Chapter 89: Chapter 89

Well, fuck it.

If we’re in for an inch…

”Do you think she would still be willing to stay by my side?" I ask quietly.

Two other guards come into the apartment. They stop abruptly and await instructions.

“Let him shift,” I finally say.

The man turns back to human and he’s muttering apologies before the other guards can even toss him clothes.

“I’m not interested in your excuses.”

Terrence intervenes. “Men, please escort Randy back to the mansion. He will be reassigned. If his wounds have not healed adequately, make sure he receives proper medical care.”

When the three of them are gone, Terrence walks over to the kitchen and leans back agains the refrigerator. He crosses his feet.

"Do you want Miss Cummins to continue to accompany you?”

I’m not sure what i want.

So I don’t say anything.

“Sir,” Terrence says quietly. “Could you fallen in love with Miss Cummins?"

Love?

I trace the scar on my chest. The one I got from the one female in this world who should have loved me forever and always.

“There is no such thing as love. Love is for fools and greeting cards and bad movies.”

“Forgive me, Alpha.”

Love is for people like my father. Who choose to die rather than fight. Who could abandon me, his only son.

“No, Terrence. There is no love in me.”

“But you love our pack, our people. Your grandfather.”

I laugh harshly.

Was it not enough to have my father as an example? I would never be so weak or desperate, so pathetic as to be at the mercy of some other person. At most, I like Grace's company. She’s kind and uncomplicated. She doesn’t pry too much and she isn’t trying to get something from me. Her presence gives me a sense of comfort.

That’s all it was.

"Don't say this kind of thing in the future," I say coldly.

Terrence shivers and immediately replies, “Yes, sir.”

Without another word, he bows and leaves the building.

* * * * * * * * * *

PATRICK The lights are intoxicating in Club Luna.

The atmosphere can only be described as extravagant.

This is a shifter bar. One of only a handful within the city and though humans somehow manage to hear about the place, there is a pack-only rule in place for patrons.

When I first bought the club and launched it, it was more because I was bored and I was still living in pack-maintained city buildings, which meant there were rules.

Here. Anything goes.

Shifting. Sex. Drugs. Fighting.

More than a dozen wolves have died in our monthly fight nights.

Bottom line…you come here… anything can happen.

Which is why seeing Alpha Jason Reed in one of my clubs—especially this one—makes no sense.

Jason is rigid. Controlled. Calculating.

He rarely drinks. Never to excess. And he isn’t particularly keen on being around big groups of people.

I leaned over and ask him, "Why did you want to come here?"

Me and Jason could be considered childhood playmates. We had been classmates throughout middle school and high school. As wolves we ran together—figuratively and literally—since the prestigious schools we attended were heavy on the oligarchs and future senators, and short on wolves.

Of course, I know my good friend likes to keep quiet and Jason does not particularly care for social events.

In all fairness, most of the time Jason would be bombarded by businessmen seeking his company or women vying for his attention with dollar-signs in their eyes.

And that gets tedious. I can related. On being harassed by people wanting money. Not on the women—

they are always welcome.

I swirl my drink and take a sip. Jason isn’t a partier. He doesn’t drink to excess. He isn’t someone who cares about being seen at all the new, cool places.

“Seriously, bro. I invited you only out of habit. I didn’t think for a second that you’d actually show. What gives?”

Jason stares at his drink before downing it. “Do I need a special reason to come out? Don't you guys ask me all the time to join you?" Jason asks.

“Fair enough. But that”s the point, really. We ask you to hang out all the time, and you very seldom say yes. What changed your mind tonight?”

At this moment, a gorgeously dressed woman with exquisite makeup walks up to Jason and tries to start up a conversation with him.

I thought for sure Jay would reject her. He seldom dallies with wolves. For an Alpha of his rank and standing it wouldn’t take much for a she-wolf to get the wrong idea. But Jason doesn’t send off this young woman. Instead he holds out his hand, inviting her to sit by his side.

My eyes almost pop out of my eye sockets, when Jason orders her a drink.

Why is he willing to let a woman get so close to him today? Had the sun... risen from the west this morning?!

Maybe I’m drunk? I step away and grab my other friend, Brian Hart. Brian is of a similar height but bulkier, and while I’m light-hearted and a pleasure to be around, Brian gives Jason a run for the money in the serious department. Well, not with women. When it comes to girls, Brian is never seen with the same one twice.

We have that in common.

Brian stands beside the bar, playing with a silver bracelet. “Are you seeing this too?”

Brian laughs. “It appears our boy Jason is in quite a mood this evening.”

That’s one way to put it. “You think he’s turning a corner?”

Brian shrugs and spins the bracelet on his wrist. Once. Twice. Again and again.

“What is with you and always wearing that silver bracelet?" I reach out and tried to grab the silver band.

Brian jerks his wrist away. "Don't touch it.” His eyes are a pale blue. And they flash dangerously like the arctic wolves from which he is descended…