Chapter 1
Chapter One
Gatlin
There was never a dull moment at Cuffed. Not only inside the club but outside, and especially in the lobby.
Alphas became a bit feisty if they couldn’t get in and get spanked.
I watched the scene on the cameras since there was another security guard on duty at the front entrance.
I trusted my security team and their ability to handle most situations but tonight, this particular man was getting in the face of the guard.
Handling people was one thing, but it was quite another to see my staff getting abused.
I stood from my perch in the camera room and started to walk toward the entrance when my phone rang in my back pocket.
“Hey,” I said, seeing who was calling. It was Stephanie, one of the women who worked in the membership department.
“Are you already on your way?” she asked. We had a pattern, she and I. I had to make sure of the facts before I intervened at the front door. We didn’t want a member to walk away from the club because of a misunderstanding. We treated them with the utmost respect and care.
“I am. What’s the status?” This was where our relationship came into play.
“His membership lapsed three months ago. Honestly, I’m not sure why he hasn’t been flagged before. It must be a glitch in the system.”
“Are we sure?” I asked.
“Yes. I even ran the card just now to bill his membership, and it was declined. William James is no longer a member.”
“I’m on it. Thank you, Steph.”
I hung up the phone and made my way to the front.
I enrolled in training for deescalation a few months ago, and it was certainly about to pay off.
I threaded through the crowds of the club and finally arrived at the front door to find William red faced and wild-eyed.
A line of sweat beaded along his brow. He really, really, wanted to get into the club tonight.
He should’ve kept up his payments.
“William James?” I asked, getting his attention off Stephanie. She stepped back and addressed the next guest. I clapped Tim on the shoulder. “Go take ten, okay?”
“Thanks, Gatlin.”
“Are you the one who’s going to let me in and clear up all of this mess? This is humiliating. Don’t you know who I am? I should sue for the way I’ve been treated tonight.”
“I do know who you are.”
For a second, his features softened. He thought I was on his side. He was wrong.
“Let’s step to the side so we can discuss this.”
William gave Stephanie an I-told-you-so look and followed my lead to the side of the room. “What is there to talk about?”
“Your membership has lapsed. You haven’t been a member for a few months and, tonight, we ran your credit card and it was declined.”
“I’ll give you another credit card,” he said, reaching for his wallet.
“Actually, with the big lapse in membership along with the way you’ve treated the staff tonight, we are revoking your membership. You may apply again in one year. Let me escort you through the side door.”
“You can’t be serious. I want to speak to an owner. Now.”
I smiled. “They are busy with members.”
William scoffed at that. He went on and on, getting wild enough that I had to grab him by the back of the shirt and escort him out. He threw a minor fit, but his kind were paper tigers. Lots of roaring and chuffing, but a show of real power generally made them fold.
Back inside, I shook off the confrontation and made sure everyone was okay. With Tim still on break, I assisted Stephanie.
An omega approached me. “Do you ever go in and play?”
“Time to time.” My standard answer when someone hit on me.
“Is tonight one of those times?” Handsome wearing intriguing club attire with well-fitted leather pants. He smelled like a wolf, like me.
But he wasn’t Shaw. He wasn’t the omega, my omega, that I’d met years before, the one who captured my heart and my wolf’s mating instinct.
“It’s not. I’m working. Please.” I turned to open the door wide so he could go in. “Have a lovely evening.”
He shrugged. “Your loss.”
“I’m sure it is.”
I covered the post until Tim got back. William had rattled him a bit but he bounced back well.
That night, I clocked out and went home with Shaw on my mind.
We’d only shared one night together. I went to a club in another city, wanting to check out the scene for myself after hearing rumors.
This was way before Cuffed was even a dream of the owners.
I saw him almost immediately as I went in.
He and I had an amazing time at the club and that led to an even better time at my hotel room. I’d gotten up the next morning to get us coffee and breakfast and when I came back, he was gone.
It wouldn’t have been an issue if it was any other omega.
But Shaw wasn’t any omega. He was my mate. My fated. Mine.
No other omega would ever do. I wanted my mate back.