Page 4 of The Alpha's Addiction
It’s home.
The diner sits on the corner of Main and Willow, its red trim freshly painted and the smell of bacon and coffee wafting out the open windows.
My wolf perks up the second we cross the threshold.
Something is different.
The second I step inside, a low growl hums in my chest.My senses sharpen, instincts going on high alert.I stalk toward the counter, muscles tense, scanning every face in the room as I try to spot something that stands out.
Nothing is different.My mate isn’t here.
But dessert is.
With a sigh, I step to the counter and place my order.
THREE
Adeline
The scentof fresh pastries still lingers in the air this morning.It’s probably baked into the place by now.Baking every day for the last month will have that effect.
My little kitchen is a mess with flour-dusted counters, butter wrappers tossed in the trash, and a row of delivery boxes lined up by the door like soldiers waiting for deployment.I was too tired to clean up last night, and I sigh as I take in the chaos.
I’ll have to deal with this mess once I get back from making deliveries,I think as I glance at the clock.
7:36 a.m.Right on schedule.
I pull on my shoes, grab my purse and a cardigan, and take the first load of baked goods out to my car.It takes me two more trips before I finally have everything loaded and ready to go.I double-check each label.Two dozen snickerdoodle cookies for the bookstore café, four chocolate tortes for the new Italian restaurant, lemon bars for the sandwich place, and a dozen pies for the diner in town.I double-check each label, then step back and exhale.Everything is ready.
As I pull on my cardigan, I look around at the mostly deserted streets, and a familiar pang settles in my chest.I’ve been in Night Grove Falls for nearly a month, and delivering desserts to the same three, now four, businesses is the most human contact I have in a day.Not that I’m not grateful.The town has been kind, and I’ve even received a few warm nods and greetings from the shop owners.But kindness isn’t the same as connection.I haven’t made any real friends yet.
Maybe that will change today,I think hopefully.
I climb behind the wheel and start my old car.It was a hand-me-down from my mom, and I’m surprised that it still runs.
The drive to the first restaurant is short, broken up by stop signs and crosswalks.There’s not much traffic here, so getting around never takes long.I roll down the window, letting the crisp air wake me up as I hum softly along to the music playing on the radio.
I pass the florist, the hardware store, and the small library, parking in the lot beside the bookstore café.I turn off the ignition and reach for my purse and phone just as it buzzes.
Hollyflashes across the screen, and I grin as I hurry to answer it.“Hey, perfect timing, I just parked.”
Her voice comes through bright and chipper, like sunshine in audio form.“Tell me you’re wearing your cute apron today.The pink one with the cupcake print.”
I laugh.“That one’s retired, remember?It didn’t survive the great strawberry jam incident of last month.”
“Oh, right.Tragic.”She sighs.“I’m still in mourning.”
I adjust the phone between my shoulder and ear as I unbuckle my seatbelt.“You’d hate how organized my deliveries are this morning.Labels color-coded, boxes stacked by destination.”
“Control freak,” she teases affectionately.“So, how’s it going today?Made any friends yet?”
I slide out of the car and open the back door to grab the first few boxes.“No friends yet.Unless you count Mrs.Lockwood, the bookstore owner.She called me ‘darling’ yesterday and gave me a free latte, so I’m calling it progress.”
“Hmm.Still not good enough.You need to get out more.Have a girls’ night.Hit up a nightclub or something.”
I snort.“Night Grove Falls doesn’t have nightclubs.Not even close.”
She laughs.“Not like you would go if there were.”
