Sweet love of the luna

"Good evening madam, What would you love to have please?" The waitress asked with a smile. holding the order pad "What is on your menu please?" I replied. "Ok." The waitress stared at her pad and gave it to me , pointing at the Chavalet best recipe. "We have the Japanese sushi, sausage rolls and the white spaghetti and grilled fish. Italian meinu comprising of Italian rice and sauce, the crispy veal milanese, roasted chicken and steak beef. And on our wine catalogue we have the om Pérignon Vintage,Scottish wine and Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet" I was attentive while the waitress continued to speak from the menu pad that I held. "I think I will have the Italian rice , sauce and grilled . Also a bottle of Pérignon Vintage" I said. The waitress smiled and left. I glared around the restaurant, the chandeliers and lights were ok their utmost radiation. Their were few people in the Chavalet,who had come to dine that evening. But, someone stroke my attention. He was staring at me without a blink. I stared at him, he waved, i averted my gaze. " Here is your order, madam" The waitress dropped my dishes from the tray she had to my table. Here's a more human and conversational paraphrase: "Evening! What can I get for you?" the waitress asked, beaming as she held out her notepad. "Could I see the menu?" I replied. "Sure thing." She flipped through her pad and handed it to me, pointing to what she said was the chef's specialty. "We've got Japanese sushi, sausage rolls, and a lovely white spaghetti with grilled fish. For Italian, we have rice and sauce, crispy veal Milanese, roasted chicken, and steak beef. And for wine, we have Dom Pérignon Vintage, a Scottish wine, and Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet." I listened carefully as she ran through the options, my eyes scanning the menu. "I think I'll go with the Italian rice and sauce, and the grilled fish. Oh, and a bottle of the Dom Pérignon Vintage, please." The waitress smiled and headed to the kitchen. As I waited, I took a look around the restaurant. The chandeliers were sparkling, and the lighting was warm. It wasn't too crowded, just a few people enjoying their dinners. Then, I noticed a man staring at me. He wasn't even blinking. I looked back, and he gave me a little wave. I quickly looked away, feeling a bit awkward. "Thank you so much," I said, "This looks and smells absolutely wonderful." The waitress smiled and went back to the kitchen. Completely ravenous after a long day, I didn't waste any time digging in. I mixed the rice and sauce together, and took a big, satisfying spoonful. "Mmm," I murmured, the flavors were incredible. I took a bite of the fish. Slurp! Slurp! I swallowed, finally able to speak. "Hi," a voice said. I looked up and saw the man who had been staring at me earlier, now standing right beside my table. "May I sit?" he asked. "Sure," I replied, still trying to swallow the last of my mouthful. "Sorry to interrupt your meal. I'm Kent, by the way." He held out his hand for a handshake. "Sorry you're eating," he chuckled. "Is alright" I dropped my cutlery on the plate and shock his hand. " I am Caroline" "Wow that is a beautiful name, that was the name of my favourite cousin sister " he said. Sitting at the empty chair close by my table. "Oh really" I acted surprise. "..she must have been a lovely lady" "She passed away" Kent' s was a bit moody, it's seems like a dark gleam fell on his charming nature. I stared at him and was remorseful, blaming myself for uttering those words. "I am so sorry for your lose" " Never mind, it has been twenty years long gone now" Kent's face lighten up again. "So, what fine wine are you having, my fine Caroline?" He picked up the wine bottle, his eyes lingering on the label. "Dom... Pérignon," he said, drawing out the name. "It's the Dom Pérignon Vintage," I corrected, "One of their best." "Wow," Kent said, giving me a charming smile that sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn't help but blush. "You certainly have excellent taste in wine. Have you ever tried Domaine de la Romanée-Conti? It's a French beauty you'd absolutely adore." "No, I haven't," I replied with a smile, "But I'll definitely try it." Kent flagged down the waitress. "Excuse me, do you have that French darling, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti?" The waitress glanced at her notepad. "Yes, sir, we do." "How much is it?" "A hundred and fifty dinars." "Please bring us two bottles, one for my lady and me." 'My lady.' The phrase sent butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I'd never felt so special. There was a spark between us, a connection I hadn't felt with anyone else. The waitress left. "So," Kent said, turning his full attention to me. I smiled back. "You shouldn't have," I protested gently, "It's quite expensive." "Nonsense," he replied, "You deserve the best, with your elegant beauty." "Thank you so much," I said, "And you're quite handsome yourself." We spent the rest of the evening talking, sharing stories about work and everything else under the sun. It felt like we'd known each other for ages, laughing and chatting easily. "This has been a lovely night," I said as we walked toward my car in the parking lot. Kent walked beside me. "I hope you enjoyed it," he said. "Definitely. Thank you so much for the wine, and the extra bottle," I added, my handbag feeling heavy with the extra wine. "Yes, go home and enjoy more of that Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, my love." There was a brief, comfortable silence. "You know," I said, "You never really told me much about your family. You mentioned being a coordinator at a big company, but not your family." "Oh, my family," Kent said, scratching his head. "Um... I..." Was it intuition, or just infatuation? I couldn't tell, but I leaned in and kissed him passionately. Suddenly, a strange, vivid flashback of his family and who he truly was flashed through my mind. "You're a werewolf," I stated, the words coming out quickly. Kent went quiet, a flicker of shock crossing his face. