Page 5 of Broken Chains

“Jesus, Smith, I’ve seen the ladies swoon over you before, but never actually faint from it,” Jerry said. He was the normal stock boy that I was used to working with and I recognized his voice without even seeing him.

I groaned as Smith shoved him to the side.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

I tried to sit up on my own, but strong, warm arms wrapped around my shoulders to support me. I sighed again. I could get lost in those arms. That’s when reality hit me. I was at Powell’s Grocery, on the floor, swooning over—my mate! I gulped hard and my eyes flew to meet his. I saw confusion there and nothing more. Maybe I’d hit my head harder than I thought.

I could hear the sounds of sirens in the distance.

“Shit!” I cursed, jumping up with new found adrenaline. “I don’t have time for this, I need to go. Please call off the ambulance, Mr. Powell. I’m fine. I didn’t mean to cause any drama,” I said, blushing furiously.

“I really think they should check you out, Peyton. I don’t want to risk a lawsuit if anything happens to you.”

“There won’t be. I swear.”

I looked to the stranger, begging him with my eyes to help me.

“She looks fine to me. Jerry, help me get her things. I think she’s just stressed to get back and get to work,” Smith said.

Ignoring Mr. Powell’s protests, he packed up my things and he and Jerry walked back out to my car. They insisted I just sit while they loaded my groceries for me.

Smith hesitated only for a second.

“Are you sure you’re okay to drive?” he asked before letting me go.

I looked into his sea green eyes one last time, feeling embarrassed by what had occurred. A slight blush tinted my cheeks. “I’m fine. I promise. Thanks for your help back there.”

He gave me a wicked grin. “Any time. Get on out of here, I gotta go deal with my boss.”

I cringed. “Good luck.”

Oliver

Chapter 4

I stood there watching her pull away and felt like a part of my heart was torn out and sent with her. What the hell?

Peyton. I’d never seen anyone so beautiful in person. It had been like some weird otherworldly experience. My wolf had gotten excited and when she’d fallen, I thought I was going to lose it and shift in front of everyone.

Wrapping my arms around her had calmed my wolf and stopped my transformation, but it had shaken me to my very core. And when she looked up at me with eyes the shade of honey, and a sly smile on her lips, it had taken everything in my power not to lean down and kiss her.

The urge to follow her home just to make sure she got there safe was overwhelming. I had loved Melina once, or thought I had at least, but I had never felt even half for her that I had instantly felt for this complete stranger.

I took a couple calming breaths and forced myself to turn away and walk back into the store. Mr. Powell was in an uproar that I’d let her go and when the paramedics finally arrived, he had to explain to them that the girl had chosen to leave on her own.

I went back to work in the meantime, but the second they left, Mr. Powell called me into his office.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Do you have any idea what you did? I told you to leave her be, the paramedics were on their way.”

“She asked me to help her, said she didn’t need the ambulance,” I argued, not adding that she was freaking me out and I needed to get clear of her quickly.

“If anything happens to her, I could get sued. I’m sorry, Oliver, but I’m going to have to let you go.”

“Over helping a customer?” I asked, unable to believe he’d do this.

“Look, I took a chance with you and your brother, and it’s just not working out.”

“You’re firing Kenneth, too? Really?”

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