by Sky Winters
“You have my word.”
“You’re going to have to grow up, Jason. You’re going to have to actually become a man. The fate of the pack depends on it.”
Another nod.
“Now go. Let me know when you’re at the apartment. I expect to hear nothing but good things.”
Jason rose and left, meeting Lexi outside the office.
“All good?” she asked.
“All good.”
And deep down, Jason knew his uncle was right. He was going to have to become a new man.
But he couldn’t help but worry that he might not be up to the job.
CHAPTER 12
LEXI
The apartment was in a neighborhood called Belltown, a neighborhood Lexi had known from her intensive studies of the city.
“This is going to be perfect,” she said as they made their way down the city streets. “We can stay at this place, and I can get a job, and you can earn some money.”
“Right,” said Jason. “And before too long, we’ll be able to move to a bigger apartment, then you can go to school.”
Lexi beamed. She’d never felt so free in her life.
“But we have to make sure to stay away from the other shifters, right?” she asked. “Chad can’t find out we’re here.”
“Right. No doubt he’s looking for us now. Don’t even want to think about what would happen if he caught us.” Jason checked his phone. “Place is a couple of blocks ahead. Why don’t we—”
“Wait!” Lexi stopped in her tracks, staring into the front of the shop to their right.
“What?” asked Jason.
“This is perfect. Look.”
Lexi looked inside through the window, a big smile on her face. It was a coffee shop, but one that looked like a combination between that and a library. The walls were covered in antique bookshelves, comfy-looking chairs all over the place, the clientele a mix of the young and hip with the older and sophisticated.
“I wanted some coffee,” she said. “And this is where I’m getting it. Come on.”
Before Jason could react, she opened the door and stepped inside, taking a deep, slow breath through her nose. The smell was heavenly, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with delicious pastries and old books.
It was perfect.
She stepped in front of the shelves, taking in the sight of the colorful spines of classic books. They seemed to have everything, and Lexi knew she could’ve spent all day—hell, all week—in that place without getting bored.
“What do you want?” she asked.
He grinned. “I’m paying, remember?”
“For now,” she said.
They approached the counter, the girl behind it young and hip with choppy green hair, a nose ring, and forearms covered in tattoos.
“One large latté,” said Lexi, eager to order. “And a blueberry muffin.”
Jason smirked at her enthusiasm. “Just a medium black.”
The girl nodded and Jason handed over a twenty, the girl giving change and turning to start on the drinks.
“Don’t forget to tip,” said Lexi.
“Why?” asked Jason. “So she can get an even bigger nose ring?”
Lexi narrowed her eyes and gave him a chiding smack to the hand. Jason chuckled to himself as he dropped a pair of ones into the tip jar.
“Here you go,” said the girl, placing the drinks and muffin on the counter.
“Oh,” said Lexi. “And one job application.”
The girl appeared surprised. “You...want to work here?” She flicked her eyes over Lexi’s outfit.
“Um, this isn’t what I normally wear. And yes, I really want to work here. I’ve dreamed of working in a place like this since I was a kid. The coffee, the books, the vibe—it’s perfect.”
“And she’s a quick learner,” added Jason.
The girl offered a small smile. “Well, one of our baristas quit yesterday and we haven’t found a replacement yet. We don’t do applications, but if you come in later tonight, our manager will be in. You can talk to her and see if you’re a good fit.”
“Will do!” said Lexi, still bubbling with enthusiasm.
“Come on,” said Jason. “Still got the apartment to take care of.”
Drinks in hand, Lexi chomping on her muffin, the two of them left the restaurant and started down the block.
“Might be a little high-profile for us,” said Jason.
“Are you kidding? It’s a coffee shop. Shifters aren’t exactly known for their love of books and iced Americanos.”
“I’ll think about it,” he said. “Because staying safe is a bigger concern than you getting your dream job.”
They continued on, Lexi finishing her muffin and washing it down with her coffee. She loved it, loved being surrounded by the tall buildings, drinking her fancy drink, knowing the entire world was finally there, waiting for her to uncover it.
They came to a stop in front of a glass and steel condo.
“This is it,” said Jason. “Come on.”
He sent a text to his uncle as they stepped in, Stone responding with the code for the front door. After putting that into the keypad, the two rode the elevator up to the fifth floor, then walked to the end of the hallway where the apartment was located.
Stone opened the door, revealing a large, loft-style apartment with a view of the city. It was a nice place, Lexi considered, though maybe a little small for the two of them.
“Ah,” said Jason. “Home sweet home.”
He stepped in and dropped onto the couch, laying back and folding his hands behind his head, a big grin on his face.
“This is your pad?” Lexi asked, looking around.
“Sure is. Spent the last few years here. But I had even bigger plans—this was just going to be a starter home. Check it out.”
He got up and made his way over to the window. Lexi, not sure what was going on, joined him.
“Look at that.” He pointed off into the distance at something Lexi couldn’t make out.
