Page 16

Micah

The spring festival was approaching rapidly, and with the influx of tourists who were coming not just for that but because of the beauty of our town and the warming weather, I was having trouble getting enough stock together. As soon as I made it, I sold it, and that was not something I wanted to complain about, of course, but I was getting pretty worn out trying to keep up.

“We’re all out of the rose petals,” Rocco said, leaning through the doorway to the back. “And almost all the little bears. The other animals are going too, but not as fast.”

“Thanks.” I noted on the whiteboard what we needed and continued tempering chocolate. It was a long list, actually, with these items just the latest. I’d be up most of the night at this rate. But it wasn’t too long until the festival, and afterward, I could shut the shop for a day and sleep the clock around. At the thought, my eyelids grew heavy, so I went to the coffeepot and poured another mug. My stomach was churning from all the caffeine, but I wasn’t about to use anything stronger—those energy drinks really made me jittery—so coffee it was. “I’ll have some more truffles in about an hour then I have some custom orders to do.”

Rocco was actually learning to dip and do some other simple things in the kitchen, so when Edwin came in to help at the register, I brought Rocco back to help me. As we worked, I could hear all the activity from the front, people coming in and making purchases, laughing as my mate charmed them within an inch of their lives. Everyone loved him. It was also a good way for him to meet people. Among the visitors to town, there were locals who came in to buy candy, and I was glad to hear him getting to know the neighbors.

But then, after about an hour, I heard my mate’s voice change, and my wolf was on instant alert. I stopped working the truffle filling on the marble counter and strode to the front, my omega’s instincts telling me that my mate needed my help and now.

But when I got there, all I saw was a young man who I had seen around town, along with his fathers. He was holding up his phone and trying to show Edwin a video he evidently had no interest in viewing. I’d never seen my mate look so pale and although he wasn’t saying much, he was clearly upset.

“This is you, isn’t it?” the boy was saying. “I found it online after I heard someone say you were a dancer. Why aren’t you doing it anymore?”

“I-I don’t…that is, I am helping out in the shop right now. That was in another place, and it’s not what I do now.”

“But you have to be in the talent show at the spring festival. Nobody is as good as you.” The boy seemed very insistent, and his fathers were shopping and paying very little attention.

I wanted to step in, but my alpha had his pride. Also, if videos of his dancing were that easy to find, others would do the same. I hated that it was upsetting him, but he had to learn how to get past it, or he’d just end up being miserable.

Other customers were coming in, and one of us had to help them because Rocco was working hard on dipping candies. I tried to signal Edwin to come and do it, but he was too caught up in whatever video he was finding so upsetting. After helping a few people, I caved and called Rocco up, hoping that wouldn’t result in wasted chocolate. Then I went over and joined my mate. I needed to see the video.

When I looked, what I saw made me wonder if I even knew my mate. Sure, he was graceful all the time, but when dancing? I had a momentary regret that I had zero dancing talent and could not sweep across the floor with him like the other man in the video did. They were beautiful together, their steps matching as if they’d been dancing together all their lives.

And I knew who that had to be. Jacob, the man who looked so loving in the performance, but who was also a two-timing cheater. Was I jealous? No, or maybe just a little, but it wasn’t anything happening presently. My mate was mine and had not indicated any desire to get back with his ex. I trusted that.

I just didn’t want him to be so upset.