by Maggie Walsh
“They’re a great couple of guys. Lots of talent and a hell of a lot of fun. Go on in, guys, the show’s about to start soon,” Bull said as he reached for the door and opened it for them.
“Thanks, Bull,” Micah nodded as he turned and walked through the door.
“Enjoy your night, Alpha,” Bull said, as he lowered his voice.
They stepped inside the packed club. It was wall-to-wall bodies. Men, women, men dressed as women, half-dressed men and women. The music was loud, the dance floor was packed, the lights flashed and a pretty little redheaded twink stripped on the stage. He strutted his stuff in a pair of hot pink boy shorts. The tables around the stage were packed. People were making out in the booths that lined the walls. In the shadows, people did a lot more than make out.
The guys spread out. Micah, Raith, Thomas, and Gabriel walked over to the bar and ordered drinks. “Here you go, Alpha,” said the bartender, flirting with Micah as he handed him a drink.
Micah smiled at him as he took his beer. “Thanks, Dale. Pretty busy tonight.”
“Yeah, wait till you guys see the new singer, he really draws a crowd.” Dale went off to help other customers.
“Well, that was interesting.” Raith raised a brow at Micah.
“What’s that?” Micah asked.
“Dale usually only has eyes for you, Alpha,” Raith said as he batted his eyelashes at Micah playfully.
“It’s harmless flirting.” Micah chuckled.
“Yeah right, that guy would give his left nut to get you in his bed, Micah.” Thomas laughed.
“Yeah, yeah, not happening. He works here, so not going there, no matter how cute he is.”
“Can I get you anything else, Alpha?” Dale asked seductively as he stepped back in front of Micah.
“No thank you, Dale. We’re good for now,” Micah answered. Dale’s smile dropped and he pouted as he turned and walked away. The guys chuckled and Micah shook his head as they turned toward the stage.
They all leaned back against the bar as they watched Frank, the manager, as he walked up to the mic, welcoming everyone to the club. “Good evening, everyone, and welcome to ‘The Angel Club.’ Please put your hands together for the very talented Jesse,” Frank said and then headed off the stage. The lights went off. A spotlight went on directed at the center of the stage as the music for Saving Abel’s “Addicted” started to play.
Micah was mesmerized by that voice. His breath caught in his throat, his palms started to sweat, and his heart started to beat faster. The woman onstage had beautiful long blonde hair that went down to her ass, with streaks of purple in it. She turned around to face the crowd and started to walk toward the front of the stage. It wasn’t a woman, it was the most incredibly beautiful man Micah had ever seen. Micah couldn’t take his eyes off the beautiful creature on the stage. The rest of the room disappeared and all he saw or heard was the man in front of him singing. Micah guessed he was about five foot seven, maybe a hundred and fifteen pounds, slim build, with slightly toned muscles. He had the face of an angel. High cheek bones, strong jaw, full lips, perfect for kissing. Blue eyes like an arctic wolf, with gold flecks. The black kohl around his eyes made the color pop right out and they just drew him in. Then he started to gyrate his body as he sang and Micah almost swallowed his tongue. He was so fucking sexy, he was pure perfection.
“He can go down on me any day.” Lexi moaned.
“Hell yeah,” Thomas agreed.
Micah growled. They all turned to look at him with smirks on their faces. Dale, behind them at the bar, frowned at Micah, then at the stage. They all turned back to look at the stage as the song ended, and the angel started speaking.
“Hello, bitches, and welcome to ‘The Angel Club.’ Now I know you have all had at least one broken heart, right?” Cheers echoed through the club. “Okay, well tonight is like a song version of a relationship, from beginning, to end.” Jesse said, then grabbed the mic and closed his eyes. “Let the Music Play” by Shannon started to play.
The club jumped to life, people started dancing, singing, and jumping around. Taylor came from behind the wings of the stage and started dancing behind Jesse, along with another dancer, who was all big and muscular. The hunk of a dancer started rocking behind Jesse. He wrapped his arms around Jesse’s waist as they danced and ground their hips together, and Jesse sang. Then the dancer moved away from Jesse and danced with Taylor.
