The Viking Alpha

The struggle

Warning: Mature audience only.  Violence and sexual assault in this chapter. Please skip this chapter if this is a sensitive subject.~

(Cassi POV)

She did not ditch school regularly. Not even in high school. But when one's boss sends a text threatening to fire you if you don't show up, even though you already had the night off and you work already almost six nights a week, doesn't help one focus. Low maintenance jobs that were not completely degrading did not come easy in New York when you're a full time student. Waitressing was a familiar trade for Cassi. She had been doing it since she was sixteen. Her mother and her had worked side by side in the same small diner in her original home back in Texas. At a young age Cassi could see her mother struggling to work two jobs and still manage to read to her before bed time. The babysitters in the trailer park where they lived were not exactly five star. So at a young age Cassi learned to cook simple meals. Do house chores. She could still remember sitting alone at the kitchen table in their cramped trailer and doing her homework. Most of the money Cassi earned went toward bills, food and repairs for the old beat up station wagon they drove. It helped ease the pressure off her mothers shoulders. Seeing her mother less stressed was worth the late nights, and drunk, rude customers. 
 What little she saved back was meant for college. Her mother lived long enough to see Cassi graduate high school. A few short months later she passed due to a brain aneurysm. The money Cassi saved and her mother had left went for funeral expenses. Cassi was ready to shut down when she heard two girls come in the diner and talk about the volunteer base in Australia. That was the break Cassi needed. That was the start of the chain of events that ended leading her to New York. She never felt like she belonged anywhere. But here in New York she just knew something was here. She liked to think her destiny starts here. But in the mean time there was the obstacles. Like a womanizing self entitled pig of a boss. Amy had asked her to quit several times. She said she'd take care of her until she found something else. With a smile Cassi remembered herself stopping Amy from going medieval on his gross ass.
'What am I going to do?' She whispered to herself. Her front tire went over a curb before wobbling and falling over.
'Damn it!' She picked her and her bike up. Her books that couldn't fit in her bag and were placed in her front basket sprawled on the sidewalk. The bike's chain dangled from the gears and dragged on the side walk.
'Son of a bitch!' The shriek flew from her mouth startling a man sitting on a bench across the street.
'Sorry!' She quickly apologized. The man just shook his head and went back to reading his paper.
'And they say chivalry is dead.' She said to herself. What else can happen today? She quickly tried to repair the chain but a part broke off.
'You know what? Fine!' She just pushed the bike the rest of the way to the greasy spoon of a diner. Her knee was cut and bleeding. Tears of frustration sprouted in her eyes while she chained up her bike. She took a deep cleansing breath before stepping through the door.
The diner wasn't busy but it was still early. Her boss was standing by the fifties style bar. Tacky ugly yellow stools were seated around the bar. Matching the yellow décor. Her boss pointed to the back room where his office was. As soon as they were in he slammed the door behind them. The space was cramped and small. Boxes of merchandise and supplies were against the walks. Shelves were dusty and full of junk. A calendar with an almost naked girl was lying on her stomach on the hood of a car with a playful pout. Cassi rolled her eyes.
'Sit.' Her boss motioned to the chair behind her. Leon was an overweight man in his late forties. Very little thinning blonde hair laid on his head. His yellow polo shirt that said, Chuck's Diner  had grease splatter on it. His too tight jeans made his boulder of a stomach hang out. He was repulsive to say the least.
Cassi sat on the uncomfortable ripped vinyl chair that sat in the corner. He sat in front of her in his office chair. the computer behind him was blinking. Half eaten doughnuts and coffee cups littered his desk. His trash can was overflowing.
Messy just like the occupant. She thought to herself.
'It's simple. I need you to work tonight or you're fired.' Leon said as if she was a stupid.
'Correct me if I'm wrong. But didn't you say you're already down a couple waitresses?' Today's events were catching up to her and she was feeling pissed off.
Leon's face grew red.
'And?'
'Well it sounds like it would be foolish to lose another.'
'Who is the boss here, Cassi?'
'You, but I think there was a mistake or someone was really stupid or desperate to put you in charge.'
Leon's face grew even angrier before suddenly he chuckled. His eyes grew hooded. She had seen him look at her and other girls working there like that. before. It just pissed her off even more.
'You and that smart mouth.' Leon leaned closer and brushed her thigh of her injured leg.
'That looks like it hurts Cassi. Should I help you patch it up?'
Cassi shifted her leg away.
'Don't touch me, Leon. You and I both know I need this job. We both know you are short staffed and not in a position to be picky. So the way I see it, you keep me and you wont be in a worse situation. Besides you might be in more trouble then you think. Such as there seem to be a lot of girls working here. Pretty young girls.
It's funny that they all leave with in six months of working here. That screams faulty management, to say the least don't you think ? I wonder what the police might think of a little investigation. '
Leon's smile grew wider. Showing yellow uneven teeth.
'You can't prove anything, little girl.'
'Oh no? I don't know if you've noticed, Leon. But we're all sick of your shit. It really wouldn't take much for us girls to get together and talk in front if a customer to set off a chain reaction of gossip.'
To her surprise he lunged at her. She was shoved against the wall behind her. A box corner was digging in her back. A large fat sweaty hand came up gripped her throat in a tight hold. Leon put his mouth close to her ear as he pressed against her body.
'And you are in no position to be a little b****' His other hand brushed over her tank top and groped her breast. 'You little sluts better start showing me some respect. Keep your F****** mouth shut or I'll have to show you just how bad I can get.' His breath smelled like cigarettes and eggs. Vomit was rising in the back of her throat. Anger took over full force. She took her knee and got him between the legs. He fell like a ton of bricks. She punched him in the face before kicking him in the face. Breathing heavy she stepped over him.
'Would you like to know a secret, Leon? It's actually already set in motion. Me and some of the girls that quit have already made calls to corporal already. Your days are numbered on several accounts. Here and outside as well. You're looking at sexual harassment, sexual assault, Labor laws, and last but not least theft. You honestly didn't think we'd notice that you were skimming from us on top of everything? You're in deep shit. If it's not obvious, I quit but something tells me I'll be welcomed back when you're no longer here. This is the last time you put you're pervy hands on one of us.' She stepped over his fetal positioned body. Her bloodied knee left a blood stain on his crouch that made her smile in amusement.
'Need a tampon, Leon?' She asked as she stepped out and left the diner. Not seeing the angry, green eyed werewolf, that heard everything, sitting in one of the booths with his back to her. His fangs and claws were out and in a blur he was in the small room with the crumpled manager on the floor.
'Now let me show you just how bad I can get.' The deadly whisper made Leon look up in surprise. The glowing green eyes and fangs were the last thing he saw before his head was slammed against the tile floor.