Chapter 4

"Hey a guy just asked to be seated in your section. I put him in the booth since it's quiet."

"Thanks Lex. Can you finish this up for me?" Handing her the cloth I tossed her a grateful smile and left her to finish cleaning to server's station. Approaching the booth I pulled out my pad and put on my most pleasant expression, it helped with the tips.

"Jonas?" The local Alpha looked a bit out of place in the slightly shabby vinyl-covered booth. The diner wasn't his natural habitat. "Did you get a craving for something greasy?"

"Ah, no. But I was hoping for a cup of coffee and a chat? If you have the time?" 

My brain started to race. Jonas was not a 'drop by for a chat' person. He was more a 'schedule a meeting with flip charts and refreshments' type.

"Uh sure. Give me a sec to grab that coffee and let the others know I'm taking my break."

Walking away nerves began to kick in. I didn't like Jonas showing up unannounced, even less I liked thinking what he wanted to chat about. Was he going to ask me to properly join the Pack again? I knew that's what he wanted, to him it would make me safer, but he had never pressured me. I poured the hot coffee and took a deep breath, whatever he wanted I would be fine. I would always be fine, if sometimes a bit battered.

"Here you go." I slid into the seat opposite Jonas a thin smile on my lips.

"You're nervous." He took a quick sip from his mug. "I can smell it. There's no need to be. I'm not here for anything sinister."

"Ok. So what are you here for?" I challenged while staring intently at the tabletop. It was never a good idea to challenge an Alpha while staring him directly in the face, not unless you were ready to back it up.

"This might sound a bit odd, but I'd like you to hear me out before answering." Not encouraging. "I've had a request. From a wolf in another pack."

"And this concerns me why?"

"Because his request relates to you." He held my gaze and I could feel calming waves rolling off him. He really did want me to listen. "Obviously it's common knowledge among the other packs that I have a lone, unmated female in my territory."

This was not the opener I expected, and not one I wanted in any way. Strange wolves taking an interest in me was not a welcome thought. All it took was one strange wolf to land me where I am in my life right now.

"This wolf has requested my permission to enter pack lands and court you so to speak. And although you are not a formal member of my pack you are under my protection so his requests for entrance and to call on you were both directed to me." He paused to take another sip of his coffee, giving me a chance to process the really weird information just presented to me.

A wolf wanted to 'court me'. A wolf I didn't know, who didn't know me. Why on earth would someone want to date a complete stranger? Sight unseen. Female shifters were few and far between but surely that didn't mean the males would take any single gal out there? I didn't feel special at all.

"If you need time to think this through I understand. There's no rush." Jonas's honeyed voice soothed my pulse that I hadn't even noticed was racing.

"It's not that, it's just...I'm not sure I'm ready to date. You know what with the whole wolf thing." Even five years later I still felt like I was adjusting.

"The 'wolf thing' has been in your life for five years." It was like he could read my mind. "I'm not sure it's an excuse any more."

"True, I guess. I'm just not sure I know how it all works anymore, you know...dating. I wasn't exactly an expert before being bitten, and I feel even less of one now."

"I imagine it works the same way it does for everyone else. Maggie, you need to start living your life. Stop hiding." His concern was genuine, I could feel it. Jonas was actually worried about me.

"I'm not hiding."

He sighed, "If you really don't want to meet this man then I'll refuse his request. But he sounds perfectly nice. I've looked into his background and he has a letter from an Alpha I trust."

It was both creepy and sweet that Jonas would run a background check for me. Maybe a little comforting. Again I had to wonder at what my life had become, now that it involved things like background checks.

"I thought you wanted me and Max together. He's your beta after all." Having his beta mated to a female wolf would be good for the pack. It would strengthen it.

"I won't lie, if you two decided to give a relationship a chance I'd be overjoyed, but that is your choice." A smirk flitted across his unlined face. "Plus I'm enjoying watching you keep him on his toes."

I was kinda enjoying it as well. My sparring with Max lit a little spark of life inside me. A spark that hadn't managed to reignite since the bite happened.

"You keep being nice to me. I'm not even a member of your pack but you keep on trying to help me."

He drained the last of his coffee. "I hope I'm a good enough person that I would always try to help someone who needs it."

"You are but still, I haven't always been the easiest person to help." Those first few weeks after changing I was pretty much a nightmare. Jonas's raised eyebrows confirmed he was thinking the same thing. "Maybe I have trust issues."

"And I wouldn't blame you if you do. You were attacked in my territory. That should never have happened. The rogue criminal has never been caught or punished. That is my responsibility."

"No, it's the bastard who bit me who's responsible." He made the choice to bite me. He changed everything for me without a second thought.

"As the Alpha of the Haven Falls Pack the responsibility lies with me and me alone." I didn't like the frown lies along his brow or the pain in his eyes.

