Page 29

Jamie

The café buzzes with activity, but I can’t focus on any of my duties. So far, I’ve spilled someone’s drink, given someone the wrong order, and handed someone a croissant when they asked for a cheese Danish. So my day is going just great.

I miss Anders, and he’s only been gone two hours.

He promised me he would come back, but my stomach churns with doubt. I should have been more cautious, tried harder to protect myself. If Anders doesn’t come back, I can’t imagine ever giving someone else my heart again.

Fact is, I don’t know why he’d want to return when he has a family in his past. His whole world is there, where everything is familiar. Why would he want to come back to the future? To me and my broken little family?

“Is Anders coming back?” Jace has stuck to my side behind the counter all morning. When he isn’t bringing people their orders, he picks at his fingernails in that nervous way he does.

I make the corners of my mouth twitch up. “Yeah. Sure he will.”

“Does he not like us?”

Hurt twists in my chest. Kneeling before my brother, I flick some hair out of his face. “He likes you just fine, bud. He’ll come back, and tomorrow, you’ll do your presentation with him.”

“Promise?”

I kiss his forehead. “Yeah.”

The bell jingles. Plastering a fake smile on my face, I turn around. “Welcome.”

A man I don’t recognize steps into the shop.

We get our fair share of newcomers to the store, but most are Brooklyn natives.

Honestly, he looks like he should be browsing the aisles of a high-end clothing store with the threads he’s got on.

I bet his trousers, sleek shoes, leather jacket, and cashmere sweater cost more than my rent.

His golden hair is gelled back except for a few strands that flop over his forehead.

As his brown eyes meet mine, my wolf lurches within my soul.

There’s something off about his scent. It almost…

burns my nose. I don’t like it, and neither does Wolf Jamie.

It makes me want to sneeze. Whoever this guy is, he isn’t human.

Grabbing Jace’s shoulder, I say without taking my eyes off this guy, “Jace, go into the kitchen and stay there until I come for you.”

Wide-eyed, he nods and rushes away to do as he’s told.

The guy with the odd scent leans on the counter, propping his chin in his hand. He flashes perfect teeth in a smile. “Aww. You hurt my feelings, wolfy,” he says in a British accent.

My heart skips. Yup, definitely not human if he can tell what I am at a glance.

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you witches don’t actually eat children? This isn’t Hansel and Gretel .”

Shit. A witch. Could he be one of the witches that attacked Anders? My apprehension shifts to boiling rage that has me fighting down a snarl.

“Hello. I’m Arlo. Is Anders in?”

“None of your business.” The words come out sharp as a knife. “Are you one of the witches that hurt him? Get out of my store.”

Arlo’s eyes widen, and he holds up his hands. “I didn’t raise a hand against him, and I’m terribly sorry that the situation escalated the way it did.”

“Your buddies broke his nose.”

Arlo winces. “Again, I do apologize. Being ulfhednar, I assume he healed quickly once he put on his furs?”

I’m surprised he’s saying all this at a normal volume, and I look around to make sure nobody is listening in.

“Relax, darling. I’ve got a compulsion globe around us. They think we’re talking about football.”

“Oh. That’s good, I guess?” I’m not sure I like the fact he’s just cast some weird spell on us. I didn’t even see or hear it happen. “So what is it you want?”

“Anders has yet to visit the Agency to receive the documentation he needs in this timeline.”

“We’ve been busy.”

He nods understandingly. “I’m sure, but it’s important if he plans to live here permanently. More importantly…” Arlo leans on the counter, closing the distance between us. “Has he taken you as his mate yet?”

Heat rushes to my cheeks. “Again, that’s not your business.”

“I’m aware it’s a personal question, but it is imperative that he claims you. Quickly.”

“I know about the berserker stuff, but he’s been good so far. We’re taking things slow. He won’t hurt me.”

Arlo shakes his head, brows furrowing. “I wish you both had that luxury, Jamie. I do. But the fact is that while you are surely safe around him as his mate, what about those around you? An unmated wolf from an Alpha bloodline is territorial. If he perceives there is a threat against you or your relationship, it might be enough to push him over the edge.”

My mouth runs dry as I remember the day Anders saw Bailey hug and kiss me. “We’ve got things under control.”

“I should hope so.” Arlo’s voice is grave. “I will be observing you both closely, Jamie. If I see signs that Anders’s condition is worsening, then I will have to act.”

