Sorry for the long update. I don't have a good excuse other than I just wasn't liking the chapter. Finally happy with it and I made it longer than usual to make up for the wait. I hope you enjoy it.

-A.L.

"You're late."

Jason shouted over the loud rock music before I could even put my purse down. Usually the music didn't get this loud during the weekdays I worked. The group of biker looking folks in the far corner I assumed was to blame. Still, I wasn't late. I'm seventeen minutes early according to the clock on the wall. He was just trying to get under my skin. I wasn't going to let him.

"My shift doesn't start till six. It's been the same since I started."

He acted like this was expected as he stood there with his hands on hips like he owned the place. What was with him? Don't blame me for a group showing up. Taking another glance in their direction it was clear why Jason might feel stressed. Shit rolls down hill I guess and I'm still at the bottom wondering if climbing it is a good idea or not. Scratch that, I knew it wasn't but it was just so tempting. Especially the vixen who stood at the top.

"If you looked at the schedule you would've known to be here at five. This isn't high school where mommy and daddy keeps track and wakes you up on time in the morning. Make sure you're not late again."

I had checked it. My shift has been the same since I started. I've been trying to get weekends for the extra tips I'd likely get but Nancy didn't seem to like the idea much.

"Well I'll talk to Nancy about it then. Maybe she forgot that she insisted I keep the same time and gave me the extra hours I wanted."

Crunching his eyebrows I could practically hear him grinding his teeth as his green eyes bore into me. I looked around the place just to not look at him.

"I doubt it. You shouldn't be here at all. It's dangerous for humans. Bad enough when one of them comes in without their owner but they're only here for a couple hours tops. Personally, I think that's far too lenient but I've got no say in what they're allowed. You on the other hand-"

"Hey! Stop trying to get into each other panties and bring some more rounds over! We're thirsty."

I laid my hand on his shoulder trying to calm him down. I'm sure it got worse on the weekends. What was the big deal? Drunks were the same no matter human, werewolf and maybe vampires. Can they drink beer? I'd have to ask Nancy sometime. Maybe she'll know.

For the next couple hours it was fairly busy especially with Jason on my ass about supposedly being an hour late. There wasn't that many patrons as most left do to the group of three guys and two women that was still here and getting more obnoxious by the minute. It amazed me how much they could drink. Not that I was complaining. The more they drank, the more they tipped. I was even getting better at telling who was a werewolf and who was just human by the amount they were able to consume. Humans are such light weights.

A balding guy with a scruffy beard that was in desperate need of trimming and lotion asked me as I set a fresh pitcher of beer down next to him. This was actually fairly common. I wasn't entirely sure where I stood on the issue. In a way, it was kinda hot, but the feminist side of me was throwing anything and everything as she ranted and threw her little tantrum about how sexist it was.

"I'm afraid that I am."

I smiled to him trying my hardest to ignore the stench of BO and oil radiating off him. What had he been doing before deciding to grace us with his presence? My inner goddess said I probably didn't want to know and she was more than likely right about that.

My voice sounded a little more southern than intended. Not that I am or really even been in the south. I fell in love with it as a kid and studied it from movies and television over summer break one year thinking it would make me so cool at school. It was a disaster. Everyone just laughed at me. Now it just comes out on its own sometimes when I'm nervous as if I was from Alabama or Georgia.

I started to leave the table with the old pitcher in hand. Right after I turned around I was knocked forward into the back of a girl at the next table by a loud slap on my ass.

"Too bad. I'd make you howl even when the moon wasn't out."

Burning pain pulsed from the area as I tried to get off the girl I was knocked into. The back of the chair following it up by trying to dig into my stomach. The guy and his friends started laughing as I tried to get my legs to work and not having much luck. It was far from a normal slap that he gave me but more like a full force blow. I was sure there would be blood and the gasp from her moments later confirmed it.

"You're not actually interested in her are you, Joe?"

I heard one of the girls ask him but I was in too much pain to see which one it was. The human girl that held me now gripped me tighter I forced myself to turn in the direction just as i heard Jason yell for Blake before turning.

