Claimed by my Lycan Boss

Chapter 3 : Fresh Dirt

I walked to the parking garage where my car was waiting. The shade didn't do much to keep the heat from baking the inside of the car, but at least my cloth seats didn't bake the skin of my thighs through my slacks.

I pulled out my phone, checking it one last time. I knew I was getting ahead of myself by checking my emails a few minutes after the interview was over, but I just wanted to have the offer letter signed so I could feel this was sealed. Surprisingly, the email was already there.

'Offer Package: Eclipse Nightclub', the subject line read.

I opened it, clicking through all of the signature requests. I had no need to read whatever offer they were making me, it didn't matter. I was accepting the job and I would be there at six-forty-five sharp tonight, ready for my seven o'clock shift. I emailed back the signed copy with my heart pounding in my chest.

My car started on the second try. It wasn't exactly the nicest car, but it got me where I needed to go. Before going back to my apartment and getting changed, I had something else to do first.

The wind whipped angrily through my hair, blowing it out of my face. Gravel crunched as I pulled into the cemetery parking lot. I stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut.

The sun baked the scorched earth, but the red dirt over his grave still looked fresh. I knelt, not concerned that the dirt would smudge across my knees. Taking a deep breath, I tried to control the turmoil of emotions I felt for being here again.

"Brian, I saw Hale Rowe today," I murmured to him.

Dirt and rock crunched from somewhere behind me. My hands balled into fists, furious at the disruption. I stood and turned, looking to see who dared interrupt.

There was no one. I stood alone in the cemetery, nothing but the whisper of the wind to answer me.

"Brian?" I asked the wind, his name a prayer on my lips.

It would have been nice if he had heard me, if he could have offered me some reassurance that he had found peace beyond this life.

Grief had made me lose my mind, it was the only explanation for why I could have thought for even a second that Brian might be able to answer me.

I couldn't shake the feeling I was being watched though. There wasn't another car in the lot with mine, nor was I seeing anyone visiting other graves, but that did little to reassure me.

The feeling followed me to work that night.

When I got to the club, it was already busy. The doors wouldn't open to patrons for another hour, but the floor was bustling with bouncers and dancers. Kitchen staff worked through the room, and a few waitresses in short black skirts sat rolling silverware into napkins.

I walked through the club, sliding behind the bar.

"Well, you certainly don't look like Dimitri," a curvy blonde purred as she set glasses behind the counters.

"Would it help at all if I said I wasn't Dimitri?" I asked, attempting to be funny.

"It would make a lot of sense," the blonde answered. "The name is Sophie."

I joined her, taking glasses out of the crate and setting them in neat lines with the rest of the glasses. It appeared that she would be my peer bartender.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Amara," I greeted. "Got any tips to help a new employee out?"

"Lots, sugar. If you see anything weird, just keep your mouth shut. It won't do you any good to go around flapping the gums."

I nodded. She didn’t need to say more. Even though people at bars are used to gossip, I knew very well that, as an employee, I should pretend I was blind and deaf most of the time.

"Sophie, what do you say you offer me a little shot off the top to get the night started?" a slender brunette asked, pressing her elbows to the table.

"Tasha, if you get me in trouble, I'll have your hide," Sophie warned, though she was already pouring a shot of vodka into a shot glass.

"You always were a doll, Soph," Tasha said, winking as she tipped her glass back to down the shot.

"Oh, sugar, you get me," Sophie laughed back.

"Who's your friend?" Tasha asked. "I didn't mean to be so rude."

As she rounded the bar, I realized this woman was built like every man's dream. Pert breasts, a supple ass, and legs for days. She was instantly charming though, and I couldn't resist the warm hug she gave me.

"I'm Amara. It's really nice to meet you," I told her warmly.

"Tasha. I'm a dancer. Is Sophie giving you the rundown or should I? What's that quote from Alice in Wonderland? 'We're all mad here'?" Tasha blinked. When she opened her eyes, they glowed with a soft gray light. She blinked again, and it was gone. "Something like that, I guess."

Tasha strolled away, not waiting to see if I had any further questions or if I actually needed the rundown on the place, but I was too stunned with the fact that I saw her eyes glow. Or maybe, I'd been so stressed out lately that I was starting to see stuff.

I shook my head, returning my attention to my task. A thousand different feelings were stampeding through my mind, but I refused to give any of them much thought at all. Sophie told me to keep my mouth shut, and so I would.

As eight approached and the club opened, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched again. It made my hair stand on end. Another weird thing that I added to my stress account.

The work, however, was pleasant. Sophie was wonderful to work with, and we developed a good flow. The patrons seemed to enjoy the drinks I made. I was proud of that. If I could find some sort of pride and fulfillment in this job, however temporary it may be, it might make life more bearable.

I wondered if the Rowe brothers would make an appearance tonight. I assumed someone as handsome and charming as Declan probably made an appearance pretty regularly. Hale, on the other hand, probably didn't deign to come somewhere like this. A good time seemingly was beneath him.

