Page 67 of Alpha's Hidden Gem

Axel,I murmur under my breath, not taking my eyes off the stranger.We've got company.

Axel quickly joins me, following my gaze. I feel him stiffen beside me, his own wolf no doubt sensing the same thing mine has.

Stay close,he sends through our bond, his hand brushing against the small of my back in a protective gesture.

Axel steps forward, his posture relaxed but alert. He extends a hand in greeting, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Welcome to The Night Owl. I'm Axel Anderson, the owner. And you are?"

The werebear clasps Axel's hand, his grip firm.

"Benjamin Grubs," he rumbles, his voice deep and gravelly. "I've heard good things about your establishment. I own a farm just outside of town, and I was wondering if you might be interested in sourcing some of your produce from us."

My eyes widen at the revelation. A werebear farmer? The supernatural world is even more diverse than I realized. Axel glances at me, a silent question in his eyes. I step forward, my curiosity overriding my initial caution.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Benjamin. I'm Lila Taylor, the head chef," I say, shaking his hand. His palm is rough and calloused, a testament to his work on the farm. "We're always looking forhigh-quality, locally sourced ingredients. What kind of produce do you offer?"

Benjamin's eyes crinkle with a smile. "We grow a variety of fruits and vegetables, all organic and sustainably farmed. Our specialties are heirloom tomatoes, rainbow chard, and honey from our own beehives."

My mouth waters at the description, my chef's brain already spinning with recipe ideas. "That sounds incredible," I say, trying to mask my excitement with a professional tone. "We'd love to see some samples and discuss potential partnerships."

Axel nods in agreement, his hand resting on the small of my back in a gesture of support. "Why don't you join us at the bar, Benjamin? We can discuss the details over a drink."

As we make our way to the bar, I can't help but marvel at the turn of events. When I started this journey, I never imagined I'd be negotiating business deals with werebears. It's a testament to how much my life has changed, and how much I still have to learn about this new world I've been thrust into.

Sophie catches my eye from across the room, her brow furrowed in concern. I give her a reassuring smile, silently communicating that everything is under control. She nods, turning back to her duties, but I can sense her curiosity from here.

As Axel pours Benjamin a glass of our signature craft beer, I take a moment to study our visitor more closely. Despite his imposing size, there's a gentleness to his demeanor, a warmth in his eyes that puts me at ease. My wolf, too, seems to have relaxed, sensing no threat from this unexpected guest.

As I lean forward to discuss the details of our potential partnership with Benjamin, I feel a flicker of excitement in my chest.

But just as I'm about to ask about his farm's delivery schedule, a loud crash echoes from the kitchen, followed by a string of panicked shouts. My heart leaps into my throat, and I'm on my feet in an instant, my senses on high alert.

What now?I think, fear and frustration warring within me.Can't we have just one night of peace?

Axel is by my side in a heartbeat, his eyes flashing with protective instinct. "Stay here," he growls, his voice low and urgent. "I'll go check it out."

I shake my head, my wolf's instincts surging to the surface.

"No, Axel. I need to handle this. It's my kitchen, my team."

I push past him, striding towards the kitchen with determination. As I burst through the swinging doors, I surveythe scene before me. One of the line cooks, a young man named Jace, is clutching his hand, blood seeping through his fingers. A large pot of bubbling pizza sauce has spilled across the floor, splattering the walls and countertops.

My wolf snarls, wanting to lash out at the incompetence, but I force her back. I take a deep breath, centering myself. "Jace, go see Mabel. She'll take care of your hand. Kate, help me clean up this mess."

Kate nods, grabbing a mop and bucket. As we work to clean the spilled sauce, I can feel her using her abilities to subtly calm the frayed nerves of the kitchen staff. The tension in the air eases, and everyone seems to focus better on their tasks.

I turn to the sous chef, a skilled woman named Maria. "How far behind are we on orders?"

She consults the ticket system, her brow furrowed. "Only a few minutes, Chef. We can catch up if we work together."

I nod, rolling up my sleeves. "Alright, everyone. Let's show them what we're made of. Maria, you're on pizza dough. Kate, switch to salads. I'll handle the sauces."

We move like a well-oiled machine, communicating seamlessly as we work to get the kitchen back on track. I feel a surge of pride as I watch my team rise to the challenge, their movements precise and efficient.

As the last of the delayed orders leaves the kitchen, I step back, wiping the sweat from my brow. Kate grins at me, her eyes sparkling with triumph. "We did it, Lila. You were amazing."

I smile back, feeling a new sense of confidence settling over me. "We all were. I couldn't have done it without you, without any of you."