“What am I looking at?”
“That building—357 Cherry Street. It’s the silver one, that one that looks like a crystal.”
Lexi spotted what he was talking about. The building was huge and modern, looking like something out of the future.
“They finished that building a month before I left, and the penthouse is still for sale. Before my family called me back to Seattle, I had my eye on it.”
“A downtown penthouse? That...sounds pricey.”
He shrugged like money didn’t mean anything in the slightest. “Dream big, you know? If I can get back to where I was with my uncle, I’ll be able to afford it before the year’s out. Just need to bust my ass a little.”
Lexi smiled, finding his enthusiasm and hustle endearing. Kind of hot, even.
“But for now,” he said. “We can get comfy here.” He pointed upstairs. “There are two bedrooms, and you can take whichever you want.”
Then his expression turned severe. “But we can’t get too comfortable. I’m going to be looking after you, Lexi. Just because we’re hours away from home doesn’t mean we can relax. Right now, Chad’s probably running wild trying to find you. If we’re lucky, he’ll think one of the other clans took you. But it’s only a matter of time before he realizes that we went to Seattle. And when we do, he’ll turn the entire city upside down looking for us.”
“I know, I know.”
He kept his stare hard and serious. “You don’t know. I’ve been out here, and I know how the world works. You’ve been in the woods since you were a kid.”
“What are you trying to say, that I’m some kind of stupid hick who doesn’t know any better?”
“No. What I’m saying is that you’re smart, but you’re not experienced.”
I’m more experienced now, she thought. Thanks to you. But she kept her comments to herself, not wanting to make the situation any more complicated.
“But that doesn’t mean you need to talk down to
me.”
“I’m not talking down to you—I’m being realistic. You start thinking this is some fun vacation in the big city and let your guard down, and that’s exactly when Chad will find us. And not just him—this city’s full of some of the most vicious shifters you’ve ever met in your life.”
“I get it.”
“I’m warning you. I want you to play it smart, Lexi.”
She rolled her eyes, dropping on the couch next to him.
“Let’s get some food. Thai sound good?”
Her stomach rumbled as she realized she hadn’t eaten since that morning.
“Thai sounds great.”
Jason took out his phone and pulled open a take-out app, the two of them placing an order for some noodles. They came and they were delicious, Lexi and Jason sitting out on the balcony watching the sun dip lower and lower into the sky over the water.
She couldn’t help but smile. Lexi was in downtown Seattle, eating Thai food, the city spread out before her. Despite all that was happening, her dreams were finally coming true.
Well, she considered. Aside from the whole “running for my life” thing.
They passed the rest of the afternoon inside, watching TV and getting the apartment in order.
At around six, Lexi found herself getting antsy.
“I need to go,” she said, getting up.
“Wait, what’re you talking about?”
“The interview at the coffee shop, remember? They told me to come back this evening.”
“No—not a chance.”
“Are you serious?”
“You’re not going out into the city at night for some interview. Too dangerous.”
“What? Are you seriously telling me that I’m going to be stuck in this apartment for however long it takes for us to figure out this whole thing? Jason, I appreciate that you’re trying to protect me, but you’re not going to do it by keeping me in here like some caged bird. You want me to learn how to live in the city, the only way it’s going to happen is by me going out there and, you know, actually living in it.”
Jason looked forward, gritting his teeth.
“Fine. But if you’re going to get used to living here, you need to take it slow. Go down to the coffee shop, do your interview, and come right back.”
Lexi beamed. “And what about clothes?”
Jason looked her up and down. “I think I’ve got some stuff lying around. Hold on.”
He rose and went upstairs into the spare bedroom, returning a few moments later with a light blue cocktail dress and matching shoes.
“Here,” he said, setting them down on the couch. “These look to be about your size.”
“Wait,” said Lexi. “Why do you have random women’s dresses here in your apartment?” But she caught herself. “You know what—I don’t want to know the answer.”
Lexi didn’t know how to feel about the fact that despite what they’d gone through over the last few days, he still had his history of being a womanizing alpha.
“We can get you some new clothes once I start making some money,” he said.
“How about this—I get myself some new clothes once I start making some money.” She grinned after she spoke, Jason matching it.
“That works too. Anyway, get to your interview. I’ll hold down the fort here.”
Lexi went up to the spare bedroom. It was a small but cozy space with a view that looked out over the city. Once she was alone, the door shut behind her, she gave herself a moment to appreciate what she had.
Despite everything that had happened, she was exactly where she wanted to be. Lexi had a place in the city, and one with a pretty killer view. And with any luck, she’d have a job before too long.
But she reminded herself that she couldn’t run from her past forever. It’d catch up with her eventually. She’d have to be ready.
Lexi put on the dress, which ended up fitting her quite well. Looking at herself in front of the mirror, she realized that it might’ve been a little much for an interview at a coffee shop.
Better to be overdressed than underdressed, she thought as she stepped into her shoes and started off.
