The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella - Chapter 71: Chapter 71
You are reading The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella, Chapter 71: Chapter 71. Read more chapters of The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella.
Jordan POV
I rubbed my aching back, wiping over the table in the diner, taking the assorted plates and cutlery to the back of the kitchen, and then heading back to another table.
“Welcome to J’J’s Diner,” I said cheerfully, passing out menus “I’m Jordan and I’ll be your waitress today. Would you like me to take your order or come back in a little while?” I asked.
The couple, a man and woman in their mid-thirties hastily placed their orders and I quickly passed it onto the kitchen. I had been working for several hours and it was getting to be quite late at night, my blue dress and white apron doing very little to ward off the nightly chill that came flooding through the front door as customers came in. I shivered and gave a sigh. I would be glad when I was finished, even though I enjoyed my work. This was my second week and time was flying by, The staff was very friendly as were the customers, who were all shifters as this was in a town of shifters only.
My boss, Michael came out from the back, glancing at the tables that were only about half occupied. “It’s quiet tonight” he murmured, leaning against the counter, his pudgy face lighting up as he smiled “You’re finished in a minute, aren’t you? I mean I’m pretty sure I only rostered you until 11 pm,” he said looking at the large clock above the doorway to the office and nodding to himself.
I nodded and yawned. He laughed. “Go and get some rest,” he said with a chuckle as I began to gather up my belongings and my coat, putting it on and inhaling gratefully as I felt a warmth begin to spread through my body “I’ll see you tomorrow night” he added.
“Thanks, Michael” I called back over my shoulder “Goodnight you all” I yelled to the other staff and customers, waving over my shoulder.
“See you Jordan” came a chorus of yells as I grinned and headed out the door.
I hummed under my breath as I stepped out the door and began to make my way towards the parking lot. I stopped, spotting a gang of men on motorbikes chatting with each other. I felt uncomfortable and glanced around. Maybe I should go back inside, and wait for them to leave or until Jaxon gets here I thought, turning around to do just that. Unfortunately, though, they spotted me, one of them blocking off my exit, as I ran into them, feeling like I’d just run headlong into a brick wall. Ouch. I rubbed my head, wincing in pain.
“Well hello little lady” the large biker drawled, reaching out and steadying me as I fought to keep from panicking “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked with a sneer.
Don’t panic Jordan, don’t panic. Keep calm. I began to slowly back away and hit the chest of another biker whose arms wrapped around me. I screamed and he slammed a hand against my mouth.
“That’s no way to greet someone” the man whispered in my ear “Now I’m going to remove my hand, but if you scream again, you’re going to regret it, is that clear?”
I nodded, fighting back tears. He slowly pulled his hand away. My breathing became shallow as the panic continued to rise.
“What do you want?” I asked brokenly as six men surrounded me, all of them large, easily overtowering me. They were in their mid-twenties and seemed amused by the question. “I don’t have much money, but you’re welcome to what I have,” I said quietly.
I needed to keep myself and my unborn child safe. If it meant giving them everything I had, I would do it willingly. I fought the urge to put my hand over my stomach.
The men laughed. “She thinks we want money” one guffawed, elbowing his friend “How sweet” he sneered.
So not money, I thought desperately. I glanced over my shoulder. They had been surrounding me and maneuvering me away from the diner, into the shadows and I hadn’t even noticed, they had done it so smoothly! I cursed myself for not paying better attention.
One leaned forward and touched my hair. I shuddered. “Don’t touch me” I hissed, turning around wildly, trying to scratch and claw my way out of the circle as they laughed at my futile efforts.
Suddenly a voice sounded from behind me. “Let her out” it snarled.
Oh, thank you, god, I prayed, or rather moon goddess.
I glanced over my shoulder. Jaxon and Alex stood there, both of them snarling, their eyes dark black as they eyed the men with furious expressions on their faces. Their auras were menacing. The men were shifters themselves and should have been wary considering that Jaxon was an Alpha. Unfortunately, these men seemed to be extremely stupid or were very arrogant. It was difficult to tell.
“Wait your turn sonny boy” one made the mistake of saying, giving Jaxon a wink.
Jaxon moved, so fast it was like a blur and tore into him, his claws slashing across the man’s throat. Blood spurted everywhere. The man clutched at his throat, making a gargled sound, and then collapsed, his eyes staring blankly into the distance as the other men began to panic.
“We didn’t mean anything, we were just joshing” one cried, babbling in desperation, his voice shrill and high-pitched.
“It didn’t look like that to me,” Alex said coldly, c*****g his head “I distinctly heard my friend here ask you to let her out and you ignored that request.”
“She’s just a lowly human, why do you care? She doesn’t have a wolf” another one said sounding confused. “I mean she’s lower than an omega in the hierarchy.”
