"You piss off the missus?" I joked.
"There is no missus," Liam snarled under his breath. "Fucking wolves."
I straightened. "Would you like us to come in and take care of some business?"
Liam snorted as he tossed his keys into the drawer underneath the bar. "Nah. That would only make it worse. The Alpha can't take care of his own shit and needs someone else to fight his battles." He scratched the back of his neck and winced. "There's too much unrest. I need to take a mate."
I didn't miss his eyes wandering to the redheaded firecracker we currently employed as a waitress.
"Cat is a kitsune, wolf. Think very carefully before you drag her into your fray for she is the friend of dragons."
Liam stilled for a moment. "That sounded mighty formal," he drawled. "I don't want to pick a fight with friends, Tanner."
"Then make absolute sure your intention is to court her. Not use her and toss her aside."
The wolf rolled over Liam's eyes and Scott stepped in between us. He clapped a hand on Liam's shoulder. "He's well aware of how we feel about Cat," he said quietly. "But neither of us can tell him who he can and cannot choose as a mate. That's up to the gods."
Liam rolled his eyes. "This is the bayou, man. We fight, we fuck, and we do it all over again when the sun comes up. The gods don't exist for werewolves."
"Sacrilege," Theo said mildly as he came out from the door behind the bar. "They may not exist for you, but I assure you they are very real."
"It's different with wolves," Liam said. "Female werewolves are difficult to find. And more than that, when we do find them, they tend to disappear. Quickly. It isn't easy being in a werewolf clan."
Cal walked in behind Theo just then and my heart grew full. We weren't often all behind the bar these days. Too many things pulled us away from each other.
"Then perhaps you should change things, Alpha," Cal said mildly as he began to pour himself a drink.
"Things don't change in werewolf clans," Liam said. He leaned back against the register. "It's the same shit every single day."
Scott gave him a measuring look. "Things don't change because no one makes them change." He shrugged. "I don't know about you, but I'd be fucking pissed if I got the shit beat out of me for no fucking reason twice a week. Make them change, Liam."
Cal nodded his agreement. "Normally, I stay out of discussions like these, but I agree with Scott. Take a mate and make them bend to your will."
"Easier said than done," the alpha murmured, but he looked thoughtful.
"This is where you could use our support," Cal said. The grin he gave him was ferocious. "I'm sure Macaria wouldn't mind chipping in some help either."
"Nor Blaire," Scott said.
Theo laughed. "If it involves scaring the shit out of someone, Molly is automatically in."
"One man can't make a pack kneel, Liam," Cal said. "But when he has the support of powerful allies, miracles can occur. Few beasts will spar with dragons. Just keep it in mind."
He nodded and looked away from us. His wide shoulders heaved for a moment and settled. "Thank you," he said, his voice a touch more gruff than we were comfortable with.
"You're welcome, asshole," Scott said affectionately. "Now pour us some fucking drinks before we get a bad Yelp review."
"Paranormals don't use Yelp," Liam said.
Scott pointed over at a table full of what looked to be lumberjack hipsters. Liam blinked. "What the fuck is that?"
"That, sir," Scott said, "is the newest generation of shifters. They smell like cats but they look like pussies."
Cal tossed down a twenty. "I give it a week."
Scott followed. "Five days and we find at least one limb in the alley."
Theo shook his head and pulled out a bill. "Three days, blood in the front of the building. and the alpha comes to visit us to smooth things over."
"Damn," Liam said. "That's what I was going to say." He tossed down a bill in the pile. "Three days. the alpha comes to smooth things over without admitting a fucking thing, and we find either a pair of regurgitated glasses or a bloody Converse in the back alley."
"The bet is sealed," Scott intoned as he scooped up the bills.
"What the fuck is happening with 2020?" Cal muttered.
"No idea, but shit is weird right now," Liam agreed.
"Get back to work," I said. "We got a bachelorette party heading through the door. Go get extra schnapps and tequila."
Liam eyed the line of women appreciatively. "Odds I can break up a wedding tonight?"
I eyed the sultry brunette. She smelled like one of the cats. Liam would be playing with fire. "Sixty forty. Odds on you getting your ass beat by their alpha? 98 to two."
"Asshole," Liam said with no heat.
"Get to work," I said and tossed him a towel.
9
Ella
I wore the sexiest dress I owned. Maybe too sexy. On the bed next to me lay the sorry remnants of my closet. I took what I could get my hands on when Greg kicked me out and it wasn't much. I wore a shimmering blue strapless mini dress with silver high heels. I couldn't decide if I looked hot or if I looked like I charged by the hour. On top of the small pile of clothing lay a dress I'd bought during my marriage but Greg hated. I tried to wear it once, and he sent me right back to the bedroom to change.
I loved it, but he decreed it wasn't attractive or sexy enough for a CEO's wife. It was a simple knee length wrap dress with a deep v-neck. I reached out to touch the material. It was soft and comfortable.
And didn't I deserve to be comfortable after all the years I'd spent uncomfortable? Stripping off the blue dress, I let it pool at my feet and pulled the wrap dress over my head.
I sighed as it slid over my curves. I'd lost a little weight since my divorce, but all it did was enhance the fit of it. The sapphire blue of my bra peeked out a hint from the v-neck. It was conservative yet sexy and Tanner was just going to have to deal with it. I kicked off the silver heels and put on a pair of nude heels which made my legs elongate immediately. My hair was already curled and my makeup was almost done. I just had to put on some lipstick.
Once that was done, I took one final glance in the mirror and pronounced myself good enough.
The doorbell rang less than five minutes later and I froze like a deer in headlights. So he did know where I lived. How I felt about that I wasn't quite sure yet. I grabbed my keys and my purse and took a look through my peephole to make sure it was him.
I opened the door and Tanner stood there resplendent in a button-down shirt with a pair of charcoal grey slacks. My mouth went dry as I took him in. The lines of his shirt hugged powerful muscles. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up just enough to expose golden forearms dusted lightly with hair. I chewed on my lip for a moment as I sought to quell the lust rising inside of me. White shirt sleeves rolled up exposing just half of a man’s forearm was this girl’s Kryptonite.
"Should I be concerned you know where I live?" I asked as I locked the door behind me. I was proud to note there was no quiver in my voice betraying my lusty, lusty thoughts.