"I'm okay."Axar looked as if he expected Franklin to reprimand him."I didn't mean to take your table."
Franklin shook his head."Oh, no, this isn't my table.Or I guess it is.I own this bar, so all the tables are mine."Aaand he wanted to slap himself.A werewolf owning a sleazy bar wouldn't impress a guy like Axar.
"I'm of drinking age."He straightened his back and glared at the invisible friend.
"I never said you weren't old enough."
Some tension bled away."Good paint job.The last color was nauseating in the mornings."He gestured at the walls, and Franklin swallowed.The walls used to be a hideous green, but he'd had them painted charcoal blue when he'd taken over eleven years ago.
Axar hadn't been here eleven years ago.Franklin would've known.
"You think?"
Axar glanced at the empty chair before nodding."Green never suited this place."Then he frowned, as if he couldn't understand what he was saying.A chill went down Franklin's spine.What the fuck was going on?
"Are you enjoying your drink?"
Axar took a sip, and his eyes widened."I do."He sipped again, and Franklin couldn't help but smile.Though, should he encourage him to drink?What if he wasn't allowed?
"What do you do, Axar?For work, I mean."
Axar scrunched his nose in the cutest way."Data entry.So boring, but I can do it from home, so it's for the best."
If he had a data entry job, he had to be a functioning adult, right?
A shadow fell over him, and he almost expected Elvin to stand there, curious about what they were talking about, but one inhalation spoke of more psychics.He looked up, and the three were looming next to the table.The woman was glaring at him.Franklin raised an eyebrow at her because if she believed she could come into his place and try to intimidate him, she had another thing coming.
"Stay away from my son."
The command slid over him like an oily film.His wolf snarled.Axar was theirs, not hers.He shook off the imaginary grease and slowly got to his feet and gave her a toothy grin."He came to me."
She gestured at the man who'd grabbed Axar the previous times, and he hurried over to his side and curled his hands around his elbow and upper arm.
"No, I want to stay."And yet Axar got to his feet without any sign of struggle."I want to finish my drink.I've paid for it."But he kept walking toward the door.The second man followed, but Franklin caught a grimace before he turned his head away.The woman kept glaring at Franklin as if she was the alpha of the pack--she most likely was of her pack, but she had no say here.
Franklin shifted his teeth and showed them to her.Psychics didn't have an enhanced sense of smell, unless it was their skill, he guessed, so she might not know what kind of place she'd walked into.He watched in satisfaction as the color drained from her face.
"Filthy animal."Her snarl was almost as impressive as a wolf's would've been, and when he looked toward the door, Axar was watching him with wide eyes.His wolf preened--it was good for him to see they could stand up to his leader.His human brain wasn't as pleased.
Axar didn't look afraid or disgusted, though, and he held Franklin's gaze until the man holding him led him out through the door.
The woman harrumphed when Franklin didn't look at her and hurried after them.With sorrow and longing blooming in his chest, he grabbed Axar's drink and sipped it.
Elvin walked over, his gaze jumping between Franklin and the door."Boss, you can't flash teeth among humans."His voice was no more than a whisper.
"They're not humans."
Elvin gestured around the room.It was a slow afternoon, but there were a few human patrons.Franklin hadn't spared them a thought.
"It's cool.I don't think anyone saw."Elvin shrugged."So what did she say to make you do it?"Curiosity was burning in his eyes.
"She told me to stay away from her son."
First, Elvin stared, then he laughed.
"What?"A low growl followed his voice.
Elvin shook his head but kept on laughing."Nothing.Nothing."
