Entangled with the Alpha Brothers.

THE MAN AT TABLE FOUR.

~AMANDA~

“What did you just say?” I had to ask again. I was too shocked to move. It was the last thing I had expected. He looked complicated, like he had the words but simply couldn’t use them.

“I…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said all those words to you. I didn’t want to, but I wouldn’t let my selfishness doom you to be with three Alphas. They don’t love you, Amanda. And they never will. I want you back. Even if I end up with my mate, I’ll always take care of you, Amanda. You don’t have to suffer this way...”

I folded my arms and smiled. “Are you done?”

“Aman—”

“Now listen to me,” I snapped. “The next time I see you and your rotten legs close to my house again, I’ll make sure you never use that tiny d**k of yours ever again. If you don’t believe me, try it.”

I turned a deaf ear to whatever he said next and went inside. The moment I slammed the door, I rested against it and panted hard. I could barely breathe while I was speaking to him.

I hated how my heart decided on its own to waver whenever Long was near.

“That was impressive,” Soir appeared. He was dressed in a well-tailored suit, his hair neatly done and his cologne filled my lungs. The presence was so strong, I totally forgot about Long.

I straightened up, composed. “Are you spying on me?”

He smirked and adjusted his cuff links. “What do you have for me to spy on?” He closed in on me. “I don’t know what your plan is but I will find out Amanda. You can fool others but you can’t fool me.” His brown eyes settled on my lips…again.

We were against the door, my heart slamming against my rib cage. I forced myself to breathe, told myself how much I hated him and just wanted to…his lips…everywhere was suddenly so hot.

He leaned closer. His breath mists my face…then…my body moves on its own.

My lips touched his lightly. He didn’t move away, but he was holding back. I hated the bond, I hated how much I want his hands all over my body right now…how—

He kissed me back, pushing me against the door. He pulled away as violently as he clashed into me then wiped his lips.

“b***h!” He muttered before shoving me to the side and stepping out of the house angrily.

Where was he going, dressed up at this time of the day?

I couldn’t sleep through the night. At the same time, I couldn’t bring myself to face any of them.

I barely slept for four hours and when I woke, it was to the aroma of Coir cooking. And if Coir was cooking, that meant it was past 6 AM. I was more than excited to go back to work. I’m still the only place where I don’t have to think about three dangerous beings under the same roof as me.

By the time I went down the stairs, I was ready for work and tried my best to avoid Coir but that ended badly. I walked right into him…shirtless.

“Morning Princess.”

I gulped and looked away. “Morning, Alpha Coir.”

He frowned. “It’s Coir. We’re like…you’re my mate but you are like my sister. Be free with me. Your food is by the counter. I knew you would be up early.”

“Thank you, Coir.”

He’s been nice to me. Just before he left, I stopped him. “Coir?”

He turned around and raised his brows with a smile. “I would love to help you out with the meals. I should be the one cooking but since you’re already doing it, I’d like to help. You know I work at a restaurant.”

His eyes bloomed. “I’d really love your company.”

***

Back at work, Priya was already at work. She welcomed me with a smile and a hug. She’d decided from the very first day that I was her friend without consulting me first. At first, I didn’t want her acquaintance.

I was always cautious of the people around me, most of them are only around to hear things they would keep to use against you later.

“You’re early,” she said.

“Later than you.”

My day went smoothly, I loved my work and Priya made it ten times super easy. Around noon, a customer came in. The moment he walked in, I knew he was the one. I’d begun to notice him subconsciously. He always came in at the same time, looking corporate and organised. He always sat by the transparent wall on the far end of the restaurant.

He picked up the menu out of habit as if he wasn’t going to order the same thing he always ordered.

“Table four, plain white and a hamburger. He says thank you twice. Once when you take his order and second when you give his orders.”

I nodded to Priya’s instructions. The man did just as she had said and thanked me twice. When I turned to leave, he called me back.

“You look like you are dealing with a lot of unwanted things,” he said.

“I am.”

“Want to tell me about it?”

I looked at him for a while. A total stranger, randomly asking me for personal information…

“No.”

He nodded once and went back to what he was reading. “That’s alright.” He agreed like both answers made no difference. “Tomorrow then, same time, same order.”

I turned away and went back to work although it was quite unsettling.

“So…” Priya appeared very enthusiastic. “What was going on over there?”

I rolled my eyes. “I was serving.”

“You were there for a minute longer than you should…he has great taste.”

I ignored Priya and went back to work. My shift ended early. I couldn’t stop thinking about him on my way home. I told myself it was nothing. He was a customer and he was human.

I was still telling myself this when I turned onto our street.

I saw Soir first. He was on the other side of the road, moving in the opposite direction, clearly coming back from somewhere I hadn’t known he’d gone. His eyes went to the cafe window I’d just left behind, then to me.

I remembered the kiss last night, and how he’d called me a b***h after. Something moved through his jaw. It W’s quick and controlled. Then gone before I could read it fully.

He kept walking and said nothing. I went inside and made tea I didn’t drink. Something was missing…Noir. I haven’t seen Noir in a while and we were under the same roof.

I was almost asleep on the couch when I heard it, a soft sound at the door. It could have been anything, the building settling, the wind, my own imagination but ige learnt over the years to be more cautious and this was the particular sound of paper sliding across a floor.

I was still for a moment, then got up. The envelope was at the bottom of the door, plain white with no name. I opened it.

It was a single photograph of me at table four. The customer across from me, mid-sentence. And my face, open and unguarded, caught in the exact moment I let out a smile after he thanked me.

Someone had been outside the cafe window today. Someone with a camera and a reason for wanting this exact image. Whoever it was knew where I was. What u looked like smiling and where I slept. I turned the photograph over slowly.

The back was blank. No message, no threat, no explanation. Just the photograph, proof that someone had been watching.

And the cold, certain understanding that whoever it was, they wanted me to know.