He’d been told the story over the years, but he didn’t actually remember anything after the wolf curled up next to his Grammy.
After that, when his wolf came out, Arden would drift off to sleep, for lack of a better description. So, his memories in fur didn’t extend beyond the few shared moments.
For some reason, he was having flashes from after his wolf’s first emergence, when he had been asleep.
Dad crouched over Grammy, sighing with relief when he found a pulse.
He turned and patted Ulf’s head. “You did good, but you’re not supposed to be here yet. You need to give the body back to my boy now. You protected them, and I promise to do the same for you.”
Whoa.
The shock of seeing that moment and not just hearing about it jolted Monster back to the present.
His eyes were still locked on the brunette who’d been kissing Kansas. She was looking everywhere but at him while she chatted with his brother.
Judging by the look on Kansas’s face, she wasn’t his one, and he was merely being polite.
Thank fuck.
The thought came out of nowhere when Creedence leaned over and whispered, “Damn, she is fine. If Kansas doesn’t hit it, I will.”
His brother’s words rubbed him the wrong way, maybe because that was exactly what was running through Monster’s mind.
He smirked at his very human brother. “Let the games begin.” He slapped a hundred-dollar bill on the bar and Creedence did the same.
“All these years around us and you still haven’t learned that your tired ass lines have nothing on the shifter sex appeal.”
Creedence slipped the bills under the cash register drawer. “And all these years around me and you’re still overestimating your own appeal.” He closed the drawer before whipping up a girlish-looking drink. “And underestimating me.”
Monster watched as Creedence took the drink over and slid it to the sexy woman. “Hey, Kansas, I’ll keep the pretty lady company because you're late for your hook-up—excuse me—I mean hook-ups?” Creedence pointed at the two women dressed in barely-there club attire who were eating the man up with their eyes.
Damn, that was cold, but effective.
The woman’s eyes flashed with what looked more like relief than panic.
Interesting.
Kansas knocked on the bar. “Right, brother.” He said before turning to the lady. “I’ve got a previous engagement, doll, but I’m leaving you in good company with my brother. Creedence, this is Carys. Carys, Creedence.”
Kansas leaned in and whispered something to her that Monster couldn’t hear, even with his enhanced hearing. Her warm whiskey eyes widened impossibly large and clashed with his.
He could feel his wolf curled in his cage whimpering in pain. He really shouldn’t be thinking about getting laid. He should be getting home and letting Ulf take fur for a few moments.
He finished his drink while Creedence chatted up the … Carys, Kansas had called her.
Creedence turned his gaze to Monster, or rather to his glass. He poured another drink before opening the cash register. He placed the drink on a napkin and slid it across the bar to Monster, along with two one-hundred-dollar bills tucked between the layers.
Moster raised a brow at Creedence, who shrugged. “Bro, she didn’t take her eyes off you once the whole time I was throwing my best at her.” With a lift of his chin toward a pretty blond at the corner of the bar, he added. “It doesn’t happen often, but I can admit when I've lost. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I've found the perfect way to cope with this rare defeat.”
He watched Creedence approach the blond and speak to her for all of ten seconds before he whistled for Zach. When the prospect emerged from the back, Creedence tucked the blond under his arm and headed to the back office.
Monster’s attention was drawn back to Carys. Viewing her from the corner of his eye, she looked Kansas’s way and nibbled her lip before turning her gaze back to him. Watching Monster, but clearly not wanting to divert her attention from Kansas.
It was confusing as fuck, but he was done for the night. They didn’t have a pack run for another week, so he needed to let Ulf out for a few minutes to ease some of his pain.
Downing his drink, he placed the glass upside down on the napkin. As he stood, he pulled his hair back and headed toward the door. When he passed Carys, she grabbed his arm.
TWO