I'd never seen anything like it not even in movies. Even with Jake I didn't see...it. The way his whole body twisted and deformed, the light tan fur that covered his body faster than those old Chia pet commercials. The only thing holding me together was it was clear this girl hadn't seen it before either. I knew I had to get us away from them before we both got seriously hurt.

I managed to pull her over to one of the booths near the wall. She was petite but my ass was still on fire making it hard to get anything to work. She herself was now starting to freak out as Blake was now also helping Jason. How quickly the rolls reversed.

"It's going to be alright." I tried comforting her. The few other customers was running out the door not wanting to be involved. Cowards.

"Jason will-"

Everything went fuzzy as I was struck from behind. The next thing I recalled was being on the ground with one of the women who was with them on top of me trying to bang my head against the floor.

"This is all your fault you little bitch! He's going to give me his mark, not you!"

Thank the moon goddess she was actually human or I would of been dead. It still took everything I had to break her hold and I still wasn't sure if I would make it out of this.

"I'm going to-"

She stopped. The face of rage now one of terror. I turned to see what had brought on the sudden change to find a large wolf slowly moving towards us with its head lowered prepared to attack. It was beyond beautiful. The way it's eyes were illuminated as if by some lamp behind them and the gold fur that hid among the dark brown. I should of been terrified as well but I wasn't. I automatically knew it was Nancy.

The human I'd been fighting with slowly got off of me with her hands held up in surrender saying something I didn't care about. I was still solely focused on Nancy.

Without warning Nancy leaped at the girl driving her down to the ground with her claws cutting deep inside her. The girl screamed as I tried to get up my entire body protesting.

"Nancy dont!" I screamed. I really didn't want to see anyone killed tonight.

I flung myself next to Nancy wrapping my arms around her neck begging her to not kill her. The same sensation I felt by her touch on the side of the highway returning. How I had missed it.

Nancy hesitated and I could tell the war she was fighting with herself. Her large canines would sink towards the girls face only to snap back.

"I'm fine. Let the police, or the council, or whoever deal with them."

I felt the strong muscles in her body relax as she finally moved off her. It was just then that I noticed the large puddle and realized the girl had pissed herself. I pulled away half grossed out and half extremely amused.

"I think your boyfriend might favor someone who's actually potty broke." I snarled to her. It helped to alleviate the pain.

"What in the fuck, Nancy?"

Jake's voice caught me off guard as I turned in his direction only to be caught off guard by him standing naked along with Jason, Blake, two of the guys, along with the other girl that was causing problems.

"I'll grab some clothes and escort them out."

Jason said uneasy as he headed towards the back room that I just figured was the break room obviously not wanting to be around for what was about to happen. Blake gave him a disgusted look knowing he'd have to stay here while he got dressed. I couldn't say I blamed him. I didn't want to be here but I still had clothes on.

"What are you doing here?"

It was a stupid question but my brain was too shot right now to come up with anything better. Whatever that bitch hit me with gave me a major migraine to go along with the rest of my pains.

"What am I doing here? What the fuck are you doing here?"

The steam practically blew from his nostrils and his veins were showing. I would of backed away if I wasn't already up against the wall using it to support me.

"I told you I was working here, Jake. It's not my problem if you didn't believe me."

"No you're not! You may of got off easy last time playing the Council card but it won't work this time. Those rules don't apply to troublemakers."

I tensed up as he stepped closer. While I wasn't as scared of him as I was he was still scary and could easily hurt me or worse.

"Don't you fuckin touch her!"

Nancy's voice was rough and cold as she stepped in front of me blocking him. Here I was in incredible pain and real close to being in a lot more, yet all I could think about was how good she looked. She was beyond perfection. Get your shit together, Crystal!

Jake stood there speechless as Jason returned wearing a pair of old sweatpants and a white t-shirt tossing the wannabe hangers similar items to wear. Once he escorted them out and Blake left the tension picked up.

"Of all the stupid shit you've done over the years, Nancy this really takes the cake. What the fuck were you thinking?!"

Hearing him call her stupid infuriated me. Nancy could be a little short tempered at times but having to put up with his shit all the time it was certainly understandable. She's done a lot for herself with the bar and even with the pack, it was no doubt she was still the one keeping things mostly together. Her talking with Ashley that night I confronted Jake proved it.

