Page 20 of The Alpha's Runaway Bride

“No trouble, really. I can’t blame him for being mad. He took time off from his alpha duties to find out why I wouldn’t go through the mating ceremony with him. I should have just told him.”

“You did what you thought was right,” Thomas said. “Can’t fault you for that.”

He kissed Angie on the head, hugged Flora, and left.

Flora opened her mouth, but Angie held up her hand. “Don’t say it. You told me so. I had every intention of telling him, but the time didn’t seem right. In between talking about different philosophers, I couldn’t very well say, ‘By the way, I’m not really a member of the pack because I was adopted. I’m a mundane human. If we mated the rest of the pack would kill me.’”

“They wouldn’t kill you,” Flora said. “Would they?”

Angie laughed. “I can’t say for sure, but I do know that I wouldn’t be accepted or even welcome to any of the functions.”

“That’s so stupid,” Flora said.

“It’s all good. I feel more like a member of the Nightshade Pack anyway. I’ve known Zac and everyone else my whole life.”

“You are one of us,” Flora said.

“I really just hope that he doesn’t tell anyone else about me. I know they are gone, but Mom and Dad are very well respected and I’d like to leave it at that,” Angie said.

“It is so stupid that they would think less of your parents. Their loss.” Flora sighed. Then she brightened up. “Jade talked Sean into doing karaoke tonight. Do you want to go?”

Grinning, Angie said, “Sure. If for no other reason than to see Sean squirm. Jade says karaoke night brings in a ton of money, but Sean hates having to listen to all the people who think they can sing.”

Jade was a member of the Nightshade Pack. She recently went through the mating ceremony with Marvin, a dragon shifter, and gave birth to a chimera. The baby could shift to either wolf or dragon form. She was the manager of Howlers’, although Sean practically lived there and didn’t need a manager.

“I’ve got a few things to take care of, but I’ll meet you there. Seven?”

Howlers’ was already busy when Angie walked in. Flora had a table against the wall, which Angie appreciated. It meant that there would be less jostling and pushing against them.

Jade was working the bar with a huge smile on her face. Sean was grimacing as a woman did her best to belt out her version of a Dolly Parton song. She tried to hit a high-pitched note, which made everyone cringe.

“She’s making my ears bleed,” Sean complained.

“I don’t see any blood,” Jade said. “Quit complaining. You’re raking in the dough.”

“I’m not sure it’s worth it. We need to have a mime night instead,” Sean complained.

Angie and Jade laughed. Then Jade looked at Angie and said, “Noah went back to the shifter world this morning.”

“I figured that he would. He was angry with me because I didn’t tell him that I was a plain ole human and he wasted his time here,” Angie said.

“Ouch. That was rude.”

“I should have told him. Can I get two Long Island ice teas?”

“Starting the party off right tonight,” Jade said.

“The only problem with your drinks is that they are so smooth, I don’t even know that they have alcohol in them. That’s why I limit myself to one per hour. Plus, I eat. Can you have the waitress send over some fries when you get a chance?”

“Sure thing,” Jade said, winking at her.

After they scarfed the fries, Flora dragged Angie to the stage. They sang “My Boyfriend’s Back” and then “It’s My Party and I’ll Cry If I Want To.” Flora and Angie had decent singing voices and could carry a tune. They got a lot of well-earned applause. Sean apparently had enough after them, so he shut down the karaoke after that and played the usual music, which was a mix of practically everything.

Angie and Flora had just sat down when two men swaggered over to the table. According to the patches on their black leather jackets, they were members of the Griffins Bike Club.

“Care to dance?” one asked.

The two women looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. “Sure,” Angie said.

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