Chapter 9 Drink Up

• Julian
• I groaned at the massive paperwork I had to sign before I left the office. This was due to me slacking off recently, going to the hospital to pick up Sarah.
• Pack duties were always stressful and demanding. Just a few days of absence and they were all piled up like bugs!
• —Then there was Laura's health condition.
• My knuckles flexed involuntarily as my mind drifted towards her.
• I quickly flipped open a document and signed it, hoping the distraction would work. But it failed.
• I found it hard to control my temper when she popped into my mind. I couldn't ignore the fact that she was downplaying it. I felt like her health was worse than I thought and she was lying about it.
• The bloody report didn't even have anything sensible in it.
• "Fuck."
• I dropped the pen and closed my eyes. This wasn't supposed to bother me. It was none of my business, I had a loyal woman and a child to take care of.
• Besides, there was no reason to think about the daughter of a traitor. She could die for all I cared.
• My racing heart calmed and I opened my eyes. But the moment they did, the stacks of documents on my table greeted me, and I was irritated all over again.
• The longer I stared at them, the more I was unwilling to continue.
• I sat back and folded my hands. I had given up on signing all of them but I knew if I didn't do it, then my mind would go back to thinking about Laura.
• Suddenly footsteps approached my door and I sat up, glaring at it. The moment I heard the first knock, I responded.
• "Come in," I said.
• One of my servants walked in and bowed his head.
• "Sir, you have guests waiting for you at the reception," he mentioned.
• I furrowed my brows and growled. "Guests? Tell them to put up a schedule. I will meet up with them later."
• He raised his head slightly and I could feel the anxiety that rolled out of him. The metal scent choked the air around him.
• "Sir, they look like they know you. They called you by name," he said.
• I frowned. There was only a spoonful of people in this world that called me by name.
• Slowly, I rose from my chair and pushed away the documents. "Reception, right? I will be there. Close up the office for today."
• I stepped out and took the lift to the ground floor. These "guests" had given me a good reason to dump work.
• When I turned into the reception, my frown disappeared the moment I saw my old boys, Tom and Steve.
• "Well, look who we have here; the little pup is a grown man now, Steve!" Tom announced, grinning from ear to ear.
• "I would be blind if it wasn't Steve and Tom!" I brought my hand for a firm dap up with Steve and we clenched our arms, grinning at each other.
• "Argh! You are quite strong now!" He winced and removed his hand from my firm grip.
• It was a game we always played when we were younger. We would do a handshake, and we would grip our arms firmly. The one who gave up first was the loser and would be the slave for the rest of the day.
• Steve came to me and shook my hand firmly, without a grip.
• "How long has it been?" Steve asked.
• "Far too long to remember now. How's work going?"
• "The usual," Steve answered. "Goddess, you grew up so much since when you newly became the Alpha of the pack."
• I shrugged the compliment off. My heart drummed with excitement at their presence alone. It was always nice to be around these guys.
• "Look at you, wearing eyeglasses and trying to deceive us that you are smarter now, you skirt-chasing dumb prick!" I slapped his shoulder and he laughed.
• "Well, you got me on that one. Habits rarely change."
• I turned towards Tom who was wriggling his arm. I grinned. "So now that you lost, I expect you to take me out for a drink, eh?"
• Tom grinned back. "What did you think we were going to do? Just passing?" He laughed.
• I grin grew wider. "That's more like it, I needed a breather from work."
• "Heard there's this new bar in town. I was thinking we should head there. The human employees sure know how to handle a cock," Steve flexed his glasses, and they reflected the light, making it seem like it was emitting light.
• I shook my head. "Fuck, you didn't change. I like that about you."
• "Oh yeah, let's go, Julian. Loosen up a bit with the wine. I know you wouldn't want to cheat on your wife; I won't force you on the girls; they are mine," Tom said behind me.
• "Alright, let's go. I won't drive if you pass out from drinking, alright?" I clarified.
• "Okay!" They chimed.
