Rescued by the Alpha

Chapter 1 My mother taught me the Golden rule to survive before I hit second grade. At the ripe age of seven, she taught me that the only way to protect myself was to keep a low profile, head down at all times and to avoid trouble by any means necessary. It was a good lesson mostly because the wrong sort of attention could get me killed. It shaped my life, it was the reason I had situated myself in this little corner of New York, unfortunately, trouble doesn't exactly consider our wishes now does it? “Hey, I'm here for the cupcakes” a voice rang out throughout the bakery, I paused in my work to sniff the air, letting out a loud groan a quick glance at the clock only served to confirm my suspicion. This customer should not be inside, it was way too early to even be regarded as opening time. “I'm sorry ma'am but the cupcakes are not ready. Perhaps you could leave a number. I'm sure we could reserve a few for you” my co-worker offered as I made my way in bearing the tray of freshly frosted cupcakes to see my least favourite person. Her eyes crinkled at the corners as he squinted at me. “Aunt Julienne nice to see you again” She grunted, placing a pudgy hand in front of her lips to shush him as she made a beeline for the counter, dismissing him immediately which was good, it would have been a disaster if she had continued to look at him with murder in her eyes. The surprised male stood behind her, watching her attentively. She took a big whiff of the display items then frowned, her gaze settling on me. “Serna you, best keep your pet in his place before he gets into trouble.” She said, crooked teeth fully bared in something that might have been considered a smile so I had no choice but to give her one in return. “Of course, there's your cupcakes and say hi to the kids for me” I said, handing a box over the counter she grabbed them immediately, tongue halfway between her lips in an expression of glee until her eyes met with Henry's. “Put your pet on a leash, omega” she said on her way out. Of course, Henry couldn't hear the little jab she had whispered under her breath, didn't understand why she kept calling him a pet either, he was only human after all. “She missed your name again, are you sure she's your aunt?” He asked moving with his task of wiping down the tables. I rolled my eyes. After that encounter, the day went well, quite unlike others. There were no screaming human females, no creepy looking males stalking students as they piled out of the college right across the street. It felt peaceful, the aroma of freshly baked pastries and coffee wafting in the air and the steady march of people on the sidewalk were soothing and I couldn't help but think what a beautiful day. All the pastries were gone before noon and I had to make another batch. It was then that she came in, as late as always. “I know, I know I'm late!” She said walking into the back room like her heels were on fire, I noted the flush on her cheek and the slight wobble in her steps as she donned her apron quickly with a raised eyebrow. If the bird's nest that her hair had become hadn't given her away, the large hickey on her neck would have. I sighed, turning to the oven. “You've got a little something” I said “ Really, where?” “ Your neck” “ Oh sorry about that” she apologised then went on. “ I know you want to say something and you won't so could you pass me a tray or ladle or something? “You said you were going to classes?” I asked “I did” “Didn't they end an hour ago?” “They did pass me that spoon, I wanna see what you're being so judgy about”. I turned around to search for it. “ Besides, I knew you would be fine until lunchtime, so don't look at me like that,” she continued. I sighed before handing her what she had requested. She took one look at the back of that spoon and realised how much of a mess she looked. “How was it?” Her eyes lit up and she turned to me. Hers was a look of pure satisfaction and perhaps a hint of guilt. She gave a long sigh as a smile crept on her face but just as she began to speak we heard a loud bang coming from the service area. “We want her to come serve us!” “Go take your business elsewhere Micheal, we don't want any trouble” we heard “ If you want someone to bully why not pick someone your size dutszo” luanne chipped in from behind me. “Watch your words, Luanne, this is between me and the omega. We wouldn't want you to lose your privileges now, would we?” He asked. At that moment I could see the fire in her eyes being dimmed but she wouldn't stop. I had to take care of him myself. I signaled her to go take care of her hair. “ What would you like Micheal?” I asked, watching the revolting grin spread on his face. For the first time, I could see why she nicknamed him Dutszo, after her pet pig. He died when we were 12. I wish I could just punch him in that railway nose of his. “It's good that you know your place, Serena. Perhaps you have more sense than that ditzy blonde of yours” “Go f**k yourself dutszo” She flipped him the bird and then sauntered on back casually, earning a chuckle from someone in his entourage. Henry took care of the other customers while I served them as quickly as I could, the presence of so many of my people in the cafe threatened to choke me. This was meant to be a safe space, my safe space except too recently it had become a meeting place for more and more werewolves. “ Will that be all, I have other things to do” “ You are here to serve, remember that filthy omega” he said while the rest of his entourage snickered. I placed the coffee cups before them, head bowed slightly while the chants went on in my head. Avoid eye contact at all costs. It rang on and on, drowning out the sound of his grating voice. Girl number one said something in his ear and he ran the tip of his tongue against his top lip. The gesture made my skin itch and my toes clench in disgust. The thought that the hot coffee would look so much better on his piggly face crossed my mind. “Will that be all Micheal?” I asked. He simply dismissed me with a wave of his hand, thoroughly occupied with entertaining the girls with tales of his epic bravery. Pfft as if he could do anything even measly courageous. As though he heard me, he stopped his discussion raking his eyes across my face, I could see the question in his eyes. What did you say, omega? I walked away quickly, scanning the cafe, taking note of the empty tables and the customers in need of my attention. I took a deep breath, savoring the tranquility of the cafe, my cafe. Now that I think about it , it was almost as though I could feel the chaos about to arrive. In a flash, Luanne walked past me on the way to serve a customer in her section bearing a tray of pastries. I caught sight of her smiling at a man while he just gaped at her, oh poor human, probably