Maple
After packing a weeks’ worth of clothes from her cramped apartment Maple moved them over to Raymand’s house. Dealing with some issues at the store constantly mixed with thoughts of the alpha. She wanted the stubborn alpha so bad she could barely focus on anything else.
Maple picked up Cora without incident and took her back to the bookstore, so she could deal with the man trying to close down her store. She scanned the place hoping for her fresh start to finally come together. Ideas of Cora running around when she became ten or even when she hit her teenage years and wanting to read romance books flittered through her mind.
She placed her hand on her lips remembering the hot kiss from the night before. She hoped tonight Cora slept better so she could complete the bond with the alpha. If they waited too much longer she would be getting a completely different fresh start as a werewolf with no wolf side. She pushed the idea back and determination coursed through her body to complete the bond tonight.
Images of Raymand dirtying up the whole place consumed her thoughts. She licked her lips and tried to calm her racing heart.
Cora skipped around the kid section of books while Maple forced herself to take inventory off the newest books she ordered when she first arrived. She had to open soon, or she could face other problems.
“Cora, how was school?” Maple slid into the kids’ area, glancing at the shelves.
“Okay, I guess. My wolf friends are avoiding me.” Cora’s foot rapped the wood shelf.
“Why is that?” Maple put her clipboard down and studied the little girl. She didn’t like the idea of other kids being mean to her sweet Cora. Crap, I’m really attached to her now. Maple took a second while Cora stared at the floor. I need to get Raymand to keep Cora with us.
“One said I might put a target on them. Another said her mom told her to stay away.” Cora sniffled. Maple pulled Cora into a hug. The pain pulsing from Cora broke Maple’s heart.
“They will come around once we get these hunters.” Maple hugged her tighter. The front door opened and closed quickly putting Maple on edge, instantly her wolf lurched forward ready to shift.
“Excuse me, are you the owner?” A timid voice came from the front of the store. Maple stood and pushed Cora behind her. Her wolf paced at the edge of her mind.
“Who’s asking?” Maple hated being on her guard all the time, but she needed to keep Cora safe no matter what.
“I’m the lease owner of this strip, Don Douglas.” He cleared his throat. His shaggy blonde hair gave Maple the stoner impression. And the scent of weed lingered in the air didn’t help his cause. You have to be kidding me, now the store will stink for days. Her wolf growled inside her mind.
“I see. Well then, we’ll be open tomorrow, so we aren’t in violation of our contract.” Maple inched over to face him better. His dress shirt clashed with his cargo black pants. He scratched the back of his head. The motion made Maple’s stomach tighten.
“We have another issue I’m afraid.” He stepped closer but had the door to his back like he wanted to be prepared for a quick escape. Maple wondered how the man could give her aunt the lease in the first place but not want to deal with her. I mean what the ever-loving hell happened?
“What now?” Maple folded her arms in front of her chest. She didn’t like where this headed one bit.
“Well, there have been threats to me if you reopen the store.” His eyes bounced around the room and never fully met her gaze. Cora shuffled around some of the books and the man’s eyes glanced to Maple’s side.
“What threats? And why now?” Maple glanced back to make sure Cora couldn’t be seen.
“When I gave the contract to your aunt, most didn’t know she had a wolf and now they do.” He paused and rolled his shoulders. “Now they’re threatening to not shop on the whole strip if it’s reopened by another werewolf.” He lifted his hands up like he’d never received a threat before in his life.
“Sounds like a personal problem. I can’t help you there.” Maple shrugged. She didn’t give two shits about wolf haters and she didn’t need their business either.
“But I can terminate the contract.” His voice gained some confidence as he took one more step toward Maple. The front door could fully swing open if someone else decided to come in.
“You can’t do that without my consent. I need to keep this store open or I won’t have any money. I spent the last of my savings on inventory.” Maple pointed toward the boxes on the main counter. And her fresh start on her own would go up in freaking flames.
“Sounds like a personal problem.” He shrugged back. Anger simmered under her skin, Maple struggled to keep it down and not explode on the man making her life hell.
