by Penny Bloom
Then he upgraded to flowers and chocolates.
Okay, I was getting the message. It was like Loris said, he liked me. A lot.
But I wasn't in the market for mating. My mind was focused on me.
There were soft knocks at my door. I smelled Dirk's scent leach in through the door and I told him to come in.
He stepped inside, staying by the door and smiled.
Despite his white hair, I knew he wasn't that old. He was probably in his thirties. Mid to early thirties.
"What do you want?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light.
"Are you ready for work?"
I perked up. Finally. "Yes!" I said, sitting up.
My room was mid sized and had a sitting area I utilized daily to catch up on some books I wanted to read.
"Good. Here, take this and put it on."
"What is it? Lingerie?" I teased.
He growled, "I can arrange that."
"It wouldn't be for you, silly," I said, taking the box.
Fuck, I flirted with him. Where the hell did that come from?
"Come down to the main corridor when you're done."
He left the room and took the heady scent of testosterone behind him.
My breathing grew ragged. Damn it, why hadn't I requested some heat meds? Loris would've gotten that for me.
I opened the box and the stash of money I had in my pockets fell out. There was also a uniform inside.
The inside of the lid said in gold velvet, 'Cafe Gun'.
Huh, Gunner town, Gunther pack, Cafe Gun, I saw where this was going.
They were building a little brand. Faintly, I could recall the name Cafe Gun. It was probably in those tattered magazines Bartley would toss my way.
I've always wanted to bake.
This was a step towards a dream and freedom, so I threw on my uniform, looked at myself in the mirror and jogged down to the main corridor.
At the top of the marble steps, I looked down to see Dirk and a crowd of seven Omegas.
Loris was in that crowd too as well as the girl I saw in the hallway.
Dirk turned and saw me on the stairs. His mouth dropped.
I guess so, I made sure that I was well groomed and proper.
There was some sort of echo inside me about maintaining a proper appearance.
I walked down the steps and met with the crowd of Omegas and Betas.
"This is our newest employee, Abel Priest. He's an Omega much like some of you and he'll be learning his way around the cafe."
Loris had a pet rabbit in his hands. He bent down and let it hop out of his arms. "See ya, buddy. Go have some fun!"
It hopped over to me and rubbed my ankle like a cat and hopped off.
Cute.
That was it! that scent from him was a rabbit smell. So that was his shifter.
Interesting.
"Let's go," Dirk said, waving his hand. I followed the group out to a bus with the words Cafe Gun on it.
This was their shuttle, huh?
"Adel, you'll be riding with me," Dirk said, placing his hand on my shoulder.
Chapter Four
Dirk
He looked delicious in that uniform.
I had to hold myself back from letting loose and claiming him. Why didn't he just bend his head to the side and offer me his neck already?
Damn it, this patience game was getting on my nerves. Loris tried to give me some advice, but it's all just giving me the case of blue balls.
If only I could sink my fangs into him so he knew he was mine and that he'd be cared for.
This was driving me insane. My fated mate was here right next to me and there was nothing I could do to make this move faster.
"Why am I driving with you?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Because I said so. Come. You'll be fine." I swung my keys around on my finger. I've never had anyone question me as much as Adel had. But I understood, from those bruises and welts on his body… No! I had to shake that thought before I got angry again.
I opened the passenger side of the car door and crushed the door handle.
"What the hell?! Are you okay?" Adel asked backing up.
"Yes, I'm fine." I said.
What a lie.
He moved his lips to the side. Shit, he didn't believe me.
I grunted. "What? Get in, I won't harm you."
"Like you harmed your door handle?"
"It's aluminum."
He threw his hands on his hips and shook his head. "No one goes around crushing aluminum door handles with their bare hands like it's a regular thing to do. What's wrong? If you don't tell me I'm not getting in the car."
I slammed the door shut. "I want to know who harmed you!" I said, walking up to him and grabbing him by the torso. He kneed me in the dick and I looked down.
"Was that supposed to hurt?" I asked.
Adel's face turned red, and he went around me, and got into the car, slamming the door shut.
Funny, he thought he could successfully knee me in the balls so I could double down in pain. Hah. I wasn't an Alpha for no reason. My cock was as strong as titanium and steel combined. This thing could chisel into stone and slice diamonds in the right conditions.
And with Adel around, those conditions were damn close.
I got into the car, laughing my eyes out.
Adel kept his eyes out the window, avoiding me at all costs.
I drove us to the cafe and caught up to the bus.
"I'm going to park around back, but originally you'd be getting off here in the bus. Okay?"
He didn't say a word. Instead he opened the door and got out. "Hey, I didn't say you could leave yet."
He stopped. "Stop trying to be so nice to me. I don't want your kindness or concern. It's best if you just have as little to do with me as you can."
He went inside.
He wasn't going to be able to get away from me with that statement. That made me only want to find out even more what was going on. His abuser was going to be on the top of my fucking hit list.
I parked my car around back and went in through the back door where the kitchen was. All my workers were busy getting the cafe ready so we could open on time. We opened at ten and customers were already beginning to stand in line.
