Page 20 of Taming of a Wolf

Jamie gapes at me. “What the hell did you just say?”

I tilt my head, confused at his shock. “I believe I asked you a question. Answer it. What is coffee?”

“No. I can’t believe you’ve never had coffee. We need to fix this. Now!” He’s on his feet. “I can hear a lake in that direction. Let’s clean up. Then I’m getting you the best cup of joe you’ve ever tasted.”

Together, we go to the lake. We wade in and wash ourselves clean with cool water. Once we’re clean, though still faintly smelling of our lovemaking, we return to our clothes and dress.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

Jamie zips up his coat. “Well, I’d love to take you to my café over in Brooklyn, but that’s quite a trip. There’s a diner nearby. They should be open even this early. I make the best coffee in the city, but this place is pretty good too. Besides, I need pancakes. Like, now.” He takes my hand and pulls me along after him.

“What are pancakes?”

“Oh man. You don’t know what you’re missing!”

This “diner” is a boxy building. Inside, there are only a few tables. It’s an open space with little room to conceal attackers. “It appears safe for now.” I vow to stay on my guard. The air is thick with delectable smells. “Is that… bacon?” I begin to drool, to my disgust. Gods, how I love bacon.

“You can get so much bacon. Hey, Wanda! Can I get a table for two?”

An older woman behind the counter smiles. “Sure thing, kiddo. Have a seat.” She gives me a dubious look as I trudge past, armor rattling. I make sure to sit facing the door, then throw a cautious look behind me.

Jamie arches a brow. “What are you looking for?”

“Wolf hunters,” I snap. “They could be anywhere, even in this time. By turning you, you could have a target on your back.”

Jamie’s eyes widen. “Oh shit. I didn’t know. I really do think we’re safe, though. Wanda is a good person, and her staff treats me like family. We’re safe, puppy dog. I promise.” He rubs my clenched fist.

A man garbed in black approaches our table. “Good morning!” In his hand, he grips a bundle of weapons. A snarl tears from me, and I leap to my feet.

“Get back!” I snap, shielding Jamie with my body.

The man screams and drops the weapons to the ground.

“Anders, chill!” Jamie leaps up and puts both hands on my chest. “He’s our waiter. He’s just come to take our order.”

“Jamie, get away from him! He’s armed!”

Rolling his eyes, Jamie grabs the fallen weapons and shoves them at me. “It’s just forks and knives, you dummy!”

And… it is. I only saw the tip of the knife protruding, which isn’t even sharp.

“Oh.” My shoulders slump.

“Sorry about that.” Jamie helps the man up.

He shakily drops some stiff papers onto the table and darts off.

“Gonna have to leave a big tip,” Jamie mutters, picking up one of the stiff things.

“What is that?”

“It’s a menu. It’s a list with all the food items on it.”

I pick it up and sniff it. It smells strange. I flip the menu upside down, hoping that will make sense of it. I can’t read anything that’s written here. I don’t recognize the writing. It’s all strange symbols, nothing like the runes my pack writes with.

“Uh. Anders? You good?” Jamie’s looking at me like I’m the strange one.

“How do you read this?” I ask. It seems while the portal has made it so I can speak the language of this time, it hasn’t given me the ability to read these odd runes.

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