21Bella inhaled the wonderful scent of books, of worn pages, of hardwood shelves that kept them all nice and safe on her walls. She slid the thick volume in her hand into place, exactly where it needed to be, and sighed dreamily. She felt so satisfied looking down the row of bookcases that lined the wall, every book in its place, and a place for all the books. Perfection.
She had just finished her work for that evening. Finished it early even. She had been expecting, she had hoped, to slave away over old, open books most of the evening, the sharp gleam of her laptop beside them. Now it was only eight and she didn't know what to do with herself.
Stepping up further on her ladder, she reached for a few well-read books stacked on the very top of a bookcase. She could always read? She could make herself a cup of hot cocoa and curl up in her favorite armchair by the fireplace. She always enjoyed that. Unfortunately, she just couldn't. Not tonight. Her mind was overflowing with thoughts, her head so full it felt heavy on her shoulders. Lukas. He was running through her mind, dominating every thought. She could not get rid of him. If she had only been able to throw herself into work, she could have pushed him aside, she could have drowned him out.
But no. No, he was in there, stuck like a damn fly in a Venus Flytrap. Or a wolf in a cage. She imagined it was rather more like that. Him crashing against the bars until her head hurt. It wasn't fair. He shouldn't have shown up at her place at all, in her space, acting all friendly and... and... delicious. She almost slapped her hand over her face at that admittance.
Lukas. He had certainly changed, he had made sure of that. But she just couldn't make it stop. She was still in love with him.
"What are you doing?"
Bella almost slid off the ladder, holding on to the bookcase so tightly her knuckles turned white as she righted herself. "What- what do you mean?" she asked, forcing the breathlessness down.
Her grandmother raised an eyebrow at her. "You were staring into thin air," she pointed out, "I was watching you for at least a couple of minutes. You didn't even blink. And you had a strange expression on your face," she added, cocking her head to the side as she studied Bella. Folding both hands on the cane that supported her, she leaned forward. "You don't usually daydream."
"I wasn't daydreaming," Bella insisted. "I was just- I was..." Well, she had been, hadn't she? "I was making a mental list of things I have to take care of for the Yule Ball." That lie came easy, it was what she really should have been doing. Not thinking about stupid Lukas Mallard.
"What a shame," Geraldine said with a heavy sigh, shook her head, and leaned back on her heels. "You looked as if- Well, as a woman with her man in her thoughts."
Bella sputtered and coughed dismissively, unable to form anything coherent as a reply. She forced a laugh and waved it off. "Nana, don't be silly," she said, still giggling. "A man? Absolutely not," she added fiercely. Even though... No, Lukas might be a man, he might have been in her head, but he was definitely not hers.
Geraldine cleared her throat and Bella started in shock, her legs shaking on the ladder. She had almost slipped off for the second time. "You were doing it again," her grandmother pointed out as she buttoned her coat, staring at her with a disapproving scowl. "Are you alright?"
"Mental lists," Bella reminded her, "Lots of mental lists." What was wrong with her?
"It's Friday night," Geraldine said pointedly, "You should go out."
"Out?" Bella breathed, wriggling her nose dismissively at the suggestion.
"Yes, out," Geraldine repeated as she clonked her cane on the hardwood floor.
Bella looked around the living room. Or what would have been the living room if it hadn't been taken over by bookcases and shelves and a library worth of books. The fire crackled and the old, worn blanket on the armchair looked too inviting. "I have too much work to do, Nana," Bella lied. "Work, work, work," she singsonged with a shrug and plastered on a happy face. And her work usually did keep her happy and busy, she was in her element when she threw herself headfirst into her duties. It was just so irritatingly hard to concentrate on work at the moment. Stupid, stupid Lukas. But out was the last thing she wanted to be Friday night.
"Very well," Geraldine conceded and tugged her wrap over her shoulders, tightening it against the cold. "I'm going to Polly's," she announced briskly. "That old bat thinks she can bluff her way to a new stove, but her tells are getting more and more pronounced. That is what overconfidence does to you," she lectured with a raised finger at Bella, "Bridget is no better, it's Alma you have to watch out for. I'm sure the witch stuffs cards up her sleeves."
"Stay off the Whiskey," Bella told her sternly. "It's not good for you."
Geraldine huffed and snorted at her. "I am a grown woman, much older than you. I know what's good for me."
Bella rolled her eyes at her and called out after her, "And don't lose all your money, Nana." She was unable to help the laugh as she watched her grandmother stagger with determination out the door. It was an unnecessary warning. Geraldine Williams underplayed her skill greatly but her friends had learned early not to underestimate her. Every poker night she came home patting heavy pockets and a satisfied smile on her face. Bella almost laughed as she turned towards the books again, reaching for her favorite. The worn copy of Twelfth Night.
"Evening Omega."
And Bella almost fell off the ladder again out of shock as someone behind her spoke.
"Fuck, I'm so sorry," the newcomer apologized fast and motioned behind her with her thumb. "I passed Geraldine on the way, she said to just go in." The woman looked confused for a moment, ran a hand through her long green hair, and added, "Actually she said to 'Go shake the stiffness out of that girl', but I feel like that would be assault and I'm not prepared for the consequence. You are our Omega, after all. Alpha Winter would not look too kindly on that." She laughed with a shrug.
"Kat," Bella breathed when she had steadied her nerves and cracked a smile in relief. "Hi." On shaky legs, she carefully found the floor again. Time to get off the ladder before she killed herself. "I wouldn't hold it against you, many people have taken orders from Nana over the years."
"I swear I wasn't trying to kill you," Kat said glancing at the ladder, "I was just passing by, and I thought I might ask about the shop?"
Bella nodded eagerly. Kat was a glassblower, and while she was talented enough to make a living selling her wares to the boutiques in the city, she would much rather set up shop in town to avoid the two-hour drive back and forth twice a week. With Walker's workshop already established in the town, selling his wood sculptures, humans had begun traveling to their little town, and her venture might just work out.
