Chapter 30 Warm Pecan Pie

Sara woke early Saturday so she could eat breakfast at the dinner a few blocks from work. She took a leisurely shower and dressed for work. On the way out of the bedroom she stuffed her wallet into her back pocket. As soon as she opened the apartment door she smelled the same scent she had learned to fear. But this time there was a faint odor added to the already faint scent. Blood.

Evodine was growling in her head.

The plain folded paper lay on floor and her hands shook. She knew that if she picked it up she would read it and have a day filled with looks over her shoulder and a stomach filled with nausea. She also knew she couldn't leave it there. Some one else could find it.

She picked it up and looked down the hall in both directions. There was no one around.

I wont read it. She told Evodine and herself. Her fingers trembled as she slid it into her pocket. The paper seemed to burn as she rode to the dinner. She knew the feeling was only in her head but it didn't stop.

She leaned the bike against the wall in front of the dinner. Standing by the bike she had a clear view of the inside. There were already other customers inside. At least three booths held people eating or waiting. She no longer felt as hungry as she had when she had showered. She knew she wouldn't have another chance to eat till her lunch break.

Hunt. Evodine demanded.

We really don't have time to do that. Sara told her and moved to the door. Inside it only took seconds to be noticed. The waitress smiled and told her to pick any seat. The woman's smile seemed to loosen the knot between Sara's shoulder blades. She couldn't help returning the smile with an answering nod. Sara dropped into the first seat she found because she felt like she was on display.

"Hi. You smell funny." said a small voice over her right shoulder. Sara blinked into the big brown eyes of the child that was now being chastised by the woman across from her.

"Karen Nicole! Were are your manners? Apologize now."

"But mom, she smells-" the child whined looking at the woman.

"Now, Karen."

Karen turned back and her lips trembling. "I'm sorry." she said, clearly she didn't understand why she was in trouble.

"Um- I- That's okay." Sara said. She forced a smile. Luckily the waitress chose that moment to appear. Sara ordered coffee but added bacon, eggs, and T-bone when Evodine insisted on real food.

It took close to half an hour for her food to arrive at the table. In that time Sara watched the people around her. The mother and child left soon after Sara placed her order. A teenage couple came in holding hands. Sara wondered if they were mates. Would she feel differently if she had been raised knowing about mates?

Want mate. Evodine whined softly.

 Sara knew how Evodine felt about Sebastian and Taron. She wanted them both, the human and the wolf. What she didn't know was what she wanted. She enjoyed spending time with Sebastian but Taron was a part of him. Taron was a part that she didn't know. She knew almost nothing about the wolf.

She knew that they believed it would be risky to be with Taron in wolf form but she wanted to meet him. She wanted to interact with him on a personal level. She wanted to know him not just hear what he said through Sebastian.

The waitress sat a cup of coffee on the table and Sara smiled her thanks.

Run with mate? Evodine asked. Sara felt her shock and awe. But strangely it was the nervousness that put Sara at ease. Evodine worried that Taron wouldn't like her. She worried that he would mark her and then find her unworthy.

We need to meet Taron. If he truly wants us then he will wait to mark us until we are ready. Why didn't you tell me you worried about that?

You wouldn't shift around him so there was no need to say so. But now you want to run with him even though the Alpha and Luna say be careful. Evodine admitted.

Sebastian? Sara opened the link

Sara. Sebastian's reply was almost instant as if he were waiting on her.

I have an idea but I need Taron's okay first. She said over the link and hoped she sounded more confident then she felt.

What's going on?  He asked. His tone suggested curiosity but there was no unease.

Can I talk to him?  She asked nervously.

I am already here. Taron's voice replied. Evodine seemed to shiver in her head.

I don't know you. But i think I want to. But that is hard to do through comments you make through Sebastian. This is all new to me, I wasn't raised in a pack. I didn't know about mates, and wolves,  mind links, Alpha's and Luna's and marks and this instant attraction that infects my soul. But I am loving this pack, these people. I want to stay.  Sara had no idea that she had even felt that way until she said the words and felt how true they were. She know knew that she intended to stay here. She had made up her mind but hadn't realized it until that moment. She poured all of her emotions into the link, sharing each of them with him.

But I want to learn more. I want to know that I am worthy of this before we mate. I want to know who you are before we mark each other. I want to run, to shift with you but I am not ready to mate or mark you, either of you.  She added for Sebastian. Could you spend time with us without letting the mating pull take over?

There was a pause and Sara's heart skipped. But she waited. She controlled her breathing even though there was nothing she could do to control her heart. She didn't notice the looks she was getting from the other customers or the staff. The sadness that covered the eyes of the man at the bar. He stared into his coffee but the look was there. The teens looked at her with astonishment. The female with admiration and a trace of sorrow. The male with shocked curiosity.

