How is anyone drinking this early in the morning?
The smell of alcohol makes my stomach churn as the man slides the glass of bourbon to Thane, who downs it in one gulp.
“Anything for the cow?” he asks, turning his attention to me.
“No, thanks.” I flash the man a fake smile before turning my back and propping my elbows up on the countertop. A bar is quite literally the worst place to be when you’re hungover.
“Actually, she’ll have a double shot of brandy,” Thane insists with a smug grin.
The man looks far too happy about Thane’s suggestion as he walks behind the bar and grabs a bottle of liquor. I’ve never had brandy before, but I’m ninety-nine percent sure I’m not going to like it one bit.
“Here you go, sweetheart.”
I grab the glass and try not to grimace as a waft of it assaults my nostrils.
“Bottoms up, Grey.” Thane watches me closely like he’s waiting for me to put up a fight. I’d usually be annoyed bythat, but right now it’s only giving me motivation to prove him wrong.
Here goes nothing.
I plug my nose and toss the liquor back, imagining it’s a shot of orange juice instead. Unfortunately, my imagination is only so strong, and the taste of alcohol begins to attack my tastebuds as the burn of it crawls down my throat and settles in my chest. I slam the empty glass down on the bar top before doubling over in a violent coughing fit. Tears well in my eyes as I try to keep it down, but eventually, I’m able to compose myself enough to stand back up.
Both of them give me a look that I can’t quite read before turning their backs to me in hushed conversation. I do my best to eavesdrop, but both men are speaking so low that I’m sure even the vampires in this place can’t make out what they’re saying. The man scribbles something down on a piece of paper and hands it to Thane, who stuffs it in his back pocket and shakes his hand before turning back to me.
“Let’s go. We’re done here.”
Thane takes the lead, and I notice the few people in the bar nod to him as we head for the door, making me wonder how he got to be in this position. Even if he is the only hybrid, I would imagine there would still be quite the lineup of people wanting to claim the title of Alpha for themselves. The fact that he’s able to hang onto it with so much respect from his people is both impressive and terrifying.
The next place we pull up to looks like an old-school diner. When we walk inside, a bell rings above us, making our presence that much more noticeable. Unlike the bar, this place is packed full. Music that sounds like it’s from the 1950s or 1960s plays overhead while black and white checkered floorsadd to the overall vibe of the place. A waitress glides by on roller skates, balancing four plates full of breakfast food.
The diner seems to fall silent as the crowd parts for Thane, and all eyes fall on us, reminding me that I’m dressed like a damn cow. My cheeks heat with embarrassment as a few snickers ripple around us, and I quickly shove my hood back, hoping it will somehow make me look less stupid.
“Wait here,” Thane orders, motioning to one of the round bar stools that was just occupied two seconds ago.
The vampire who had been sitting on it stands next to her friend now, looking up at Thane like she wants to eat him for breakfast instead. A prickle of heat shoots up the back of my neck as I watch her ogle him with no sense of shame. She pulls her shirt down to show more cleavage, but he doesn’t seem to even notice her desperate attempt to get his attention before he turns around and stalks off down the aisle. She whips around and sneers as her eyes run down me in an assessing kind of way.
“You must be the human pet.”
“Well, aren’t you just the sharpest crayon in the box.” I let the condescension in my tone settle between us as that fire in me sizzles to life. I should know better than to provoke a vampire, but something about her is making it impossible for me not to want to pick a fight.
“You little—” Her raised hand is pulled back by her friend, who whispers something in her ear that makes her take a step back. “Don’t think for a second you’re anything special,” she hisses. Her tongue runs along her sharp fangs in warning. “He’ll be done with you soon enough.”
There’s a hint of jealousy behind her words, though I’m not sure why. You’d have to be a special kind of crazy to want to be in my position.
“I didn’t think cows were allowed in here.” I swivel to see three male werewolves crowding around me.
“And I didn’t think idiot sandwiches were allowed in here, yet here you stand.” I swivel the stool around so that my back is to them, clearly having some kind of death wish.
“She’s got a mouth on her,” one of them growls. Goosebumps spread along my arms as I feel them closing in on me. “I think I like it.”
“I think I like those udders of hers.” I assume the one in the middle is speaking now, judging by the confidence lacing his words. “They look nice and perky to me.” I swallow hard at the underlying sexual inuendo.
His hot breath runs along the side of my neck, but I don’t react, knowing that’s exactly what he wants. My eyes dart to a knife sitting next to me as I start to run through the possibilities of how this might escalate.
Suddenly, the crowd seems to gasp in unison when a crashing thud sounds from behind me. I whirl around to find Thane holding the werewolf down on top of one of the tables with his claws digging into the guy’s throat, causing blood to trickle onto the table where four others sit in the booth, looking at the scene with wide eyes.
“You saw the mark on her neck, and you thought you could approach her?” Thane’s voice has the entire diner on edge as we all hold our breath, waiting for his next move. “Let this be a warning to everyone of what happens when you play with things that don’t belong to you.”
Blood spatters across the window and table when Thane rips the werewolf’s throat out in one swift motion. Something that looks like it might be part of his spine, hangs from Thane’s bloody fist before he tosses it onto the table. The four peoplesitting in the booth look so petrified that I’m not even sure they’re breathing.
