Chapter 7 Choose Your Words Carefully

Alpha Blake's eyes widened as the words rolled off of my lips, I could feel the fury boil over him while he stared at me in shock. A chuckle came from Alpha Tate who was clearly enjoying our encounter. "Who exactly is this girl? I like her already. Damn, she's feisty", he replied, biting down on his bottom lip turned on. He leaned on his elbows on the table, pulling closer to me.

I carefully steadied my breathing, trying to show that I was unaffected by Alpha Blake's presence and playfully rolled my eyes at Alpha Tate, "the real question is who are you Mr. Alpha Tate? I think I would've noticed you around here before". My words had come out much flirtier than I had realized they would. He raised an eyebrow at me and smirked, about to respond when Asher chimed in and rescued me from drowning in my own embarrassment. "Oh yes, she's definitely trouble 'round these parts", he quickly retorted and wrapped his arm over my shoulders, "Alpha Tate took over his pack right after you left Crimson, his pack trains with ours and a few others once a month. I'm sure you'll see him around soon".

I felt Alpha Blake's eyes beating down on me, I noticed through my peripheral vision that his knuckles were turning white from squeezing his beer bottle so tightly while he stared intently at me. I was surprised that the beer bottle didn't explode under his hold. Mia stepped closer towards me and pulled on my hand under the table, signaling that it was time to go.

I flashed a cheesy smile at Alpha Tate, "I guess we'll see about that. It's been fun and all but Mia and I have to go, her boyfriend is performing with the band".

A gentle female voice startled me from behind, carefully pushing through to place a tray of tequila shots on the table. "I thought you'd call for shots sooner or later for your new friends, Alpha Blake. So I beat you to it", she said as she shot a wink at him and returned to the bar. Alpha Blake gave her a nod, I could tell he wasn't amused but had some sort of relationship with the bartender that he was trying not to be rude. "Thanks Val", he casually replied.

"Guess our new friends aren't leaving so fast after all", Alpha Tate said with a grin and passed out the shot glasses. He lifted his tequila shot and said, "to Arizona", clearly picking up on the nickname that Asher had given me years ago when I moved across the country on a whim. I quickly downed the tequila, for once enjoying the burning sensation creeping down my throat and numbing the awkwardness of being near my long lost mate for the first time in four and a half years.

I was startled when Alpha Blake's phone vibrated on the high top table, he quickly pulled it up and glanced at the screen anxiously. "Let me guess... Ashley is looking for a fill", Alpha Tate teased. Blake's face immediately flashed into an array of red blushes, "Shut up man", he replied.

Seizing the moment to torture Alpha Blake and remind him who he was messing with, I leaned over the high top bar table on my elbow and placed my face in my hand as if I was so interested in his love life. "Ashley, hmm?", I taunted. His eyes narrowed on me, shooting arrows of pain directly into my heart with that intense gaze that I remember all too well. It was obvious that he was trying to read any emotion that could have leaked on my face.

"One of many of Alpha Blake's flames", Alpha Tate chuckled, totally selling Blake out and raising his beer bottle to take another swig. The entire table erupted into a laugh. Well, everyone except for yours truly. "I'm surprised that he hasn't made a pass on you yet, never too late though", he continued.

Raw Anger. Uncontrollable raw anger seethed through my veins, Ashley was the voice of the girl I had heard during that one drunken time he called me when I left Blackclaw. The realization hit me that he had been plowing her for years now amongst other women. Fuck this guy and his little whores too.

I was thankful when Mia saved the day and piped up, "sorry boys – band's about to go on. Thanks for the drink!" I gave Asher a side hug and said with giggle, "and the show must go on! Maybe we'll see you later" and playfully nodded to each person at the table. "Beta Asher, Blake, Beta Luke, Alpha Tate", before turning on my heels and being dragged out to the dance floor, hand in hand with Mia.

"What. The. Fuck. Kels.", Mia protested in my ear when we finally made it through the crowd in front of the middle of the stage. She was just as surprised as I was at how loose lipped I had been. Sure, I had a past with Blake and Asher was my best friend but speaking so out of line with an Alpha could have resulted in serious consequences. Luckily, Alpha Tate was more into flirting with me than scolding me.

"Trust me, that was the LAST way I imagined seeing Blake for the first time", I admitted. The crowd around us exploded around us as the band stepped on the stage. The band was incredible from the moment they hit that first note, there was so much energy flowing within the crowd. I let my body sway to the music and my hips roll to the beat, fighting down all the rage built up deep inside me. "They're so good!", I yelled into Mia's ear over the loud thud of the bass and continued dancing.

After they had finished their first song, they completely cut the music. "Thanks to everyone who came out for a good night! I'm sure most of you know her already, but we'd like to welcome home Kelsey all the way from Arizona!", the lead singer belted out over the microphone and winked at me. Holy. Fucking. Shit. This was definitely not the attention I had anticipated on getting tonight. Whistles and screams blared through the crowd, many of my pack mates ecstatic that I finally decided to visit.

As the band started back up, I leaned over to Mia and said "I'm going to go get some air, I'll be right back" and pushed through the crowd, searching frantically for the exit door.

I quickly located the glowing exit sign and pushed through the heavy steel door, thrilled that there was no one outside. I rested my body against the brick wall of the building and sighed, I was finally alone with my own thoughts. I pulled out my cellphone from my skirt pocket and read "five new messages", all from my human boyfriend Eric who had been worried when I stopped responding to his texts.

Before I could reply to the unanswered messages on my phone, the steel door swung open and my eyes met with Alpha Blake's who looked furious with his jaw clenched tightly. He pressed his body into mine and placed his perfectly chiseled arms on both sides of my head, locking me under his hard body against the brick wall.

I felt like the walls were closing on me as I struggled to breath with his body so intimately close to mine. I could feel my wolf frantically pacing, tempting me to press my lips against his. A low growl erupted from his chest, "what the fuck did you call me over there?", he said in a fierce tone that made me tremble under his body. "Blake? Is that not your name or do I have you mistaken for someone else?", I spit out and crossed my arms over my chest defyingly.

"Try that again Kelsey. Or did all that time away make you forget who I am to you?", he retorted, his breathing getting heavier like he was struggling to hold himself back. It instantly registered like a light bulb had just gone off in my brain. I cocked my head to the side and smirked with my arms still crossed over my chest, "my apologies ALPHA Blake. Better now?"

He gritted his teeth, his stare making me weak in the knees. I felt his hand snake up between my legs and his cup my pussy. "The next time you decide to flirt with another Alpha right in front of your mate, there will be consequences", he said as his finger snuck under my panties and thrusted into my hole causing a small moan to escape my chest. He arrogantly smirked at my uncontrollable reaction, "mmm, I can see you still get so wet for me".

"Fuck you Alpha", I blurted out and pushed him harshly, making a run for it for the steel door and into the bar.