He had no doubt his friends would do just that. They would rally around him and face the fire head-on, but he couldn’t risk them. He wouldn’t.
Once or twice, he had even reconsidered involving Dominic. Only the reality of his situation stopped him from calling and canceling his request.
He didn’t have the skills, the resources, or even the time to track down his mother on his own, but Dominic had magic. That new detail might tip the scales in his favor. The wolf could clearly take care of himself, and he might be one of the few people who could hold his own against someone like Valerie Halloway.
Besides, Sammy just needed to find her. After that, he would deal with whatever came next—alone.
He was getting ahead of himself, though. First, he had to figure out how to convince the alpha to return his phone calls. He didn’t relish the idea of spilling his guts in a voicemail, but he had to say something, preferably without coming off as dramatic or hysterical.
Sighing, he glanced at his phone again. Still dark. Still silent.
Whatever. He’d figure it out later. Right then, he needed to focus on his customers.
The Cherry on Top didn’t have waitstaff—counter service only—but he liked to wander through the tables, greet new patrons, and check in with his regulars. Sure, he had talent in the kitchen, but in Hunters Hollow, respect counted for a hell of a lot more than a decent cupcake.
Taking a deep breath, he tugged at the ends of his flannel shirt and adjusted the sleeves. Then he pulled his shoulders back, pasted on a smile, and turned to face the dining room.
Only…the bakery was empty.
Sammy tilted his head, a frown forming at the corners of his mouth as he stared out at the vacant tables. Many held the remnants of recent use. A coffee mug. A saucer dotted with crumbs. A half-eaten danish.
Had he been so distracted that he hadn’t noticed them leave? And why all at once? Had something happened outside?
“What the hell?” he muttered to himself, his gaze flickering toward the front windows.
“If you want to know something, you should ask me yourself.”
Sammy yelped, his voice ringing throughout the bakery, and leapt back from the counter like he’d been electrocuted.
Standing at least a foot taller than him and dressed all in black, the stranger appeared from seemingly nowhere, materializing on the other side of the counter. He had his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his leather jacket, but there was an intensity about him, a presence that took up more space than seemed logical.
Glossy, almost metallic, eyes the color of polished copper stared back at him, shadowed by a heavy brow ridge and high cheekbones.
“Oh, sorry,” he said, chuckling nervously and placing a hand over his racing heart. “You startled me. Welcome to Cherry on Top.”
The stranger didn’t respond. He just stared, his eyes piercing into Sammy as if trying to peer into his soul.
He was handsome in a wild, dangerous kind of way. Intense, yes, but objectively gorgeous with a warm cinnamon complexion that contrasted his icy demeanor. His dark hair had been secured at the nape with an elastic band, but a thick strand had escaped to curl around his neck.
A detail Sammy found highly distracting for reasons he didn’t quite understand.
Swallowing thickly, he took another step back, putting more distance between them. “Can I get you anything?”
The male opened his mouth, but instead of a coffee or pastry order, a dark, ominous growl spilled from his parted lips. Low and rumbling, it reverberated around the room like distant thunder, sending a shiver up Sammy’s spine and making the hair on his arms stand on end.
“I don’t want any trouble,” he said, holding his hands up in a conciliatory gesture.
The growling stopped, and the stranger crooked his head to the side. Then a slow, cocksure smile quirked one side of his mouth.
“And yet, trouble found you anyway.”
“Who are you?” But even as the words left his mouth, a part of him already knew.
“Guess,” the male taunted.
Sammy’s breath caught, and he reached for the counter behind him to steady himself. “Dominic Rivas.”
Chapter four