Micah saw red when the dancer put his hands on the singing angel. A growl started to grow in his chest. Thomas, Raith, and Gabriel grabbed onto Micah’s arms to hold him back. “It’s just a show, Micah. Cool it, man,” Gabriel said. The growling stopped, but Micah couldn’t keep his eyes off the stage.
Jesse continued singing and gyrating on the stage, when his eyes landed on the most delicious man he had ever seen standing by the bar. Long chocolate-brown hair, with natural golden highlights streaked throughout. Chiseled, strong, handsome face, full kissable lips, broad shoulders. “Damn, this guy must be close to seven feet tall and just as wide,” Jesse thought to himself. Wide chest, covered by a black button down and a leather jacket. Jesse’s heart started pounding. If only I could see his eyes. The behemoth looks almost pissed. It should be illegal for a guy to be that fucking hot.
The song ended and Jesse spoke to the crowd. “Then love turns, it starts to crumble, they make you feel like it’s all your fault, like it’s you, something’s wrong with you.” There was whooping and cheering. The music started again and Jesse started to sing “Better Than Me” by Hinder. His face turned sad, and his eyes got a sad far-off look. His eyes closed as a single tear escaped and ran down his cheek. Micah saw the pain on his face, in his eyes, and heard it in his voice as he sang. Micah wanted to crush whoever had hurt this man. It was a clawing need that was growing inside him to destroy whoever had put that look on his man’s face. Micah’s breath caught in his throat. My man? Where did that come from?
Jesse opened his eyes as the song ended and he started talking again. “Then your best friend comes along and kicks your ass.” The crowd cheered. “And makes you remember, it’s not you. The bastard didn’t deserve you in the first place, and you can do better than him. So you kick his ass to the curb!” Whistles and cheers broke out.
Jesse started to sing “Strong Enough” by Cher, and the place went wild. Jesse danced around the stage and then went out into the crowd and started dancing and singing with them.
The song ended and Jesse yelled out, “Then life moves on again!” The music changed to Selena Gomez’s “Slow Down.” The club had become a wave of writhing bodies.
Jesse was singing and dancing in the crowd. Micah felt his body being pulled toward him. Micah had taken a step forward when Jesse’s eyes locked with his. They were both mesmerized, in a trance. They couldn’t break eye contact, as Jesse moved closer to Micah. Damn, those are the most beautiful deep blue eyes I have ever seen.
Jesse’s hand reached out and he placed his palm flat on Micah’s chest. Micah cautiously put his hands on Jesse’s hips and pulled him closer. The only thing between them was their clothes. Jesse’s hands slid up and around Micah’s neck as he continued to sing. He bent as far back as he could. Jesse released Micah’s neck and started bending back further. Micah held onto Jesse’s hips tightly, as he looked over his body, taking in Jesse’s lean chest, up to his soft delectable throat. Micah licked his lips, wanting to not only sink his teeth into it but to kiss and lick it.
Then Jesse popped back up with the song and turned away from Micah, dancing away as he clapped his hands high over his head and kept singing. Jesse danced over to Taylor, who was in the crowd in front of the stage. Jesse and Taylor started to dance together, grinding their bodies together, as Jesse sang the end of the song.
Micah growled and took a step forward. Thomas and Gabriel grabbed him and tried to hold him back, but he kept walking. They finally let him go and he walked right up to Jesse. Micah grabbed Jesse’s arm and spun him around to face him just as the song ende
d. Micah growled, “Mine.”
Jesse just looked at Micah with eyes wide open, as Taylor’s jaw dropped. Raith and Gabriel cursed from behind Micah.
* * * *
“I don’t think so, big guy. It was just a show, so can you let go of my arm now?” Jesse asked Micah. Micah reluctantly released Jesse’s arm. Immediately Jesse missed the heat from Micah’s hand. His cock went instantly hard when this beautiful Adonis had touched him. He had to get away from this man. His whole body felt like it had been lit on fire with the need to climb this man and never let him go.
Frank came running over to their group. “Is there a problem over here Al…I mean Micah?” Frank caught himself.
“No, Frank, no problem,” Micah answered, never taking his eyes off his mate.
Frank turned to Jesse. “Why don’t you go take your break now, Jesse. Relax till the next show.”
