Chapter 5: Blood Red

Sinking my fist into Gunnar’s gut did little to alleviate my angst over Esmerelda. Dating a girl was a foreign concept. I sat tongue-tied as I watched her work. She floated around the back of the bar like a damn fairy, giving everyone who ordered a stunning smile and a few kind words.

Women usually approached me. We would have sex at their place, and the encounter was done. I was out the door as soon as they fell asleep. They knew the deal, getting involved with me. Now, I had to court my mate without a clue.

“What the hell is wrong with you, pup?” Cyrus picked him up off the ground. I had banged him up quite a bit, but shifters healed fast. In my eyes, he deserved worse.

“Esme was my friend first, you Neanderthal. You can’t even talk to her. How is she your mate?” My fist knocked him back to the ground. My wolf wanted to rip him to shreds. “How come you’re not beating the shit out of Magnus. He’s been sniffing around her, too, and practically claiming her as his.”

“Fuck off.” I knew I was being a dick, but my rational mind was absent when it came to her.

Gunnar lay on his back in the dirt. He was smart enough not to challenge me physically. “She’s sweet, Ghost. I like her.”

“She’s mine.” My wolf began to morph from my face to make his point. He was ready for a challenge.

“She’s too good for a Lothario,” Gunnar whined.

“Pup, that’s enough.” Cyrus tried to chastise him, but Gunnar popped up and flew to his bike, jettisoning out of the parking lot. The label was true. Most of us are womanizers to some degree, relishing in the bad boy image until we meet our mate.

“I’m lost.” My head fell into my hands. Gunnar was right. I can’t even talk to the woman.

“I know. I was, too, when I met Jane. I was fucking anything with breasts for years. I looked like a preteen fool getting her to date me. Thankfully, the pull was just as strong with her wolf. I got lucky.”

“How am I supposed to bring a human into all this?”

“It’s been done.”

“Not in our pack. She’ll be vulnerable.”

“You’re strong, smart, and competent. You’ll find a balance.” Cyrus put his hand on my shoulder. His Alpha essence relaxed me instantly. “The Fates are never wrong with their coupling. She must be extraordinary to be tied to you.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Come on. Third time’s a charm.” Cyrus held the door as I walked through. Esmerelda’s scent hit me again, making my wolf howl in delight. We again took our place at the bar, and Cyrus ordered another round.

My eyes finally dared to look at our beauty when our drink order was stalled. Her icy orbs were fixed on mine. “Where’s Gunnar?” My silence made her angry. The furrow between her brows was deep and determined. “I’m allowed to have friends. Who do you think you are? You and Magnus can stick your elitist attitude up your ass.” She spat at me and then poured me several fingers of the terrible whiskey. Her aura was mainly blood red as she walked away, continuing to process her anger.

“Shut up.” I silenced Cyrus before he could speak.

“You’re digging a hole, my friend. Need to get on your game.”

“Fuck, I know.”

Cyrus stood in preparation. He did this when his mate, Jane, was nearby. His premonitions were never wrong. Jane and the other female wolf shifters in our pack came in. Most of the women claimed their own tables while Jane and her friend Sandra came toward us.

“My heart, you look beautiful,” Cyrus said to her, giving her an indecent kiss.

“How’s it going?” Jane looked more at me than her husband.

“Shitty,” I replied.

“Anything I can do to help?” Unaware of my problem, Sandra piped in and put her hand on my thigh. We had hooked up a couple of times over the years. Females were allowed in the pack but couldn’t be members of the MC. The distinction kept a line between the sexes. Unless a female was mated, she was only allowed in the common room of the club. There was a separate dorm on the compound for pack sisters.

“No.” I removed her hand, giving it back to her. “Thank you,” I said too harshly. Esmeralda had seen. The divide between us was growing.

Sandra was overconfident in her allure. She pressed her body to my back, making me jump, repulsed by having another female touch me. “Stop touching me, Sandra. I’m not interested.” I spat at her and moved to a high table against the wall. Jane had pulled Sandra towards the table with the other women. Cyrus stayed close to her, ensuring everyone left me alone.

Esmerelda ignored me the rest of the night as I watched her intently, trying to form a plan. How did I fuck this up so quickly? My mate doesn’t even like me.