Chapter 2

Oliver’s POV

           Looking out the window, I notice a woman across the street; she must be the new owner of the shop. A man was there yesterday he was talking 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 standing next to me. “Ah, another business to compete with.” He snapped. “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 egged 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, Detective Marks, if you’ve already forgotten.”

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

           “Take this business down, put us out there against the Council again. I don’t want the shit show again. Micah, I finally have the pack relaxed again, I don’t want them stressed out again. 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 the breeze was cool against the face, I glanced over she was outside again leaning against the wall with her eyes closed. Getting closer to her, 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 growled.

           Looking over at the Detective I really didn’t want 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 being on the street, when normally I stayed inside except when we were on our lands. “I didn’t think you’d be out wandering the streets. Why are you wandering around?” He said narrowing his eyes.

           “Window shopping,” I growled. “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 and 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, 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 held my 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 whether or not 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 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. “For? 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,” I growled. “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 and 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 it that made me want to protect her. Something I couldn’t place it. 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 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 and 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 packhouse before it gets too late,” I said before walking out of the shop.

           Crossing the street, and 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 there was something I had to do to get her business. I knew the people in the area, and there were some people that like tea, I would take tea off the menu and recommend her shop, and that would get her some business. Maybe it would boost as long as she kept the store stocked.

           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.

           We finished closing down the store, heading to the packhouse I needed to meet with the two warriors that I would be sent to protect her; they needed to know to keep their distance and make sure Marks didn’t know they were protecting her.

           A knock at my office door. “Come in.” I snapped. Jack and Ryan came into the office and sat down.

           “Micah said you wanted to see you, a special assignment?” Jacked 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; you will need to stay out of sight.”

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

            “You two will take shifts, 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.”