7. Leigh

SEVEN

LEIGH

L eigh couldn't believe how phenomenal the sex with Claude had been. It was wild and animalistic, and pleasurable in a way that made her body feel like every molecule was humming. Afterward, she'd gone home and blasted icy cold water in the shower. She couldn't shake the excitement tremoring at the core of her chest.

And her wolf. Her wolf was even worse. It kept her awake long into the night, the thought of Claude's hands and mouth exploring the contours of her form a deliciously addictive fantasy. Except, it hadn't been a fantasy at all. She could have him again, any time she wanted.

The wolf whimpered, coating her skin in a sheen layer of sweat. Once morning came, Leigh got up and showered again. She was sure she hadn't slept a wink.

But it didn't seem to matter. She was feeling both agitated and energized. It was unlike any feeling she'd ever had.

It was what drove her to get up on time for work at the Sassy Wolfe, even arriving an hour early with coffee and bagels. She made sure everything was set up properly, in the diligent way that the Wolfes trusted, then opened up just past noon.

It was in Leigh's nature to have her behavior ritualized. It helped her mental state, having a set routine rather than approaching situations blindly. That was part of what threw her off about her interactions with Claude. They were out of place, disorderly, chaotic.

A violent digression from her usual set pathway. But perhaps, that was what made it so captivating.

Maybe? You know better than that, her wolf said.

Leigh ignored its pleas and compartmentalized. The Sassy Wolfe was a popular watering hole, and she had to be present to make sure its customers were served. Even though it was technically a nightclub, it was renowned for its old pub feel often drawing patrons with a thirsty and curious palate. Lunch was served from noon to five, then the kitchen slowed, making way for the neon glow of dancing and libations.

It was just past five when Leigh took her break, leaving the hostesses and bartenders in charge of the changeover. They were competent enough. She found herself hungrier than usual, her wolf pleading with her to take in some sustenance. So that was what she did and considered if all the exercise with Claude had anything to do with it.

She snickered to herself at the thought.

"Hey."

Leigh gazed up from the hefty pastrami sandwich that the chef had made her and saw her greenest server, Angela, peeking into the back room. She didn't look frazzled, which was a good sign.

"All good?" Leigh asked, slightly irked.

"Karla is here," Angela said, drumming her fingers against the doorway. "Shit got busy when you left so she's behind the bar, serving. I think a ball game just finished or something."

Leigh smiled. Karla hadn't been to the Sassy Wolfe in a long time, not since the triplets were born. She did pop in on occasion to check in, as she and Nate were owners and were heavily involved in the employment and marketing aspect.

Karla was a ray of sunshine and took on a hell of a lot more than she should. But Leigh could relate. She couldn't really criticize.

"I'll be out in a minute," Leigh replied.

When she finished her sandwich, Leigh returned to the floor. The lights of the pub scene had dimmed and the tables had been closed off while music pumped faintly in the dance section. The bar remained open, and it was as Angela had said. A swarm of fifteen to twenty young men surrounded it, laughing and roughhousing while the bartenders and Karla served them promptly.

Leigh grinned and jumped in. It was just as Angela had suggested, they'd all come from a work softball game and wanted to give the Wolfe establishment a try. Karla was her usual charming self whereas Leigh kept things cool and casual.

It was her way, and it usually worked out well.

"So?"

The pub had died down to a few of the softball boys and a handful of the usual suspects. The club music throbbed, but only vaguely. It was a Thursday night, and most people had to get up for work in the morning.

Karla was bright-eyed and cleaning a pint glass as she raised her eyebrows.

"So what?" Leigh said, cleaning the bar as she smiled. "Fancy seeing you here? No hello? Just gonna jump back in and show off your bartending skills for my employees?"

Karla chuckled and put down the pint glass. She put a hand on her hip and raised her brows again. Leigh felt like a shark in an aquarium.

"That's not what I meant and you know it," Karla teased, pushing lightly at Leigh's shoulder. "Tell me who he is! Or she. I don't care. Just tell me. I need something. Talking to three toddlers all day really rots the adult portion of your brain."

Leigh slid her jaw back and forth anxiously, spraying the wood surface and rubbing incessantly with a cloth. She wasn't entirely sure about revealing what, or who, she had done.

"Who told you?" she asked, averting her gaze.

"No one!" Karla exclaimed, whipping the tea towel off her shoulders and flicking Leigh with it. "It's written all over your damn face. A full wolf would have smelled it on you, woman. You got laid. It's okay. Happens to the best of us."

Leigh smirked, her cheeks running hot. She considered lying, but Karla was too good a friend to lie to. Plus, she was torn about everything she was feeling and figured she needed someone externally to guide her through it.

Sweet, non-judgmental Karla may have been the best one to do it.

"Fine," Leigh said, standing and pushing away the spray bottle. "It was last night. And my God, Karla. It was remarkable. Probably the best sex I've ever had."

Karla clapped her hands over her mouth and giggled. It was cute, and Leigh joined in, celebrating her rare dabbling in self-indulgence.

"Good for you!" she exclaimed. "Tell me! Tell me everything!"

Leigh felt her face drop, and she swallowed dryly. She quickly changed the subject, hoping that she could divert her attention to something more dramatic.

"Well, first I wanted to tell you about the new vampire club I've been working to re-open. Tristan asked to help Aria out."

Karla pursed her lips and nodded silently. Leigh went on, returning her attention to the spray bottle and cloth. She tactically dropped a bomb.

"The place that burned down a few months ago. Aria wants to make it open to wolves too."

It took Karla a moment to understand what Leigh was saying, but when she did, her eyes went wide, and her jaw cracked open.

"Wait, she wants vampires and wolves to come into this club?"

Leigh nodded, watching Karla closely. She looked disturbed but intrigued at the same time.

"I felt the same way too. Yesterday, when I was visiting the construction site, I.."

Karla suddenly was by her side, her hand on her shoulder, shaking it roughly. Leigh realized she had slipped up.

"You did the vampire?"

"Fuck," Leigh muttered.

Karla giggled some more, her eyes looking like saucers. But Leigh was relieved to see she wasn't angry about it. In fact, she seemed excited.

"My God, Leigh! You are wild!" She laughed.

Leigh grunted and caught a glimmer in Karla's eye. She stopped shaking her playfully, then narrowed her eyes. She may not have been a full wolf, but she was still incredibly intuitive.

"What else is there? Tell me. I can help you."

She turned to her friend and sighed. The music thudded in the distance while Karla's expression went grave.

Leigh had to get it out, or she was going to be sick.

"It's Claude, Aria's cousin. I've been thinking maybe… or feeling…"

She stuttered, and Karla tilted her head. She finished her sentence for her, and the silence felt palpable. Her voice was kind and low.

"You think he's your mate, don't you?"

Leigh bit her lip and started to feel heavy with exhaustion. Her voice was mousey for one of the first times in her life.

"Maybe. I don't know. I haven't felt like this before. My wolf won't shut up."

"Leigh," she said, giving her a thoughtful look. "I may not know that much about wolf ways, but I know that the mate aspect is pretty cut and dry. If you think he's your mate, then he's your mate, babe."

Leigh ran her hands through her hair. There was a fair amount of relief, but a vampire? Their kind had been feuding for millennia. How could she possibly pursue something that went against everything her kind stood for?

"There's something else too…"

Leigh told Karla about the fight with Kim. The club wasn't very busy, so they talked at the bar, serving patrons every now and then. Karla agreed that Kim sounded like trouble, and they each hoped she would stay away.

But something stirred ominously inside Leigh. Mating with a vampire didn't sound like the best idea, but ignoring her wolf sounded just as dire.