Chapter 26 Mercer
MERCER
The patisserie didn’t feel the same anymore on Summer’s day off. After realizing I was not needed as my staff could function just fine without me, I picked up Summer’s cupcake pen and drew aimlessly on an old receipt so all the jaunty rainbow lights lit up.
“How was Applecloud Farm?” Camille asked.
“Yeah, good,” I said distractedly, making loop-de-loops.
“Soooooo…do we have a new fruit supplier?”
I vaguely clocked her slow, well-enunciated words like she was talking to a toddler.
“Huh? Oh. That. Yes, we do.” I scrunched up the paper and threw it in the trash. It bounced off the edge and landed on the floor. Couldn’t do anything right today.
All I could see was the look on Summer’s face. The furious line of her mouth and indignant flashing eyes was bad enough. But her balled-up fists and ashen complexion haunted me.
If I had been an alpha, he would’ve scented me on her and known not to even try.
My dumb flower didn’t even survive.
I blinked and Camille was still talking.
“Fantastic. Excellent business-ing. Why don’t you go home? Annoy Lucien and Jae instead,” she said, using a wooden spoon to pat the top of my head.
I probably should. Maybe I wouldn’t be useless there.
“All right, I will.”
My sous chef was now poking me in the back. I think she wanted me to move faster. My dragging feet stuttered to a stop when I reached the dining area, and Camille started praying for strength behind me.
“What the…”
Felix was a snoozing puddle on one of the long benches. I could already see orange and white hairs getting squashed permanently in the velvet fibers.
“He’s been here all day.” Camille shrugged, like having a live fur explosive sitting in our food business was perfectly normal.
“I guess we should hope he can use his mayoral clout on the health inspector,” I sighed.
Felix’s eyes snapped open. His bushy tail rose gracefully into the air like a peacock as he stretched himself out and yawned.
“Going to rub yourself on someone else’s furniture?” I asked.
His pupils shrank rapidly into slits.
I should not have said that.
Camille screamed as Felix leaped behind the counter in a graceful arc. I swore he was airborne for a full minute. Chaos erupted. Graham face-planted trying to avoid him, Inez’s dropped plate shattered, and customers crashed into each other like bowling pins.
Mental note: Do not disrespect Felix ever again.
A blur with a croissant in his mouth scampered across the length of my shop in two bounds. Jesus Christ, he was fast. Felix timed his escape perfectly as Carmen and Marisol entered, laughing and oblivious.
“Come back here, you fluffy bastard,” I growled, diving between them and bolting out onto the street.
Marisol chuckled, preening her hair. “Goodness, I’ve been called a lot of things but that’s a new one.”
“I’m not getting told off at the next town meeting!” I yelled over my shoulder.
“Better hurry, Mercer!” Carmen sang out.
Fuck, where did he go? There he was. Sitting calmly on the opposite corner, the croissant bigger than his head. Waiting for me.
Or taunting me. That was more likely.
I swore as he scurried away again, shedding buttery flakes as he went. Just my luck that he was headed straight for the one person I did not want to witness this: James, hand in hand with his bonded alpha Rome.
I knew they had moved to town last year from New York. They were one of the first customers on Patisserie L’étoile d’Or’s opening day, sharing that they had met waiting in line for one of my croissants five years ago and congratulating me on my success.
“This is your hometown? I knew there was a reason I was so drawn to that job listing here,” Rome said, shaking my hand.
“Yes. Even though we found our pack in Starlight Grove, we’ve been incomplete until now,” James added brightly.
“Don’t mind James. He is conveniently forgetting that he talked about that croissant for two weeks straight.”
They were very lovely people. Exactly who I wanted to make a fool of myself in front of.
Maybe if James saw that I was trying to stop Felix, I wouldn’t get made an example of in front of the whole town.
“Grab him!” I shouted.
James caught sight of Felix and exhaled loudly. “Babe, could you come at him from the side while I approach him head-on?” he asked Rome, resigned.
“Of course.” The alpha seemed amused. Why wouldn’t he be? I was a grown man chasing a cat with a croissant. And now we were three grown men chasing a cat with a croissant.
Thank god our triangulated approach worked and James managed to scoop up Felix.
“This is for your own good,” he said sternly, prying the pastry from his jaws. Felix yowled at James for keeping him from his one true love, ricocheted off his shoulder, and scampered away.
James held out the raggedy, teeth-marked croissant. “I believe this is yours.”
“I don’t know what came over him,” I lied through my teeth about insulting Felix and tossed the pastry in a nearby trash can.
Rome scraped his dark hair off his forehead with a good-natured laugh. “James, I think your presentations are emboldening him.”
“I know,” the vet groaned. “I was thinking the same thing. But Ivy likes helping me make the posters so much I don’t think I can stop. She’s so excited to color code his weight chart against data she’s found on similar breeds.”
Ivy. That’s right. James was in a pack with Summer’s friend.
A beta, packed up with an omega.
“Can I ask you something?” I blurted.
Both their heads swiveled toward me.
“How…” My tongue was lead in my mouth. “How did you end up with an omega when you’re a beta?”
Fuck, that was tactless. I should’ve put more than two brain cells’ worth of thought into how I phrased it.
“Sorry, I didn’t…that came out wrong. I didn’t mean that you shouldn’t be with her. Of course you should be with her. But how did you get past omegas and alphas being the ones who are supposed to be together?”
I winced at my word vomit, but James and Rome didn’t seem offended.
A wordless exchange passed between them.
“Let me answer,” Rome said to James affectionately.
“I want to.” Two spots of color appeared on the beta’s cheeks as Rome turned back to me.
“Don’t let anyone make you think your designation makes you lesser than.
James is the only reason we’re a pack right now,” he said frankly.
I didn’t expect that.
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but alphas and omegas can be too instinct-driven sometimes.
We’re totally uncivilized.” Rome winked like I was in on the joke instead of the butt of it.
“James balances us. He makes Ivy feel safe if she’s overwhelmed by our alpha natures.
Keeps our heads clear when our pheromones are running hot.
Well, unless they’re the fun ones,” he added smoothly.
Right. Heats.
“So, um, there’s no problems in that department?”
I felt blood rush to my face and neck the moment I said it.
James frowned at Rome. “I’m insulted.”
“No, Mercer,” he assured me. “Trust me when I say that James has creative ways to keep Ivy happy that continually surprise Logan and me.”
Well, it was good that I got my answer because I was ready for the ground to open up so I could begin my descent into the earth’s core.
“Mercer.” James’s easy nature vanished, and he held me with a look that saw far too much. “Being a beta isn’t a consolation prize. We’re pretty damn great. All right?”
I remembered Summer and the brambles. Holding on to me so tight, like I was her lifeline.
Scent-mark me.
I need you.
I was a dumbass. Focusing on the wrong fucking thing. The alpha didn’t matter. She did.
“I gotta go.” I said, already turning to leave. “Thanks for…all of it.”
“Good luck with Summer!” Rome called.