Jaxon let out a ferocious growl. My feet were planted on the floor. I couldn’t move even if I wanted to.
Alex moved, darting forward and grasping me around the waist, heaving me over his shoulder and backing away, putting me safely on the ground behind him and Jaxon.
“Look, she’s fine. No harm no foul” protested the leader, holding his hands up in surrender.
“No harm,” Jaxon said in a quiet voice “You touched her against her will, you ganged up on her, you frightened her and threatened her, and you think that means no harm?”
The man fell silent, glancing at his men, pure terror on his face. It hadn’t occurred to them to shift but it did now and suddenly there were five normal wolves and two extra large wolves as Jaxon and Alex shifted.
It was chaos. My mouth flapped open as Jaxon took care of two of them with ease, barely breaking a sweat, his wolf swiping the others until they lay there in a pool of blood, Alex taking care of the other two, until only one remained. My mouth went dry. I felt nauseous. I began to gag and dry heave as the metallic scent of blood hit my nostrils. The leader, the last one remaining, shifted back to his human form, kneeling in front of Jaxon and Alex with his head bowed.
“I’m sorry” he blubbered “Please, please, spare me. I promise I’ll never do anything like this again. I’ve learned my lesson. Show some mercy and compassion” he pleaded.
Jaxon shifted, stalking towards him. “Like the mercy and compassion you showed her,” he said dangerously.
The man trembled. Jaxon grabbed his head and twisted it, letting his dead body flop to the ground.
I bent over and vomited on the ground. Jaxon’s head swiveled around and he winced, rushing to my side and rubbing soothing circles on my back. Alex shifted back and came up beside me.
“Shhh it’s okay Jordan,” Jaxon said sweetly “I promise everything is okay now. I’m sorry I made you sick,” he said, as I vomited some more “Let it all out darling” he coaxed.
Alex gave me awkward pats on the back. “No more working here,” he said, looking at Jaxon “It’s too dangerous Jordan. I understand you want to pay your own way, but not at the risk of you being harmed or your unborn child. We care too much about you to let this happen. As it is we are so sorry to have been late getting to you” he apologized.
I sobbed, the dam finally breaking. Finally, the nausea passed and I straightened up, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. Jaxon led me to the car and helped me into the backseat, hopping into the driver’s side while Alex got into the passenger side. His eyes glanced into the rearview mirror.
“You alright Jordan?” asked Alex kindly as Jaxon started the car and put the heater on.
I shook my head. “No,” I said biting my lip “I think I’ve come to a decision,” I said a little hesitantly.
The boys looked over their shoulders. “I’m scared to do it, but it needs to be done. The father deserves to know about the baby” I said quietly “I’m going to have to track him down.”
I was scared though. What if he didn’t want anything to do with the child or with me? Then I would raise it on my own, with Jaxon and his family’s help I thought fiercely, but at least I would have the knowledge that I had tried and communicated with the father.
Jaxon gritted his teeth. He knew the story of how I’d become pregnant and was pissed that the man had left me in the room alone. He had threatened to locate the man and make sure he had a dreadful accident that resulted in his death. Alex had agreed to help him.
“Please” I begged him as he exhaled and looked me in the eyes “Maybe there was a good reason for leaving me alone in the room.”
“I doubt it” Jaxon snorted “But this is your decision Jordan and all I can do is support you. Do you even know this guy’s name?”
I deflated. No, I didn’t I was forced to admit to myself. God, what kind of slut was I, to not even ask the guy his name? Christ, had I just flung myself at him and yelled take me, I’m yours? The guy probably thought Christmas came early.
“No” I whispered.
“He was in a reserved suite or room though that Luna Mary specifically said was for guests of the hotel, wasn’t he?” Alex said wisely, mulling it over “Why don’t you just go visit Luna Mary and ask her who was supposed to be in that room that night? I’m sure she would give you the information if you explained to her why you needed it. Hell, it’s the least she could do considering everything” he added grimly.
I looked at Alex in wonder as Jaxon began the drive back to his house. “Alex, you are a freaking genius” I squealed “I cannot believe I hadn’t thought of that. You are a goddamn miracle.”
“Hey” Jaxon complained “Stop coming onto my man” he whined.
I laughed. Alex chuckled. “But for the record, Alex is amazing and so smart,” Jaxon said winking at me “But don’t tell him that, it will go straight to his head. Now when are you planning to go visit that dreadful, horrible, disgusting, old pack of yours that you no longer call home?” he prompted.
“It will have to be soon,” I said in resignation, dreading going by my lonesome.
“Well choose a date and Alex and I will come too,” Jaxon said easily as I gaped “I mean, we are going to be the uncles of your baby, so it’s only fitting we bring the father to heel. Plus, you don’t want to face the mate you rejected by yourself do you?” he demanded and I shook my head, once again in awe at the best friend I had and the one who was fast becoming a second one.
