Page 16 of Big Knot Energy (Shadowverse)

Okay, fine. For tonight, I would think of them that way, as my pack. I would let the fact they would be there watching over me keep me from going into a full panic attack the moment I was bombarded with any oppressive alpha hormones.

CHAPTER 6

Issa

The club was already packed when we parked around back and entered through the employee entrance. Ax tried to talk me into letting him escort me through the front door so he could watch all heads turn my way. He said he wanted to show me off.

I, on the other hand, wasn’t quite ready for that type of attention.

Even as I sat on the barstool near where Cyrus was pouring drinks, I kept fidgeting, pulling the top of my dress up while trying to keep the hem from riding up my thigh any further.

A martini sat in front of me, barely touched. I wanted to drink. I wanted a buzz so I could squash the nerves over meeting this person who could make my alphas forget I existed. But my stomach was turning with nerves.

“Here,” Ax said, setting a shot glass in front of me as he slid onto the stool beside me.

“What?” I asked, looking at the liquor then to his face.

“You look like you need this. Ready?” He held up his glass andwaited for me to do to the same with mine. “To meeting new people.” I forced a smile and threw the drink back, almost choking on it when he added, “And getting my beta drunk so I can take advantage of her later,” before tossing his own shot back.

Coughing, I slapped his arm then took the napkin Cyrus offered to wipe my lips and chin. “You’re a jerk.”

“Had to say something to make you smile. You’re over here looking like we forced you to clean the bathrooms. This is a club. With music and dancing and hot people. Have fun. We have plenty of bouncers and employees to make sure you’re safe.” He pointed overhead. “And those things are working overtime to keep the hormones and perfume under control. You’re safe here.”

He pushed to his feet, ordering two more shots from Cyrus, offering me another.

“To an amazing show by the hottest alphas in town.”

“Including you,” I said with a smile and a shake of my head.

“Well, duh.”

We threw back our shots, with me wincing at the burn as it went down my throat, then he kissed the top of my head. “I expect you front and center when I get on that stage.”

He pointed at me as he backed away, a wide grin showcasing his straight white teeth, before he disappeared through the crowd, leaving me to my own devices.

It only took about ten minutes before I began to feel the effects of the alcohol warming my stomach and chasing away the nerves.

Ax was right – I’d needed those.

So what if they were meeting an omega. So what if she would join the pack. That didn’t mean I couldn’t be friends with her. That didn’t mean they would mistreat me just because they’d found their mate.

Being as I only had one sister and had only recently formed a close relationship with her, it might be nice to have another sisterly type in my life. We could become best friends and gang up on the alphas.

A smile pulled up my lips as I made my thoughts turn from dreading the addition of an omega to actually looking forward to another female in the mix.

Fingers trailed along my shoulder, and I jerked away. An alpha sidled up beside me, leaning sideways on the bar, his eyes on me. Or rather on the almost vulgar display of cleavage from my dress.

“Dance with me,” he said. Not asked.Said. Like he was trying to use his alpha status to influence me. There were only three alphas on this planet that made me actually want to obey, and this smarmy jerk wasn’t one of them.

“No, thank you. I’m waiting for someone.” Not like I was lying. My packwaswaiting for someone.

I raised my eyes to the bar, leaning to the side in search of Cyrus. He was currently leaning forward, his head tilted as though trying to hear the order of the group in front of him over the thumping of the music.

The alpha ran his fingers over Antonio’s mark, and I couldn’t help jerking away. The pink scarring had been covered with makeup but there was no way to hide the raised ridges.

“Hmm. Is someone looking for a little fun away from her pack?”

I curled my nose at him. “No. I’m not. I literally just said no thank you and told you I’m waiting for someone.”

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