Chapter 23

Got any good quotes?

“Why?” I whispered.

“I had to take you.”

-Ty STOLEN

Chapter 23

"I'm telling you, their eggs are to die for."

"Who dies for eggs? I mean, chocolate, milk shakes, cookies, or a chocolate cookie crumble milkshake is worth it, but eggs?"

Jason looked at me like I was crazy before turning back his attention towards the road.

"Just try the omelet there, if you don't like it, I pay, if you do, you pay." He cheekily smiled at me, parking the car in front of a Denny's.

"Deal," I couldn't help but to smile when I saw his, it's contagious.

Jason opened the door for me as we entered. The place was quiet empty, although it was pretty late out.

"Table for two?" The waitress asked, and we nod.

Leading us to a booth in the back by the glass windows, we take a seat, and the lady hands us two menus.

"I'll give you two a minute-"

"Actually," Jason interrupts, his eyes glancing briefly at mine before looking back at the waitress.

"We'll order now. Can I have your original omelet with a side of hash brown and turkey bacon."

The waitress, who's name tag printed Mandy, nodded politely while writing down Jason's order.

When she turned to me with a clueless expression, I looked back with just the same face.

"And she'll have the same as me," Jason spoke smoothly.

Mandy hesitated for a moment before writing it down.

"Any drinks?" She finally asks after collecting the menu.

"Someone told me the chocolate cookie crumble milkshake here is amazing, can we get two those please, and that's it."

"That's a good choice, it'll only be a few minutes."

"You know it's night time, right? A little to late to be eating eggs," I finally comment when the waitress leaves.

"Just try them, you'll be regretting ever resisting."

Jason and I carry on pointless conversations, talking about school, friends, sports, shows, and even relationships.

"So, you and our Alpha, must be nice?" His expression was sincere but I could hear the hint of sarcasm.

"Oh so nice, looks like I was matched with the cruelest guy on earth."

"You think Alpha Hunter is cruel?"

"Well, maybe not  as much anymore, but don't think I forgot about all that he's done. He's killed many people."

"Sure, but many people he's known has died as well. I mean aside from all that, he can't be that bad." It was weird to be talking about Hunter so freely.

Our food came then, but Jason didn't drop the subject.

"If you could choose anyone to be your mate, who would you choose? They must be a werewolf."

Jason's question really made me think. Who would I choose?

The first person I thought of was Greg. But not the monstrous Greg who killed all those people and sent me the letters.

The Greg I first fell in love with. The one who was shy and would blush easily. The one who brought flowers on our first date and didn't even tease me when my mom took our picture.

That, is the Greg I want for a mate.

He changed. But so did Hunter.

Hunter changed for the good. He may not be an angel, but he has toned down a lot. He's showed something he has never showed before. Empathy.

"I-I don't know," I finally say.

Jason took a bite from his omelet, his eyes almost closing from satisfaction. It's actually quite amusing.

"I know who I would choose," He wipes his mouth with a napkin before going on,"I would choose you, duh. I'm like obsessed with you."

I was mid-way swallowing when I heard what Jason said. The food clogged my throat and I started coughing loudly.

"Whoa, are you okay?" I felt a thump on my back, not stopping until I finally controlled my breathing.

"I-I'm fine, just went down the wrong tube. What did you mean by, you know, choosing me thing?" A grin formed on Jason's face.

"I was kidding. I was going to tell you that but you started choking. I actually have a crush on someone, but I can't tell you who."

Before I knew it, the tension was gone and we were back to joking around.

I tried multiple times to make Jason confess, but each time he stayed stubborn.

"First initial. Just give me that, come on."

At last, he caves.

"Okay fine, but you have to promise me you wont tell. It's Liv." He looked away when he said her name.

"Aww, see that wasn't that hard."

"Now you." Jason looked at me with challenging eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"What... did you think..." Jason's voice was hard and cold.

"Of the eggs?" He finally finished. There was a moment of silence before we broke out in laughter.

I don't know what was happening to me, I've never laughed so much. Nothing was even funny, just the setting I guess.

"They were..." I looked at him with a sneer on my face.

"Quite delicious actually, not going to lie, you were right."

"Aha I knew it! However, considering I'm such a gentleman, I'll still pay." I smile at his generosity, but take out my wallet anyways.

"A deals a deal, It's on me." Reaching into my pocket, realization hits me.

I didn't bring my wallet.

"On second thought," I smile sheepishly at him.

"Like I said, I'll pay."

