Chapter 2

Oliver’s POV:

 Looking out the window, I noticed a woman across the street; she must be the new owner of the shop. A man was there yesterday. He had talked to the realtor a few weeks prior, and I noticed he was bringing in a lot of product.

 “Oliver, what are you doing?” Micah came over to the window and stood next to me. “Ah, another business to compete with… She’s got a nice body, though.” 

 “Yeah, another one out of your league,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Something about her though. Something special. Besides, you have a mate.” I said, walking away from the window.

 “And you don’t, so why don’t you go and introduce yourself? Hell, she might even be yours,” he said, egging me on. “You should have some fun while you can. She’s new in town, and before she has men lined up around the block for her, you better make your move. Otherwise, someone else is going to make you look stupid.”

 “I don’t have a mate. That ship has sailed. I don’t want one now.” I growled, sitting down behind the desk. “Besides, we have issues to work out like Detective Marks, in case you’d forgotten.”

 “The vampires are the least of my worries. The last time I checked, he’s fishing for nothing,” Micah said, rolling his eyes. “Besides what is he going to do?”

 “Take this business down and put us out there against the Council again. I don’t want the shit show again. Micah, I finally have the pack relaxed. We finally have our land back.”

 “And we’ll keep it this time. Detective Marks has nothing on us. We have this covered this time. Besides, you need a vacation. Go across the street, check the girl out, and invite her to have coffee. Get laid.” 

 “Yeah, werewolf gone wild with human,” I said, rolling my eyes. “She and I are in different worlds, Micah. We cannot do this,” I said, getting up and leaving him in the office. I needed to take a walk.

 Pushing the door open, I felt the cool breeze on my face. I glanced over. She was outside again, leaning against the wall with her eyes closed. As I got closer to her, I saw she was more beautiful than I thought she was. I wanted to walk across the street and strike up a conversation but decided to keep walking.

 “Oliver Stone, so nice to see you walking,” Detective Marks said with a growl.

 Looking over at the Detective, I really didn’t want any of his bullshit. I already had enough on my mind and now he was standing in front of me. What else could go wrong for me today? “What can I do for you, Marks?” I growled. “Last I heard, this is a free fucking country.”

 Detective Marks looked at me. Something about him was off. I wasn’t sure if it was because he was out close to dark or because he was on a mission, and I caught him off-guard by being on the street when normally I stayed inside. “I didn’t think you’d be out. Why are you wandering around?” he said, narrowing his eyes.

 “Window shopping,” I said. “Last I heard, vampires don’t like the sun?”

 “Sun has set,” Marks snapped. “Doesn’t your coffee shop close soon?” Marks asked, walking around me. “I see you have some competition,” he said, looking at the girl locking up her shop, getting into her car, and driving away.

 “Don’t bother her, Marks. I’m sure she isn’t going to be trouble,” I said, looking at him. “Besides, I’m sure she’s not going to be around long enough to make much money,” I said, turning to walk back to the coffee shop. “Be warned, though. Vampires often turn up dead.”

 “Be warned yourself, Stone. We hunt in packs, and humans go missing all the time. She does look tasty,” he said, licking his lips. I wanted to break his neck right then and there but maintained control.

 I wanted to turn around and kill him, but I knew we couldn’t act like that. I needed to get a couple of people to watch over the girl regardless of whether he would do anything to her. I didn’t know her.

 “Well?” Micah asked as I came back into the shop.

 “Well, what?” I snapped.

 “What did that damn vampire want?” Micah asked, walking back to the office with me. I wasn’t in the mood to discuss it him, but he needed to know my plan.

 “He threatened the girl across the street. I am sending a couple of warriors to protect her,” I said, sitting down.

 “You’re sending warriors to protect a human?” Micah growled. “Why? You didn’t want to go and speak with the girl; we cannot spare our warriors to protect a human unless there is something more to this,” he said, slamming his hands down on the desk. “Tell me, Oliver. Why the fuck are you protecting her?”

 “Because I fucking want to. Shut the fuck up about it; I’m Alpha!” I growled, using my Alpha tone.

 “Fine.” Micah rolled his eyes. “I will get Jake and Ryan here, and we will figure out where she lives. You will ensure they are safe too,” he said, walking out of the office. I could hear him complaining.

 I sat back in my chair; I knew I was taking a chance with protecting her. But there was something about her that made me want to protect her. Something I couldn’t place. I needed to get closer to her; maybe after she opened her shop up,I would pay a visit and talk to her. Maybe that would give me a good enough reason to figure out what this feeling I felt was. 

 My wolf was even going crazy; he couldn’t give me a reason either. We both were in the dark as to why there was this sudden pull when I first laid eyes on her. 

 Walking back to the window, I stared at her shop. I decided since she wasn’t there, I would go over, look into the window, and see what she was selling since she didn’t have a sign yet.

 “Where are you going, Oliver?” Micah called.

 “Across the street and then we should head to the pack house before it gets too late,” I said before walking out of the shop.

 Crossing the street and going up to the window, I was surprised she had the place finished and set up. 

 “Tea?” I said out loud. “She is an interesting human.”

 “She sells tea?” Micah said, coming up behind me.

 “Looks like it,” I said, turning to face him. “We better help her out.”

 “How are we going to help her out, Oliver?” he asked with an eyebrow raised.

“Ensure she has the customers, for one,” I said, rolling my eyes. 

 “But that is cheating, Oliver, and you know that,” he said, crossing his arms. “Come on. Let’s get our store closed up. You know the bloodsuckers are going to be coming out, and we don’t want any more issues with them,” he said, leaving me standing there.

 He was right; I couldn’t help her out like that. I had to let her get her own business, but I felt I had to help her somehow. I knew the people in the area, and there were some people that liked tea. I would take tea off the menu and recommend her shop—that would get her some business.

 Glancing at her store one more time, I jogged across the street to catch up to Micah. He smiled. I knew he was telling me to make myself known to her, but I wasn’t ready for the introduction yet. Soon, but not yet. I needed to keep my distance in case Marks was serious about his threat. I hoped he stayed away from her. If he didn’t, then he would force me to introduce myself to her.

 We finished closing down the store and headed to the pack house. I needed to meet with the two warriors that I would send to protect her. They needed to know to keep their distance and make sure Marks didn’t know they were protecting her.

 There was a knock on my office door. “Come in,” I said. Jack and Ryan came into the office and sat down.

 “Micah said you wanted to see us? Something about a special assignment?” Jack asked.

 “Yeah, there is a human girl I need you two to protect. The vampires have their eyes on her. something about her is special,” I said. “Tomorrow, when we open, you two are to come with us, hang out, and follow her home. You will follow her and protect her, but you will need to stay out of sight.”

 “Understood,” Jack said. “Anything else?”

“You will take shifts of twenty-four hours. That way one of you will be here and can keep me posted and the other with her,” I said, looking away from them. “At least until I know more about her. That is all.”