16. Bailey-Rose
Never did I think there was so much science that went into making cocktails. Warrick was a patient teacher explaining the tools, ingredients, and how to balance the flavor of a drink. He even laughed when I shook a carbonated cocktail and shot the cover off the shaker and out into the dining area.
Time flew by as we laughed and talked about anything and everything that came to mind.
Warrick was such a warm person it was effortless to spend time together.
In many ways, it felt like I’d known him for years instead of days.
My hope was it would be just as easy to connect with the other men in my pack.
Talking with my mother helped immensely, but the fear of them deciding I was too much work or held them back still lingered.
“Okay, so we’ve decided to make the drink an experience,” Warrick said as he wrote on a fresh sheet of paper.
“You said your favorite summer treat is a snow cone, which I think is brilliant. We have an ice shaver that can whip up what we need in no time. Give me a moment to collect all these ingredients from the back storage, and we’ll get this vision of yours created. ”
Dropping a quick kiss on my nose, he rounded the bar and headed into the kitchen.
Having gone to help him carry other things we needed, I knew the storage for the whole place was off the kitchen next to the walk-in freezer.
Unsure what to do, I noticed how messy and chaotic everything was, so I started to clean up.
The main bar for The Fat Mule took up the whole width of the building.
There were five stations to serve from while one end of the bar was for table orders, and the other end where we were was for training.
It allowed the trainee to be in the thick of things and help but not be on the front lines since the kitchen access was right there, preventing people from trying to order.
Never having been in a bar, it was fascinating to watch the bartenders making drinks three or four at a time, never forgetting what they were doing.
Warrick and Drew ran a well-oiled machine, and all their employees seemed to respect them.
Things were getting busy since happy hour started a little over a half hour ago.
I did my best to ignore what was going on, feeling nervous to be back here without Warrick.
What if someone asked me to make them a drink?
I didn’t know the first thing about whipping up a real cocktail.
My anxiety shot through the roof when I looked up and came face to face with Randall.
“Bumblebee, what the hell are you doing behind the bar?” Randall demanded, his expression full of worry, confusing me even more.
I opened my mouth to say something, but before I could manage, he marched around and ducked under the bar. Grabbing my wrist, he flipped up the section of the bartop and tried to drag me after him.
“Randall, stop,” I pleaded, digging in my heels.
It didn’t matter what I wanted, Randall was six foot two and built like a linebacker with all the hours he’d spent in the gym.
Either I followed after him, or there was a risk I could get seriously hurt.
I’d never seen Randall like this before.
He’d been sweet, kind, and understanding about my condition with his brother in a similar situation as myself.
This was a darker side of the Alpha I’d dated a mere week ago.
“No, Bailey, you don’t belong in a place like this. What would your brothers say? Hell, what would your parents think if they knew you were working at some seedy bar?” Randall challenged, coming to an abrupt halt, so I crashed into him.
Catching me, he sighed, closing his eyes as if trying to calm himself down.
“Why are you doing this to us? You finally came home, and everything was going to be perfect. All that stood in the way of our happily ever after was your need to finish school. Now that’s all finished, we can move forward,” he murmured, brushing his fingers along my jaw.
Fear raced through me at the possessive and terrifying look in Randall’s eyes.
“Why do you even care? We aren’t even dating anymore, not after you cheated on me,” I whispered harshly, not wanting to cause an even bigger scene as I tried to pull my arm free.
“I’ll ask you once more, Randall. Let. Me. Go.”
“Let you go? Cheated on you? Bumblebee, what are you saying?” Randall questioned, utterly confused.
Then his grip tightened on my arm, making me whimper as his gaze hardened.
“Why are you acting like I’m the bad guy?
Did you tell your brothers about what you saw?
Are they the ones who told you we broke up? ”
“They didn’t need to tell me anything,” I sobbed, struggling to free my arm. “Randall, I mean it. Let me go, or I’m going to make you.”
“Make me? Bumblebee, you can’t even handle having sex.