"Yes, it's all settled." Bella scurried to her desk, moved a couple of books out of the way, and leafed through a stack of papers. "I was going to see you tomorrow. Here, the deed, you just need to sign it. It's mid-town, the old Nelson place." She cleared some more space on the table and spread out the map of the town, showing Kat exactly where her shop would be. The house had been empty for decades and too run down to live in, and at just the right spot between the small town shop and the wood gallery, Alpha Winter had gladly given it up to her. "It should have been torn down ages ago but the twins always had other things to do. Now, however, they're going to rebuild your shop on the plot." She handed the deed over to Kat who beamed down at the paper in her hands.
"I can't wait," she said with a sigh. But then the corner of her mouth twitched, unable to keep the dismay out of her expression. She wiggled her pierced nose and mumbled, "The twins, huh?"
"Yes?" Bella answered, a little unsure of the change. But when Kat said nothing more she added, "They are the only builders this pack has."
Kat shook off her grimace, flushed a little as if she had been caught, and laughed. "Of course they are. Sorry."
"You don't like them?" Bella asked, already able to read the answer on Kat's face. Bella didn't know the two men very well, she had heard of their antics though, everyone had, but even though they were rowdy and loud they were generally very well-liked in the pack. And they were Lukas' friends, she knew that much.
Kat shrugged and sighed with an apologetic smile. "The only builders this pack has, I guess," she repeated.
–
"Six, corner pocket." The cue was lined up, balanced on thumb and forefinger. It sent the white ball spinning, it hit the edge of the table, then the other edge and, finally hitting its target, sent the green ball spinning towards the hole and then disappeared.
Lukas huffed out a surprised laugh as Jamie stood up after having made the shot and leaned on his cue, a triumphant grin on his long face. It had been a tricky shot. Too tricky for Lukas to think it would work. He was proved wrong. But then again, he often was by the twins.
Josh laughed loudly as he slapped his twin brother on the back. "Man you have no luck tonight," he told Lukas and took a swig of his beer.
"I never seem to when I'm playing with either of you," Lukas replied with a rueful sigh as he watched Jamie sink the eight ball effortlessly. And now his wallet was twenty dollars lighter. Again. "You wouldn't be cheating me, would you?"
Jamie spluttered, holding his hand to his chest as if struck. "How dare you?" he gasped dramatically, making his brother cough on his beer with laughter. "Nah, man, you're just seriously bad at pool." Josh finished his beer, scowling at the empty bottle he announced he would get the next round, and then he disappeared in the crowd.
"He's not lying," Dylan offered from behind Lukas, where he sat at a table, watching the scene unfold.
"Wow," Lukas scoffed over his shoulder and rolled his eyes at his friend. He knew he was right, he was shit at this game. And tonight he was even worse.
Dylan laughed and held up his hands. "Don't kill the messenger."
"Losing big?" Max asked as he came over, collecting empty bottles from the tables.
"Big," Dylan said with a confirming nod.
"It's fine," Lukas ground out, putting the cue down on the table with a little more force than he normally would. Max and Dylan laughed loudly.
Their laughter drowned in the noise around them. Silver Moon was packed. The air was thick with voices and laughter and sweat, the constant beat of music from the old jukebox in the corner, and the clink of glasses and bottles. Spending Friday night at the bar guaranteed you would have to swim through bodies if you wanted to move in any direction.
"So that's, what? Three in a row to me?" Jamie asked innocently. He finished chalking his cue and picked up the notes stacked on the edge of the table. "You're so shit tonight," he continued, "I'm not complaining about the easy cash, but usually you provide a hint of a challenge."
"Tired, I guess," Lukas answered.
"Really?" Max asked him. He picked up the last of the empty bottles and eyed Lukas suspiciously. He knew him well, and Lukas didn't seem tired at all. He was thinking, he knew that much, he could see he was distracted by something, and worse, he was drinking more than usual.
"Give me another?" Lukas asked him, waving his empty bottle at him.
"I'd rather not," Max mumbled, but took his empty bottle from him anyway. "I suppose you're a big boy, though." He left, making his way towards the bar with his hands full of clinking glass.
Lukas just scoffed and watched him go. He lifted his cue off the table and was about to ask the twins for another rematch, but Jamie stood on the other side of the table, the game forgotten, flirting heavily with a young woman that giggled and swatted him playfully on the arm.
Josh was returning to their midst, moving awkwardly past people. Before he made it to the pool table he accidentally bumped into another. Josh didn't notice, but the other wolf sure did. And so did Max, who was coming back with four more bottles. It was Greg Wilder. A hot-headed idiot that Max really wished had been banned from the bar ages ago.
"Hey, idiot!" Greg barreled out of the crowds, pushing people aside as he stalked towards Josh. "You made me spill my beer."
"Ah, I'm sorry, man," Josh apologized with a friendly smile. "Next round on me?" he offered, patting Greg on the shoulder. He took two bottles from Max and offered one to Greg.
But Greg wasn't having it. Max knew he wouldn't. And he already saw how the evening would progress. Lukas did as well and put the cue back on the table. The game was over for the night. And sure enough, Greg had a few choice words to say before he pushed Josh's shoulder. Josh stumbled backward, knocking into his brother, who in turn collided with the flirtatious girl he had been talking to. Greg's friends, wolves Max didn't know, had stepped forward, backing him up.
Attention had been drawn, the bar held its collective breath. The laughter and shouts died around them, even the jukebox in the corner seemed to quieten. Tension sizzled in the air. Everyone knew, everyone expected, what was about to happen.
Righting themselves, a whispered apology to the girl, the twins shared a look – slow, identical smiles formed on their lips, filled with danger and humor, the silent communication in their eyes Max had seen before too many times. They downed their beers quickly, a skill Max could never replicate, before discarding them on the pool table.
