Chapter 3: The Pain

When Noah entered the restaurant’s kitchen, he greeted by his co-worker, Jason Watkins, a young talented chef with a handsome face, tanned skin, hazel eyes, and well-trimmed facial hairs, His good looks make all women staff in the restaurant (and probably the outside too), swoon.

“Hey little dim sum, you were 30 minutes late,” Jason greeted Noah with a husky voice, “did something happen?” He smiled.

He called Noah with a nickname little dim sum because Noah was short and Korean. Dim sum originally came from China. It was a small bite-sized cuisine filled with chopped meat and prepared in a small steamer basket. However, Silverplate served the Korean styled dim sum because it was more suitable for American taste. It colored white and fluffy textured resembled Noah’s soft skin.

“Yeah, I had a small accident earlier and a bit unwell” Noah reply while changing into his assistance-chef uniform.

Jason observed him with worries, “are you okay little dim sum? You look sweaty and a bit pale.” He moved closer to Noah's kissing range and slightly touched Noah’s forehead. It made him blushed.

“My skin is pale, it's genetic” Noah chuckled; he tried to mask his pain and shyness.

Jason pinched Noah’s cheek which made some female staffs glare in jealousy at Noah, “Let me know if you need any help, because today we’re having important guests. Mr. Silvermoon, his staffs and business partners will be having lunch at our restaurant” Jason saw dining hall through the tiny window in the kitchen, which allowed chefs to see the patrons. “We should hurry; we only have one hour and a half to cook for 50 people, and some of them already coming.” Noah could smell his minty breath while he talked.

 Suddenly the head-chef Clark enter the kitchen and saw Noah and Jason were chatting while the other staffs were busy cooking. “Hey love birds, stop talking and more cooking!” he snapped.

Jason and Noah startled and reply “yes chef!” at the same time.

As Noah wanted to walk to his post, the dessert section; Jason came to whisper, “If Chef Clark ask you why were you late, tell him that you had stomachache” Jason winked and back to his grilling post.

Noah replied with a grin; it showed his perfect white teeth. He understood that Jason was tried to cover up for him.

 ‘Isn’t he a fine gentleman Noah?’ Ruiz teased.

‘Yes he is,’ Noah’s cheek was blushing, ‘If I knew my mate will be a male, I hoped it would be him, Ruiz’

‘Well; now our mate is gone. Shouldn't you try to find another fish?’ he smiled, ‘Sooner is better…’

Ruiz returned to his sleep.

When Noah came to his post, his co-worker Lisa Abbot was glaring at him, "Took you long enough," she said, hold her anger. She seemed pissed to Noah, as she saw him and Jason's intimate moment. 'Why the good looking one is always gay' she muffled while cooking. 

“Sorry” Noah replied while starting to prepare the ingredients for the dessert. He and his co-worker were planning to make white chocolate raspberry cheesecake.

“Today we have VIP,” she said as she was pointing her finger to the small window, “That’s Mr. Thomas Silvermoon who sits in the table No 5. I saw his son also came by, but then he left” she paused and giggled to herself “God he’s a fine-looking man…”

As Lisa blabbered about the man of her dream, Noah suddenly realized about one thing that he almost forgot, the one that may endanger his life.

His restaurant was own by Silvermoon Family and his mate was named Drake… Drake Silvermoon…

Noah’s POV:

 “Lisa do you know the name of Mr. Silvermoon’s son? I ask her curiously as she stops at her blabbering and sees me with a big smile on her face

“I think it was Damon, no wait… Derek… OMG Lisa how you can forget the name of your future husband!” she squeaks with a low raspy voice.

 “Did you mean Drake?” I asked, afraid if I was correct.

“Bingo!” she said and returns to her dish.

I am starting to tremble, ‘No way,’ I mumble. I try to wake Ruiz up while I am in the middle of cooking. I want to consult with him about our situation. ‘Ruiz, wake up!’ I demand.

