Chapter 13

Lauren's Point of View julien is up in my apartment having a nap, and Zac has gone back to his packhouse. It's crazy to think about how drasticthings have changed today. It seems crazy that I spent the last week fangirling over a man, and then suddenly we're in threlationship forsaking all others. It feels right, though. So right, and I really think he's my second-chance mate.

If he’s not, we obviously have something very special if we both feel the same, so it seems right. It seems like relationshijin the werewolf community tend to go from 0-100 very quickly, so it really shouldn't feel all that strange.

It's 4 pm, and it's been dead. I decide to send Peggy a text and see how they are holding up, Me: Hey Peg! Everything is going smoothly here. No need to worry. How are you? How's your brother and his wife?

Peggy: I'm glad to hear it, Darlin’. He's doing okay. He's stable right now, and they plan on proceeding with surgery in themorning. My sister-in-law is a wreck, but we're holding up okay.

Me: I'm glad he’s stable. Did you want me to have food sent over?

Peggy: No, that's okay. We'll be fine. My cousin brought sandwiches for everyone earlier. I'm going to try and be there at 7pm. I know that's when it really starts to pick up, and I don't want to leave you alone like that.

Me: Peggy, you have done so much for me. I am happy to take care of the bar tonight on my own if you want to be with yofamily. I can handle it, I assure you.

Me: Seriously.

Peggy: 1 don't know what I would do without you. Thank you.

Me: My pleasure!

I put my phone away and got some music going in the bar. It's Friday, so tonight is supposed to be a busy one. I periodicahead back and talk to Jerome while he does some prep work. I explained how Peggy might not be here tonight, so Jeromehas offered to stay late, after the kitchen closes at 10 pm, and serve drinks with me until 1-2 am. I feel pretty confident ncjerome made me a burger at 5 pm; even though I'm not hungry, 1 know I won't be able to eat again tonight because it willbe 50 busy.

Customers start trickling in after 5, and Jerry is my first customer. He's always such a joy to serve and such a sweet old-timer. At 6:30, Julien enters the bar, starving. He sits at the bar for a few hours eating, drinking and we chat in betweenserving people. By 9 pm, things are starting to get busy. Julien is keeping busy too now with some pretty girls. I'm doing leinteracting and small talk than usual, but I feel like I'm keeping up with demand even better now that 'm mostly servingdrinks and no one’s ordering food.

Zac, Malcolm, and Paul all come in at 9:30 pm and are forced to sit at a table since the bar is full. I bring three Budweiserover before even having to ask because it's always the same with them.

“You're doing this alone? Peggy's not back yet?” Zac asks, looking concerned.

“Jerome is going to hop up front at around 10, but we've been handling things pretty well so far, actually,” I admit.

“Can I help you with something?” He asks.

“You're 50 sweet, but I've got this under control," I say truthfully.

“Lauren,” someone calls and lifts their beer up, signalling they're out. I raise three fingers and he nods.

“Enjoy your drinks, gentlemen,” I tell Zac and the guys. I grab Joe his three Coors and add them to his tab. I'm basicallygoing from one table to the next.

“Lauren, I didn’t see you today!” I hear.

“Hey, Mark! Yeah, I know. I had to come in early for deliveries to cover for Peggy today. My brother is in town, and we planon coming in tomorrow morning, though," I tell him, and then 1 point to Julien with the ladies.

He nods, and I notice Zac's eyes are burning into Mark.

“I can see that you're crazy busy tonight, so make sure you take some time to talk to me tomorrow when you come in.There's something that I've wanted to talk to you about,” he smiles.

“Sure, so what can I“

“Babe, are you sure I can't help you with something” Zac cuts in and wraps his arm around my waist. It takes everything ime not to laugh. So possessive.

“I've got it all under control. You're the world's sweetest boyfriend, though,” I smile, and he's beaming with pride. Heobviously wanted to mark his territory, and I won't deny him that. If the roles were reversed, I know he would do the samfor me.

“Boyfriend?” Mark asks.

“Yup,” I smile.

“That was fast. You've only been here a week,” Mark says, confused.

“Well, when you want something, you have to go for it," Zac smiles. I nod and give him a peck.

“So, what can I get for you, Mark?”

“Actually, I came in here looking for someone, but they're not here. I'm going to take off," he says.

“Okay, take care!” He walks away, and I turn to a smiling Zac.

“Jealous, are we?” I ask.

