Chapter 50: Chapter 22

NATALIE

I miss Damon every single day. I think about him all the time. I need to stop obsessing over him; he already has a mate. I know I can call him whenever I want, but I don’t want to be a bother to him. Maybe I should use this time to get over him, but how do you get over your first love?

~“You never do.”~ My mother talks to me at random times. She doesn’t hear my personal thoughts; sometimes I just project to her without even realizing it. It’s times like this I’m grateful that she’s there.

Today is back to school. I throw on a pair of jeans and a sweater, then grab my jacket that Damon bought for me. I run my fingers over the feathers of my dream catcher, then head out the door. Mom has breakfast ready for me, and Dad sits at the table going over patient notes while drinking his coffee. It’s such a normal situation that has only been my normal for like five months. I’m grateful for my adoptive family, but I miss the Ramirez pack. I felt more at home there than anywhere else… I guess coming from that pack could have something to do with it, but I honestly had no idea what pack I belonged to. Or anything about packs for that matter. It’s such an odd thought to be part wolf and hardly know anything about them.

Does being only part wolf mean I won’t have a mate? No, that can’t be right. The Goddess told me my mate is good. Damon is good.

“You have a lot on your mind this morning, Honeybee.”

I look up to my dad from my still full plate. His eyes are kind and filled with sincerity.

“Yeah. I found out that my parents are from the Ramirez pack, well my biological dad was. His mate wasn’t my real mom. I think that’s why she hated me. He kept me from my real mother.”

My mom sits beside me and takes my hand. “Sometimes it’s painful to learn the truth, but sometimes those truths can be freeing. I’m sure having answers has helped you realize that although your life was hard before, you can overcome it and be the strong, caring, beautiful person you are now.”

I lean my head against her shoulder, and she accepts me into a kind of side hug. This is my earthly mother; I know without a doubt that will never change. She kisses my head, then sits up straight.

“Eat up. Jason will be pulling up any time now.”

I nod, then scoop some eggs into my mouth.

“Mom, will you teach me some recipes? I want to get better at cooking.”

“Of course. Tell me what you want to learn, and we’ll make it.”

Jason’s text flashes on my screen that he’s on his way. I start throwing everything on my plate between the two slices of toast for a breakfast sandwich.

“Can we start with lasagna? I’ve always wanted to taste it.”

Mom is momentarily surprised by my response, but she quickly recovers. “Of course. Do you work tonight?”

Crap, I forgot. “Yeah, but I’m off Wednesday.”

“We’ll have lasagna Wednesday.”

Jason blares on the horn, so I kiss my parents, grab my bag, and rush out the door.

Virgil holds the passenger door open for me, so I can scoot into the middle. He’s not much of a morning person, so he doesn’t really talk. Jason, however, steals a bite of my sandwich as I’m pulling my lap belt on.

“Jason!”

He chuckles, then gets his bite down. “Thanks.”

I roll my eyes, then eat about half my sandwich, then give him the rest.

“You working tonight?”

“Yeah. Do you know if Bruno is staying in this pack?”

“Why would he leave?” Virgil asks.

“Because Freya found her mate in the Ramirez pack.”

“Damn. She was one of my favorite sparring partners. First Finn, then his whole family, now Freya. Who’s their next one?”

Jason snorts as we both look at Virgil. He’s very loyal to Dec.

“Well, technically that’s my pack. I was inducted while I was over there. Dec wanted to bring me back, but I couldn’t do it. I have a family link with the Masons now too.”

“So, you were officially adopted?” Jason asks.

I smile with a nod. “Good for you. I’m happy for you. So why aren’t you joining the pack your family is in? That we’re in?”

I have no logical explanation, so I fill them in on my birth parents, leaving out the part about my mother being a Starlight Sister. Jason and Virgil are both a little surprised, but they get it. I’m not the only stray that was a runaway from abuse.

We pull into the school, and I look for Kenna. Once I find her, I rush up to her and give her a big hug. She’s with Bianca, and I give her a hug too.

“Guys, you remember Kenna and Bianca?”

“Of course. She kicked my ass when we first got to the Redd pack, and Bianca is Finn’s mate,” Virgil comments.

Jason gives Kenna a smile. “How could we forget her?”

