Page 1 of Scar Bonds: The Scars That Bind Us

Chapter One

“I don’t understand why Jeffrey insisted on booking this event. It’s insane.”

Senan glanced at his friend Gabby, before carefully wiping off lipstick stains from a glass before placing it in the dishwasher tray. He rubbed the mark from his rubber gloves, rinsed them, and picked up and checked the rim of the next glass. Lipstick almost never came off in the dishwasher alone which was why Senan was hand-checking and rinsing sixty glasses after the luncheon event.

“What’s wrong with the next event?” Senan was tired. His wings wanted a stretch, and that was impossible to do in his button-up shirt. “Please tell me it’s not tonight.” It was already getting close to three, and if they had another event to do that evening it meant he wouldn’t be getting to bed until after midnight.

“Itistonight. Don’t you keep an eye on the schedule?”

“Why should I, when I know you’ll do that for me.” Senan flashed a quick smile at his friend before checking the last of the glasses. “What horrors do we have to contend with this time?”So much for sleep.He suppressed a yawn.

“The leaders of the Luna Pack are hosting a dinner for the paranormal group leaders from theentire state.” Gabby’s voice rose up at the end of the sentence. “Eighty-four adults are expected to attend, with a sit-down dinner, blah, blah, blah. No wonder Masie was freaking out that the lady’s garden club luncheon took so long. There’re six courses.”

“Sounds normal for a paranormal event.” Senan was thankful that his voice didn’t shake, although his body froze just hearing the word “paranormal”. There was a time when the mention of the Luna Pack would send him into the darkness for days. Heopened the dishwasher and carefully slid the now full tray of glasses into it.

“It’s the rules Jeffrey has posted on this sheet that makes me want to scream.” Gabby’s voice rose again, but then one of the things Senan loved about his friend was her erratic personality. “Listen to this. Apparently, this applies to all attending staff. No makeup. No colognes or perfumes. No scented deodorants…”

“Shifters have sensitive noses.” Senan flicked the switch on the dishwasher, let out the sink full of hot water he’d been working at, and then stripped off his rubber gloves.

“I understand that, but that’s not all Jeffrey had to say.” Gabby snorted. “The Luna Pack Alpha, who is apparently hosting this event, is insistent that staff representing the Gourmet Outsourced company will not be distracting to their guests in any way. Accordingly all staff will have their hair tied back, refrain from wearing jewelry, cover any tattoos, and ensure that the only clothing they are wearing fully adheres to the company’s strict dress code.”

“Covering tattoos will be difficult without makeup. You’ll have to wear a long-sleeved shirt.” Senan leaned his butt against the edge of the sink, smiling at his friend.

When Senan met Gabby two years before, after securing a job as a waiter and general kitchen hand at the Gourmet Outsourced company, his first thought was “explosive.” Everything about Gabby was larger than life, from her mop of bright red hair that fell around her face in waves that seemed to defy gravity in the way it flew around in every direction, to her numerous freckles that covered most of her nose and cheeks, and yes, her very brightly colored tattoos – ink that covered almost her entire body.

Gabby was as fun as she appeared, and never took anything seriously except her friendships. She had pretty much adopted Senan from his very first day, something he was truly grateful for. She didn’t know he was one of the paranormals he avoided like the plague – no one he worked with did – and yet she was staunchly loyal and protective of him. Senan had thought about telling her a dozen times… but that could lead to him revealing some parts of his life he’d never wanted anyone to know. It was far easier to glamour himself and appear human every time he had to work.

“I’m not on the list to attend,” Gabby flicked at the piece of paper taped to the prep room bulletin board in disgust. “Jeffrey claims in his instruction sheet that any member of staff that is considered striking or distinctive in looks – he actually used the word striking – would not be eligible to work the event. The Alpha has specifically stated he only wants non-descript, quiet, and efficient staff tending to his guests. It’s like he wants the staff to blend into the wallpaper.”