“Are you sure, Frank? We’re not done with this set yet.”
“Yeah, I’m sure, Jess. Go on. You and Taylor go take a break.”
“Okay, Frank,” Jesse said, not taking his eyes off of Micah. Taylor grabbed his hand and pulled Jesse away, which broke their connection. Taylor and Jesse disappeared behind the stage. Music started up again and a male stripper took the stage.
Micah turned and headed back to the bar, grabbed his beer and guzzled it down. Frank stepped up to him cautiously. “What’s going on, Alpha? Is everything okay?”
“Who’s the little hottie, Frank?” Lexi asked as he came back over to the group. Micah turned and grabbed Lexi around the throat and growled, “Mine.”
“Oh shit.” Lexi’s eyes went wide in fear. “I’m sorry, Alpha. I didn’t know. I meant no disrespect.” He lifted his chin, offering his throat to Micah as best as he could, in a sign of submission. Micah released Lexi and mumbled, “Sorry.”
“Shit, Alpha. Jesse is your mate?” Frank asked.
“Yes,” Micah growled. A gasp came from behind him. Micah and the rest of the wolves turned their attention to the sound. They found Dale. He was pale, his eyes were wide open, and his hand was over his mouth. He quickly turned and ran away.
Micah sighed heavily and then turned back to Frank. “Tell me about him, Frank.”
“Well, he’s a good kid. Human, very talented, as you can see, and always draws a big crowd. He’s always on time, never late, never calls in sick, doesn’t fool around with the customers. He traveled around a lot. He and Taylor, before they landed here. I hired them about two months ago.”
“Who’s Taylor?” Micah asked. “The guy he was dancing with, the one he went into the back with. Taylor’s my party host. He dresses the part, mingles, gets the guys dancing and buying drinks.”
“Gets them all hot and horny, you mean.” Raith snickered.
“Yeah, that, too.”
“So, are they together?” Micah questioned.
Hesitantly Frank answered, “I think so, Alpha. They’re always together. Come to work together, leave together, they live together.”
Micah’s face went stone cold, his jaw clenched and his eyes got devoid of emotion. “I’m outta here.” He stepped away from everyone and headed for the door. Thomas had taken off after him, yelling over his shoulder, “I’ll go with him. You guys stay and have fun.”
* * * *
Taylor and Jesse walked into the dressing room and closed the door. “What the hell was that?” Jesse fumed as he plopped down on the couch. Taylor sat down next to him.
“More like, who the hell was that? Did you see him? Damn! I would love to just climb him and ride him for a week. Yum,” Taylor said with a moan.
“No!” Jesse yelled, then caught himself. His face turned pink as he clamped his lips together and looked away.
“Oookay,” Taylor dragged out the word as he looked at his best friend with confusion. “I mean no, he’s not right for you,” Jesse quickly replied, trying to cover up the jealousy he felt. “Did you see him? He probably has a different guy every night.”
“Yeah, so?” Taylor said as he stood up and went over to the mirror. He started fixing his hair.
“I thought you wanted something more, Tay? Someone right,” Jesse questioned.
“Yes, but he can be Mr. Right Now, babe. He was the finest man either of us has ever seen.”
“Yeah, he was okay.” Jesse crossed his arms over his chest and looked down, hoping Taylor couldn’t see his half-hard cock behind his zipper.
“Okay?” Taylor screeched out. “Okay? He was a hell of a lot more than okay, Jesse. He should be illegal he’s so fucking hot.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Jesse said to himself as he ran his hands through his hair and looked up at the ceiling.
“You know you want him, Jesse. You can deny it all you want, but I saw the way you were with him out there. You want him and so does that one-eyed monster standing up in your pants.”
Jesse groaned. He ran his hands through his hair again and huffed, “So? Even if I did, I wouldn’t go there. He looks like one of those alpha types. Big and dominating. I won’t be dominated by anyone. Never again. Not happening.”
“When are you gonna let it go and find someone who deserves you, Jesse?” Taylor asked softly, as he sat back down next to Jesse and took his hand. “Someone who will treat you the way you deserve to be treated.”