“Remember to come right back,” said Jason from the couch, a laptop open on the table in front of him.
“I know, I know.”
With that, she stepped out and made her way downstairs and onto the city streets.
A big grin formed on her face once she was there. The city was everything that she’d imagined—bustling with excitement and crackling with an energy she’d never known before. Cars flew by, people zipped along the sidewalks, and the towers around her seemed to stretch up into infinity.
Plenty of time to take in the sights later. Right now, I’ve got a job interview to get to.
The idea of being in the city, having a place to go, a meeting to keep, made her even more enthusiastic. She hurried down the sidewalk, and as she did, she noticed that everyone else seemed to know what they were doing. They weaved around the other pedestrians, effortlessly getting where they needed to go.
A hard thud hit Lexi in the upper back, sending her a few steps forward.
“Hey, watch it!”
She looked up to see a young girl, no older than sixteen, glancing up at her from her phone, an annoyed expression on her face.
“Oh, sorry!” shouted Lexi, realizing that she’d gotten in someone’s way. But the girl, if she’d even noticed, didn’t seem to care.
But Lexi wasn’t perturbed. Instead, she vowed to learn how to move in the city, to be no different than anyone else that lived there.
She headed down the block, spotting the now-familiar front of the coffee shop. Before she could make the rest of the trip, however, a man ten or so feet down the sidewalk, tall and handsome and dressed in a suit, waved to get her attention.
“Excuse me!”
For a moment, Lexi wasn’t sure if he was talking to her. But he waved his hand again and smiled, approaching her like they were old friends.
“Excuse me,” he said again once he was in front of Lexi.
“Are you talking to me?”
“Yes,” he said. “Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could help me find my way.”
“You want me to help you?”
“If it’s not a problem. I mean, you clearly look like you know your way around.”
Lexi smiled, flattered by his comment. “Um, sure. But I’m kind of new in town, actually.”
He smiled right back. “No worries. If you don’t know, then you don’t know. But I’m looking for the Richardt Center. It’s supposed to be around here.”
She frowned, the name totally unknown to her. “Sorry, no idea.”
But he only smiled back. “That’s fine—I’ll ask around a little more. Thanks for your help all the same.”
“Sure!”
He gave her one last smile before sidling around her, vanishing into the crowd. And as she passed, Lexi caught the scent of something on the air.
It was the scent of a shifter.
It put her ill at ease, wondering if the man was one of her people. But she quickly pushed it out of her mind, hurrying the rest of the way to the coffee shop.
Once there, she stopped in front and took in the name—Blueprint Coffee. Another smile spread across her face and she steeled herself before heading in.
And when she came out an hour later, she felt more confident than ever. The interview with Madeline, the owner, had been more like a great conversation than anything else. Over the course of their time together, the two of them discussed books and music and movies, all the things that Lexi loved but had a hard time coming across out in the woods.
When they finished, Madeline happily offered Lexi the job, telling her to come in tomorrow morning to get started. Lexi felt like she was walking on air when she stepped out of Blueprint, like her new life, the one she’d always wanted to live, was finally starting.
Still on her high, Lexi glanced down the street in the direction of the
apartment.
OK, he said to come back ASAP. But there’s so much damn city to see! I doubt he’ll be too pissed if I take a little stroll—just around the block.
Lexi, coffee in hand, turned the next corner and headed down the road, basking in the city vibe all around her. She kept on, taking one turn then another then another.
And before too long, she was lost. She looked around, trying to see if she recognized anything she might be able to use to find her way back. But she realized, to her shock, that she was on a street totally devoid of people.
She was alone.
But not for long.
“Now,” said a familiar voice. “It’s you who looks like the lost one.”
From around the corner stepped the man in the suit she’d seen before, the one who’d asked her for directions.
And the shifter scent followed along with him.
“Who are you?” she asked. “What do you want?”
He grinned. But this grin wasn’t warm or friendly—it was cold and menacing.
“We want to get to know the new omega in town,” he said. “Find out what brings her to our fair city.”
“‘We?’”
“Yeah,” spoke a voice behind her. “Your new friends.”
She turned and gasped at what she saw—two tall men, dressed in jeans and sleeveless shirts, stepping toward her. The wore the same sinister smirks on their faces.
Lexi turned back to the first man.
“Now, you’re going to come with us. But you have the choice of whether you want to do this the easy way...”
“...Or the fun way,” spoke one of the other men.
The first man closed his eyes and shifted in the form of a powerful brown bear.
Then he locked his eyes on Lexi and rushed toward her.
All she could do was scream.
CHAPTER 13
LEXI
But he didn’t get far. Right at the moment the bear would’ve closed the distance between him and Lexi, another massive shape flew in from the corner of her vision.
It was another bear. It slammed into the first one hard, hard enough to send them both flying into the front of the nearby brick building, a thick crack sounding out as the new bear broke several of the first’s in the process.