“Contrary to popular belief, I’m not celibate,” Lucas said. “I’m just choosy.”
“You prefer Lycan women.” Bastian raised his hands in defense. “Hey, I’m not knocking your preference. We all have our likes and dislikes.” He nodded at a group of women on the other side of the room, then towards three females dancing by themselves on the dance floor, “Don’t you love that human women come in all shapes and sizes? But, you gotta live a little, right? Why not sample the endless buffet humankind has to offer?”
Because humans are despicable. But Lucas didn’t vocalize that out loud. Bastian wouldn’t understand. No one did, not even Adrianna. Humans had hurt him and Adrianna. And they hurt their kind.
“Don’t tell me you’ve never slept with a human before?” Bastian asked.
“Of course I have.” A few times, in fact. Human women were good for fucking and nothing else. His wolf barely tolerated them, and he always left after the act was completed. Besides, it wasn’t like he could ever marry a human, so why bother forming any relationship? He would need a strong mate, someone who could handle being Lupa of the largest Lycan clan in the world. But he was only thirty-one, and there was time yet to think of mates and producing heirs.
Thankfully, the waitress came back with their drinks. He took a sip, watching as Bastian whispered in the young woman’s ear and her face lit up.
Lucas downed the whiskey in one motion. “Thanks for the drink.” He placed the glass on the table. “I’ll see you around.”
“Hey.” Bastian placed a hand on his arm. “If you need to talk, you have my number.”
Though he appreciated the thought, he wasn’t about to pour his heart out to Bastian. An Alpha had to be strong and show no weakness. “I will,” he lied, then let himself out of the VIP area.
He was already taking his phone out of his pocket to call Reyes when he stopped. His wolf on the other hand perked up.
Orange blossoms and olives.
Before he could stop it, his wolf’s head swung around, nose in the air. Searching for the source of the faint scent. His wolf scratched at him in desperation, willing him to follow the trail before it went cold. It was strange how in the sea of scents inside the club, he could pick out that one singular smell. He crossed the dance floor, pushing bodies aside so he could follow it. When he reached the bar, he ran smack into what seemed like a wall of orange blossoms and olives.
Hair like a mahogany waterfall flipped around and he found himself staring into slate-colored eyes. Against pale skin and framed with dark hair, they looked hauntingly luminous. They flashed with something—recognition?—before settling on his face. He knew she was staring at his eyes; most people did. The heterochromia he inherited from his mother made one blue and one green, and it startled many who saw it for the first time.
“Oh.” Lush, pink lips pursed together, and he had to pull back the urge to sink his teeth into them.
“Have we met?” He cocked his head, breathing in more of her delicious scent. Yes, that definitely was her. Lycan scents were unique, and he was sure he would have remembered smelling her before.
A frown crossed her pretty face, and she narrowed her gaze at him as if waiting for something. When all he did was stare back, she straightened her shoulders. “I have to say, I’ve heard lots of lines, but that’s a new one.” She grinned. “Why don’t you just buy me a drink and we can skip the bullshit?”
His wolf growled in appreciation. That was certainly new. Normally quiet around females, this one had his wolf’s complete attention. “What would you like?”
She turned to the bartender and raised her hand. The man nodded, finished up an order, then walked over to them. “What’ll it be, Sof?” His grin was a mile wide. “The usual?”
“You bet, Hal.” She nodded at Lucas. “He’s buying.”
Lucas did not like how the bartender spoke to her with such familiarity, and neither did his wolf.
“And what are you having—” Hal’s eyes widened in recognition. Though Lucas had never met him before, the bartender obviously knew who he was. “Mr. Anderson,” he said, lowering his gaze. “What can I get you?”
“Whiskey. Neat.”
“Right away, sir.” He backed away slowly, putting a good distance between them before he turned around to get their drinks.
Satisfied the other man was far away enough, he turned to her. “Sof, was it?”
She neither admitted nor denied anything. “And you are?”
“Lucas.” He sidled closer to her, wanting to take in more of that scent. “You seem to come here often enough.”
“More often than most.”
Her non-answers were driving him crazy. She seemed direct enough earlier, asking him for a drink, but ignored his questions about her. “The bartender recognized you.”
“Hal seemed to know you, too. He called you Mr. Anderson. And acted like he was scared of you or something.”
It seemed nothing escaped her. “I’m not a regular here, but the staff know me.” He eyed her again, trying to think of where they’d met before. He didn’t know every single Lycan in New York and New Jersey, and he would have remembered if they’d met at some function. He would never forget that face, or that body. She was on the slender, athletic side, but that conservative black dress she wore gave the promise of sensuous curves underneath.
“Ah, I see.”
She didn’t seem to recognize him. Usually, when eligible Lycan women realized who he was, they were all over him. Maybe she wasn’t eligible. The thought rankled him, but he didn’t know why. No ring on her finger, so not engaged or married. A boyfriend? That usually didn’t stop some from trying. Who was this woman?
“Here you go.” Hal