“I can say the same to you, Tay. And I’m not looking for anyone. I like not having to answer to anyone. I can be me, make my own decisions, my own choices. I go where I want, when I want, with whom I want. I am the boss of me. No one else. I can’t ever go there again.”
Taylor squeezed Jesse’s hand. “I know, honey, but not every guy is Will, or Nick…”
“I know that, Taylor.” Jesse cut him off. “But it’s not just Will and you know it. They all want to boss me around, or make me submit to them, or control me. They think because of the way I look, that they can walk all over me. I won’t do that anymore. Never again, Tay.”
“But you’ll never know if you’ve found the one unless you give some poor schlub a chance, Jesse.”
“I know, it’s just too hard to trust someone, Tay. You know that.” Jesse laid his head on Taylor’s shoulder and sighed. Taylor kissed the top of Jesse’s head, then tilted his head and rested his cheek on the top of Jesse’s head.
“Yeah, I know, Jess. I know.”
* * * *
When he walked into the house, Micah took off his leather jacket and hung it on the post next to the door. Thomas hung his, too.
“You should have stayed at the club with the others. You deserve a night off, too, Thomas.”
Micah walked away, heading down the hall into the kitchen. Thomas followed him.
“I wanted to make sure you were all right, Micah. Plus, I really wasn’t in the mood for the strip club anyway.”
“I’m fine, I just wanted to go for a run, take a shower and go to bed,” Micah said as he started taking off his shirt, and kicking off his shoes.
“Want some company?” Thomas said seductively as he smiled.
Micah’s hands froze on the button of his pants as he raised his head to look at Thomas with a raised brow. “On my run?” Micah asked.
Thomas moved closer to Micah, putting his hands on Micah’s hips and pulling him closer. Their groins touched. “Or everything.” Thomas purred, giving Micah a sultry smile. Thomas leaned his head toward Micah. Just when their lips were about to meet, Micah stepped back, out of Thomas’s hold. “What’s this, Thomas?” Micah asked in confusion.
Thomas shrugged one shoulder. “I thought you might be feeling lonely. Maybe a little sad, and I could help cheer you up.” Thomas stepped closer to Micah again and cupped Micah’s cheek in his hand. Micah looked at him with a sad smile and laid his hand over Thomas’s, gently removing it.
“Thomas, we haven’t been together like that in a really long time. It’s been what…Over a hundred years? And we both decided back then that we were better off as friends.”
Micah stepped away and turne
d. “And, if I remember right, you were the one who fell in love with that guy…what was his name?” Micah started to take off his pants.
“Mitch,” Thomas laughed and leaned against the counter.
“Yeah, that was it, Mitch. You wanted to break things off for a relationship with Mitch. And gods only know how many guys we’ve both had since then.” Micah stepped out of his pants and held them in front of himself.
“I know, I just thought maybe…you know…you’re alone, I’m alone. Neither of us has had anyone in a long time, maybe we could help each other out.”
“Even so, Thomas, we know this would never work between us. It didn’t then, and now we’ve been friends for too long. I’m your Alpha. You’re an Alpha type. We clash too much,” Micah said with a laugh, then his face went serious. “And I met my mate tonight. I couldn’t now even if I wanted to. Knowing that my mate is finally here, it would be cheating. And I would never cheat on my mate.”
Thomas smiled at him as Micah turned toward the back door. “You’re right, man. I’m sorry. Maybe I should have stayed at the club and found myself some ass. It’s been too long since I’ve gotten laid.”
“It’s okay, brother. No harm, no foul. I’m going for my run.” Micah opened the door and stepped outside.
“Hey, Micah? I really am sorry, man. But you’re right, we always did clash too much in the bedroom, didn’t we?” Thomas said, chuckling.
“Yeah, we did.” Micah laughed too and dropped his pants on a chair on the deck. “It really is okay, man. Thanks for caring.”
“No problem, brother. Have a great run.”
Micah nodded at him, then turned and shifted into his wolf and ran toward the tree line.
Thomas chuckled to himself and shook his head. “That never gets old. Biggest damn wolf I’ve ever seen.” Thomas closed the door and turned. He walked out of the kitchen, chuckling to himself as he went off to his room.
Chapter 2
