The Mate

Chapter One

She was tired.

She was hungry.

She was over the day.

Melody was ready to sleep as she turned the key in the lock to close the store. She had been working double shifts for the last two weeks, getting just enough sleep to carry on. As Melody began walking to her car the cool spring air began to pick up.

Great she thought as she got in her car just what I needed, another windy night in the car. Slamming the door shut she drove her car to the nearest rest stop where she used the bathroom and showers, again, to clean up. Once back to her car she blocked all the windows, leaned her seat back and grabbed her blanket.

She was listening to the wind blow when she drifted off to sleep. Melody had been homeless numerous amounts of time throughout her short life. This time was nothing new. She was found at a fire station when she was just two months old and put into foster care. She ran away from three foster homes and was found in other states. When she turned 18 she was kicked out of the foster home system and was left to do her own thing.

She had found jobs throughout the time she was homeless. However, this time she felt like she was home in the small town. She finally felt like she belonged somewhere. And she never thought it would be in North Carolina. She had always heard that the southern states were horrible but what else did you expect when you were from New York?

Melody loved living in the south. She was ready to let herself settle down in the small town. She was ready to find a place to live and call it home. She just only needed to work for another week before she could make that down payment. She enjoyed working where she was but she had bigger hopes for herself. She wanted to be somebody of some importance. She will be someone of importance.

The wind blew wildly outside and around her car. She woke up when she heard the howling in the wind. It was getting louder and louder but the car remained still. She glanced at her phone and saw the time. 5:30 AM popped on the screen and she groaned. She had gotten the most sleep tonight than she had in a while. She managed to sleep soundly for five hours.

She sat her chair up and grabbed her clothes that were rolled up in a bin in her passenger seat and her plastic bag she kept all her morning routine items in. As she began her walk to the bathroom she noticed an animal in the woods behind her. She squinted her eyes and could've sworn she saw an animal. She wiped her eyes and then the animal was gone. She shook her head.

You have got to get some real sleep Mel. She began her morning routine and saw a couple of strangers pass by her. She waved as they waved at her. Once she was able to look decent again and not have a crazy car head she walked back to her car and headed into work again.

She turned the key in the lock, clocked in, booted up the system, counted the drawer and headed into the kitchen to start on the morning's muffins. Once the batter was made and the muffins were in the oven she began working on the coffee set ups. She saw that orders were already coming in through the computer and she began working on them.

Today she was alone until 8 am. That's when the owner would come in. That's when Melody was going to ask for a raise. She didn't know if she would get it or not but it was worth a shot to ask. She had been running the store for the past six months by herself and the owner would only come in for a few hours a week. Hence why she had been working doubles for the past two weeks.

Melody's other co-worker quit and instead of JoAnn trying to find another person she gave all the responsibilities to Melody without a pay increase. Melody went to unlock the door ten minutes before they opened. She went to the back to pull out the muffins and brought them to the front.

"Good morning." she smiled at her usual first customer of the day.

"Good morning Mel." John handed the money over the counter as Melody passed him his coffee and bagel. "It's supposed to be a hot one today. Eighty five."

"Does the south not know that it's spring and not summer?"

"Have you ever had a summer here in the south?"

"Not yet, I get to experience it this time though. I'm so close to getting that down payment."

"Just you wait. It's going to be a tough one for you. Congrats. I am so happy for you. When you get it let me know. I'll see if Caroll and I can't help you with anything."

"Oh, you don't have to do all that. I'm sure-"

John cut her off. "We will be more than happy to help you in whatever way. My son may even be able to help."

"You have a son?" Melody asked him. He never spoke about him before.

"Oh yes," he smiled. "He's a strong boy for sure. Handsome too."

Melody smiled even more. John was a good man, came in every morning in his suit and ready for work. He was tall and handsome for someone in their fifties. His salt and pepper hair really looked good on him. You could tell he was muscular under the suit that fit him perfectly.

"Well, if he looks anything like you then he must be handsome." she joked with him.

"Don't let my wife hear you say that." he chuckled. "I'll see if he can't stop by here one-"

"Dad," a man at the door popped his head in. Jet black hair that was skinned on the side and longer on the top. His bright blue eyes seemed to look right to Melody's soul. He cleared his throat and came fully into the bakery. He was easily six foot six inches. Huge shoulders that seemed impossibly too big to fit in the suit he was wearing. His eyes darkened and a small growl escaped from his perfectly sculpted lips. "Dad," he repeated urgently now.

"Son," John turned to face him quickly and put his hands on his chest. Almost daring him to take another step. "This is Melody. She is awfully busy today. Maybe we could come by later today and talk to her."

"Oh, no I'm-" she began.

"Busy." John interrupted her. "I will see you later Mel. Have a good day. Good luck on that down payment."

John ushered Alex outside. "Mate." Alex said. "She's my mate."

"Melody?" John pushed Alex inside his car. "Good. I like her. She's got spunk. She'd make a good Luna."

"I'm going to reject her." Alex told his father.

John faced his son with shock on his face. "What? Why?"

"She's- she's human. She wouldn't ever be able to give me pups." Alex replied. But his heart was saying otherwise. He was already attracted to her. He could smell her all over again. Strawberries and peaches. That was his mate. His mate smelled like fresh strawberries and perfectly picked peaches. I wonder if she tastes as good. I bet she does. He felt himself growing hard thinking about it. No, he couldn't.

"Stop denying yourself. She is beautiful and she's incredibly smart. She is caring and kind. That's everything a Luna is supposed to be."

"But she is human. I can't do that to her or the pack. I will have to reject her."

"You reject her and you know what will happen."