What makes you believe you could fight me off?
Furthermore, it’s your fault I had to sleep with that Beta bitch.
Why do you think I needed to fuck her? Could it be because my girlfriend can’t meet my needs?
” Randall shot back, verbally slapping me in the face with one of my biggest fears.
“I did that for us, and now you’ve decided that we’re done?
Sorry, Bumblebee, I don’t remember ever agreeing to that.
I was just giving you time to cool off. I know how emotional you get.
I hoped we could talk like adults, let me explain the sacrifices I was making for you…
for us. Clearly, it was a mistake to leave you to your own devices after being free to do as you pleased while at college.
Now I’m going to have to fix things until I get my sweet submissive Bumblebee back. ”
The normally calming scent of freshly roasted candied pecans had a burned tang to it as Warrick appeared. Gone was the warm, fun-loving man I’d spent the day with. In its place was a furious Alpha whose commanding energy was crackling in the air around me.
“Get your fucking hand off my Omega,” Warrick bit out through clenched teeth as he squeezed Randall’s wrist, causing my ex to flinch and let out a grunt of pain.
The second I was free, Warrick used his grip on Randall and shoved him away before scooping me up.
Instantly, I wrapped around him like a koala burying my face in his neck, only then realizing I was whining.
My body shook as the adrenaline and fear coursed through my body, causing my breath to come out in shuddering gasps.
“Your Omega? What are you talking about? That’s my girlfriend. She doesn’t have anyone but me.” Randall scoffed.
“Wrong, asshole,” Warrick stated. “Bailey-Rose has a scent matched pack now, so any relationship you were delusional enough to think you had after cheating on her is over. Scent matched pairings trump any other previous claim on an Omega. End. Of. Story. Now get the fuck out of my bar. You aren’t welcome here, and if I find out you so much as wave at Bailey-Rose ever again, I’ll have you arrested. ”
“You would really send me to jail over a defective Omega like her?” Randall challenged. “Do you even know who I am?”
“Yeah, someone who’s about to be arrested if you don’t leave right this second,” Warrick threatened, a growl coating his words, making me whimper at the anger behind them. “Drew, deal with this prick. I’ll be in my office if the police arrive.”
“It doesn’t matter… she is my girlfriend,” Randall bellowed, accompanied by the sounds of him fighting off whoever was trying to remove him. “You’ll see the truth before long. She’ll come back to me. I know she will.”
Keeping my face tucked against Warrick’s skin, I felt him turn and walk away from the situation. A few moments later, Warrick sat on what felt like a couch and instantly started to purr as he stroked a hand up and down my back.
“Shh, it’s okay, Care Bear, I’ve got you,” he murmured, kissing and nuzzling his cheek against my hair.
“I’m so sorry that happened. I should’ve had you come with me to the back.
Trust me when I say he will never be allowed in this bar ever again.
In fact, I think I have enough connections in this city that he won’t be able to eat anywhere that isn’t fast food. ”
“He hates fast food,” I mumbled.
“Perfect, then I’ll make a few calls later tonight, and by tomorrow, he’ll be blacklisted,” Warrick assured me.
Sitting up just enough to meet Warrick’s gaze, I needed to see if he was serious. The determined expression told me I had nothing to worry about. My Alpha was pissed and looking for revenge.
“Warrick…” I started, then decided I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer.
He leaned forward, resting his forehead against mine. “What is it, Care Bear? No matter what you have to tell me, I’ll listen. You can also ask me anything, and I’ll answer you honestly, of that I promise. I don’t ever want you to be worried about sharing what you’re thinking or feeling.”
I clutched his head in my hands, using his reassurance to ground me.
Everything inside me wanted to believe he meant every word he said, but Randall’s words were like barbs in my heart.
How could I have been so wrong about him?
Never in a million years would I have thought Randall capable of this kind of cruelty.
“What if he’s right? What if I’m not enough?” I rasped. “There are five of you… if I can’t even manage to be enough for one Alpha, how can it be possible with my own pack?”