Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

161 Chapter 161

Seraphina’s POV 1

The clock above register three showed 8:47 PM. Thirteen minutes past my normal shift. Thirteen minutes past when I should have been walking out the door, heading home to my sad dinner of instant noodles and whatever was left of that questionable bread.

Instead, I was still here. Covering for Mia. Again.

“Next!” I called out, my voice hoarse from eight straight hours of fake cheerfulness.

A teenager shuffled forward with an armload of energy drinks and candy bars. Perfect. Another customer who’d probably pay with crumpled dollar bills and loose change while I stood here pretending my feet weren’t screaming in pain.

“ID?” I asked automatically when I saw the energy drinks.

He rolled his eyes dramatically. “Seriously? They’re not even the hardcore ones.”

“Store policy.”

He dug through his wallet, muttering under his breath about uptight cashiers and stupid rules. Behind him, three more customers waited with the patience of hungry wolves.

This was supposed to be Mia’s problem. Mia should be here dealing with teenage attitude and the growing line of increasingly annoyed

shoppers. But no-Mia was off somewhere with Tuesday Derek, probably laughing and having actual fun while I covered her ass.

Again.

The energy drink kid finally found his ID and slapped it down on the counter. Eighteen years old. Legal. I scanned his items and told him

the total.

“Twelve sixty-seven.”

He started counting out singles. Slowly. Like each dollar bill required careful consideration.

“Come on, man!” someone shouted from the back of the line. “Some of us got places to be!”

The kid’s hands started shaking. “Sorry, sorry. I got it somewhere…”

I felt a stab of sympathy. He was just a kid. Nervous. Probably spent his last bit of money on caffeine to get through a night shift at some

other dead-end job.

time,”

voice from the line. “Are you counting

with the

out to the line. “Give him a minute, okay?

I noticed

18:28

1/3

wearing a stained work shirt and emanating the kind of aggressive energy that made my survival instincts

teenager finally gathered his dropped bills and counted out the exact change. I handed him his receipt

good night,”

bag and

moved up to third in line. “Jesus Christ, kid. Maybe learn to count

gritted my teeth.

of groceries and an apologetic

everyone’s in

starting to scan her items. Milk, bread, baby formula. A working

day.

Mr. Angry was getting

minutes! You got one cashier

over the customer’s head, “we have three registers open. If you’d like

was here first! You people need

clench. But I forced my

you’re frustrated, sir. We’re

“Your best sucks!”

woman in front of me looked embarrassed. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “He’s been

told her, keeping my voice

paid quickly and gathered her bags. “Good luck,” she murmured

Angry stepped up to my register like he was approaching a battlefield: Up close, he

that looked like they could crush a beer

dumping his items on the belt. Beer, cigarettes, lottery

shit together.

of right away, sir,” I said, starting to scan