CHAPTER 1: A Stormy Night

Lena's POV

“Hey! Stop it! I said stop it... now!”

My voice could barely cut through the noise.

A chair smashed against the floor, someone laughed, someone growled and glass shattered behind the bar while a drunk howl went up like this was some kind of sport.

“Are you deaf?” I shouted again. “This is not a fighting pit!”

The vampires had one of the werewolves pinned against a table with fangs flashing. The werewolf’s eyes were glowing with his claws half out and his breath reeking with alcohol and bad decisions. Two more wolves were circling and snarling while a witch nursed a bleeding lip and smiled like he enjoyed it.

My jaw clenched as I stepped away from the bar. That was when people started noticing me. A few heads turned but not enough. The music was still playing and someone was chanting, “Hit him! Hit him!”

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me,” I muttered.

I walked straight toward the mess. Every step made my anger tighter and sharper. By the time I reached them, I was done asking.

“Enough.”

I lifted my hand and the air seemed to snapped.

Magic rushed through my fingers like heat and the floor shuddered once and hard. A blast of force slammed into the drunk werewolves and sent them flying.. not gently though. They hit the far wall in a heap of limbs and curses on their lips.

The vampires staggered back as if an invisible wall shoved them apart. One of them tripped over a stool and landed on his ass and then silence dropped as every eye turned to me.

I stood there with my hands shaking slightly with my magic humming under my skin, annoyed and awake.

“Have you all lost your damn minds?” I snapped. “Do you know where you are?”

No one answered.

“This is my crib,” I said, slow and clear. “Not just Bourbon Street, not the bayou and not your pack lands or your fancy blood halls. My crib!”

I pointed at the wolves still groaning on the floor.

“You started it.”

One of them pushed himself up, rubbing his head.

“We were just...”

“No,” I cut in. “You were drunk. And stupid. And you forgot the rules.”

I turned to the vampires.

“And you. I don’t care who bared fangs first. You don’t finish fights here.”

I let my gaze sweep the room.

“Say it with me since you all love pretending you don’t remember.”

No one spoke and I raised a brow.

A few voices mumbled, “No fighting.”

“Louder.”

“No fighting,” they said again.

“No hunting,” I added.

“No hunting.”

“No curses, no challenges and no killing.”

The words came out like law because they were.

“This is neutral ground,” I said. “Here, witches, vampires and werewolves walk out alive. That’s the deal. That’s the only reason this place still exists.”

The wolves exchanged looks. One of them finally straightened and bowed his head.

“Our fault,” he said. “Sorry, Lena.”

Another nodded.

“Won’t happen again.”

“It better not,” I said. “Because next time, I won’t throw you aside. I’ll throw you out.”

They swallowed and nodded fast.

“Clean this mess,” I added. “Then sit down or leave.”

They moved quickly and I turned and walked back to the bar with my mood sour and my head pounding.

I dropped onto my stool and sighed hard.

“They’re going to be the death of me.”

A laugh came from behind the counter where Tormund was polishing a glass like he hadn’t seen chaos just minutes ago.

“Ah, but what a dull eternity it would be without them.”

I shot him a look.

“You enjoy this too much.”

He smiled with deep lines crinkling around his eyes.

“Someone has to.”

I grabbed my root beer and took a long sip.

“I swear, one more brawl and I’m banning alcohol for wolves.”

“Now that would start a real war,” he said cheerfully.

I snorted despite myself and Tormund leaned closer.

“Still standing,” he said, glancing around the room. “That’s something.”

“For now,” I muttered.

The music started again, low and careful this time. The vampires retreated to their dark corner and the wolves sat nursing bruises and pride.

“This place,” I said quietly, staring at the worn wood of the bar. “Sometimes I wonder why I bother.”

Tormund’s smile softened.

“Because if you don’t, there is nowhere left.”

I looked at him blankly.

“The others fell years ago,” he went on. “Burned, bought or taken over. Yours is the last sanctuary in the normal world.”

I nodded. I knew that and I felt it every day.

“Here,” I said, “no one gets turned away. I don’t care what you are. Witch, vampire, wolf… broken things welcome.”

“Rejects,” Tormund said gently.

I lifted my glass.

“Exactly.”

The door suddenly rattled and Tormund glanced at the clock.

“Late.”

Another knock followed quickly and nervous.

Tormund chuckled.

“It’s about time someone showed up.”

I frowned.

“At this hour?”

He waved me off.

“I’ve got this.”

I watched as he walked to the door while I sipped my drink while rain beat the windows and thunder rolled overhead.

When he opened it, cold air rushed in and I saw an old woman standing there soaked to the bone. Her gray hair clung to her face and her eyes glowed faintly.

A witch.. I could tell.

“I’ve come seeking sanctuary,” she said, voice shaking. “I traveled far.”

Tormund stepped aside.

“Then you are welcome.”

She crossed the threshold and sagged in relief.

“You know the oath,” he said kindly.

She nodded and straightened.

“I swear,” she said with her voice steady now, “to bring no harm within these walls. I swear to make no distinction of blood or race. I will not curse, hunt, challenge or kill. I will respect this sanctuary and all who dwell within it.”

The air settled.

“It is done,” Tormund said. “Welcome to Lena’s Crib.”

Tears filled her eyes and he led her away, talking softly.

I watched them go and sighed. Same night. Same rules. Sometimes it got boring.. except when drunk werewolves told me my beauty was unmatched and asked to mate like it was a compliment.

***

The storm outside grew louder and the clock ticked past 1 a.m.

Most of the place slept and only a few vampires whispered in the corner with eyes bright.

Eventually, Tormund went to bed and I stayed at the bar, half-dozing but then...

BANG…

The door shook and I jumped to my feet while the Vampires hissed.

Tormund stumbled out in his pajamas.

“What in the...”

Another bang came even louder.

“Two patrons in one night?” I muttered. “That’s new.”

My skin prickled even as I spoke and I could feel something was wrong. I walked to the door and opened it slowly.

A man fell inside with blood gushing everywhere and he didn’t even move…