"Don't you dare call her that! Have you taken a hard look in the mirror lately, Jake? Only an idiot would try to force an affair to continue after their spouse has found out.

I wanted to smack that grin off his face but I was too sore to at the moment. It was a good excuse. Nancy stood watching us quietly which made me wonder what was going through that head of hers.

"How did she get off easy?"

Jake dropped the grin without me needing to remove it. His eyes started darting to the sides a clear indication he was thinking of a lie. What the fuck did I ever see in him? A month ago I'd of done anything for him now...

"Nothing. I told her we were done and I want us to work things out. I guess that's the reason she wanted to work here. I still don't get why you would let her. I love you and I know I've done some things I shouldn't but once this thing with the Evergreen pack Is cleared up I'll make it up to you. Right now, I'm getting her the hell out-

"I said don't touch my mate!"

I swore Jake's eyes were about to pop out of that head of his. He was so sure it had been Ashley that he didn't have a clue. I hadn't expected Nancy to tell him and I was a little unsure of how I felt about it. This could make Jake more dangerous than ever and not just with me but also Nancy and Joann. My arm instinctively went around her waist protectively even though I knew I wasn't any threat to Jake.

"Is this some kind of fuckin joke? I get that you're pissed off at me Nancy, that's still no excuse for whatever this sick game is that you're playing. She's just playing us and after what happened last night we need to stick together. If you did claim her then I get it, you just didn't want me messing around with her anymore. I'm not! So revoke it so she can be out of our lives for good and we can fix us."

Nancy's body tensed up again and I feared the worse. It was clear she had put up with a lot with him over the years and it was now boiling over.

"There is no us, Jake. It's over! You only got with me to take my pack away. Well, you got it. Now you will actually have to do some Alpha work instead of just using the title to fuck whoever. What, did you think it was all just fun and games? Typical. You made sure I was only involved when you had trouble and like an idiot I went along with it because it meant something to me and I was holding onto you letting me be more involved but I'm not even an official member. Crystal is mine! And while it might be a fucked up situation, not you or anyone else can change that. Now get the fuck out of here!"

I tightened my grip around her waist when she said that I was hers letting her know that I agreed. Her words were ice cold yet I found warmth in them. After everything that happened earlier leading up to now had me terrified but as soon as she showed up I knew I was safe. Nobody has ever made me feel that way. Not my parents or the guys that I had hooked up with before.

Jake glared at us in pure hatred before heading to the door still naked. "This isn't over!" He screamed before he finally left.

"You're bleeding, I can smell it. Go sit down and I'll grab the first aid kit. I'll also have Jason and Blake close this place up for the night."

Her voice was soft and comforting. A strong contrast compared to how she spoke to Jake. I shook my head. I didn't want her to leave me even if it was just to go in the next room.

"You're hurt. I could of killed her for what that bitch did to you but you had to stop me. I'll forgive it but don't think that means I'm not going to take care of you. Now sit your ass down. You'll have plenty of opportunities to see me naked later."

The playful yet authoritative tone of her voice drove me wild. I shouldn't push her but I couldn't help myself. "But later is later. Now is so much better." I teased her

She tried to hide it but I could just make out the slight lift at the edge of her mouth and her eyes squinting in dark desire told me everything.

"Now!" She insisted. "Then I'll take you home and I expect you to go to bed. You need rest."

"What about you?"

She just shrugged. "I can run back here afterwards. I normally just sleep in the back."

"I'll tell you what. I'll let you but how about you stay at my place tonight. I can order pizza and we can watch Pretty Little Liars on Netflix. Plus I know Joann is dying to meet my first girlfriend."

"I'm not your girlfriend, I'm your mate. A girlfriend is just a human term for someone you buy a cheap meal for just to get into her pants and forget about soon after. Fuck diamonds! It's mates that's forever. I won't let anyone take you away."

"Or you away. So go get dressed, mate. As much as I enjoy seeing you naked, I really hate the idea of anyone else."

I actually got a real smile from her. A first that I've seen from her and I loved it. I didn't even care about being hurt, with Nancy it didn't matter. I made my way to the bar and grabbed my phone from my purse to let Joann know.

What a great night this was turning out to be.