Page 52 of My Only Luna

“Exactly.” It is common knowledge now that I am an alpha, and, although many of the younger men have ego issues, most of the elderly male wolves have taken it well and joke about it.

“Excuse me, Scarlett! Can we get some more water?” Keirascreeches, making me flinch. Her voice is nasally and screechy as always; it reminds me of someone scraping their nails down a chalkboard.

“Right…” I walk off to grab a bottle of water and then take it to their table, placing it down. I am about to leave when Keira suddenly grabs my wrist.

“We’re not done yet!” Keira says smugly. “Clear this table up!” I pull free and glare at the woman. The food is only half-eaten.

“Are you done?”

“Duh, or we wouldn’t tell you to clean this up, would we?” she remarks challengingly. “That’s your job, right? Do it, waiter girl.”

“Watch it! I don’t like being told what to do, and next time, make sure you don’t touch me,” I growl, my eyes flashing a steely silver. Keira pales as my aura rolls off me, and she moves back in her seat nervously. Her two friends look as scared as she does. I turn to leave, grabbing a few plates from their table, and head to the kitchen, sighing inwardly.

I don’t actually miss working here. I preferred the salon, but thanks to the dangers of venturing out, I have to stick to pack grounds as much as possible. Lost in thought, I don’t look where I am walking, missing the slight bump in a floorboard that has yet to be replaced from a fight that took place here several weeks back. I stumble, almost hitting the ground face first when someone catches me.

“Fuck!” I gasp, grabbing onto my saviour’s shirt, popping one of the buttons off his red button-down due to my strength.

“Wow, you want to fight even when someone’s saving you, huh?” Liam teases, his warm eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Sorry,” I say, quickly letting go and smoothening my ownshirt. “I was distracted.”

“I figured as much,” he says, looking into my eyes. Seeing Liam staring at me, clearly lost in thought, makes me a little uncomfortable. Why have I never noticed it before?

“So, what are you doing here?” I ask, just as something Monica said comes to mind, making me swallow, and feeling a little nervous.

“We should go hang out, maybe kick everyone out of the game room to celebrate a win,” Aaron says.

“I think you boys should carry on, us girls are going to unwind,” Monica answers quickly. I glance at her curiously.

“Red, what do you think?” Elijah asks me.

“I’m going to hang with Monica.” There’s a reason she said what she did and I’m curious…

Once we’re alone, I raise an eyebrow. “What was that all about?” I ask.

She sighs. “Maybe me just feeling sorry for Liam?” she admits sheepishly. “I just think he should be given a little time. I know Aaron means well but men are such dunces. I don’t think he realises it’s not easy on Liam. I mean, he’ll get used to it, but he should get a little time.”

“Monica, what are you going on about?”

“Liam, you know he’s liked you for ages… right?”

My eyes widen as I take in what she’s just said. “What?”

“Shit. You had no idea.”

The flowers, the concern… it all makes sense now.

The woman knows all the latest gossip, and once you get toknow her, she starts to spill it all. But that revelation about Liam wasn’t one I was expecting. I have to admit, he is a handsome, well-mannered man. I just wish he didn’t like me because I’m in love with his best friend. I know it’s not my fault, but I still feel guilty.

“Why does any person come to a restaurant?” he asks with a smile. I smirk, smoothing my apron.

“Well, many reasons actually, not just for the food,” I say, looking around for something to keep myself busy with and begin picking up the plates that clattered to the floor. We switched to plastic a few years ago when too much dinnerware was broken in fights.

“You mean there are other reasons aside from eating?” Liam asks as he follows me. I stop, turning suddenly, almost knocking into him again, but he manages to stop before I do.

“Oh yeah, many. So do you want me to get you a menu or…?” I trail off. What am I even saying? I raise an eyebrow, hoping he doesn’t realise I’m acting weird. His playful smile vanishes, and he looks away.

“Can you join me?” he asks quietly. My eyes widen as I try to stay calm.

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