And then chaos. Josh dove headfirst into the group of people with a raised fist, knocking Greg back. His friends were on him instantly, but Jamie charged after, knocking one away and pulling the other to the ground. The bar erupted in cheers and shouts, bets were being made, laughter came back. And the jukebox started playing.
Max shook his head with a chuckle. He nudged Dylan and motioned to Lukas to move back, and they all made their way to the bar, cutting awkwardly through the bodies desperate to see the action.
"Shouldn't we help them?" Dylan asked, motioning to the commotion with his thumb. Lukas shook his head. Dylan cast another worried glance at the twins. "Four against two," he pointed out.
Max copied Lukas's head shake and said, "They'll be fine. This bar is the twins' playground."
Dylan shrugged. He was still new to the pack and wasn't used to the twins yet. But he shook his head with defeat. Dylan had been a loner, pack-less, for years before joining the Northcreek wolves and it showed in his loose, wild hair, his worn clothes, and his big dirty boots, perfect for battling the rugged nature with all its seasons. He only bothered to shave when his girlfriend was home from college. She was the reason he had joined Northcreek in the first place, the Alpha's daughter, AJ.
Max lifted the flap and walked behind the bar, arms spread, and palm flat against the surface as he eyed the twins disapprovingly through the gaps in the crowd. "One of these days they're going to be in over their heads," he breathed. Dylan and Lukas nodded in agreement.
Then, a booming voice called over the racket of the bar, startling most of it into silence. "That's enough. Break it up!" a large, bald man bellowed. He sported a handlebar mustache so impressive it drew all the attention of the room even before he had growled his command. He thundered up to the fight, that had stopped mid-swing and now stood comically still as he approached. He pushed away chairs, moved a table as if it weighed nothing, and the crowd parted instantly. Rusty, owner of Silver Moon. The imposing size of him and the tattooed arms, his leather vest, and the shark-tooth necklace, gave him the look of an extra in possibly any biker movie. He had been an Enforcer in his younger days, one of the biggest, but his passion was always his bar, his place, and his tough exterior, and the no-nonsense way he ran Silver Moon, gave him a reputation. But Max had worked at Silver Moon for some time now, and he knew he was kindhearted to a fault.
Josh pulled Greg from the floor, making sure his wobbly frame stood on his own feet before dusting off his shirt. "We were just talking, Dad," he said with a laugh.
"Yeah," Jamie agreed, spitting blood on the floor as he was helped up by a bystander, "Just a casual discussion."
"A discussion?" Rusty bellowed, crossing his arms across his chest. But the twins carried identical grins, a bruise forming at Josh's temple, Jamie licking the blood off his lip. They both saw the beginning of a smile playing in the corner of Rusty's mouth and knew they were in the clear. "You four, out," he demanded of Greg and his friends. "And as for you two," he pointed his thick finger at his sons. "There's a bucket and mop in the kitchen, clean this place up before I disown you completely." With that he left, shaking his head, mumbling something about incorrigible boys, his laugh filling the stunned silence of the bar.
And just like that, the bar once again broke into chatter and laughter, clinking bottles, and loud music. Josh punched Jamie's shoulder and an argument about who would do the mopping ensued.
Dylan laughed, shook his head at the twins in much the same way as their dad, and returned his attention to Lukas who sat perfectly still, staring into his beer in deep thought. "What's wrong?" he asked when he saw the brooding expression.
Lukas hesitated with a deep sigh. He opened his mouth a few times before he could even get the words out. "I want a mate," he admitted, earning an open-mouthed stare from Dylan. Lukas groaned and rubbed a hand over his face.
"The fuck are you talking about?" Max hissed, wincing at the thought. "Not four hours ago you sat in your office saying you wouldn't mate any time soon."
"I know, I know," Lukas said with a groan, continuously rubbing his forehead. "But I've been thinking about it since. I think I need one."
"Well, fuck," Dylan breathed. "You? A mate? What happened to staying single? To enjoying your bachelorhood?" He raised an eyebrow at Lukas. "You seemed pretty content doing just that."
Lukas laughed and shrugged. "I think it's time," he said, taking a swig of his beer. "Yeah. Yeah, I want a mate."
"And you have someone in mind?" Max asked dubiously, flicking the rag in his hands over his shoulder and crossing his arms over his chest.
"No, no not yet," Lukas admitted, tapping his fingers nervously on the bar. "It needs to be the right one."
"Yeah, of course," Dylan agreed with a quick nod, motioning to him with his bottle. "You want to fall in love." Lukas stayed quiet at that, looking a little guilty. Dylan didn't see it, but Max had known Lukas his whole life. Something wasn't quite right. "Fucking hell," Dylan continued with a laugh. "A mate, huh? That's great."
"What's great?" Jamie asked, sitting down, holding a rag to his split lip. "Max," he exclaimed happily when he saw him. He nodded to the beer in Lukas' hand. "Man, could I get another? I lost mine... somewhere..." he mumbled, motioning to the general area of the bar where he was just moments before rolling around on the ground. Max gave a nod and fished on out from behind the bar for him. Jamie wasted no time, opening the beer with his teeth before Max could even bring out the bottle opener. "Now, what was great?"
Dylan nodded to Lukas. "He's hunting for a mate."
"A mate?" Josh sputtered, pulling up a stool to join them. "What the fuck for?" He wriggled his nose disapprovingly. "Are you tired of living your life?"
Jamie nodded in agreement. "I'm never mating," he announced. His eyes found the same woman he had been talking to earlier, standing by the bar. He gave her a quick wink and she visibly blushed, giggling with her friends. "Why would I give up such freedom?"
"Love," Dylan said, he sighed but his tone was patient.
"Love?" Josh echoed with a laugh. "Nah man, I'll never fall into that trap."
Jamie downed his beer quickly, slamming the empty bottle back down on the table. He sneered at the crowd. "All love does is make you weak, it messes with your head. I hope I never fucking fall in love."