dazed by her beauty. Who wouldn't be? With those perfectly shaved legs that just went on for days? I found myself watching the interaction with a smile on my face until I felt it, the light tap on my shoulder. “Hey, you ok?” “ Yeah I'm fine, I'm sorry I was ——” “She's pretty I know, you should probably tell her about your feelings before its too late” “ Why — get away from me you little s**t”. I replied. Storming into the kitchen. “What's got her in a fit?” She asked, hot on my heels. Her shoes made that clicking noise that grated on my nerves. Ughh she knows how much I hate those shoes. “I asked her to confess her love for you” he replied, she scoffed at him, her bouncy blonde hair whipping to the side as she faced him. “Get a life, pervert and stop harassing her” To me she said “you have to stop letting him talk to you like that Serena.” I rolled my eyes at her words, she was the one more lenient with the 16 year old human. We barely exchanged words at the time. Mostly because I didn't know what to say to him other than work stuff, it had worked out so far. Ding ding the bell at the front door rang, interrupting the chatter that I had pushed to the back of my mind to signal the arrival of a new customer. Henry continued to top off the coffee machine with some more coffee grounds while Lu- Lu busied herself with checking her reflection at the back of a serving tray. I sighed why do I have to do all the work around here? “ Welcome to serenity, what would you like today?” “Uhmmm lemme see,” the stranger began, his hands folding leisurely along his chest while he squinted at the menu board above the counter. He swiped the tip of his tongue quickly across his upper lip before continuing. “I'll have two coffee, black, to go and do you have non diary options?” He asked, gesturing with his shoulder to the window. “My friend over there is allergic to moo juice” he said with a snicker. “We offer oat and almond milk” “Yeah gimme the first one and with some vanilla and a s**t ton of sugar and some doughnuts.” “Could you repeat that please?” “Just one pump of vanilla and some caramel please” I hear, his voice was smooth with a heavy timbre just like Lu-lu would like, too bad she'd given up the opportunity to serve him. “ I don't think our caramel is dairy free sir” I said, giving him a once over, he obviously isn't from around here, I sniffed. The smell of him almost singed my nose hairs, by God he smelled awful, they all did. They didn't smell human though, just off, incredibly off and I couldn't place a finger on it. “He can take it” his friend offered placing a hand on his shoulder. With a nod, I turn around to fill in their orders to the barister, that's when I catch her spying at me from a crack in the kitchen door, her gaze no doubt fixed on the oatmilk guy. Whoever heard of such a hot guy being allergic? I thought that was just for nerds. I could literally hear Lulu whisper in my ear. Humans, they're really funny and fragile like that, such a pity. Shortly after I return with their order and they pay, handing it over to them, oatmilk notices the tip jar beside me then proceeds to drop an entire 100 in it and leave without a second glance. I scramble to get my jaw off the floor. “ Wow that's a heavy tip,” Henry said standing where they had just left, no doubt he had seen it once he said that. “You must have really impressed them.” “No it was all me,” she began while adjusting the neckline of her white blouse “they just can't take their eyes off me, it's not my fault that I'm so irresistible” she said with a wink at Henry, he chuckled his eyes crinkling at the corners while they shone brightly. “ Ain't nobody looking at you Blondie.” “ Suit yourself, four eyes.” she huffed. I giggled behind my hand quickly before the both of them turned to me, then I was back to feigning disinterest. They didn't need me to encourage their banter. After that there weren't any new customers, just constant refills on the tables, Micheal and his posey continued to chat loudly in the corner while they waited on a friend and soon enough, he did arrive. Joel walked into the room like a breath of fresh air, his auburn hair slightly dancing in the autumn breeze that swept in through the open door. His hazel eyes scanned the room quickly, taking note of the people present, it was expected, especially with him being the alphas son and all that. Every member of the pack present gave him a slight nod, our way of showing obeisance despite the presence of humans. He walked over to his friends, passing by me and I got a good whiff of him. He smelled of oak and leather, I took it in willing my lungs to cradle it in their embrace for as long as they could but now he smelled different. Almost sweet in its undertone and it was delicious. Something in me perked up, rearing its head at the smell of him, it was unfamiliar yet I felt no alarm, only curiosity, it felt for the scent tentatively then disappeared. I hoped it meant what I was thinking. Turning back to see him one more time, I found him head c****d to the side, watching me. He sniffed at the air as his eyes raked over me and then I felt it. Like the snap of a tightly strung rope, the bond slid into place. It tugged at the recesses of my heart. I gasped and my tray dropped from my hands. No it couldn't be, could it? Dare I dream? “ Mate?” He whispered but to my enhanced hearing, he may as well have shouted it across the room, the pack members hushed. Their attention focused on us. Micheal, reading the situation motioned to his girls and they stood to leave, at the back of my mind it registered that they were going to leave without paying for their coffee but I didn't care, all I saw felt and could think of in that moment was him. My mate, standing right before me. How fortunate was I to be so beloved of the goddess that she would give me a mate? I thought. I wasn't alone in my astonished state, Lulu stood behind me gaping at the scene before her. “Are you ok Serena?”Henry asked, having taken my tray off the floor, his hand raked across my jeans to figure out what was wrong. “I'm okay Henry.” My mate snarled, that must have woken my friend from the trance she had fallen into. “Excuse us” she muttered then quickly ushered me away from him. “Henry, clean that up!” She ordered. The funny thing is, I didn't notice the coffee and cupcakes I had spilled on the floor. As soon as we got to the kitchen she grabbed me by the shoulders and shook until my teeth chattered. “Why the hell were you looking the alpha's son in the eye Rena, you got a deathwish or something? And you spilled coffee on his shoes.” “Did I? I didn't notice” “You just stood there watching him like a gaping fish.What the f**k is wrong with you?” She asked. “Joel is my mate.” Trust me, I couldn't believe my own ears when I said that.