Bianca frowned. «What do you mean by he can’t enter as a human? »
Mat gave his hair a good shake « Aiyana, dear sister, I’m sorry but I can’t say anymore. I’m dead tired and the first shuttle will arrive soon. » She nodded and took Bianca’s hand « Let’s prepare first. I’ll try to answer as many questions as possible after our shift. Come, I’ll give you the uniform for the employees here. Don’t worry, it’s just a shirt with the shop’s logo on it. » Bianca saw the fatigue on Mat’s face and decided that it wasn’t the time to nag at him. She followed Aiyana and changed quickly. « I’ll need some clothes for myself. I don’t know how long I’ll stay here. At what time do you think I’ll be able to get out? » « I’m not sure. We don’t care about time here. What do you want to do? Maybe I could help you? I could even lend you some skirts… even if with our height difference, you might end with mini skirts on you. »Aiyana offered. Bianca giggled. « I mean, I need clean underwear too you know. » Aiyana made a silent o with her lips and nodded. « Let’s try to get out as soon as possible. I know a little shop not too far from here where we could find what you need. » They went to the bar where Mat prepared honey milk for his sister, warm milk for Rosy, and a dark roast for Bianca. Mat had managed to put Rosy to sleep. He put her on the closest couch. He took care of arranging the backrest to block her from falling. Like this, he knew she would be ok and he could keep one eye on her. « I have another problem. It’s money. My bag stayed in my car. Maybe I should go see Alpha or maybe I should call him and ask him to bring back my stuff. Do you have his phone number? » Aiyana who was starting to drink her honey milk spit everything she had in her mouth out. « You mean… Alpha Black’s number? No. Wait a minute! » She seemed to connect the dots and looked at her brother horrified. « Is it what I am thinking right now? » Mat looked at her blankly. « No ! Hell no! Is she his mate? » « That’s the same word Old Al’ used yesterday night! What is a mate by the way? » Bianca questioned again. « We’re not a hundred percent sure, to be honest, » said Mat to his sister. « But seeing how he acted yesterday night, she really might be. » Aiyana had an excited squeal. « Like… For real !? » « Why are you guys talking like I’m not here? » Bianca said annoyed. She didn’t like how the language barrier made her feel excluded from the conversation. Aiyana shook her head and put her hand on Bianca’s shoulder. She made a money sign with the thumb and her index. « Girl. From today, money is not a problem! Oh, gods! Alpha Black’s mate! Wait a minute! That means you are a Luna! »She paused dramatically. « I have to calm down. It’s not good for my baby. » Mat rolled his eyes and put his elbow on the bar. « Bianca. Just know one thing. You are protected as long as you stay in Crossroads café. As soon as you go out from here, you’re Alpha Black propriety. » Bianca had a mocking laugh. « Me? Propriety? On which basis? » Mat stared at the emptiness of the place but nothing happened. He rubbed his hands on his face. « Great. The spirits were all over the place yesterday night and now nothing. » He put his palms on the bar and took a good inspiration. « You are Alpha Black’s mate. I don’t want to explain more to you as I think this is a conversation you should have with him and no one else. Just always remind yourself that nothing can happen to you and Rosy as long as you stay in the café. If you have to go out, ask Old Al’ or I to go with you. » Bianca frowned « What’s the danger if I go out alone? I thought America was the country of the free and the braves! » She was getting irritated. « Bianca, please, don’t get mad… I think you’ll have to wait for seven days to meet Alpha Black face to face and have a good talk with him. Just be careful because he’ll use any ruse to make you take a step out of the café without us. » « C’est de la folie! (=That’s crazy !) » answered Bianca. She took one shot at her now cold coffee and instantly regretted it. « I have no idea what you just said » Mat replicated. He was trying not to laugh at the French lady. He could see a tear in the corner of her eye and a small tremor in her lower lip. « Well, welcome to my world. One where people talk and don’t explain to me what’s the overall meaning of the conversation! » Bianca answered with a half-smile. « Dang! Why your coffee is so disgusting? » Mat put a hand on his heart, acting hurt. « I don’t know? Raw talent I guess? » They