Chapter 9
Eclipse
The intense smells of window cleaner and coffee assaulted my nose. Zeke was always cleaning, so much so that I could bet right now that he was nose blind. His thin pale hands rubbed the window vigorously with a towel, he hadn’t noticed either of us coming in. His greased, slicked back blonde hair shining, his green apron wrinkled from all the scrubbing, and his glasses were hanging off his middle-aged face, dangling dangerously off his nose like they were going to just fall off told me I was right. However, he was too concentrated on the tiny handprints all over the window. I smiled, this brought back so many good memories.
My parents were good friends of his since he too was an Omega. Dad would often bring me with him on his days off, and let me get ice cream while they spoke in links so I couldn’t hear the conversations. Zeke also knew pretty much everyone in town, as most wolves, even some of the high ranking ones would come into town and order here.
I’d never seen Alpha, Beta, Gamma, or any of the highest ranked Warriors that lived in the packhouse here though, as I assumed they ate there. I saw coffee machines everywhere along with bagels and doughnuts in the kitchen. Now that I thought of it… this was the usual time I would come in here after tutoring pups, or coming with my parents on their off days.
Alpha Kaiden had to bend his head to come in, making the doorbells attached to the top ting. “Oh sorry, have a seat in the corner and I’ll be right with you.” his high-pitched voice chimed cheerfully, but didn’t look from the window.
“Hi Zeke!” I chirped; he was always open.
Him, his mate and his 2 adopted sons were always here. I would tutor his younger pup, Arty, while he was at work. They were from his mate’s first paring. Really it was us watching cartoons he liked because he was a really bright pup, but I like to think that I had helped him study, not that he needed it. His burly silver haired mate was Warrior Turner, a Pack Patrol Warrior. Pack Patrol specialized in keeping the peace within the pack, while Border Patrol were stronger wolves that ran with Alpha to stop Rogues and humans.
“Oh, HI Eclipse! Were you helping that lil’ bastard Nathanial study? Look what he did! What if one of the patrols wants an expresso tonight?!” his eyes shot daggers at the glass, “Be sure to tell Rachel when you see her for me, I think she gets off at 6 today, and I’ve already told her twice.” He grumbled.
I looked up at Alpha with a small grin. He shot a devilish toothy grin and shot a raised eyebrow; I looked back down blushing intensely. I didn’t know why he didn’t say anything, but he was enjoying himself listening to our conversation.
“No… I haven’t tutored him since their last times tables test.” I shyly giggled.
“Fair enough, but remember to tell his mother. This is the fourth time this week.” He huffed.
Alpha leaned back in the chair, and soon it seemed outside the café, everyone noticed that he was here. There was more activity from people walking past, but not into the shop. If I could guess, wolves were being respectful. No one wanted to interrupt us, but honestly, I was a little glad for that. I didn’t want attention from the entire pack; I honestly just wanted to get to know my mate. But that Zeke still hadn’t noticed or turned around was damn near ridiculous.
“OH, and did you hear that Alpha finally found his Luna?!” My eyes grew wide, Zeke is a big gossip, and I was about to say something, but Alpha put his finger to my lip then pointed. “Honestly, I’m happy for him.” He beamed.
“Mhmm.” I hummed, and he continued.
“Well anyway….” he continued in the silence, “Susana told me, but you didn’t hear it from me, that he paraded her in the streets while they were both naked as a leaf, completely…. indecent to put it politely…. Kaitlyn told me that she looked so nervous, but she should be fine. No one hurts their true mate, it’s literally impossible.” He said dismissively. “Oh, and Tylor said he couldn’t make out anything other than she was about the size of an ant with possibly gray hair! He thinks it’s Mable’s granddaughter, but Charlette is taller than me, so that can’t be right, because I saw her this morning, and she still hasn’t found her mate. I bet it’s Evelyn’s daughter since she just got hired for Border Patrol, but what do I know. But one thing everyone said was that he was just growling at everyone not to look, but he’s a freaking Adonis, Goddess knows I would’ve looked, but I was stuck in here!” He complained with a giggle, knowing that I would be mortified.
“Oh, my gods…” I mumbled, putting my face in my hands to soothe my third-degree cringe whiplash. Alpha was just looking so amused with himself, still not saying anything! My face was red as a tomato and there was nothing that could stop me from being embarrassed by my dad’s best friend.
