Dire Wolf Mates - Chapter 106: Chapter 106

It was only eleven, and the place was jampacked. The band was really rocking, and she had to hand it to them, they were the best all-female group she’d ever seen, except for maybe clips of the Go-Go’s on YouTube. She’d been juggling customers between sets, and so far, so good.
“How are you doing back here?” Weylin asked.
Gwen froze from where she was bent over, retrieving more longnecks to fill the coolers lining the back of the bar. Beer and shots had been the standard so far.
“Great!” she said too brightly as she spun around to face him.
Weylin Scott. Sexy, confident, growly, redheaded alpha male. Great, there she went, waxing poetic on the guy again. The man had been taking up way too much headspace lately.
“Awesome, Gwen. So, what do you think?”
Did he have to be so damn cute? She wrang out a rag over the sink, and shrugged, determined to keep things light. Maybe if she hadn’t been such a hardass about that promise she’d made, she wouldn’t feel this way.
Ugh.
It was one thing to vow to save yourself for marriage because you believed in love. Quite another to hold on to that vow because you were betrayed by a boy you had no business dating, anyway. If only she could go back in time and warn her college self that bitterness was a joy killer. Holding on to one thing because a bad thing had happened was probably not a good idea.
But that was what she’d done. Held on to her virginity, like it was some prize. Now she was a thirty year old virgin with a crush on a playboy bartender who would likely laugh at her ignorance of the most basic bedroom shenanigans. What a mess!
And telling him she wouldn’t sleep with him? Why had she done that? He probably thought she was just playing hard to get and saw the whole thing as some game! This was so messed up.
“Um, you were right,” she said, realizing she had to reply. “The bar is really crowded, and I can see why. The band is fantastic. The food is even better.”
“And the drinks are flowing from the fingers of a pretty and expert mixologist at the back bar,” he added with a grin.
“What?” Gwen asked, shock making her eyebrows arch.
“Seriously, some of your customers are complimenting your skills.”
“Yeah, right?” she snorted but couldn’t hide her pleasure at the unexpected compliment.
“Why shouldn’t they? There’s nothing like getting a good cold drink from the hands of a pretty professional bartender.”
“Compliments will get you nowhere,” she mumbled.
Good thing the music was loud and bar full, otherwise he might have heard the catch in her breath when she spoke. It was just so unfair. If only she knew more about the opposite sex. Maybe then she could have just casually flirted back with him, and ignored all the butterflies and fighter jets flapping against her insides.
“Don’t I know it, Gwen,” he replied, but his eyes were all glittery and his gaze direct.
Shivers.
The man gave her chills. Gwendolyn had worked in some pretty popular places when she was in school in Manhattan, and in her opinion, Serious Moonlight could rival any of the bars and restaurants in the big city.
It was just that good. Of course, there was also the eye candy. She had never seen so many gorgeous people in one place. Of course, no one could hold a candle to Weylin. Not that she cared.
Liar.
Whatever. Gwen knew she wasn’t in his league, and she even understood him kissing her meant nothing to him. It couldn’t. She rolled her eyes and went back to stocking the coolers, but he took the case of beer from her and went to work as another customer called for her attention.
She smiled at the young man, nodding as he ordered a round of tequila shots, and went about setting them up. She fully expected Weylin to leave, but he didn’t. Her skin tingled with nerves every time she brushed her arm against his. It was close quarters, but it wasn’t like she could order him to leave. He was her boss, after all.
Every cell seemed aware of him, and it was wreaking havoc with her nervous system. Maybe it was the atmosphere, but every time she got a look at the big sexy redhead, Gwendolyn had the naughtiest visions of him trapping her in his arms and nibbling on her skin.
Yes, please.
No. Down, girl.
Lord, this was so not good for her. She knew better than to be tempted by sins of the flesh, but holy crap was he gorgeous. Yes, he flirted, and she appreciated she was just one of many females following him around with her eyes like a lost puppy. But a girl could dream, right?
“Tips good?” he asked, coming behind the bar and lifting the case of beer easily for her.
“Uh, yeah. Better than I expected,” she told him.
Truthfully, they were awesome. If she made this much on one Saturday, then she’d have the next payment for Hope Springs sooner than she thought. That was good. After all, that was why she was there. To pay for Pop’s care. Not drool over a man.
“That’s terrific. I’ll finish filling these for you and I will check the hard stuff too, okay?”
“Yep. Thanks,” she replied tightly.
Get a grip, Gwenny.
“Here you go,” Gwendolyn said, returning to the bar and lining up the six shots of tequila, complete with a couple of saltshakers and six slices of lime in front of her customer.
“No, baby, here you go,” the young flirtatious male retorted, pushing one shot back her way.
“Oh, thank you, but I don’t drink hard liquor,” she replied, shaking her head but smiling to soften the blow.
“You have to. It’s like bartending rules, if a customer buys you a shot, you drink,” he said, and there was something in his eyes she did not quite like.
Gwen smiled and shook her head, politely refusing the drink. The man had some buddies who were finishing their own shots, slamming the glasses back down on the table. The rowdy group of guys lined up next to him, chanting for her to drink drink drink.
“I’ll buy this round, how about that? You all have a good night,” she said, trying to keep the customers happy.
“I said drink,” he snarled, grabbing her wrist when she would have turned around.
Gwendolyn winced under the man’s surprise strength, and before she could do more than open her mouth, Weylin was there. He vaulted over the bar gracefully and had the man by the throat faster than she could blink.
Her wrist was suddenly released, and she staggered back, hardly realizing she’d been pulling to get away. Oh, but Weylin looked furious. His nostrils flared and eyes glittered like emerald ice as he lifted the man up to eye level. Totally in control, he dragged the jerk closer and whispered something in a voice way too low for Gwen to hear.
