Page 1 of Mated to Four Bears

1

SAMANTHA

God damn it, this place is a nightmare!

I threw my hands in the air in frustration as the diner’s head chef, Brandon, handed me the wrong orderagain. It was almost as if he didn’t hear me on purpose. He’d taken an instant disliking to me on day one—purely because I pointed out his lack of gloves when switching between meat and vegetarian foods. I would have thought that’d be a good thing for him to know, but obviously not. And now, here he was, fucking me up again.

Don’t do this,I warned him silently, hoping he would get the message.Not today.

But Brandon only shot me a smug smile.

Asshole. He knew Victor was in today, observing us and making sure we were doing the right thing. While Brandon had been working at the diner for years and was the only cook, I was one of a few waitresses. I could be replaced easily, which I was sure was Brandon’s plan. I needed this job, but didn’t feel I could tell him anything about myself.

I was in this city for college because it was the only place I could afford to go. I didn’t have any family who could help mebecause my parents passed away in a magic accident when I was young. I didn’t know the exact details since the aunts and uncles who passed me around in my youth never wanted to give me the full story. I got odd bits and pieces, but none of it made any sense. The best explanation I could come up with was that in the middle of a fight, with whom, I was never sure, one of my parents’ spells backfired badly and killed them both. Whether it was instant or not, I may never know.

I’d never had a home, never had a place in the world, not really.Thiswas supposed to be my fresh start. I had all kinds of high hopes for what my life would be like once I got to college. All the movies made it look like the best time ever. I thought that was going to be me, and I held on to that dream.

But it was shattered my freshman year. I was glad to be in my last year now, so that once I graduated, I could be out of here. Onwards and upwards, on to the next dream. Although I didn’t dare set my expectations too high, because I didn’t want to be let down so badly again.

Add to all that being a little behind on my rent and running out of excuses to keep my landlord waiting any longer. I just really needed this job.

“Sam,” a voice snapped behind me, shaking me out of my worrisome thoughts. This was the problem with anxiety, sometimes it got me so wrapped up, I couldn’t think of anything else. It left me well and truly exhausted. “What is happening in here?”

“Oh, Vince, hi.” I could feel a burning heat in my cheeks. Shit, not a good look. “I was just about to take this order out to table ten.”

“I wouldn’t bother.” He snatched the plates out of my hands before I could stop him. “I don’t think you’re the right fit for the diner, do you? There have been customers out there waiting waytoo long for their meals, and I can see Brandon isn’t impressed with you.”

Fucking Brandon! I could have killed him. Why the hell was he doing this to me? He had to see that I was falling apart, that my life was slipping away from me. I really didn’t have anywhere to go. This was my home now; I didn’t want to go back. I didn’t think any of my family would be happy to take me in again.

“I am just struggling to keep up,” I muttered, because I knew there wasn’t any point in telling the truth about Brandon. Victor prioritized him over everyone else. “It’s busy today. More than usual. I’m doing my best to make it work, though.”

Victor didn’t hear my plea. He rolled his eyes at me. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“But I…” Shit, I was getting close to pleading. With Brandon still smirking at me.

“No, Sam, I won’t hear it. I don’t have the time or patience for this. I need waitresses who are on top of things and make Brandon’s life easier, not harder.”

“I can—”

He held up his finger to silence me.

What the hell was I going to do? There really wasn’t anywhere else hiring at this time of year, far away from tourist season. If I was going to stand a chance of getting something else, I’d have to walk out of here with my head held high. At least try to keep some dignity with me.

“Fine. I’ll go,” I replied quietly. “Do you want me to leave now?”

“I already have someone else coming to cover your shift,” Vince said dismissively. “I don’t want to see your face around here again. You’ve really let me down.”

Tears burned behind my eyes. I did what I could to fight them back, because the last thing I wanted to do was sob likea baby in front of this horrible man. If I let the flood gates of sadness open, I didn’t think I’d be able to close them again.

I bit down on my bottom lip hard, forcing all the tears to stay inside as I untied my apron and handed it to Vincent. He whipped it away from me, eager to have me out of his diner.

“Fuck,” I murmured, intense humiliation flooding my body. I wasn’t sure if everyone in the diner was staring at me, but it sure as hell felt that way. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

I stepped outside and started crying uncontrollably. I really was stuck now, wasn’t I? I’d forgot to even pick up my tips for the evening, which would have fed me. I didn’t think Vince would take too kindly to me walking back in there to get what I was owed. I pulled my wallet out of my pocket to see a measly dollar inside.

I cried a little harder when I realized my stupid tiny kitchen had nothing in it. I remember checking the empty fridge before I left this morning. What the hell was I going to do?

If it wasn’t for my God damn relationship with Antonio, I would have been okay. Not wealthy or anything like that, but alright. The charming Adonis who swept me off my feet the first time I met him turned out to be a con artist who took everything from me. He tricked me for just over a year, manipulating me more and more every day. I didn’t knowwhathe spent all my money on, I never got the answer to that, but it was gone, never to return.

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