by Celia Kyle
When Warren approached, Chloe shot a quick glance at her mate. He seemed relaxed and not at all jealous, but their new connection as claimed mates allowed her to feel his rising tension. She breathed a sigh of relief when Warren didn’t try to hug her but shoved his hand at Drew.
“I would like to apologize to you both.” The beta’s voice was quiet, expression thoughtful and somber. “Dr. Cooper, I’m sorry we kidnapped you like that. I know it’s a lame excuse, but I was only following orders.”
Drew visibly relaxed and accepted Warren’s hand. “Call me Drew. And apology accepted. While I wouldn’t recommend you get in the habit of kidnapping people, I can’t be too mad. After all, it brought Chloe and me together.” He pulled Chloe close, showing Warren he had no hope with her anymore. Poor, downtrodden Warren then turned to her.
“Chloe, I’m so sorry for… everything. You made it clear back when we were kids that you didn’t have feelings for me. I should have respected that and moved on. It was selfish of me and I’m so embarrassed. I hope you can forgive me.”
Chloe’s instinct was to give the guy a hug, but there was too much history between them. He seemed genuinely happy for her, and she appreciated that, but she also didn’t feel comfortable consoling someone who’d overstepped her boundaries so freely.
She settled for a sympathetic smile. “Thank you, Warren. And I wasn’t blowing smoke up your ass the other day when I told you that you’d find your mate one day. You’re a good guy, and I know you’ll make whoever she is very happy.”
“Thanks, Chloe. That means a lot.” He nodded at Drew. “Take care of her.”
“You can count on it.”
“Warren Trudeau Edgecomb,” a woman blocked by Warren spoke up, “please stop hogging the mates of the hour.”
Gabby Edgecomb shoved her son aside and beamed at Chloe. She spread open a quilt she carried and wrapped it around Chloe’s shoulders before hugging her tighter than anyone else so far.
“My dear, you’re practically glowing! I know your momma would be so happy to know you found your mate.”
Tears pricked at Chloe’s eyes for the first time that day. “Thank you, Gabby. I’m happy to say she did know. I had enough time with her before she died to give her the good news.”
Gabby’s eyes filled with moisture and she clutched Chloe’s shoulders. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to hear that. She loved you so, so much.”
“I know.” She could no longer hold back the tears. Looking down, she examined the small quilt. “What’s this?”
“Your mother was working on it when…well, you know. We were mad about quilting back then and Deidre wanted to fill up a chest of beautiful quilts for when you became an adult. This one’s a baby blanket. After the accident, I finished it, but I couldn’t bring myself to give it to you. I thought it might be too painful. So, I kept it safe, hoping for the right moment.” She looked at Drew and then back at Chloe, swiping at the tears streaming down her weathered cheeks. “I can’t think of a better time. I hope someday you’ll be able to put it to good use, one way or another.”
Chloe stroked the multi-colored cotton fabric, marveling in the intricate design. Pastel triangles zigged and zagged, with no one color dominating the others. Pinks and yellows, blues and greens danced together in a happy little jig that filled her with joy while at the same time broke her heart.
Sniffling back her tears, she pulled Gabby to her again and held on tightly. The woman wasn’t her mother, but she was the best substitute Chloe had. “Thank you, Gabby. Thank you so much.”
Gabby patted her cheek. “Take care of yourself, sweetheart. Take care of each other.”
Oodles more of her soon-to-be-former pack mates gathered around them, wishing her and Drew well in their new lives. It didn’t take long for her to realize she’d been wrong about them. All these years, she’d assumed they all hated her, or at least didn’t care one way or the other about her, but it seemed the opposite was true. Time and again, someone she hadn’t seen or thought of in years came up and fervently wished her happiness in her new life, some with tears in their eyes.
It dawned on her that maybe they hadn’t been the ones to blame for her feeling ostracized after all. Certainly, her father had planted the seed, and no one had wanted to go against their alpha. And she couldn’t blame them. It was their duty as members of his pack to follow his lead in all matters.
