Chapter 68
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I am left in the hon with Kian, dhe talks to def and mate with black booty shorts and tank top that lowes little to the imagination as he note them or thic? fie idea? The thought of my mate dressing his staff like sommer deste bags with crack hanging but everywhere insett met de nut cure of the feeling lealousy is this a self steem isene? Toteibly rates know I have with and really this is his business, and all of this was in play prior to me. I am curious when I heat a lot of giggling in the bark Virhen, but I try not to look overly nosey.
He comes back out and sets a drink in front of me. I have never had an alcoholic beverage before, and I am not sure i want to put myself under the influence of anything. Especially not in an environment where someone could slip something into it se easily.
Loosen up Ayla. Relax. It is a martini. It will help calm your nerves made it myself. Promise you, it is safe. I nod and take a sip. I start sputtering and coughing. Is it supposed to burn so Bad? Kian laughs and takes it from me and replares it with a glass of beet. “Bere, maybe you should start easier first. I take a few sips of the heer. It goes down smooth. Not a terrible taste. Definitely not something I will be drinking again, but he is being thoughtful, and I want to show my appreciation. “That’s better. Maybe you will loosen up a little. Yeah? It will be good for us.” I take a look around as he goes over some scheduling things and finish my hear Another one appears out of thin air in front of me and I start sipping on it. I do not want to finish this one
“Ayla, I would like to take you over to the back table and introduce you to a few business associates of mine. It won’t take long, they are eager to meet my mate, and I would like to dispel some rumors that me being fated to the most beautiful shifter on the planet is something I am lying about.” I give him a half smile grin. I get what he is saying, but this niggling that I don’t have bond confirmation is irritating me. I also didn’t agree to meet anyone, but don’t want to hurt his feelings, so I slide off of my stool and let him lead the way.
Ayla, this is Sam Crawford, Miles Northstar and Ben Sutton. They are very prominent men in the community. They own several businesses and are working with me on an upcoming project. “Possibly. Possibly working with you Kian.” The one with a terrible combover snarks off. There isn’t a single shifter at this table that doesn’t give me the creeps. I have alarm bells going off in my head. The problem is that I don’t know if the alarms blaring are true threats or perceived ones because of my trauma. I have to trust Kian as my mate, possibly, that he wouldn’t put me in harm’s way. I nervously smile, failing to hold eye contact with any of them for too long. The one with long black hair in a braid down his back has his eyes roaming all over me. It makes me want to puke. They probably had too much to drink. The three of them make no attempts to hide the fact they are checking me out. “You were right Kian, you do have a very beautiful mate. I am happy for you. Drinks on me. Why don’t you go and round us all up one. Leave her here, we will watch after her for you.” Before I can turn and flee, or grab Kian in anyway, he has already headed to the bar to start pouring drinks. How could he leave me with strangers? How could anyone know what I have been through just a little and think that is, okay? He looks up from the bar to check on me and then starts pouring drinks again. Maybe he was checking to see if I am in fact okay. Maybe he really trusts these shifters and I should as well. I have no idea.
I turn back to the men sitting at the table. Still leering. “So, Ayla, is it? That is a very beautiful name. How did you get to the Midnight Pack? You don’t have our scent on you.” the fat one asks me, and I just stare at him. I didn’t bring my paper, and I don’t feel like telling him anything. I point to my mouth and shake my head “no” hoping he can take a hint and leave me alone. “Oh, you can’t talk? Well, that is a damn shame. Isn’t it. Kian should be back soon. He looks busy. Why don’t you take a seat while you wait. We won’t bite. It could take a while.” When I make absolutely no attempts to sit at his table, he reaches over, wraps his arm around my waste and pulls me down on his lap. I immediately start kicking and scratching. I am hitting his forearm, desperate to get free. I don’t care what the scene looks like. “Take it easy. Take it easy. Geez, I didn’t mean any harm. What harm could come from sitting down for a while?”
‘What is going on here?” Kian hurries over and helps me out of fatso’s lap by my elbow, but his grip is painfully hard. He is glaring at me, his wolf close to the surface, eyes glowing. Instead of rescuing me, he is looking at me like I just ruined his life. “What the hell are you doing causing a scene here Ayla? These are some of my best customers and business partners. They don’t need you thrashing around and carrying on like you are under attack.” I am breathing rapidly while he holds me and getting more fearful by the second. His eyes are darting all over my features while his are contorted with rage. “We were just trying to talk her into sitting while she waited for you and she spazzed out. Acts like she has never sat on another man’s lap before. Is that it? You some prude, virgin pussy? I gasp in complete shock and denial that someone would actually talk to me like that here. I don’t know why. All alphas are the same. Power hungry, fear mongers. Abusers of women. Haters of good. Lovers of lust and evil. Why would I think this experience would be any different.
“If my friends want you to sit on their lap Ayla. You sit. They do the same to my waitresses, there is nothing wrong with it. My girls wouldn’t be working and happily doing it, if there was. They are just being friendly. They don’t mean any harm. They are old flirt bags is all.” One of the scoffs like he is anything but a flirt. I didn’t get flirty with me vibes when I was being manhandled.
