Ezra drove over to the familiar drive-through, completely dejected.
"Hello, welcome to Fishies. What can I get you tonight?" The same chirpy voice came through the speaker.
"One cheeseburger, extra cheese," he coldly mumbled.
His order was ready in just a few minutes. He drove to the window to pick it up, but to his surprise, he saw the same girl who had served him a few hours ago staring at him in shock. She dazedly held out the bag to him.
He plucked it from her hand and drove away.
"Cheeseburger with extra cheese? That's his breakup food. Shit, they really broke up."
"Five dollars. I told you Rio would steal his girl. You silly goose, you really shouldn't have started a bet. Hehe~ I'm five dollars richer. Hehe..."
Their discussion fell upon his ears.
Ezra parked his car nearby and leaned his head against the steering wheel. A long sigh escaped his mouth.
This was not the first time this had happened. Every time he fell for a girl and started dating her, Rio would swoop in like a fucking vulture and snatch her away.
Not only that, he would sleep with them and whisper sweet words into their ears until they all eventually ended up falling in love with him.
'What magic does he perform on them? Why do they all like him?'
He sat up and peered at his reflection in the rearview mirror. He was just as handsome as Rio, but none of the girls ever fell head over heels for him. It was a mystery why.
'What am I doing wrong?'
He let out another loud sigh and glanced at his takeout bag. His comfort food lay on the passenger seat. He tore open the package and chomped down on the cheese sandwich. The cheesy goodness really soothed his broken heart.
"I am doing nothing wrong. Why do they even want to be with a man like him?"
The worst thing was that Rio didn't even like monogamous relationships. He would sleep with just about anyone.
The girls who broke up with Ezra and ran to Rio all had to face the same consequences. Their hearts were broken even worse.
He had spotted plenty of girls sobbing over Rio. Some had even run back to Ezra, begging him to take them back.
Ezra would usually coldly shrug them off. A person who couldn't stay true to their relationship would never be trustworthy for the rest of their life. He didn't want a girl who could be easily swayed by a handsome smile and honeyed words.
"I will find my luna soon... A person who fits me right is right around the corner," he said, trying to soothe himself.
Even so, he couldn't help but feel bitter.
"Fucking Rio."
He glanced at the windshield with a loud sigh.
"She's going to kill me... Ugh... This is the third time I broke her car..."
Dejectedly, he drove back to his pack house.
The car slowed down as it reached the driveway. Ezra glanced at the towering house with a small grimace.
The Val pack house.
It had stood for ages. Since his grandfather's time, the pack had been successful. They had multiple business ventures spread throughout the human cities, and now their business had even expanded abroad.
Overall, they were moderately wealthy.
He ditched the car on the sideway and walked inside, still chomping on his sandwich.
"Hey, you're back so soon? How did it go with Gina? Isn't she cute?" Kira, his sister, walked up to him with a bright grin.
Gina was none other than Kira's best friend. Because of her, they had met and started dating.
He suddenly felt another bout of sadness hit his soul. He bit into the sandwich ferociously.
"What tiger has cheese in it? You're lactose intolerant. Do you want to stink up the house with your farts?"
She stopped in front of him. Her long brown hair fluttered in the wind and splayed all over his face.
He aggressively pushed it away.
"Hey! That's my hair. Treat it like a queen!"
She tamed her poofy hair, her dark brown eyes focusing on him.
"You're grumpy... Hmm... Weird..."
Sighing, he walked back toward his room.
"What is with that sigh? Hey... wait... Did... did she dump you?! Shit..."
Ezra glared back at her.
"Never hook me up with your friends. They are all nasty bitches."
He slammed the door in her face.
"Don't talk about my friends that way!"
His sister pushed through the door and stomped into his room.
Groaning, Ezra plopped down on the bed and hugged his warm duvet.
She froze.
"What happened? Why did she... Was it Rio again?"
"Don't utter his name. Just don't. I fear I might try to rip your throat out," he growled loudly.
"Shit, it was him..."
She sat down next to him and gently patted his back.
"Ignore that douche. You will find another girl. A person who will love you will come to you. I swear. You just need to be patient."
Ezra sat up.
"I look handsome, I'm rich, and I'm a powerful werewolf who is next in line to be an alpha. Why won't they love me? I don't understand what Rio has that I don't."
She rolled her eyes.
"They are teenagers. They all fall for the bad boys. You, Ezra, are a good boy. You are so handsome, and you deserve a girl who will treat you right."
"I don't know."
He plopped back down on his bed and started counting the glowing stickers stuck to the ceiling.
"I think I'm traumatized by relationships. Every time I fall for someone, they end up betraying me. My trust in someone breaks..."
"Hang in there, kiddo. Just a bit longer. In college, you'll get a lot of attention, that's for sure."
She patted his back and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Ezra sighed.
"I hope so... I don't wish to die alone."
A minute later, he heard a loud screech.
"Ezra!!! What have you done to my car?! You slimy son of a monkey!!!"
"Mum! Kira is calling you a monkey!"
Laughing, he shot up.
"That's my cue to leave."
He jumped out of his window and rushed into the forest.
"You stop right there, you brat! Pay for my windshield!"
"I'm broke, sis! Sorry!" he shouted back, laughing in glee.
"I will kill you!!!!!"
Her distinct scream came from behind him.
Laughing out loud, he happily rushed into the dark forest. His eyes had already adapted to the darkness. The scents of animals and trees assaulted his senses, filling the forest with familiar smells.
He slowly moved toward the scent that always calmed him down.
The rushing sound of water grew louder as he continued forward.
Soon, he came to a stop right beside the massive waterfall. The mist hit his face, wetting it instantly. He wiped the moisture away and sat down on the rocky shore.
"This is paradise."
Ezra laid down on the rock, letting his feet hang in the cool water below.