Kenna smiles and joins us as we walk the hall to our lockers. Bianca leaves us to join the seniors. Able, Tyler, Kenny, Hanna, and Johnny show up, and we head to our normal hangout in the quad before the bell actually rings.

Hanna is a freshman, and she has a crush on Kenny. He, Johnny, and Tyler are sophomores. Able usually rides with us, but he slept in, so he had to take the bus.

Kenna grunts as the Weston twins walk by. Ugh, those two are such troublemakers. They tried to switch places on me a few times, but I can tell them apart.

Glory is the sweet one, and her face is just a touch sharper than Haley’s. They’re both sophomores, but they’re in some of our classes since we strays are all pretty much in remedial classes. Virgil isn’t.

For some reason, Dec likes to make him study, and I guess it’s paid off. Haley looks me over, and a smug smile splits her face. The way she looks at me gives me chills. There’s something about her, an odd energy I’ve never noticed before. I shake it off, and we all get back to chatting. The bell rings, and we split up to our classes.

The days go by, and my obsession with Damon never leaves. Saturday after training, I text him just to say hi. He calls me, and we end up talking for two hours before I have to go to work.

Dec is impressed with how much I’ve learned while working with Damon. Since we don’t have a link, Chase works with me, which I like so much better. I have an awesome brother, and he works with me similar to the way Damon did.

Tomorrow I’m off, and my mom and I will be making enchiladas. The lasagna was pretty good, although it was a little on the runny side. I think next year I’ll take a Home Ec. class as one of my electives. Jason gives me a nudge.

“Wake up, space cadet. Your tables need refills.”

“Yeah yeah, on it.”

I attend to the customers, then get back behind the counter.

“Jason, would you hate me if I decide to quit?”

“What? Why would you?”

Jason hands me my order, and I take it to the table. I’m not about to try Dorothy’s technique; I’d drop every single plate. Ugh. Everything makes me think of the Ramirez pack. I get back to Jason to give him my answer.

“I think I want to spend more time with my parents. It was so weird at first, but now that we’re linked, it’s so different.”

He tilts his head to the big guy in the back. “Have fun telling the boss.”

I love Bruno. He may be the ex-beta, but he’s a big softie. His shoulder-length sandy hair pulled back into a ponytail with the dirty white apron lessens the intimidation factor. I smile, and I know I’m making the right choice.

Jason shakes his head at me when I head to Bruno’s office after my shift.

“Hey, Natalie. Good to have you back. I hear you got everything fixed at the Ramirez pack; I knew you had it in you.” Bruno has always been so supportive of me.

“Yeah. Everything worked out…Bruno?”

He stops what he’s doing to look up at me.

“I’m sorry about Freya leaving.”

He shakes his head. “It’s fine. I knew she would one day, at least she’s close by, and her mate and Alpha are good guys.”

“Yeah, they are. Plus, her skills are needed over there. They’re getting better, but I know Damon is thrilled about her being there. He’s making her a trainer.”

Bruno chuckles; I’m sure he already expected that.

“Bruno. I think I need to stop working.”

He knits his brows, so I continue speaking. “I want to spend more time with my new family. I found out a lot about my past, and now I need to move forward.”

He gives me a kind smile. “Can you finish the week, so I can hire someone else?”

I nod. “Able needs something to do. He’s been antsy lately, but Jason can keep him in line.”

Bruno runs his beard, the same way Damon does, though Damon’s beard is much shorter and he keeps it looking sharp. “I’ll keep him in mind. Jason is waiting for you.” He nods behind me.

I turn around and Jason has a sour face. I say good night to Bruno then follow Jason to his truck.

“Are you mad or something?” I ask a brooding Jason.

“Nah, I just missed you. You get back and now I get to see you even less.”

I lean on his strong shoulder. “I’m still here. I’ll hang out at the diner more. Maybe Kenna can come visit sometime. I know you like her.”

Jason holds back a smile. “What makes you think that?”

“Because you’re gentle with her. Not the way you are with me.” I watch for any reaction, but he has a poker face, giving nothing away.

“She is pretty.” He finally cuts the silence.

I roll my eyes and look toward the heavens. My mother is shining brightly tonight. She must be happy.