Max stopped listening after that. He couldn't be bothered. Dylan was trying to get his point across, that he had found love and how it made him ridiculously happy, and the twins vehemently disagreeing. Max laughed to himself, it was probably for the best if the twins kept off mating for the moment, it would take very special women to put up with either of them for more than a couple of days.
Instead, he watched Lukas. His brother was quiet during the exchange. Too quiet. He had spent the last six months avoiding a mating of any kind, and now, after a couple of hours, suddenly he wanted to mate? No one fell in love that fast. Even Dylan, who was so enamored by AJ he could mumble about no one else after he had a few, hadn't felt the spark of love before becoming fast friends with her. Max knew this because most patrons felt overly free with their information when a bartender asks them if they need anything else.
"There's one you should talk to, definitely," Dylan said, nudging Lukas and pulling Max out of his thoughts. "She's a beauty."
The woman in question had just entered, the long curtain of shimmering blonde hair fell perfectly down her back as she whipped it over her shoulder. She didn't look their way, nor any other's way for that matter. She walked, swung her hips beautifully, as if she owned the bar. Her tight jeans and the low-cut top had most of the men in the bar drooling already.
"Fucking hell," Josh mumbled, hypnotized by her sway of the hips as she walked past the group on her way to the other end of the bar. "What I wouldn't give..."
"She's pretty, I guess," Lukas agreed with a noncommittal shrug.
Max nodded in agreement. Afraid his mouth would water if he opened it to say anything else. She wasn't just pretty, she was stunning. Kristen Taylor. He knew her, she was a regular. And while he tried to stick to the rules and never hit on anyone while working, for her he would make an exception. Unfortunately, she had grown up one of the most beautiful wolves in the pack, and even more unfortunately, had been treated like it ever since she was old enough to take advantage. She was used to the attention, thrived on it. He watched her make her way to her friends, another loud group of women that giggled and laughed, drinking the colorful, fruity cocktails he had made them. "I don't think so," he heard Lukas say. "I need someone more- someone more-"
Max didn't hear what it was he needed. He didn't care at that point. Dylan laughed and made a comment that made the twins howl with laughter. But Max was much too preoccupied watching those luscious lips embrace the straw that one of her friends offered. Her almond-shaped eyes glanced his way and narrowed with interest at the group. A rush of heat streamed through him and he cleared his throat and loosened a button on the thick, flannel shirt he was wearing. He felt constricted from his boots to the black beanie on his head pulled down to hide his bed head. Her tongue darted out, licking a few drops from her lips and he heard Jamie and Josh groan in unison. He wished he had shaved today. Instead, three days' worth of dark stubble grew on his chin. Damn, he wished he had made some kind of effort before work, but he had a habit of laziness that was hard to break.
A beeping broke the spell and Dylan fished out his phone from his pocket. "Ah," was all he said when he read the text. Then he finished his beer, slammed the empty bottle down on the bar, and stood. "I'm calling it a night, guys." He threw a couple of notes on the counter. "Keep the change, Max."
"AJ?" Lukas asked.
"Going to give her a call," Dylan said with a sheepish grin. "She misses me." He was practically beaming as he left the bar, making his way through the crowd, already dialing her number when he pushed through the doors.
"That-" Josh grumbled, "-Is exactly why I am never falling in love. She has him wrapped around his finger."
"He's happy," Max pointed out with a heavy sigh. "Leave him alone."
Jamie rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he exclaimed, "I have other things to occupy my mind tonight anyway." His eyes drifted to the woman he had been flirting with earlier. She shot him a coy grin, batted her lashes, and beckoned him over. He laughed and patted his brother on the shoulder. "That is my cue," he announced and stood, taking his beer with him as he walked to her.
"Doubt it's his mind that'll be occupied tonight," Josh said. His laughter boiled down to a chuckle when he realized the woman in question had an equally beautiful friend standing by her, laughing at his brother's horrible, flirtatious jokes. "Well, I might just..." Clearing his throat he stood, taking a few steps towards them. "I mean, he doesn't multitask well. I should give him a hand, he can hardly handle two of them can he?" With that he disappeared, joining up with them. Lukas shook his head at them with a laugh and swigged his beer.
Max leaned closer, leaning his elbows on the counter. "Alright, what's going on?" he asked, "This mate business, what is that about?"
"Look, it's pretty simple." Lukas shifted uncomfortably on the bar stool. "I need a mate. Someone that can help me with my attachment to the pack. I need a woman."
Max huffed. He motioned to the packed bar with a throw of his head. With a frown, he said, "There are many here tonight. They've been eating you up since you entered, undressing you with their eyes," he added mischievously and Lukas rolled his eyes. "Why don't you-?"
"No, you don't understand. I need the right mate. I'm not stupid, I know why they want me. I'll be one of the highest-ranked wolves once dad retires. But I need a mate who can polish off my standing in the pack, help my reputation as a doctor flourish. Not just any mate. It has to be the right one."
"Right, well, this doesn't sound like a bad idea at all," Max breathed, his tone heavy with sarcasm. "So, the right one. How are you going to find this right one?" he asked indulgently.
"That's just it," Lukas exasperated with a droop in his shoulders, "How? How am I supposed to find out which ones are good matches?" They both looked around the crowded bar. "I mean, I do notice them looking, I see them. I'm not going to lie, I think most of them would be willing, most of these wolves have made passes at one point or another. Some only want a night with the high-ranked doctor," Lukas said, making quotation marks in the air with his fingers. "But if I'm going to find a good mate, the right mate, she wouldn't be one of those. And I suppose if I do find this woman, she probably wouldn't appreciate her mate having had half the female pack members in his bed."
Max threw his head back and laughed loudly, drawing attention, making Lukas shush him as his face turned tomato red. "I think you're embellishing your conquests, brother dear," he told him once his shoulders had stopped shaking.
Lukas grumbled and waved it off. "Whatever. Now, what I need is a way to weed out the good ones. I need help. I don't want to waste time."
"It just doesn't sound like a good idea," Max said, "What would dad say? I know he wants you to mate, but just some random wolf to help your standing?"
