4. Well Past Midnight

Demi

I didn't knowwhy I kept coming back to the tavern. Nothing fun ever happened here. The occasional alpha would flirt, and one tried to kiss me once, but for the most part it was boring. Alphas talked far too loud, drank way too much, and threw punches far too easily.

The dim light from a lantern reflected in my glass of brandy. I swirled it, watching the amber liquid shimmer.

I was officially restless.

Bored.

Anxious.

Horny.

It wasn't natural for someone to be alone this long. Maybe it was time for me to move on from Casin.

I had thought about it a handful of times over the last few months. I could easily find a position in another village as a companion. But everytime I seriously thought about packing, my wolf would wallow and wail, not wanting me to go. She liked it here. She liked Calia and Florence, and especially Max.

A group of very young alphas erupted in booming laughter, pulling me from my thoughts. They were all far too drunk, stumbling over chairs and yelling out obscene compliments to a blonde bar-maid.

"Come on, Lin.'" A red-haired alpha wrapped his arm around the beta's waist. "The full Moon is in a few days. Let me chase you around. Your wolf will love it."

Deep sadness pulled within me, and my wolf raised her head. She was frequently confused by my desire to shift.

I just wanted to be normal.

"How about it, lovely?" A gruff alpha suddenly appeared right next to my table. He stared down at me, his eyes glazed and a sheen of sweat on his forehead from far too much drink.

"Don't waste your time, Jay!" One of the young alphas by the door yelled out. "She's the whore from Hala."

"I'd still do her." The gruff alpha's eyes narrowed, drifting from my face to my chest.

Even though my dress had a high neckline, I still placed my hand over my chest, then I glared at the alpha. I wasn't fool enough to snap back at him, but I'd be damned if I just sat here and took his abuse.

"How do girls like you get work?" The red-haired alpha squinted at me. "Do you get referrals based on how well you suck cock?"

I swallowed hard, wishing I had listened to Max and had stayed away from the tavern.

"Tell me sweetheart." He grabbed his crotch. "Do you fuck anyone, or only pack alphas?" The asshole let out a barking laugh. But I refused to look away. He wasn't going to shame me just because his village was too obstinate to understand my work.

"How about this?" The gruff alpha leaned down, pushing into my space. "Why don't you get on your knees, and I'll?—"

"Get the hell out of here, Jay," The bar-maid yelled at the alpha, smacking him across the back with a tea towel. "All of you!" she snapped.

The asshole rolled his eyes, but thankfully did as he was told, following his friends out the front door. My whole body felt numb, flooded with fear and adrenaline.

"Bunch of idiots," the barmaid groaned loudly, before looking at me. "We're cleaning up, ma'am." She sounded friendly enough, but her smile was too tight, and the way she scanned my face felt weird.

I really hated this damn village.

I had lived in many different villages and cities over the years, working as a well-respected companion for all kinds of powerful alphas. But Casin was a fresh kind of hell, where omegas were seen as weaklings and companions were simple whores.

Tipping my glass, I finished the last of my brandy, then let out a heavy sigh.

"Careful!" The barmaid rushed toward the end of the bar, wrapping her arms around a very drunk alpha. It was Max.

My wolf perked and I immediately sat straight as an arrow. How had I not noticed him?

"Lindsay?" Max squinted at the bar-maid's face, taking in her yellow blonde hair and friendly smile.

The big alpha was unsteady, swaying one way and then another. I had never seen him like this before—relaxed and a little messy with a bright red nose and flushed cheeks. He looked so cute stumbling out the door with the bar-maid on his arm.

I quickly paid my tab, then rushed out of the tavern. Hopefully, Max hadn't gotten too far. I wanted to tease him a bit before he could sober up.

Cutting though the village square, I rushed around the gazebo, then froze.

Max stood on the other side of the square, with the bar-maid in his arms. He was bent, kissing her gently. The bright Moon illuminated the side of his face. It accentuated the silver scar on his cheek, cutting a shimmering path from the corner of his eye down to the edge of his jaw.

I stared at them.

The way Max's big body curled down to match Lindsay's height, and the way his hand cupped the side of her face. His mouth moved over hers, then his tongue slipped out, brushing against her top lip. It was a sensual touch—just the tip of his tongue—but then he plunged into her, and my knees went weak.

I couldn"t remember the last time I was kissed like that.

