Those Eyes
SCARLETT
Elena gestured toward a small side room behind the counter.
“Come with me. We’ll talk properly.”
Lily and I followed her into a quiet office that smelled faintly of coffee beans and lemon cleaner.
The space was neat but lived-in, with a small desk, two chairs, and a whiteboard listing the week’s staff rota.
Through the open door, I could still feel the weight of four pairs of eyes watching from the café.
Elena sat down and gestured for us to do the same.
“Alright,” she began, pulling out a simple form. “Since you’re only available for two weeks, I can offer you temporary shifts. We’re short-staffed right now, so it works for both sides.”
She flipped the form around so we could see it.
“The shifts are Monday to Saturday. Sundays are optional if you want the extra money. We open early, so the available hours are either the morning shift — 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — or the afternoon shift — 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. You’ll be paid daily at the end of each shift. Cash if you prefer.”
My eyes widened a little at the early start time.
Seven in the morning.
Lily looked at me, clearly thinking the same thing.
I wrote quickly on my notepad and showed it to Elena.
*Is the afternoon shift still available?*
Elena nodded. “Yes. I can put both of you on the one-to-seven shift for the next two weeks. You’ll mostly be serving customers, clearing tables, and helping in the kitchen during the lunch rush. Nothing too complicated.”
That sounded much better. The hours were long, but at least I wouldn't be dragging myself out of bed before sunrise.
“You'll need black trousers and a white shirt,” Elena continued. “We provide the aprons. Can you both start tomorrow?”
Lily looked at me.
I nodded.
“Yes,” she said. “We'll be here.”
“Perfect.” Elena reached for two employment forms. “Just bring some form of ID tomorrow and—”
“One until seven?”
The voice came from the doorway.
Every head turned.
Rhys stood there with one shoulder resting against the frame, arms folded across his chest. His face was composed, but I recognised the faint tightening of his jaw.
Uh-oh.
Kane appeared beside him a second later.
“One until seven?” he repeated. “Absolutely not.”
Elena blinked.
“I... I'm sorry?”
I quickly pulled out my notepad.
It's only two weeks.
Then I added another line.
The morning shift starts at seven. This one's better.
Kane read it, unimpressed.
“Neither option is good.”
Rhys pushed himself away from the door and stepped into the office.
“Forgive us,” he said politely. “We're not questioning your business. We're simply trying to find something that works for everyone.”
His tone was calm enough that Elena visibly relaxed.
“Would there be any flexibility?” he asked. “Perhaps midday until late afternoon.”
Kane folded his arms tighter.
“She isn't leaving the house before sunrise.”
“And she isn't walking back after dark,” Rhys added smoothly.
“Exactly.”
Elena looked between all four of us before giving an awkward little laugh.
“I suppose... twelve until five would actually work. That's when we're busiest anyway.”
Lily's face lit up.
I scribbled another note and held it toward Rhys.
That works.
He read it before giving a single nod.
“Thank you.”
Kane looked as though he wanted to argue anyway, but after a long moment he muttered,
“I'll survive five hours.”
“Barely,” Kaiden observed from the doorway.
We all turned.
He was leaning against the wall outside, hands tucked into his pockets, watching the exchange with quiet amusement.
Kane shot him a look.
“You're not helping.”
“I wasn't trying to.”
Elena let out the breath she'd clearly been holding.
“Right... then it's settled. Twelve until five. Monday through Saturday.”
She handed the paperwork across the desk.
“We'll see you tomorrow.”
As we left the office, Kane leaned down until his mouth was beside my ear.
“You're lucky you're cute, love.”
I looked up at him.
“Otherwise I'd have carried you back to the car before this conversation even started.”
I rolled my eyes.
Rhys's hand settled lightly against the small of my back.
“Twelve until five,” he said. “We'll drop you off.”
“And pick you up,” Kane added.
“Every day,” Saint said quietly.
“No exceptions,” Rhys finished.
I glanced at Lily.
She leaned close enough that only I could hear.
“Your Alphas are terrifying.”
I looked back at the four men trailing a few steps behind us.
Terrifying.
Overprotective.
Completely unreasonable.
Maybe.
But for the first time in a very long while...
I felt safe.
Rhys broke the comfortable silence.
“We're making one stop before we head home.”
I looked at him questioningly.
He was already scanning the street, alert without appearing tense.
“You haven't eaten enough today,” he said. “There's a little bistro a few blocks from here.”
I hesitated, shifting my weight. I still felt a little off after the whole job negotiation, and part of me just wanted to go back to the house and rest. I opened my notepad and wrote quickly.
I’m fine. We can just go home.
Kane took one look at the note and snorted. “Not happening, love.”
Saint was already nodding in agreement. There was kindness in his eyes, but not an ounce of hesitation.
Kaiden's mouth twitched.
“I don't think democracy exists in this relationship.”
“It doesn't,” Kane replied.
Rhys rested a hand against my back and guided me forward.
“Come along, darling.”
His voice was calm.
“It wasn't a request.”
Lily snorted beside me.
“I don't think any of you know what a request is.”
Kane looked genuinely puzzled.
“We do.”
Rhys answered without missing a beat.
“We simply weren't making one.”
Lily burst out laughing.
Even I couldn't stop smiling.
A few minutes later, we stopped in front of a quiet little place called The Honey Thorn. It looked expensive in a soft, understated way, dark wood, large windows, and the warm scent of baked goods and specialty coffee drifting out every time the door opened.
Saint moved first.
He stepped ahead of us and pulled the door open with one large hand, holding it wide. His expression was almost proud as he waited for us to enter.
I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. I dipped my head slightly in a playful bow and mouthed the words at him.
My perfect gentleman.
Saint’s ears went a little pink, and a soft, happy rumble left his chest.
I was still smiling when I stepped forward…
—and someone came rushing out of the café at full speed.
The impact was hard.
A solid body slammed into me with enough force to knock the air from my lungs. I stumbled backward, lost my balance, and hit the pavement. My head struck the ground with a sharp jolt of pain. A startled gasp tore from my throat as the world tilted for a second.
“Scar!” Lily cried, dropping beside me immediately.
I blinked hard, trying to clear the sudden dizziness. When my vision focused again, my eyes went wide.
Rhys already had the man by the throat.
He held him suspended with one hand, the man's feet hanging several inches above the ground as he clawed desperately at Rhys's wrist.
The calm was gone from Rhys's face.
His golden eyes had turned cold, fixed on the man's throat with terrifying focus, as though he were deciding exactly how much pressure it would take to crush his windpipe.
The air around him felt lethal.
Anyone looking at him would have known the same thing.
The man was only alive because Rhys hadn't decided otherwise.
But none of that was what made my blood run cold.
Because beyond the hand wrapped around his throat...
I saw them.
A pair of familiar amber-gold eyes stared down at me in stunned recognition.
I knew those eyes.
My lips parted in a silent gasp.