Chapter 45

The bell above the door chimes as another customer walks into The Matcha. I glance up from behind the counter, offering a welcoming smile out of habit. The café has been my refuge these past few weeks, a place where I can escape from the chaos of pack life and all the complications that come with being with Luke. In order to just take a step back and figure out what I want, I got a little gig. Here, everything is simpler—or at least, it usually is.

The woman who walks in is familiar. I’ve seen her around town before, though I can’t quite place her name. She’s in her late forties, with sharp features softened by age and dark hair streaked with gray. She’s dressed neatly, but there’s a stiffness in her posture that sets me on edge.

“Good afternoon,” I say as she approaches the counter. “What can I get for you today?”

Her eyes narrow slightly as she looks at me, and I feel a flicker of unease. There’s something in her gaze that’s not quite right—a coldness that makes my stomach tighten.