Book 1: Chapter 76

*** Silas POV *** 



 I sat with Sam and Nate in the corner. I offered to take Sam out to anywhere he wanted to go but he chose The Wayward Tap. It surprised me that he wanted to go here considering he was such a lightweight but he seemed to be holding his own as he drank an old fashioned. After a few minutes, Aelia joined us.

Nate got up and helped her into the booth and she thanked him. His eyes were on her the whole time, still making sure she was okay. I think it had left a lasting scar watching her die at Maggies. I’d found him a couple times in the evening sitting up in the kitchen or his office, unable to sleep. He never said specifically what was the issue but I knew it was related to her. Hell, sometimes the thoughts and fears kept me up at night as well.

“Boys having fun?”

Sam lifted up his drink. “Always. Alpha’s treat.”

She raised her eyebrow. “Oh? Gonna get hammered today, Sam?”

He laughed and leaned in. “Maybe I will!”

I kept the smile on my face small. “At least wait till Charles gets here. He said he was coming straight from work.”

Aelia’s eyes widened and she grinned. “I’m gonna want a drink then.”

I got up. “What would you like?”

She hummed. “A whiskey sour if you don’t mind, Sil.”

Nodding, I squeezed her shoulder. Noah and Finn were working the bar alone but it was pretty quiet considering it was a Tuesday. I ordered an old fashioned, whiskey sour, and two of the Hawaiian beers. I distributed at the table and sat back down.

“So, not behind the bar with the guys?”

Aelia huffed. “They won’t let me anymore. Not after last weekend.”

“What happened last weekend?” Sam asked innocently.

“I died.”

I nearly choked on my beer, as did Nate. Sam went pale and I shook my head.

“A, you can’t just up and say shit like that.”

She shrugged. “Why not? It’s true. I’m not going to sugar coat it for you pansies.” Aelia took a sip. “Death is as much as part of our lives as life is. We are in a circle. I was born from the goddess and I will return to her. If we are so ready to celebrate a life entering this world, then we need to also celebrate one’s leaving it.”

Nate shook his head. “Not yours though.”

Aelia looked at him, at first with anger but her face softened after a moment. “Mine all the more.”

“Why? Why should we when…”

“Because I was loved, Nate. Friends, family, mates, if anything I want the people who loved me to fucking rejoice when I die. I’m free and I’m the hands of the goddess. You guys got to have me in your life as long as you did. Is that not something to celebrate? Meeting me? Loving me? Drinking with me?” She raised her glass and took a sip. “Dealing with my shenanigans.”

I shook my head and leaned over. My head fell on hers and I rested on it. “I get it but at the same time, it’s too soon.”

“You say that but I’d just piss you all off if I stayed longer.”

There was a rumble of laughter at our table.

“You piss us off now, dumbass.” Noah yelled from the bar.

Aelia snorted and threw up her middle finger. “Love you too, asshat.” She turned back to us though. “I swear, if any fucking one of you is sober at my funeral, I will come back to haunt your asses. You got that?”

I hadn’t laughed that hard in a while. Nate was laughing as well while Sam was chuckling, shaking his head. “You’re something else Solaris.”

“Always.”

Her head perked up and she smile. “Showtime!”

I lifted my head and saw Charles walk in the door. Giggling, Aelia was positively beaming. Nate was rightfully confused and Sam was completely obviously to the drama that was about to unfold. My smile didn’t leave as Charles waved but went to the bar to grab a drink first. He was still wearing his uniform but unbuttoned.

*‘What’s going on?’* Nate mind linked me.

I looked at him. *‘You know how Aelia used to pay matchmaker when she was little?’*

He nodded while taking a sip.

*‘She decided to play matchmaker again.’*

Nate spewed out beer across the table.

“Fuck, Nate. Come on. Grow a pair. It’s just beer.” Aelia reached over and grabbed some napkins, wiping down the table.

*‘With Sam and Charles?’* Even his mind link cracked an octave higher.

*‘Yup. Hence the show. First time they are meeting since she connected them.’*

His eyes were wide as he craned his neck to look at Charles, chatting up Finn at the bar. Aelia elbowed me and shook her head.

“Tattletale.”

I smiled and nodded. “I mean. How else is he supposed to enjoy this like we will?”