“I’m going to call my lawyer.” Maple pulled out her phone.
“You mean the divorce attorney?” He laughed making Maple’s skin crawl. She resisted the urge to run across the store and punch the fucker in the face.
“It’s illegal to discriminate against werewolves and these threats are minor compared to the backlash you’ll have on your hands when the werewolf community hears about it.” Maple clenched her fist at her side, she barely managed to not crush her phone in the other hand.
“Are you threatening me now?” He gained even more confidence in his voice.
“I don’t make threats. I make promises.” Maple took a calculated step toward him, and his eyes flashed with hints of fear.
“And what promises can you make? You’re a low-level wolf trying to open a bookstore. Can your species even read?” He tilted his head. Cora growled low from Maple’s side.
“Go grab a book or play over there, sweetheart.” Maple pointed to back where she had been before. Cora nodded and glared at the man while listening to Maple. Hints of relief filled her that Cora actually listened to her.
“For your information, I imprinted the alpha last night,” Maple said once Cora sat down with her book. She lied through her teeth. Maple needed this freaking store to open tomorrow and if a little lie did the trick she would use it.
“Which means?” He shrugged and grinned like a fucking idiot. Maple stepped toward him while keeping Cora in her line of sight.
“Which means I’m in charge of the pack myself only second to the alpha.” Maple growled. Images of punching the man’s teeth out were placed there by her wolf. Her human side itched to do just that.
“So, because you fucked the boss it means you can rule the other wolves. It sounds a little wrong don’t you think?” He rubbed his chin. Maple took in a deep breath. The scent of weed grew stronger, and her wolf winced, but Maple pushed through it.
“You need to get out of my store. Unless you have papers telling me to leave, I’m not going anywhere.” Maple pointed toward the door.
“Oh, my lawyer is bringing them right now.” He pulled out a tape measure with two large Ds and an A on the side. “I would like to do a few measurements while I wait.” He tapped on the metal cover while his brown eyes glanced around the room again.
“You can go sit over there until he arrives then.” Maple pointed to the chairs to her left. He glared at Maple then shuffled over to the seating area. Maple grabbed her phone and dialed Drake while she checked on Cora.
“Sweetheart, can you come here and help me?” Maple motioned for Cora to come with her.
“What’s up, Maple?” Drake answered after a few rings while Cora followed Maple.
“We have a problem.” She hissed over the phone and placed her hand on Cora’s back leading her to the back room. The window gave her a good view of the fucker while giving her privacy.
“What? Hunters?” Drake’s voice came through worried.
“No, the lease owner is threatening to terminate the contract because he is receiving threats.” Maple held back her growl. The man peeked through the curtains and then glanced around the shop.
“Are you fucking kidding?” Drake shuffled around on his end.
“No, he said his lawyer is coming over now.” Maple glanced at the door, but it didn’t open.
“I can’t leave for another ten minutes but Raymand just left. Maybe he can help.” Drake sounded unsure at the idea of Raymand being able to help.
“How can he help me right now?” Maple didn’t like all this shit. She had wanted an easy fresh start, but everything turned into a freaking fight. A fight to keep the store, a battle to keep Cora and a struggle to find her place by Raymand’s side. Her shoulders fell when the man stood.
“Well he is the alpha,” Drake reminded her. She swallowed hard as she remembered the lie she told the lease owner. If Raymand contradicted her, then she would look like an idiot. Yet the damage had been done.
“Well I told him I’m the alpha’s mate, it didn’t faze him.” Maple growled. The door chimed making Maple’s heart fall. Another male in a full black suit slipped into the store.
“Try and stall. I’m almost done here.” Drake ended the call leaving Maple in a slight panic.
“You can do this.” Cora smiled, giving her a small boost. Maple pulled her into a quick hug and kissed her head.
“Thank you, sweetheart. I need you to stay quiet over in the kid area okay?”
“I can do that for you.” Cora’s grin brightened. Maple kissed her head again before stepping back out. The ass hat stoner measured the door before turning around.
“Shall we begin?” he asked. Don’t punch him in the face. She repeated the words as she headed into the battle.