Help Wanted
SCARLETT
The drive through the city was tense.
At least, it was for the Alphas.
Rhys drove with the same effortless grace he always had, but something about him felt sharper today.
Kane occupied the passenger seat with his arms folded across his chest, his jaw set as he stared through the windscreen like he was imagining all the ways the city could be reduced to rubble.
Saint sat pressed against my side in the back, a quiet rumble vibrating through his chest whenever the car rolled over a bump.
Lily and I had made the decision together. We didn't want to spend two weeks sitting around their house, living off their money. We wanted to work—something temporary with hourly pay—and help with the cooking and cleaning while we stayed there.
It felt right.
Less like we were taking advantage of them.
Only Kaiden seemed genuinely unbothered. He sat beside the window, watching the city drift past with his usual calm expression.
Saint still hadn't said a word. His large hand rested on my thigh, his thumb moving in slow, absent circles. He wasn't happy about it either.
Outside, glass towers gave way to busy pavements filled with people hurrying through their morning routines.
Suddenly Lily leaned forward.
“Stop! Over there!”
Kane frowned. “What?”
Without question, Rhys eased the car towards the kerb.
Lily pointed excitedly at a small sign hanging outside a café.
HELP WANTED – SERVERS KITCHEN ASSISTANTS
Flexible hours · Daily pay available
Hope fluttered in my chest.
This could be exactly what we needed.
Lily turned to me with bright, hopeful eyes.
“This is it, Scar. Let's try.”
Rhys caught my gaze in the rear-view mirror. His expression gave little away, but the tightness around his mouth hadn't eased.
Kane twisted slightly in his seat.
“You're really going through with this, love?”
I nodded.
Silence settled over the car.
Finally Rhys let out a quiet breath.
“Fine,” he said. “But we stay close. You don't go in alone. If anything feels off, you leave immediately.”
Kane muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like “this is bullshit”, but he didn't argue further.
Saint's hand lingered on my thigh for another second before slipping away.
Kaiden climbed out first and held the door open for me, offering his hand.
“Come on,” he said with a small smile. “Let's see if they'll hire you.”
Lily and I exchanged determined smiles before climbing out.
The Alphas followed a few steps behind.
The moment we walked inside, warmth wrapped around us. The café smelled of freshly ground coffee, warm pastries, and something sweet baking somewhere out back.
Conversation softened.
Heads turned.
Or rather...
Eyes drifted to the four impossibly handsome men following behind us.
I breathed in carefully. Beneath the scent of coffee and sugar lingered the unmistakable scent of shifters—familiar and comforting.
Lily leaned closer.
“This place definitely belongs to shifters.”
I felt myself relax.
Most conservative humans still hid their dislike of shifters behind polite smiles, and finding work with them wasn't always easy. A café run by our own kind already felt like a safer place to start.
The café buzzed with quiet conversation. College students occupied most of the wooden tables with laptops and textbooks spread around them, while a handful of older customers sat in the corner with newspapers. Soft jazz drifted through the speakers.
Lily and I approached the counter where a woman in her late thirties stood behind the register. Her black apron was neatly pressed, and the badge pinned to it read:
Manager – Elena
Lily offered a polite smile.
“Excuse me. We saw the help-wanted sign outside. We're looking for part-time work for the next two weeks.”
Elena smiled politely, but her attention kept slipping past us.
Her cheeks gradually pinkened as she caught sight of the four men waiting near the entrance.
Kane's broad shoulders, Saint's towering frame, Rhys's effortless elegance, and Kaiden's quiet presence drew attention without any of them trying.
A table of young Omega women nearby had abandoned all pretence of subtlety, openly staring.
I turned and shot the Triumvirate a pointed look.
Tone it down.
Rhys noticed immediately and lifted a brow.
Kane looked thoroughly amused.
Saint only blinked at me in confusion.
Kaiden's mouth twitched.
I exaggerated every word.
Your pheromones.
Stop.
Kane's grin only grew wider.
He leaned down until his lips were close to my ear.
“Not our fault, love,” he said. “Your Alphas just smell that good.”
I rolled my eyes, earning a quiet chuckle from him.
To his credit, he reined it in.
Almost immediately, the dense Alpha scent hanging around the three of them eased, and the atmosphere inside the café became noticeably lighter.
Elena finally tore her attention away from the four men and cleared her throat.
“Sorry. Yes... the positions. We're looking for servers and kitchen assistants. The hours are flexible, and we can pay daily if that suits you.”
Lily's face lit up.
“That would be perfect.”
Elena's gaze shifted to me. She noticed the bandage wrapped around my throat before looking back at Lily.
“Do either of you have any experience?”
I shook my head and pulled the small notepad from my pocket, writing quickly.
I can't speak right now (injury), but I can write, serve, and I'm a hard worker.
She read the note before lifting her eyes to mine. Her expression softened.
“Alright,” she said with a small nod. “Let's talk details.”
Even with my back turned, I could feel the Triumvirate watching.
Their pheromones had eased, but their presence still commanded the room.