“You alright here?”
Gwen turned around and yelped at the image Thor had made beside her. The man was huge, even bigger than Weylin, with a shaved head and a dozen tattoos that she could see.
“Did that guy hurt you?” he asked.
All she could do was shake her head. The guy was a prick, but he hadn’t hurt her. He was young, and a little buzzed, clearly trying to show off in front of his friends.
Thor’s eyes were dark as midnight, and just as scary, she thought as he nodded over her head. When she turned, it was to see Weylin dragging the handsy jerk and his buddies out of the bar. Anger coursed through her. He didn’t have to do that!
She would have been fine. Maybe. But anyway, he had no right to just swoop in and treat her like some dang damsel in distress.
“Hey, Thor?” Gwen shouted as the man turned to leave.
She knew she shouldn’t be doing this. She should leave well enough alone. But it bothered her that Weylin thought her so weak. She could have handled that idiot customer. Plus, she didn’t need him messing with her brain this way.
Weylin was her friend. That was all. He didn’t get to go all protective boyfriend on her for no reason. Besides, she didn’t inspire that kind of reaction in men. Besides, that whole thing with her uniform earlier just confused her even more. She couldn’t afford to think things that were not real. Especially since she kinda sorta maybe had a developed the tiniest crush on the guy.
Fine. She had the hots for him. The full-blown, thinking about him all the time despite certain vows she’d made as a teenager kind of hots. Shit. Gwen needed to clear the air for sure.
“Yeah?” the big man asked.
“Can you watch the bar for a moment? I need to tell Weylin something.”
“Uh. I really don’t like talking to people, Gwen, you see, I’m more a bouncer⁠—”
But she was already taking off the tiny waist apron she had on and walking after Weylin. He’d gone through the front door, so it was going to take her a moment to get through the crowd. NO. She could get to the back lot faster through the side kitchen door.
Good plan.
“Thanks, Thor!” she called back, not even listening to what he said.
Her heart was pounding, and she did not know why, but it was like her whole being was focused on getting outside. Getting to him. Right now.
Once she stepped into the night, Gwen was taken in by how dark it seemed. The neon sign broke up the deep purple skies, and the air seemed tense, full of mystery and magic.
Oh what fanciful nonsense, she mused, shaking her head.
“Weylin?” she called softly, walking around the building itself.
It was dark with the odd light here and there, but Gwen couldn’t see anything. She listened a moment, hearing strange popping noises, and followed them to the end of the parking lot.
“Weylin?
Weylin’s Dire Wolf was scratching at his insides. He needed to change into his fur before he fucking lost it in front of the entire bar. Seeing that bastard’s hand on her wrist had damn near made him lose it completely.
Good thing the asshole punk was a Shifter because even in pulling his punch, Weylin had clocked him harder than he’d meant once he had him outside. Little fucker deserved it. What kind of man tried to force a drink or anything at all on a woman? Well, he and his buddies had learned their lesson after tonight.
But even that didn’t do much to calm his beast. Asshole punk Shifter kid should have known better than to do that kind of thing to a female. And not just any female, but a human one. It was all he could manage not to change inside and tear the asshole a new, er, asshole.
That would have broken every Shifter rule there was, including the main one which was absolutely no exposing themselves to humans. Gwen was a human. She knew nothing about him or his kind, and so far, he had yet to convince Derrick to allow him to tell the woman who would be his mate the truth about himself.
Weylin was in a tight spot. How was he going to convince her he was serious about her? He only kissed Gwendolyn that one time, and her consequent smacking of his face was not an encouraging sign she was meant to be his. At least, that was what the Alpha thought.
He believed Weylin was jumping the gun. But this was no mistake. Regardless of Derrick’s expectations that Weylin would move on to the next female as he’d done before, he knew that was so not happening. It was different with Gwen. She was it for him.
Weylin felt it down to his marrow. The Wolf inside him knew it, too. He just had to stay the course. But it was not easy. With her religious upbringing and moral compass, and the promise she made to herself regarding her—Christ, Weylin could hardly think the word without going cross-eyed—virginity, Gwendolyn was skittish around him, to say the least.
Every time he thought of the line she’d drawn in the sand between them, he wanted to howl at the moon like a wild thing. His desire for her was fierce, but the tenderness he felt, that was the real surprise. She needed patience, so he would give her that. But that didn’t mean it was easy.
Being near her, smelling her, seeing her every day was the best part of his world right now. Also, the worst. How could he be so close and not tell her she was his? It was torture having to keep how he felt hidden, like a dark, dirty secret when it was none of those things.
Sure, this was new and scary. But from what he knew of her already, she was fierce and brave. Strong woman. Beautiful, loyal, and brave. She’d made a vow to save herself for marriage, and he wanted to honor that vow.
Weylin knew she was meant for him. Hell, he would marry her right now if he thought she would say yes. The idea of spending forever with her warmed his heart, made his blood pump faster.
Too fast. She’s human. Slow it down.
He was stuck between a rock and a hard place—a very hard place—waiting for her to give him a sign she was interested. Add to that his Alpha’s order to stay away from the human and bam! You had one very frustrated, whiny, pining Dire Wolf.
Weylin felt like he was being torn apart. He took his shirt in one hand, ripping it over his head. The side door by the kitchen slammed, but he paid it no mind. Brock was always sneaking off for a moment of silence when he was in the kitchen. The Wolf was a master chef, but he could be a damn lunatic about how he ran his ship.
By the time he heard who had really followed him outside, it was too late.
“Weylin? Oh my God! You’re a-a WEREWOLF!”
Fuck. Shit. No. GWEN!
“Awoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”