Just when I thought the shift was going to be boring, in walked four wolves. Werewolves that is. Though they looked just like normal tall handsome men in their twenties, I could tell. I didn't quite have the sheltered upbringing most humans have. As I looked them over, I didn't recognize any of them from the local pack, but there's no way I could have met all of Alpha Milo Thatcher's men, so they could still be from Wilde Claw. I briefly glanced over to the diner's calendar, and it showed four more days until the full moon so they shouldn't be a problem from a neighboring pack.

I gave them my biggest waitress smile and grabbed some menus. "Hey guys! Right this way," and showed them to a larger booth at the back.

As they sat, I placed menus in front of each. Two tall dark and handsomes, maybe brothers, one long goldened hair blonde with matching beard, and one shaved bald. Each exceptionally muscled and all full of their own smiles.

"I'm Elise and I'll be your server today. Can I start you out with some drinks?"

"Mountain Dew," choired the two tall dark and handsomes.

"Coke," stated beardie.

And shaved just wanted water.

"You got it. I'll be right back with those."

As the sodas were filling, I could hear their raucous laughter over the quiet conversations of the few other patrons. At least the group was in a good mood. I checked my reflection in the finish of the ice machine and bobby-pinned a blonde lock of hair back into the bun it had escaped from. I could use a touch more mascara for my baby blue eyes but there was no time for that. I doubled up the drink order for them and headed back.

I started setting out the two glasses in front of each.

"Hey good service," Beardie answered.

Shrugging, I grinned. "You just looked extra thirsty tonight. Gotta make sure I can keep up with how busy it is." I winked. The two other tables were practically finished and it wasn't like I was going to get a dinner rush at 9:30 at night. I really just knew that werewolves could put food away faster than I could bring it.

They all laughed their raucous laugh.

"Elise is it?" Beardie asked. "I'm Jeff. These are my friends, Jonathan, Sid, and Palmer." He pointed to the two tall dark and handsomes, then the shaved man.

"Good to meet you all. You ready to order?"

Jeff started out. "I'll have a double cheeseburger, add bacon."

I scribbled on the notepad and then looked back up. "For you?" I asked the shaved man. I had already forgotten his name.

"Same," was his reserved reply.

"You got it handsome. You fellas?" I turned to Jonathan and Sid.

"Uh, the roast beef platter. Hold the green peppers." Johnathan spoke, eyes on the description in the menu.

"I'll take the T-Bone, rare. Can I get fries instead of the baked potato?" His black eyes met mine hopeful.

"You sure can. Alrighty, anything else I can get?" I smiled at the table to shakes of their heads and then grabbed the two already empty Mountain Dew glasses. "See, I knew what I was doin'." With another wink, I headed back to the cook.

Marjorie was a beautiful lady in her sixties, lots of wrinkles and a smile with slightly crooked front teeth, but still a smile you couldn't help but reciprocate. Her blonde hair had whisps of grey and waved around her shoulders as she cleaned the grill. She was like my surrogate mom or awesome aunt. I had even lived with her for a few years before I was eighteen.

Man, what was that? Six years ago? Seemed like yesterday.

I hooked the order sheet to the spinner cue and called out. "Marjorie, two double bacon cheeseburgers, a roast beef platter minus peppers and rare T-Bone with fries. Give these guys the football special."

She laughed, a Southern accent to her words. "You got it Darlin!" She stepped to the freezer and grabbed a bag of cut fries while I turned back to the other tables, waving one goodbye and grabbing cake slices for the other.

A few minutes later Marjorie called from the back, "order up!"

I cleaned a few dishes off a finished table as I strode to the window and readied them for the dishwasher. Then taking each plate, I arranged them on a tray before adding some extra drinks around the edges.

I walked to the men, my normal waitress dance as I swiftly took the meals to the wolf table. Balancing a full tray was easy after you've been working in a diner for ten years. "Hey guys," I grinned to each and expertly set down plates and drinks.

Jeff took a deep sniff of his food and then looked up with a teasing twinkle in his eyes, "should we be worried about the football special?"

