Roarak Halfhide of the Halfhide pack understands his duty. He’s found his pack a home, now he just needs to keep them safe and fed. It doesn’t matter that Sam, one of the workers at Cup o’ Sugar, makes him want to shirk his duties and spend his time sipping coffee in one of the booths.<br><br>He doesn’t even like coffee.<br><br>But things don’t always go as planned, and when there is a threat to Sam, Roarak can’t pretend to be just another coffee-loving customer. He has to protect his mate.

Cup o’ Sugar

“We do serve juice, you know. And tea.” Sam narrowed his eyes.


“Yes, but how often do you have people coming in dying for a juice? Coffee is a more acceptable reason to sneak away from work.”


“Please, leave.” The whisper was pleading. “Please. I don’t want anyone hurt.”


“If you tell me how you know, I will.” He wouldn’t, but he could step outside while waiting for this bad thing to happen.


Sam glanced over his shoulder at the woman. She was wiping down the counter but Roarak could tell she was watching them. Is someone blackmailing him?


“I shouldn’t have stayed this long. I never stay in any city this long. I should leave, I will leave, but…” He glanced out the window, that faraway look in his eyes again.


Ice filled Roarak’s veins. Sam leaving?It wasn’t part of the plan. He was to work at Cup o’ Sugar forever and Roarak would come here to have coffee forever. In a year or two, he would’ve learned to like it and Sam wouldn’t run into hiding every time he crossed the threshold.


Chapter 3