~15~

Bruce's POV

The cafe wasn't anything fancy like the ones on those brain numbing celebrity shows. This one had a homey touch to it. Even for someone like me who has never felt like that, I strangely felt at peace in this cafe.

I ignored the eyes on me and walked straight to the counter, itching to see his face again for reasons I didn't know. Instead I saw a face I would be better off without seeing.

"Hi, what would you like to order?" The male asked with a bored lilt.

He must be the guy those two idiots saw with the omega

"Where is he?"

The guy behind the counter was confused. "Who?"

"The male omega that works here"

"We don't have any male omega working here"

I was all kinds of angry and itching to break a neck, including the idiot in front of me as well as the other two who dare lie to me.

"Mason I need help with th–"

He came out of the backroom with a tray of lemon meringue cookies. I felt a pang in my chest and his scent of strawberries and cream filled my nostrils.

He was my mate

Beryl's POV

They say the time you finally meet your mate is the most magical moment of your life, sparks flying and all the fairytale stuff.

It's said that they will love you unconditionally and put you before everything,and the most important...stay with you forever.

That wasn't it for me

I was terrified, nervous and my heart pounding so loud the whole cafe must have heard. Looking at him again and clearly for the first time, I was scared...scared of getting rejected.

He was tall, dressed in style and all black with muscles straining. I never thought that the person I helped clean his wound would turn out to be my mate. I didn't care that he was in the mafia, I had my own problems to take care of. To me this was a one time thing and could never happen again

I was sorely mistaken

I carefully handed over the tray to Mason who looked between us before leaving to serve the customer

"What...what would you like to order?"

I could feel his eyes boring holes in my head.I didn't look up and kept my eyes on the iPad

"Coffee, black. No sugar" His voice was rich and deep, sending signals to my lower body.

This isn't the time to get hard, calm down little one

"Okay. Should I....add a name?"

I looked up the moment he leaned down, our lips almost touching. I could feel my face getting red, I tried backing up but I couldn't move. I was stuck standing like a deer in headlights and his pheromones weren't making it easier.

He leaned down and whispered in my ear "It's Bruce Valeska, amar"

My hear thumped at the sound of the pet name

Valeska, that name sounds familiar

He stepped back and winked, not helping the blush on my face settle down or my beating heart. I quickly did his order and handed it to him, looking away. I didn't want those 'sparks to fly'. Sooner or later he'd see me as a burden and useless.

Just like my father

I may have escaped that prison of a mansion but his words are always stuck in my head....on repeat.

He took me by surprise,lifting my chin and placing a chaste kiss on my lips

"Sweet" He murmured and licked his lips, smirking. I immediately backed away, my heart pounding and my nerves haywire.

"See you soon amar"

After he left, the cafe became a haze in my eyes. His voice, lips, face....every was playing on repeat inside my head. I imagined him closer to me, nothing in the way. No counter, no clothes....

Just us

Like he'll ever accept you my inner thoughts taunted. It could be right, he might even wash away his touch once he gets home. He's probably just flirting for the love of it.

I was suddenly pulled to the storage room by Esme with Mason following.

"What the hell was that? Who is he?" Mason seethed.The female alpha just looked at me expectantly.

I scratched the back of my head, dreading the conversation yet to happen

"He's....my mate"

Esme released my hand and stepped back. Mason mirrored a look of disbelief and pain. I felt bad that he felt that way. I knew he always liked me more than he let on and I told him on several occasions that I didn't like him that way.

"I–"

"How did it feel like? Have you met him before?"

This was the part I dreaded the most. I couldn't just tell them that the blood they saw on the wall was his mad that there's a high probability that he's part of the mafia. They don't need to know that

"N–no, this is...the first time"

"But the way he talked to you....and that kiss! You two have definitely met somewhere. Spill the beans Beryl" Esme gushed.

"How do you know that? What if he just used his pheromones" Mason grabbed my shoulders, shaking me painfully. I winced from how tightly he was holding me

"Let go Mace, you're hurting him" Esme pulled him away from me. He looked mad and pushed pass Esme and I, leaving the cafe

"I feel bad for Mason"

"Huh? Why?"

"I know he liked me more than friends mad now that I have a mate..."

I felt bad for all this. I didn't lead him on and he wasn't actually hiding that fact that he likes me. Honestly I was glad he became my friend, I just did like that he was in love with me. He could meet his mate any day and with him still harbouring feelings for me, it's going to be difficult for him

Esme smacked me upside the head. "Are you dumb or just plain stupid?"

"What?"

"You did tell him that you don't like him that way,so there's nothing to worry about. If he's your friend he won't still be butthurt over you finding your mate"

I sighed and glanced at the wall clock in the store room.....an hour to closing.

"Let's get ready to close up"

The rest of the day went by in a blur,Esme tended to the last customer and closed up. Mason didn't come back to the cafe.

Driving home,I thought of Bruce again. He's been on my mind since we met. How his lips felt against mine, soft and sweet. His voice octaves lower. The teasing smirk which caused me to blush.

He was the only thing playing on repeat inside my head. I parked the car on the driveway and turned off the engine, making no move to get out. I just sat there..... taking in all what happened today.

My phone rang,pulling me out of my daydream. Mason's name glowed as the caller. I sighed, took a deep breath and picked the call

"Mason...?"

"Beryl, can we talk?"

It's happening, he's really going to end our friendship.

"Alright, I'm at home"

"I'll be there in 10"

I hanged up and leaned on the headrest. This was definetly not how I thought my day would go along, then again it never goes as planned

I got out of the car and into my house, locking the door. Placing my keys in the bowl on the coffee table and heading to the kitchen, I took the lasagna mom dropped off and heated it up to eat.

I was startled when I heard the doorbell. It hasn't even been 8 minutes. I opened it to see Mason outside and let him in. The atmosphere was tense and awkward between us. Mason didn't say anything when I let him in and kept his gaze on the floor.

"You want something to dr–"

"Is he really your mate?" He asked in a pained whisper. There was a faint scent of alcohol on his breath.

"Yes" I breathed out shakily. Mason was drunk,he has no control over his actions right now and I'm getting wary.

"I don't trust him.... he looked shady. He can't.... can't be y–your mate" He staggered and I led him to the living room, placing him on the couch

"But he is, Mace. If you're really my friend you will accept him as my mate"

He gripped my arm tightly making me wince and suddenly let go.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean t–"

"I'm fine Mace, it doesn't hurt" He sighed and rubbed his temple.

"I want to apologize for what I did back at the cafe.... I'm sorry I did all that" He hung his head. I patted his shoulder to assure him that I wasn't mad.

"But I still don't like him.... nevertheless I'm happy for you" He grumbled. I snickered and pulled his ear. I'm glad we're still friends

A/N

So I felt really bad for how I left the last chapter, it wasn't what I intended to write so this chapter is an apology for my half assed work

Thanks for reading 🦋