Changing Fate

ch.8

His hands that were cupping my face left their place on my cheeks and started to roam freely down my body. He placed his hands on my thighs lifting me into the trunk of the SUV. I felt his abs against my abdomen. His kisses left my lips and moved down my neck. He found a sweet spot on my slender neck which felt like pure ecstasy. A moan escaped my lips as he playfully nipped the area. I was so aroused by him. He edged closer to me decreasing the space between our bodies. I felt him shift his weight as I leaned onto my back. I gripped his shirt with my fists to bring him closer to me, his hand caressed my outer thigh. His scent is like a narcotic leaving me wanting more.

The sound of a shopping cart rattling on the pavement jars me out of my daze. I whisper to him urgently, my body tensing in his embrace. "Wait! Won't the others worry?" I avoid looking at him, instead gazing out towards the parking lot. He lets out a heavy sigh and shifts his gaze in the same direction. The sun is casting its warm glow on us, making it difficult to tell if he's blushing. He removes himself from between my legs and steps back slightly so that I can gracefully exit the trunk. As I stand up, I smooth out my skirt and shirt with my hands, trying to regain a sense of normalcy. Atlas closes the trunk with a thud, and we make our way to the diner to rendezvous with the rest of the squad.

We walk into the diner spotting everyone in the back at a large semi-circle booth. Julie is there with them and like she said she would do. And Asher had ordered our drinks. Julie meets us as we head over, “Hey, sorry I gotta run. I must give a lecture at the Uni tomorrow. I’m headed out. We can hang out later kay?” she says as she beelines for the door. “Yea, no problem. Thank you.” I called to her. The seating arrangement seemed weird. Asher was at the end with Farrah between him and Oliver. “Can I have the end?” I ask looking to Atlas. “Sure, but why?” Cause I want it. I thought in my head. “So, I don’t keep bugging you to move, to use the bathroom,” I say smiling. I did not want to be sitting between Johnathan and him. If I needed to escape I could by sitting at the end.

I was enjoying my vanilla float when Farrah's accusatory tone of voice disrupted the peaceful atmosphere. "So, what took you all so long to put up the groceries? Did you get lost going to the car?" Her words caught me off guard, and the liquid I was sipping went the wrong way, causing me to choke and cough out the ice cream. My eyes started to water, and my cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. I struggled to regain my composure and respond to her inquiry. "Uh, well. Um. Huh," was all I could manage to say. Thankfully, the server noticed my distress and approached us. "You okay, hon?" she asked, offering me a wad of napkins from her apron. I gratefully accepted them, wiping my face and cleaning up my mess.

As I tried to calm down and regain my breath, the server asked, "Y'all ready to order?" Farrah and the rest of the group proceeded to give their orders, while I gathered myself together and collected my thoughts. When it was my turn, I decided to go with an Angus cheeseburger, cooked medium, with cheddar cheese, lettuce, and mustard. I also ordered a side of sweet potato fries. "Sure thing. It'll be about 10 minutes," the server replied with a nod before leaving the table.

While waiting for our food, Oliver turned to me and asked, "Are you counting down the days until your eighteenth birthday?" I was momentarily caught off guard and wasn't sure how to respond. Before I could say anything, Farrah chimed in, "No, I bet she can't wait to find her mate! But the party is going to be one for the books. Alpha Alfred went all out. It must be nice to have such a lavish celebration."

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. While I was excited about my upcoming birthday, I was also filled with apprehension. "I can't wait," I said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "Alpha Alfred and Luna Nadine have done an amazing job putting everything together, despite the challenges with Luna Nadine's father. I'm looking forward to all the events they have planned for the day and night."

But in truth, the thought of my wolf showing up on my birthday made me nervous. The last time she had appeared was when I was fifteen and in school, and that had been a chaotic and traumatic experience. I didn't want to remember it, but the fear lingered in the back of my mind.

As we patiently waited for our food, the kind and attentive waitress arrived at our table with our delicious meals. The aroma of the food was heavenly, and we all couldn't wait to dig in. Once the food was placed in front of us, a serene silence fell upon the table as we savored every bite. I must admit that I had overindulged during this lunch, eating more than I usually would. However, I didn't feel too guilty since we were out for a special occasion.

After finishing my meal, I made my way to the bathroom. On the way, I coincidentally bumped into our lovely waitress and handed her my card, whispering that I would be paying for the entire table. I left her a generous tip for her excellent service, hoping it would brighten up her day. As I walked toward the restroom, I could feel the food's heaviness setting in, and I let out a deep yawn. Feeling refreshed after using the restroom, I headed back to the table. The calorie intake had made me feel quite sleepy, but the ambiance and lively chatter at the table kept me awake.

"Aw, poor Rhea needs a nap," Farrah said sarcastically to me. I rolled my eyes and sat down. While the others were still eating, my plate was already empty. A full yawn took control of me and I stretched forward. "Are you sure you're a werewolf? You're acting more like a cat," Farrah quipped. "That would be cool," I replied as another yawn rolled in.

As I sat at the table with the others, I noticed that they were still enjoying their meals, but my body was feeling quite weary. So, I decided to make myself comfortable by resting my head on the table. As I closed my eyes, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. The warmth of the room, the comforting aroma of the food, and the soothing background chatter of my friends all helped me to relax. Slowly, I drifted into a deep slumber, and my body felt weightless as if I was floating on a cloud. The peaceful sensation of sleep was all-encompassing, and I was completely at ease.