Just then, the waiter walks over.

"Hows everything going over here, any dessert?" Mandy had a bright smile on her face. She seemed familiar.

Perhaps she went to my school.

"No, just the check please." A confused expression reaches her face.

"Check? You meal has already been covered. All costs, even extra for dessert." Jason looked at me as if I knew the answer.

"Don't look at me, I really don't have my wallet."

"Oh yes, a Young man covered it. He picked up his order and said he would pay your bill as well. I though you knew, guess not. It's a nice surprise, though. Doesn't happen anyways. Now, dessert?"

"Umm no, I think we're good, we'll be on our way now" I reply.

The waitress took our now empty plates, wishing us a good night.

"Who do you think paid for it?" I ask Jason once she left.

"I'm not sure, but who cares. Who ever it was, they've got a kind heart."

Jason took it as a kind gesture, but something within me told me otherwise.

"How about you go warm the car, and I'm just going to quickly visit the restroom." Jason nods, and leaves.

When he left the restaurant, I make my way towards the kitchen, seeing Mandy standing just outside of it.

"Hey, Mandy is it? I was just wondering if you could tell me what that guy looked like? The one who paid."

"Oh yeah, I actually didn't see him, but my coworker did. Hey Colleen, come here for a second."

A blonde girl who looked just about my age walks up to us, speaking to Mandy.

"What's up?"

"This lady here wants to know who paid for her meal. Remember that guy that came? The cute one," Mandy winks.

An awkward chuckle leaves my mouth.

"Oh yeah, what about him?"

"Girl here want's to know who he was."

"Oh!" Colleen slips her hand in her pocket of her apron, reveling a a little pad.

"I've got it right here. Names, Greg. Greg Vanderveen. He actually left a message. Said enjoy it while you can, what ever that means. Do you know him?"

"I-I... Are you sure that's the real name? That's impossible."

Greg's in the pack jail. There's no way Greg could have been here.

The thought entered my mind before I could filter it out.

What if...

"Yup, Greg Vanderveen. He wrote it him self, here." Sure enough, the note was dabbed by neat writing.

I would have compared it to Greg's, if only I actually knew what his writing looked like. But sure enough, it looked identical to all the other notes.

"Brown hair, blue hoodie, in his early twenties."

"Okay, thanks." I finally said, turning my back towards them, I walk out.

My emotions were skyrocketing, chills suddenly reaching the tips of my skin.

This couldn't be real. This must be some sick joke. Greg had to have had planned this in advance.

What if...

My body stopped before I mentally did. I had reached the truck.

What if we were wrong?

Jason reached over and unlocked the door.

What if Greg isn't the killer?

A smile too bright for my liking was on his face.

What if the killer is closer than I think?

*        *        *

"You can stay the night at my place, if your sisters not home. Don't worry my parents are home so we'd be supervised. Rose? Rose?"

"What?" I couldn't get the thoughts out of my head. Greg isn't the killer. He was framed. I mean, none of this makes sense, but in anything did it would be this. This still doesn't explain why Greg was acting like a maniac today.

He pretty much confessed he was the killer.

Jason was waiting for my reply. Had he said something?

"Umm just drop me off at home, please."

"But you don't have your key?"

"Right, and Soph will be asleep," I say more to myself

"Like I said, you can stay the night at my house, my parents won't mind." I was glad that me and Jason were getting along, but the last time I stayed at a guys house, he went all crazy on me. Or, perhaps that's just Greg.

"I appreciate it, but I don't think I'm ready for sleepovers and painting our nails." I studied Jason's features, worried that he was offended by my words.

"Fair enough. So, where to? The pound?" A teasing smirk formed on his face.

His words were supposed to amuse me, his eyes flickering to me waiting for my reaction. He stopped looking when I didn't give one.

I don't feel like smiling anymore.

"You're acting weird," He comments.

"I'm just tired," I shrug off.

"If it's about the bill from the restaurant, if it makes you feel any better, you can pay next time." Again, I couldn't bring my self to laugh like he did. I did however, give a weak smile.

It is about the bill from the restaurant.

Jason smiled at me, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Well, this is farewell," He comments as he stops the car just outside the house.

"Bye."

*        *        *

When I turned the nob, I didn't expect for it to be open. I mean I know it's just a door, but shouldn't the Alpha's house be the tiniest bit protected? Even if it's one lock.

I got my answer when I heard shuffling from down the hall. Hunter was home.