I rubbed my aching back, wiping over the table in the diner, taking the assorted plates and cutlery to the back of the kitchen, and then heading back to another table.
“Welcome to J’J’s Diner,” I said cheerfully, passing out menus “I’m Jordan and I’ll be your waitress today. Would you like me to take your order or come back in a little while?” I asked.
The couple, a man and woman in their mid-thirties hastily placed their orders and I quickly passed it onto the kitchen. I had been working for several hours and it was getting to be quite late at night, my blue dress and white apron doing very little to ward off the nightly chill that came flooding through the front door as customers came in. I shivered and gave a sigh. I would be glad when I was finished, even though I enjoyed my work. This was my second week and time was flying by, The staff was very friendly as were the customers, who were all shifters as this was in a town of shifters only.
My boss, Michael came out from the back, glancing at the tables that were only about half occupied. “It’s quiet tonight” he murmured, leaning against the counter, his pudgy face lighting up as he smiled “You’re finished in a minute, aren’t you? I mean I’m pretty sure I only rostered you until 11 pm,” he said looking at the large clock above the doorway to the office and nodding to himself.
I nodded and yawned. He laughed. “Go and get some rest,” he said with a chuckle as I began to gather up my belongings and my coat, putting it on and inhaling gratefully as I felt a warmth begin to spread through my body “I’ll see you tomorrow night” he added.
“Thanks, Michael” I called back over my shoulder “Goodnight you all” I yelled to the other staff and customers, waving over my shoulder.
“See you Jordan” came a chorus of yells as I grinned and headed out the door.
I hummed under my breath as I stepped out the door and began to make my way towards the parking lot. I stopped, spotting a gang of men on motorbikes chatting with each other. I felt uncomfortable and glanced around. Maybe I should go back inside, and wait for them to leave or until Jaxon gets here I thought, turning around to do just that. Unfortunately, though, they spotted me, one of them blocking off my exit, as I ran into them, feeling like I’d just run headlong into a brick wall. Ouch. I rubbed my head, wincing in pain.
“Well hello little lady” the large biker drawled, reaching out and steadying me as I fought to keep from panicking “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked with a sneer.
Don’t panic Jordan, don’t panic. Keep calm. I began to slowly back away and hit the chest of another biker whose arms wrapped around me. I screamed and he slammed a hand against my mouth.
“That’s no way to greet someone” the man whispered in my ear “Now I’m going to remove my hand, but if you scream again, you’re going to regret it, is that clear?”
I nodded, fighting back tears. He slowly pulled his hand away. My breathing became shallow as the panic continued to rise.
“What do you want?” I asked brokenly as six men surrounded me, all of them large, easily overtowering me. They were in their mid-twenties and seemed amused by the question. “I don’t have much money, but you’re welcome to what I have,” I said quietly.
I needed to keep myself and my unborn child safe. If it meant giving them everything I had, I would do it willingly. I fought the urge to put my hand over my stomach.
The men laughed. “She thinks we want money” one guffawed, elbowing his friend “How sweet” he sneered.
So not money, I thought desperately. I glanced over my shoulder. They had been surrounding me and maneuvering me away from the diner, into the shadows and I hadn’t even noticed, they had done it so smoothly! I cursed myself for not paying better attention.
One leaned forward and touched my hair. I shuddered. “Don’t touch me” I hissed, turning around wildly, trying to scratch and claw my way out of the circle as they laughed at my futile efforts.
Suddenly a voice sounded from behind me. “Let her out” it snarled.
Oh, thank you, god, I prayed, or rather moon goddess.
I glanced over my shoulder. Jaxon and Alex stood there, both of them snarling, their eyes dark black as they eyed the men with furious expressions on their faces. Their auras were menacing. The men were shifters themselves and should have been wary considering that Jaxon was an Alpha. Unfortunately, these men seemed to be extremely stupid or were very arrogant. It was difficult to tell.
“Wait your turn sonny boy” one made the mistake of saying, giving Jaxon a wink.
Jaxon moved, so fast it was like a blur and tore into him, his claws slashing across the man’s throat. Blood spurted everywhere. The man clutched at his throat, making a gargled sound, and then collapsed, his eyes staring blankly into the distance as the other men began to panic.
“We didn’t mean anything, we were just joshing” one cried, babbling in desperation, his voice shrill and high-pitched.
“It didn’t look like that to me,” Alex said coldly, c*****g his head “I distinctly heard my friend here ask you to let her out and you ignored that request.”
“She’s just a lowly human, why do you care? She doesn’t have a wolf” another one said sounding confused. “I mean she’s lower than an omega in the hierarchy.”
Jaxon let out a ferocious growl. My feet were planted on the floor. I couldn’t move even if I wanted to.