all started to laugh when howling wolves could be heard outside. Bianca looked in surprise as half-naked men entered the café. They were now throwing shirts at each other. Mat took a business smile and grabbed a list from under the bar. « Gentlemen from the Red Moon Pack, I presume? Welcome to Crossroad Café! I present you my two charming waitresses Bianca and Aiyana! You can sit everywhere you like. I’ll just ask you to not let your wolves out. » Bianca started to laugh but stopped when she realized that no one was getting Mat’s joke. Aiyana went to them and asked « Party of how many? » « We’re only six. Two others are outside keeping watch. There’s a rumor going on outside. » the older one answered. The six men went to sit at the same table. « A rumor ? » said Aiyana while she was taking the orders. Bianca observed how she worked. She knew that she had to learn fast to be useful to her saviors. « They say the Mad One is lurking around here. Better be safe than sorry. We’d rather leave before he comes in. » one of the men said with a shudder. « Oh really? That rumor is so interesting don’t you think Mat ? » Aiyana said while turning on her heels to face him. Her brother shook his head no: « Worry not, I made a deal with him yesterday. You’ll all be alright as long as you don’t get too close to that one. » He answered while showing Bianca with his thumb.Her brother shook his head no: « Worry not, I made a deal with him yesterday. You’ll all be alright as long as you don’t get too close to that one. » He answered while showing Bianca with his thumb. . . . The six men frowned then turned towards Bianca. The oldest one had his nose up in the air and seemed to smell her. They all had shocked looks on their face. Bianca had, herself, a surprised look. What is going on right now? Why are they looking at me like that? She thought. One of the guests said to no one « A human … ? Here? In Crossroads Café? » « Well, it is Crossroads Café! The place where every species meet! » Mat said with a huge grin on his face. Ayana gave him the notes where she took the order. « But… if you are telling us not to get close to that one… does that mean that she is… her mate ? » the oldest one said. Bianca was kind of tired to have people talking as if she was not here. She went in front of the old guest and put her right hand i
Bianca happily shook Connor’s hand. I have to memorize his drinking preferences for his next visit here, she thought. As she released his hand, she noted the solemn expression on his face. He looked perplexed and worried. Little did she know, that she put him in danger by touching him at this moment. This innocent and conventional gesture had heavy meaning for a mate’s wolf, almost sinful when it was an unclaimed Luna. Her scent was now on his hand. Connor and his men knew that he took a huge risk by touching the mate of an alpha… worst the mate of Alpha Black, The Mad One. They ended their drinks, chatting about which route they should take. They had other packs to stop by before joining the Luna’s Ceremony. They were hesitating between going straight to the party or going to the other packs first. They knew that whatever they would choose if the Mad One could smell Bianca on one of them, this would mean trouble… and maybe death. They stopped talking as all their ey
The night it all started : It was a crazy night. The rain was pouring down, blinding anyone who tried to keep their eyes open under the heavy raindrops. A massive dark figure was lurking. It was making sure everything was safe for his people. It hated the rain as it covered the smell of rogues. Rogues, wolves without a pack. Wolves who sank into madness as they lost any connection to a group. Strangely enough, these lone wolves sometimes got together and had only one goal: attacking others who swore allegiance to an alpha. It hated them and killed them on sight, never trying to hear their pleads. Sometimes, it felt compassion to rogues as he could feel himself drowning into insanity. It knew the time was short, and it knew it had not as much time before his other self would fall into madness, taking his humanity too. It knew his soul was still incomplete, and it was slowly killing him each second breathing without a mate close to him. A