"What do you know?" Lukas spat, glaring up at his brother, his words slurred. "Seriously, what about yourself?" Lukas continued, "Are you ever going to tell dad just why you drive to the city all the time, or is it supposed to remain a secret forever?"
"This isn't about me," Max growled, "This is a seriously bad idea, Lukas." He shook his head again, this time firmer. "And I don't think you should..." he trailed off when he noticed Kristen giving him a delicate wave, flagging him down. This was his chance, he had to get there before the other bartender did. "Hold that thought," he told Lukas sternly, "Don't go away."
"Sure, sure." Lukas gave a curt nod, swigging his beer with indifference.
Max steeled himself as he practically jumped over to Kristen. "Evening."
"Hi," she purred, whipping her hair over her shoulder with a dazzling smile. "I seem to be all empty here." She waved a glass in the air. The small ice cubes clinking against the sides.
"Well, we can't have that," Max replied, putting his most charming grin on display. "Can we?" He reached for her glass, his fingers brushing hers and she blinked slowly, seductively up at him. "What'll it be?"
She giggled and shrugged, pouting her full lips suggestively. "What do you suggest? Mr. knowledgeable bartender."
With his elbows on the surface, Max leaned closer to her. "I make a mean Long Island Iced Tea," he murmured, making sure to keep the rumble in his voice he reserved for flirting. "They go down nice and smooth, and although ice cold they are guaranteed to warm you from head to toe and everywhere in between. Would you like one?"
Her smile was suggestive as she flipped her hair to the other side of her head, toying with the straw in her fingers, her long painted nail scraping up and down. "You do make them sound good," she purred. He heard her friends giggling behind her but he couldn't concentrate on them when she bit down on her lower lip, scrunched up her nose, and pretended to think. With an over-the-top, heavy sigh she purred again, "I'd love to try yours." Max's mouth ran dry as he broke into another grin. "Do you promise you could get me all warmed up?"
Before Max could reply a dish towel hit him in the back of his head. "Hey, you working today? Keep your flirting to a minimum, we have other customers," Rusty bellowed from the other end of the bar.
Max shot up, whipping the dishtowel off his head in shock. His beanie fell to the floor and he was furiously trying to get the strands of black hair out of his face and behind his ears. Kristen and her friends giggled loudly together and he tried to join in with a nervous laugh, but the moment had been broken.
"Are you making me that drink or not?" Kristen asked.
Or maybe the moment hadn't been broken? She was still smiling, batting her lashes at him. "Coming right up." He filled up a cocktail shaker with ice and poured in the vodka, rum, gin and tequila, and the rest of the ingredients. Making sure to shoot her a crooked smile as he shook the mixture. He poured it into a tall glass with a flourish, adding the splash of coke and the lime wedge last before serving it to her. "I guarantee it'll be the best you ever had."
Kristen giggled again before taking a sip. "Oh, so good," she whispered in half a moan that made something in his pants stir. "You know what else would be good?" She beckoned him closer with her finger. He leaned in, grin widening. "Maybe you could..." she trailed off as she scraped her nail up his forearm.
"Yes?" he asked, ignoring the need to swallow. This was going better than expected. She had never shown interest his way before. He could almost imagine her lips on his, almost imagine his hands on her body.
"Maybe you could-" she breathed again. He felt her breath on his face, having to struggle to keep himself in check and not close the space between them to stop imagining and start feeling already. "Maybe you could introduce me to your brother?" she whispered.
And there it was. "My brother?" he repeated, shooting a glance at Lukas still sitting further down the counter, brooding in deep concentration, ignoring everyone around him. Max couldn't help the annoyed huff. Well, fuck. So close yet so far.
"Oh, you didn't think-?" Kristen gasped and sat up straight on her stool. Her friends snickering behind her back at him. He glared at them and stood up straight. "I'm sorry, you didn't think I was flirting with you, did you? I mean, I don't date bartenders," she explained and laughed. She batted her eyes at Lukas, even though he was too busy looking for answers at the bottom of the bottle to notice. "I'm after something a little more-" She shrugged and waved her hand in the air. "A little more important."
"Like a doctor?" Max mumbled, trying hard to not let his frustration show.
"Exactly," she agreed readily. "Like a doctor."
Lukas chose that moment to stand up, push off the counter and wobble out of the bar, pushing past people, nearly falling in his drunken state. "Well," Max breathed with a vindictive smile, "It looks as though he has gone home. Sorry about that. I can't very well introduce you to a man that isn't here."
It was her turn to be annoyed now and it showed in her rolling eyes and angry huff. "Whatever, you're wasting my time here." And with that, she took her swaying hips and shimmering hair away from the bar, the group of girls making their way to a table further away.
So, she doesn't date bartenders? Max thought to himself as he whipped the dishrag from his shoulder and walked to the next customer flagging him down. Just you wait, Kristen Taylor. You will. He plastered on a large smile as he reached the group waving money in the air and spitting out orders, and made a promise to himself to work his charm on her until she was begging for it. One day, Kristen Taylor would be moaning his name.
–
There was a noise.
Bella's fire had died long ago, only embers remained, but she hadn't turned the light on yet. She had been trying to read but it hadn't worked out for her at all. She was stuck in her mind, contemplating how to deal with her dilemma, how to deal with Lukas. Looking up from the dying embers she had been staring at, she only just realized how dark it was in the otherwise quiet living room. And now there was a noise that really shouldn't be there.
She stood slowly, the old chair not making a sound, the blanket that slid to the floor barely did either. It was coming from the window. There was a person at the window. And this person was trying to open it from the outside.
She could feel the panic rising. Someone was trying to break into her home. Someone was dumb enough to try to break into the Archives. It couldn't be a wolf. No wolf broke into a pack Archive. An Archive was sacred to them. No one would cross that line. And it couldn't be a human, the nearest city was over two hours' drive away. Surely no one drove that long just to break into some old house without any real value except knowledge and history.