We give our word that we will only mark you when you are ready to do so. Taron stated solemnly. The tone made it seem more of a vow then an agreement. She knew that the statement included Sebastian because she could feel his agreement. Sara bit her lip and a tear of relief slipped as she blinked. She swiped it away with her fingers as she picked up the coffee cup with the other hand.

Her eyes stayed on the black liquid that danced in her cup as she lifted it to her lips. She wrapped both hands around it's warmth. She closed the link, knowing that if she spoke he would most likely hear more then she intended him too. A few sips of coffee and her heart calmed.

A plate of food descended and landed softly on the table. The smell of food spurned her flagging appetite. "Thank you." She mumbled without looking up.  She gripped the cup like a life line. Her eyes glued to the blurry bacon that sat on the plate.

"That's okay." came the woman's reply. Sara could feel the air shift as she moved away. Sara blinked, the bacon cleared becoming a crisp vision of meaty goodness.

Eat, Evodine encouraged. Sara put the cup down with a soft clink as it bumped the edge of the plate. By the time she had finished the bacon and eggs the round dollop of herb butter had melted over the already juicy steak. She ordered a glass of iced tea. She made short work of the meal. With a glance at her cell phone she decided that it would be okay to order a slice of pie before leaving for work.

She had never been able to make pecan pie at the hide so ate it rarely. However it was one of her favorites. The diner served it warm with melting butter on top. She gave it a dubious look before trying it. It was very good and the crust was even flaky. She drank another cup of coffee as she finished off the pie.

When she finished the meal she searched the table for the bill. Unable to locate it she called the waitress over.

"I'm ready to pay." she smiled up at her. "It was very good. I've never had pecan pie served that way before. I liked it though." she said as she shifted in her seat. She pulled her wallet from her pocket only to glace up to see the waitress shaking her head. Sara's smile dropped. Her heart sped up. She didn't understand the look of compassion on the woman's face. Some of the nurses at the institute had looked at her that way.

The woman however quickly determined Sara's elevated heart rate and fearful eyes. "Your meal has been taken care of already. Some of the patrons wanted to welcome you to the pack." she smiled reassuringly.

***

It was hours later that she remembered the note in her back pocket.

She had eaten a apple for lunch as breakfast had been more then satisfying and she didn't feel hungry. Dee had given her concerned look until Sara had explained why she wasn't hungry. Dee had laughed.

"Now that I understand. I don't eat there unless I don't plan on eating again that day. Their steak is half a cow."

"I ate the whole steak." Sara giggled and blushed.

"I do too. Every time. It's the wolf in us." Dee said with a nod.

"Do I smell funny to you?" Sara asked suddenly.

Dee looked startled for a moment. She blinked. "Well, not, you're scent will change over the year. The scent of your old pack will probably be gone before you know it." 

Sara shoved the apple in her mouth and took a bite. She chewed thoughtfully. "I don't actually have an old pack. Until a few months ago I lived in the mountains. Alone."

"Did something happen to your birth pack? I - you don't have to tell me, Sara, but if you want to I'll listen." Dee told her.

So Sara told Dee all of it. She didn't mention any thing that happen after meeting Sebastian and coming to the pack but she shared her life up to that moment that she saw that men were not always men and that wolves were not always wolves.

She waited for the questions to start.

"And now?" Dee asked.

"Now?" Sara asked not understanding the question.

"How do you feel about the voice in your head now? Evodine?"

Sara smiled pleased that it was something she could answer. "Now that I understand I don't feel as I did. I still don't always agree with her but I don't hate her any more. I think she's becoming more a part of me then before." she said honestly and nodded.

"How many times have you shifted since you joined the pack?"

"Twice."

"That's all?"

"I have to be supervised when I shift and I dont want to burden the alpha and luna." Sara admitted.

"Any time you want to shift just ask me. My mate and I will go with you. My youngest son just shifted last spring so he'll want to go as well. He still needs supervision as well." Dee offered.

Sara was quick to agree if the Alpha and Luna approved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~AUTHORS~~~NOTE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello my awesome readers. This is just a reminder. If you have read this far and are enjoying the story... Please make sure you have voted on all the previous chapters. Also I would love to hear from all of you in the comments. I know that some people are 'silent readers' and that is fine but please vote at the very least. I always try to respond to all comments, votes and messages.

As many of you may remember I haven't came up with a true name for this novel yet. So any ideas? We can have a reader vote in an upcoming chapter if we get a few suggestions.

Today is October 31, 2016 and it is my mothers 60th birthday. She (and a passenger) were in a wreck this morning. A car pulled out of a side street without looking. She hit the car but thankfully they are all okay. I just hope that there are no lingering effects later on. It just seems a messed up way to start your birthday to me.