The smell of fresh roasted coffee beans, baking pastries, and hot chocolate filled the air.
I wasn't much of a sugar eater, but this was something that took my interest. And it was something the Omegas loved to do. So if I made money, and they were happy while helping me make money, then they'd get paid and everyone was happy.
I ran a tight shift, but for the most part everyone was pretty compliant.
But since Adel was new and had a strong scent, I'd have to watch him carefully. Because around here? The Alphas came around only to stare and drool at my heard of Omegas and some of the Betas.
That and it was approaching heat season. Only one Alpha was going to touch Adel, and that was yours truly.
The cafe opened soon after and Loris was busy teaching Adel what he had to do.
Adel had an affinity for baking since I noticed he took to that very well. He even whipped together a recipe I never heard of, creating these strawberry lemon poppy seed muffins.
But then the 'other' customers started piling in. This was when I had to perch myself out in the front and glare at every Alpha that walked through the door.
Adel got used to serving some of the customers teas and slices of cakes and started walking around and making sure that people were taken care of.
It looked good on him. His patience and calm demeanor shined through like a ray of sun through the clouds.
He dodged the Alphas, but soon enough the shop was predominantly Alpha and he had no choice but to take their orders.
He gritted and showed some attitude, but the Alphas were far too enamored with the new blood to care. Plus, there was something about stubborn Omegas that would make an Alpha tick.
He took out their orders and dumped the
m on the table without the finesse he showed the other customers.
I chuckled and sipped some coffee. When it wasn't me he was being snappy with, it was amusing.
When the Alphas finished their coffees and pastries, I started counting down. Unless they ordered another item, I was going to shove them out the door.
I knew why they were here.
"Hey, Alpha Gunther, you're still here," Loris pointed out. "Yes, I am. Just making sure Adel is okay."
Loris chuckled and rolled his eyes. "You are, are you? I know why you're still here. You think one of these Alpha's will run away with him, huh?"
"That's not funny," I mumbled.
Loris laughed away. Adel glanced over to me and returned to his business. The Alphas tipped him hard, stuffing him with twenties and fifties. He looked at the money in awe and a devious smile grew across his face.
Oh no. He was going to start leveraging his looks. No.
If he were to start flirting back with these worthless fleshbags of an Alpha, I'd ban all Alphas from entering my store.
I gnashed my teeth and Loris patted my shoulder. "Alpha Gunther, I can see you're visibly upset, you might want to tone down the testosterones."
Loris was right. I took my coffee and risked going back into the kitchen. Truth was, I had a lot to do today, but was far too nervous to leave my beautiful mate alone with a town full of rich Alphas.
I was the richest. But damn it, I didn't want to leave him alone for a second.
I didn't even want him working. He should've just let me spoil him. But no, he had to be one of those independent types.
Hmph.
I chewed on one of his fresh batches of muffins. Perfect. All I had to do was mention that Adel made this recipe up and baked him with his own loving hands and then every Alpha in the town would come racing over here to buy them out.
...
Nope. I took them and stashed them in the fridge for myself. They were mine.
Adel came into the back looking for his muffins and saw me with the tray in my hands.
"What're you doing with those?"
I looked around. "Um."
"Um my ass. Bring those back. Those aren't for you!"
"Oh? Who are they for?" I asked, grinning. Maybe I could charm him out of his muffins.
"The customers. Especially those nasty little Alphas such as yourself who want to hog them all to themselves," he said.
Damn it. Not only did my charm fail, but he knew that those Alphas wanted his stuff as well.
"What makes you think I'll allow you to sell these?" I said, frowning. I sat down the tray of muffins. "This is my cafe."
"True. But who said I had to sell them? After all, I get enough tips to give them away for free."
He walked up to the tray of muffins and wiped one on his neck. Damn it, he was mocking me.
He rubbed his scent and pheromones all over the muffin like fucking icing. I growled and pulled him over to me.
"You think it's wise to tempt me? To tease me?"
He purred, "What're you gonna do about it? Can't help yourself can you, Alpha?"
I saw what he was doing, and as painful as it was, I wasn't going to fall for it.
I released him and backed up. I had resistance.
I had to show him that too. This Omega was going to be the one I earned. And if I could earn him, then I knew without the shadow of a doubt that he'd stay and be mine forever.
Eternal mates.
I licked my lips. His scent was almost edible. Loris and Triela walked into the back.
"Oh, ew. Don't go doing dirty stuff back here," Triela said, grinning like a tiger.
"Triela, get your mind out of the gutter," I scolded. "You're much too young to speak like that."
She rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth. "Whatever."
Adel walked away with his tray of muffins. "Don't worry Triela, I'm not interested in your big brother anyways."
"Sure," she said, smiling. Those two were snarky with each other, but it wasn't a mean kind of snark.
They actually liked being snarky like that with each other.
I scratched my head and leaned on the tall metal freezer we had in the back.
Loris came up to me. "Make any progress?" he whispered.
"No," I said, hanging my head down low.