Rather than just barging in, I take a deep breath then knock on his door. He was in his office.

Raising my fist, I knock 3 times.

Hunter didn't speak. I could hear the shuffling of papers, the tapping of your foot against the hardwood floor, and the sound of a pen hitting a surface.

After doing another round of knocks and no reply, I just walk in.

"I knocked," I said as I saw Hunter look up from the crowd of papers on his desk.

He had bags under his workout eyes.

"You look tired," I comment when he doesn't break the silence.

"Maybe you should get some sleep."

"Maybe,"  He reached up and scratched the back of his neck, his yawn breaking out.

"Why are you here? I thought you were staying at your moms."

"I forgot my key, but that's not important. Maybe you should sleep first and I'll tell you in the morning," I look at him wearily.

If I tell him now, It'll only stress him out even more. He will put out on sleeping. He needs rest.

"I already took a nap."

"Doesn't look like it," I mutter loud enough for him to hear.

"What's so important that you're disrupting me?" He asks more awake now.

"I think you need rest first-"

"Rose," Hunter growls out my name.

"What is it?" He demands.

It's now or never.

"I don't think Greg is the killer."

In the most deadly yet calm voice, Hunter spoke out.

"Get. Out."

"No, listen to me. I got a note! Another one!"

"Where is it?" Hunter stood up from his seat, his body towering over mine.

"This lady from the restaurant has it, but listen, it can't be Greg. Greg was locked up when I got it." I rushed each word out from my mouth.

"Slow down, start from the beginning, where you were, why you were there, and with who," Hunter sits at the edge of his large desk. One hand griping the table for balance, the other rubbing at his face.

"Okay, so I was waiting outside my house for Soph to finish taking a shower and to let me in when Jason drives by and stops at my house. He notices I'm outside and asks what's wrong."

"Jason?" A questioning tone enlaced Hunter's words.

"He was from my old pack, he's a pack warrior," I explain.

"I know who he is, but why is he stopping at your house?" I didn't understand why this was important to what was happening but I reply anyways.

"He's my friend from school and he lives down the street from me. He probably thought I was some homeless guy trying to sneak into a house. Anyways, when I told him I was locked out  he suggested we go eat somewhere until Soph was done."

"And you said no," Hunter finished in a strict voice.

"Yes, well, not exactly. He's a good friend and didn't want me to stay out in the cold."

"It's not that cold, your a werewolf, you'll live."

Ignoring the harsh words from Hunter, I continue, "Bottom line, I took up his offer and we went to Denny's."

"You went out?" Hunter growled out between his teeth. "With another guy." It's not that bad...

"My mate was out with another guy while I sat reviewing the papers for my dead mother."

"Well when you put it like that...That's not the point Hunter, I'm so sorry about your mother. My only regret is never getting the chance to meet such an amazing woman. This afternoon, you left me, you didn't want to talk. Even if I tried, it would be pointless. You don't open up. You don't share. And I get it, It's not like I'm ready to tell you my life story but if you need to talk, you can. Hunter, you don't have to go through this alone."

I went the extra mile and rested my hand over his. Its probably the most awkwardest thing I have ever done in my life.

I was just waiting for Hunter to shove my hand away. Yell at me. Scream. Shout. Move.

He didn't. He didn't even move his hand away.

Instead, he changed the subject. "What happened at the restaurant?"

"Our meal was paid by some guy. When I asked the waitress who, she said Greg Vanderveen, or at least that's the name the person put. They also left a message. 'Enjoy it while you can'."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know. This proves it wasn't Greg, doesn't it?"

"No. For all we know the person could be working under Greg."

"Then why would they say Greg's name? Not really clever, don't you think?"

"It's not about being clever. It's about making a point. It could be a message to all of us, or a threat."

"So it's not just Greg?" I ask.

"I- I don't know. If it is someone working under Greg's arm, there might be more."

"L-like an army?" I chill reached my spine.

"Maybe. There's only one way to find out."

"What?" Hunter is up and past me before he even replies.

"We go and talk to the man himself."

"What?" I repeat and follow him towards the entrance.

"Perhaps it's time me, you and Greg all sit around and have a little talk."

I didn't even notice when Hunter had put his shoes on. Grabbing the keys from the counter, he walks out, his hand outstretched to keep the door open for me.

"Thanks," I murmur.

As I slide past him I can smell his minty scent enlcaed with... with...Oreo?"

"Don't mention it," Hunter closes the door after me.

And we're off to see Greg.

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