Bianca started to answer when a loud bang made all the walls shake. Some glasses that were on the bar fell shattered on the floor. Bianca began to walk to the front door, but Mat stopped her. « Please, clean the glass shards. We have guests coming in in a few minutes, and we can't let them see the mess, »said Mat. * * * Bianca nodded yes and went to the back, where she changed her clothes earlier, to take a broom and a dustpan. She started to clean up the glass shards when howls resonated from outside. Three men entered. They wore clean clothes. Bianca thought that they all had a typical lumberjack look as they had red checkered shirts with jeans. They all had long beards and had neatly tied men's buns. What struck her was that they all looked like they had trouble with their buttons. As she swept the floor, they came closer to the bar and sat on the stools. « Three cold beers, please, » said the youngest one. « Three beers are coming ! » answered Mat. He
« I am really sorry, » Bianca said again. « It is ok… » Alpha Wayne answered. « Can't believe the Mad One got a mate that beautiful… » he took a bitter drink and left his now empty bottle on the bar. He rose and made a sign to his Beta and Gamma to follow him. Bianca kept her under lip between her teeth. She was blaming herself for what happened earlier. « What a way to start your first day at work, » she thought. Alpha Wayne stopped on his track and made a turn. He put a hand behind his neck and looked timidly at the young woman. « Listen, I know we started weirdly, but… I just wanted you to know that it is ok. I am not mad at you… so feel free to act as if nothing happened between us. »Bianca's head went up super fast, and she gave him an incredible smile. She was so grateful for him to say that to her. « Thank you, Alpha Wayne, » she answered. He gave her a nod and turned back to get out of the café. As soon as he went outside, he released the breath he had held since she smi
Bianca went back inside the Café. She tried to convince the men outside to come with her, but they all refused. They all had to go to the same place and would travel together. As soon as she raised her head, Mat was standing in front of her, arms crossed on his chest. « Bianca, seriously… I told you not to go outside. » « I Was not outside. I was standing on the porch…. » « Bianca, you are making it difficult for me to protect you. » « Mat, you make it difficult for me to want to listen to you when you never tell me things. » A warm wind came inside the café, and Mat's frown disappeared. He released his arms and went behind his bar. He made a head sign to Bianca to encourage her to follow him. He started to make her a coffee, but she stopped him. « Are you going to poison me as soon as the truth is revealed? » He started to laugh, and she followed him, their giggles echoing in the place. « No, beautiful. I would not try to start a war by acting foolishly. Sit d
The night was finally here. Alpha Black was standing tall in front of the porch of the Crossroads Café. Alo was there too. He was sitting on an old rocking chair, smoking a cigarette. The older man smiled at the man waiting to meet half of his soul. He rose from his seat and showed the Alpha a necklace made with feathers and stones. « A crazy night again. Spirits are rejoicing and glowing, Alpha Black. » « What is that ? » the low voice said, similar to a growl. « This will allow your wolf to go inside the café. » Old Al answered. Alpha Black stared blankly at the jewelry. His wolf was gigantic, and he worried that his massive form would scare his mate all day long. That was not how he was supposed to present his wolf to her for the first time, but he knew he was the one who broke a rule first, and he had to accept the consequences. He could hear the whimpers of his beast in his head. « This thing will never be able
_Why did Mate stop moving ?_ « I don't know… » answered Alpha Black to his beast. _ Do something !_ Little whimpers started to rise in his head. « What do you want me to do, buddy? » Black tried to calm him. _Mate is leaving! Follow Mate! Stick to Mate !_ « It's ok. Look, she is not leaving us. She just went behind the bar. Chill. » They followed her and sat on their hind legs as Bianca talked aloud to herself. « _ Qu'est-ce que Je dois faire ? C'est de la folie ! » (What should I do ? This is crazy !*) she said, switching unconsciously to french. She opened the fridge and took the milk bottle. She grabbed a glass but stopped. She then proceeded to take a bowl and stopped again. « Je n’ai même pas la certitude que ce soit un loup ou que ces histoires de loups garous soient vraies ! » (I am not even sure that it is a wolf or if these werewolves' stories are true! » She turned on her heels and faced the unidentified cre