The wind rustled the freshly bloomed trees and Lindsay moaned. Goose bumps flashed across my suddenly very sensitive skin as my heart quickened.

"Come," Max growled as he broke their kiss. Then he pulled Lindsay forward, marching off the main path and into a small patch of trees. The bar-maid stumbled, walking like a newborn fawn. I couldn't blame her. I'd forget how to walk too if I were kissed like that.

"Max!" Lindsay gasped as the shadows consumed them.

This was the moment I should have left and gone home.

But I didn't.

Instead, I followed them.

My feet moved over the cool dirt path and into the grass. I ducked, moving under and around a tight cluster of trees. The small bit of forest between the town square and the village cabins was surprisingly thick. Barely any moonlight cut through the lush canopy. I thought seriously of turning around and heading home, but my wolf snarled, pushing me forward. So I did as she wanted, not stopping until a woodshed came into view.

And there they were.

Max pushed Lindsay's back against the side of the old shed. His hands roamed the full length of her body, squeezing her plush hips and waist as he kissed her neck.

"Do you want me?" The beta slowly lifted the front of her dress, hitching her leg over Max's hip.

He growled in response, pushing his hips forward.

Leave, I thought to myself, but my body refused to move. My wolf wouldn't allow it. She was so starved for affection, she'd take it in any way she could get. Even if that meant watching someone else's pleasure.

"Max!" Lindsay gasped, and I realized his hand was between her legs. His arm moved, clearly fingering her. My nipples immediately hardened. "Right there!" She clawed at the alpha's back, pulling his shirt up. Smooth muscles and thin scars covered Max's broad back.

"Show me your tits," Max demanded, fumbling with his belt.

Lindsay quickly popped a few buttons, then shoved her dress down, exposing her lush breasts. They were plump and perky, with dark areolas and tempting nipples. I couldn"t help but to look down at my own, less impressive attributes.

"Fuck me." Lindsay's mouth fell open as Max lowered the front of his pants. I took several slow steps to one side, and my pussy dripped from the sight before me.

Max's heavy cock jutted forward from a nest of dark curls. It was beautiful. Long and hard with thick veins that curved over the top and down toward his balls. My mouth watered and my wolf inched forward.

"Give it to me." Lindsay gasped as Max gripped her hips. She lifted her skirt as he spit on his hand, lubing himself up.

"Tell me if it hurts," Max warned, then he rutted forward, and the bar-maid's eyes rolled into the back of her head.

The alpha's movements were slow and deliberate, his whole body tight from restraint. It was clear he didn't want to hurt her.

"Oh!" Lindsay's eyes flew open, pushing at Max's shoulders. "Not all of it, alpha." She grimaced as her body pulled tight.

I couldn"t help but smile. Her reaction made sense. There weren't many betas that could easily take an alpha cock. It was definitely a talent.

In fact, I had even managed to take a few knots in my time. While alphas could only knot their mates, older ones had practically no control. Their wolves became less concerned with the connection to their mate and spent their last few years knotting everything they could get their hands on. It was intense and painful, but I still liked the pressure. It was like nothing else on earth.

"That's it," Lindsay hummed as Max set his pace again. His hips moved slower, shallower.

I leaned on the nearest tree, resting my cheeks against the tough bark as Max took the pretty bar-maid. He snarled and grunted, careful not to lose control. It made me wonder what he was like when he was unhinged.

Did he like to bite his lovers? Talk dirty to them? Eat their pussy for hours on end?

Wetness gathered between my thighs as excitement pooled in my belly. I wanted so badly to lift my skirt and slip my fingers between my folds, but I couldn't. Not here.

"I'm close!" Lindsay panted, tilting her head back against the shed.

Max snarled as he kept fucking, staring hard at the exposed skin of her throat. His eyes glowed bright red, his beast inching closer and closer to the surface.

Something like panic ripped through me and I held my breath, praying he wouldn't bite her. My wolf barked and growled, urging me to rush at the pair and rip them apart.

"Fuck!" Lindsay screamed out her orgasm, followed by a deep rumble from Max's chest. It wasn't the bellowing roar most alphas gave when coming, but more muted. It almost seemed lackluster, and shameful relief bloomed in my chest.

"Wow," Lindsay giggled, brushing a few strands of hair from Max's face. "Thank you, my sweet alpha." Then she leaned forward and kissed his lips.

My beast roared, and my fists curled tight.

Max wasn't hers.