Soma’s POV
Getting back to my apartment, I felt safe. Before I closed the door, I looked to see if anyone was following me. I had butterflies in my stomach I don’t know why I was so bothered by the cop and why he showed me a picture of some guy. Maybe there was a crime family in the area, I have heard about New York and the Mafia but why would they go after a shop that just opened. I had no money, no business.
Walking over to the window, I looked out, “Come on Soma, now you’re crazy.” I said shaking my head before I closed the curtains.
Mouse sat near his bowl; I fed him and ordered some Chinese. Something about orange chicken tonight would be awesome. It would take forty-five minutes, I didn’t mind. I took a quick shower and then poured myself some wine. Something about the glass of wine made me feel relaxed, I don’t know why I was on edge, the cop was probably just looking out for me and I should be thankful someone was around to keep tabs on my store for me.
A loud knock startled me; I slowly got up and opened the door. It wasn’t the Chinese food she ordered.
“Um, hi.” I said not sure what to say. “Can I help you?” I stumbled over my words, I wanted to close the door this man he was buff he looked like he could hurt someone and he was kind of cute.
“Forgive me, I don’t mean to be creepy, that’s not my intention.” He said clearing his throat. “I just moved into the building, the second floor. I noticed your car in the parking lot; I was told to introduce myself, I am Ryan I live upstairs.”
“Uh okay, do you need something?” Biting my lip, I didn’t want him to know I was nervous. I wasn’t even sure what he meant when he said he knew my car. Was he watching me from his window. Maybe he was the reason I had the weird feeling, I hated feeling this but I knew something wasn’t sitting right here.
“Yes, well no. I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood.” He said sounding nervous. “If you need something I am upstairs, I can help with anything from car repair, in your apartment kind of stuff.”
“Oh well okay.” I half smiled wanting to close the door, but I couldn’t look away. Something about his eyes had me under a spell. I wasn’t sure why he was so interested in helping me out. Everything I had heard about New Yorkers at least in the city they weren’t anything like the way he was acting. It was kind of refreshing but kind of weird too.
“There is something else.” He said running his hand through his hair. “Be careful of Detective Marks.” He said looking away from her. “He is bad news, and he will hurt you if you trust him too much. He doesn’t have your best interest at heart, just don’t lower your guard with him.”
“Oh is he?” I said putting my hand on my hips. How would he know about Detective Marks? Was he stalking me? “Who are you again?” Before I got my question Chinese was here.
“Excuse me.” An unfamiliar voice said. “I have your Chinese food here.”
Ryan moved out of the way, so the delivery man could give me my food. “Thanks,” I said handing him enough to cover the food and a tip.
“I’ll not bother you,” Ryan said, before excusing himself from my doorstep. I knew that wasn’t going to be the last time seeing him. Finishing up my dinner, I put the rest into the fridge. I would read before I went to bed.
I tossed and turned most of the night, the one dream that I had was a pair of black gloves choking me. I struggled to breathe, but the person held tight. Waking up in a puddle of sweat, I wasn’t sure what just happened. I didn’t see the person's face, and that scared me a little bit.
Morning peaked around; I took a shower and headed to the tea shop. I was a little early so I had time to stop and get a coffee across the street. I decided to try the coffee shop across the shop, I knew it was competition, but I didn’t care. I needed the additional caffeine to get through the day. I wanted to check out the place to see if they had the same kind of idea as me when it came down to things about the customer. I was surprised, the store was well done.
It was bright and roomy, there were quite a few customers everywhere they were extremely busy which kind of scared me a little. Granted I wasn’t a tea shop that had hot tea, it would be something to consider later on if my business actually started to do well. But I smiled when I walked up to the counter.
Waking into the café, I was greeted with the most amazing smell. I smiled when I saw they had cookies, I loved oatmeal and was never able to find a place that made ones that I liked to eat.
“Welcome.” A man behind the register said, with a big cheesy smile. “Are you interested in the cookies?” he asked seeing I was staring at them.
“Uh yeah.” I sheepishly smiled. “Can I have a cappuccino as well?” I said pulling out my card.
“Are you dining in, or no?” he said ringing up my order.
“I wish I could.” I tucked my hair behind, “but I own the tea shop.” I half-smiled.
“Your total is $10.40,” he said half smiling.
“Hers is on the house.” A buff man came from the back; he smiled when he saw me. “Nice to finally meet you and welcome to the neighborhood hopefully we can become good friends..” He said bowing his head. “I am Oliver Stone.”
