Chapter 1
"Rose, why do I always find you in compromising positions?" Henry, my long-standing boss, asked. If you are wondering what he is referring to, I am currently under the bar sink, wrench in hand, with my legs spread wide open.
"You're the one who wouldn't fix the leaky sink... so here we are," my voice was calm and focused. I tightened the pipe and then scooted myself out of the dark space. I imagined dirt and grime were all over my face, and my hair probably looked like a rat's nest.
"I didn't ask for your help. You're just eager to prove yourself," I scoffed.
"I don't want to trip and fall while serving the big crowd we'll have tonight. It's like everyone expects bartenders to be able to do everything," I grumbled as I wiped my hands on a towel.
The bar was expecting a rush of people tonight due to the full moon and the Tri-annual Warrior games that were being hosted in the town. For those of you who don't know what the Warrior games are. Each pack picks two female and male warriors to compete in various events, such as tracking, archery, shooting, wolf combat, and my favorite (don't tell Henry), hand-to-hand combat. I get the honor of staying out of the games due to my unique skill set, the fact that the Alpha refuses to let my skill set go to waste, and because I am not a wolf. I was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician in the Marine Corps before I moved to the White Water pack. I got away with a lot of things because of my training. I have to keep up to date on my Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training, but I also have to pick my job of choice. Bartending is a simple life; it makes good money, and the music in the bar is loud enough to drown out my wandering thoughts. Plus, we have Spaghetti on Thursdays. Who doesn't love Spaghetti?
I moved the liquor we would need from the storeroom to under the bar. I made sure to grab a couple of top-shelf brands, knowing Alphas would probably roll through. I also made sure that my hand-dandy silver bat, which I like to call Rudy, was placed in his designated rack just above the shelves so that people could see that I was not fucking around. I've used Rudy five times since I've worked here. Everyone in this pack knows that if they have a problem, take it outside, or they will be facing Rudy.
"Opening in 5." Charles, our handy dandy bouncer, said as he smoothed down his black shirt, which said, 'Security.'
I used the last 5 minutes to freshen up before everything started. When I opened the door to the staff lounge, I headed straight to the sink, washed my face, and put my hair into two tight boxer braids. My makeup was simple, and I wore casual clothes - black leggings, a white tank top, and my favorite red and black flannel. I completed the look with my black and white Converse sneakers, which are comfortable and timeless. The bar was packed as soon as it opened, and I knew it was game time when I heard the doors open. I walked behind the bar and started taking orders.
"An Apple Martini," a burly man ordered. I turned around and suppressed the giggle that rose in my throat. I made the drink and got hyped as my jam came on over the speakers. May, our resident DJ, always started the shift with one of my favorite songs. The benefit of being best friends with the DJ. Drax Project's "Woke up Late" played, making me sing along as I handed the big guy his appletini. Beers, booze, and advice were passed to the many patrons.
"Rose, you have a call!" Alex, my fellow bartender, yelled across the bar. I approached the phone and excused myself to take the call outside.
"This is Rose, "I said calmly. "This is Alpha Jameson. I need you on duty tomorrow. I know it's short notice, but a threat has come to our attention. You will be incognito; however, I expect you to have your gear ready. See you at the games," he said and hung up. Lovely, that's just what I wanted to hear. I despised these types of games because they reminded me of times I wished to forget. The Alpha knew this, so if he was calling, it must be serious. I left the bar and went to find Harry.
"Harry, I gotta go prep. Alpha called," I yelled in his ear by the entrance. He looked at me with worry and pity. Harry is the closest thing to a father figure I've had since my dad up and left when I was a kid. My mother wasn't around and always focused on finding her next fix. Heroin was her breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That's why I joined the Marine Corps. I was determined to get as far away from her and my crappy childhood as possible.
I walked out of the bar and back to my cabin. I chose to stay out of the packhouse. After several night terrors, the Alpha quickly permitted me to take one of the enforcer cabins. Technically, I was a part of the Alpha guard, so the enforcers weren't too salty when I had taken one. In fact, they treated me like one of their own and brought beer. I walked into my basement and flicked on the light. Walking over to the vault, I punched in the code and opened it. I grabbed my portable tool kit and my Glock 9mm. You can't disarm bombs and fistfight at the same time, so carrying a gun was a necessity.
Walking upstairs, I placed the gear on the table, went down the hall, and jumped into bed. Sleep called my name like a siren's call. It wasn't long until my eyes closed, and I drifted into slumber.