But since her father’s passing, she hadn’t even given them a chance to make amends. Zeke had tried to talk her into attending pack functions, but she rarely did because she was afraid they’d still shun her. They took their cue from her, probably assuming she still grieved, and left her alone. She could have had a life with these people after all.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” she mumbled.
“What’s wrong?” Drew leaned down.
“Nothing. I’ve just been an idiot.”
“Have you changed your mind about leaving?” His breath was warm, and it tickled her ear.
Chloe didn’t hesitate. She didn’t need to. “No, I can’t wait to start over fresh. I’m looking forward to beginning a new life with you in a place where people don’t look at me with pity.”
“The Blackwood wolves will welcome you with open arms. We’re used to bringing wolves into our fold. Trust me. They’ll love you. Not as much as I do, of course.”
Chloe snaked her arms around Drew’s neck and waited for the familiar feel of his lips against hers. It wouldn’t be seemly to make out in the middle of their going away party, but she wouldn’t be denied a sweet, chaste kiss from her man. When they broke apart, he looked worried.
“One more thing I should have mentioned.” He flashed a bit of a grimace.
“What’s that?”
“I hope you’re not allergic to cats. It all started when Charlie Tipton rescued this pregnant momma cat…”
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Valerie Logan wrapped her fingers around the bar’s jiggly doorknob. Exhaustion pulled at her, her shoulders curving forward and steps heavy as she moved forward. The engine of her decade-old Jeep ticked loudly behind her, cooling and relaxing after hours—days, really—of driving.
Poor thing.
Val had long thought of her Jeep as more than just a vehicle. She knew its quirks like a best friend, and for many years, she’d poured out all her secrets while comfortably tucked behind the wheel. To anyone else, it would have looked like any other Jeep on the road, but to her, it was both a comrade and confidante.
She almost felt guilty leaving it parked in the small lot under the flickering red and yellow neon sign that read “The Wolf’s Lair Bar & Grille.” With an E. She’d never understood why establishments tried to fancify their business names by tacking on a British-style E—especially a tavern in the shitty little Georgia backwater of Tremble.
Any irrational guilt she felt about her car evaporated when her stomach rumbled for the fifteenth time in less than an hour. The moment the door cracked open, though, she wondered if going hungry might not have been the safer choice. The stink of stale beer, body odor, and fried food hit her like a fist. Then she caught the faintest hint of piss. Or maybe it was puke. Probably both.
“Ah,” she muttered, “eau de dive bar. Lovely.”
The door clicked shut behind Val, but she stayed put and allowed her eyes adjust to her dim surroundings. Just getting the lay of the land. The Wolf’s Lair was fairly crowded—no surprise considering its small size and that it was probably on
e of the few places open so late.
Apparently, the name wasn’t the owner’s only homage to wolves. Posters of wolves baying at the moon—faded and curled—sagged on the rough wood walls. A couple of velvet paintings featured stylized wolf heads that glowed under blacklights. Every time the front door opened, a fake wolf’s head that hung over it activated. Its jaws opened and closed as a badly recorded snarl was nearly drowned out by the sound of people having a good time. The flashing red lights in its eyes were a nice touch.
The decor didn’t matter to Val. She’d been in plenty of nasty little watering holes in her life. Just by the looks—and smells—of this one, she knew she’d get what she sought—a beer and a cheap basic American burger. Exactly what she needed after a long day’s drive. Committed to her plan of action, Val shouldered her way through the crush of bodies toward the bar, holding her new Burberry bucket bag close to her chest.
Far from being a girly girl, Val had only one vice—designer purses. She couldn’t give two shits that her Jeep was on the beat-up side or that most of her clothes had been found at thrift shops or on clearance racks. Her makeup kit consisted of a tube of dark red lipstick and some black mascara, for those nights when she wanted to get really dolled up.
