33. Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Three

Beth

I f my sister had asked me what I thought I might be doing tonight, my answer would not have been following a hot Alpha to a nearby location that he hasn't even given me the name of.

It sounds like the starting point of a murder mystery show.

Not the beginning of a potential relationship.

I'm death-gripping my hedgehog prize from the arcade as I follow Gio down the street. It's a good thing toys don't really come to life like those movies, because I'm pretty sure I'm choking the stuffing out of this little guy.

The truth is I'm nervous.

It's easy to be confident around guys I'm not really interested in.

But point me in the direction of someone who makes my stomach flutter and I turn all klutzy and anxious. Make that someone an Alpha and it's going to get even worse.

Not that I've attracted too many Alphas.

I'd thought one was enough for a single lifetime.

Especially after Rourke ripped my heart to shreds.

Thinking about him reminds me he's here.

He's actually in Cressidan City.

It only makes me shakier to know that.

Keeping watch for him in the shadows, I stay close to Gio.

As close as I can get without actually touching him.

I don't know what I'm ready for, yet.

He doesn't push me, and I like that.

"Are we almost …" I start to ask, cutting myself off when I see the sign above the door to the bar we're headed toward.

The Terrace.

What are the chances?

"We're here," he tells me, with a smile.

The bar looks busy, so, clearly, it's a popular place.

My stomach churns when I remember how close I was standing to Jack outside the restaurant, how much I wanted him to kiss me, just a couple of hours ago. Then, the realization that he has a pack kicked in …

Now I'm headed out on a date with someone else and we've landed right where Jack is.

This is definitely one Saturday night where I should have stayed at home alone.

My dating life has been a mess since I moved out here.

I guess some things never change.

If only Gio had brought me to literally any other bar.

Why did it have to be this one?

I don't get too much time to think about the answer to that question, because Gio's already moving toward the entrance, where a security guy is controlling the line.

Wait. Yeah, there's a line. For a bar.

Cressidan City is pretty much bustling with people looking to unwind on weekend nights.

The bars are crammed, and the nightclubs have crazy-long lines, practically up until they close. At least this place has a more casual dress code than the clubs.

There's just one thing I don't really want to have to walk around with once we're inside.

I open my purse and stuff my hedgehog into it, leaving its snout sticking out of one side as I close it over. It's too big to completely hide but now at least it looks like it might just be the fluffy topper of a pen.

When I look back up, Gio's giving me an amused smile.

"All set?" he asks, with an odd twinkle in his dark eyes.

"Seems like it," I answer, feeling my cheeks start to burn as Gio nods at me.

It feels like I'm going in here to make sure Jack knows I'm taken, or something.

He should know better than to flirt with strange women when he's already found his forever mates, but I have no desire to parade an attractive Alpha in front of him as if I'm trying to make him jealous. It's a trash-can fire of a situation and I can't seem to think of the words to extract myself.

Gio's already headed straight toward the entrance, where the security guy is standing.

It's roped off, and I'm about to tap Gio's shoulder to show him there's a line, when the security guy greets him with a welcome smile.

"Hey, G," he says, nodding as he unclips the rope and steps aside.

"How's life treating you, Alex?" Gio asks.

"Not so bad," Alex replies. "I'm up a couple hundred thanks to that hot tip you gave me last week."

Hot tip? I raise an eyebrow at Gio before I remember, he's a gambler.

Right. That's a betting term. It's not sexual. Get your mind out of the gutter, Beth.

"You could have been up a couple grand," Gio tells him.

He just laughs. "I ain't that brave, man. I'm happy with the couple hundred. You should get in before it gets any busier. The drinks will take forever if you wait too long."

He steps back and Gio thanks him as we pass.

"This one with you?" Alex asks, pointing at me.

"Yeah. She's trouble, but I'm thinking about keeping her anyway," Gio jokes.

My mouth falls open. It makes the security guy laugh, at least, I guess.

It makes me want to fold my arms and tell Gio I'm ready to call it a night, but when I raise my arms, he uses the opportunity to take my hand in his, and that one stupid little touch burns my anger into dust that floats away on the breeze as he leads me into the building.

The lighting is low inside, and the aesthetic is wooden … well, everything, with a lot of fake plants featured to make it look vaguely like we're outside.

I'm gazing up at the ceiling and its painted midnight blue, starry night sky, when we make it past the throng of people gathered around the bar in the middle of the room, and Gio comes to a stop, making me crash awkwardly into his back.

Could I embarrass myself any worse tonight?

I step back and he lets go of my hand to put an arm around me.

"You okay?" he asks, I think.

It's loud in here. Tons of people around us are talking, and it's echoey.

I nod slowly, and when I see there's actual worry in his eyes, I feel a whole lot better about being in the same place where I might run into the last guy who tried to ask me out.

"I'm fine," I assure him, talking a little louder than normal.

His shoulders relax. "Good. I'm glad."

I can't help but smile.

He's so different from every other guy I've ever come across.

He leans in and I realize he wants to talk without having to shout.

When he's close enough for me to breathe in his musky, spiced aftershave, I'm kind of wishing we were standing this close for other reasons.

"There are some people I'd like you to meet," he murmurs. "It might be a shock at first, but I'd rather be honest from the start."

I blink as he steps back, taking in his words and trying to work out what they mean.

Then, he takes my hand again and leads me toward a secluded, dimly lit corner on the right side of the bar. My heart starts to hammer, while I wonder who he's brought me here to meet.

It doesn't make sense if it's his parents. We only met each other tonight.

His friends, maybe? That's less weird, but it's still moving a little fast.

When we get past the last group of people lining up around the bar, and my gaze falls on the otherworldly gorgeous Alpha and Omega from the restaurant, my breath catches in my throat.

I completely miss whatever introduction Gio's making.

Jack's words from earlier tonight are filling my thoughts as I stare at them.

"We have another Alpha."

Another Alpha.

This Alpha.

Fuck my life.