• I dismissed the guards since we weren't going too far in town. Besides, it would serve as the perfect getaway. I might even be able to forget some things temporarily.
• Steve drove us to the place, and I was impressed by the standards. It was a perfect place for a high-profile person like me to pass some time.
• The lights were dimmed, casting rays of reds and blues. The music was low and upbeat, creating an ambiance that encouraged sex and alcohol.
• We moved to the bar section at the far side of the room, and we ordered our drinks.
• "This is great!" Steve raised his glass, bobbing his head at the music. "But it will get better."
• We laughed at his comment and I was slowly starting to loosen up but almost as soon as this started happening, I felt it.
• A tingling sensation at the back of my neck that sent cold tremors to my dead heart. My wolf flipped, excited about the light whiff of her scent.
• A dangerously sweet blend of strawberries and roses.
• Every cell in my body stood erect and my stomach tightened.
• I tried to shake it off, refusing to admit who it could be. But It just wouldn't shake off no matter how hard I tried to ignore it.
• "Come on, drink up Julian!" Tom passed me a bottle of beer. Steve was already talking to a random woman.
• I gratefully took a sip, and then I drank half of the bottle in one go. "Thanks, Tom."
• "Whoa, easy. I don't want your woman to kill us when we get back," Tom said as he watched me drink it.
• I waved him off and chugged even more alcohol. I needed it to push her scent away. It was following me everywhere!
• I emptied the bottle and clenched my teeth.
• The tingling sensation didn't go away. The music in the bar didn't drown it out.
• "Another bottle please," I told the bartender. He stared at my face for a long time and I frowned.
• "Do you have a problem with that?"
• "No sir, It's just that you look like someone I know," he said.
• "I get that a lot, gimme another beer," I ordered.
• He nodded and brought out a chilled beer bottle. I didn't bother using the opener and popped the cover open with my bare hands.
• Tom whistled behind me and I looked at him.
• "Check that out!" He exclaimed. "Damn, I feel hard just looking at her. I really want to fuck that beauty!"
• I cocked my brows and focused on my beer, refusing to engage whatever he was showing me as my wolf kept fighting me for denying our mate's scent.
• Steve suddenly whistled, too, and I stopped drinking.
• "Damn, they are hot. White girl looks like she ain't in our league, too hot. But her friend is another hot game! Fuck, I might just tap her. She looks sweet as hell; I want to see what wonders she will do to my cock; they are both werewolves, too," Steve mentioned.
• At Steve's revelation, the tingling in my neck became stronger and I turned around to see what they were hyping up.
• As my eyes turned to the direction and my wolf jumped alive. I wasn't surprised when my eyes caught Laura.
• She was dressed in a very provocative little clothing that should have never been called a dress to begin with.
• Her curves were outlined for all the men in the room to ogler at.
• My fists tightened as rage bubbled through me. Instantly I dropped my beer and stood up.
• "Whoa, what's wrong Julian?" Steve asked.
• "You know them?" Tom inquired. "What's up, Julian? Don't tell me you are suddenly interested, you got yourself a woman already. I'm just reminding you!"
• I could barely hear them over my heartbeat. My veins were exploding with pure rage. I narrowed my eyes so hard that my forehead hurt from the effort.
• My eyes went down to her dress again and my anger intensified. She was showing off her legs; showing off her skin! My mate showing off skin for other men to see!
• And the cherry on the cake, she was in this sort of place!
• I shot towards her, grabbed her hands and pulled her aside. I didn't care that people were watching.
• "What are you doing here?" My body trembled with every word.
• Laura's body shook. Her mouth dropped open and she became unable to talk and that didn't help her at all because I was pissed.
• "I am talking to you, Laura!"
• "Whoa, Julian, cut her some slack. Do you know her?" Tom approached me.
• "Shut the fuck up!" I silenced him.
• From the corner of my eyes, I saw Steve trying to signal to me to calm down that I was making a scene, but I didn't care.
• I couldn't let this slide; Laura was still mated to me, and I wouldn't let her walk around in public like this.
• She belonged to me!