Alpha Jasper

Thea

The diner has always been my special place since I was a kid.

Sharing milkshakes with June after school was our thing, and I always promised the ladies at the counter that I’d work here when I grew up. Fast forward a decade... and here I am, living the dream.

Except, the dream isn’t quite as dreamy as I imagined. Sometimes, it feels more like a nightmare.

“Four hours late?” My boss, Janet Dupree, says, her arms crossed over her chest. “Four hours I’ve been doing your job.”

I sit quietly behind her desk, my head hanging low. I’m used to feeling embarrassed, but the looks from the other two waitresses as I walked in were enough to make me want to wave a white flag.

Janet’s office is a tiny room tucked away at the back of the diner. We jokingly call it The Cave, because sometimes our boss likes to hibernate in there.

If you ever do something stupid, or break one of her rules, you end up sitting under posters of half-naked firemen.

It’s torture, especially when it comes with a lecture from Janet.

“This is your official warning. Don’t let it happen again.”

I stand up, smoothing down my uniform. When I was younger, I thought the faded blue dress with a white apron tied around my waist was cute.

Now, it’s just uncomfortable and the high school boys make it their mission to peek under the high hem of the skirt whenever they can.

I leave the room and head into the kitchen, mumbling a half-hearted apology to my boss. The other waitresses are scattered around, one at a table, another cleaning the main counter.

We have one cook working during the day, but we don’t usually chat, thanks to his constant gloomy mood.

“Girl, what happened?” The waitress at the counter—my good friend, Kera, asks, stopping her cleaning.

Busty, overly friendly, and always flashing her whitened teeth, Kera has been working here as long as I have.

Her eyes are something I've always envied; they're the clearest crystal blue, unlike anything I've ever seen. She's from the Wisdom Pack, so naturally, she's smart and beautiful.

“I was late,” I say flatly, grabbing my name pin from my designated shelf and hanging my coat in its place. Kera rolls her eyes, tossing her cleaning towel over her shoulder as she walks over.

“I can see that, sass.” She grins, leaning an elbow against the counter where Cook is working. We call him just Cook because he won’t tell us his real name. “Care to tell me why?”

I brush past her and head into the main dining area. I stop behind the counter, scanning for tables that might need help.

Only one table is occupied, and Britney, the other waitress, seems to have it under control.

“Someone moved into the estate in Phantom Forest,” I tell her, letting out a sigh of annoyance. Kera comes up behind me, her eyes wide.

I’ve never seen the estate, but I‘ve heard about it. Dad warned me never to wander into the forest, and after I argued about my disbelief in Phantom Wolves, he told me it was private property.

“Who?” Kera turns around so she can look me in the eye. She knows her eyes always get the most honest answers out of me. Almost like Casper’s …

“A man,” I say cautiously. Her mouth drops open in surprise. Kera hasn’t found her mate, or a man who can handle her fiery personality.

She’s all over the place, showing interest in any man who even glances at her in a day, before moving on to the next shiny thing.

I turn around, trying to keep my face calm, but inside, I’m kicking myself. Luca is going to be furious with me for leaving him.

And instead of feeling guilty like I should be, I’m talking about another guy.

“Is he hot?” Kera asks, nudging my shoulder gently so I would face her. Why not be honest?

“Very. Tall, hot, sexy, and his eyes are to die for…”

Suddenly, the sound of someone clearing their throat from behind me has me spinning around. I lock eyes with the man I was just about to compliment.

Once again, I’m taken aback by the handsome features of this stranger, Casper. He’s dressed casually today.

A plain black shirt, and dark pants with his hands shoved into the pockets. He looks at me through silky black hair that falls over his brow, a playful smile on his face.

Did he hear that? A wave of dread washes over me, as I realize the embarrassment that’s coloring my cheeks.

“Thea,” he murmurs, my name rolling off his tongue in a way that makes my hands tremble at my sides. I’ve completely lost my breath, but Kera on the other hand …

“I must say, we aren’t used to having strangers around here. Especially handsome ones,” Kera says, her voice oozing confidence.

She sidles up next to me, leaning over the counter flirtatiously, blatantly showing off her cleavage to Casper.

His eyes stay on mine, like chips of ice, the violet making his gaze even more intense. He barely even acknowledges Kera.

Any other man would have been drawn in by the beautiful woman flaunting herself.

“I’m checking out the town. A lady in a second-hand shop directed me here. She told me a beautiful girl worked here,” he says smoothly, not hesitating at all.

I glance at Kera (who’s realized her breasts aren’t going to work) and stand up straight. I know it was probably Ms. Slater and Ms. Morris who sent him here.

It was either for Britney or Kera, since I’m the only one in a relationship.

“Well look no further,” Kera purrs, and I think she winks when Casper finally drags his gaze to hers.

“We also have great food,” I add, taking a step back. I bend down, grabbing a plastic menu from under the counter to hand to him. He takes it, a simple ‘thank you’ his only response.

