The True Alpha {2}

Chapter 2

Finley

Since we were so early there were few other people in the cafeteria when River and I entered. In fact it was empty except for the kitchen staff and our friends; Gwen, Sunshine, and Daisy. The others were sitting at our usual table talking. River and I walked over and joined them.

"Anything interesting that we missed since last night?" River joked lightheartedly.

Sunny rolled her eyes and nudged her brother. "Not that we'd tell you."

I stifled a laugh as River pretended to be offended. He put a hand over his heart and gasped dramatically.

"Well. See if I ever tell you anything again." River said. We all rolled our eyes at him as he raised his head in a mocking manner, pretending that he was all important.

"Oh please," I laughed. "I give it five minutes after you say that before you blab something to someone." I allowed a cocky grin to slip across my face as he looked at me.

"I can go more than five minutes without talking to someone!" River protested.

"Prove it." Sunny and I challenged him together. We looked at each other and grinned. "If you can go twenty minutes without talking to somebody then we'll do whatever you ask for a week." Sunny looked at me and I nodded. We both know that he can't actually pull this off.

"Deal." River nodded sharply and shook both of our hands.

Sunny and I instantly burst out laughing. "Okay," I managed to say between fits of laughter. "Your challenge starts right now."

River opened his mouth to say something before snapping his mouth shut quickly.

"What was that?" Daisy teased him. "We couldn't quite hear you."

Immediately Sunny, Daisy, and I burst out laughing and it was clear that Gwen was holding back her own laughter. River glared at the three of us. Clearly not being able to say his own comeback is killing him.

Sunny, Daisy, and I went up as a group to get some food trays for the five of us to share. Each table seats six people and each table gets two trays with enough food for everyone at said table. Luckily we are able to go up for refills as well because two trays of food and two pitchers is not enough for six people. That's why the three of us always go up together. Sunny and I carry the two trays of food and Daisy carries the two pitchers. Then if we need refills Gwen or River goes up to get it. It's a good system, usually no one else joins us so we never fight over who's turn it is to get the trays or return dishes.

I listened to Daisy and Sunshine's lighthearted conversation about some of the other pack members while we walked up, occasionally adding my own comments every now and then. Since our group is always the first in the cafeteria each morning we usually get the best food, and are more likely to get seconds if we need it.

I always enjoy meals with my friends, I need the easygoing, joking, nature of our relationships. After Alpha named me beta I've noticed that life is a lot harder, it's easier when I'm just with my friends.

As we approached the food counter I stepped back to allow Sunny to get in line first and get the first tray of food. The first lady behind the counter (Lilith) smiled at us, the cafeteria staff love us since our group is always so polite to them. She piled a plate of pancakes and waffles onto Sunny's tray along with butter and syrup.

"Thank you." Sunny said politely.

The next lady behind the counter winked at me before putting plates stacked high with bacon and sausages. She always remembers how much I love bacon. They all do.

I smiled gratefully at her. "Thanks, Diane. Sleep well?" I learned quickly that people here appreciate a good friendly conversation.

Diane smiled back at me. "I did thank you Finn." She smiled at us one more time before we moved down the line to get drinks.

Daisy nodded to the third (Rebecca) who graciously handed her two pitchers filled to the brim with ice and juice. Unlike Sunny and I, Daisy didn't thank Rebecca out loud. But then again, she didn't really have to. Her smile and her bright eyes said it all to anyone really. Besides, Daisy doesn't really talk all that much anyways. Unlike me, Sunshine, and River. With the three of us you're lucky if you manage to get half a word in edgewise.

We walked back to our table, still laughing and joking. A few people had begun trickling in through the cafeteria doors, but still not a whole lot. The rest of the pack won't come in until closer to 8 o'clock, whereas we came in closer to 7.

River and Gwen looked up eagerly at the smell of food as we approached. "Do I smell bacon?!" River gasped. Like me he shares an intense love of bacon.

Sunny and I looked at each other, trying to refrain from smiling too much. Daisy and Gwen were also trying to hide their amusement but they were far more successful.

"What?" River questioned. "I was just trying to figure out what we were having for-" His voice trailed off. He had realized his mistake. "Oh."

"It's okay, River." I consoled him. "Nobody really expected you to win that bet."

The others continued to snicker but Gwen and Daisy were having a much harder time than before.

"She does have a point." Gwen added softly. "It isn't your fault that you like to talk when you get excited."

"Yeah, it's one of the qualities we like best about you!" I chipped in. River gave my a sly smile that I just caught out of the corner of my eye. I rolled my eyes and slapped his arm playfully. "Not like that!"

River made a pouty face at me. I was very desperately hoping beyond hope that the others hadn't picked up on that exchange but, just my luck, of course they did. Not that they could have missed it, even I couldn't have missed that! And that is really saying something!

We continued joking like that until a booming voice echoed through the cafeteria. A voice that sent chills down my spine.

"I need to see Beta, River, Sunshine, and Gwen in my office. Now!" Alpha howled.