“Nice to meet you too, I’m Soma.” I sheepishly smiled. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to, consider it a welcoming you to the neighborhood.” He half-smiled. “Have a blessed day.” He said disappearing into the back.
I got my coffee and cookies, heading to my shop. I liked the little coffee shop, I didn’t drink it all the time but I would consider going there when I felt the need to refuel with coffee.
Unlocking the door, I turned the sign for ‘open.’ I grabbed the cash from the safe; I figured I was ready for the day. The coffee was great, the cookies even better. They reminded me of the cookies my mother used to make, one of a kind.
A few hours after the store opened, a few people came in. My first customer bought one hundred dollars in tea, which had been my biggest sale ever, even before I opened her shop.
I was distracted with restocking my tea; I didn’t hear the bell let me know someone had walked into my shop.
“This place is nice.” A man said.
I turned to face him, “Detective Marks right?” I said taking a deep breath.
“You remembered.” He said walking closer to me. “How has business been?” he said glancing at the tea.
“Good so far, everyone has been nice,” I said shrugging her shoulders. “Is there a particular tea you like?”
“Na,” he said looking at me. “I hate the stuff.” He said putting the box down.
“Oh, so what can I do for you?” I asked walking back behind the register.
“Nothing.” He said walking towards me. “I noticed you went to the coffee shop across the street.” He said pointing to the empty cup on the window seal.
“Yeah, nice place,” I said getting nervous.
“That is owned by one of the Stone brothers, I would be careful going there. You might get caught up in a raid.” He said putting his hands on the glass. “I would hate to have to arrest you, but I will.”
“I don’t know what you think you are doing, coming into my store threatening to arrest me, because I bought a cup of coffee from an open business. Get out of my store, I don’t want to see you in here unless you have a warrant or you want some tea.” I growled.
“Don’t worry we will be in touch.” He said with a smirk on his face, he pulled the door opened. Before leaving he gave me one last look. “You can count on me being around; I may even make your business go under if you mess with me.” He said before leaving the store.
I watched him walk to a car, and get in; he glared at me before he left. I wasn’t sure how serious he was about coming back and shutting my store down. I wasn’t doing anything; I had to put him in the back of my memory since another customer came in.
“Hello, welcome,” I said half smiling. My mind kept thinking about that detective, I was scared.
Oliver’s POVBarely able to contain myself I was able to sit down, that intoxicating smell. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Closing my eyes I held my breath until both my wolf and I calmed down. That was like a roller coaster ride, it was a high I didn’t want to come down from, but I needed to control myself whatever that was I wasn’t ready for, but it was amazing.“Oliver?” Micah spoke. “You okay?”Opened my eyes, and found him staring at me curiously, “I’m fine. Did you smell that, an overwhelming smell of fresh pine and waterfalls?” I could still taste it on my tongue.Micah cocked an eyebrow. “You’ve lost your mind. There is no such smell here, maybe you should go downtown there is a problem I need to be fixed. Marks is causing a scene.” He said throwing papers at me. “Fresh pine and waterfalls.” He chuckled.Grabbing the papers off the desk, I looked down. One of our coffee vendors was due to make a delivery this morning and hadn’t. Rolling my eyes I seriously didn’t want to de
Soma’s POVThe day seemed to go by fast, I was busy and I was exhausted, my mind wandered back to the cop. I wasn’t sure why he was threatening me. I was new to this place and he didn’t have to be so mean. I went to the coffee shop once, maybe I should say something to the owners of the shop just so they know a police officer is going around telling people about them. I wasn’t sure if that was a good idea or not. I didn’t want enemies and I didn’t want problems either.Locking up the money, and cleaning up the little bit of mess. I stocked the shelves so I didn’t have to do it tomorrow before I opened. I yawned, I didn’t want to drive home, even if it was only a few minutes from here, I wish I had a bed in the back, tonight it would have been awesome to sleep here.Turning off the lights, and locking up the store, a cold breeze sent shivers down my spine, I knew winter was coming, but damn I wasn’t ready for it just yet.My hands trembled as I unlocked the car, I felt watched, but I d
Oliver’s POV“I haven’t touched a female, relaxed Drew!”Drew gave me control, I relaxed my hold on Micah and shook my head, and left the coffee shop, I don’t know what the hell just happened. Drew went silent, and I was too dazed and confused to understand anything. Who was he talking about, who was his? We have no mate. At least not until I get the answers about Soma, she may or may not be our mate. She isn’t human, a wolf, or a vampire, and things weren’t adding up.“We have no mate, Drew,” I said to him, but he completely ignored him. I was getting pissed. I wanted to know why he freaked out the way he did, and why he wouldn’t talk to me now. This was going to be a long way and I wasn’t going to go back to the coffee shop until he told me what the hell was going on. “Come on Drew I need to know what is going on, that smell, you freaked out.”“Mate.” He growled and said nothing more.I wasn’t sure going back to the coffee shop was a good idea, but I needed to find out where they we
