Page 18 of Never His Mate

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I waitto see if Aleks is going to stop in again before I have to head out for my next shift at Charlie’s. Even though he assured me that the shifter threat is gone, I can’t help but wonder if maybe the vamps are underestimating my kind.

If I can hide out in Muncie without being sniffed out, why can’t this new wolf? Backtracking, leaving a false trail… even a pup could do it with the right training and instincts. I hope they’re going on more than that, and I make a point to remember to ask Aleks when he comes home again.

At around two, I get a text from Carmen, the morning/afternoon bartender; when you cater to a supe clientele, the bar’s open all hours since one chick’s noon is another’s midnight. She needs to cut out a little early, something to do with her kid, and she wants to know if I can cover for her.

I jump at the offer. Waiting for Aleks to get back has me pacing around the apartment. I even shifted to my fur, doing laps around the living room, anything to burn off the looming sense of anticipation that I just can’t get rid of it.

After leaving a note for Aleks that I headed into work early, I leave the apartment. My wolf is completely alert as I purposely take the walk to Charlie’s. Not that I don’t trust Aleks, but because I’ve learned a long time ago to trust my own senses.

Luckily, there’s no sign of any other shifter. Even the scent from last night is nothing but a memory. If they’re still in town, they’re hiding even better than I am, and I decide that so long as they leave me alone, I’m not going to think about it.

Saturdays at the bar are even more hectic than Friday nights. So even though I arrive a little before three, there’s a pretty sizable crowd already. I relieve Carmen, and jump into bartender mode.

An hour or two later, I’m taking advantage of our dinnertime lull to do a quick inventory. Between keeping the booze stocked up, the blood casks full, and the garnishes for some of our cocktails prepped, I’ve got to stay on top of it before the nighttime crowd comes filing in.

All of my customers are taken care of, but my head shoots up when the bar door’s open. Not just because it’s another patron, either. As soon as Aleks’s scent hits me, I’m already putting my clipboard down and heading for the end of the bar.

I’m not the only one watching him glide toward me. He has the attention of nearly everyone else in Charlie’s. Every vamp—and most humans—know exactly who he is, and if they don’t? He’s so effortlessly attractive that he catches their attention anyway.

He gets the stares, I get the jealous looks when they realize that he’s here for me. I don’t know which is worse, and I try to follow his lead in ignoring them.

“Hey. What’s up? I thought you were still with Roman.”

“I was, but he finished the meeting. Since I have a couple of hours until he wants me back on patrol, I thought I’d stop by.” Aleks holds out his hand. It’s my necklace with a brand new chain. “I have something for you.”

I take it. “You didn’t have to bring it down here.”

“After last night, I felt that I had to. I didn’t like the idea of you walking around without it on.”

I don’t have the heart to tell Aleks that, while his fang might shield me from other vampires, it won’t do a damn thing against a shifter. Actually, if one of my former packmates saw me wearing a fang, they’d probably think it was a memento from a vamp I killed or something.

But he came all this way to bring it down to me after he got it repaired. I know it’s important to him, too. The least I can do is wear the necklace.

“Thanks, Aleks. I appreciate it.”

“Here.” He leans over the bar, gesturing for me to move closer. “Let me help.”

“Uh. Sure.”

I scoop up the length of my hair, giving him access to my throat as I turn around. It’s an intimate position, one that leaves me more defenseless than I like considering he’s an apex predator and I’m baring my throat to him, but it’s Aleks. I’d be more in danger of him kissing my skin than biting it.

He doesn’t, though. Because as if he wasn’t seemingly perfect enough, he respects the fact that I want to keep our relationship platonic. He doesn’t even linger or accidentally brush up against me. He just loops the necklace around my neck and clasps it together.

“There.” I turn again just in time to see a look of satisfaction cross his beautiful features. “Perfect.”

I pat the fang. When he heads on out again, I’ll stick it under my shirt so it’s not so obvious that I’ve got it on, but for now I leave it. “Want a drink? I’ve got some Earl Grey I can brew for you in the back real quick.”

“That would be lovely.”

“Hang tight.”

Before I head toward the back, I glance around the bar. Hailey’s due in later tonight. Right now, there’s a couple of waitresses working the tables, and Tony, the busboy.

I call for him. “Hey, Tony.”

“Yeah, Gem?”

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