Page 33 of Taming of a Wolf

“Hey, no need to frown. We all were newbies once.” One by one, she removes the books and points down the aisle. “Dark romance goes over there.”

“I knew that…” My cheeks burn hot with frustration. It’s a simple task. Can’t I do anything right? “I can sort the books on my own.” I snatch them from her arms and stalk toward the proper shelves, where I shove them into place.

Jess goes behind the bar to work with Bailey, and the pair chat, smiling and laughing. Jamie engages in their comradery as well. It’s clear the three of them are close. Something twinges in my chest that feels a lot like longing.

I miss being somewhere familiar, around people who know me. I never got along with Wulfric, but my twin, Lyall, and I were thick as thieves as soon as we were old enough to get into mischief. I… I miss him. Gunnar too. I miss Helga, my aunt. Do they miss me? They must. I know Helga got more and more ornery toward me as I challenged Wulfric, and Lyall was exasperated with me more oft than not. But surely they still thought of me as pack, family?

How I wish I was home in Ulfheim.

“Excuse me!” a woman snaps, blonde and angry. She waves her paper cup at Bailey. “I asked for almond milk! This is regular milk. Pay attention!”

A small child at her side stamps her foot. “Mommy! Muffin!”

“Just a moment, sweetie. Honestly, I don’t know why I come here when you always get my order wrong. You’re lucky this is the only café down the street from my apartment!”

“So sorry, Karen.” Bailey starts making another drink.

“It’s Lauren!”

Bailey doesn’t seem to care.

Jess catches my gaze and rolls her eyes. It seems like this Lauren is someone they deal with often. I endeavor to ignore the noise and focus on the simple task of stocking the books. At least, it should be simple. More fools have left books lying around. These have men riding horses on the cover. Are these dark romances too?

The child screams, “Mommy, I want!”

The scream pierces my ears, making me gnash my teeth.

“In a second, baby. Hey, hurry up with my drink!” Lauren snaps, her loud voice further irritating my sensitive ears. The coffee machines make all sorts of noise. The child shrieks in protest. A dog someone brought into the store barks, making me wince. Some old man sitting by the window sneezes shrilly. It’s too loud. Too much. Too confusing.

I pile books in my arms to bring them to the proper section, only I can’t remember where these damn books go. Was the dark romance section next to the potted plant or by the sofa in the back? Gods damn it! How did I go from being the best at everything I do to not even knowing where to put some bloody books?

A furious snarl builds in my chest as the noise swirls around me. Out. Need out. Need to run, now!

“Anders?” Jamie calls as he walks out from the kitchen, a tray of baked goods in his hands, a concerned look on his face. “Sorry, I know I said you could shadow me today. Things got busy, but I’ll be there in a second. Do you need anything?”

“Where do these go?” I hold up the books.

Jamie squints at the spines. “That’s a historical romance author, so they go in the way back to the left on the top shelf.”

Repeating the information in my head, I turn around.

“Whoa, Anders, look out!”

I slam right into Jess. She shrieks, and something hot splashes all over my chest. A yowl of pain escapes me as the liquid sears through my shirt and burns my skin. Somehow, I didn’t drop the books, but there’s coffee all over my shirt.

“Oh crap. I’m super sorry, man.” She reaches out, and panic flares within me.

The burn of hot coffee on my skin reminds me of the silvertheyused to carve into my body. They invaded our village, set our homes on fire. Smoke had choked the air. With a crash, the door had blown wide open, and the hunters swarmed in. They’d bound me with silver. The pain had never ended. Every time I’d healed, they cut me open again and again.

I’d screamed for my father to come and save me.

I’d cried out for my brother Wulfric. My Alpha. The only time I’d ever thought of him that way.

No one had come.

“Get back, wench!” My roar fills the café before I can stop it.

Everyone stares at me. Their judgment, their mistrust, makes cold sweat break out over my body. I’ve backed up into the bookshelf. The breath saws from my body in ragged pants.

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