 ‘What’s wrong little dim sum?’ He asks me with a teasing tone

‘Now is not the time for a joke. We’re in trouble, our mate is the son of this restaurant owner’ I said while cutting the frozen raspberry, while Lisa is watching me like a hawk; she makes sure I am doing my job.

‘Then we have no other choice, we must do it’ he pauses, ‘the rite of rejection.’ He sees me with a serious expression, his blue orbs are glowing; it makes him look a bit scary.

‘What is that? Is it dangerous? Cos you’re looking so serious.’

‘It is the rite to cut the bond between mate, it’s dangerous because the inner wolves may die if it’s not done correctly.’ 

“No!”

I startled makes Lisa who works beside me jump in surprise.

“Sweet Jesus! Boy, you should stop to scream suddenly like that… Noah, you need help!” she said, looking pissed. “By the way, have you done with the raspberry? Could you stir this cream cheese for me, please? I need to go to the toilet, while on the way I will check on Drake in case he returns,” she gasps as she realizes that she was telling the truth and I knew it. This poor girl wants to stalk on Drake. 

“I meant I need to go to the toilet because I drank a lot of water this morning,” she said and passes me a bowl filled cream cheese.

 “Sure Lisa” I sincerely accept the bowl. ‘I wished you, good luck girl, cos you need it. I am through with him, he’s all yours.’

 As Lisa left, I suddenly feel my chest burning, like the flame of daggers, stabbed me, it feels more painful than before. ‘Ruiz, what is this pain?’ I asked my inner wolf.

‘It was because of him… that bastard … he is currently mating with another person… Noah, I feel hurt too… PLEASE DO THE RITE OF REJECTION… PLEASE!

‘Then what should I do?’

‘Go to the alpha of Silvermoon pack; tell him that you were rejected by one of his pack’s members. But be careful not to mention his son’s name. I am sure he will NOT do it if he knew you that you were mated to his son.’ 

‘I understand, the alpha is here at the moment, I will look a good opportunity

to talk to him, until then please hang on.’

‘I will try,’ he whimpers 

I am trying to cope with the pain while cooking at the same time. I am panting, it hard to breathe. I feel like the oxygen has been sucked out of my lung. To add to this misery, the burning in my chest becomes more and more painful as I tried to grasp the air. ‘It has been one hour and he still having sex’ I asked myself in disbelieve. 

‘I need to get out from the kitchen, the air here is too stiff, I need to breathe!’

“Geez are you okay Noah, you look like you’re having a fever,” Lisa asked, she looks genuinely worried. “I was joking by telling you that you need help, but now it seems that you really are.”

“I’m fine Lisa, thanks,” I said while panting “I’ll take a break after we’re done cooking, okay?”

 “OK,” she replied.

‘I need to concentrate on my cook! Strangely, even though I am in pain, I could feel that my cooking ability suddenly increasing. Maybe this is what you call a silver lining. After the rejection, I gain a new ability to make the cake that I cook become more delicious; more enticing!’ 

I’m drooling when I see our Raspberry cheesecake is done perfectly. ‘The cake looks shining.’ I couldn't hold myself not to steal a bite. I feel better after I ate it. 

‘You seem to awaken your Luna’s power, Noah’ Ruiz whispers me.

‘Luna’s power? I do not understand’ I ask.

‘I will tell you later Noah… I am now trying to cope with the pain… I am sorry’ he whimpers.

***

When Noah finished platting the dessert, he told everyone that he would take a break. He left the kitchen and went outside the restaurant for fresh air.

He tried to suck as much oxygen as possible into his lung. He was panting and his chest was burning. Soon, he couldn't take the pain anymore and passed out.

After the restaurant was close, Jason Watkins went outside to throw the trash and smoke at the back alley of the restaurant. As he opened the door, he was surprised to see Noah’s body lying on the ground, unconscious. So, he decided to call the ambulance, but then he canceled. There was a spark on his eyes, a lustful desire when he saw Noah’s porcelain skin, pink rose lips, and petite body.

He reconsidered and decided to bring Noah to his apartment instead.   

***