"We could go round in circles with this. So, do you think it's a good idea? To meet this guy, I mean?" I couldn't believe I was considering this.

"I do. If for no other reason than to see what's out there. Live a little."

"Fine. But only a very little." 

When had my life got so complicated that dating me required a signed permission slip?

********

"Werewolves aren't real. You're all crazy people." I glared at the two men sitting across from me.

"Did you forget that you just saw us turn into actual wolves?" Nate, a guy I'd begun to form a tentative friendship with was grinning at me.

"Uh huh...or you drugged me and I was on a crazy wolf-themed trip." Take that slice of logic.

This was my hope. I wasn't a drug taker, never had been, but right now that sounded like a good option. Drugs were the easier explanation for what was happening in my life. If I was high, then none of this was real, and maybe I'd wake up back in the hospital and everything would be normal. I wanted normal. I needed it.

"Babe, we don't drug women. Look at us." Max swept hand up and down his well-muscled torso. 

"What do your looks have to do with anything?" Although admittedly, both he and Nate were easy on the eyes. "Maybe this is the only way you can get new members for your weird cult thing."

"Just saying that we don't need any help getting women over here." I was fast learning that arrogant was Max's default setting.

"What my, uh, confident friend is trying to say, is that everything you've seen, everything you've experienced is real." The sincerity in Nate's eyes was hard to ignore.

I hated this. Why had my life come to involve completely serious conversations about werewolves? This could not be real. I was a normal, ordinary woman, living a straightforward existence. There was no room in it for creatures of myth.

"Fine. No drugs. Maybe I hit my head and this is some sort of hallucination."

********

Collapsing onto my couch at the end of the day I still couldn't quite believe what I'd agreed to earlier. I was seriously considering calling Jonas and telling him I'd changed my mind. And then I wanted to retreat to my bedroom for the next six weeks. I knew what I needed right now. To speak to some people who knew exactly what I was going through right now.

I dragged myself into my bedroom and pulled my laptop out from under the bed. Setting back against the headboard I got comfortable and logged on to my favourite chat group: Warrior Women. This was the group that helped keep me sane when I first turned. All the female wolves were members; we could swap stories, offer advice and just generally complain about overbearing male wolves. These women were my teachers and my saviours.

Maggie: Hey. Anyone around...I'm in desperate need of advice.

Jess: Hey Maggs. What's up? Do I need to pour myself a large drink for this one?

Josie: Jessie, darling you think every conversation we have requires a large drink.

Jess: And have I ever been wrong? Come on, we're female wolves. Our life problems would drive anyone to drink.

Josie: True but have you ever thought that maybe you rely too much on alcohol? You know it isn't a good coping mechanism.

Jess: Two words. Screw. You.

Maggie: Um guys, while I'm happy to stage whatever intervention may be needed at a later date can we please talk about me and my problems now?

Josie: Sorry hon, what's the crisis?

Maggie: Jonas came into the diner today.

Jess: Really? I don't really picture him as a diner type.

Josie: I'm not sure that's that issue here. Right Maggie?

Maggie. Right. He came in to say that a wolf from another pack has requested to come and 'court me'. His words not mine. And I think I agreed to it. Well, to at least meet the guy. Am I crazy? Is this normal?

Josie: Deep breath. First you're not crazy, just scared and second, sadly this is a completely normal situation.

Jess: She's right Maggs. Because we female shifters are so rare and precious, apparently the males among feel the need to 'court us' regardless of whether we're a good fit or not. It less about who were are as people and more about the fact we can turn furry.

Josie: So true. The number of duds I had to date before I mated to Warren was awful. I have so many bad date stories I should write a book.

Jess: Me too and since I haven't mated yet I'm guessing I have a few more to go.

Maggie: OK. That makes me feel better and worse. But at least I now know this isn't so unusual.

Josie: And you agreed to meet him? What did Max have to say about that?

Jess: Ohh, good question!

Maggie: Yes, I agreed. And I have no idea. I haven't seen him since Jonas talked to me.

Jess: Man, I'm almost tempted to fly out for a visit. I'd love to watch how the big bad beta deals with another male moving in on his territory.

Maggie: My life is not your soap opera, Jess! Besides Max and I are friends. That's it.

Jess: Liar, liar pants on fire!

Josie: I'm afraid I have to agree with Jess this time. From all the things you've told us about him that boy is definitely attached to you.

Maggie: If I didn't love you two I'd hate you right now. I don't need any more drama in my life. I'm going to try and get some sleep. I doubt it will work but hey maybe something will go right for once.

Jess: Make sure to update us soon! I'm not just saying that because nothing is happening with me right now and I desperately want entertainment. I'm saying it because I care.

Josie: Same here, love. We'll always listen whenever you need us.

Maggie: Thanks guys. Talk to you later in the week.