I don’t know where they’re staying, but they’ll find themselves displaced soon enough, as omegas get first dibs at the bed and breakfasts at Widows Peak. I doubt anyone will want to take them in, and they’ll have to leave of their own accord.
We chose this place for many reasons. The best one is how isolated it can become when we have snow dumped on us.
I can’t help my internal smirk as I move down the bar to give Maura her break.
“Hey, it’s about that time,” I say in her ear, careful to make sure she notices me before speaking.
Spooking easily is an omega trait, especially when you’ve seen some shit. I take that into account when speaking to anyone on my staff. It’s easier to pretend to have a bell on your person than being too light on your feet.
It also ensures I don’t have to worry about as many glasses being broken because I scared the shit out of someone. I’mnaturally quiet when I walk, used to not wanting to be seen. Old habits die hard, which is why I try so hard to be cognizant of it.
“Silva, I can’t leave you alone with this crowd,” she says stubbornly.
“You can,” I shrug. “I got this, babe. Take thirty.”
“I’ll take fifteen,” she growls.
“Then I’ll have to pay you more,” I say forlornly. “Off you go.”
“You’re so difficult,” Maura grumbles good naturedly.
Oh, she’s got no idea.
I take over with the customer she just gave a drink to, seamlessly taking his payment and sticking the tip in a jar for Maura.
“I’ll make sure she gets that,” I say easily. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Thanks, Silva,” he says.
Nodding, I move on to the next person, taken by surprise when I see it’s an alpha I don’t know. He has dark hair pulled back in a way that makes me think he has a man bun, he towers over me, and his long lashes almost hide his eyes as he leans over on my bar.
“Hey, how can I help you,” I say pleasantly. I refuse to appear spooked. I hate to say that I’m not the best around new alphas, but it’s true. He looks like he should smell like bad decisions and sin, whatever it is that might be.
There’s so many scents around me, I can’t pinpoint his, which makes it harder to hold onto my pleasant expression. It doesn’t matter how hot he is, or the amount of ink on his arms that reminds me of a tapestry, I’m not impressed.
Alphas aren’t on my bingo card ever. I think Brad, Luke, and his friends broke something inside of me. Instead, I fight the uncomfortable feeling under my skin and feel grateful that Lexi isn’t here tonight.
“Can I get a beer?” he asks.
“Anything else?” I ask, grabbing the same type of beer I saw Maura pour earlier for the guy Sy described to me.
What did he say his name was? I can’t remember with my thoughts tied up in knots.
It’s easier than asking to simply pour the beer, and a piece of me wants to send this guy away as soon as possible. Anxiety is threatening to claw up my insides, and it’s all I can do to pretend I’m fine.
“Yeah, is your birthday January nineteenth?” he asks.
The world falls away as my hand finds my cattle prod. It’s within easy reach thankfully, and I immediately ask myself if it would be overkill if I had one mounted on hooks every few feet on the bar.
My hand pulls it free and I shove it against the alpha’s neck as I glare at him, the beer forgotten as the glass falls over. I press the prod against his bare skin, only pulling it away for long enough for him to hear the sound of electricity running through it as I press the button before releasing it again.
“No hablo ingles,”I say without thought, pulling what I remember from Spanish lessons I learned from high school.
“Ah, darlin, we were just getting to know each other,” he says, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “That’s quite the weapon for an omega like you, isn’t it?”
“Fuck it. Sorry Sy,” I grunt.
“My name isn’t?—”
