Chapter 5: Whipped:

• The diner where Karen worked at part-time was small and cozy, and didn’t have many clients – outside of the usual ones, that was.
• Nevertheless, on a sunny September day in her senior year, five strangers came in the diner.
• Her encounter with them would change her life irrevocably… she just didn’t know that yet.
• That day, Karen had styled her mid-length blonde hair into a messy bun, put very little make-up on, and dressed casually.
• There was nothing fancy about her.
• So how was it that one of the most gorgeous guys she had ever had the chance of coming across was eying her like she was the most beautiful woman he ever laid eyes on?
• She felt fidgety and self-conscious in front of him, under his scrutinizing gaze, as she took their order.
• She tried not to show how uncomfortable he was making her, but then, reaching the point of no return, she asked bluntly, voice cold, hard almost, “Anybody ever told you it’s rude to stare? Something I can help you with in particular, mister?”
• He looked taken aback at her question, as if he was not expecting her to pick on how lustful his gaze was, and then schooled his features into a poker face, “This may come off as too much, but seeing as we’re playing truth here, I would very much appreciate it if you gave me your number?” He finished that statement of his in a question, seemingly unsure as he was of her answer.
• She rolled her eyes at him, and to her utter and complete dismay, blushed. “I’ll take it that you’re not hungry then, mister,” she mumbled under her breath.
• “Don’t assume things, sweetheart, I’m very hungry.”
• His deep husky voice combined with the way he let out his last two words made white-hot desire pool at her entrance.
• She blushed anew to her utter and complete shame as he started to tell her what he wanted for lunch.
• “Will that be all, mister?” She defiantly tried to sound unaffected, but was in reality not fooling anyone.
• “No,” he breathed out, “my name is Aiden sweetheart, not mister.”
• “Noted,” she told him sarcastically under her breath as she turned away from him.
• ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 
• “Mom, I have found her,” Aiden all but yelled into the phone the moment she picked up.
• “Found who?” She asked, sounding perplexed.
• “My mate, mom,” he supplied in a duh-tone.
• “Seriously?” She squealed into the phone, hurting his sensitive ears. “What is she like? Does she know? When do we meet her?”
• “Easy tiger,” he could hear his dad tell her.
• “One question at a time, mom,” he chuckled, feeling lighter than he had been in years. Now that he had found his mate, he was more serene, more at peace with himself. “Naturally, I am serious. I couldn’t possibly joke about something like this,” he said. “She’s – simply put – beautiful. I’m positive she doesn’t know since she’s human. Hell, I hope she feels the connection at all. As for meeting, I don’t believe it will happen until I manage to woo her.”
• “You do that,” his mom encouraged him. “I can’t believe my baby boy has grown into a man and has already found his mate.” He could imagine her about to cry as her voice did sound strained, and he smiled fondly at her reaction.
• “Mom, I’m not a baby anymore,” he told her in soft amdonishment.
• “You’ll always be my baby boy though,” she countered immediately as she sniffled.
• “I’ll need to transfer schools again, so I can get her to accept me,” he then said rather sheepishly, almost shy to request that they come to take care of the matter.
• “We’ll be there tomorrow, Aiden. Don’t worry,” she reassured him immediately.
• “Mom,” he then called right as he was about to hang up.
• “Hmm?”
• “I… Thank you for figuring out that I needed to follow The Troublemaker’s daughter,” he said in a timid tone.
• “I love you too,” she said simply in response.
• And then, they hung up.
• Aiden was feeling hopeful for the future. Already, he couldn’t picture his life without Karen. He’d only need to have her agree to become his. He’d need to help her see things from his point of view. But first things first, they needed to grow closer… and for that, the plan was to become like her own shadow – a stalker of sorts.
• Already, he was looking forward to knowing every little thing about her, every little meaningful or meaningless detail. 
• Oh, hell and damnation, he was whipped, wasn't he?