by J. E. Cluney
© 2019 J.E. Cluney
All Rights Reserved
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Chapters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
1
I surveyed the bustling bar with keen eyes, keeping an eye on the waitresses as they served the food and drinks.
The bar was cozy and quaint, but big enough to serve a decent amount of people. There was even a dance floor at one end, and pool tables and darts. The walls were painted in a deep maroon, giving the area a warm feel. The bar was topped with polished pine, and the booths were brown leather with wooden tables.
Set in a town not far from the city, we got our fair share of patrons returning from their office jobs in those towering buildings that I despised.
The delectable scents from the kitchen wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of alcohol, sweat, and people. People, especially humans, were made up of so many smells. You could smell if they had drugs in their systems, if they were stressed or on edge, if they were about to do something stupid. They carried with them the scent of the city, of bustling crowds and dingy stations, of old pizza and early morning coffee.
Patrons from all walks of life visited our little bar on the corner, ‘Wade’s Place’. Wade, the owner and manager, was off tonight. The loner wolf had offered me the job as soon as he recognized I was one of his own. He knew it would mean I could take care of myself and protect the girls if needed.
“Another round of rum and cokes for the ladies,” Jacinta sighed as she strode up to the bar with her serving tray in hand.
I nodded briskly and got to work. I was grateful I worked behind the bar as I’d seen our waitresses asses get grabbed one too many times. If that happened to me, well, let’s just say I could be without a job in three seconds flat. No one took advantage of me.
“How’s table five treating you?” I asked carefully as I poured the drinks.
Jacinta sighed, understanding my interest as she checked her high blonde ponytail.
“They’re behaving, for now,” she stated as she straightened her black waist apron.
I eyed the table of young men, sensing their high testosterone levels. Judging by their matching jackets, they were from a football team. They’d passed the I.D check by Jacinta though, and I knew she was thorough. She could spy a fake I.D a mile away.
“Good, let me know if they give you any trouble,” I nodded as I slid each drink to her.
“At your age, I should be saying that you,” she sighed as she carefully balanced each drink on her tray.
Jacinta was a lovely woman, but tonight she seemed tired and worn. Being a single mother never did help. Thankfully, her sister minded her son, Daniel, on nights she worked. Her makeup was rushed and her eyeliner was smeared a little above her left eye.
I made a comment and reached over to wipe the smudge away.
“Thanks, Taylor. I’m glad we’ve got someone with some brains and guts here. The last bar lady couldn’t handle the crazy crowds we can get,” Jacinta rolled her eyes.
“Don’t worry, I grew up with mostly men around, I can handle a few drunk men,” I winked.
She laughed lightly before striding off with her tray of drinks, her short black skirt made me want to mention something to Wade about giving the girls a more modest uniform. Their short black skirts and tight white tops helped them win more tips though, and I didn’t want to ruin that for them.
I spied Marissa as she served a rowdy group of older men, hollering and catcalling her as she hurried back my way. I could see she was desperately searching for Wade or the cook, Jackson, to help her with this boisterous group.
She thumped her tray down on the counter as she sighed, turning to hurry over to the kitchen window and hang her orders up for Jackson.
I kept an eye on the group. They seemed rowdy all right, but not dangerous.
I took two more orders from an older woman and a gentleman from the bar and got to work serving up their martinis, all the while focusing my senses to stay alert and aware.
I had two werewolves in tonight too, taking up a corner booth. They recognized me as one of their own and had waved upon entering, but they were remaining peaceful and calm, ordering drinks and food. Sometimes I wondered why people considered our kind more dangerous than mankind. We had rules, beliefs, and laws of our own. We could get rowdy, but nothing like some men got. Wolves were driven by primal needs, but fighting was not a big one. Sex, on the other hand, was a big one. A piece of our DNA that spurred us to continue our lines, to continue our species, gave us that drive. But fighting? That was saved for when it was really necessary. Werewolves could be more civilized in many ways. We fought to defend our Packs, our honor, and our women. But we always took it somewhere else when it was started in a public place. No need for humans to learn of our existence. For now, they believed our kind to be a myth, an old folklore and scary tale.
I smirked at this.
If only they knew just how many of us were out there. And not just us, there were other supernatural creatures living among them.
We were one of many.
I finished up a jug of beer for a gentleman who’d come up to the bar rather than hassling the two waitresses. We were short staffed tonight, and the two women were run off their feet.
Marissa strode back out to the rowdy table, and I kept a close eye on her as I served up another round of drink for one of Jacinta’s tables.
Marissa’s dark curls were pulled back into a tight bun, her olive skin flecked with sweat across her brow as she headed back to her table. I could sense the unease on her, and I opened up my senses.
“Well, welcome chérie,” an older man drawled. “Considered my offer?”
