16. Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Locke

W ith a wicked smile, I savored the sight of my mate storming out of the bathroom, her footsteps echoing amidst the bustling crowd. The unmistakable scent of smoke lingered as she pushed through the throng of people, determined to reclaim her seat at the bar.

"I don't think that was wise," Bones drawled and shoved a large needle into my arm.

I didn't even wince. I watched her from the shadows as she swayed her hips. I could still smell her. Her arousal was potent; the pheromones she leaked were mouthwatering, and it was taking everything inside me from finishing what I started.

My fingers itched to slip into that sweet leather skirt she was wearing and graze her clit to a taste. Just a small one. Hell, I bet she would orgasm with just the flick of my finger.

Granted, I thought she would fight a little more with me but we were both hanging on by a thread there. Night after night we were so close to each other, and we had the bond weaving us tighter together, trying to get us to complete the inevitable.

Doing something so wicked with an animal never crossed her mind—and I didn't blame her. To her, I was nothing but an animal. A beast, a wolf. She would never think to do anything like that with me.

In her sleep she nuzzled deep within my fur. She moaned and withered against me. If she was awake I'm sure she would have been mortified.

"When have you ever thought anything I do is wise?" I smirked and rubbed my arm where he'd injected the thick serum. It was similar to the medication that was given to me before I went rabid. It was to help suppress my wolf, but it wasn't going to work. I was far too strong now.

Do I tell him that?

Nah.

I'm doing it to appease him. He was such a damn worrywart, and I had to keep some of my members from losing their heads.

"I'm just saying, Anaki might not enjoy having to patch up holes in his bar." Bones eyed me as he put the syringe away. "And as for upsetting Emm, you don't want her going off her rocker and punching one of the guys if she thinks it's them."

I growled and balled my hand into a fist. "She wouldn't dare think it was someone else. She knew it was me."

My mate had to know my scent by now. She knew my touch, my warmth and my body. She had been with it every night while she slept. That was why she submitted to me. If it was anyone else, I knew she would overpower any unmated, soul-broken person in this bar. She was that strong.

"Never—that wouldn't happen," I said, more to myself.

Bones eyed me warily and pulled out a blood pressure cuff.

"Get that damn thing away from me. I don't need it." I pushed him away and gazed over the railing. Watching her.

"I need to make sure you aren't gonna shift when you get down there. When your blood pressure rises, you shift. Just let me get a base on what you are right now."

I leaned over the railing. Bones did his thing while I watched the club chant over the music. Everyone had hovered around the current couple doing shots. Savannah was laying on the bar. Her belly button was being used as a shot glass and the valley between her covered breasts had a trail of salt. The male in question sucking and licking her skin was Surkash.

As soon as Savannah jumped on that bar, Surkash claimed her so no one else would. We all knew they were mates. Everyone could feel it, but he had yet to claim her as his. Members had tried to get them together but, for some reason, he wouldn't take the jump.

Yet, he wouldn't let anyone else touch her but him.

If anyone knows about not feeling worthy, it's all of us. Yet, Surkash's resolve is stronger than anyone's.

Savannah arched her back when he went between her breasts and grabbed his head, pulling it closer to her breasts. Once he was done, he stared at her and pulled away, leaving her behind and alone on the bar.

Embarrassment flooded her face, and she covered up. Her friends were there to cheer her on, but you could see she was upset.

Fucking bastard, I'd have to threaten him.

"You mean talk to him?" Bones raised a brow.

"Said that out loud?"

Bones nodded. "Blood pressure is stable," Bones said and ripped the Velcro off my arm.

I shifted a few days ago. It was one of the most painful shifts I've had since I was a pup. The worst part was I could only hold my human form for an hour at a time and the clock was already ticking. I needed to get down there and touch my mate, better yet taste her.

When I walked into the bar buck-naked, no one flinched. My men gathered round, slapped me on the back and handed me a beer, and it was back to business as usual. Yet, when I shifted back into my wolf again suddenly, that was a reason for concern, but Bones made sure everyone gave me space.

My wolf was still unpredictable. He wasn't speaking to me, and could have times of complete control, usually at dusk when I needed to hunt. When we were around our mate, I had the control. She soothed him, but around the club, with all these unmated idiots, could cause a reason for concern. That was why Bones was up my ass.

Hammer almost got his leg bitten off, when I spontaneously shifted and he came over to pet me just this afternoon. Good thing Grim had some quick reflexes.

Why the fuck Hammer tried to pet me I wasn't sure, but those mechanics were separated for a reason. They were born on Earth, not in Elysian. Earth-born shifter traditions were different. All that had to change, though. We all needed to be integrated and understand each other.

"It's my medical advice that you don't pursue her yet, Locke." Bones followed me to the stairs as the next woman got up on the bar. This time it was Journey lying on the bar and Grim hovering over her, pouring a shot in her mouth with his own. "You might shift in front of her, then what?"

I sighed, my mouth coming into a frown, and stopped halfway down the stairs. "She's my mate, and I'm the president here, Bones. I know how to handle what's mine," I snapped.

Bones snapped his mouth shut and bowed his head. "I'm sorry, Pres. Didn't mean to offend you, it's just—" He paused and darted his head to my mate, who was sitting at the bar, laughing. "Just don't want your shot messed up. We can't go on without ya."

