Page 43 of Hawke

I shook my head. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.” I let the burn flow down my throat and set the glass down for another.

The itch under my skin continued. Delilah was being passed around not just from human to human, but shifter to shifter. They wished her a happy birthday, touching her, hugging her.

I felt my blunt nails scratch the bar, my head throbbing.

“You sure about that, man? I got our messages screen shot so I can show it to Dede later. She would love to know that the wolf she’s been crushing on pulled off the unthinkable all by himself.”

I growled to myself. I had woken up early Sunday morning and forced Anaki to put up decorations with me, not that I would ever admit it. I made him swear he would say he did it because I knew the little human would take it the wrong way.

We just weren’t compatible. A human? A shifter? It would never work, not to mention I would go rabid, eventually. Her calming effect wouldn’t last long.

“You say one word to her and I’ll–”

“Yeah, yeah, choke me in my sleep. I got it.” Anaki chugged back another shot and brought some fruity drinks to the women. She was laughing, thanking everyone for coming.

What I wouldn’t give to have her in my bed every night. Hold her, love her, fuck the hell out of her. Imagining the way my name rolls off her tongue in a scream after I eat her pussy gives me shudders every time. I wanted to see that smile when I railed her up against the bed. If only I could, if only my knot wasn’t so prominent and, oh yeah, the rules.

“Treading dangerous waters.” Locke, our acting club alpha or president, grabbed my shoulder and squeezed it, nursing his own beer. He sat down, staring at Delilah.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” I watched the condensation drip down the bottle of beer Anaki left me.

“It’s hard, I get it.” He cleared his throat. “I think it’s fine to have a friendship with them.” He rolled his lips between his teeth. “I feel like she saved you from your sickness. If it weren’t for that, I’d tell you to stay away from her.”

I whipped my head to stare at him.

He knew?

Locke tutted. “Hawke, I know everything that happens in this bar and the apartments. She snuck into your room the day we all thought was your last and the next morning you were fine. Can’t say I know what it is. Maybe you just needed a little sunshine around to keep your wolf wanting to live a little longer. I’d stay around her too if she was keeping me alive.” He pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

“Wish we could find that for Grim,” Locke said and jutted his chin at Grim, who sat in the corner. He had a beer in hand and wore a deep scowl. He was mute now. Bones, the club doc, said he’d lasted a long while longer than he ever thought he would.

“Just keep a good head on your shoulders, Hawke. Don’t endanger the rest of us for some ass.” He nudged me in the arm, but I snapped. My hand went around his wrist to pin him to his seat so he couldn’t leave.

The bar stopped their chatting, looking in our direction. Locke let out a manic laugh and wrestled his arm away from me. He pulled my arm around, pinned it to my back, and shoved my cheek to the bar.

He continued his maniacal laugh, a shrill cackle that seemed to come from nowhere and made everyone feel uneasy. If he didn’t get his way, his face would become contorted with rage.

He bent low, whispering in my ear.

“I will protect this MC, Hawke. She isn’t to know, none of them are.”

He let go of my wrist, and he slapped me on the shoulder again and walked away.

He was right; I had to keep my affection for her under control, for her safety and mine.

“Another, another!” Delilah slapped her hand on the table, demanding another margarita. The group of girls around her all broke out into a fit of laughter. They had long finished their drinks. They were just watching Delilah squeal and giggle.

Most of them had to work in a few hours. Luckily, Delilah did not.

“That’s enough, Dede, I think you’re done.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the table. The women surrounding her watched me, their smirks indicating they knew there was something between Delilah and me, but they said nothing. Humans, well, human women, just knew when there was an attraction to anyone in this bar.

It was damned annoying.

I let out a sigh of disapproval as I took Delilah’s arm and pulled her away from the gathering. The decorations were being taken down for the Sunday evening crowd.

“But one more! It’s my birthday!” Delilah giggled and fell into my chest. “Whoopsies! Fell right into that. You are like a brick wall.” She poked my chest until she felt the hard piece of metal through my nipple.

“Oh...you got a piercing there. I forgot. Can I see?” Delilah batted her lashes. She pulled on my shirt, trying to lift it. “Abs, wow, look at those.” She ran her hand up my bare skin. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to push the fabric down.

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