GABE
The bar was hopping tonight, more crowded for a weekday night than usual.
Jamerson had informed us that we had business meetings tonight, and the Gammas shit for brain son was being returned to him tomorrow morning, all limbs attached; After we let Dynamite Al teach him a lesson.
My session with Bailey last night left me feeling somewhat relaxed, or at least relieving some of my constant tension.
I finished changing a keg and went to sit with Jamerson at ‘our’ table. He was nursing a whisky; one we had distilled ourselves and sold to numerous other establishments and some surrounding packs.
It wasn’t unusual for us to do business with packs, not just supply them with our products but also our more aggressive services. Especially to those weaker packs who required reinforcements when they were attacked by true rogues.
We never took sides. Only the color of money determined what side our services would support. They all knew it was nothing personal. Just business.
“Quiet a night, huh?” Jamerson said as I turned my attention to him, looking at him with skepticism.
“Are we at the same bar?” I chuckled looking around “Because seems like an unusually busy night tonight.”
It was strangely busy, but I detected nothing unusual than just that. At least nothing that made my wolf wary.
I groaned as I watched the main entrance door open, and Cassidy walked in. Her blonde hair was sprayed to perfection and her face was done up with bright red lipstick. Her short skirt and tight halter top didn’t leave much to the imagination.
She was a pretty girl, tall, slim, and easy on the eyes. She attracted a lot of attention and relished it. I too had found her quite pleasing until she opened her mouth, and her high-pitched voice caused an involuntary shiver to run down my back. Not because it was sexy, but because it reminded me of nails scraping against a metal surface. Sure, I had hit it a couple of times and had commanded her not to talk when I fucked her.
Until she wanted more. More I had no intention of giving her.
I pulled my eyes away, back to Jamerson and we eased into conversation for a few minutes until his face fell and became blank.
“Incoming.” He hissed and shifted uncomfortably.
“For fucks sake.” I sighed catching the approaching scent of overdone flowery perfume. Cassidy.
I can’t even remember how many times I have told her I’m not interested and to not come near me. She just didn’t get the fucking hint and I couldn’t have made it any plainer to her.
I turned just as she stopped to hover over our table. “Cassidy.” I ground out, acknowledging her presence with no emotion in my voice and a stern look on my face. Hopefully, she will get the hint.
“Gabe, babe, it’s been a hot minute, I’ve missed you.” She smiles and sticks her chest out, hoping I would be enticed by her generous-sized tits.
“What do you want Cassidy?” hoping to thwart her off with an icy tone.
She looked slightly hurt, her smile faltering for a second before she recovered and put on an even wider one. “I figured it had been a while, and thought maybe you needed taking care of,” She brought her hand up, lightly letting her bright red nails scrape down the uncovered part of my arm.
I shivered in revulsion, but she took it the wrong way. Cassidy sidled up next to me, expecting me to move over so she could sit, mistaking my disgust and thinking she lustfully affected me.
I did not move an inch.
“Thanks, but I was already taken care of.” I heard her huff in annoyance.
“I know how much pleasure I bring to you, Gabe. I know I’m much better than whoever you had earlier.” She purred, yet she sounded like a dying motor to me, nothing sexy at all. Cassidy was getting desperate.
“Stop being so desperate Cassidy, go find another member to pleasure because I ain’t interested,” I growl at her. At this point, I didn’t care how much of an asshole I sounded.
I saw Jamerson chuckle from the side of me. The struggle was real with this woman, and I had lost patience with her a long time ago. She was persistent. I had to give her that.
“One of these days Gabe, you will realize how good we are together. I just hope it’s not too late when you do.” She huffed out, throwing her hands on her hips obviously annoyed that I wouldn’t pay her the attention she so desperately wanted.
“Yeah, when hell freezes over” Jamerson laughs, causing me to laugh out loud too. Jamerson took another sip of his drink in a bid to stifle his laugh.
Cassidy threw a glare at Jamerson, turned on her heel, and stomped off. I watched her cross the room and join a group of men who were hovering around a few of the other GT girls.
I shook my head, still laughing half-heartily. “That fucking girl is like a bad stain on your favorite shirt,” Jamerson said.
“No shit, I just can’t get rid of her.” I shook my head.
“You’re an Alpha Gabe, she wants the rank.” He tipped his glass at me before taking a sip, giving me a look like I should know this and be aware of it.
“We are Renegades, James, rogues just by another name.” I reminded him.
“Renegades, or not, you are still an Alpha wolf, and we are still a pack. That rank will have greedy bitches clawing at each other to be your chosen mate.”