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice surprisingly calm. "I'm from the Silverfox pack, and you're from the Ironhearts," I explained. Realizing I knew his secret, Kent finally admitted the truth. "Well," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, "I didn't want to bring up the... wolf side of my family." "It doesn't matter," I reassured him, squeezing his hands and looking into his eyes. "I've never met anyone as charming and beautiful as you," Kent said softly. "I hope our pack differences don't mean I won't get your number tonight?" "Don't be silly," I laughed. "You can have it. Call me tomorrow evening, after I get off work." Kent smiled, a genuine, warm smile. We exchanged numbers, and he wished me a goodnight. I got into my car and drove away, feeling like I was floating on air, completely and utterly loved. *** Serbian, his eyes fixed on me, announced, "The moonhunt is almost here. Three nights, and it'll be upon us. I just... I hope everyone in the pack proves themselves worthy." His words hung in the air, a subtle threat that sent a shiver down my spine. "Uncle?" I asked, my voice tight. "What do you mean?" He kept his composure, his face smooth. "Nothing for you to worry about, Caroline. You're my niece, my little brother's daughter. Surely you wouldn't want to disappoint your uncle, or put the pack in danger, would you?" We were in his ridiculously lavish living room, all plush white couches and gleaming marble floors. It was the kind of place that screamed wealth, the kind that made my head spin. "Of course not," I said, my eyes fixed on the intricate jade teapot on the table. Serbian stood, his presence suddenly looming. "Good. Tell your Grimsburg, to meet me at Le Restaurant, our usual spot. I have something to discuss with him." I nodded, a knot of unease tightening in my stomach. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. "Uncle, I really need to go," I said, rising quickly. He stood full height, his gaze piercing. "You haven't been dealing with the Ironhearts, have you?" "Uncle, how could you even say that?" I gave him my best innocent frown. "Just checking," he replied, his robe rustling. "Goodbye, Uncle. I have work to do." I grabbed my purse and practically bolted. BANG! The door slammed behind me, the force echoing in the silence. "Ugh," I sighed, finally breathing fresh air. Whatever Serbian suspected, he had no idea about Kent. That was my secret. A cold dread settled in my stomach. What if I was wrong? What if he knew about Kent? The thought alone made me want to be sick. I walked to my beat-up Mazda, the only thing that felt real in this world of opulence. Driving into the city, a sense of dread washed over me. I grabbed my phone and dialed Kent. RING! RING! "Hey, sweetheart, how's your day?" His voice, warm and familiar, was a small comfort. "Kent, I think my uncle knows about us," I said, my voice shaky. "Relax, babe. What's wrong?" He tried to soothe me. "He wanted to see me today, at his mansion. He kept talking about the moonhunt." "Okay, that's not a huge deal. My pack has moonhunts too, around the same time," Kent said, a yawn in his voice. "It wasn't just the moonhunt. He talked about worthiness, about betrayal." My hands tightened on the steering wheel as I made a sudden U-turn. "What are you saying?" "Kent, he looked me right in the eyes and asked if I was "dealing with the Ironhearts." "That's... not good. I hope he doesn't figure things out," Kent said. "Me too." "Don't worry, babe. We'll talk later. Love you." The line went dead. "Love you too," I whispered to myself, but the words felt trapped in my throat. I parked in front of my workplace, the Clayfoil antique store ( a mini building with new and old varieties of dolls, clothes etc), and stared at it, lost in thought. *** The calendar glared at me: June 8th. Two days until the moonhunt. My stomach churned. I sat in the grand room of my family home, the chandeliers casting a warm, almost magical glow, but I was too tense to appreciate it. My dad, Grimsburg, was completely absorbed in some piece of metal, his collector's passion taking over. I'd just finished telling him about my unsettling conversation with Serbian. My mom, Caroline, sat across from me, her eyes filled with concern. "You've been quiet, sweetie," she said gently. I smiled, realizing I'd been lost in my own thoughts. "Just thinking, Mom." "How was your day at the hospital?" I asked, knowing her work was often difficult. "Not too bad," she sighed. "We had a couple brought in from a terrible accident in Cannal Hills." "Oh no," I said, my heart sinking. "Was it bad?" "Terrible," she confirmed. "They were in so much pain. We had to rush them to the ICU and give them strong painkillers." My mom was a healer, a Sesame witch, and she carried the weight of her patients' suffering with her. Suddenly, my dad's voice cut through the air, sharp with anger. "So, you're telling me my brother suspects you're seeing Kent?" He was clearly struggling to keep his temper in check. "To my understanding, dad. I think he suspects that I might have becoming in contact with the Ironhearts" "Well," Grimsburg dropped the artifact on the center table. "...I will have to meet with him at the Le restaurant. "Wouldn't you give him a call first?" " Mom objected. "I never trust that brother of your's since he became the leader of your park a decade ago" "I would" Grimsburg said. Walking out swiftly from the living room to the passage. It was I and my mom alone in the living room now "Caroline" My mom left her position and sat close to me. "Listen to me. Don't you because of Serbian, lose the feelings you have for Kent. For all I know, the young man loves you and I believe you love him too" "I do mom." I said. Confused and perplexed. "..but I don't want to bring trouble to dad or to you" "You won't my love. You won't " Mom patted my long red hairs. She held me close to her shoulders. "Just be who you are..THE LUNA OF THE FULL MOON. You have the abilities and I know you would use it to fight your way through all this. Serbian and the others can't stop your love nor dim your light" After a quality time spent, I left my parent's house and drove off to my apartment in the city.