Chapter 12

**Kataleya POV**

The next two weeks passed quickly. I spent my time attending training with my father and when we were not on the field sparring, I was in his office with him learning the administration and paperwork aspect of being an Alpha. I learned what is expected of the Alpha and the type of problems that I would be expected to handle on my own. In my free time, most of which I did not have, Ollie and I would hang out or I would hang out with my brothers. Every day, I would still attend the advanced training with the other potential warriors. My brother was still leading these sessions with Justin, since we had yet to announce that I was taking the Alpha position.

For the past week and a half, Justin has been relentless in asking me out at the end of training and each time, I shoot him down with some excuse. Until three days ago, Michael finally pulled me aside after I shot Justin down again. Michael told me that he did not expect anything from me. Justin just wants to be friends with me. Michael had to remind myself that I cannot continually shut everyone out while I am Alpha and that Justin is a strong warrior, highly respected, and his parents were well-respected within the pack, despite not having grown up here. I realized that Michael had a point. I couldn’t continue to shut everyone out of my life just because of my trauma. Nothing had to happen that I didn’t want to happen. Friends. People are still only friends these days, right? I am used to people expecting something out of you, no matter the relationship that has been developed. Men always expect something from women, but Justin has never done anything that led me to believe that he held those types of beliefs. So, I finally conceded. The next day, when he asked me, he assured me he only wanted to be friends and he did not expect anything from me. Today, Justin, Ollie, Michael, and I were going to go to one of the local coffee shops in the pack, down on Main Street, for some of their coffee and pastries.

As I finished showering and putting my change of clothes on, Michael knocked on the locker room door, asking if I was ready.

“Coming,” I yelled through the door at him.

I race to finish putting my hair up and throwing my shoes on before heading outside the locker room. When I exited, I saw all three boys standing there waiting for me.

“Aren’t I special? I have three boys waiting for me.” The three of them chuckle as we start to make our way towards Main Street. Usually, each pack has its own little town inside of the pack. In the towns, there are typically little shops and stores that are owned by pack members, giving the members of the pack a chance to support their friends, family, and fellow pack members. While we sometimes have to leave the pack for things that are not currently offered within the pack, for the most part, we shop locally. My family owns several businesses that help support our pack. Businesses that will be run by Elijah, Michael, and I. We even have pack members that work inside of our business offices, which is extremely helpful when there are things going on within the pack that cannot be ignored, making it to where the Alpha has to handle it. My father did not have any siblings, so he is the sole owner of these businesses currently. Michael helps out when he can, but up until recently, Michael was pretty consumed with training to be the next Alpha.

“Which shop did you want to go to, Kat? There is Zidelia’s Coffee Shop or Rosemary’s Teas, Herbs, and Coffee.” Justin asked me.

“Hmmmm…I have been craving some of Zidelia’s Kringla. It is this Norwegian pretzel shaped pastry with assorted toppings, typically chocolate or almonds. The best one is the one with chocolate, but sometimes if you are nice enough to Zidelia, or you just happen to be her favorite customer, she will make you one of the Kringla’s with both types of toppings. It is to die for! And she has good lattes.” I told them. Zidelia’s grandmother, Ingrid, is Norwegian and passed down her family’s recipes to Zidelia before she passed, when she learned that Zidelia loved to bake with the hope of one day opening her restaurant. What makes Zidelia’s café interesting is the types of pastries that are served. Zidelia’s dad is originally from Argentina and her mother is Norwegian, so Zidelia decided to honor both sides of her culture by having a variety of dishes from both countries.

Michael laughs, “Kataleya, you have become obsessed with this woman’s baking. If I did not know better, you would live there if you could.”

“Hey now! You cannot deny the truth. Her pastries are to die for. You are just jealous you do not have her talent.” I exclaimed as I stuck my tongue out at him. He walks past me and ruffles my hair while laughing. I glanced over at Justin and Oliver to see that they were both laughing at me. What can I say? I just love her pastries.

We walk inside the door and the bell dings signaling that customers are walking in the door. The place is packed as I look around the room.

“See, I am not the only one that likes her pastries,” I said as I walked past Michael, nudging him in the ribs, as I walked towards the line to place my order. As I stepped to the counter to place my order, Zidelia walked out from the back room. Her face lights up when she sees me.

“How is my favorite customer?” She walks out from behind the counter and gives me a giant hug. “These boys had better be treating my little lady right.”

I laugh as I hug her back, “I guess they are doing an okay job, Mama Zidelia.” She gives my shoulder a squeeze and walks back behind the counter to take my order. “I want 2 Kringla’s, one almond and the other chocolate, and one of your vanilla lattes with three extra shots of espresso. Then, I am also getting whatever these three want too.”

Zidelia looked at the three boys behind me, appalled. “That just won’t do! Mama Zidelia is not going to allow you to come in here with three men and you pay for their food, even if one is your brother. So, which one of you is paying for the young lady's food and drink?”

I chuckle at Zidelia as Justin steps forward, stating that he will pay for everyone’s order.

Zidelia looks at Justin and gives him a nod of approval, “Now, that’s a real man compared to the other two buffoons you are travelling with.”

I looked at Justin and then glanced at the other two and laughed at them.

‘I will pay you back for our food.’ I linked Justin, only for him to glance at me with a confused expression, but he didn’t respond.

‘Why can’t you just let him pay for the food? Zidelia’s right, you know. At the very least, Michael or Oliver could have offered to pay for your order, instead of you buying everyone’s food.’ Skye tells me. I just laugh at my wolf. She firmly believes that chivalry is not dead. She has been nagging me constantly about being excited about finding my mate in less than four months, but honestly, I don’t want a mate. Men only drag you down, they take what they want, without any consideration for your wants and needs and that is just not something that I am able to handle right now.

After receiving our food and drinks, we made our way to the only table, located in the back of the café. Most of our conversation consisted of Ollie and I poking fun at Michael and his weird little quirks and Justin trying to get to know us better. I have never really talked to Justin and neither has Ollie, but Michael has hung out with him a few times after training.

I get up to go throw away my trash and Justin follows me. As we reach the trash can, our hands reach the receptacle at the same time and brush against each other. I quickly yanked my hand back as tingles and sparks shot up my arm, leaving my hand tingling.