“I’m here to take you order, ma’am,” Marissa addressed an older woman tucked in the group with the men. Even from here, if I focused on their area, I could smell the alcohol and stench of cigarettes that clogged up the air around the group.
I could sense their twitchiness, their ticking time bomb states.
The drugs tucked into their pockets.
Great.
“Hey, chérie, did you hear me? I asked what you’d decided?” the older man asked louder, whose cigarette stained teeth and gravelly smoker’s voice made me cringe. His singlet was stained and disgusting, and I wondered where he’d even come from.
“Yes, and I politely decline,” Marissa gave him a strained smile.
The man scowled and stood up, reaching out to grab her arm aggressively.
I sighed as I stopped what I was doing and rounded the bar quickly, striding over and planting myself beside Marissa, who was staring in uncertainty at the hand clamped around her arm.
“Is there a problem here?” I asked brightly, smiling pleasantly at the group.
“None of your business,” the man grouched, his two male companions chuckling as the woman in the corner scowled and crossed her arms.
They all looked older than they were thanks to their obvious taste for drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. And they reeked of all of those things, and just plain body odor, like they’d forgotten what a shower was.
“Considering I’m the supervisor for tonight, it is my business,” I said sweetly.
The disgusting old man finally focused on me, and his expression moved to one of interest as he released Marissa’s arm.
“Well now, this ‘ere’s a lady,” he said as he slapped the table and clicked his tongue as he eyeballed me.
“Actually, this here is the lady who’s going to ask you to leave,” I said, maintaining my polite manner.
The man scoffed as he leaned back and studied me, scrunching up his face in distaste.
“We’re not going anywhere, we have just a right as anyone else to be here,” said one of his companion’s, a crew cut gentleman with teeth as yellow as baby’s shit and as crooked as a politician.
“Marissa, can you help out table seven?” I turned to Marissa and she nodded, facing away from the table and mouthing ‘thank you’ before scuttling off to another one of her tables.
“Now, you listen here, you guys will leave this bar and not come back, or I’ll call the police and inform them about that meth you’ve got in your pocket,” I growled as I planted my hands on the table.
The four people all shrunk in their seats now that I was not holding back. The power and authority I could radiate sometimes amazed even me.
“How’d you know?” the third man whimpered. He was younger than the other two and had a few missing teeth along with brain cells.
“I have a keen intuition,” I smirked as I straightened. “Now get the hell out and don’t forget to tip your waitress.”
The four shot out of that booth as if the police had already rocked up, and a few scrunched up bills lay in their wake on the table.
Marissa wandered over with a baffled expression as the door slammed shut behind their retreating forms.
“How’d you get them to leave?” she asked quietly, noting how a few patrons were watching us curiously.
“I asked not so nicely,” I shrugged. “Couldn’t let them hassle the staff, besides, we don’t need no gooders like them here.”
Marissa relaxed and sighed at this. “Thanks Taylor, you’re amazing.”
“Don’t sweat it, keep up the good work,” I smiled as I turned away. “They left you a tip too.”
Marissa seemed dumbstruck as she took the scrunched up bills and tucked them into her apron as I headed back to the bar.
The rest of the night carried on without a hitch, and Jacinta and Marissa were able to relax after the evening rush as patrons began heading home after a few drinks and something to eat. The two ‘wolves in the corner had left too, leaving a good tip for Marissa as well. I wondered briefly what Pack they were from, if any.
I served up some more cocktails as a couple sat at the bar, and I eyed the clock. 9pm, only another two hours until we closed. I smiled and served, enjoying my supervisory duties. I loved working behind the bar, being the overseer of the waitresses. They’d seen me stand up to many a drunk patrons, and they were becoming more confident and respectful of themselves, no longer taking crap from drunk men.
I got this job two years ago when I left home at twenty-one years of age, and moved to live with my Aunt to train to become something more than just a breeder for the Pack. I had to pay my way if I lived with my Aunt in this small country town, and I quickly landed a job here. I moved up the ranks with ease thanks to my confidence and ‘take no shit’ policy. I learned the ropes, memorized many cocktails and handled the drunk men at the end of the night. I enjoyed the work despite the difficult customers. We didn’t have too many of them, and I knew the waitresses were grateful for my presence. They didn’t know how, but I could always get control of a situation. That’s what being an Alpha’s daughter did to you.
I frowned as a familiar scent reached my nose and I tested the air fervently.
No, not one scent. Three. I cracked a smile at the homely scent, but then frowned. Why would they be here?
The three ‘wolves I smelt didn’t come inside the bar, but I sensed their presence waiting outside for me.
Well, if they didn’t come in, they’d have to wait until close-up. I was not walking out there to investigate why my Pack mates were here.
I plastered a sweet smile on my face as a man flagged me down at the end of the bar. Two hours wasn’t too long, and I was keen to see my Pack mates again. It’d been far too long. But I worried about what their sudden presence meant.