She managed to swallow down her snort at Charles headed to us.

“When you guys asked me to go drinking on a Tuesday afternoon, I made my boys worry. They think I’m becoming an alcoholic.” Charles chuckled.

“Sam’s choice this time. Silas promised to pay and he chose here.”

Sam didn’t look at him. His head was down with a light blush on his face. My eyes widened and I looked at Aelia. Quickly taking out my phone, I texted her, knowing her phone was in her pocket. 

**‘Does Sam have a crush on Charles without the bond?’ **

I turned to Charles. “I mean, aren’t all cops alcoholics? Isn’t that a staple?”

Charles leaned over and slammed his fist into my shoulder. “Fuck off, asshole.”

My phone vibrated and I pulled it up. 

**‘It does look that way, doesn’t it?’ **

 She sent another message.  

**‘He complimented Charles on his hair the other day and Charles was even a bit shy about it. Should have see the look on Sam’s face when he walked away. I had to double check I didn’t already attach them. Charles was no better. Comforting Sam by putting a hand on his shoulder.’ **

**‘I’ve been wrong a couple times in my life Sil, but this is not one of them.’ **

I chuckled and slipped my phone back in my pocket. “So, Charles, how was work?”

“Same as always. Having some issues with some murders popping up.”

“Murders?”

Charles nodded, swirling his drink around. “Boys can’t find a connection…” He trailed off.

“But you can?” Nate offered as he set his empty beer glass down.

“They are all supers. Vampires, a couple of neighboring packs werewolves that were just hitting the city, even found a fey woman outside of town.”

Nate looked at me, as did Sam. I quickly downed my beer.

“We have a Hunter issue on our hands.”

Charles’ eyes met mine. “Hunters? It’s been years since they’ve come through.”

“Yeah well, they have decided to try and use my pack as an example and try to cure us all. Hundreds of them planning on attacking sometime soon.”

Cursing, Charles leaned back in his chair, hand on his drink on the table. “Well, what’s the plan? I mean obviously you’re going to light a fire under their ass but it would be good to know what the hell is happening if I need to mobilize the boys to safeguard the town.”

“Alpha King is sending out troops to be lead by the First Alpha Prince. My warriors plus them, we are going to have an all out brawl in the forest.”

Charles whistled. “The First Alpha Prince? How the hell did you swing that? Doesn’t that mean they are first in line to take the throne? That’s a big fucking deal.”

Sam, Nate and I chuckled. Slamming my hand down on Aelia’s shoulders, I raised an eyebrow to her. “Yeah A, what’s it like being First Alpha Price?”

She growled and Charles choked on some air he was breathing.

“No fucking way.”

Aelia smiled at him sheepishly. “Surprise?”

“Holy mother of god. I’m in the presence of royalty.”

That made us all laugh. Sam finally lifted his head and laughed. Aelia grabbed my knee, I could see the smirk on her face. We watched as though it was slow motion. Sam turned his head to look at Charles and their eyes met. Both of their eyes widened. The level of red Sam got was on par with every cartoon we ever watched as kids. He looked like he was going to pass out. Charles didn’t look much better.

Aelia was watching over the top of her glass, the smirk turning into an all out grin. Charles cleared his throat and turned away from Sam. Sam was absolutely shaking, his hands holding his glass in a death grip. Suddenly, he threw back the entire glass of the second old fashioned I bought him. Nate snorted and slapped Sam on the back a couple times while he coughed through the drink. Charles might not get it right away since he was human but Sam would absolutely understand right away.

“You okay, Sam?” Aelia asked innocently.

He nodded. “Yeah, sorry. I think I need another one.” Sam mumbled the last sentence and I chortled.

“I’ll grab you one. Anyone need anything else?”

Nate held up his beer, Aelia her glass, and Charles looked down at his beer. “I think I’m going to need something a bit stronger than this.”

I patted his shoulder and headed back to the bar. After I asked Noah for the drinks he leaned back. “Last one, Sol. I’m cutting you off.”

“Blah!” She threw up her hands. “If I’m gonna go out, I wanna go out laughing and drunk off my ass.”

Noah shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Which is why I’m cutting you off now. You’d do it just to spite us.”

Aelia giggled. “You right.”

