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Noah blocked him and said, “Leave.”
The man threw a punch. Noah ducked but not in time. It glanced off of his cheek.
All of the frustration that had been building inside of Noah erupted. He swept the man’s feet out from under him and then leaped on him. The man’s hand shifted into a bear paw and he managed to scratch Noah across the face, which only fueled Noah’s anger more.
He pummeled the bear shifter, who was struggling to defend himself. He pulled the bear shifter to his feet. The man took a swing at Noah, who landed two rapid right hooks to the man’s ribs. The cracking sound seemed to echo.
Noah was vaguely aware that the man’s friends were trying to step in and help out their friend, but Elijah and Keith blocked them.
The bear shifter went down again. Noah was about to pounce on him, but Elijah and Keith grabbed him.
“He’s had enough,” Elijah said.
“The next time a woman says no, she means it,” Noah growled.
“I think it’s time you went home,” Keith said. “Come on.”
Noah angrily shook Elijah and Keith off of him and stalked out of the club.
His face was bleeding. Noah washed the gashes with soap and water and then with alcohol. The last thing he needed was to get an infection from dirty bear claws.
He went outside and put his feet up on the railing of his deck. He couldn’t escape thoughts of Angie. Her scent haunted him. He could see her smile that reached up to her eyes. His arms ached to hold her.
Keeping her identity as a mundane human would be impossible. It would get out one way or the other. He could stand the crap that anyone might dare fling his way. The question was whether Angie could. She was very strong, but enough hatred and bullying from people could send the strongest person over the edge. He could protect her from a lot of it, but not all of it.
Shouldn’t she have the right to choose for herself? a voice in the back of his mind asked.
Noah decided that he was willing to face his people if she was. He knew that he would be asking a lot from her. Not only would she have to deal with being potentially rejected by his father and the elders, as well as some of the other pack members, she would be leaving behind the human world. Angie loved the shelter and the sanctuary. She had friends whom she dearly loved.
She could visit often. Sean would just have to get used to the portal being used more often and take a broom to the thick layers of cobwebs in the basement.
The next morning, Noah called Elijah.
“I’m willing to try if she is,” he said. “You and Keith have my back. I’m going to the human world. I’ll be back in twenty-four hours or less.”
“Good luck,” Elijah said.
“Thanks,” Noah said, knowing that he would need it.
13
Angie
“What in high heavens are you doing?” Flora asked as she walked into the kitchen, her fingers pressed into her temples.
“I’m making some scrambled eggs for your upset tummy. There’s a Gatorade in the fridge. I have some acetaminophen on the table,” Angie said. “I’ve read that is how you take care of a tequila hangover. This and going back to bed and sleeping it off.”
“Bed sounds nice,” Flora groaned.
“Eat, drink, and medicate first,” Angie ordered.
Apollo barked as though he was agreeing with Angie.
“Shshsh,” Flora said, putting her finger to her lips while staring at Apollo.
The dog barked again but not as loud.
“It’s not fair. Humans are supposed to get hangovers, not shifters. Yet here you are, happy as can be.”
