I shoved those thoughts from my mind and focused all my energy into scrubbing the counter until it gleamed.
The clock ticked away. Only a few more hours until closing. Then, the rowdy alphas and Ryu and everyone else would all go home, and I could pass out in bed and forget about the struggles of the day.
The shopkeeper’s bell rang again. I braced myself for another group of alphas to babysit, but this time, only a sole omega entered. I watched him curiously as he approached the bar. He was young and attractive, with beautiful blond hair and light eyes—the kind of omega who would have no problem finding a mate, unlike me.
“Can I get a vodka and orange juice, please?” he asked.
It was a drink I could mix with my eyes closed. “Right away.”
He thanked me for his drink, then took up a spot down the bar counter to scroll down his phone and nurse his drink by himself.
I would have ignored him and went back to minding my own business until I saw Mav, the rowdy alpha who had grabbed me, eyeing the new omega like a piece of meat.
And when alphas acted disgusting towards omegas inmybar, it became my business.
I kept an eye on Mav, not wanting to jump to conclusions despite being quite sure of where this situation was heading. Sure enough, he slowly got up out of his chair and sauntered over to where the omega sat.
“Hey, there,” Mav said, leaning closer to the omega than what was considered appropriate when interacting with a stranger. “I’ve never seen you around before. What’s your name, cutie?”
I prickled in anticipation, glaring at Mav.
“That’s probably because I’m new here. And my name is Henry,” the omega replied. He looked clearly uncomfortable with Mav’s intrusion in his personal space.
I tensed, ready to intervene if necessary.
“Henry, that’s a nice name,” Mav said, slurring his words and grinning. “Why don’t you come hang out with me ‘n my buds instead of sitting here alone, huh?”
Henry stiffened. He clutched his phone tighter. “That’s okay. I’m catching up on some reading.”
Mav frowned. “What? Who comes to a bar to read? And what’re you reading on your phone, anyway?” He leaned in closer. “Are you lyin’ to me?”
Henry’s eyes widened in fear. “I’m not—”
The alpha’s hand shot out. He grabbed Henry by the arm and pulled him out of his seat. Henry gasped and dropped his phone.
The way I leapt over the counter was graceless and clumsy, but I didn’t care. The only thing on my mind was stopping this disgusting alpha from harassing an innocent omega.
“Hey!” I snapped.
At the same time that my hand snatched Mav’s arm to yank it away, someone else appeared to stand in-between Mav and Henry.
“Leave him alone!” Ryu growled.
Mav swayed on his feet, intoxicated and confused. When he noticed that I was still holding on to him, he snarled and struggled. “Let go, freak!”
Infuriated now, I gripped him harder. “Get out of my bar—now!”
Mav took a swing at me. But he was a fool if he thought I couldn’t see his slow-moving punch coming. I easily ducked it and threw a punch, this time knocking him backwards into Ryu. Ryu took hold of Mav to prevent him from trying anything else.
“What’s the matter with you?” Ryu asked angrily. “Being drunk isn’t an excuse to behave like this!”
Mav tried to elbow Ryu in the gut, but Ryu gritted his teeth, bearing it so he wouldn’t let go.
By now Mav’s group of friends crowded around, clearly embarrassed by their friend. But whether they were ashamed of his horrible actions towards the omega, or just because he caused a scene, I didn’t know.
“I think it’s best if you take him and leave now,” Ryu said, handing off Mav to Stephen.
“Right,” Stephen muttered. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