Senan quickly covered his yawn with his hand. “Sounds exactly like an Alpha wolf decree to me. But why are you reading that rubbish if you’re not expected to work tonight? I already know Jeffrey wouldn’t have scheduled me for a paranormal event.” It was the one thing Senan insisted on in his contract, before he’d even been offered the job.

“I’m spouting all this shit because you’re on the list.” Gabby poked the offending piece of paper. “I apparently don’t blend into the wallpaper enough. Who knew?”

She spread her arms and twirled around, making Senan smile even as the pit of lead in his stomach grew. But she was back at the pinned piece of paper soon enough. “I know you have a paranormal aversion, I don’t know why, and it’s not my business. You do you. But you’re listed to work the tables tonightwith Aisha, Fern, Alex, and Wyatt.” She tapped the names on the list as she read them off.

“That has to be a mistake.” Senan reached into his pocket for his phone. “Jeffrey was clearly rushed when he did this and just put the wrong name down.” He tapped Jeffrey’s contact on his phone, hearing it ring.

“Jeffrey’s at that kink conference all weekend,” Gabby said quietly. “Not even his mother will be able to get hold of him until Monday.”

“It’s not a kink conference, it’s a beginner Shibari course. I forgot, darn it.” Senan sighed as he disconnected the call and put his phone away. “I just won’t go. I can’t. With any luck Jeffrey will have learned enough from the course to be in a good mood on Monday when he learns about me ducking out on an event.”

“You’re team leader, you can’t back out.” Gabby’s face was clearly designed to tug at Senan’s people-pleaser genes. Not that he had any, but she was difficult to ignore. “Think about it. Aisha is going to be shitting kittens around all that Alpha testosterone. I can’t think why Jeffrey included her in the first place. Fern and Alex will be okay, but Wyatt is another one who gets easily distracted. I’m guessing that’s why Jeffrey wants you there. You can’t just abandon them in their hour of need.”

“Isn’t that just a tad dramatic, even for you?” Senan rubbed his chin. Unfortunately, for all her flair, Gabby was right. If he was listed as team leader, then the others would be depending on him, and it wasn’t as though he could come up with a credible excuse so quickly.Although…“Who’s doing the prep and clean up?” Senan asked as he had another idea.

“Brennan.” Gabby frowned. “Do you think that’s where Jeffrey made the fuck up? Brennan can serve just as well as you can.”

“Exactly, my lovely friend.” Feeling immediately better, Senan rushed over, hugging her quickly before letting go, and reaching for his phone again. “I’ll let Brennan know he’s serving tonight, and I’ll run the team from the prep area which means I don’t have to interact with any paranormal at all.”

“Are you ever going to tell me how you got this?” Gabby’s bright red fingernail lightly touched Senan’s scar – the scar that ran from the corner of his eye right down to his mouth. His friend had no idea how bad it looked without the glamour. “That has to be a paranormal incident.”

“I’m not saying anything because that business is in the past and I’ve got to plan for tonight. But as always, my wonderful friend, you’ve reminded me of the excuse I’ll have ready for Jeffrey on Monday if he complains about what I’ve done. Paranormals find scars distracting as much as unnatural scents so I’m simply adhering to his rules, and considering he should never have rostered me on tonight for this event anyway, he can’t make a fuss.” Senan gave Gabby a truly wide smile. “I do love it when a plan comes together.”

“Message me when you get home,” Gabby insisted. “I’ll be the one sitting curled up on my couch with my cat, munching my way through a tub of ice cream as I drool over Maximus Khan.”

“The tiger shifter?” Senan was very familiar with Gabby’s type. They’d watched more than a few movies together in the past. “Has he got a new movie out?”

“Nope. I rewatch the old ones, which is even better. I know exactly when to pause the screen for the good bits. When he rips his shirt off I get shivers all over.” Gabby hugged herself with a wide grin.

---