I answered with a laugh, "No sir Mr. Jeff. That just means give a heartier portion. For our friends that might want to eat me if I don't give them a few more fries."

He leaned forward, a flirty air blooming. "I don't know, I'd sure like a nibble out of you."

"Now you just get back to your extra fries, Sweetheart," I teased. Then I pointed at the condiments. "There's the ketchup and mustard, if you need anything else just holler."

They gave their thanks and I headed off to clear the last table.

The guys laughed and chatted. I caught loud phrases like "they're going down!" and "not even one saw!" They were not guarding their words.

I filled up more drinks and even loaded up another plate of fries and took it to the table.

"I like this service," Jeff winked.

"You're mighty welcome. Remember, I said no nibblin' the waitress."

He laughed and I turned to leave but he called me back. "Elise, what do you do for fun around here? Is there a movie theater or anything?"

Definitely not from Alpha Milo's pack then.

I shrugged and leaned against the next booth. "There's a movie theater inside town about ten minutes away. It only has the last season special though. Lots of people hang out at a soda shop next door to it. There's a train museum if you like that kinda thing too. You guys stickin' around, or just passing through?"

Jeff got a faraway look, "just in town for a bit. We've got a..." he paused, "business deal coming up we're preparing for."

The other men's eyebrows shifted into incredulity. He just shook them off.

"Sounds neat, what kind of business are you into?"

He shrugged, "I guess you could say... real estate."

Shaved Bald's hand came to rub his forehead. "Shut up Jeff."

"I'm just making conversation!" He hit Bald's arm.

"She doesn't care," he growled exasperated.

"I do too care," and stood straight. "Tell you what, how would you guys like a round of cake on the house. To be a good luck charm in all your real estate adventures." I spoke like I was sweetening the pot, "it's even homemade by me, all the freshest ingredients. Right from my farm. What do you say?"

"Made by you Babe? Well now we can't say no," Jeff leaned forward against the table.

"I'll be right back." I turned and headed to the diner's display of slightly pink frosted cakes. My signature color. All the cake boxes were always pink too. As I started slicing up four larger pieces, I smiled already knowing how much they'd enjoy the cake. Werewolves all seemed to love them. Alpha Milo always ordered my honeycakes for their celebrations and things.

I walked the plates back to the wolf table and set each down. "Hope you guys enjoy these. Again, good luck in your business deals." I set the bill down at the side of the table. "You can meet me at the register when you're finished. Thanks for coming in guys."

I headed back to the front desk and began washing counters down, though we still had over an hour until closing. The noises from the wolf table started rolling against my ears. Whoas and yums, made me smile. I love my cake.

After a few more minutes, Jeff came over and I rang up the bill. "Great cake Elise."

I looked up with a smile. "Glad you liked it. I don't think my self-confidence could have handled it if you called it horrible."

He laughed and held out a credit card. "Not one bit. I ate every crumb." He paused and leaned back against the counter. "So Elise, what would you say about hitting one of those last season movies with me tomorrow?"

"Aww, thank you. But I'm just not the dating type." I handed back his card and receipt.

"Would you let me change your mind?" He asked with a raised brow.

I smiled, "You're very sweet, but no thank you."

He nodded. "Well then, you take care Elise. Thanks for the cake."

"Nice to meet you, Jeff."

The rest of the men got up and followed him out. I waved then went to clean up their table. An impressed smile slid to my lips about Jeff. I'd never been let out of a date request so easily, wolf or human. They were all sweet guys. Then with another grin, I thought about the fun rest of the evening they'd probably have. In a couple hours they'd get the full benefit of my cake. I wasn't sure how, but wolf bodies digest it in a way that gives them extra strength and heightened senses for a good while after. I liked to say I was the secret ingredient that did that. You know, the secret ingredient is love and all that sillyness people say. I giggled to myself. I've even given Milo's men the actual recipe, but it never worked right for anyone but me. It's got to be the freshest ingredients, straight from the farm.

It's got to be love.