I shook my head as I gathered up the drinks. Noah threw a towel over his shoulder and patted Finn on his tummy. To the unsuspecting human, Finn just looked like he gained some weight. He had an oversize shirt on that covered his bump but when Noah patted it, Finn smiled brightly. I distributed the drinks amongst the table and sat back down.

Aelia leaned into my side and I threw my arm around her. Nate gave me a jealous look but I shrugged. He might be her mate but she was my sister first. Finn came over and put five shot glasses on the table.

“We have a new tequila we are looking into. Tell me what you think. Noah and I aren’t completely sold on it. It’s a little sweet.” Finn winked.

Aelia grabbed the shot glass and expertly threw it back, slamming the glass on the table. I watched her crack her neck. Running her tongue over her lips, she nodded.

“I think it’s going to be popular with the ladies. It doesn’t burn as much as your regular tequila and the sweetness in the aftertaste is more welcome than the usual brands. Personally, I wouldn’t order a lot of it but I think it’s a good choice for newbies and ladies.”

Nate and I threw back the shots. It definitely had a sweetness to it, which was interesting. It was actually pretty smooth but any bitterness was cut by the sweetness of the tequila itself.

“Honestly, I like it. Sure, it’s not manly but I’m not coughing it down or throwing a lime down my throat. It’s definitely not a mixing tequila, it’s a shot tequila.” I added.

Finn nodded, pulling out his phone, taking notes. “Nate? Sam? Charles?”

“I agree. An easy shot but I couldn’t imagine the sweetness working well with an actual mixed drink.” Nate added.

Sam had the shot glass in hand and was staring at it like it was completely foreign. Aelia chuckled, leaning forward on her elbow.

“Have you never taken a shot, Sam?”

He chuckled awkwardly. “No, I haven’t.”

Her eyes widened, obviously not expecting him to answer truthfully. I had never see him drink until he started coming to this bar. In all my years, even at the celebrations he always had water or a soda, never once touching alcohol.

Aelia laughed. “Next your going to tell me you have never had sex!”

His eyes flitted to Charles as the blush started to form on his face. Her laugh sputtered out when she realized the look on his face. I turned my head away, not able to stop the smile spreading.

“Holy Goddess above.”

Sam growled at her. “Some of us save ourselves for our mate!” With that, he threw the shot into his mouth.

Nate winced as we watched him swallow and he started to cough. Charles was the first to react. His chair scrapped against the floor as he got up and stared to rub Sam’s back. All of us stared at Charles in shock but he was completely oblivious to any of us. He was focused solely on Sam and getting him through his first fucked up shot.

“Ask how to take a shot before just throwing it back. Jesus, you could have choked.” Charles’ voice was soft as he chastised Sam.

Sam shook his head, his eyes squeezed shut. “I don’t think I like tequila.”

We all chuckled.

“I’ll mark it down as still a newbie good one since he didn’t actually throw it back up.” Finn added it to his notes.

“Goddess, you can throw up other ones?” Sam put a hand on his chest and took a deep breath.

He looked up at Charles who was still standing over him. The two of them stared at each other before the blush now formed on Charle’s face. His brain must have caught up with what he was doing. Stepping back and sitting back down, he grabbed the shot glass.

“You don’t want to splash it down your throat. The point is to make sure that it goes past the tongue and straight down. Bypassing the taste buds.” Charles expertly threw the shot back and slammed the glass on the table.

Much like Aelia, he cocked his head to the side, cracking his neck. Nodding slowly, he leaned back in his chair. “It’s surprisingly smooth. It doesn’t burn like the bottom shelf does but I think it has to do with the sweetness that comes back at the end. Not bad. I would agree with Sol in this case.”

Finn nodded as he took down his notes. “Thanks guys. I appreciate it. Don’t tell Noah I tested it on you. He’s already pissed at how many drinks Sol has had. I can’t image his face if he knew…” Smirking, he took the shot glasses back with him.

Five minutes later, all of us were feeling the effects of the amount of alcohol we had had. Even Aelia seemed more open than usual. Charles also was quicker to laugh which was nice to hear. Nate was always a quieter drunk but he was enjoying the company. Sam had a full flush going, his chin resting on his arms. He didn’t seem to notice Charles protectively watching him. It was all I needed to know that Aelia was right. They would be absolutely fine.