Here I was, an Alpha full of muscles and brawn, and I couldn't get my mate to let loose and let me bite him.
"Don't worry. I know his type. I think he already likes you," Loris said with his usual brilliant smile.
"What?" This was news.
"Yeah, he's totally a tsundere."
I blinked. "What's that?"
"When someone who acts all snarky and mean around you, but they actually like you."
I sighed. "I want more than like."
"Don't worry." Loris placed some dirty dishes in the dishwasher. "Oh, by the way!" he said, popping back up from the dishwasher. "I wanted to ask. And I hope you don't mind."
"What is it, Loris?"
"Is he… is Adel your fated mate?!"
He had his hands clasped together, waiting for an answer.
He was a sucker for romance. But then again, I was too now.
"Yes. He is."
He sighed and closed his eyes. "I love when I hear about fated mates meeting up together. It's a wonderful thing. I couldn't think of anyone else worthy enough for such a thing."
"You are too, Loris."
"Pfft, don't think about me, I'm happy the way I am. Well, I better go back out there. See ya! Go handle some manly Alpha business!"
"Fine, but I'm taking another look out there to make sure that--" I walked to the door and opened it to look out into the main area of the cafe.
There were a thousand fucking Alphas all bunched up together ordering from Adel!
Loris looked and slowly looked up at me. I was fuming. How dare they! They were stuffing him with tips before they even got their food.
One stuffed a round roll of bills in his back pocket and I snapped.
"Oh no!" Loris cried as I flew over the counter to strangle that Alpha who touched my mate. Adel dodged out the way and the rest of the Alphas ran out of the store, cowering from my rage.
The Alpha touching my mate tried to swing at me, but I gave him an upper cut and caught him by the neck.
"Dirk! Stop!" Adel yelled, pulling on my shoulder.
All I could see was white before he pulled on me, begging me to stop.
The Alpha below me was bloodied, but had this stupid smirk on his face. I bitch slapped him and dropped him to the ground.
Adel backed up and looked at me. I couldn't make out the look in his eyes.
Everyone stopped. You could hear a piece of dust hit the floor.
Chapter Five
Adel
Shit, he just beat the hell out of an Alpha.
Not that I minded. He did try to cop a feel of my ass.
Flashbacks of Bartley grabbing my ass ripped through my memory and I faltered.
"Adel, speak to me," Dirk said, inching over to me.
Loris was over in the corner biting a napkin.
I stormed out of the cafe. What was I causing? Why did I feel this… this excitement well up inside me?
Dirk just smashed someone in the face on my behalf. That made me feel ways I shouldn't have felt.
Dirk chased after me, keeping his distance.
"Adel, I'm sorry. I didn't want those Alphas touching up on you like that."
I stopped and whipped around. "So you just… I don't understand. Why would you do that? Why do you care what they do to me?" I asked, balling my fists.
We were causing a scene, and people were now staring. But Dirk kept his cool and before I knew it, he was up on me. His scent was putting me at ease, but I still wanted—no—needed to argue.
Where was that rebellion of mine?
"Because, you are my mate. I smelled you a mile away, and when I saw you in the rain like that, bruised and broken, I wanted to hurt th
e person who did that to you. But you won't tell me so I have to find other things to smash."
The truth was so thick in his voice that it reached down into the deepest parts of my heart and put cracks all around the wall that guarded it.
No, I was losing control!
He took my hand and walked me to his car.
"I'll take you home. I need you to rest."
I stopped and pulled on my hand. "No, you just don't want any more Alphas that aren't Gunthers near me."
"Yes, that too."
His honesty was weird, but refreshing. Fated mate, huh?
Weird, I've heard of that urban legend before. Never met anyone who said they found their fated mate until now.
But there was still something undeniable about his scent. How it soothed me and put me at ease, how it made me feel safe.
I thought it was the lack of bondage. But now I had begun to fall for it.
Things were taking a dangerous turn. Dirk pulled me in and kissed me. I hopped up onto his tall muscular body and wrapped my legs around him. Our mouths fought for different angles and dominance. He was rough and tender at the same time, dominating and gentle all at once.
A flood of emotions I never experienced sparked all throughout my body. This new feeling was what it was like to be free.
My hands roamed his chest and his arms. We disappeared into an alley and Dirk ripped his shirt off. Damn, that chest.
"What's with all the cuts?" I breathed, my voice raspy from wanting more kisses.
"Fights. Now come here, you." He grabbed the back of my head and we smashed into another ravenous kiss. Our tongues bumped into each other, teeth clacked around. Dirk trailed his expert kisses down my neck and something weird happened.
The need to lean my head to the right pulled at my gut.
It scared me, this sudden urge.
I pushed Dirk away and caught my breath.
"What was that?" I asked him.
"What?" Dirk asked, a worried look on his face.
"That feeling. It was so strong."
I rubbed my neck and his eyes widened, realizing what I was talking about.
"You wanted to let me bite you on the neck, didn't you?"
I whimpered, "Is that normal?"
"Yes, Adel. You're my mate. That's your instincts telling you that you can trust me."