He pulls me into his arms and holds me close, “I'm not jealous. Why would I be jealous? You're mine, not his," he states.The way he gazed at me possessively, mixed with the tone of his voice, and the way he possessively said I was his shotchills down my spine and sent a heat between my thighs. I'm at work; what is wrong with me? I'm at work! I remind myselagain.

“I just wanted him to know, so he could f**k off. I heard him talking about you the other day, and I watched him checkingyou out. I wanted to shut that s**t down,” he says.

“Okay. Feel better?" I ask, and he nods with the cutest smile.

“Good, now I need to get back to work," I finish, and give him a quick peck.

“You're not going to give me a hard time for that?” He asks. I just smile and shake my head, and he smiles broadly—thatdamn smile.

When I get to the bar, Jerry is giving me a hard time, jokingly, “So, I guess I'm not your favourite anymore. You got yourselfella.’

“Oh, Jerry, no one can compete with you... Just don't tell him that,” I smile and give him a wink.

“Your secret is safe with me,” he smiles.

At 10 pm, as planned, Jerome came out and served behind the bar while I took care of the tables. Peggy showed up a littlafter 11 pm and seemed surprised that the place was running so smoothly without her. She thanks me and Jerome and thinsists that we take the rest of the night off. I tried to argue, but she insisted she needed to serve people to wind down. Ihead straight to Zac's table and sit beside him. “I'm donel” I smile.

“Can I get you a drink, babe? Are you hungry? I can run to the diner and get you something” he asks. He's so thoughtful.“No thanks, I'm going to head up and have a hot bath," I admit.

“ll walk you up,” Zac offers. I say goodbye to Malcolm and Paul and let Julien know that I'm heading up, but to take histime.

zac grabs my keys and unlocks my door for me.

“I can run your bath for you,” he offers. He comes in and turns on my bath water for me as I flick off my shoes, and flopmyself on my bed and lay down.

“Bubbles?” He asks.

“Yes, please. The Yellow bottle."

When he's done, he walks over to me.

“Give me a hug. I'll see you tomorrow,” he says.

“Come give me a hug," I say as I lift up my hand to him.

“You're bad news,” he smirks. I reach up, grab his hand and pull him into my bed with me. We both lay on our side, and Icuddle into him.

“Mmm... This is nice,” I hum. His strong arms are wrapped around me, and our bodies seem to fit so perfectly together.“We haven't had a moment alone to just be together. I just needed this," I admit, and 1 feel him breathing me in.

“Me too. It feels like this is where you're supposed to be. Wrapped in my arms,” he adds.

After a minute I look up at him. He's so handsome.

I look to his lips, “I really want to kiss you right now," I pout.

“Me t00,” he sighs.

“Ym sure he can't feel a peck. It's so quick, and we kissed like that in the bar’ 1 reason. I look up to him and look to his lifagain. I move in to give him the quickest peck. I pull away, and my heart is racing, and I feel like my body is actually achirfor him. I peck him again, but I don't pull away as quickly this time. After a few pecks that progressively last longer andlonger, I grab his lower lip with my teeth and give it a light tug.

He groans and pulls me closer and kisses me. His tongue brushes past my lips and finds mine. Yes. Oh my gosh.

This feels so good; I can't get enough of him. I climb on top of him, and we continue to kiss. He's not holding back at allanymore as his hands explore my body.

Finally, he pulls away. “The water," his deep voice pants.

“Oh s**t” I jump off of him and run to the bathroom to turn off the water, which was pretty close to overflowing. Zac getsup and I see him rearranging himself. I smile because I'm glad I wasn't the only one thoroughly aroused.

“Look what you do to me, woman!” He smiles, and I make my way back to him. 1 wrap my arms around him.

“We can't kiss if we're alone,” he says and raises his eyebrows at me, and I roll my eyes.

“I can smell your arousal, Lauren. Let's hope your brother doesn’t come back right away. Maybe you should crack awindow,” he smirks proudly.

He holds me tight for a few minutes, then kisses my forehead and makes his way to my door. I don't want him to go,though. I hand my keys to him and ask him to give them to Julien so I can lock up and go to sleep after my bath.

I had to let a little water out to get into the tub, or it would overflow. I get in and go through my music on my phone,deciding what I want to listen to when my phone dings.

Zac SLADE: The guys said I smell like you.

Me: Oh no. *Wince face*

I edit my contact information and add two hearts after SLADE.

Zac SLADE