The Chef's Sick Mate (Book 17 of the Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 32

Gen had walked in and quickly got in line. Aidan, Ana and Melissa were all sitting together at a table, and Gen groaned internally at the fact that she was so late.

The other people there were kind to her. She'd been a bit nervous about the fact that she was a rogue. In some of the books she read, pack wolves didn't like rogues. They'd kill a rogue without a second thought. Aidan had reassured her more than once that she would be fine. No one would bother her.

Breakfast looked amazing and she quickly made a plate, wanting to go over to join her family. Now Aidan was part of her family. And she had a feeling he would make sure nothing happened to any of them. Even though she was intimidated by him, he'd been nothing but kind to her.

She walked over and sat down, feeling crappy for being late.

"Still on Missouri time?" Ana asked her with a smile.

She shrugged. "I guess so. But I slept really well."

Ana smiled. "That's all that matters."

Gen took a bite of her biscuit and groaned softly. The food here was amazing. So much better than she thought it was going to be. The biscuits were light and fluffy, and she was fairly certain the jam was homemade. Maybe the butter too. It was so good.

She sighed wondering if she would even be able to work in the kitchen. She might know some things, but she wasn't this good. Maybe she could peel potatoes or something. Fry eggs.

That scent suddenly hit her again, distracting her from her runaway thoughts, and she glanced around, looking for the source. It didn't quite smell like food but it did smell pretty amazing. Like the most amazing thing she'd ever smelled. Like warmth and comfort. That scent called to her and had Jules' interest as well.

Gen looked up and around the dining room, and her gaze landed on a man who was walking towards the buffet, a large covered pan in his hands. It was him. The man from her dreams, and the source of that scent. Her mate, she realized. More than likely. Jules was overly excited too which meant she was probably right.

He was gorgeous. More so than she was thrilled about. It made her heart ache, knowing he was probably going to be disappointed when he saw her. Why did she have to become a werewolf again?

His head started to turn as he caught her scent, and Gen immediately stood up. "I have to go," she mumbled, leaving her half eaten plate.

She hurried out of the room and down the hall, then slipped out the front door, her heart racing. She couldn't meet him. Not yet. She wasn't ready. Did he live here? Why had she thought this was a good idea? She wondered how long she could avoid him. Indefinitely?

The better question was, how had she dreamed about him before she'd even laid eyes on him? Because that man looked exactly like the man from her dreams. She had thought her dream man was unbelievably gorgeous. This man was too.

'Why did you run?' Jules asked her.

'I can't meet him. He won't want me. I can't do this,' she responded as she hurried across the snow, her heart racing. Why? Why did he have to be here? She wasn't ready for this. And he was .. he was gorgeous. And she hadn't even gotten a good look at him.

'You can't avoid him forever, Gen. You may not want to meet him, but he's going to want to meet you. He's waiting for you. You're denying him as well,' Jules told her, frustrated.

'It's better this way, Jules. Maybe we should leave. We don't need to join this pack.'

'And go where?'

She finally came to a stop, huffing a bit for air. She brushed her hair back behind her ear and squatted down, wrapping her hands around her legs as a shiver ran through her. It was too cold for her to be out here without a coat. It had snowed overnight.