The rush of cold air as the window finally slid open, hit her and she took a step back, clutching the book to her chest for a weak sense of protection. There was a click. Bella made a mental note to get the twins around in the morning to look at the windows in this house, because this person, this obviously insane burglar, had just managed to lift it enough to poke his head through. And she knew it was a man now because he had just hit his head on the windowsill and was mumbling and groaning.
What on earth was she supposed to do? She couldn't just stand there watching this person climb into her home. She scanned her surroundings for something, anything, to help her. Her phone would be a help, for instance, she could call the Enforcers to come and deal with this problem. If only she hadn't left her phone upstairs. She mentally groaned. Looking around desperately for a weapon, any weapon, she came up with nothing.
Except for the book in her hands. She lifted it silently, weighing it. It was sturdy. It was heavy. It was all she had.
She crept closer to the person, now lifting the window higher, creating a space big enough for him to climb through. He hadn't noticed her in the dark. How could he with the way he was panting and grunting as he tried to climb through? Did she know this man? She couldn't tell, backlit by the moon and a few streetlights, he could be anyone. He was struggling though, the window wasn't even close to the ground, his legs must be kicking the air on the other side.
She moved closer. The person let out a relieved grunt as he finally heaved his upper body through. She raised her arms. Took a deep, steadying breath. He looked up, just finally noticing her standing next to the window. And she struck.
The book connected with his skull with a loud thunk that made her wince. It was not nearly hard enough and she knew it. She hadn't been able to do it hard. She had never struck someone and she had lost her nerve at the last minute.
"Ow!" he growled, clutching his head as he fell through the window and landed on the floor in a heaving heap of limps. "Bella? Bella, it's me, damn it," he hissed, rubbing his sore head.
"Lukas?"
"Yeah. Yeah, it's me." He groaned, trying to stand but ended up falling back against the wall with a heavy sigh. The window snapped shut behind him.
Bella scrambled to turn on the small lamp on her desk. And there he was. Lukas Mallard sitting underneath her window, rubbing his head with a groan. His hair was a mess and he was more than a little muddy from the garden. And a few dried, dead leaves on his pants. "What are you doing?" Bella demanded, trying to keep her voice down. "You almost gave me a heart attack."
"You almost took off my head," he countered.
"Well, what are you doing climbing in through the window?" she hissed at him, wanting to hit him again out of a strange mix of relief and annoyance.
He blinked up at her with a look of confusion. Then he looked around and for the first time seemed to notice where he was. "I don't know," he confessed in a whisper. Then burst out laughing. Bella shushed him, clamping her hand over his mouth until he had boiled his laugh down to a soft chuckle.
"Lukas, are you drunk?"
"Inebriated, perhaps," he answered, holding his thumb and forefinger up in the air a little apart. He laughed softly again and shrugged. "Maybe a little intoxicated."
"Drunk, yes," Bella stated. "Why are you here?"
"Bella," he said, his voice gravely serious all of a sudden and his eyes wide as he stared at her. He held on to her hand, pulling it closer to him. She stumbled to her knees. Then he examined her hand closer and, as if only just realizing he was holding it, said, "You have small hands. Soft."
She couldn't help the giggle. He was holding her hand, examining her fingers. She knew he was drunk, but he was touching her so gently. She could feel the blush spread. "You came to tell me I have small hands?"
He didn't answer. Bella sat down next to him. He was still holding her hand, she couldn't make herself point it out, it was nice, it was comfortable. It was a little clammy, and a little dirty, sure, but other than that it was everything she always imagined holding his hand would be. He was probably not aware that he was doing it, and awkward as it would be when he did realize it, she could not get herself to pull away.
But Lukas tugged on her hand, seemingly content entwining their fingers as he took a deep breath and smiled at her before continuing to look around the room. "This place looks so much bigger than before."
"You're sitting on the floor," Bella pointed out.
"Oh right, yeah."
She snorted in a laugh and shook her head. "Lukas, why are you here?"
"I've been thinking. I have been..." he trailed off with a sigh. Then turned his head sharply, meeting her gaze straight on. "Bella, I need you."
Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart seemed to stop. Or beat faster. One of the two. She couldn't decide. "What?"
"I need you," he said again.
Bella was dumbstruck and he turned to her again. He couldn't possibly mean...? He just couldn't! Something clicked inside of her, something warm and exciting spread through her limbs. She didn't want to believe, she couldn't! But there he was, looking so earnestly at her she almost did.
"I mean, here I am," he began, taking a deep breath as he grimaced at his dirty hands in confusion. "I did what I was supposed to. I worked so hard, Bella, I studied so hard, I got good grades, I even fucking graduated early because I was so determined to get out of here and accomplish this- this dream I had. I got my degree, I got into medical school, I got the residency I was supposed to. Everything was supposed to be great. I got the career I wanted. I wanted this, I really did." He tightened his grip on her hand. "I wanted to be an MD the second I knew what it was my father did for the pack, I knew what I wanted from such an early age. I worked so hard for it."
"And you did it," Bella said when he fell silent.
"It's not enough," he said with a sigh so heavy Bella felt it weigh her down. "It's all I have ever wanted, all I ever worked for, and it's not enough. I had it all planned out. I was going to become pack doctor and my life would be set. I would be accepted."
"I don't understand. You are accepted."
"I am not." He shook his head with another laugh, this time a defeated, sad one that Bella never wanted to hear again. "I am the spare Mallard. I am accepted as much as any new wolf is, but no one sees me as a doctor." He growled with frustration. "My life was all puzzle pieces that I have been trying to fit together, and I thought I had, but one is missing. I am not respected enough to be where I want to be."
"You're certainly well-liked enough," Bella added, trying hard to keep the bitter tone out of her words. Yes, he was well-liked. A little too well-liked by the female population for her liking.
