Chapter 1
"Ember, we got another fight coming and I've got too many orders to deal with than that shit right now!" Sophia yells at me from across the bar. I look up and growl when I see two of my regulars getting loud with some new customers from a neighboring pack. "Fucking hell!" I grumble as I walk over to the four men, who are now in each other's faces.
"BOYS! This is NEUTRAL TERRITORY or do I need to remind you?! You got a problem, take it out back AWAY from my bar and my tables! Shit isn't cheap to fix!" I yell at them. my wolf pressing to the surface with my anger.
My regulars turn to me first, their faces seeming apologetic at least. The new boys however growl at me for interfering, "This isn't a conversation for a beautiful creature such as yourself, why don't you run along and get me a beer for the victory I'm about to have." The "leader" of their little crew says, causing me to smirk at him.
He goes for the cheap shot on my regular who starts walking away and I step between and catch his fist, smiling before shoving him back, causing him to trip on my leg placed behind him. "In case you haven't noticed sweetheart I'm the bitch that's in charge, take another cheap shot in my bar and your ass is out. And I don't think your Alpha will be happy about banning another group from his pack because the pups can't behave."
I flash him my canines before stepping over him and back to the bar to finish helping Sophia with the drink orders coming in. "You really didn't have to embarrass him you know." She says smiling at me, I roll my eyes at her. "Gotta put the pups in their place love, just good business. Also they tried to take a cheap shot at Randy when he wasn't looking."
She shakes her head at me, "yeah but now we're going to have a brawl in the parking lot we'll have to clean up." She passes her drink to a cute fae guardian winking at him. "Randy and his crew know where the cleaning supplies are out there, they'll take care of it if need be." I say smiling at the wolf I made a rum and coke for.
The rest of the shift goes by smoothly, the fae guardian staying posted at the bar for my fairy friend, flirting with her all night. "So what's his story?" I ask cleaning the glasses from tonight, nodding my head at her new friend. "Down here for a business deal with one of the Alpha's about some territory in the forest that's close to the fae border."
"And his business here at the bar?" I raise an eyebrow causing her to blush, "he wants to take me out before returning to guard duty, and I might have said yes to a double date, okay byeee!"
I snatch her by the wing, knowing she can't leave with me holding it, "I am currently dating Bryce remember! I can't go out on a date with another man!" I whisper yell to her as fae man looks over, and I know he is listening to our conversation, though it may not be the clearest, thanks to some magic from my favorite fairy.
"You don't even know if it's with another man, I could of said I would come only if my friend and her.... mate could come along." She whines back, forcing the word mate from her lips, and I glare at her, "you hate Bryce, and I've been watching your friend mind link with his buddy across the bar all night, so try again."
"Okay, I didn't want to agree to go alone so, you gotta wing woman for me okay? I really feel something for him Em... I think he might be my fated..." I smirk, letting go of her wing, "fine, but you're explaining it to Bryce. Wait! You really think he might be...?" I am honestly surprised at this.
"I really do Em, and I want to follow this feeling and him wherever he goes, but I'm scared to go alone and be hurt, what if this is one sided?" Her eyes are shining with hurt that this may not be her fated. "Okay, okay, enough of that look Soph! I'll go, but I really don't want to explain it to Bryce!" I whine a little at her.
"Oh come on, it's not like you're marked and mated." She says off handedly and I stay quiet, pressing my lips into a thin line.
"Oh no you didn't! Em, tell me you didn't! No, don't tell me. Actually, once we lock up, you're spilling the tea!" She says matter of factly, pointing her finger at me, as he wings flutter in frustration when she turns and walks away.
'she has a point there Ember, we aren't marked and mated yet. We are free wolves!' my wolf Delia says to me, causing me to roll my eyes at her, 'I don't need your sass De, I thought we discussed the bond we have with Bryce and me. Also I thought you were okay with that and were getting along with Caine, I know he's no prize wolf but-'
My wolf cuts me off with a huff, 'He's not even a wolf Ember, which isn't a big deal, there's tons of mates who aren't the same species and I have nothing against Caine, but I just thought that the pull and feeling would be there stronger by now if he was my fated.' She whines in my head, and my heart clenches for her.
I don't know if we'll have a true fated mate from the Moon Goddess where you know right away or if we'll be one who has the "chosen mate" bond, a 'love at first sight' type of love, one that you can't deny or let go of. Just as I was getting lost in my thoughts, the smell of aloe and green tea, hits my nose.
I look up and smile at Bryce as he comes over to the bar, "There's my girl. Are you ready to go?" He asks, flashing me a smile. My cheeks heat a little, "what do you mean babe? We didn't have plans tonight." I cock my head at him.
I see Sophia glaring at me as she collects glasses from some tables she had, getting started on closing down. "Well I just thought I would pick you up, finally take your pretty ass home and stay the night with you at your place." I bite my lip, feigning innocent, and shake my head.
"I'm sorry I-" Sophia cuts me off, coming to stand next to me, "She already has plans with her favorite fairy lover boy, get in line." I roll my eyes at her, "I didn't know there was a competition for my heart there Soph." I nudge her with my elbow.
"No competition, since I've already won there sweetie. Now hurry up and get your section closed up so we can head out!" she says, fluttering back to the other tables and getting the chairs put up for us to sweep.
"Well, you heard the woman, chairs up lover boy!" I gesture towards the tables that I've cleared off already, heading for the other dirty ones. Bryce groans at the task, but reluctantly gets up and does it. I smile watching him lift the chairs and stacking them for me. 'He is good looking, you can't deny that.' I say to my wolf who huffs back at me, not wanting to admit it.
