Page 7 of Caligo

I rested my hand on Jasper’s knee, stilling him with my touch. “Stop. He was only kidding.” I felt his body relax behind me, and he began idly toying with a piece of hair that had fallen out of my bun.

Duke whistled quietly at our interaction. “She really is your mate, isn’t she, man?”

Jasper changed the subject abruptly. “What trouble have you guys been getting into the last few weeks? I’ve been too busy to make it out here.”

The guys launched into tales of everything that had been going on in the pack while Jasper had been away. I half listened to their gossiping about who had gotten into a fight with whom and who had changed packs while I watched Jasper interact with his friends. He was a personable guy in general, but around these men he lit up the room. His laugh was infectious, and he regaled them with stories of small-town life in Merrillan. He was something to watch, and he was here withme. Eventually the conversation turned towards me, and the guys asked me countless questions about my family, my job, and anything else they could think of. They were a welcoming bunch, and I felt nearly as comfortable around them as I did around Jasper. I had them all captivated as I told them the story of our first date.

“Wait, you had no idea werewolves were real? And my man Jasper sprang this on you atdinner? I can’t believe he didn’t even wait until dessert.” Adrian threw his head back and laughed.

Jasper graciously let us have a laugh at his expense, watching me with his friends. “If you guys had a better plan, I’m all for it.”

Beau wiped tears away from his eyes as he joined in the ribbing. “Remind me to never take dating advice from you!”

The quietest one of the group was definitely Duke, but his silence wasn’t out of shyness. I had the sense he was taking the whole thing in, processing it. At this point he leaned forward. “I have to say though, it’s pretty cool you didn’t even flinch when he phased in front of you. That can be some messed up shit if you’re not prepared, and sometimes even if you are.”

The current pitcher of beer was running low, so I offered to grab us another round from the bar. “Don’t worry babe, I can grab it,” Jasper offered. I frowned, offended he thought I couldn’t take care of myself and he backed off, smiling. “All right, all right!”

I found the bar on the same level as the rest of the room -- aged, sticky, and oddly comfortable. As I waited for the bartender to come take my order my thoughts drifted to how easily I fit into Jasper’s life. It felt so natural. I hoped he would fit into mine as easily. The bartender returned with my pitcher, and I turned with my beer and immediately walked into a wall. Except as I fell onto my butt and looked up, I saw it wasn’t a wall. It was a giant man. “Oof, I’m sorry,” I said. Thankfully the beer had just sloshed over the edge of the pitcher, so no real harm was done. “I’m such a klutz. I really can’t even blame the beer…” I was rambling.

The mountain of a man looked down from his towering height, and when he slurred his words, I knew he was trashed. “Ain’t no problem sugar, let me give you a hand there.” He offered his hand to me, and I gratefully took it, pulling myself up to stand again.

I brushed myself off. “Thanks,” I said, intending to ask the bartender for a rag to clean up my mess. Not that it mattered. I was pretty sure the bar hadn’t been cleaned in years.

The drunken giant held an arm the size of a tree trunk out in front of me, trapping me between his body and his table. “Now why are you running off so soon, sugar? I didn’t even catch your name.” He used his other arm to grab my waist, pulling me into him.

I squirmed and tried to wiggle out of his grasp. “I should get back. My boyfriend is waiting.”

He laughed, and it wasn’t a pleasant sound. “Fine piece of ass like you? Doesn’t seem like a very good boyfriend if he’s letting you wander around a werewolf bar by yourself.”

I shoved at him to no avail. The man was built like a brick house. “I need to get back to my friends.”

“How about you give me one little kiss, and then we’ll see if you still remember your friends’ names.” He leaned in, and the stench of beer wafted over me thickly.

“No,” I said, pushing his face away. “Get away from me.”

His hand brushed the bare skin of my leg, and anger immediately flooded my veins at his touch. I wanted to snap his fingers in half.

“I think I’m fine where I am, sweet thing.”

From the corner of my eye, I caught a blur of movement that smashed into his body, and his drunken form easily toppled over. “What the hell?” he cried, trying to stand up.

Jasper stood with his tattooed hand at the man’s throat. I hadn’t even seen Jasper leave the table, but my attention had been at the asshole harassing me. His strength was inhuman as he lifted the drunk off the floor and slammed him into the table. I heard the wood groan and creak underneath him, but Jasper was deadly calm as he spoke. “She saidno. If you lay one finger on her again, I’ll snap your neck. Do we understand each other?”

Hands grabbed me from behind. Instinctively I went into self-defense mode, stomping my foot down on their foot and throwing my head back with all of my strength to bash their jaw. “Whoa! Whoa, Ava. I’m trying to get you out of the line of fire.” It was Beau, trying to pull me back to safety. Glaring, I let him take me a safe distance away, twisting against his hold as I watched the situation unfold.

The man’s face was turning purple, but he couldn’t move under Jasper’s tight grip. “Do. You. Understand. Me?” Jasper repeated, and slammed his fist into the larger man’s nose. The man’s head grazed down in a facade of a nod. Jasper let him go. “Get the hell out of my bar.”

The man bolted off, and I shook off Beau’s arms to hurry back over to Jasper. I touched his back with my fingers. “Thank you.”

“Give me a minute, Ava.” His voice was low and emotionless, and I knew he was trying to get his wolf under control. He took a deep, shuddering breath. “Are you all right?” he asked.

I didn’t remove my hand. “I’m fine. He caught me off guard. I didn’t exactly think I was in danger in the middle of a bar, so I didn’t try anything.”

Jasper laughed darkly. “You’re always in danger. We need to start training harder. This weekend. I want you prepared for anything.”

Beau walked over to us, rubbing his chin. “That’s a hell of a girl you got there, Jasper. I wouldn’t be surprised if I actually have a bruise tomorrow.”

I smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry, Beau. My guard was up.”

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