And my phone was usually tucked away in the office so that I wasn’t tempted to use it, a precaution Wade took since he’d had one too many staff playing on their phones. Tonight, it was at my Aunt’s house on charge still, because I’d been running late and forgot it. I couldn’t even see if they’d texted me to inform me of their visit.
The hours dragged by, and the three ‘wolves didn’t come inside. By the time I was closing up, I was eager to learn why they were here. Did they miss me so much that they had to come see me? As much as I loved that thought, I doubted it to be the reason. My father wouldn’t allow them to visit me without more reason than just missing me. They had duties back home.
I locked up, using the staff entrance to the side to exit the building and finding my three male Pack mates standing on the sidewalk, waiting patiently for me.
“Have you three been standing here for the past two hours?” I asked as I strode towards them. Their faces brightened at the sight of me, and I hugged each one of them in turn.
“You need to come home with us, there’s an emergency,” Scott stated, the tallest of the three. Anyone would mistake him for a lumberjack, but there was so much more to him than met the eye. His cropped blond hair shone almost white under the streetlight, and his deep brown eyes were troubled as he scratched his overgrown, bushy beard.
“If it was such an emergency, why didn’t you come in?” I questioned as I glanced between the three cautiously.
“We didn’t want to interrupt your work,” Nathan said, his perfect, dazzling smile making me soften. He looked out of place here in tight jeans and a long-sleeved plaid shirt. His brown leather boots were scuffed from his work at home on the ranch, and his usual cowboy hat would have presented him as the perfect rancher. And those green eyes were sincere and soft as he glanced over me. I couldn’t ignore the underlying heat in his gaze though that made my insides warm.
“Please, Tay, just come with us, we really need you to. There’s an emergency with the Pack,” the final man said. Jaye, his unruly mop of ash brown hair had fallen in his eyes as he shuffled, his jeans a size too big for him, and the grey shirt tight enough to show off his lean, muscular frame.
“Is my dad okay?” I asked instantly.
“He’s fine, but we need you to come back with us, please,” Scott pleaded.
I scowled, knowing that I would get nothing out of the three if the Alpha had told them to hide it from me. It meant I’d have to go with them. I had no choice by the sounds of things.
“What if I don’t want to? I have training, and work,” I growled, annoyed at their desperation to pull me away from my new life here. I’d turned my back on the Pack to find my passion and pursue the life I wanted. Now they wanted to drag me right back in.
“The Alpha is summoning you home,” Scott sighed after a moment.
Asshole. Pulling that card on me.
As defiant as I was, there were some things I wouldn’t go against. We had rules and laws for a reason. I grumbled as I crossed my arms, and Jaye hesitated before leading me to the polished black Jeep left in the parking lot.
“You guys suck,” I muttered as I allowed them to herd me into the backseat. There better be a damn good reason for this intrusion into my life.
2
I scowled as I marched through the heavy wooden doors into the foyer of my childhood mansion. The three men trailed after me, their heads dipped low as fury s
wirled off of me.
They were damn right to be uncertain after having dragged me here. Barely any explanation as they caught me after work and herded me into the pristine black Jeep, then taking me for the nearly two hour long drive back home. My Aunt was going to have a fit when I didn’t return home after work.
“I’m glad you all made it safely.”
I whirled with my teeth bared in a snarl as my eyes fell on the man standing at the top of the wooden staircase, his elegant black suit tailored and worth more than I made in a week.
Who needed such expensive clothing anyway? Oh, that’s right.
“What the fuck, dad?” I snapped, ignoring the glances my three captors shot each other.
“For the love of God, Tay, I’m the Alpha! Address me with some respect!” my father boomed, the power radiating from him daring me to question him once more.
Such a shame that that ancient, pure, Alpha bloodline ran in me too.
“Why am I here?” I demanded as I crossed my arms, shooting looks of daggers at the three men standing around me idly.
“Let’s take this into my office. Jaye, Scott, Nathan, thanks for bringing her. I’m sure she made that…easy,” he growled the last part.
The three men nodded silently as they glanced at me before retreating into the living area.
I tapped my foot impatiently as my father descended the stairs, not caring if my muddy boots tarnished the spotless polished timber flooring.
“Come, Tay, we have to talk,” my father ushered me after him as he turned towards the hall running under the staircase.
I went to say something but bit my tongue. The tone he used made me uneasy. Why had he sent his three betas for me? I hadn’t been able to get any of the three men to tell me anything despite our history together. I’d grown up with them, they were family to me. And yet not one of them could tell me why my father had sent for me. And why I could not reject his invitation home.
“I’ve informed my sister that you won’t be returning home from work tonight,” he stated as he stopped before one of the doors in the hall. The high white ceiling was held with arches of stone, and the mahogany wooden doors and walnut flooring were a stark contrast to the warm white walls.