Chapter 9(pt 2)

Marcus interrupted her. "I'll have a coffee and an order of French toast. Does that come with eggs?"

"No, Sir. It comes with a side order of bacon and hash browns."

"Okay, then I'll have 3 eggs over easy too."

Claire wrote it all down and looked at Nate. When their eyes met, Nate felt the temperature in the room heat up a few degrees. Her eyes were a gorgeous green, like the color of healthy grass mixed with a lighter shade. Vibrant. Her eyes were vibrant.

She waited expectantly with her pen in hand, poised at the ready.

"I'll have an order of tomato juice, three eggs sunny-side up, an order of hash browns, and an order of sausage."

"Would you like any toast with that?"

"No."

Claire jammed the pad into her work apron, grabbed the rest of their menus, and walked off to take care of the order. Nate's eyes followed her skirt-covered bottom her entire way to the kitchen. Damn, that light blue uniform was perfect for her.

Marcus whistled. "Well, look here. Nate smiling. Actually smiling. Goddess, the world must be ending."

Nate shot his brother a glare. "Shut it, Marc. Or I'll shut it for you."

Theresa couldn't hold back a little giggle. She clapped her hands in glee. "My little boy!" was all she got out.

Nate scrunched his forehead. "What is the matter with you people?"

Marcus chuckled at his brother's confusion. "Man, it's pretty obvious she's your mate. Nice try hiding it though."

"She's not an Omega," Theresa pointed out. "She felt more dominant."

"Claire's adopted," Marcus told their mother.

"My goodness, she's a pretty one, Nathaniel. Her hair is beautiful! And her eyes are such an odd shade of green, it's amazing," Theresa raved. "Your pups will be good-looking. And strong. Definitely strong."

"Woah, woah, wait," Nate stopped them. "What in the hell are you talking about?"

"Nathaniel, language," Theresa warned.

"What do you mean, she's my mate?" he asked.

Marcus sighed dramatically. "You're an idiot."

Nate's wolf growled at the insult. "Watch it, Marcus," he threatened.

"Haven't you touched her yet?" Theresa asked with a frown. "You'd know it the second you two make contact. Even if it's just a little touch of her fingers."

"Once your wolves make contact, the bond begins setting. There's no going back after that," Marcus chimed in.

Nate scowled at the table. How could he be so stupid? So...naïve?

That meant they almost activated the mating bond the other day. The sparks, his wolf's anxiousness, the heat, all of it. Luna help him.

He glanced over towards the kitchen where she'd disappeared. She was beautiful, that was for sure. Capable of handling herself, a little dominance but not too much, quiet, kept to herself, didn't throw herself at him like other female wolves.

She would make a good mate. A dependable Alpha female.

"You're smiling again," Marcus said, "It's kind of creepy. Knock it off."

Nate almost punched him.

"Marcus, leave your brother alone. You two are grown men, an Alpha and Beta no less, it's time you act as such," Theresa scolded.

"Sorry, Mom."

"Sorry."

"All you two are doing is embarrassing yourselves."

They echoed their apologies.

A few moments later, the smell of lavender ambushed Nate's nose. His wolf perked up.

"Okay, I've got two coffees..." Marcus and Theresa nodded appreciatively when the drinks were set in front of them. "And your tomato juice, Alpha." Claire bent and set the drink in front of him, her red-brown hair brushing his arm and giving him shivers.

Marcus gave Nate an encouraging look. One that very clearly said, go get her, dude.

Nate hesitated. Would she want to be his mate? From what little he had seen of Claire, she didn't seem the type to want to settle down early. Let alone be tied to him for the rest of her existence.

There was a part of Nate's brain that wanted to make him slap himself. Here he was, almost turning twenty-four years old, wanting to meet his mate for the longest time—dreaming about it—and now he was holding back. He should be jumping at the chance! Not sitting here like little Miss Prissy, debating with himself.

In the end, it was the hesitation that ruined his chance. Just as he began to reach up to softly touch her wrist, she pulled away and out of arm's reach.

Damn.

"Is there anything else I can get you, Alpha?" she asked innocently, obviously having not seen Nate's intentions.

How about a date? Nate bit his tongue to keep himself in check.

"No, I think we're good," Marcus told her, though his gaze was set strictly on Nate. It was dripping with disappointment.

"Well, enjoy your breakfast." She gave them a small smile and danced off, hips swinging dangerously as she left. Goddess, if she knew what sinful thoughts were going through his head...

"You missed your chance," Marcus told him, as if it weren't obvious.

Nate stabbed his fingers into his hair. "I know. Goddess, I'm so stupid."

Marcus bit his lip to keep back a taunt.

His mother threw a tender smile his way. "It's alright, Nathaniel. You'll get your chance." Her hazel eyes turned distant. "I remember when your father and I first touched. It was like beautiful fireworks..." She trailed off, reminiscing.

"I guess you'll just have to catch her when she comes back with the food. At least you found her." Marcus smirked. "I told you that you would."

The two brothers fist bumped.

The food came a few minutes later. To Nate's aggravation, it wasn't Claire who served it. Instead, the plates clattered in front of them, practically thrown down by a dirty blonde with a scowl permanently set onto her face. As she bowed her head, Nate caught her name tag. Sandy. Her name fit perfectly with her hair color.

Nate kept his eyes peeled for Claire, but she never showed.

Just once more. He only wanted to see her once more. Apparently, that was too much to ask. Her mouthwatering scent still wafted through the diner, telling him she was still here. Why wouldn't she come out from wherever she was hiding? Was she scared? Was she too busy with other orders?

He barely touched his meal. His mind ran through ideas of how he could see her again. What excuse he could make to be able to make contact with her.

Before he knew it, his mother and brother practically dragged him out of the place. He only had time to pay the bill and throw down the biggest dollar bill he had for tip. The least he could do was reward her hard work with a decent tip. Maybe she could use it to buy Charlie a new toy or get some new clothes she probably needed.

Nate already wanted to buy the world for her. He wasn't even a hundred percent sure she was his mate. Yet his wolf already wanted to do all he could to provide for her. At least a big tip kept his wolf satisfied for now.

Sooner or later, that wasn't going to be enough.