes from her night out staring right at her.

Damien couldn't get that face out of his head, try as he might. It had haunted him ever since he woke up to find her gone, leaving only her scent to take her place. With his overly sensitive nose, he was pretty sure he could track her down but he also knew he wouldn't.

He never tracked down his latest conquests….. if he could even refer to her as his conquest, because it seemed she was the one who conquered him.

He knew she was entirely something else. Something he couldn't explain but just instinctively knew. It was kind of hard for him to stop and try to figure it out when she was dancing, or even when she had her hands in his hair and devoured him like her last meal.

A chill ran down Damien's spine at the memory.

She was beautiful, elegant and mysterious. She had a grip on Damien that even he couldn't understand or try to explain.

Damien shook his head. He needed to get these obsessive thoughts of her out of his head. There was a lot of paperwork on his table that needed to be signed and sent out and he just knew he couldn't afford to spend his time thinking of a woman he'd probably never see again.

There was a knock on the door that had Damien looking up

‘Come in’ he said

The door was pushed open and a man walked in

‘Alpha’ he said bowing his head slightly in way of greeting

‘Scott, I thought we agreed to drop the alpha thing between you and I’ Damien said, standing up and rounding his desk to shake hands with the newcomer, Scott.

They took each other's forearm and leaned in until their shoulders touched

‘Beta’ Damien said in the same manner

Scott laughed and sat down while Damien leaned on his desk.

‘How is the paperwork coming along?’ Scott asked

‘Very slowly, I guess’ Damien replied ‘but I know that's not what you came here for’

Scott face morphed into a wry type of knowing smile

‘Where were you last night?’ he asked

‘Asking your alpha questions?’ Damien fired back jokingly

‘Asking for the well being and protection of my alpha’ Scott played along trying so hard not to burst into laughter

‘Well, if you must know, I went into town. You know, patrol checks and all that'

‘Patrol checks?’ Scott was snickering now

Damien cleared his throat and stood up straight with his hands behind his back

‘Yes, patrol checks. And uh, territory border control' he cleared his throat again

‘Oh, come on. We both know there are sentries for that. What were you really up to?’

‘What do you wish to do with that information?’

He was beating around the bush and he knew it. Somehow, he just wanted to keep the knowledge and memory of Danika to himself alone

‘Damien, you know I know. Do you need me to outrightly really ask who she……’ he was interrupted by the door creaking open

A small, petite woman walked in. She had a curtain of pin straight brown hair and big brown eyes.

‘Damien’ she cooed strutting into the office. Damien's expression immediately turned serious

‘That’s alpha to you, Alena’ Scott snarled

‘It’s Alena Rose’ she corrected not so sweetly

‘Alena Rose, what have I told you about walking into my office without knocking?’ Damien asked a tad bit harshly

‘Oh, sorry, my bad. I just wanted to surprise you,’ she replied, coming closer to where he stood.

Damien subtly put more space between them by going back around his desk and taking his seat. Alena Rose surged forward with a determined look on her face. She leaned on his table towards him giving him an eyeful of her cleavage.

‘My beta and I were talking pack business, Alena Rose and I do not want you here’ Damien said in a stern voice

‘I just came in to check in on you though, that's all' she replied sweetly

‘I do not need to be checked on’

‘I know, but I care about you, and you check on people you care about’

Scott watched the exchange silently. Alena Rose had never been really smart but she was cunning. She had been pining for Damien's attention all through high school and despite being continuously rejected, it never deterred her, if anything, it made her even more determined.

‘I found a place where we could go, a club of sorts’ she was saying to Damien

‘I’m not interested, thank you’

Damien had always tried to be civil with her but sometimes she was overbearing

‘Alpha Damien wishes to be left alone, so we can continue with meaningful conversations, Alena’ Scott sneered

Alena Rose sneered right back

‘I’ve told you before, my name is Alena Rose’

Of course Scott knew that. He just enjoyed messing with her. It was delightful ruffling her feathers

‘Oh, sorry, my bad’ he mocked

She huffed and turned back to Damien

‘I was thinking we could go out for a night of fun. Just the two of us?’

Damien's expression turned even colder

‘I have pack business to run, Alena Rose, I do not have the time to hang out and have fun with you. Now, if you would leave my study’ he shuffled around with the papers on his desk

Alena Rose huffed again ‘You always push me away, Damien’

‘Incase you didn't hear Scott, it's alpha to you’ he spat

She stuttered a bit, then turned and stormed away

‘You know, taking that tone with her always sends her away faster’ Scott mentioned

‘Engaging in any form of conversation with her always gives me a headache’

‘So, about this woman from last night' Scott continued

‘I doubt the fact this said imaginary woman is pack business, Scott’

‘Oh, humour me. Come on, just tell me about her’

‘There’s no one to talk about. I don't know what you're going on about’

‘I caught a whiff of you when you got back in the early hours of this morning though’ Scott stood up ‘If you don't want to talk about her,it's okay’

‘All I need to focus on right now is running my pack’

‘That much is quite obvious, but I just wish you'd be open to someone’

‘Being open to someone would be a form of distraction I can't afford’

Damien came around his desk again and clapped Scott on the shoulder

‘This is one thing you and I understand about this job’

Scott heaved an exhale

‘Doesn’t it ever get lonely?’

‘I don't have time to feel lonely’

Scott knew Damien was stubborn. He had always been and after the death of his parents and their alpha, his stubbornness and need to protect the pack had grown tenfold

‘You go home now S

cott, I'll call you if I need anything’

‘Yes, alpha' Scott answered bowing his head in submission and walked out

Damien looked back at his desk and shook his head. Dannie was definitely one distraction he could not afford