Chapter 22 What's In Midnight

Beer was bitter. I didn’t like the taste the first time, but the more it burned my throat the more I liked it. I was on my second bottle while Dean, his brother and the betas played pool. The music was low and the crowd was chilled. A silent football game was played on the massive flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. That’s where everyone’s focus was.
Even I had my eyes on the TV I didn’t notice the sly man roll onto a bar stool beside me.
“Can I buy you another one?”
I snapped in his direction.
I took the man in. He had a beer in his hand the same brand as mine. He wore a heavy leather coat that hung a tad loosely around his muscles. He had jet-black hair that was shaved off on the sides. The only splash of colour on this guy was the white shirt under his leather jacket. His boots matched the jacket his eyes almost did too.
Dark brown that they almost appeared black or maybe it was the lighting in the bar.
“I should stop at two. I might be a bit of a lightweight.”
He smirked, revealing a dimple on his right cheek. “I know.”
“What?” My face dropped.
“The costume party. You gave quite the show.”
I scrawled. I didn’t want to hear how I made a fool of myself. I was never partying with Ginger again. I thought I moved passed that night.
“I’m good with this one. I should go see what Dean’s up to.”
He grabbed my arm and my eyes widened in alarm.
“Wait, Layla.” He pulled me close.
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat as my heart beat the pace of a race car.
“What do you want?”
“To warn you.”
“Warn or threaten?” I yanked my arm free.
I threw a glance over my shoulder at the pool table. Dean was occupied.
The man chuckled, “I haven’t threatened you have I sweetheart? You need allies Layla.”
“How do you know my name?” I snapped.
“It’s no secret you’re the Alpha King’s latest play toy.”
Play toy?
“I can’t tell you everything now. Not when your mate could snap my neck any second.”
Another beer bottle appeared in front of me. The man pulled out a bill from his wallet and slid it across the counter.
“See you soon.”
“Wait.” I grabbed his jacket. “What’s your name? What do I need allies for?”
“Everyone needs allies. I can’t tell you my name. Not yet.”
He drifted between tables and disappeared through the front door. That was beyond weird. There was no point in letting good beer go to waste. I took my fresh bottle and went to the pool table. I stumbled a few times before getting there a sign the alcohol was getting to me. Did people in this town walk up to random strangers and ruin their nights all the time? I took a swing of my beer. What if he recognized me from my past? Why didn’t he just come out and say it? Another swing. This beer was getting better with each bottle.
“Hey!” I whined after the bottle was ripped my mites.
“I should have known better than to bring you to a bar.”
“That’s my last one.” I reached for the bottle.
Dean placed his hand on the small or my back and smiled.
“You’re already tipsy.”
“We should dance.” I giggled.
“You want to make a fool out of me?”
“No…” I traced my fingers on his chest. “You can do that on your own.”
“Alright Little Wolf, time for bed.”
“Nooo… Dean. Let’s have fun. I have a secret to tell you. Just you. No one can hear.” I giggled.
“Yeah?” He arched his brow and folded his arms. I nodded and gave him my most innocent smile.
“Okay then.” He turned to his betas. “Time to lock up. Get everybody out.”
“Come on man.” Gabe whined.
“Now. We’re closing early.”
“Hey, you can’t do that you don’t own the place.” I was really hoping for another bottle to sooth my soul.
Dean moved closer and spoke into my ear. “I do own the place babe.”
“You do? So I didn’t have to pay for my beer? And I can have a six pack?”
Dean locked me in his arms. “The only thing you’re getting is a spanking.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m going to turn your ass red.”
I bit my bottom lip. In my hazy mind that sounded amazing. The idea of behind bent over Dean’s thick thigh and being spanked for being disobedient. Soon the bar was empty and it was just my mate and I with soft music in the background.
“Now, are you going to tell me this secret? That’s so important?”
He backed me into the pool table. I instinctively laid down. Dean came down with me, but stayed up enough to stare at me. He ran his eye down the side of my body.
“My birthday…” I whispered.
“What about it?” He raised a brow.
“It was yesterday. It was my twentieth birthday.”
“You remembered?”
I nodded. The corner’s of Dean’s mouth lifted. “We should celebrate. Let me take you back to the castle.”
Dean’s hand traveled up my shirt and squeezed my breast. He moved off me and helped me off the table. I held onto him or else I was going to walk into a table. Dean settled me into the passenger seat before taking off into the street.
My head was spinning and somehow I believed this had nothing to do with the alcohol. That was confirmed when I heard screams. Fire flashed before my eyes. Houses, huts on fire. Fire everywhere.
“Dean.” I started panting.
Fire everywhere and smoke filled my lungs. Dean’s hand landed on my thigh.
“What’s wrong?” He demanded.
“It’s everywhere.”
“What is?” He barked.
He must have thought I was crazy. Imagine how I felt.
“Layla— Fuck!”
Dean slammed on the breaks. If it weren’t for my seatbelt I would have gone flying through the windscreen. The sudden shock drained the alcohol from my system.
“What the hell?” I noticed the creature standing a few feet from the car.
It stood on two legs like a man. Had fur like a wolf and foamed blood at the mouth like a vampire. It was scrawny, but terrifying like a creature from a nightmare. I grabbed Dean’s hand and winced. It looked like it was coming from hunting. It had the eyes of a man, but it couldn’t be. It only stared at us for a minute before it darting into the darkness of an alley.
“Hybrid.” Dean said, putting the car in park.
“No, what are you doing? You’re not thinking of going after it are you?”
“I’m not going to let it go free. It must have killed something or someone.”
“Dean, you can’t go out there alone.”
“I’m the Alpha Layla. I’m the Alpha King.”
“You’re a stubborn King. What if there’s more? Every time you’ve faced those things you came back hurt.”
“Of course, there’s more! They’ve invaded my town I have to get rid of them.”
“Fine, then I’m going too.” I unbuckled my seatbelt.
I still must have been drunk because I didn’t want to go after that thing!”
“No!” He barked. He growled before putting the car in drive.
“I’ll be back for it.”
“It’s long gone now, Dean.” I hoped.
“Damn it.” He pushed the car beyond a hundred miles.
“It looked like a monster.”
“That’s because they are monsters.” His grip on the wheel tightened and his foot on the gas pedal didn’t lighten up.
“Tell me about the Dare Pack.” It was more of a demand than a request.
“Are you sure about that Little Wolf?”
I nodded. What I saw couldn’t be a werewolf. Could I really turn into something like that?