And her hair… forget about it. She’d learned long ago that her dark, coarse curls could never be contained by mere hairspray. Besides, her job didn’t really look kindly on loose lips or loose locks. So, she’d kept hers tucked into a tight bun, or a bouncy, puffy ponytail on her days off. Valerie was a woman of particular, but simple tastes, more concerned with getting the job done than looking pretty while doing it.
Her purses were a whole different story. She’d always envied the bags her college classmates’ parents had bought them. She’d scrimped and saved—not easy for a poor college student—and eventually bought her first Coach purse as her graduation present to herself. It had escalated from there. The rich pink Burberry was a “treat yo’self” reward to soften the blow of being forced to take a “vacation.”
Val shrugged out of her leather bomber jacket and draped it over one of two empty stools at the bar before taking a seat. All the bodies in the bar had raised the temperature so she was quite comfortable in her tank top and jeans. She stole a few cocktail napkins from a holder and carefully wiped down the polished and chipped wood-grain bar top before setting her bag in front of her.
A tan and white ball of fluff popped out of the bag’s opening, its black eyes blinking up at her while its pink tongue curled and lolled in a happy pant. Val scratched the teacup Pomeranian under her chin and smiled.
“Hey!” called out a gruff voice from the end of the bar.
The burly bartender scowled as he hurried toward her. His scruffy wild hair, bushy beard and excessively hairy arms gave him the appearance of a werewolf. Whether he intended to blend in as part of the bar’s theme or just because he was a hairy dude, Val couldn’t say.
“Hell no,” he rasped, flapping a slightly grungy rag at her purse. “Nope. Not happening.”
“Is there a problem, sir?” Val spoke through clenched teeth and struggled to hold on to the sudden surge of rage pulsing against her temple.
Before he could answer, someone down-bar from them shouted, “Hux, I need a beer!”
“In a minute, Newman!” the bartender—presumably named Hux—shouted back. Then he turned his attention back to her. “Lady, you can’t bring a rat into my bar. It’s unsanitary and against the law.”
Val’s eyes narrowed to threatening slits and every muscle in her body tensed. “She’s not a rat. She’s a dog. A service dog, to be precise. As far as sanitation goes,” she wrinkled her nose and stared at his rag, “I think you’ve got bigger issues to worry about.”
Hux blinked at her sassy response but recovered quickly. He slapped his palms on the counter, leaned in and practically growled at her. “No pets of any kind are allowed in a restaurant, not even service rats!”
Val snorted with feigned amusement. “Cute, calling this joint a restaurant. But I’ll give it to you, if only to prove that as a—” she coughed her disbelief “—restaurateur, you should know you can’t kick out service animals. I know the law, buddy, so let me give you a friendly piece of advice. Don’t even try fucking with me on this…Hux.”
The man frowned as he sized her up, but he obviously knew when he was beaten. It was pretty clear from his scowl he didn’t like it, but as long as he didn’t give her any more shit, they’d get along just fine.
With a resigned sigh and a grunt, he moved on. “Fine. What do you want?”
Okay, so customer service flew out the window. Whatever.
“A burger and a brew. I don’t care which kind,” she replied with a light tone, to let the guy know she had no hard feelings. If that even mattered to him. “Oh, and a bowl of water for Fang.”
Hux rolled his eyes and wandered off, grumbling under his breath. Fang watched him go, her entire tiny body vibrating as she growled quietly at the perceived threat to her mistress. Val kissed the pup’s head, which set the dog to panting again.
The tiny hairs on the back of Val’s neck stood on end and goosebumps prickled along her arms. Even Fang stopped panting, her dark eyes darting around the room and her nose sniffing the air in search of this unseen source of anxiety for her mistress.
Val had learned that her instincts were usually spot on, and those instincts screamed that someone watched her. She felt it. Hell, she’d been trained to feel it. Not wanting to tip off her would-be attacker, she let her gaze slowly drift down one side of the bar and then the other. It paid to sniff out trouble before it could find her, and it didn’t take long for her to spot the lumberjack-looking dude at the far end of the bar. It was the same guy who’d called to the bartender a minute earlier.
