Friday night at Crimson Moon Pack's communal lodge is exactly what it's supposed to be—loud music, cold drinks, terrible pool shots, and approximately two hundred werewolves pretending tomorrow's responsibilities don't exist.
I'm leaning against the bar in a fitted black T-shirt, one hand wrapped around a whiskey glass while Ethan explains why his latest loss at pool was technically a victory.
"The table's crooked," he insists.
"You missed a stationary ball."
"Environmental interference."
"You're an embarrassment to the Beta position."
Ethan grins. "And yet you keep me."
[Unfortunately,] Valen adds.
I take another drink.
Across the room, Jenny is attempting to convince Darius to let her decorate his enormous shoulders with glitter.
"TINY! JUST HOLD STILL!"
Our six-foot-seven Enforcer stares down at her.
"Glitter compromises operational equipment."
"YOU'RE WEARING A T-SHIRT!"
"It is operational clothing."
Ethan nearly chokes on his beer.
Then the lodge doors open.
Valen goes completely still.
[Oh.]
I glance toward the entrance.
And everything changes.
The scent hits first. Something unmistakable, pulling at instincts older than thought. My wolf surges forward, and a slow grin spreads across my face.
[Mate.]
Well, I'll be damned.
Eight years running this pack. Territorial disputes, council negotiations, challenges, emergencies. I've handled all of it.
And now the one person I never expected to find just walked through my front door.
[There. Our mate.]
"I noticed."
[Attractive.]
My grin widens.
"Very."
[And you're smiling like an idiot.]
"Careful. I outrank you."
[We share a body, genius.]
Ethan follows my gaze. His grin slowly spreads.
"Oh, this is going to be good."
"Probably."
He blinks.
"Wait. You're smiling. Why are you smiling like that?"
I finish my whiskey and set the glass on the bar.
"Because it's a good night."
Ethan looks toward the entrance again.
"Well, someone's caught your attention."
I turn my head slowly.
"Ethan."
"What? I've got eyes."
[He's looking at our mate.]
"Everyone has eyes, Valen."
[We could remove his.]
"Absolutely not."
Ethan watches my expression, and understanding dawns.
"No fucking way."
I flash him a grin.
"Watch your mouth, Beta."
"Oh, you're never living this down."
"Keep talking, and you're covering patrol duty for the next month."
At the bar, Mason looks up from polishing a glass and flashes the newcomer an easy smile.
"Hey, welcome to Crimson Moon! First time here? Come grab a seat. First drink's on me."
[The bartender is talking to our mate.]
"That's his job."
[He's smiling.]
"Also his job."
[He's handsome.]
I glance at Mason.
"Don't start."
[Just making observations.]
Before I can say anything else, Jenny notices the newcomer.
"Oh my GOD! A NEW PERSON!"
She abandons her glitter campaign immediately.
"Hi! I'm Jenny! Important question—how do you feel about glitter?"
Darius studies the newcomer from beside the pool table.
"Good muscle structure."
Ethan turns toward him.
"Tiny, buddy, that's not how normal people introduce themselves."
"I haven't introduced myself."
"Fair point."
I laugh, shaking my head.
This is my pack. The most respected collection of absolute lunatics in the territory.
And somewhere in the middle of all this chaos is my mate.
[Go introduce yourself.]
"Planning on it."
[Good. Try not to embarrass us.]
"That's rich coming from you."
[I'm the charming one.]
"You're the furry one."
Ethan catches my expression and starts laughing.
"Oh, Finn. You're so screwed."
I clap him on the shoulder as I pass.
"Enjoy your last few minutes without glitter in your bed."
"FINN!"
I laugh and head toward the center of the lodge, where Jenny is enthusiastically explaining glitter bombs and Tiny is listing increasingly specific security objections.
I catch the newcomer's eye and offer a slow, openly interested grin before stopping beside the pool table.
Ethan's abandoned cue is still lying across the felt. I pick it up, line up the shot he spent ten minutes blaming on crooked furniture, and send the ball neatly into the corner pocket.
"Environmental interference, my ass."
Ethan groans from across the room.
[Show-off.]
"Absolutely."
I set the cue aside and lean against the table, relaxed and thoroughly entertained by the chaos unfolding around me.
I'm close enough to join the conversation, and I've made no secret of my interest. Whatever happens next, I'm looking forward to it.
[Our mate is going to be trouble.]
My grin deepens.
"Good. I like trouble."
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