Chapter - Lola

Alaya above, did I just tell Richard I'd hop on his bar?!Now that the words are out of my mouth, I feel like an idiot. It sounds like I'm talking about something totally different from the long wooden bar that runs along the left side of Bad Axe.

And we're still standing close, our heads together, breath mingling. His dark eyes are locked firmly on my mouth, his jaw gritted tightly and working overtime. Oh my gods, I'm making this weird. I should step away from him.

Except something locks me in place. My eyes flick to his, his wolf's green flashing from deep within. I'm staring at them both, something that's deeply personal and considered rude to do without invitation. But he's not moving either.

Inside my mind, my wolf stretches lazily and rises, pushing to the forefront of our shared space with wary interest.

I know the moment my eyes start to shine like Richard's, because his blaze with his wolf's otherworldly intensity. A low, rumbly growl leaves his throat—but it's not Richard at all; it's his wolf's voice.

The center of the world spins and moves as I stare into his wolf's fierce, amazing gaze. The predator inside him eyes me like he's examining every inch of my soul. But then the baby lets out a timely purr and Richard's green focus drops to the infant.

I take a full step away and sway the baby side to side, tickling his fat thigh. A deep sensation of being rocked and shaken swirls through me as Richard clears his throat. He forces a smile and points at my guitar. "Want me to set this behind the bar so you can grab something to eat?"

I nod and shrug the strap off, careful not to jostle the cooing baby on my hip. But at the brush of Richard's fingers along my shoulder, I freeze in place, resisting the urge to step into that touch. His fingers brand my skin as my wolf paces against my chest, focused on him, eager to get another hit of his wolf's attention.

What in the actual hells is going on here? She's never cared about other alphas past a vague interest in my daily life.

Nonono!She cannot care about this one. He's off-limits in every possible way. He's Papá's closest friend. I can't!

Richard slings my guitar over his beefy shoulder and waves to the far right-hand side of the bar. "There's a buffet over there. The bar food isn't fancy, but I hope you enjoy it." His grin broadens. "Come find me if you need a drink or you're ready to hop on my bar."

I'd swear there's a teasing lilt to his words, but I can't find it in me to do anything other than give a rushed thanks. As he turns to walk away, my wolf presses to the forefront of my focus, watching intently as the big alpha pushes carefully through the crowd, greeting and chatting with a half dozen shifters and centaurs on his way back to the bar.

Like an idiot, I watch until he disappears behind it. He sets my guitar down in a little nook out of the way. Someone must shout his name, because he turns, face breaking into a huge smile as he chatters back and forth with a patron.

And to firmly cement my idiocy, I stand in place, rubbing the baby's chubby thigh while I stare at Richard and the effortless way he works the room and his pack, checking in, caring for everyone.

A hand on my elbow surprises me, but I turn with a practiced smile. Connall stands there with a big grin on his face. Oh goddess, did he catch me staring at Richard?

"Want me to take the baby, Lola? You can grab some food."

I smile and shake my head. "Nah, I think I'll keep him." I shift the baby up until he nuzzles along my cheek like our people do. "Look how adorable he is."

Connall's incandescent green eyes drift to the baby and back to me. His grin grows broader. "You look like you're having fun, but there's no pressure here to put on a show. If you're tired or wanna get outta here for a minute, find me and I'll help." He shrugs, eyes drifting to Richard. "Or find him, of course."

"I'm good," I say with a smile, rubbing my cheek along the baby's as he grabs my chin and lets out a darling little purr.

Connall's gaze goes thoughtful. He reaches out and strokes his long, freckled fingers down the baby's back. The child's purr grows louder, and he buries his face in my neck, snuffling, his breathing going heavy and deep.

"He's falling asleep," I chuckle. "You've got the magic touch, Connall."

His grin goes huge. "Okay, I lied. I came to steal him because I love babies. Can I take him from you?"

When I look up to see if he's serious, he wears such a hopeful expression, I can barely stand it. Goddess, men who love babies are my kryptonite.

I wonder how Richard feels about babies, as a concept. He's never taken a mate, as far as I know.