“In that case, they will be fighting until my death. I have no interest in taking a mate. “I told him honestly.
Jamerson knew this. It was a conversation we had had many times. I didn’t want a mate, and I didn’t think I would ever find anyone I would want to be mated with.
I had absolutely no interest in tying myself and wolf to another. Even if by the grace of a miracle I found my destined mate, which was just as rare as a werewolf catching an STD. History says that werewolves could reject fated mates and that’s probably what I would do.
I scoffed at my own thought, Jamerson giving me a quizzical look from across the table. “Forget it,” I said shaking my head at him, not willing to even entertain that conversation.
In today’s world, it is rare to find a destined mate, especially as the werewolf population and human race had been so depleted after the Great War. Now, most ranked wolves took a chosen mate not knowing if or when they would ever find the mate the supposed Moon Goddess had made for them.
We live in a world where the rich stay rich and the poor get poorer. Where women were treated like trash and used as a means to fulfill a desire or breed a strong bloodline.
I was guilty of using women for my own pleasure; however, the difference was, that I never forced anyone. Our Good Time Girls were here because they wanted to be. We took care of them and protected them. They had the option to say no when they wanted to if they wanted to. And if any of my men disrespected my word or crossed the line, they would have to deal with me, and it wouldn’t be pretty.
If the GT girls found someone who wanted to claim them as a chosen, I would never stop the girls if that’s what they wanted.
The only exception was my sister, who was currently behind the bar serving drinks to the patrons. No one was allowed to touch her unless they wanted to be ripped limb from limb.
One of the waitresses dropped two new drinks off at our table. I told her thanks before she went back to serving others.
Jamerson and I sat in silence for a while, listening to the music over the speakers and observing. Killian had the night off, which meant he was either down at the cage, a place where a lot of underground trading and fighting took place. Or he was holed up somewhere, deep in some woman’s hole for the night.
We talked about upcoming jobs and a few other business matters as the music and chatter of the bar surrounded us. The main door opened again, and the chatter died down when an unknown wolf and three men entered. Creating a stale atmosphere as everyone looked at the strangers.
GABEThe man, an obvious Alpha; stood tall and proud looking around the bar flanked by his two men, I took note that one had a Beta aura, and the other was a guard. His eyes landed on me, and I lifted my glass and downed the liquid in one go, still holding eye contact.Two of my men stood up blocking the Alpha’s path to me. This was either going to be a shit show or the Alpha wanted something.By the look of desperation written all over his face, I was guessing the latter.*Let him through* I linked my men. I would praise them later for doing their job, as I had told no one we were expecting a meeting with an Alpha. Curious eyes from the bar were all trained on the unknown Alpha, and I could see my Zeta’s stiffen, ready to fight if needed.The Alpha was unknown to me, not one I had previously encountered. The older man stepped forward closing in on our table, his men close behind him, constantly looking around watching their Alpha’s six.Good loyal men, who were all dressed nice, too n
STIXSMy father came back late into the night, two days after he had left. I stayed up waiting for him, pacing the front of the pack house like a possessed cat. Ready to pounce as soon as he steps out of the car or through the door, and demand answers from him. I hate being left in the dark and not knowing what is going on.Finally, around 2 am his car pulls up. He, Beta Branston, and two of his top warriors exit the vehicle. He looks tired and worried, and I detect a little edginess in him. Heightening my curiosity at where he might have been even more.“Pops,” I call out to him as he tells his men goodnight. I stood there with my hands on my hips and an accusatory look on my face. “Where have you been?” I glare at him when he acknowledges me.“Tomorrow, Hope. Let’s talk tomorrow. This old man is too tired tonight.” He says while hooking an arm around my shoulder and leading me back into the pack house.I knew he was tired; I wasn’t an idiot. I could see the dark circles under his ful
STIXI glanced towards my father who was wearing a sheepish look. Yeah, he should have talked to me last night. “You can call me Stix’s” I reply coolly, taking his large hand and feeling the warmth from it. I expected him to show dominance and grip me, instead, his large thumb stroked the back of my small hand in a flirtatious kind of way.My stomach flutters as this handsome man locks his deep blue orbs with mine. He was easy on the eyes, confident and built, and a good foot plus taller than me. His blue-washed jeans hugged his thighs and his white shirt stretched across his arms tightly showing off his toned muscles. The black vest he wore donned the skull of a wolf with crossbones.I furrowed my eyes, trying to think where I had seen that image before.“Stixs? That’s unusual,” The blond hunk chuckles.“She was given that nickname as a kid, it stuck.” My father laughs along with him but for a different reason.Stixs was the name my mother had given to me because I didn’t take any st
GABEKillian had come back last night after spending a day at the Raven Knights' pack. I’m sitting in the usual booth waiting for him to grace me with his presence. I would have had a sit-down last night, but he didn’t pull into town until the early hours of the morning, saying he needed sleep and attention. Making a point to say ‘attention first then sleep’.The Raven Knights pack was a good day’s drive from here, so he had been gone almost three days.I watch my sister dry and shelve glasses, preparing to open this afternoon. I smile to myself knowing the bar gives her purpose and insanely keeps her sane.“I can feel your eyes on me, Gabe!” She shouts with her back turned to me. “Why?” She questions still putting up glasses.“It's because big bro loves you to death,” Jamerson says walking in through the back of the bar and leaning over the end of the counter.I let out a low growl when I see the way my best friend's eyes roam over my sister. *Whatever you are thinking… I’ll kill you.
