Page 27 of The Silver Pact

I take her menu and fold it up. A silent server appears from nowhere and stands quietly near the wall of potted plants. He glances at me and winks. Hirasho and I have known each other for a good time now. He knows what I’m going to order, even if I pretend I might choose something different.

“She’ll have the cheeseburger and fries and a chocolate shake. Hmm, make that two.”

The server laughs softly. “Of course, Alpha Vore.”

Silver smiles at me, her cheeks reddening. I look away. From temptation, from fear, from the desire to throw it all in and take a chance on her.

Hirasho leaves, and she looks down at her hands. “You have an incredible job. It must be fun doing something that leaves so many people so happy.”

“It is fun. It’s the most chilled workplace. I did get really lucky to get a job there.”

“How did you get into it?”

I sit back, silent, while a different server puts our drinks down. As soon as he’s gone, I take a mouthful. “I used to draw and stuff, muck around when I was a kid.”

She peers at me. I feel an urge to squirm.

“My parents thought little of my hobbie.” Why the hell did I just say that to her?

“You showed them.”

Strangely, her words relax me. “What about you? What do you enjoy doing these days?”

“Well, other than making music with Ross, most of what I do, or did, was around the refuge. I’m not sure who I am anymore. I spent all those years hiding in whatever houses Onyx could find for us. When I was younger, it was just a relief to be able to get out of the house. But people would tell my dad or mum what I did. I was always watched.”

I stare at her, trying to imagine that. “I didn’t know.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. Not anymore. I’m not the same woman that I used to be.” She frowns. “Or maybe I am and I wasn’t then. It gets confusing.”

“Why were you at the Omega Meet? You never did tell us.”

She looks down and toys with the straw in her drink.

“Onyx got a job working for Treyfield Pack. I was her sneaky tag-along. They caught us the day before the Omega Meet began and gave me a full ride. That was when things ended...”

Between us.

“Why?” I ask, needing to know.

“You know, I never stopped to ask that. I was just grateful. It seemed like a miracle when I needed it.” She leans back when her plate gets put in front of her. “Ooh, thanks, this looks good.”

“Thank you,” I say to Hirasho.

I pick up my cheeseburger, and for several minutes, all we do is eat. She picks at her fries and looks up at me.

“I’m sorry for hurting you.”

My food hits my stomach like a lead balloon.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. In fact, you were the last people in the world I wanted to hurt.” She reaches out, pausing before she touches my fingers. I stare at her outstretched hand and flick my fingers out to brush against hers.

“It’s over and in the past,” I say gruffly. “We can be friends now.” And I really, really want that. I want to trust her and take a chance.

“I’d like that.” She smiles at me.

I pull my hand away and resume eating, feeling slightly unhappy with the conclusion of that conversation. What did they want with her? Why did Pack Treyfield give her that ride that destroyed us?

“Okay, friend.” Ew, that tastes foul in my mouth. I push my plate away and glare at it. “So, what do you want to do? In your life, I mean.”