Alex moved, darting forward and grasping me around the waist, heaving me over his shoulder and backing away, putting me safely on the ground behind him and Jaxon.
“Look, she’s fine. No harm no foul” protested the leader, holding his hands up in surrender.
“No harm,” Jaxon said in a quiet voice “You touched her against her will, you ganged up on her, you frightened her and threatened her, and you think that means no harm?”
The man fell silent, glancing at his men, pure terror on his face. It hadn’t occurred to them to shift but it did now and suddenly there were five normal wolves and two extra large wolves as Jaxon and Alex shifted.
It was chaos. My mouth flapped open as Jaxon took care of two of them with ease, barely breaking a sweat, his wolf swiping the others until they lay there in a pool of blood, Alex taking care of the other two, until only one remained. My mouth went dry. I felt nauseous. I began to gag and dry heave as the metallic scent of blood hit my nostrils. The leader, the last one remaining, shifted back to his human form, kneeling in front of Jaxon and Alex with his head bowed.
“I’m sorry” he blubbered “Please, please, spare me. I promise I’ll never do anything like this again. I’ve learned my lesson. Show some mercy and compassion” he pleaded.
Jaxon shifted, stalking towards him. “Like the mercy and compassion you showed her,” he said dangerously.
The man trembled. Jaxon grabbed his head and twisted it, letting his dead body flop to the ground.
I bent over and vomited on the ground. Jaxon’s head swiveled around and he winced, rushing to my side and rubbing soothing circles on my back. Alex shifted back and came up beside me.
“Shhh it’s okay Jordan,” Jaxon said sweetly “I promise everything is okay now. I’m sorry I made you sick,” he said, as I vomited some more “Let it all out darling” he coaxed.
Alex gave me awkward pats on the back. “No more working here,” he said, looking at Jaxon “It’s too dangerous Jordan. I understand you want to pay your own way, but not at the risk of you being harmed or your unborn child. We care too much about you to let this happen. As it is we are so sorry to have been late getting to you” he apologized.
I sobbed, the dam finally breaking. Finally, the nausea passed and I straightened up, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. Jaxon led me to the car and helped me into the backseat, hopping into the driver’s side while Alex got into the passenger side. His eyes glanced into the rearview mirror.
“You alright Jordan?” asked Alex kindly as Jaxon started the car and put the heater on.
I shook my head. “No,” I said biting my lip “I think I’ve come to a decision,” I said a little hesitantly.
The boys looked over their shoulders. “I’m scared to do it, but it needs to be done. The father deserves to know about the baby” I said quietly “I’m going to have to track him down.”
I was scared though. What if he didn’t want anything to do with the child or with me? Then I would raise it on my own, with Jaxon and his family’s help I thought fiercely, but at least I would have the knowledge that I had tried and communicated with the father.
Jaxon gritted his teeth. He knew the story of how I’d become pregnant and was pissed that the man had left me in the room alone. He had threatened to locate the man and make sure he had a dreadful accident that resulted in his death. Alex had agreed to help him.
“Please” I begged him as he exhaled and looked me in the eyes “Maybe there was a good reason for leaving me alone in the room.”
“I doubt it” Jaxon snorted “But this is your decision Jordan and all I can do is support you. Do you even know this guy’s name?”
I deflated. No, I didn’t I was forced to admit to myself. God, what kind of slut was I, to not even ask the guy his name? Christ, had I just flung myself at him and yelled take me, I’m yours? The guy probably thought Christmas came early.
“No” I whispered.
“He was in a reserved suite or room though that Luna Mary specifically said was for guests of the hotel, wasn’t he?” Alex said wisely, mulling it over “Why don’t you just go visit Luna Mary and ask her who was supposed to be in that room that night? I’m sure she would give you the information if you explained to her why you needed it. Hell, it’s the least she could do considering everything” he added grimly.
I looked at Alex in wonder as Jaxon began the drive back to his house. “Alex, you are a freaking genius” I squealed “I cannot believe I hadn’t thought of that. You are a goddamn miracle.”
“Hey” Jaxon complained “Stop coming onto my man” he whined.
I laughed. Alex chuckled. “But for the record, Alex is amazing and so smart,” Jaxon said winking at me “But don’t tell him that, it will go straight to his head. Now when are you planning to go visit that dreadful, horrible, disgusting, old pack of yours that you no longer call home?” he prompted.
“It will have to be soon,” I said in resignation, dreading going by my lonesome.
“Well choose a date and Alex and I will come too,” Jaxon said easily as I gaped “I mean, we are going to be the uncles of your baby, so it’s only fitting we bring the father to heel. Plus, you don’t want to face the mate you rejected by yourself do you?” he demanded and I shook my head, once again in awe at the best friend I had and the one who was fast becoming a second one.
End of The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella Chapter 71. Continue reading Chapter 72 or return to The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella book page.