STIXSPulling the heavy door open to one of the enormous greenhouses that sit on our pack lands, I contemplate what my father is trying to do. The hot air hits me and I struggle to pull air into my lungs. The vast difference between the heat outside and the muggy heat inside the greenhouse is a sudden change and it takes a minute to adjust.I lift my nose and scent the air, trying to catch a whiff of Ruby’s perfume. The only thing I can smell is the overbearing scent of oranges.I couldn’t get it out of my head that my father was willing to give every penny he had to a mercenary pack of wolves just to keep me from falling into Alpha Crane's hands.On one hand, I’m proud of my father for sticking up for me. On the other hand, I just can't wrap my head around him sacrificing so much just for me. We couldn’t go to war with the Crimson Moon pack. We would lose for sure. With or without this band of rogue wolves. That and I wasn’t worth the lives of our warriors or the future of this pack.
GABE“So, what are you thinking oh fearless leader of ours?” Jamerson asks as I roll another barrel his way to change out.I lean against a case of liquor, some of our own brand, Propping an elbow on top. He was talking about the Raven Knights pack. “I think you should tell me your thoughts.” I shrug watching him re-hook the line to the keg.“No. No. You don’t get to put this on me.” He laughs, glancing at me. “This is your call, Gabe.”Swiping a hand down my face, realizing I need to shave when I feel the rough stubble scratch my palm. “The cause is sound. The money not so much.” I cut Jamerson off as he tries to rebuttal my statement. “But… I keep thinking of my sister. How she didn’t have a choice, how her voice wasn’t heard. Then think of how the alpha is willing to give up everything he has to keep his daughter out of the hands of a tyrannical pack.”“So, we’re taking the job?” Jamerson stands to his full height now all the kegs have been changed, crosses his arms, and sits on the
STIXSShifting uncomfortably, I looked at myself in the vanity mirror. The midnight blue dress was too tight. Too poofy. Too pretty. And so not me. I wasn’t used to wearing glamorous clothes such as this. But it had belonged to my mother.I only wish I wasn’t wearing it for creepy Crane and instead, wearing it to some fancy gala or party.Ruby finished putting the last touches on my hair. Even that was too fancy for me.“You look just like your mother.” I glance back in the mirror to see my father filling the door frame to my room.I smile when I see the sheen that coats his eyes. I once asked him why he never took another mate. He told me he could never love another like he did her and that the pain of her loss still sat heavily on his heart.Through the years I had hoped that he would meet someone to fill that void. But he never has to my knowledge. I was young when my mother was murdered and though I felt her absence and had fond memories of her, it wasn’t the same for me.“Thank yo
STIXSThe clock on the wall reads 10 pm. Internally I groan and outwardly I shift uncomfortably in my seat. The dress annoys the shit out of me as it gathers around my waist.I wonder how much longer I needed to sit with my father and entertain Alpha Crane. Who was not going easy on the wine either.The ticking of the second hand on the clock got louder as I tried to drown out Crane’s slimy voice while he proceeded to tell my father the benefits of our packs merging under him once he claimed me.I tilt my head and flick my gaze from the clock to my father whose face seems to be reddening with each passing second. Finally, I pay attention to the conversation.“With our growth and your fuel crops Crimson Moon will be the most powerful pack this side of the world.” Crane sips the dark berry drink, a few drops dribbling down his potholed chin. Not bothering with a napkin, he wipes the spillage with the back of his suit jacket. “You will be able to step down from Alpha and my heir will take