Page 39 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

He already knew my stubborn ass too well. "Yes, promise."

He must have seen what he was looking for because he opened his door and climbed out. Normally he'd run over and open mine, but I had one minute to get inside. I got out and joined him behind the truck. Not missing a beat, the two of us rushed into the building and made our way to the coffee shop.

When we approached the shop, the line was already out the door and into the hallway. I shouldn't have been surprised—most of the people in line looked like they could fall asleep standing right there.

I sprinted to the counter where Carter stood grumpily in front of the cash register as one lanky crow shifter made drinks.

Carter sniffed as I got closer, and he let out a huge sigh, "It's about time you got here."

"Oh, come on." Killian chuckled as he caught up to me. "She's one minute late. I'm pretty sure that line didn't miraculously appear during the last minute."

"No, but Deissy called out sick again." Carter frowned. "I told her don't bother coming in ever again."

"You pulled the plug on her?" Killian sounded mildly impressed. "What made you finally do it?"

"Because you found someone to replace her." Carter held up a finger to the customer standing in front. "Please hold on one second." He turned to me. "But I need that ID now. I got screamed at by HR for letting you work yesterday."

The fact that he planned to keep me on helped with some of my turmoil. At least, I had something I could kind of call my own.

"Oh, here." Thank God Killian had come through for me. I handed Carter my ID and slipped on an apron. "Anything else?" At least, he was acting normal, not that he would've heard the latest gossip with the shop insanely busy.

"Yes." Carter hissed at the cash register like it was the demon he’d said lived in it. "Work that damn thing."

I grinned as I reached the register. Carter already seemed to rely on me, which thrilled me.

"When does she get off?" Killian asked.

"Come get her after the noon rush, but I’ll want her here earlier tomorrow morning," Carter answered.

Killian blew me a kiss as he walked out the door, and then I focused on my task at hand.

For the first hour,my heart picked up its pace every time someone entered the shop. Each time, I expected to see the gorgeous dark angel who’d found me in the woods this morning. But she never came. Maybe she had no clue who I was after all. Or maybe she didn’t care.

Angels were supernatural and could fly, and they had super strength and other magical abilities, but their nose wasn't as sensitive as a wolf’s or a bear’s.

Maybe I was safe after all. Maybe I hadn’t needed to reveal my secret to Killian. In fear, I'd rushed to tell him, not wanting him to hear it from anyone else. I put him in so much danger, but I couldn't rewind and change the past.

But boy, I sure wished I could. That ability would have been so nice to have. My pack would still be alive, and I'd be with Dad, training for the day I took over the pack.

Someone cleared his throat, and I looked up to see a man who looked a few years older than me. "Are you okay, miss?" His sharp angular face brought out soft blue eyes that were full of concern. He pulled his wallet from his khaki pants and scratched his golden-brown hair. He had a regal presence to him, and he smelled like maple syrup, which screamed vampire.

"Yes, sorry." I forced a small laugh that sounded like a cough. "I spaced for a minute."

"Spaced?" His face lined with confusion.

"I was daydreaming." God, that sounded horrible. "But don't worry, it wasn’t about you."Come on, Sterlyn. Get your shit together.

The vampire laughed and handed me his credit card. "I asked for a black coffee."

"Of course." I inhaled deeply, forcing my body to relax. I took his card and swiped it and then hurried off to fill a cup.

I didn't even know vampires drank coffee. Obviously, they did, or he wouldn't be here, asking for it. Generally, the vampires we had encountered were focused on one thing—blood. We had to protect the nearby town several times because of vampire outbreaks. When a vampire lost their humanity, they turned deadly, draining humans to death, and the sun began to harm them. Each kill weakened their soul to the point where even the moonlight could hurt them.

As the cup filled, a rose scent hit my nose, and the sense of peace I'd found evaporated like the feeling had been a figment of my imagination.

My hands shook as I put the lid on the coffee. Freaking out would only make the situation worse. I turned, plastering a fakesmile securely on my face, and handed the attractive man his drink. "Do you need anything else?"

"No, thank you." He winked and headed out the door, walking up to what had to be shifter. I kept my gaze on him, not wanting to meet her gaze.

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