Page 23 of Her Reborn Mate

“My vampires are craving wolf blood after the events at Blair’s building. They feel some revenge is in order,” Ralph said. “The culling fields are going to be like Christmas Eve for the guys.”

“I’m worried still,” Maurice said. “Alexis ran off. That bitch is fucking crafty. Who knows what she’s capable of?”

“We drove her out of town without so much as a single backpack on her. She couldn’t have gone far. Without phone, money, and clothes, even the most resilient survivors succumb to their surroundings,” Blair said. “Besides, isn’t it like some werewolf law that a wolf can’t survive without her mate? Will’s dead. Alexis might as well be dead without her mate.”

“Well. I can’t help but think that something’s off,” Maurice said.

“That’s just your paranoia,” Ralph replied.

“I’ll rest easy after tonight. Just remember, Ralph. I’ll be on that field too. Don’t order your men to take me down. This only works if I am the sole survivor,” Maurice said.

“Of course, Mr. Mayor. How can we function in a town where the mayor is dead? You’re vital to our cause,” Blair said. “Trust me. It’s just the wolves.”

I couldn’t hear any more of it. They were talking so callously about fates that were not theirs to control. I wasn’t a big fan of the pack, not after how they had treated me for years, but I did not want any of them to die. They were the closest thing I had to a family. They did not deserve the same fate as my parents. It made things worse that Will was headed down there. Wherever things were between us, I did not have the heart to lose him a second time.

It had all to do with me, somehow. These were my issues. My incapability to deal with the neurological mess going on in my brain. If only I could resolve it through the flick of some magic wand or the click of a button, I’d know what I had to do.

Weakened from my battle with Lawrence and from the fight that I had in Beckett Tower, I knew that I was in no position to go back to Fiddler’s Green and aid Will. Such a feat of uncanny strength was out of the question. It required courage that I did not possess.

Going back to the horrors of the town that I had just escaped for the first time in my life—fuck!

I needed a drink in me.

Or four.

***

“Aren’t you going to cover the night shift for me?” Izzie asked.

It felt terrible lying to her after all that she had done to me. But given the compromised position I was in, lying was my only recourse.

“I’m going to take the entire night shift and then the next morning’s shift too. Do you mind if I get an advance on this month’s payment?” I asked meekly, averting my gaze.

“Ain’t no shame in asking for an advance. You’re supposed to look after yourself. It makes sense. I can give you fifteen hundred now and then fifteen hundred at the end of the month. Whatever tips you generate can be yours tonight and for every day that you work here. Does that sound fair?” Izzie asked.

It broke my heart even more in the face of this new kindness.

“That sounds fair,” I said, downing my whiskey, letting it wash away my conscience. “I’m going to do exactly that.”

Izzie fished out her wallet from her jacket and took out a roll of bills. She counted the money, then slid it across the bar. “That’s it for now. Hope that’s enough.”

“No waitressing job ever paid me this much money back where I came from,” I said.

“Well, this is Bangor, and here we have to abide by the minimum wage law,” Izzie said.

I thanked her and took the money from her hand. As I poured myself another shot, the bar began buzzing with a new kind of life. I had gotten used to this liveliness in just two to three days of staying here. I would miss it terribly if I decided to leave.

Here was the first crossroad.

I could take the money, hold true to my word, stay here, and forget that anything was happening in Fiddler’s Green. On the other hand, I could use the money to travel back to Fiddler’s Green and fight by Will’s side. Doing the latter would result in me getting stuck in that town again.

Could I afford that?

Right here was cozy, comfortable, and had all the luxuries I had ever imagined. A new life, a new place to call home, and a new job that paid well over three thousand dollars a month. Wasn’t that worth fighting for?

“I can see you’re awfully troubled. What’s on your mind?” Izzie asked. “I don’t ask this as an employer but as a friend. You can tell me.”

“Shit’s been happening back in town. Shit that I tried so hard to run away from. It feels like it’s my obligation to go back there and sort out all that trouble,” I said, drinking my third shot.

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