As if summoned by my thoughts, the elevator door practically blew open, and the brothers calmly and imposingly walked out of it.

They strolled in as if they owned the place. Well, technically, they did.

Patrons and employees alike turned to greet them, to gawk at them, to watch their every move. Tasha, the dancer I'd already met, skipped through the room to give the two of them a hug.

I had to keep my jaw from dropping when Hale actually planted a soft kiss on the top of her head.

The gesture was friendly, rather than romantic, but it still caused something unpleasant to stir in my chest.

Declan saw me instantly, offering a warm smile and strolling across the room.

"Amara, I'm pleased to see you here," he greeted.

"It's a pleasure to be here, sir," I answered. "Can I get you anything?"

"I'd like another one of those old fashioneds like you made earlier today," he requested.

"Coming right up," I replied obediently.

I made sure to put a little extra flair into the making of the drink this time. It never hurts to make a good impression. I tried to use the flashy hand movements to distract from the way I was studying Hale.

As if he had felt my stare on him, his eyes suddenly lifted from Tasha’s face, and our gaze met for a brief moment. A strange, unknown feeling coursed through my veins. Hale’s gaze was so intense that I wondered if he could see right through my soul.

But as soon as we made eye contact, he ended it, dismissing Tasha and walking toward Declan, who was already at the bar waiting for his drink.

Hale stood with his back to the bar, not even greeting me, and murmured something to Declan.

A woman sidled up to Declan, purring compliments and sweet nothings. He gave her a spin and flashed her a smile, sending her on her way. It was clear he was the star of the show here.

Hale, on the other hand, clearly didn’t make it easy for someone to approach him. I couldn’t understand why so many women drooled over his icy face, sent him flirtatious glances and did their best to garner his attention. But of course, as arrogant as him, he didn’t even acknowledge their presence.

Why would he? A monster like him was probably more interested in blood than eye batting.

I carried the finished glass over to Declan, though he wasn't paying attention. He was whispering something close to Hale’s ear, both with serious expressions that made me hesitate to approach them for a moment.

Declan looked up to where I stood awkwardly holding his drink.

"I have your drink," I said lamely.

He took it from me, the same warm smile from before reappearing on his face. I turned around and almost bumped into someone’s arms.

It’s Hale.

I didn’t mean to do that. Althought getting close to Hale was the most important target I worked here, I didn’t want to have any physical touch with this guy. But he seemed not thinking in that way and looked at me like he just remembered me.

“I saw you,” he said, ”This afternoon, near the elevator.”

He should have recognized me in the meeting room. But it turned out he didn’t care about a passer-by and even noticed my face.

“So you were not trying to seduce me?”

I almost laughed and answered, “If that was your expectation, you may feel disappointed.”

Hale remained silent, but I couldn’t help but glance at him again. He was clearly annoyed with something, and for a moment, I really wished I could’ve heard what they were talking about.

"Let's talk in my office." Those were the only words that came out of Hale’s mouth before he stormed out of the bar and went to the back of the club.

Declan gave me an apologetic wink before following Hale to continue their conversation, and I was left behind with a weird feeling I couldn't quite figure out.

***

*Hale*

The small office at the back of the club was cramped, but it was private. I sat heavily in the chair behind the desk.

“Why didn’t you say something to her? You're obviously interested in her.” Declan followed me and locked the door behind. He had this smirk on his face that made me want to roll my eyes.

“When are you going to stop talking about women and focus on business?” I glared at him, avoiding his question—because I had no answer to it either.

What the f**k was wrong with me? Ever since that Amara woman came in today, I just couldn’t focus. There was something unique about her—some problems, perhaps, but I just couldn’t quite put it together.

However, with everything that was going on lately, I might as well just have overreacted. I decided to keep that to myself. Declan didn’t know what was going through my mind. I had more important things for him to work on.

“C’mon, how often do I see you like this?” Declan rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. “Fine, business then,” he said as the sultry smirk on his face faded and his tone turned serious. “We’ve gotten a new case.”

“Tell me what you know,” I requested, pushing Amara’s face away from the front of my mind.

“It was another body on the shore of Lake Mead. They seem to be getting closer. I don’t know who it was yet, Taylor is supposed to come by with more details later tonight.” Declan’s ever present charm made it easy for him to stay in communication with nearly everyone around us.

I slammed my fist on the desk.

“Any idea who’s behind this? I asked through clenched teeth.

"Not yet. Taylor didn’t want to act hasty without you and I are aligned first. I’ve sent a group of men to do some further investigation, but not sure how much they could find out without exposing ourselves. We get this wrong and there will be hell to pay," Declan answered.

I nodded. We thought alike, but our kind were disappearing left and right. Some of them were turning up dead. We needed to take action. Sitting around waiting wasn’t an option.

“I want to get moving, and fast. As soon as Taylor gets here, send him to see me. The quicker we do something about this, the fewer casualties we’ll be cleaning up. I expect us to find who’s responsible, and soon.”