Mentally, I slap myself and pull the tiny wolf from my arms, sliding him gently against Connall's muscular chest.

The big alpha starts purring immediately when the baby nuzzles into his neck, getting comfortable, his tiny mouth dropped open. Connall looks so peaceful that it surprises me when he stiffens, green eyes flashing as he stares toward the front door. The expression is there and gone in half a second. I'd almost think I imagined it, but then two people join us.

"Yeh look good carryin' a young one, alpha. Yeh on babysitting duty this evening?" A grinning blue sylph joins us with a human-looking woman beside him.

She smiles tentatively at me, both arms wrapped around her torso. I smile back, but her eyes have already moved to Connall. She stares at him with the same guarded look I've seen many times from my packmates. There's caution and reticence there.

I'm missing something. Connall still hasn't answered, and there's obvious tension between the three of them. I can smell it on the air, sour and irritated.

"Princess, good to finally meet yeh," the male says, dark blue lips cracking into a big smile. "I'm Dirk, and this lovely lady is my woman, Louanna."

The "woman" shakes her head with a frustrated-sounding laugh. "Not your woman, Dirk." She glances up at me. "Please call me Lou. Dirk insists on Louanna but he is the. Only. One!"

I chuckle. "I know all about that. I hear my official title a lot, but it is so cumbersome."

Lou beams at me, chocolatey amber eyes flashing with mirth. But it falls as she looks around the bar. Her expression turns worried as she nudges Dirk with her elbow. The blue-skinned sylph turns a thoughtful gaze down on her, blue hands slung through the wide leather belt at his waist.

"I shouldn't be here, Dirk," she says mournfully. "It's not right."

Next to me, Connall visibly stiffens but finally responds, "Of course you're welcome, Lou."

She levels him with an intense look. "Am I, Connall?"

The extreme need to clear the tension hits me the way it always does. As my father's daughter, I'm a peacemaker, arbitrator, friendly shoulder, anything I can do to ease the natural tension that occurs when a pack of predators bands together. Harmony is the job of all omegas. Where alphas are focused on protection, we're focused on keeping a peaceful balance. I desperately want to fix the tension between this trio.

I touch Lou's elbow carefully. "I just got here and haven't eaten. Would you like to come with me?"

She looks tentatively at her companion, who levels her with an affectionate smile.

"Go on, my beauty. Find us a table, and I'll join yeh in a moment. I need a few words with Connall."

The tension behind us amps up as I guide Lou away from the two men, glancing over my shoulder to see them exchanging hissed words. It occurs to me that I should have stolen the baby back to give them space, but it's too late now. I could listen in, but out of respect for Connall, I don't.

We pick our way through tables full of laughing shifters, centaurs, and even a table full of tiny gnome males. The drinks are flowing, and food is stacked high at every place. I get quite a few waves and deferential nods, so I smile back until we get to a long table on the far side of the bar.

When Lou and I stop at one end of the table, the bar shoves a stack of white ceramic plates toward us. Lou takes one and glances up at me, plastering a smile on her face. I recognize that smile though—it's the same one I put on during haven-wide events.

"You okay?" I ask softly, grabbing a plate and gesturing toward the long rows of delicious-looking burgers, tamales, and dips.

Lou seems to consider things for a moment, but then a shroud falls over her face, and she shakes her head. "It'll be alright."

I open my mouth to pry a little further. For some reason, I get the sense she'd let me. Lou gives off a distressed aura. Her expression is neutral, but I read sentiment well after growing up at court.

A rush of wind announces the sylph's arrival. He places a hand on Lou's lower back and dips his head toward her ear. Her scent and posture both calm noticeably. For a woman who says she's not his, that's not the read I get on them. I suppress a grin. Electric blue lightning crackles across his sky-blue skin, which forces my smile bigger. It's something air elementals do to get attention from potential mates.

Lou's eyes flick to the lightning, but she says nothing.

Oh boy.

Purposely, I give them space and grab a plate, piling carne asada and fried corn tortillas on it. I add heaping scoops of crema and chopped onions and let out a squeal when there's even a plate of fried fish. That one is a nod to Santa Alaya. I'm sure of it. The unique preparation I smell is a famous Santa Alaya recipe.

