I returned to the bar and leaned against it, facing the open room.
“Honey, what happened?” Rosie’s eyes widened when she caught sight of my wrists.
I leaned on my right arm to face her and lifted my chin. “Someone messed with the wrong girl.”
“Damn right,” Denver said, slamming the drinks on my tray. “She’s staying with the Weston pack, so feel free to spread the word.”
Rosie blinked. “You’re living with a bunch of wolves?”
I patted her shoulder. “Rosie, I am a wolf. Maybe that ruins it for some of the guys in here who want the fantasy of something else, but I don’t care. I should be tipped for my hard work and friendliness, not because I might be a cougar and take them home after work. You hear that?” I shouted at everyone in the bar.
The chatter died down and all eyes were on me. Crazy Izzy was coming out to play for a little bit, but I didn’t care. I was proud of being a wolf, and it was time that everyone knew it.
“Some of you have been holding back on me because I’m the new girl, and you want me to work a little harder for your attention. I get it; I’ve been around the block. Starting tonight, tip me fairly based on how I serve your table. And by the way, sorry if this ruins anyone’s fantasy, but I’m a wolf. A proud wolf.”
Three tables erupted with cheers, clapping their hands and stamping their feet.
Clearly wolves.
Denver laughed and wiped down the bar. “Now you’ve done it.”
“Well, maybe they’ll tip me better and it’ll make up for some of the cheap-ass snakes.”
“You have lost your mind,” Rosie said with a roll of her eyes. “Jake is going to have a hissy fit.”
An entire table of men by the jukebox collected their drinks and moved to my section.
“Look what you’ve done!” Rosie said, pointing at my new customers. “Now you’re going to end up with all the alphas, and the girls are not going to like this. Some of their biggest tippers are the Packmasters.”
“Rosie, it’s a Shifter bar called Howlers. Maybe you should drop some of the deadweight on the floor and hire a few wolves. Sixty percent of our customers are wolves.”
“Incoming,” Denver blurted out.
I heard a few girls making sexual sounds, and I got an eyeful when I looked toward the front. Jericho Sexton Cole swaggered in wearing jeans, a leather belt with silver studs, no shirt, and a black blazer. He had on a pair of black sunglasses, even though it was after dark.
“He is so working it,” I said with a laugh, watching a sliver of a smile touch his mouth.
Jericho and I hadn’t kissed since that morning in his room. He wanted to give me space to get my head together. We’d slowly begun rebuilding our friendship, and I realized that without that solid bond we shared, we’d never be able to make anything serious work between us.
“Does he have a show tonight?” Rosie wondered aloud. “I don’t have him on my calendar.”
Denver handed me a tray of shots. “Here, Izzy. Your new friends ordered these.”
A familiar blonde slinked up to Jericho’s side, so I blew it off and carried drinks over to my table. I didn’t own the man, and I wasn’t about to start acting like an insecure lunatic. I set the glasses in front of the men and caught a few stares. They certainly didn’t like the looks of my wrists.
“You got a pack?” the more distinguished one asked. He wore a flannel shirt, and I’d never been a fan of flannel. He was the spitting image of Sean Connery. Minus the sexy accent and the sparkle in his eye.
“I’m currently staying with one,” I said.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“She has a pack.” Jericho appeared on my right and stood close. “How’s it going, Turner?”
“Not bad,” the man replied. “Just got a few boys here who think Izzy is the kind of girl they’d like to know a little better. Respectfully, of course.”
“Of course. If she’s interested in them, she’ll let you know. Until then, no recruiting. Comprende?”
“I got it,” he said with a laugh that dissipated into a wheeze. “You’re a funny one, Jericho. A little protective for someone who’s had about every woman in this room.” Turner sipped his drink slowly, his eyes still on Jericho.
“Will that complete your order?” I said in a clipped tone. “Because I don’t serve anyone who insults my friends. You can stay in my section and play by my rules, or you can mosey on over to Trina’s section and fantasize all you want that she’s a wolf when everyone knows she has hooves.”
Jericho rocked with laughter and wrapped his arm around me, guiding me away. “That’s enough, Isabelle. You don’t have to jump to my defense.”