Filthy Rejection

I glared at my parents across the breakfast table as they sang happy birthday to me in an overly joyous tune, which I didn’t care for. The last thing a twenty-year-old college student who still lived at home with her parents wanted to hear was them still singing happy birthday to her like they had every year since she was a child.

It was bad enough that I still lived under their roof but the fact they still treated me like a child made it much worse. I was itching to be independent for some time now but I just didn’t have the resources for it. Going to college didn’t leave much time for working, so with my part-time waitress job on the side, I was barely paying the bills I had now. Adding new ones just wasn't an option.

Mom and dad had been more than understanding about my situation and agreed to keep me up, as long as I needed, until I was able to move out. Neither of them was rushing me though, so I was thankful for that.

At the song's end they both stood and clapped before mom pushed the chocolate iced cake in front of my face. I stared it down grudgingly, unsure whether or not to taste it. Why did chocolate have to be my weakness?

I had been on a diet for a solid month now but had barely lost any weight. If I was able to go out for a run more frequently I’m sure I wouldn't even have to even be on this diet. Being a werewolf alone was enough to keep one in shape. You could burn a day's calories in just one run.

I’ll just be glad once all of these college courses are over and I can have more free time. My wolf really needed a good run.

Now that summer was here I’d at least have a good two months before classes started back up again at the local campus. Maybe Charlie will let me pick up a few extra shifts so I can start apartment hunting. I’m sure that by the end of summer I’ll have enough saved for first and last month’s rent.

“Oh, come on honey. It’s your birthday. One slice of cake won’t kill you,” Mom urged.

It will when I have to work it off later. Maybe after work tonight I can go for a decent run. It’s much needed.

“I suppose,” I mumbled just to make her happy. “Pass me a plate.”

Mom clapped her hands happily as dad passed out the plates. I don’t know who was more anxious to eat it, me or them.

“Don’t forget to make a wish,” she said, watching the lit candles in the middle burn.

Eh, why not? May as well humor them, right?

I closed my eyes and leaned in close while thinking what I wanted to wish for. Within a few seconds I automatically knew.

My Mate.

I opened my eyes and blew out the two and zero candle just before dad started cutting the cake. Well…someone was hungry. I thought sarcastically to myself.

I dug my fork into the chocolaty goodness that now sat in front of me. It’s not often I get chocolate for breakfast. Or at all for that matter. I May as well make the most of it.

Ah, heaven. I smiled. The creamy milk chocolate melted away in my mouth. It was perfect. Truly and utterly perfect-

“Oh honey, before I forget, there is a pack meeting taking place tonight. Alpha Daniel has requested that everyone be there. Apparently he has some news to announce.”

Well almost perfect.

What could be so darn important that they needed everyone tonight? Now I’m gonna have to switch my shift with Celeste and she is not going to be happy with that. She hates covering the weekend shift. The nights were always the worst. That’s when the diner was filled with the less desirable people.

You know the ones that were a little too touchy and the worst tippers? Well after nine pm at least. Those last three hours until the diner closed were the most dreadful though.

“Honey, you’re spacing out again. Have you been losing sleep? You remember what Dr. Peterson said-”

“I know mom,” I replied, cutting her off before she could lecture me further. “I was just thinking about the diner.”

I don’t know exactly what I said that made her smile but she had the biggest grin of all on her face at the mention of it. In fact, it slightly worried me.

“You know, that reminds me dear. Now that it’s your twentieth birthday you might meet your mate tonight.”

I raised an eyebrow to her in confusion. “What does that have to do with the diner?”

“Well when you find your mate you won’t have to work so much. You know he’ll take care of you. You might actually start to enjoy life again.”

Oh, so that’s where she was going with this.

“Mom you know good and well I don’t want a mate for that reason. I want my mate because he’ll love me unconditionally. I don’t plan on changing my life style because of him,” I stated.

“I know honey but you may find yourself doing a lot of things you thought you wouldn't normally do,” she smiled. “Mates change everything.”

I rolled my eyes at her but didn't reply. There was no sense arguing with her over it. She’ll just pull the experience card at me. After all, she had a mate and I did not.

Maybe mom’s right. Maybe that will all change tonight. Maybe he’s waiting to meet me as well.

Let’s see, who all has turned twenty since our last meeting?

Well, there was Tim, the Beta’s brother, and Zack, my cousin, who couldn't be my mate.

Hmm who else? I know there was one more.

Oh… our Alpha, Daniel.

But that was only the of age males. That didn't include the unmated ones who were of all ages.

Even though Alpha Daniel had turned twenty exactly a week before I had, I know there was not chance in hell I was his mate. I’m not Luna material. Besides I’m pretty sure he was going to announce his mating to his long time girlfriend Jasmine tonight. That seems like the only logical reason why we would be holding a mandatory meeting if it was not an emergency.

She was a good year older than him but I never heard her mention that they were mates. Perhaps they were keeping it secret until they knew for sure, and now that Daniel is twenty there is no need to wait any longer. He could confirm it.

I guess we’ll find out tonight.

My thoughts were cut off by my phone ringing giving me a bit of a fright. It always rang unnecessarily loud when it was on a hard surface and I hate that.

I groaned and picked it up from the table to see who was calling me. When the name flashed across my screen it only served to irritate me further.

What did he want? I wasn't due to work for another six hours. Something must have happened.

“Hey, Charlie,” I answered, hiding my annoyance.

“Claire, just the person I needed to talk to,” He chuckled nervously.

I sighed and rolled my eyes.

“Well, you got her.”

After a brief moment of silence he began to speak.

“I’m in need of a small favor,” he said.

“Someone bail on you again?” I asked keeping my friendly tone. After all, he was still my boss and I needed this job until after college to help keep me up.

I heard a heavy sigh on the other end of the line before he replied. “Celeste quit this morning.”

“Not another one,” I groaned.

Lately, waitresses had been quitting left and right, and now one of the senior employees had just quit as well. I suppose it didn't help that most of them were finding their mates.

I’m sure the male wolves didn't want their mates working in place like this. If they did there was sure to be a fight every night with one of the many inappropriate customers.

What was I supposed to do now? I was going to ask Celeste to cover my shift tonight. Andrea was working the lunch rush with me so that left no one for tonight.

At that thought I knew why he was calling me.

“You want me to pull a double shift today don’t you?” I asked hesitantly.

Seeing has how bad I needed the money I would have normally accepted his offer, but sadly I had to be at the pack meeting tonight. Too bad he wasn't a werewolf, so I couldn't explain the situation to him.

Was there no one else who could take my place?

“You know I hate to ask, but Rita is on vacation and Andrea is still new, so I have no one else.” He explained.

I sighed. I knew he was right but I didn't know how to help him.

“Please?” he begged.

I’d never heard him sound so desperate before.

“I’ll give you an extra two dollars on the hour for coming in on such short notice.” he quickly added.

Now he was singing my tune. How could I resist an offer like that? Do you know what an extra two dollars an hour could do to my bank account?