My heart warms a little when Lou reappears by my side with Dirk next to her. She glances at my plate and beams. "You shifters and your insane metabolisms."

I return the smile and add two fish filets to my stack, sucking in a deep breath to ward off a slight sensation of homesickness. I was able to call Leo earlier and Lupe as well. There's nobody else I really need to notify, and the fewer people I keep in contact with, the better.

Leo assured me that he's fine, that he knew my father's reaction was a possibility when we planned the concert. He's already recovered, thanks to shifters' amazing ability to heal. And he suggested I do something I haven't done in a really long time.

"Have fun, cari?o," he had murmured into the comm disk. "You deserve it. We'll be fine here."

I can barely spell "fun," much less have it, but as Lou, Dirk, and I work the length of the table, I wonder if I might be able to let my hair down a little, so to speak.

Half an hour later, that mission has been accomplished. Dirk, who's funny as hells, sits next to me, making lewd jokes as half a dozen gnomes climb all over Lou, attempting to teach her how to throw an axe. We're seated in one of the axe throwing lanes, which take up the entire back wall of the bar.

Lou turns to us with a huffy laugh, although it's clear she's not really angry. A miniature gnome male stands on her shoulder, hanging on to her ear with one hand. I have to clap a hand over my mouth not to laugh at her situation—she looks absolutely ridiculous.

Dirk leans forward, resting both forearms on his knees, blue lips turned up in a wicked grin. "Yeh're drowning in males, Louanna. If I were the jealous type, I'd come save yeh, but as it is, I'm gettin' a little hot around the collar."

She snorts, and the gnome on her shoulder rolls his eyes.

The tiny male turns to Lou and pats the side of her head. "Come on, Lou. Based on sheer chance, you'll hit it any try now."

Lou gives him a withering look but turns to the lane with an axe in her hand. Other gnomes clamber all over her arms and legs. One even jumps up to sit on top of her head, shouting directions as she lifts the axe. We all hold our breath as she lets out a battle cry and throws the axe down the lane.

Like the last ten times, it misses the target by a solid two feet.

She lets out a frustrated shout and grabs the gnome on top of her head around his middle, yanking him down to look into his eyes. "Maybe I could do it without a bunch of dudes crawling all over me!" She turns and gives Dirk a meaningful look that has me laughing out loud.

He grins back at her. "If you wanna know what it's like to have a male all over yeh, Louanna, I am up to the task, any day, any time."

I snort and grab my fifth taco, lifting it to my mouth.

Dirk looks over at me. "What'd yeh snort for, Princess? Yeh don't think my chances are good?"

"Not with those corny lines," I tease.

"Thank you!" Lou shouts, setting the gnome male carefully on the ground. The others hop off her and gather together, grumbling about how terrible she is at axe throwing. They disappear into the busy bar as Lou rejoins us, sitting next to me and avoiding Dirk entirely.

Chocolate eyes find mine and wrinkle in the corners. "I heard you're a musician, is that right? My niece, Morgan, said she saw you give an amazing concert in one of the other havens."

My throat constricts at the memory of my last public appearance. I take a bite of the taco to avoid immediately answering.

Lou places a careful hand on my knee. "I'm sorry, Lola. Is music a sensitive topic?"

I shrug as I force the bite down, looking between my new friends. For some reason, I feel like I can talk to them about what happened. I start at the beginning and give them the highlights, and, by the end, Lou sputters indignantly.

"Girl, you better get on that bar and do a repeat. You know you want to!"

Dirk rests both muscular arms on the back of the bench seat he's on, one navy brow curling mischievously upward. "Do it, Princess. Daddy isn't here to see yeh, and I promise we'll give yeh a standing ovation."

My fingers twitch with the need to play. I play every day at home, but I haven't had two seconds to myself until I got to the treehouse. Even then, I was more worried about checking on Leo and letting Lupe know I'm alright. I stand before I can talk myself out of it.

When I glance at the bar, Richard's bright eyes are focused on me. He grins and points at the bar, giving me a questioning look.

When I nod, he beams and turns to grab my guitar.

Here goes nothin'.