Owned By The Riders Of The North.

Chapter 1 - Welcome Back

Two Months Later.

° Alexandria's POV °

Life had a funny way of forcing you to keep moving, even when your mind wanted to stand still. Bills still had to be paid. Coffee still had to be brewed. Customers still wanted their caramel lattes with extra whipped cream and their iced americanos with exactly three pumps of vanilla.

The world didn't pause because yours had.

Mine certainly hadn't.

The tiny bell above the café door chimed for what felt like the hundredth time that morning.

"Morning!" I greeted automatically, forcing a smile that had become second nature.

The elderly woman who walked in smiled back.

"The usual, dear."

"You got it."

I grabbed a paper cup, reached for the espresso machine, and listened to its familiar hiss as it steamed fresh milk.

The aroma of roasted coffee beans wrapped around me like an old blanket. Rich. Warm. Comforting.

I loved this place.

Or maybe I loved what it represented.

Normal.

Safe.

Predictable.

Working at Denny's Café wasn't glamorous, but it paid well enough, and my boss trusted me enough to let me open the shop most mornings and close it most nights.

The café itself wasn't large.

Exposed brick walls.

Wooden tables.

Plants hanging from the ceiling.

Shelves stacked with books customers could read while sipping coffee.

It was cozy.

The kind of place where students camped out for hours pretending to study while gossiping with friends.

Where writers stared dramatically out the windows.

Where couples shared muffins and whispered to each other like no one else existed.

And where I spent almost every waking hour.

I wiped down the counter before calling another order.

"Large mocha for Daniel!"

A young man stepped forward with a grateful smile.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

The line slowly disappeared, leaving the café unusually quiet.

I glanced toward the large windows overlooking the street.

People hurried past carrying shopping bags.

Cars crawled through traffic.

Someone laughed outside.

Another perfectly ordinary day.

Exactly how I liked it.

"Alex!"

I looked up.

Martha, the owner, poked her head out of the kitchen.

"Can you grab another box of coffee beans from storage?"

"Sure."

The storage room was tiny.

Barely enough room for shelves filled with syrups, cups, beans, and cleaning supplies.

I lifted one of the heavier boxes onto my shoulder before carrying it back out.

"You really should let me do that."

I laughed.

"And let you complain about your back again?"

She narrowed her eyes playfully.

"Smart mouth."

"I learned from the best."

She rolled her eyes.

"Go refill the grinder."

"Yes, boss."

I spent the next hour restocking shelves, cleaning tables, taking orders, and chatting with regular customers.

It was repetitive.

Comfortably so.

There wasn't much excitement in my life anymore.

Wake up.

Work.

Go home.

Eat.

Sleep.

Repeat.

Honestly?

I didn't mind.

Excitement usually came with problems.

I'd had enough of those.

The lunch rush came and went before I finally had a moment to breathe.

I leaned against the counter, sipping an iced coffee I'd made for myself.

The bell chimed again.

This time, I didn't even look up.

"Welcome to Denny's—"

"I leave for one week and that's the greeting I get?"

My head snapped up.

"Kai!"

A grin spread across my face before I could stop it.

My older brother stood in the doorway wearing dark jeans, a black hoodie, and base ball cap resting on top of his head.

He looked exactly the same.

Maybe a little more tired.

Maybe slightly tanner.

But still unmistakably Elion Kai Bennett.

I hurried around the counter.

"You i***t!"

He laughed just before I threw my arms around him.

"Easy there."

"I missed you."

"I missed you too, dumbass."

"I am not a dumbass"

"You'll always be my little sister."

I groaned.

"I hate when you say that."

"And yet here we are."

He hugged me tighter before finally letting go.

"You've gotten stronger."

"I carry fifty-pound coffee bean boxes now."

"I can tell."

I folded my arms.

"When did you get back?"

"This morning."

"And you came straight here?"

"Mom would've killed me if I didn't check on you first."

I smiled despite myself.

"Sounds like her."

He glanced around the café.

"It's nice."

"You've never been?"

"I've seen pictures."

"But?"

"But pictures don't smell like coffee."

I laughed.

"Fair point."

Martha walked over with a knowing smile.

"So this is the famous brother."

Kai offered his hand.

"Elion."

"Martha."

This was about to go haywire.