Fate for a Luna

Chapter 9

"Favorite cake flavor?" I asked Al as I popped another green grape into my mouth.

"What's that yellow one called?" He answered with another question.

"Lemon," I said with a grin.

"Yeah, that's it! That is so good," he told me leaning back in his chair with a dreamy look. He patted his stomach and licked his lips, obviously thinking about the lemon-tasting cake.

"That is such an old person answer!" I teased him.

He leaned towards me and had an offended look on his face. "Hey, that is an amazing flavor," he defended.

"You couldn't even remember the name of it," I said with a smirk.

"I don't eat a lot of sweets," he argued. I gave him a cold look and he sighed. "Okay, let's just agree to disagree. What's your favorite flavor?"

"German chocolate," I answered.

"That's so basic," he retorted.

"It's not basic! It's classic," I corrected.

"Yeah, making it rhyme doesn't make it true," he told me. I rolled my eyes and grabbed another grape from the bowl.

Plopping a grape in my mouth I said with my mouth full, "Let's agree to disagree."

He shook his head but then smile. My heart tugged as I saw the corners of his mouth turn upwards.

"Why don't you smile more?" I asked making his smile stop.

He thought for a moment, a frown on his face the entire time. His gaze met mine and he said, "I'm an alpha."

"So? My dad and brother are alphas and they smile all the time," I replied.

"They're more human than I am. I was literally born a wolf. It's still in my instincts to think that smiling is a form of weakness, and if I smile... someone will kill me. Hurt the people I care about. Kill the people I swore to protect," he mumbled and then trailed off as he got lost in his own memories.

I reached over the table and put my hand on his shoulder. He looked at my hand then glanced up at my face.

"I'm sorry, it obviously brings up bad memories," I apologized.

"No, it's okay. You're the one who will be affected by it the most, so you deserve to know whatever it is you want," he said.

"Ditto," I replied.

He looked at me with a confused face then asked, "What does ditto mean?"

I let out a laugh then replied while shaking my head lightly, "It means right back at you old man."

"You're never going to let me forget how old I am," he whispered slightly annoyed.

"Nope," I said popping my p. I plopped another grape in my mouth and my face scrunched up in disgust immediately. Bad grape! That was a very bad grape! Ugh, there is nothing worse than bad fruit.

"Are you okay?" Al asked me with concern in his eyes.

"No!" I said as I gagged, "Where's the trash can?"

"By the counter," he reminded me and I flew out of my seat. I bent over the trash can and spit out the terrible fruit. I scraped my tongue against my teeth in a desperate attempt to get rid of the foul taste.

"I need water," I declared.

"Here," Al said as he quickly grabbed a plastic red cup then filled it to the brim with water. He handed it to me and I accepted it gratefully. I swished the water in my mouth then spit it out multiple times. By the time the taste had faded half the cup was gone and I decided to drink the rest to make sure the taste wouldn't come back.