I stepped up onto the same step as my medic. "Don't you think I know that?" I blinked at him. "Don't you know how much I think about the decisions I make, every day? About the club, about me, about her? It's all about everyone else, but you know what?" I shot my head to my mate. "It all boils down to our happiness, too. It comes down to our connection. If there isn't any of that—there is none of this." I waved my hand out over the members' heads. "And, she and I have our own demons, Bones. We have our own shit to deal with. It ain't gonna happen as fast as you want it, it ain't gonna happen the way you want it. So, back the fuck off and let your alpha handle it the way he sees fit, and worry about your damn self instead of everyone else."

Bones bowed his head again and bared his neck. A complete sign of submission. I huffed, my mood nearly ruined when I walked down the spiraling metal staircase. When I reached the bottom, Hawke was leaning up against a pole, watching my mate and his.

"Finally, Bones needed a new asshole."

I grunted and took in two long, calming breaths. Being questioned made my wolf angry, even if we weren't alpha status, yet. I built this bar from the fucking ground up, gave Bones a place to stay, which helped him live longer. Now, we were getting mates. How fucking dare he question me.

Just like fucking Tajah.

"Is Tajah back?" I muttered to Hawke, watching as Journey and Grim continued their show on the bar.

"Yes." Hawke took a sip of his beer. "She's at the cabin with our new guests. She will remain there and she was given a warning to behave."

I gritted my teeth and glanced over at the private door near the bar where Switch hides. He had the door open, per my request, so Grim and I could keep an eye on him. He was hunched over the computer, a bag of chips on the desk, his hand buried inside, scrounging for more food. I shook my head and straightened my shoulders.

"Good, let her know she isn't to come back to town and to watch over the guests until I say. After her job is finished, she still may face more punishment."

Hawke smirked. "Good, can't believe she went against orders."

I hummed and tried to calm myself, gazing at my mate's backside. She was glancing around the bar—trying to find that someone who could have touched her. She was failing, and disappointment was showing on her face, but Delilah kept bringing her back to the show on the bar.

My mate shifted her legs, crossing and uncrossing. She could feel my heat. I just knew it. At least her body knew of my presence. She just didn't know my face. Fuck, what if she didn't like my face?

Not that it mattered. She was mine, and she didn't have a choice.

If she didn't like it, I'll just make her sit on it.

Oh, so fucking soon, I was gonna make her squirt on the bar. It wouldn't be the first time the bar had been defiled.

"Tajah might be powerful, but once I gain alpha status, she won't be able to use much of that magic shit on me. She needs to know her place." I crossed my arms and watched Grim take his mate off the bar. It was almost showtime.

"You ready for the big debut? What happens if she refuses to get up there?" Hawke nudged me and gave me a wide, fanged smile.

I jerked my head toward my mate. Delilah was leading her up to the bar. They already had a stool ready to go to sit her up there.

I knew she wouldn't say no. She was fucking horny before I started sucking on her neck minutes ago. Hugging her breast with my hand was just icing on the cake.

The auction would begin soon and that was when I would seal our fate. The auction was rigged. Only the males that were destined to be mated to the woman on the bar were allowed to be up there. If we knew a woman didn't have a mate in-house, she was refused politely, and told there was a sign-up list and would have to try another night.

I'm a fucking genius, I tell you.

My mate hopped up on the bar, smiling. Anaki made her lean her head back and poured a mouthful of tequila straight into her mouth. Some dripped down her neck and instantly my tongue swiped across my lips.

Showtime.

I took a deep breath and headed up to the bar, my club mates cheered, not by my name, just a general cheer to keep my name hidden—for now.

My heart pounded in my chest as I made my way toward the bar, my eyes never leaving my mate. She was beautiful, her laughter infectious, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness wash over me when Anaki grinned and blindfolded her.

"Let's make it interesting," Anaki announces. "Let's make her blind!"

Emm let out a loud gasp, laughing, but holding the blindfold in place. "That isn't fair!" She shook her head, but Anaki whispered in her ear it would be worth it.

"Alright, who's ready to claim the lady for the night?" Anaki called out, his voice laced with mischief, as a wild dragon grin crept across his face.

I stepped forward, leaning on the side of the bar next to her thick thigh. I nodded my head in confirmation to Anaki.

My eyes locked on my mate's lips. I could feel her excitement, the trepidation, the hint of fear at losing one of her senses.

"You got it, brother," Grim said, clapping me on the back. "Remember, bid for her."

I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders and stepping up onto the stage. The room fell silent as I raised my hand, and I heard a murmur ripple through the crowd. I could feel their eyes on me, judging me and watching me like a hawk.

"Start the bidding at $20," Anaki called out.

It was a low bid, but it always was. We were a low-class biker bar. I was the only one with the money, so the business helped keep food on the tables and a roof over their heads. The extra cash they earned on their own.

I sucked in another deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. This was it. I was doing this. The introduction of our luna, and she didn't even know it. I raised my hand, I didn't even yell it across the bar. I was close enough she could hear it, and that was all who needed to know the bid.

"One grand."

The room erupted in gasps and murmurs, and then silence. But I didn't care. No one was going to bid against me, no one ever did bid against the other mate, but they always gave as much as they could.

Anaki broke the silence, and the rest of the bartenders banged the bottles on the table. The music started again, and Journey and Delilah laughed and squealed in Emm's ear telling her what a catch I was.

Fuck yeah, I was a fine catch.

I stepped in front of my mate, spread her legs and placed myself between them. I put my hands on either side of her hips giving them a strong squeeze. I could feel the heat of her cunt on my stomach as I leaned in close to her ear.

Goddess, she smelled just like a Pina Colada.

"Hey, Princess, I couldn't help but stare at those gorgeous lips all night. Now, what can those beautiful lips do?" My mouth grazed her earlobe.

Her breath hitched but without missing a beat, she replied, "Hurt your feelings, probably."