Alpha’s Betrayal Luna’s Revenge (Samantha) novel Chapter 24

Sam’s POV

I have adapted well to human life. Tony has helped me build myself up physically at the gym, offering me additional training sessions to improve my technique.

Whenever anyone now tries to belittle me, he stops them dead in their tracks. He has been quite protective since he saw my scars. Much to his delight, I joined the boxing club and a local karate dojo. I, surprisingly, earned a blue belt quickly. My sensei believes I’m a natural. But he doesn’t know I have been doing a basic version of this all my life.

I still help at the diner whenever it is short-staffed. Edgar avoids asking for my help because he thinks it’s unfair to me, as I don’t take a wage. Despite his reservations, the staff are not afraid to ask. Especially because I take payment in food, which I give to Frank. He has been looking healthier lately.

Without fail, regardless of what day it is on the first of every month, Ellie makes the six-hour journey to visit me.

I am surprised Bessie makes it, but she does.

The only thing I’m struggling with in my new life is Zola.

She won’t admit it, but she is struggling, so much so that I think she is depressed. I try to speak to her about her feelings, but she shuts me down, telling me I don’t know what I am talking about. Even her tone of voice sounds sad whenever we talk. Even more worrying, it’s affecting me.The only thing that improves her mood is her monthly roa with Kiki. I haven’t told Ellie about it, as I worry it will put her under extra pressure to visit me more often. With Ellie arriving tomorrow. I suggested to Zola that we ask Edgar if we could borrow his car and drive up to the woods early, to get a few extra hours in before Ellie arrives. “Have a bit of wolf time during the daylight hours?”

“Why would we do that? It would only be good if Kiki was there to enjoy it with me,” she responded nastily. I took a deep breath, getting more and more worried about her and her dependence on Kiki. I was getting a headache listening to her constant complaining and growling. I went downstairs to the diner, hoping the noise would drown out her whining.

The diner was packed. “Sam.” Edgar grabbed me by the arms. “Could you run to the store? We’re never going to make it to the end of the lunch rush without some supplies,” he begged. Of course, I said yes, and he gave me a list and some cash.

As I pushed the cart around the store, everyone seemed to be walking so slowly. Today, the squeaky wheels were getting on my nerves more than usual. Getting everything on Edgar’s list, I walked down the aisles nearest the checkout. I hated checking out more than anything else; there is always a queue, and people dither about handing coupons over, and when it comes to paying, people always complain.

I could see there was no queue at the checkout. I thought my luck had changed, and rushed before anyone could jump in front of me. As I walked out of the aisle, a man yelled. “I said, get down.” He waved a gun above his head.I chuntered a few words and grimaced at him. “Do you have a death wish?” he yelled at me as he walked in my direction, pointing the gun in my face.

I am so not in the mood for this. I looked at the barrel of the gun. “Are you for real?” I screamed at him. My- outburst seemed to shock him because he flinched. “I have a banging headache, and l am having a crap day. All I want to do is see my friend, and I can’t even do that. So, if you so desperately want to go to jail for my murder.

Please go ahead and put me out of my misery.” I heard gasps and people questioning whether I was crazy.

He pressed the gun into my forehead, and I could smell his fear, which was why I didn’t look away. He was breathing heavily, probably questioning what he should do next.” Fuck?” he yelled. That’s what I thought.

“Here,” I said, reaching into my pocket and handing him the cash I had. “You need it more than I do It is also more than what’s in that register?” The robber looked at the register and then looked at me. “Are you a moron? The register is changed when each cashier changes. Meaning they emptied the register ten minutes ago. There might be a hundred bucks in there in change.” I paused while he processed what I had just told him. He must not be from around here if he didn’t know that. Which makes this an impulsive robbery. He’s desperate. “I am offering you more than what is in the register right now. Take it,” I said,pushing the cash to his chest.

He slowly reached out a shaking hand and took the cash from me. “You had better hurry. The cops will be here in a minute,” I told him, hearing the sirens in the distance. The robber looked around frantically. “You really think that no one tripped the alarm?” I scoffed, looking sympathetically at him. When he heard the police sirens, he ran out of the store, and I sighed a breath of relief. Until I realized i couldn’t pay for my groceries.

Approaching the checkout, I saw the cashier cowering behind her till. “Sorry, I’m not able to pay for my groceries.

I’ll just leave them here,” I said as I walked past the counter. Edgar would be so annoyed with me when I returned empty-handed and without his money. I’ll come back after I get some of my money.

Before I reached the exit, a police officer burst through the door, yelling and telling everyone to stay still. I rubbed my temples as all of his yelling was not helping my headache. As I tried to get past him, more officers barged through the door, preventing me from leaving.

“We’re going to need a statement before you leave, miss.” An officer told me.

“Can you get it later? I have a splitting headache,” I said.

As I had done nothing wrong, he agreed to visit my apartment later. The next thing I knew was the store manager came running out after me. “Miss, wait,” he yelled, handing me my groceries in paper bags. “I can’t work out if you were incredibly brave or incredibly stupid?” he said, making me half smile.

He won’t last long if he doesn’t get help. “Get Ellie,” | screamed at Zola. Then, as fast as she could, she sprintedto the one person who cares so much about animals, she would do anything to save them. Let’s just hope he stays in his wolf form; Ellie will be twitchy if he becomes human.

With the tree line in view, Zola realized she needed to be human to talk to Ellie. So just before we left the tree line, she shifted, allowing me to run to Ellie. I must have looked like a crazy woman as I ran naked toward her, screaming, waving my arms around.

Ellie ran to me, panicking. “There’s an injured shifter in the woods. He’s in a bad way,” I yelled when she was close enough to hear me.

I turned and ran back to the woods, expecting Ellie to follow me. But she didn’t. She ran back to her truck.

“What is she doing? He needs help,” Zola said, until we saw a black bag in her hand.

When she caught up with me. “If he’s as bad as you say.

I’m going to need this.” She said before stripping out of her clothes and stuffing them in the bag before shifting.

Kiki picked up the black bag in her mouth and waited for me to move.

Typical of Ellie. She kept her cool while I was panicking.

But then again, this is Ellie; nothing rattles her.