Even though he was seated, she could tell he was tall. And strong, judging by his broad, red flannel-covered shoulders. He kept leaning forward, trying to catch her eye. Not an attacker, just a horn-dog.
He was handsome enough, but she’d never really cared for guys who leered at her in bars. She just wanted a drink and a burger, not whatever meat that guy packed. Hoping to cool his jets, she shot him one of her patented death glares—guaranteed to shrivel even the hardest cock—and turned her attention to Hux, who set a foaming mug of beer in front of her.
Ignoring the one-night-stand wannabe, she smiled up at the bartender. “Thanks, man. Sorry about earlier. It’s just been a rough week.”
Hux visibly relaxed. “Don’t worry about it. Hux Davenport, owner and proprietor of The Lair.”
“Val Logan. Interesting name you have, Hux.” She took a long cool sip of beer, sighing happily as bubbles slid down her parched throat.
“It’s actually Huxley, but I like Hux better. New in town or just passing through?”
Val was accustomed to this particular game of Twenty Questions, but she wasn’t quite sure how to answer this one. “A little of both, I suppose. Regardless, I’m not from around here, and something has been bothering me since I pulled into town.”
“What’s that?”
“What’s the deal with all the weird business names in Tremble. The Wolf’s Lair, Canine Cafe, Lupine Inn. They’re all wolf-themed. What gives?”
Hux chuckled and leaned on the counter, ignoring a nearby woman holding up her empty wine glass. “Yeah, it’s a bit of a running gag. No, not a gag. It’s too serious to be a gag.”
Val took another swig. “What do you mean?”
“The entire town caters to a very specific kind of tourist, those fascinated by cryptids and local lore.”
“Cryptids?”
Hux leaned in a little closer. “Yeah, you know, animals whose existence hasn’t been proven yet. Bigfoot, Yeti, Chupacabra. In the case of Tremble, it’s werewolves.”
He waggled his eyebrows at her as if he was letting her in on a big secret. She smirked.
“Okay, that’s random. Why?”
“Because a while back some morons claimed to have
seen werewolves in the woods outside town. When the internet became a thing, word spread about Tremble. The town elders, in their infinite wisdom, decided to capitalize on the notoriety—” he lowered his voice to a murmur “—not to mention the idiots who spend tens of thousands here every year searching for mythical creatures.”
Val let her gaze land on every kitschy, wolfy piece of decor in the place, finally landing on a cocktail napkin emblazoned with the bar’s logo. When she met Hux’s gaze again, she raised a curious eyebrow.
As unimpressed as he tried to appear, a touch of pink colored what she could see of his bearded face. He shrugged and pushed away from the bar.
“Yeah, well, I have a family to feed so…” He trundled off to fill more orders before she could tease him any further.
As she sipped her beer, Val’s fingers found their way to Fang’s fluffy little head and she scratched the spot the dog loved, right behind her left ear. Time to figure out her next move now that it looked as if Chloe had moved.
Val had met Chloe Soren on their first day of college when they were randomly paired as roommates. On paper, they couldn’t have been more opposite. Chloe was a relatively short, pale-skinned, curvy redhead who was as sweet and caring as a soul could be. Valerie, on the other hand, was a towering mash-up between her white trash mom and some nameless, dark-skinned aerobics teacher. She couldn’t recall ever having been called “sweet” in her life. The most common adjective used to describe her over the years was “bad ass”—sometimes “bitch.” They were synonymous, as far as she was concerned, and she took them as high compliments.
But the more Val got to know Chloe, the more she liked her. Though Chloe was thoughtful and kind, she wasn’t a pushover, and Val respected that. They also bonded over their shared poverty throughout school. While all of their classmates had moved to off-campus housing their junior year, the roommates had remained in their same dorm room, year after year. To say they were best friends minimized their connection. By the time graduation had rolled around, Val had taken to calling Chloe her “sister from another mister,” and she meant it.