Right now, we need to ignore our connection until Robin understands what it’s going to mean to be with us. Until she’s absolutely certain we’re the ones she needs in her life.
I don’t doubt that she’ll feel it.
We wouldn’t be fated if she wasn’t going to be ours.
But it needs to be right, and that means waiting for her to be ready for everything that comes with being fated to a pack.
Frustration bubbles up inside me as I lead Robin up the incline toward the fence.
The problem isn’t my patience, this time.
I’m ready and willing to wait for her.
I wasn’t prepared for the reality of trying to spend time with a woman who’s being protected by a guardian who doesn’t seem to trust me.
The academy is a thorn in my side.
I’m not going to be happy until it’s out.
“You think anyone noticed we were gone?” Robin asks as she steps through the gap in the fence.
I follow her through, and then I take a look around.
The cafeteria building is completely separate from the rest of the academy. It’s also cut off from the gardens by a high wall. There are no security guards out here. It feels like a blind spot to me, but I guess if hardly anyone ever comes out here, it kind of makes sense that they wouldn’t cover it.
“I doubt it. But we won’t get another chance to go for a walk out there when they fix that fence.”
“Right,” she says, nodding.
We walk to the entrance of the cafeteria building and I push the door open for Robin.
She steps inside, and I follow.
It’s not a big room. There are a dozen tables, all of them empty, and a counter with a single server sitting behind it. The girlin the chef whites stands up as we approach, giving us a half-hearted smile.
“Hey, what can I get for you today?”
“Um …” Robin starts, looking at the display. “Whatever’s good.”
“You’re the new girl, right?” she asks. “The one who was working with Katie at the social?”
“Yeah, I’m Robin.”
“I’m Cara. Nice to meet you. I would have covered Friday if I hadn’t been going out. I hope it didn’t put you off working here. The socials can be kind of a weird vibe sometimes.”
“Oh, it didn’t put me off,” Robin says, smiling brightly. “This place is great. I can’t wait to get started working tomorrow.”
“It is great, isn’t it? I mean, this shift out here is kind of boring, but the pay is good, and I can save for a house while I’m living here rent free, and with my meals all paid for. It’s a dream. I might never leave. The suites are so nice.”
“For sure,” Robin answers, nodding.
If I had any concerns about what Robin’s living conditions might be like, this girl has dispelled them with a casual conversation, and Robin’s enthusiasm seals it.
Cara talks us into having lamb with sides of vegetables and some kind of potatoes that look like they’ve been made into crispy sculptures.
The plates are placed onto a tray, and she adds two glass bottles of water.
“Enjoy! See you later, Robin.”