"They like my rank," he dismissed with a shrug. "They like me for what I might become one day. I can do good in this pack, Bella, I really can." He pulled her hand and she almost fell into his lap. "I am just not getting the chance."
Bella felt herself turning red, she felt the heat in her cheeks, when she noticed just how close they were. It took her two tries before the words would come out of her mouth. "The pack will come around eventually, everything takes time and-"
"I don't want to wait around, I don't want to waste time. I want what I worked for and I want it now." Bella didn't know what to respond to that and he quickly released the tension with a small laugh. "I know, I sound a little douche-y. I just- I want what I want, what I have spent my entire life working for. And everyone is treating me like I am too new to be trusted."
Bella swallowed, trying to focus her mind on the conversation. But his shirt was gaping, some buttons had become undone while climbing in, and from her position, she could see a nice, lean pane of chest. And it was distracting. "You have changed quite a lot," she mumbled.
He grinned with pride. "Thank goodness for that," he breathed. "But that's no help with my practice, that's just helping me to... to-" He cleared his throat and Bella found herself raising an eyebrow at him. "Yes, well," he coughed out. "Anyway, I've realized that since coming back to the pack I have been a little distracted," he added with an embarrassed smile. "I haven't, at all, tried reconnecting with the pack."
"Distracted?" Bella mumbled disapprovingly, and continued grudgingly, "I think you've managed to reconnected well enough."
"That's just it," Lukas exclaimed throwing his free hand in the air, the one not holding on to Bella's tightly. "I don't think I have. I think I came back a new person. No one sees me as a serious doctor. They don't trust me at all. My puzzle isn't complete."
"But Lukas," Bella breathed with a laugh, "That will come in time, and-"
"I need a mate," he blurted out.
Bella was struck dumb for a second. Then she snorted and pushed her glasses further up her nose. She let out a small, disbelieving laugh. "You need a mate? You came to me because you need a mate?" She couldn't help the small tightening in her chest, the small, tiny, minuscule hope that blossomed at his words. Lukas Mallard wanted a mate. And he had come to her. He had said he needed her. She could have giggled, she could have screamed. She had spent many nights, lying in bed, listening to the forest, her teenage dreams filled with him and him alone, asking her to accept his claim. She had dreamed he would come to her, telling her how blind he had been for never noticing her before. They were all a young girl's fantasy, and she would never admit them to anyone out loud, she cringed when she thought of them herself even. But her childhood crush would climb her house, enter through her bedroom window and shower her with words of love, telling her he needed her like he needed air to breathe. And her heart filled to the point of breaking when she suddenly realized that he had come through the window, just like she had imagined. Of course, in her dreams, he hadn't been drunk and dirty from... rolling in the garden? But still. He had come to her because he needed a mate, and he had sought her out. It was almost too good to be true.
It really was.
It was too good to be true. She wiggled her nose skeptically. "Why are you here, Lukas?"
"Because I need your help," Lukas said, he was no longer slurring his words, he wasn't fidgeting as much anymore. Determination filled him as he sat straighter. "Look, I know what it looks like, I came charging in here through the window." He gestured to the window above him. "Although I can't remember why I chose the window and not the door."
"Possibly the thought of Nana."
"Possibly," he agreed. "Anyway, I know it doesn't look good. But I need your help. I have to ask you..." he trailed off, taking another deep steadying breath, biting his lip. He cleared his throat and tried again, "I have to ask you... This is so weird, I know this is weird." He ran his free hand through his hair, scratching his neck. "This is a weird thing to ask. It all made sense in my head at Silver Moon you see. But now?" He shook his head.
Bella swallowed again. Her imagination was running wild, if he didn't finish that sentence any time soon she would scream. "Yes?" she asked, fighting a vicious battle to keep her voice calm and her breathing steady. Her heart was hammering in her chest and the hope bloomed at an alarming rate. No, she wouldn't believe, she couldn't!
"It's just, I feel like I know you," he said, giving her hand another affectionate squeeze. "I know you, we've always gotten along, haven't we?" Bella nodded eagerly and again he began running his hand through his hair nervously, avoiding eye contact. "I trust you."
"What are you trying to say?" She could feel her heart pounding in her ears. If he didn't say it soon she would explode.
"I need you to help me."
"Help you?"
"I need help to find a mate. Will you help me?" he finally asked, meeting her eye. "I can't navigate through this pack alone. You're the only one I can ask."
She had been right, it had been too good to be true. He didn't want to mate her, he wanted her to find him a mate. The small blossoming hope shriveled up and died. The pain of it felt almost too real. She had only herself to blame, she had allowed herself to fall into the trap of hope, to believe he would want her. She had become thirteen again as soon as he came in through the window, and she had allowed her fantasies to make a fool of her. "You want me to- to set you up?"
Lukas laughed softly. "I don't know. I don't know what I'm asking. I just need help. It's only, you know this pack, you never left, as the Omega, you know everyone in it. And I know it sounds dumb, but you know all the female wolves as well."
"The female wolves?" Bella slowly untangled her hand from his. If he noticed her moving away he didn't show it, she wondered if he did notice but just didn't care at all. She was suddenly cold, very cold.
"Yes," he stated. He clasped her hand again, refusing to let her move any further. "I know it's a lot to ask, you being so busy with everything. Or in any case, it's a weird thing to ask. But I think I just really need your help. I want to find the perfect one. I've met so many women in this pack-" Bella snorted and rolled her eyes. "-But I need to find the good ones. I need someone respected and liked and trusted."
"To boost your standing," Bella mumbled full of understanding now. She drew back further, backing herself against the wall beside him.
"Yes, exactly," Lukas breathed with a smile. "I knew you would understand."
"I understand," she said with a noncommittal nod. She understood perfectly. Her chest was swelling with disappointment and it hurt so much. "Surely you don't need my help with that." She wiggled her nose with a huff. "You meet so many women."
