Alpha's Girl

Chapter Nine

Cece's POV

I order a house salad. My stomach grumbles while we wait for our food to come, and I tune out of Cole and Declan's conversation. It's strange sitting here altogether, and I'm distracted by the chaos that seems to be brewing around us.

My eyes drift towards the window. The parking lot is packed with teenagers and I turn a bit pink as I recognize a few faces that had some nasty thoughts about me earlier tonight. Smoke catches the corner of my eye and my eyes scan the area to find the source. They land on a group of teenagers. One of them is holding something small. When he catches me staring he winks, and I immediately turn back towards the table.

"What is that?" I ask before I can help myself. Cole and Declan turn their heads to see what I am referring to. I notice that fries have already been set on the table. If I weren't feeling so anxious, I might eat one, but my stomach twists as I stare at them. I play with my napkin, ripping at it in my lap as I wait for a response. 

"Huh?" Declan says, grabbing a fry to munch on. He squirts ketchup onto the side of the basket. 

"The smoke. What's he have in his hand?" I tilt my head towards the direction of the boy and sneak another glance. I've seen Declan smoke before, so I know what they look like, but the boy is holding something different. He's facing his friends now and doesn't notice us staring this time.

Declan answers first. "It's an herb," He says, glancing at Cole when he does. 

"What kind of herb?" I pester, looking at Cole now too. 

"Cece, what did you think of ceremony?" Declan changes the subject. "I didn't see you afterwards." 

I blush, remembering how I had run off. "It was nice," I shrug. I can feel Cole watching me. My salad arrives just as he opens his mouth to speak, and I thank the waitress before he can. She gives me a polite smile, but I don't miss the gaze that she lets linger on Cole. When she sets his burger down, her finger touches his hand, and I immediately find myself growing hot with jealousy. My fingers pull at the napkin more viciously this time, and I crumble it in my hand when all but scraps of it are left.

Cole gives me a patient smile. I realize that he is waiting for me to unravel my silverware before beginning to eat his burger, and I give him a smile, hiding the napkin ball behind my legs. I unravel my silverware and take a bite of my salad. Only then does he begin to eat. 

Declan has already eaten half of his burger. "They make this stuff so good!" He says after he swallows and reaches for his drink. In the corner of my eye I see the waitress beam behind the counter. I normally wouldn't find it annoying, but after her not so subtle fingers were on my mate I feel like giving her a glare. 

"So Ce, you thought the ceremony was nice?" Cole asks. I glance up at him, seeing the playfulness in his eyes. I know he plans on finishing our conversation from earlier, but I am determined not to let him know what I was upset over. How would he feel about me if he knew my own pack thought such things of the Alpha's sister? Would it make him doubt my leadership skills in his own pack? I stiffen at the thought, remembering how he had brought up my age so quickly when we were alone.

"I did," I say before taking a long sip of water. "Very nice," I emphasize on the very, using my fork to stab at another piece of lettuce. 

Declan rolls his eyes at me. "I feel like I am missing some hidden conversation here," He says, giving us both a pointed a look. I look over at Cole, expecting him to be embarrassed by Declan's perceptibility, but he just shrugs.

"She ran off at the end of it," Cole responds casually, and I nearly drop my fork in shock. How dare he rat me out to Declan!

Declan looks at me with surprise. "You did?" I hear the annoyance in his voice.