Chapter 211 Vampire Luna

Chapter 211 Vampire Luna
Mary didn't give me a single word of response. She kept her head held high, staring straight ahead as her boots clicked rapidly against the dusty path, refusing to even glance back over her shoulder at me.
"Calm down, Mary!" I called out, my raspy voice tight with exertion as I picked up my pace. "Stop walking so fast!"
I broke into a quick jog, closing the gap between us in a few quick strides until I reached out and caught her by the arm, gently holding her shoulder to bring her to a halt. "Just wait up for me. There is no need to march down the trail like you're heading into battle."
Mary froze in her tracks, letting out a sharp, impatient breath through her nose. She turned her head slightly, her dark eyes flashing with irritation as she looked down at my hand on her sleeve. "Well... I suppose I can slow down my pace just a little bit," she muttered, her top lip curling into a small, annoyed pout. "But that certainly does not mean you have permission to drag me back or hold me up."
I let my hand slide off her shoulder, folding my arms across my chest as a dry, amused smirk touched my lips. "Fine. I get that you're annoyed, but don't expect me to start apologizing for trying to keep up."
"Fine by me," Mary scoffed, rolling her shoulders before finally dialing back her fast stride into a relaxed walk.
Together, we cut through the quiet side streets of the territory, stepping up to the entrance of a small, cozy diner tucked between two wooden storefronts. Mary pushed the screen door open, and we stepped inside, the faint ring of a brass bell chiming above our heads.
The dining room was mostly empty, with only a handful of tables occupied. A heavy, somber atmosphere hung over the small space. Most of the patrons sitting around the room looked completely drained and miserable, quietly picking at their plates with pale, stressed faces just so they could eat a quick meal and get on with their dismal day. Low, frantic whispers drifted through the air—nearly every quiet conversation in the diner was focused entirely on the terrifying, bloody events that had just unfolded at the central square during the Alpha's summons.
Mary swept her gaze across the room, picking a quiet wooden booth tucked away in the corner. We slid into the seats, sitting down directly across from each other at the small square table.
Mary rested her elbows on the wooden surface, leaning forward slightly as she eyed me with a curious expression. "So... what are you planning on having?"
I paused, leaning back against the vinyl seat as my mind went completely blank. I let out a low grunt, shaking my head softly. "Well... I honestly have no idea. What about you?"
Mary’s dark eyebrows shot up in complete disbelief, her jaw dropping open slightly as she stared at me. "Wait... you mean to tell me you walked all the way into a restaurant without even having a single clue what you wanted to eat before coming here?"
"I didn't really plan on buying a full meal today," I replied smoothly, crossing my ankles under the table as I gestured toward her with my chin. "What are you having?"
Mary let out a soft sigh, shaking her head at my lack of preparation. "I had a general idea in mind, but I suppose I should actually take a proper look at the menu first."
She picked up the laminated menu resting against the napkin dispenser, her dark eyes scanning down the long list of dishes for a few quiet moments. Once her mind was made up, she closed the booklet with a soft snap and raised her hand, waving down the young waiter who was wiping off the counter nearby.
The waiter hurried over to our table, pulling a small paper pad and a stubby pencil out of his apron pocket. "Good day, ladies," he murmured politely, his voice carrying the same cautious, low tone as everyone else in the room. "What can I get started for you today?"
Mary leaned back, a confident, satisfied smile spreading across her face as she rattled off her order without missing a beat. "I'll take the loaded double-bacon cheeseburger with extra cheddar, a double order of crispy golden French fries with side cups of garlic mayo and spicy ketchup, a bowl of creamy clam chowder, and a large side of deep-fried onion rings with ranch dipping sauce."
The poor waiter’s hand moved in a furious blur as he scribbled down the massive list of items, his eyes widening in mild surprise at how much food she had just requested for a single sitting. He finished writing, cleared his throat, and turned his head toward me, tapping his pencil against the pad.
"And for you, ma'am? What are you having?"
I didn't bother opening the menu. I simply leaned forward, resting my chin in my hand as I looked him dead in the eye. "Just bring me a hot cup of black coffee... and load it up with plenty of sugar. Add a few heavy spoonfuls of honey, and bring me a side of vanilla ice cream and a thick chocolate milkshake as well."
Mary’s head snapped toward me so fast I thought her neck might crack. Her face twisted into an expression of pure, utter disgust, her lip curling back as she stared at me in total horror.
"Eww... gross!" Mary gasped, holding her hand up to her mouth as if she were about to gag. "What kind of monstrous order is that?! You didn't even bother looking at the food options on the menu, and every single thing you just requested is literally nothing but pure, unadulterated sugar!"
She leaned across the table, tapping her manicured nails against the wood with an incredulous look on her face. "And who on earth puts heavy sugar, honey, and ice cream together with coffee?!"
"Of course I do," I replied calmly, my face remaining completely deadpan as I offered her a tiny, subtle shrug. "It tastes great to me."
Mary rolled her eyes dramatically, muttering under her breath about my bizarre taste buds, but she didn't push the topic any further.
Within a short fifteen minutes, the waiter returned to our booth, balancing a heavy tray in his arms. He laid out Mary's feast first, filling almost the entire tabletop with steaming plates of bacon burgers, golden fries, onion rings, and creamy soup, before placing my piping-hot cup of coffee, sweet toppings, ice cream bowl, and chocolate milkshake directly in front of me.
I picked up my spoon, mixing a generous amount of sugar and honey straight into the dark coffee before taking a slow, comforting sip. Across the table, Mary didn't hesitate for even a single second. She grabbed her loaded cheeseburger with both hands, taking a massive, enthusiastic bite, her dark eyes closing in pure bliss as she began devouring her food with absolute delight. She was thoroughly enjoying every single bite, completely unbothered by the quiet, gloomy atmosphere of the diner around us.
After polishing off half her burger and a small mountain of fries, Mary paused, looking down at her plate before glancing up at me with a bright, enthusiastic grin.
She picked up a perfectly golden, crispy onion ring, dipped it deep into the garlic mayo, and extended her hand right across the center of the small table, holding the food directly in front of my lips.
"Come on, take a bite!" Mary urged playfully, her eyes sparkling as she gestured for me to lean in. "Trust m
e, this is actually so good!"