Backing away, Casper goes to find a table.

Britney saunters over the moment he’s out of earshot, having finally wrapped up her flirtatious banter with the customers at her table, coaxing them into leaving her generous tips.

“Who’s that tasty morsel?” she asks, tearing off a piece of paper filled with orders from her pad.

Britney’s a good girl. She’s trying to earn her way out of this Pack, just like me, and sometimes that means we butt heads over tips.

Her hair is a lighter shade than most girls around here. When she pulls it up, like today, the golden highlights really pop.

“So, who is he, Thea?” Kera chimes in. Both girls are looking at me, waiting for an answer.

I snatch Britney’s order slip from her hand and slide it over to Cook. “I’m not sure. I think his name is Casper.”

They practically squeal at the mention of his name. The way their eyes light up and they practically drool at the sound of it, I decide to keep it to myself that he’s the reason I was late to work.

Suddenly, the jingle of a bell from the top of the door announces a new arrival. But it’s not a customer. It’s Luca.

He strides in, determination etched across his face. Dressed in his dark law enforcer uniform, he looks dangerously official, and even more intimidating.

This is not a guy you want to cross, for any reason.

He locks eyes with me, his dark gaze swirling with emotion, like a storm brewing.

“Where the hell have you been?” he barks, his voice so loud it draws the attention of everyone in the room. I want to shrink away.

I wish I could just disappear from everyone’s curious stares, shield our relationship from their prying eyes.

“I was late to work,” I tell him quietly, as he marches over to the counter.

He narrows his eyes at me, as if he suspects I’ve been up to no good.

“I’ve been searching everywhere for you... I checked June’s, your house, the whole damn town,” he says.

This is what I’m used to. Not just his anger, but the way he twists things to make me the bad guy, painting himself as the victim.

I glance around, feeling everyone’s eyes on me. But it’s Casper’s gaze that I’m drawn to. He’s watching me, an unreadable emotion flickering in his eyes. Then he shifts his focus to Luca, and I see anger.

Pure, unfiltered anger that he doesn’t even try to hide. He stands up, abruptly.

And I know, things are about to get ugly.

“I think you need to back off,” Casper says, his voice low and measured, unlike Luca’s.

Luca’s anger is explosive, in your face. He can’t contain it when it’s right there, ready to explode.

Casper, on the other hand, seems to have a handle on his emotions, not showing a hint of vulnerability.

“I didn’t realize this was any of your business,” Luca retorts, his eyes blazing with fiery passion.

I can’t help but stand there, stunned that Casper is standing up for me. He walks over, hands casually shoved in his pockets, and positions himself in front of Luca.

His relaxed posture is like a challenge, daring Luca to make a move. I shudder to think what the consequences would be for Luca.

“Well, officer…” Casper leans in a bit, reading the name tag pinned to Luca’s shirt. “Luca. I don’t think it’s very professional to be yelling at a lady, in public.”

This hits a nerve with Luca. His job is his life. “Back off, pal. Don’t give me a reason to arrest you.”

Casper smiles. It’s a gentle, mocking smile, not meant for amusement. It’s calm, calculated. He knows exactly what he’s doing, and how far he can push Luca.

“I’d be more than happy to accompany you to the station.

“I’m sure your dad would love to hear how you can’t even make your girlfriend climax with your name on her lips,” Casper says casually, never breaking eye contact with Luca, not even to glance at me.

Again, I’m taken aback. Everyone in the diner is listening in, and I’m sure the waitresses behind me are getting a kick out of this juicy tidbit. Heat creeps up my cheeks. I’m mortified.

Because it’s true.

Luca hasn’t given me an orgasm in over a year. I’ve gotten pretty good at faking it. I don’t know why, but our spark has fizzled out.

It just disappeared, and sometimes I think we’re just putting up with each other.

He’s not my mate. That’s what my dad keeps telling me. Every day my dad tells me to wait, instead of sleeping with a guy whose mate might be just around the corner. But it’s easy to love him.

Easy to call him mine, to have him there.

Luca’s face is as red as mine. “Harassing an officer is a crime.”

Casper steps back, and I almost sigh in relief. I think he’s backing down, letting Luca continue without a fight. But instead, he starts circling him.

Smooth, graceful strides around my boyfriend, like a predator stalking its prey.

“Go ahead and cuff me.” Casper’s voice is menacing. Casper is not a small man. With his muscular build and towering height, he’s a threat to Luca.

And Luca knows it. Dealing with Casper would be a nightmare. I shake my head at the thought.

Suddenly, a shrill voice of reason cuts through the tension. “Enough.”

Casper freezes. So does Luca.

“I’m going to have to ask both of you to leave my diner right now.” It’s Janet, my boss.

And both men know better than to argue with the woman who owns the place. As obedient as I’ve ever seen him, Luca turns on his heel and storms out, his ego bruised.

Casper apologizes to Janet, hands me his menu, and exits swiftly.

I’m left standing there, utterly bewildered. What just happened?