“I’m going to make you the usual on the house, you sound like you need it. Stop frowning, it’ll give you wrinkles.” He said like he was my dad…. his back still turned. “I care about you, you know! I changed your pampers, watched you grow up, and look at you now. I’m so proud of you, so are your parents.”
“Thank you…” I said sheepishly.
“Not shifting isn’t the end of the world. You will soon, sooner than you know it, and if you don’t, you can always work with me or your papa… or is it that you’re still worried about a mate since that’s the pack gossip? You’ll get one sweetie; we all do.” He said encouragingly before he turned on the machine and got 2 red foam cups “Do you want the big cup or the little cup? If I give you the big one I can’t make it a triple shot, your mother told me not to.” he said, holding one in each hand.
“Um, can I get them both?” I asked quietly.
Confused, he stood there for a second, “AWE my lil pup’s all grown up! Where’s the lil dev-” he turned around, at first with a huge smile, then terror when he realized fumbling with the cups, almost juggling them when he saw Alpha. He ended up bowing extremely deeply. “Alpha Kaiden and Luna Eclipse, welcome to my humble little store.” he stuttered. Kaiden seemed all too amused with himself and finally let out a mischievous chuckle.
“Alpha how would you like yours?” He asked. He was still in shock, but I think he managed the fear I scented off him well.
“Black. Sugar upsets my stomach.” He said plainly.
“What about you E-Luna Eclipse?” He asked a little proudly.
“Um. The way you always make it but a little extra milk.” I said with a small smile.
“I knew you were going to say that.” He smiled nervously… but I knew Zeke… when he was nervous, he gossiped. “You know I remember when I used to change her diapers when my oldest pup was a boy.” He said and I covered my face while Alpha laughed at me.
I Knew he was going to bring this up!
“Oh?” He asked, wanting to know more.
“So, when they were small, he would babysit her with me while we were in the shop, and she got into Everything! There was nothing she wouldn’t try to play with, but I think the funniest thing she did was when she got into the Gallon of chocolate I keep in the back, and when I turned around, she was Covered head to toe. It took me ages to catch her and ages longer to clean her up… and the store… and my son.” He giggled. Alpha did with him.
“Lady damnit… you tell everyone that!” I complained.
“Well, we can’t let you forget where you came from Clippy.” He giggled.
“….. Clippy?” Parroted Alpha silently.
“Kill me now!” I groaned. I covered my face in Kaiden’s chest and squealed, to which both laughed.
“That’s the way she used to pronounce her name when she was little.” He smiled.
“Awe.” He patted me on the head. I crossed my arms, and glared at the floor.
“That’s cute.” He snickered.
“But I’m not little anymore.” I mumbled.
“It’s good joe. Keep the change; me and CLIPPY are going to walk around a bit more.” Said Kaiden taking a sip, putting a twenty in the tip jar.
I internally cringed, hoping he’d never call me that again… it was a stupid kiddy nickname that I hated… about as much as Shimmer hated being called Shimmy-Sham….
We left Zeke’s to let him freak out and call everyone, and we walked past some of the other window shops. He held my hand, just walking down the street, seeing other boutiques filled with food, clothes, and toys. People stared in shock, then bowed. He would give a small nod and I felt his gaze on me. I looked up at him, and he looked so calm and genuinely happy.
“I should take you home before I go to work” he mumbled.
He took a deep breath and let out a sharp annoyed sigh. It had a growl to it, like a kid who was just told it was time for bed. I rubbed his hand in little circles. I knew he had things to do but I couldn’t help but feel like I wanted him all to myself.
We got to the top of the hill and he stopped, bending down, he rubbed his hands through my frizzy hair. “You are the best thing that ever happened to me.” He kissed me.
It was soft and warm. He tasted like my favorite drink, his touch set me on fire, and his hands were liquid smoke. I wrapped my arms around him like he would leave forever, and he breathed in my sent deep in the crook of my neck. And I smelled the power and arousal off him. It made me growl. He responded with a deep rumble, and nibbled my neck with a kiss, sending me shivers, warranting another growl. I don’t even know why I did that, it just felt right.
Pleased with himself, he pulled away, leaving an emptiness that demanded to be filled. Shimmer was demanding to know why he stopped. Honestly, I did to! I was feeling so many things I had never felt before, then to be denied what happened next.
He stepped back, leaving me at the door. He started taking off his shoes and then his pants. He made the most mischievous face, seeing how shocked I was by him doing so, and then he turned into his wolf and ran into the direction of the forest. He howled the most authoritative roar I had ever heard.
If I could shift properly, Shimmer would have ran after him.
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