Page 137 of Rejected By the Alpha King

The tap had run dry.

As the liquid started to spurt and grow foamy, I put the glass down and smiled apologetically at the wolf waiting on the other side of the bar. “Sorry, it’s going to be a few more minutes for that beer. I need to change the tap.”

“No worries.” The woman flashed me an easy smile. “It’ll give me a few more minutes to look over the menus. I’m loving all these new choices. Is that your doing?”

I gave her a quick nod. “Just let me know if you have any questions. I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll do it, Anna,” Josh volunteered as he sat down the crate of clean glasses he’d just brought up from the back. “I know you’re busy.”

“Great. Thanks, Josh. I appreciate it.”

“Anything for you.”

Hiding behind what I hoped was a friendly smile, I turned to address the newest customer who’d walked up. “Welcome to Hair of the Dog. What can I get you?”

Hair of the Dog. Not the most original name for a bar in the middle of werewolf territory, but it was well-run. Emerson had installed me as the newest bartender on day three of my visit.

That was five weeks ago.

Five weeks of not being able to feel anything through the mating bond. Five weeks of having no idea what was happening to the Blood Diamond pack. Were they safe? Had Emerson truly let them go, as he promised? Had the spell not even been real?

There was no point in asking Emerson. I couldn’t trust anything that came out of his mouth, and the past few weeks had been so surreal that I still couldn’t find my footing. Emerson hadn’t tried anything. I lived in his house, but I had my own suite. He’d told me that I could change anything I wanted about the suite. All I had to do was ask.

And, since he knew how much I loved The Fanged Smile, he wanted to give me Hair of the Dog. Not yet. Not until I was ready, but the manager, Louis, was always asking my opinions and trying to train me in the office.

Everyone was kind. Respectful. Hardly the experience I had at The Fanged Smile.

“What do you think I should have?”

Power washed over me, and I tried not to react as my wolf scrambled deeper inside of me.

Elonso. Emerson’s second-in-command. I’d only met him once before, when I arrived, but it was clear from the fury on his face that he did not think I belonged here.

I put him firmly in the enemy category.

“I don’t know much about you. Are you a beer drinker or more into hard spirits? Wine?

Maybe something a little light and fruity?” I teased.

The hard look in his eyes didn’t change. “Beer. Dark beer.”

“Well, Blood Moon Pass only has one dark beer, so I guess you’ll be drinking the Howler.”

One thing about Emerson’s bar is that he only allowed his own beer to be served, and their beer was just mediocre.

“Fine. And a hamburger.”

“We’ve got a few choices for hamburgers. Feeling like anything special?”

“No. Hamburger. Plain. Double fries.”

My smile never wavered. “A classic. I love it. Coming right up.”

I served him his beer and tested the new tap. After letting it run, I filled up a glass and handed it back to the woman. “Did you make up your mind?”

“The steak salad looks too good to pass up. Rare, please. Extra dressing, and a side of onion rings.”

After ringing up her order, I glanced at the clock. Nearly four o’clock. My shift would be over soon. Lunch shifts only. This time of the day should be dead, but my bar was always full. I started cutting lemons and limes for the dinner shift and did my best to identify everyone in the bar. All were familiar faces. By now, I knew the wolves who apparently were supposed to make their rounds and keep me busy.

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