Soma’s POVI wasn’t sure how long I sat there, but the sun was down and they were already closing down, the clerk behind the counter brought me another coffee and some more cookies.“We’re closing up, Boss said to bring these to you.” he half-smiled setting them down in front of me. “I hope you have a better day tomorrow.”“Thanks,” I said getting up from the table. I wasn’t sure how tomorrow was going to be, I was scared it was going to turn to shit and I would be out of a shop and this cop was going to make my life hell.I decided I wasn’t going to open the store tomorrow. Running across the street, I unlocked the store and quickly wrote a note and posted it on the door. Looking around I frowned tears formed in my eyes. This was my whole life and I was letting some halfwit detective bully me, he wasn’t going to win but I didn’t fight tonight. Locking the door, I headed home. Mouse greeted me with a long meow.“Don’t look at me like that.” I hissed at him. “I know I could have been s
Oliver’s POVI wasn’t sure where I was running, so I shifted and let Drew out and let him lead us. He was pissed, so he needed to run this off. I knew Micah was right about everything, if she was our mate, she would be in danger and if Marks had her in his sights, there was a reason for it. I just hoped he didn’t know anything more than we did at least for now.For some reason we ended up near an apartment building, I wasn’t sure why we were here and Drew wasn’t answering me so I let him have his way, at least until we ran into Ryan.“Alpha why are you here?” he questioned.“Why are you?” I narrowed my eyes at him as he handed me some clothes.“I’m protecting the girl as you requested.” He said taking a step back. “Did something happen that you are here?”“No I let Drew come out for a run, and we ended up here. I am wondering if he knew she was here. He isn’t speaking to me right now, he’s upset we will not talk with the girl.” I said looking around. “So the girl is around here?”“Yes
Soma’s POVI decided to head to my bed, laying my head down, the room was still spinning but I was glad to make it to my bed. I didn’t want to face the detective, but I didn’t have any choice. I wasn’t hiding anything, but I wasn’t sure what he had on me. I was innocent in this whole thing, and I wasn’t sure if he was going to pin something on me and make it stick to bring down Oliver or get him to react. I didn’t even know who Oliver was really.Waking up the next morning, I had a major hangover, I knew I shouldn’t have drunk as much as I did. Crawling out of bed, I took myself to the shower. Once I finished I was feeling a little better. Getting myself ready for the day I was dreading, I kissed the mouse before I left for the day.Driving to the tea shop seemed short, there weren’t any cars in front of the store I was thankful for that. Opening the store like I normally did, I grabbed the money from the safe, and walked around the store. My nerves were shot, I was scared.I remember
Soma’s POVI wasn't even sure I wanted to keep the store open. This made my heart hurt and I was angry too. I wanted to do something, Detective Marks didn’t have a right to do this to my store. I wasn't even sure what he was looking for, and now he took the one thing that made me happy away.Tossing the rest of the ruined product into the dumpster behind the store, I cried hard. I don’t know how long I stood by the smelly trash but when I was done crying all I thought about was going home. Not to my apartment, but back home. I needed my mom more than anything, I needed to hear her encouraging words.Walking back into my shop, I decided it was best to post a note that I would be closed until my new merchandise came in, whenever that might be. I sighed tomorrow was supposed to be a good day, but now I’ll be home sulking and trying to figure out my next move.Before leaving the store my cellphone rang. Looking down my heart dropped, it was Nick. I hadn't heard from him in a while, he mus
Oliver’s POV“Alpha looks like the police are doing something to the girl's store.” Ryan linked me.“What?” I snapped.I knew I needed to get to the coffee shop and see what he was talking about. I didn’t like how Marks was messing with her, and why he would mess with her business. I could see if she was some kind of mafia girl, but she was too innocent for that.“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” I linked. “Make sure they don’t take her away and if they do make sure you follow them. I don’t trust the detective.”“Yes, Alpha.”Grabbing my keys, I didn’t need much else, Micah was supposed to be leaving this afternoon for the summit, but I asked him to wait until I found out what was happening to Soma’s store, he understands and didn’t question. I knew I should go to the summit too but there was just too much going on now that Marks wanted to involve Soma.Getting to the coffee shop, there were six or so cars across the street, I could see Marks talking to Soma, she didn’t look too happy.