Chapter 8 Is it her?

Freya’s P.O.V

Another hour went by after Cameron’s group left the restaurant. Everything was going smoothly and I breathed a sigh of relief on making it to the end of my shift without causing any major trouble. The day was almost at its end and I was finally going to go home and rest. At this point, I wasn’t even hungry anymore…I just wanted to sleep.

I changed out of my work clothes and folded them neatly inside my locker. They should be good for another day and I’ll be able to get them cleaned tomorrow so I can keep wearing them next week as well. But just as I exited the changing room, Roger was there to greet me and he didn’t look happy at all.

“Wh-what is it?” I asked him, looking up at his grim face.

“One of our customers complained about your rude behaviour today.” He got straight to the point. “And even though I know they are from the same school as you, I’ll have to take disciplinary actions.”

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. I wasn’t scared because of the complaint, because I knew Cameron’s team wouldn’t go down quietly after what I told them this evening. What I was scared about, was the later. Disciplinary action? Was Roger going to cut my pay? What would I do if he did? Fucking hell! I had to pay three hundred dollars worth of debt money! Where was I going to get that?

Roger sighed audibly, startling me into looking back up at his face. “Don’t give me that look! I didn’t just kill your pet hamster!” He frowned. “But you won’t be getting any leftovers for dinner today. Got it?”

I nodded quickly, relieved that it wasn’t a pay cut. “Thank you-sorry! I’ll keep this in mind.”

Roger didn’t say anything as he went back to his table to work. Julian had already packed up his bag and was ready to go. But what I was surprised at though, was the fact that he had a huge grin on his face when I told him it was time to leave.

“What’s up kiddo?” I waited till we were outside the restaurant to ask him; wondering what could have made him so happy. “You look really happy.”

“I am!” Julian giggled, bouncing up and down on his feet. “Roger gave me noodles today! A lot of it! He said that someone cancelled an order so I could have it instead!”

I stopped walking.

There had been no cancelled orders today, that much I was sure about, because cancelled orders were usually handled by Roger himself and he would come out personally to investigate why a person cancelled. That means that Roger hadn’t been as heartless as he made me believe. He had fed Julian while I had been busy working. He had taken care of my baby brother while I hadn’t been looking.

I blinked back tears as I used the sleeves of my hoodie to wipe at my eyes. “Was it good?” I asked Julian, my voice thick with emotions as I began walking again. “Did you eat well?”

“Yes!” Julian laughed. “I ate all of it! It was sooo good! Uncle Roger told me he’ll give you some too! Did you eat all?”

“Yes.” I lied to him. “Of course, I did.”

Although the day was full of ups and downs, it finally passed by with a not-so-bad ending.

I kept on walking, unknowing to the fact that I wasn’t alone.

*

Cameron’s P.O.V

“Derek you crossed a line today,” Sarah spoke from next to me, her voice soft yet stern. “I hope you won’t be repeating this mistake again.”

“Sorry.” He lowered his head, his black hair falling forward so that his eyes weren’t visible. But I knew he wasn’t sorry. He was just acting like he was so we didn’t complain to the Alpha.

“Let’s leave.” I ordered, getting up from my seat and coming out of the restaurant. Almost everyone followed me out at once, except for Derek, who took his sweet time talking to another waiter.

“There he goes again.” Alex shook his head in exasperation. “We really need to report him.”

“What’s the point?” Trisha frowned up at us. “He was just having fun with a human. It’s not like he broke any pack rules.”

“Besides,” Cindy pointed out to the back alley. “I saw her walking in with a kid before entering the restaurant. Miss Righteous isn’t that righteous at all!”

“Girls, is that how we speak about people nowadays?” Sarah’s voice was sharp for the first time. “Being human doesn’t make anyone’s struggles inferior!”

“But sh-”

“Alex,” I called out to my friend and the future beta, cutting off Cindy’s complaints. “Please send everyone back to the pack house. I’ll stay behind with Sarah.”

“Sure.” Alex took out his car keys and took everyone to the parking as Sarah and I stayed behind.

“Are you sure it’s her?” Sarah asked once the rest of our packmates were out of ear shot. “Were you able to get a better handle on the situation today?”

Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose as frustration set in. “I have no idea. Her scent tells me that she could be my mate but…”

“You don’t want it to be her?” Sarah asked, before nodding. “I get that. She’s human. She has no idea about what we are.”

“Do you really think that’s the only reason?” I snapped at her. “Did you even look at the girl? She looks like a living ghost! Damn it! Why couldn’t it have been you?”

“Me?” Sarah’s laughter was like the tinkling of bells and it drew a few eyes in our direction. “That would be taking the easy way out! We have know each other our whole life, Cam! We’re more like family than lovers!”

“But we could have been.” I told her, hope still adjacent in my heart. “We can still be mates, Sarah! What if my stupid instincts are wrong? What if…they’re just…malfunctioning before my 18th birthday?”