The Beta's Challenge

Chapter 1

April's POV


“I should call in sick.” I told myself, as I parked outside the sickly sweet cafe.
Dax had to practically drag me away from my baby, she's almost finished, just needs a new exhaust and a paint job and the Kawasaki will finally be road worthy.
After six months of working on her.
She was the whole reason I had agreed to take Zoey’s shifts, parts are expensive, even with our trade discount.
Seth waved to me as he put the specials board out.
“No backing out now. He's seen me.” I mumbled to myself, waving back to him and heading inside.
“Why did I get a second job?” I asked myself as I threw my stuff in my locker. Grabbing an apron and tying it behind my back, I bit back a groan. The pink floral fabric looked ridiculous on me. Between the black combat boots and the tank top and cut of shorts, I most definitely did not give off a vibe that suited pink floral. Or working in a bakery either, for that matter.
What can I say, I was raised by men.
I reminded myself why I was here in this stupid outfit before going to work on opening the shop.
The day went by slowly, customers picking up conversations with me here and there. Some harmless, others the usual horny teenagers who never looked me in the eye...
Much to mine and my wolf Eden’s annoyance, but if I let them stare the tips would always be good at least.
Zoey and her new hunk of a boyfriend both came into the café as the afternoon rush had ended, leaving the whole place deserted apart from me, Seth and the happy couple.
As soon as they walked through the door, Seth practically tackled Zoey. Before leading them to a table and joining them as he bombarded her with question after question.
Zoey being Zoey, wasn’t fazed at all. Instead, she answered every question looking almost as excited as Seth.
The boyfriend hid behind a menu, obviously trying to act like he wasn’t listening. Which I guess was sweet, giving her privacy. Sort of.
Zoey’s eyes met mine and her smile widened.
With a smile of my own, I walked over to the table.
“Lost without you Zoey, he really doesn’t know how to do any kind of admin work. If it’s not edible, he has no desire for it.”
Seth faked outrage as he looked between the two of us.
“Why, I never. I’m your boss, you know.”
With a shrug, I turned to him. “I know.”
He let out a huff as I turned back to Zoey.
“So, what can I get you?”
They listed off their order, never once looking at the menu. Confirming my theory that the hunk only pretended to be busy.
The bell rang, setting my wolf on edge as another tall, broad hunk walked through the door. With one look at the group, he joined Seth and the others, grabbing a menu and looking it over.
Something about him seemed almost familiar, but I was absolutely sure he’d never been in the cafe before, at least not whilst I’d been working.
I would definitely remember someone like him.
I mean, hot freaking damn.
He had to be the hottest dude I’ve ever seen, messy honey blonde hair, a slight scruff of a beard. Not the full kind but the, I haven’t shaved in a few days kind, which is a weird turn on for me.
Don’t judge me.
Even the rest of him was freaking impressive, the dude is built like a god damn tank. Every muscle looked damn near biteable.
Forcing myself to look away before I started to actually drool over some random guy, I plated up their order and carried it over.
The guys all took their food happily. As soon as the tray was empty, I turned my attention on the new guy.
“Can I get you anything?”
With a smile, his eyes lifted to mine.
“I’ll have a…”
His eyes darkened as they landed on me, his mouth hung open as he struggled to finish his sentence.
The table silenced as he growled out the one word I had been dreading for years. “Mate.”
Crap.
Crap, crap, crap.
“Not again.” I whispered as I backed away from the table, my eyes hard as I glared at my so called mate.