Page 16 of Cursed Wolf

“I don’t give a fuck who you are,” the biker said coolly. “You’re being a creep, making this woman uncomfortable, so you need to leave.”

Dr. Stone’s gaze fell to me and narrowed. “Who is he to you? Did you plan for him to be here?”

“You’re done talking to her. Your business is with me,” Tryn snarled before I could stammer out a response. “Last chance to leave before I haul you out of here myself.”

The two men stayed frozen in some kind of stand-off for a long stretch of time. Finally, Dr. Stone folded.

“Ridiculous,” he scoffed, grabbing his coat off the back of his barstool. As he headed toward the door, he looked at me. “You can forget all about that job offer. Or any job with me. Don’t bother showing your face at my clinic again.”

Just like that, he was gone. I didn’t realize the whole restaurant had gone quiet until the atmosphere breathed with ambient noise again. Silverware and glasses clinked and the murmurs of multiple conversations picked up again.

Shit, everyone must have seen and heard that confrontation.

“Are you okay?”

A soft touch landed on my shoulder, prompting me to turn around. Tryn’s brow was furrowed with genuine concern, though his amber eyes were still heated with anger. He stepped back, no longer looming over me.

“Can I get a glass of water for her, please?” I heard him ask Joey. Then I was gently led by a large hand back to my original barstool, next to his. “Do you want to sit down?”

I sat, the movement stiff like a robot. The shock was beginning to wear off, but I was still reeling. Dr. Stone wanted me to have sex with him for a job. What the fuck?

“Here, Emmy.”

The nickname brought my attention back to the present. Joey had set a glass of water in front of me, his brow furrowed and mouth pressed in a hard line, much like Tryn’s.

“Thanks.” I gulped the water down, not realizing how dry my throat had become. The cool hydration was soothing, easing my nerves a bit. I was safe now, among friends.

“Take deep breaths. You’re alright,” Tryn rumbled next to me.

He gazed intently at me, like he never wanted me out of his sight. But it wasn’t a creepy leer like how Dr. Stone had looked at me. I could almost feel that he wanted to keep me safe. Shit, if he hadn’t been here...

“Thank you.” My voice shook a little. “You didn’t have to get involved, but I’m really glad you did.”

“Of course I had to get involved.” Tryn’s lip curled like he wanted to bare his teeth. “I could sme—tell that you were getting uncomfortable, and that asshole just didn’t care. What a fucking perv.”

I looked at the opposite end of the bar where Dr. Stone and I had sat, and then back at Tryn. “You heard what he said?”

Tryn gave a lopsided smile and a half shrug. “I have good hearing.” With a glance at Joey, he added, “Wish I could be sorry I caused a scene but I’m really not. That piece of shit needed to be called out publicly.”

“It’s all good. He’s a big wig in this town.” Joey frowned at the front door. “Maybe this’ll take him down a few pegs since so many people saw.”

“He obviously sucks, but I don’t want anything to happen to the clinic.” I chewed my lip nervously. “They do good work there.” Conflicted feelings swirled within me. Obviously, I didn’t want to work for Dr. Stone anymore, but I would miss the actual work, the day-to-day adventures with the animals.

“I’m really sorry about your job,” Tryn offered gently. “That’s fucked up what he just did. Can you report him to anyone?”

I sighed. “I’m sure I can. I just...don’t want to think about all that right now. The staff will surely ask questions, and rumors are going to fly. He might get a lawyer. Damn, I might need a lawyer.”

“Tomorrow’s problems,” Tryn said. “Right now, you’re away from him and not being manipulated into any gross bullshit.”

I smiled. “Thanks to you.”

He smiled back and my heart flipped. “Right time, right place, I guess.”

“We’ll help you out however we can too,” Joey said. “Lynn and Buck will understand. They’ll give you all the extra shifts you want, I’m sure.”

“Thanks, Joey. That means a lot.” In so many ways, my serving job was more supportive than the one I paid thousands of dollars and years of schooling for.

Tryn gave me a curious look. “You work here too?”

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