ONYX MOON

F O R T Y - O N E

ALESSIA

"Do you really think you should be drinking at a time like this?" My Uncle's crackled voice came in through the earpiece "I wouldn't want a human to try to take advantage..."

"Relax Uncle E" I murmured to myself, smiling brightly at the bartender as I thanked him for my second drink of the night "This is my last one, I promise."

I swayed gently in my seat to the music, the thumping bass of the current song playing humming through my veins in a way I've never experienced before.

Human clubs were so much different than Shifter ones and not because we could handle our Alcohol better than them.

Human clubs were...for the lack of better terms...were so much more unrestrained than Paranormal clubs were.

Which was ironic considering society saw us as the wild animals.

In a way, it was refreshing to not have to live up to my Pack's expectations for a night.

"Whatever you're thinking about must be pretty important if it has such an entrancing woman as yourself frowning like that." A smoothed voice rumbled near my ear.

I turned and my breath stuttered in my chest as I took in once of the most handsome men I've ever seen in my life.

'Besides Xenos' My brain kindly reminded me.

The man was massive, with wide shoulders and heavily tatted arms. His tawny brown skin matched his dark hair, hazel eyes, and mischievous grin.

"Excuse me?"

He laid his head in his hands lazily, grinning down at me.

Even when sitting, his massive form engulfed me at the bar's countertop.

"I said..."

"I know what you said" I glared at him "But I don't think it's any of your business about what I'm thinking about."

"I didn't mean to offend you gorgeous" His smile never dimmed, in fact, it grew larger "I was just curious about why the most gorgeous girl in this club is sitting here all by herself instead of dancing her life away on the dance floor."

My lips twitched at his corny words, knowing he must have used the same lines on dozens of other girls before.

"Does that line usually work for you?" I asked almost playfully, border on flirty.

Which definitely surprised me since I wasn't a flirty or playful type of girl.

His eyes widened in slight surprise at her words.

"Usually," He admitted truthfully, an unfamiliar gleam entering his "You're the first person, in a very long time, who wasn't impressed by my charms."

She couldn't help the laugh that burst out of her if she tried.

"Then I think it's time for you to get some new charm" She took a drink of her cocktail and nodded towards his own drink "Or, at the very least, some better lines."

He shifter closer to her, close enough where his arm brushed hers.

"What's your name pretty girl?"

The base of my neck prickled with awareness and I knew without a doubt, my prick of a Mate was out there, watching me.

And a very small, very petty and selfish part of me, wanted to make him suffer for pushing me away.