Chapter Ten
Noble
I didn’t have a lot of options, but I needed to dress to impress on the off chance Oren was there.
I hadn’t called him since that coffee date. It didn’t count as a date in my mind, but my wolf was acting like we’d mated and marked each other that night.
He was muzzle over paws for Oren. Called him his alpha. Called him mate.
All from small talk over a latte.
Several times, I wanted to text him, but what did I say? What if he wanted to video chat or wanted a selfie?
Tonight was a rare day off from Dave’s. He’d closed the Quickie Mart for his and Wendy’s anniversary, and I should’ve gotten some rest tonight but instead, I wanted to play. My body had been pent up since meeting Oren. My chest tight. My skin prickly.
I didn’t read too much into it. I didn’t have that liberty. Thinking about Oren. Dating him. Seeing him. Being in a relationship with him.
It fucking terrified me.
He hadn’t even seen my face fully. I was tempted to go to the club tonight without my mask on just to prove my wolf wrong. Because once Oren saw me, truly saw me, there would be no more coffee dates.
No more anything dates.
I would be surprised if he didn’t take off running and screaming in the other direction.
I dressed with care, in one of the black-on-black outfits I used to wear on a daily basis. A black silk shirt. Black pinstripe pants. Three-hundred-dollar suspenders and socks and shoes that cost more than two month’s rent above the convenience store.
It was one of the few things I allowed myself of my old life. I used the excuse of having a suit for a job interview or a funeral.
My parents were long gone, and I interviewed for Dave’s in jeans and a surfing T-shirt, back when I didn’t give a shit about anything.
Dave and Wendy saw something in me—something I still had trouble seeing in myself.
I looked at my phone before tucking it into my pocket. I considered texting him. Asking if he would be there tonight. Asking if he would meet me there.
It all sounded so damned desperate.
The old me would’ve had such confidence. Too much confidence, bordering on vanity.
I took in my outfit, looking in the reflection of the oven as I passed since I had all the mirrors covered. My body looked good, up to my chest.
Maybe Oren had a bag-over-the-head fetish. That might work.
The night before, I let myself fantasize. If I was a different person, appeared differently, how this would be going.
I would’ve already called him, that was for sure. A well-dressed, sexy alpha with manners and a killer smile? Not to mention he was a lawyer. I would’ve called and texted and probably sent both normal and sexy texts to him.
No hesitation.
I was taking a chance even going back to Crowned. A part of me hoped he was there. An equal part wished he wouldn’t be.
I would have fun tonight, either way.
Instead of taking my car, I walked, letting the cool air of the night seep into my bones.
I added a hoodie over my outfit, saving the mask for the actual club.
With the hood pulled up, I got to the club in no time and waited in line.
It was a weekday. I thought no one would be there, that getting in would be easy.
But as I arrived at the front of the line almost a half hour later, I saw the reason.
Tonight was a new-membership trial night. A one-day pass for those wanting to explore membership.
I’d been to one of these before. There were more monitors than usual. Two or three to a room instead of one. All the owners would be here. Bartenders would be more careful with how much alcohol they served.
The lights would be brighter.
And once, the trial members violated the rules and realized this place wasn’t kidding about the regulations.
Finally inside, I handed the man at the counter my hoodie and my phone, receiving a bracelet in return. I slipped the mask on and, as I did, noticed two men standing behind the submissive taking phones.
Both were alphas.
But only one had my rapt attention.
I sucked in a breath but quietly, not trying to draw attention to myself.
Both men were dressed in all black, the norm around here, but Oren stood out, even dressed in shadow as he was.
He had a tight black shirt on, accentuating his biceps and bulky chest muscles.
His stocky legs were wrapped in leather pants and he wore black boots to match.
He looked so sexy no matter what he wore, but this look was by far better than the lawyer suit.
He’d gotten a haircut since our coffee date. It looked good on him, from the back. Sharp lines, but the top left some of the waves I wanted to run my fingers through.
The other alpha turned around and then turned back.
I balled my fists and panicked, wondering if I should run into the club or run right out the door I came in.
Either way, I had to get out of this space…before the alpha realized how damn much I wanted him.