When Rolan retreated into the back room, I began wiping down the remaining tables, servicing the last few patrons of the day. A few regulars noticed my distress and offered soft words of comfort, but how could I calm down? Peachfuzz had already survived human cruelty once before... and now he was being hurt and targeted for execution all over again. No matter how many warning signs we posted, humans acted like brainless fools, completely ignoring the basic rules of a shifter-adjacent space.
"Are you about to burst into tears?"
The voice dropped over the table I was wiping. Looking up, I instantly recognized the young male sliding into the booth. He was wearing the exact same clothes as the day he had come in to pick up takeout with Adam.
Askold.
A sharp shiver skittered across my skin at the mere sight of him; his aura was thick, crushing, and distinctly predatory, triggering every natural urge in me to put distance between us.
"No... what makes you say that?" I pulled a menu from my apron and laid it in front of him. "If you’re planning to order, please be quick. We’re closing soon."
"What do you recommend?" He didn’t bother opening the menu, fixing his eyes on me instead.
"Depends on what you like, but I’d suggest the carrot cake with walnuts and raisins."
"Got a sweet tooth, do you?" He let out a low, amused huff. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out his wallet and dropped a crisp bill onto the wooden table. "I’ll take the whole cake. Carrot."
"We... we don’t have change for this," I stammered, staring at the bill in absolute shock. It was a staggering amount of money for someone who did not even have a change of clothes.
Askold simply shrugged his broad shoulders.
"Keep it as a tip," he said smoothly, resting his chin on his steepled fingers. He tilted his head sideways, causing his unruly dark curls to fall slightly away from his eyes—intense, piercing irises of vibrant green laced with striking streaks of icy blue.
"I can’t possibly take this. Let me run to the shop next door to break it, or—"
"Keep it for yourself or donate it to the café. I don’t care. I don’t need it."
"Ah, you made it, kid. Good." Rolan stepped out of the back room, letting out a breath of visible relief when he spotted the young Alpha. He walked over, gesturing toward the rabbit’s enclosure. "Askold, listen... you don’t happen to want a rabbit, do you?"
Askold let out a sharp, mocking laugh that cut through the quiet room.
"Old man, have you completely lost your mind?" he sneered, his lip curling in disgust. "The only way I’m taking that thing home is if it’s going straight into a stew pot."
The sheer coldness of his words sent a sickening shudder straight down my spine.
"Those rabbits aren’t suitable for a stew!" I blurted out, unable to restrain myself as I snapped forward. "They are ornamental!"
Askold turned his head toward me with agonizing slowness, his icy gaze dragging across my face. Cold and calculating, the look made every instinct urge me to hide, but I forced myself to stand my ground, my hands curled into tight fists.
"They work just fine," he muttered, stepping toward the enclosure and crouching down, resting his elbows on his knees.
He extended a broad hand into the pen and stroked the rabbit gently between the ears. To my utter shock, Peachfuzz didn’t flinch, recoil, or attempt to bite. The creature simply froze, pressing his ears flat for a second before visibly relaxing under his touch, leaning into his palm as if seeking comfort.
I stood frozen beside them, unable to believe my own eyes. The rabbit that had just mauled a child and hissed at every passing human was now sitting peacefully beneath Askold’s broad hand, perfectly tranquil, as though they were old friends.
Rolan stepped out of the back room carrying a small cardboard box, handing it to the young Alpha as he stood back up to his full height.
"Here. Take this," Rolan said, and Askold took the box with a nod without looking down.
As he turned toward the exit, the rabbit suddenly bounded out of the open enclosure, hopping across the tiled floor after his boots as if desperate not to be left behind. The sight was so absurd that I couldn’t stop a soft laugh from escaping my lips, my hand rushing to cover my mouth.
"Looks like he’s claimed you as his mate," I said, catching my breath. "Wait right there—I’ll bring out your cake!"
Askold halted by the heavy glass door, turning around to stare down at the rabbit with an unreadable expression.
"Alright, that’s settled," Rolan sighed, ducking into the back room again and emerging with a wire travel cage, a bag of food, and a few chew toys. "Take the whole kit. He chose you, kid, which means he’s your responsibility now."
Askold swore violently under his breath, the raw language making my cheeks burn, but he accepted the cage anyway, gently ushering the unresisting rabbit inside. He slung the bag of supplies over his broad shoulder. I hurried toward the display fridge to fetch his order, but as I re-entered the hall, the front door was already swinging shut behind him.
"Everyone’s invited over to Adam’s place for rabbit barbecue!" he called out over his shoulder in a dark growl.
My heart skipped a beat at his words, but then I caught the faint, barely perceptible smirk playing on his lips, realizing he was only teasing.
"He forgot his cake..." I turned to Rolan, a burning question hovering on the tip of my tongue.
"He said the cake was a gift for you," Rolan said with a fond chuckle, wiping down the counter. "He passed along a message that a pretty Omega shouldn’t be sulking over spoiled brats."
A deep blush crept up my neck as I looked down at the box resting on the counter. My favorite cake. I never expected a harsh, brooding Alpha to hand me a treat just to chase away my gloom.
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