Page 12 of Feral Heart
Jamie blinked then burst into surprised laughter. “Yeah, he really is.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, both lost in their own thoughts. Then Noel turned to him with a hopeful expression.
“I know this is sudden, but... would you maybe want to be friends? I mean, real friends?” Noel grinned and knocked elbows with Jamie. “I’ve never really had any before. Always been too busy surviving, you know? But I’m finally laying down roots, with Tomas and this place, and it would be really nice to have some friends.”
“Really?” Jamie gripped the edge of the counter, holding on to stop himself from zipping around the room. “You want to be friends with me?”
“Hell yeah.” Noel grinned. “We both know what it’s like to have people underestimate us. Plus, you seem pretty cool, and I could use more cool people in my life.”
“This is the best day ever.” Jamie practically launched from his seat but forced his butt to sit back down. “I’ve never had a real friend either! Well, except maybe Cesar, but I don’t know if he counts since I have this huge crush on him and—” He slapped a hand over his mouth, eyes wide, while wishing he would learn to keep things to himself.
Noel’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, this friendship is going to be fun.”
From the other end of the bar, Cesar caught Jamie’s eye and gave him a soft smirk that made his stomach do somersaults. His pookie had been watching them.
Jamie grinned so hard his dang cheeks hurt.
Chapter Four
Cesar grabbed the ticket from the counter, cooking on autopilot, his thoughts still on Jamie. The human was still at the bar with Noel, Tomas watching them while orders were made.
“Anything we need to concern ourselves with?” Matias asked as he seemed to appear out of nowhere, lightweight scaring the crap out of Cesar.
“With the food?” He knew damn well what his alpha was talking about. Everyone had witnessed Jamie’s spiral in the bar after his dance.
Cesar had been mesmerized, his sole focus on the human. He hadn’t paid attention to the men openly lusting.
Couldn’t blame them. The way Jamie moved his body had all kinds of indecent images racing through Cesar’s mind.
Even now, thinking of some other male touching the quirky little human made Cesar’s wolf want to hunt.
He told Matias about what had gone down at the grocery and the looks Grant and Rowan had given Jamie.
“Prick isn’t gonna let it slide.” Then he told his alpha about Jamie’s brain injury and how he said he’d sustained it.
Matias’s features darkened, a tick in his jaw. “Got it handled?”
“Gonna try and talk Jamie into staying at my place tonight. Give the brother time to cool off.”
Neither voiced the truth. Men like Grant didn’t cool off. The anger only festered.
The oil popped and sizzled, but Cesar wasn’t paying any attention to it. Or the noise of the tavern. His thoughts went back to Jamie and the way his wolf continued to snarl.
He focused on his wolf, his lycanthrope silent. It wouldn’t interfere with the wolf’s decision, but once it was made, the lycanthrope would kill to protect el eligido.
Was his animal choosing or just being protective of the small human?
Cesar gave his chin a quick scratch, the bristle of his beard soft under his fingernails.
You know the answer, he thought.
“My wolf has chosen.” He stood in front of the deep fryer, tongs in his grip, staring at the backsplash. “Got this heavy feeling in my chest.”
“That would be my guess.” Matias moved closer, his polished shoes clacking against the tiled floor. “Your eyes are glowing, and you’re also burning the food.”
Cesar cursed, quickly removing the fries, a few falling to the floor. He’d have to change the grease, since the food would taste as bad as the burnt oil smelled.
“Go to your elegido.” Matias flicked his hand. “I’ll have Luca finish your orders. Your mind is on your boy.”
