Page 39 of Locke

Bones nodded. “Blood pressure is stable,” Bones said and ripped the Velcro off my arm.

I shifted a few days ago. It was one of the most painful shifts I’ve had since I was a pup. The worst part was I could only holdmy human form for an hour at a time and the clock was already ticking. I needed to get down there and touch my mate, better yet taste her.

When I walked into the bar buck-naked, no one flinched. My men gathered round, slapped me on the back and handed me a beer, and it was back to business as usual. Yet, when I shifted back into my wolf again suddenly, that was a reason for concern, but Bones made sure everyone gave me space.

My wolf was still unpredictable. He wasn’t speaking to me, and could have times of complete control, usually at dusk when I needed to hunt. When we were around our mate, I had the control. She soothed him, but around the club, with all these unmated idiots, could cause a reason for concern. That was why Bones was up my ass.

Hammer almost got his leg bitten off, when I spontaneously shifted and he came over to pet me just this afternoon. Good thing Grim had some quick reflexes.

Why the fuck Hammer tried to pet me I wasn’t sure, but those mechanics were separated for a reason. They were born on Earth, not in Elysian. Earth-born shifter traditions were different. All that had to change, though. We all needed to be integrated and understand each other.

“It’s my medical advice that you don’t pursue her yet, Locke.” Bones followed me to the stairs as the next woman got up on the bar. This time it was Journey lying on the bar and Grim hovering over her, pouring a shot in her mouth with his own. “You might shift in front of her, then what?”

I sighed, my mouth coming into a frown, and stopped halfway down the stairs. “She’s my mate, and I’m the president here, Bones. I know how to handle what’s mine,” I snapped.

Bones snapped his mouth shut and bowed his head. “I’m sorry, Pres. Didn’t mean to offend you, it’s just—” He paused and darted his head to my mate, who was sitting at the bar, laughing.“Just don’t want your shot messed up. We can’t go on without ya.”

I stepped up onto the same step as my medic. “Don’t you think I know that?” I blinked at him. “Don’t you know how much I think about the decisions I make, every day? About the club, about me, about her? It’s all about everyone else, but you know what?” I shot my head to my mate. “It all boils down to our happiness, too. It comes down to our connection. If there isn’t any of that—there is none of this.” I waved my hand out over the members’ heads. “And, she and I have our own demons, Bones. We have our own shit to deal with. It ain’t gonna happen as fast as you want it, it ain’t gonna happen the way you want it. So, back the fuck off and let your alpha handle it the way he sees fit, and worry about your damn self instead of everyone else.”

Bones bowed his head again and bared his neck. A complete sign of submission. I huffed, my mood nearly ruined when I walked down the spiraling metal staircase. When I reached the bottom, Hawke was leaning up against a pole, watching my mate and his.

“Finally, Bones needed a new asshole.”

I grunted and took in two long, calming breaths. Being questioned made my wolf angry, even if we weren’t alpha status, yet. I built this bar from the fucking ground up, gave Bones a place to stay, which helped him live longer. Now, we were getting mates. How fucking dare he question me.

Just like fucking Tajah.

“Is Tajah back?” I muttered to Hawke, watching as Journey and Grim continued their show on the bar.

“Yes.” Hawke took a sip of his beer. “She’s at the cabin with our new guests. She will remain there and she was given a warning to behave.”

I gritted my teeth and glanced over at the private door near the bar where Switch hides. He had the door open, per my request,so Grim and I could keep an eye on him. He was hunched over the computer, a bag of chips on the desk, his hand buried inside, scrounging for more food. I shook my head and straightened my shoulders.

“Good, let her know she isn’t to come back to town and to watch over the guests until I say. After her job is finished, she still may face more punishment.”

Hawke smirked. “Good, can’t believe she went against orders.”

I hummed and tried to calm myself, gazing at my mate’s backside. She was glancing around the bar—trying to findthatsomeone who could have touched her. She was failing, and disappointment was showing on her face, but Delilah kept bringing her back to the show on the bar.

My mate shifted her legs, crossing and uncrossing. She could feel my heat. I just knew it. At least her body knew of my presence. She just didn’t know my face. Fuck, what if she didn’t like my face?

Not that it mattered. She was mine, and she didn’t have a choice.

If she didn’t like it, I’ll just make her sit on it.

Oh, so fucking soon, I was gonna make her squirt on the bar.It wouldn’t be the first time the bar had been defiled.

“Tajah might be powerful, but once I gain alpha status, she won’t be able to use much of that magic shit on me. She needs to know her place.” I crossed my arms and watched Grim take his mate off the bar. It was almost showtime.

“You ready for the big debut? What happens if she refuses to get up there?” Hawke nudged me and gave me a wide, fanged smile.

I jerked my head toward my mate. Delilah was leading her up to the bar. They already had a stool ready to go to sit her up there.

I knew she wouldn’t say no. She was fucking hornybeforeI started sucking on her neck minutes ago. Hugging her breast with my hand was just icing on the cake.

The auction would begin soon and that was when I would seal our fate. The auction was rigged. Only the males that were destined to be mated to the woman on the bar were allowed to be up there. If we knew a woman didn’t have a mate in-house, she was refused politely, and told there was a sign-up list and would have to try another night.

I’m a fucking genius, I tell you.

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