Page 2 of Sassy Embrace

“Look, I just didn’t want to stress you out,” Tonya said. “No one here is stupid enough to actually take it. Probably.” She whispered the last part.

Leigh thanked her for her honesty and moved on, checking on the DJ and the waitstaff to make sure they had what they needed for the night’s events. But her mind was preoccupied with that damn drug.

It didn’t have an official name yet, it was too new. But the effects were already well known. It was supposed to make the shifter stronger and their shifting faster too. Supposedly if twoshifters of equal standing were to get in a fight, the drug would tip the scales more than enough.

But there were consequences too. Namely, that overdosing happened quickly and with very little warning. And those that did went rabid, unable to control themselves anymore.

Worse, there was no cure.

Clubs were a popular way to traffic drugs, so Leigh had to keep her ear to the ground in all three to make sure it wasn’t popping up in any of hers.

“Leigh!” A voice cut through her darkening thoughts and ripped her back to the present moment. It was a somewhat quiet moment between acts, and a table full of women were waving at her. “Over here!”

She realized with relief the voice was coming from Barbara Wolfe, matriarch of the Blue Creek pack. And she was joined by Ellie, Karla, Jordan, and the nanny to Karla’s triplets, Beatriz.

“Well, look what the wolf dragged in,” Leigh said with a sly smile. “How in the world did you all give your men the slip tonight?”

The ladies chuckled, sipping on their brightly colored drinks.

“We told them we needed to check on the place, for Nic’s sake,” Ellie said wryly.

“Not that we don’t trust you to do a good job,” Barbara said, carefully placing her drink on a damp cocktail napkin. “But a little peer review never hurts.”

“So, we made the guys take babysitting duty for the evening and planned a girls’ night out,” Karla said.

“Wow. So your guys actually bought that story?” Leigh asked, placing a hand on her popped-out hip. “I thought pack leaders were supposed to have sharp senses.”

They laughed, and the joy on their faces made Leigh feel exhilarated. There was nothing better than seeing a group ofwomen letting loose and having a good time at one of her establishments. Especially ones she cared so much about.

“The guys are jealous, actually,” Karla said.

“But we promised we’d get all hot and bothered watching the dancers, and make it worth their while when we got home. You know, so long as we’re only picturing our mate.” Ellie punctuated her statement with a finger curling innocently in her hair.

“Well, they should be back on stage in about five minutes, so get ready to be plenty riled,” Leigh assured them.

“And where are you going? Come, sit with us,” Barbara said, gesturing at an empty chair at the round table.

“Oh, no, I’ve got to-”

“Sit, Leigh.”

Leigh knew when her pack matriarch was giving an order, not an offer, and did as she was told. The other girls also knew the difference and started to make conversation among themselves to give Barbara and Leigh a moment to talk.

“Something wrong, Barb?” Leigh asked, her cheeks going red.

“Calm down, Leigh. I’m just concerned, that's all. You’re overworking yourself. You have dark rings around your eyes, and that’s no way for a young woman without a mate to look.”

Leigh let a short laugh escape her lips. “Okay, Mom,” she said sarcastically, but with a smile.

Barbara smiled back but lowered her brow in warning to take the criticism seriously.

“Okay, I will admit, juggling three clubs would be a lot easier if it wasn’t for the drug issue,” Leigh said, folding her arms across her chest.

“Ah, yes, I did hear about that. You’re doing a good job making sure those don’t make their way through here. But…it might be easier to handle if you had a partner.”

“Like an assistant manager? Yeah, actually I was thinking that Tonya could-”

“I mean a mate, Leigh.”

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