I chuckled. At least they were carding people.
“Bitch! You’re sexy ashell.” A thick Latina with beautiful brown hair, but eyelashes that could shade the Sahara, looked me up and down.
“I’m only trying to keep up with you, honey,” I replied, matching her enthusiasm. “Have you been here before?”
She grinned, her eyes shining with excitement. “Baby, Ilivehere. The music is amazing, and the crowd is… large.” She winked at me, her slurred voice laced with innuendo. “You gonna be okay by yourself,chica? You can roll with me and my girls.”
I shook my head, smiling at her. “I don’t plan on being by myself for long.”
“Yes, Queen!” She winked again before sauntering off, skipping the line with no resistance.
Even from outside, the bass pulsed through my body. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Club Luna, but I was itching to find out.
The line inched forward, and I finally reached the front. The bouncer, a tall, muscular human with shrewd eyes, looked me up and down before stamping the back of my hand with a glowing mark. I ignored the tickle of the stamp’s magic, giving the bouncer an innocent smile as I strutted past him.
Inside, the club was sensory overload. Strobe lights flashed, casting everything in a disorienting glow.The music was a thumping beat that seemed to reverberate deep within everyone. Bodies rubbed against each other, grinding on the dance floor, a writhing mass of limbs and desire… Of werewolves and their prey.
I studied the crowd, my eyes adjusting to the pulsing lights. I could see them, the werewolves, moving with predatory grace. Their bodies pressed against unsuspecting humans—hands roaming and lips meeting in desperate, heated kisses.
The air was thick with pheromones, the scent of sweat and desire mingling with cologne and expensive perfume. A primal energy filled the club. A wild need that drove the creatures to seduce, to claim. It was exhilarating… but dangerous. Because those eyes glinted with a hunger that was more than mere lust.
I made my way to the bar, sliding onto a stool and waving the bartender over. He was a handsome werewolf with cornrows that were neater than my braids. He smiled, and his teeth gleamed against the fullness of his beard.
“What can I get for you, sis?” he asked, leaning in to be heard over the music.
“Rum and Coke,” I replied, pretending to be more interested in the crowd than my order.
But I watched closely as he mixed my drink. I marked everything he touched, from the rocks glass to the can of soda. At last, he garnished the glass with a lime before sliding it across the bar.
I took a small sip of the cocktail, relieved to confirm it was, in fact, just a rum and Coke. In a club run by monsters with the occasional urge to butcher, a human could never be too careful.
I pulled out my phone and opened it to see a photo of Toya. She smiled up at me, her eyes full of playful mischief. I swallowed hard, pushing down the familiar ache her image always brought me.
I showed the photo to the bartender when he came back with the bill. “Have you seen her around here? It might have been a few years ago, actually…”
He glanced at it, his expression unaltered. “Can’t say I have. But let me know if you need anything else.”
I nodded, turning back to the crowd. I studied each face, searching for anyone I recognized, and came up empty. But I couldn’t do much attached to a stool.
I took a gulp of my drink, feeling the liquid courage spread through me. And as I set my glass down, I felt a presence approach from behind.
A hand brushed against my shoulder.
“Hey there, beautiful.” The werewolf’s vile breath clung to my cheek, reeking of alcohol and blood. “You here alone?”
I gave him a cool smile, forcing my hand not to move to my boot where the dagger hid. “Just waiting for a friend.” I held my phone up to his face. “Do you recognize her?”
The werewolf crept closer, his hand sliding down my arm until his fingers latched on. “No. But you and I can have a little fun while you wait, can’t we?” His eyes swept over me.
I shook my head, trying to remove his hand from my arm without the use of my power. “I’m good, thanks.” My pulse quickened, adrenaline beginning to pump through my veins.
He persisted, his grip tightening and fingers digging into my skin. “Come on, don’t be like that. We could have a real good time together.” Darkness laced his voice, sending a shiver down my spine.
Anger rose from inside me, the urge to fight back growing stronger. But I was undercover, and blowing my cover here would be fatal. I needed to stay calm and find a way out of this without causing a scene.
My brain went into overdrive, trying to think of a way to remove myself without drawing too much attention. “Thank you, but I’m not interested,” I said firmly, trying to keep the tension out of my voice. My palms began to sweat. This was going too far.
His menacing chuckle made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “You’re just playing hard to get, aren’t you?” He leaned in even closer. “Luckily for us, I love a challenge.”