“I won’t let you hurt him.”

“I won’t. But my superiors are the ones who make the final decision.

Convince him to claim you, Jamie. Please.

You will be sparing yourself so much pain and hardship.

” He touches my arm, squeezing. The sadness in his eyes makes me freeze before I can pull away.

“I know the pain of losing the one you love to their berserker’s rage.

It’s something I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. ”

With a last squeeze of my arm, Arlo turns and walks out of the shop.

What the hell was that all about? His last words make me shiver with unease.

How can I convince Anders to claim me when he has plans for a future I’m not a part of? And even if Anders saw a future with me, how could I saddle Anders with someone like me? It wouldn’t be fair to bind him to my messy, broken family. To me with all my baggage.

Who in their right mind would want to be stuck with me for all eternity?

The bond connecting me to Anders lights up in my chest, flooding my insides with soothing warmth.

The breath catches in my lungs. “Anders,” I whisper, my heart soaring as I realize he’s back.

I whirl toward the door and run, startling people out of my path with my sudden movement.

The doors fly open as I hurtle out onto the sidewalk.

It’s started snowing, and there’s a thin coating sticking to the sidewalk.

My frantic breaths plume in the air as I look around.

He’s probably at the piers. I need to get there.

Shooting Jess a text to hold down the fort until I’m back, I get in my car and drive as fast as I safely can without getting ticketed. I’m only wearing my sweater, but I’ll brave the cold if it means I can see Anders again. I can’t believe he came back. He’s here, really here. He chose me.

My heart’s in my throat as I park the car and step out of it. “Anders?” I don’t have to look long. As if on their own, my eyes ping to Anders’s familiar profile. He’s staring out across the water, hunched over where he’s leaning on the railing. My heart and soul would know him anywhere.

I come to stand within reach of him. “You… you’re back,” I say a bit breathlessly, my voice shaky.

My joy mixes with trepidation. Whatever happened in the past, it’s upset him.

Anders doesn’t even react to the sound of my voice.

Snow gathers on his black wolf furs around his shoulders.

It’s like he’s a statue. Slowly, I walk around him and stand by the railing.

A jolt of horror goes through me when I see how puffy his eyes are, red-rimmed and bloodshot. Holy shit. Anders looks like he’s been crying, or trying not to. He’s so strong, so against showing any kind of emotion he considers weak. Whatever happened, it must have been bad.

“Oh, puppy dog.” I want to hold him so badly, but I don’t know if he’ll let me. “What happened? Can you tell me?”

Anders’s jaw trembles. He opens his mouth but closes it quickly without making a sound. Slumping, he rests his elbows on the icy railing. “Don’t know where to start. Mayhap I should not have returned here. But how could I have stayed?” He’s speaking more to himself.

“Of course you should have returned. I’m happy you came back.” Relieved, in fact. I squeeze his cold hand, trying to warm him up. “What happened to your village? Was it as bad as you thought?”

A bitter laugh escapes Anders, and he hangs his head, hiding his face. “No.”

“But that’s good, isn’t it?”

Anders doesn’t respond for almost a minute. “I saw my family.”

I don’t know how to react. I figure if it was a happy reunion, Anders wouldn’t be drowning in heartbreak right now. “H-how did it go?” I ask, but I think I can guess.

“I don’t know if I can even call them family anymore. Not after what I’ve—” His voice chokes off, and he jerks his hand out of my grasp, folding his hands close to his chest like he’s curling in on himself. “Gods. I was wrong. So wrong.” Regret floods his voice.

“About? You can tell me.”

Anders grinds his teeth, then exhales harshly. “Why not? What does it matter? I’ve already lost everyone I cared about. I don’t deserve to keep you.”

His words hurt like a punch to my solar plexus.

“Hey.” My voice is small, but I fight through the fear that he’s about to push me away for good.

I step in close, touching my shoulder to his.

His furs are damp, the wetness seeping through my sweater and making me shiver, but I need to be close to him.

“You haven’t lost me. Whatever is going on, just tell me, and I promise I’ll listen.

I won’t judge you. We can work through this. ”

Anders’s shoulders rise and fall shakily. Sniffing, he finally looks up and out over the gray water of the river. Shrugging off his furs, he wraps them around my shoulders. “We’ll be here a while, then.”

I huddle into his furs for warmth while Anders gathers his thoughts.