"Hey, easy you." He laughed and nudged her with his knee. "Don't judge me. I know I've been a little too active on the wrong front lately. You don't have to point it out. I'm aware." He rubbed his hand over his face when a yawn pressed on. Bella's heart sank. He thought the look on her face was disapproval, which it was, admittedly, a little bit of it was, but mostly it was jealousy. "I've been wasting time."
"Wasting time?" Bella spluttered, then pointed out, "You just came back six months ago."
He waved off her comment with a huff. "I'm still wasting time. I don't have the time to meet these different women. I want to meet the right one. Which is where you come in."
"I'm sorry, are you expecting me to find you a wolf, right now, and you'll just fall in love instantly?"
"Love?" He tasted the word on his lips. "No, not love. I don't think love is for me."
"You don't want love?" Bella shook her head, snorting her confusion. "You expect to mate without love?"
Lukas frowned deeply, running his hand over his face again. "It'll be a mutually beneficial arrangement. It's all about my rank to them. That's what I can offer, the pack standing of being the doctor's mate. That's all they see when they look at me anyway. It shouldn't be too hard finding one that finds that acceptable."
"What a bleak mindset," Bella mumbled, her shoulder slumped and she took a deep breath. It was becoming painfully apparent that she didn't know this Lukas at all. "You make it sound like a business transaction."
"It's reality," Lukas whispered sadly, another shrug of his shoulders. "I have no fancy misconceptions about how the world works anymore. You don't strike me as one who believes in fairy tales either."
"Falling in love is a fairy tale to you?" He answered with another shrug. She huffed and pushed up her glasses. She took a deep breath and said, "Why don't you just wait? Why don't you wait and see and maybe you'll find someone that you'll fall-"
"No," he cut her off. "No, I need a mate now. Or soon, anyway, I'm tired of waiting around. I've been picturing how my life was supposed to unfold my entire existence, and I'm tired of waiting for it to fall into place. I have to make it fall into place. A mate is the last thing I need to make everything come together. The right one, anyway."
"And when do you want this wonderful, mythical mate of yours?" Bella spat. Hurt had taken over and now she could feel herself getting angry. She took another deep breath, suppressing the sudden need to snap at him. "I suppose you have it all planned out when you'll be mated then?" She couldn't help it, bitterness flowed through her and she couldn't take it out of her words. "You seem to have everything else planned?"
"Christmas," he breathed. Bella huffed in disbelief. "Yes, I think I'd like a mate for Christmas."
"Christmas," Bella repeated, full of disbelief. "Christmas?" she then shrieked, having to cover her mouth, worried her grandmother might overhear. "You can't be serious. Christmas is only three months away."
"Aha, yes," he exclaimed with a laugh, pointing a wobbly finger at Bella. "But with your superior knowledge of this pack, you must know exactly the right wolves. And you can introduce me to the right ones."
"And you'll offer them a mating of convenience," Bella added, "Without love, but a high enough ranking in the pack to possibly make up for that." Lukas only laughed, shaking his head. Sadly she noted that he did not contradict her. She sighed deeply. "You do know it's a bad idea, don't you?"
"Why is everyone saying that? It's the best idea," Lukas countered. "So, will you help me?"
"Help you?" she repeated. She considered saying no. She really did. She couldn't do it. She didn't want to do it. The boy she had fallen in love with, had grown up to be a man like this? She looked at him, his wide-open eyes. Those eyes that had looked at her like this ever since she could remember. She could see the boy there, he may have grown up, but he still looked like Lukas. Still looked like her Lukas. Why was she always so weak when it came to him? She had to remind herself again, that this was not the same boy. And she wanted to say no. But then he had smiled, and there he was, the spark of the old Lukas. And she was still under his spell. She couldn't help but smile back. She still loved him. Even after everything he had said tonight.
She needed to get him out of her head and out of her heart.
It struck her then, that there was only one solution for this. He needed a mate. He needed to be mated so she could stop this silly pining for him, so she could finally quench the torch she had been carrying for him all these years. If he got mated, she could be free of him. She suddenly understood that as long as he was around, as long as he remained single, she would always want and fantasize. What she needed, for her sanity's sake, was for him to be mated. It would hurt, it would be more than painful to see him with someone else, but it would be merciful. A mercy killing of her feelings.
"Will you help me?" he repeated, his lips in a thin line, his brows knotted with uncertainty. He was begging her now. He must be desperate. She could not say no, she could never say no to him.
"Alright," she whispered, "I'll try."
He laughed with relief and threw his arm around her, pulling her close to him as he rested his head on her shoulder. "Thank you, Bella."
Bella hated herself very much at that moment, wanted to punch herself, but instead just pushed her glasses up her nose a little harder than she normally would have. She huffed. He was hugging her, his head was on her shoulder, his hair teased her face. He still smelled like beer, she knew he was still drunk, but he was relaxed now at least. "And I suppose the deadline to find this... mate of yours is still Christmas?" It was meant to be a jokey comment, but the word stung her mouth.
He lifted his head, a smile on his stupidly handsome face. "Christmas is good. A mate for Christmas sound amazing." Bella wanted to roll her eyes, she couldn't even think of a single comment to follow that ridiculous statement. So she said nothing, just sighed, her whole body slumping over in defeat. "Thanks," Lukas whispered sleepily. "I appreciate this, Bella." He yawned and hugged her tightly for a second or two.
She patted his cheek, daring herself to touch his hair, to run her fingers through the black strands, expecting to feel their softness but felt only the sticky hair wax he used. He took a deep, deep breath, she felt it through her, felt his thigh against hers as they sat there together, under the window, behind the couch, on the old worn carpet that the Omegas before her had walked across.
She should really change the carpet.
And then he exhaled, his body calmed down. She hadn't even realized how wound up he had been before he exhaled with relief. And a few silent minutes later, Bella realized that he was asleep. He had actually fallen asleep.
"Great," she whispered to herself, unable to help the small laugh at the sight of him with his mouth hanging open, sleeping soundly. She shook her head at him again. "A mate for Christmas, huh? You giant idiot."