Chapter 10

The week flew by, and Jordan immersed herself in work trying to get her mind off the events of the night she tried to shift into her wolf. She had gotten into a few verbal fights at the bar and even physically punched one young man in the face after he kept taunting her about not being a true wolf and not belonging. Her head bouncer Nick would drag them out and ban them for a week.

Jordan found the small victory sweeter than she thought, even though it was only seven days. It didn’t affect the bar at all. One was kicked out, and three would enter. The Coyote was always the busiest bar in Willow, especially with the wolves that enjoyed it.

The occasional human stepped in from time to time. She couldn’t help but find it adorable as all eyes fell on them while they made their way to the bar, ordering a drink, failing at making conversation and leaving quickly after. It was the little things in a world that seemed so bleak.

The mating event had taken hold of Jordan and was consuming her. Her animal was in her; she knew it. She just didn't understand why it wouldn't emerge like it was being held down by something.

Getting ready for another shift at work, Jordan walked into the kitchen, opened the fridge and grabbed a jug of orange juice. Closing the door, she watched Sonja walk in and take a seat at the kitchen table. She grabbed a glass and filled it. Standing there in silence she glared out the window.

“Jordan. Talk to me, please.” Sonja whispered. “I know you feel embarrassed, humiliated, but you need to talk to someone.”

Jordan turned around and walked to the table with a blank expression. She sat next to her sister and took a drink. She felt her sister’s hand rest on her forearm and then finally looked at her. “Where’s Mamma Sable?”

“Gone shopping, I think. Why?” Sonja asked frowning.

“Something’s not right, Sonja. It just doesn’t make sense. None of it.” Jordan finally accepted the invitation to talk. She wasn’t sure if her sister would understand what she was going through, and hopefully, she’d never go through it herself, but Sonja was right; having someone to talk to was nice.

Sonja sighed and raked a hand through her long blond hair. “I know Jordan. Nothing makes sense. I can’t even begin to imagine how you’re feeling. You know those assholes at the bar are wrong? You do belong, we belong.”

Jordan brushed her palms together and looked at her sister. “Tell me what you remember the day Mamma Sable found us? I need to know.”

Sonja leaned back in her chair and thought for a moment. “It comes in bits and pieces, not a full picture. I remember crying, holding on to you for my life.” Sonja said pausing, trying to remember more. “I remember you calling out, ‘Alpha Papa, Alpha Mama’ and then finding them dead in the snow, their fur covered in blood and ash.”

Jordan tilted her head to the side, her eyes narrowed. “Every dream I have, I remember calling out to them like that, calling Papa, ‘Alpha Papa.’ But how can that be?” Jordan shook her head not understanding. “Papa was Alpha Lennox’s second in command, not the Alpha.”

“They’re just dreams, Jordan. I’m sure over time, maybe our minds have made us believe certain things that haven’t even happened, to heal from such a tragedy. Maybe it’s something we want or need but never really existed.” Sonja tried to reason and make it sound logical.

“What about the Panthers? Do you remember ever, at any time seeing two young panthers?” Jordan jerked her head up waiting for a response.

“No. Never. Jordan you know damn well that only the Kodiaks can shift into panthers and any other form they want. Maybe you saw them in your dreams when they attacked our pack?” Sonja wanted to make mention of what happened with Noah and the Panthers they saw, but that wouldn’t be helpful to the conversation. It could have been that, but Sonja also assumed that Jordan had seen the Panthers in her dreams far before the event, but trying to calm her sister down was the only thing she could do now.

Jordan stood from her chair and wagged her finger back and forth at Sonja. “Oh no. At the mating ritual when I tried to shift, it was like I wasn’t even in my body. It was like I was a spirit in a dream overlooking events that happened.” Jordan took a breath and licked her lips. “I watched a young girl with blond hair shift into the most beautiful white wolf and then approach another young girl. When she turned around, I was looking at you, Sonja.” Jordan whispered staring wide-eyed at her sister.

“What?” Sonja asked, stunned at what her sister was telling her.

“I then watched you smile at the wolf and also shift into a white wolf. Then two young boys came into the clearing and shifted into panthers. I am assuming I was the first white wolf and then we all walked off into the forest happy.” Jordan continued.

“I don’t have any memories of shifting. Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” Sonja asked raising an eyebrow.

“I don’t know. I am trying to piece this shit together. None of it makes sense.” Jordan was so frustrated. A moment later they heard the front door open.

She looked at Sonja and whispered, “Not a word. She doesn’t need to know any of this.”

**

It was Thursday night, and it was going to be a full house. Lennox had hired a live band that everyone had been requesting for months now. Jordan made sure to have a few extra girls on to make sure the floor was fully covered so she could just monitor and make sure everything flowed properly. If they ran out of coin, booze or anything else happened, she could take off and grab what they needed.

Jordan found a welcomed distraction in the busy nights. Knowing that she would be engulfed by her overwhelming thoughts if she was alone, she could just focus on making money now, and with such a full house, there were always interesting characters around. She saw a familiar face that came in earlier, if only to say hi, in the form of Randy the Butcher, who wanted to give her a small tip for a drink. He too, was in a particularly bad space, missing his old pack, his mother, father, and brothers. He needed the comfort of a friend and found Jordan the necessary friend to spend time with. After their chat and his drink, he left Jordan a thirty dollar tip and headed home. Life was tough all around, Jordan learned.

It was going on 11:00 pm and the band had already played one set. They had just finished their break and were starting their second set when Jude had walked in with a friend. He made his way to the bar.

“Hey. How’s it going tonight gorgeous?” He asked kissing her cheek.

“Packed. I’m exhausted, and I still have two hours to go.” Jordan replied wiping a layer of perspiration from her forehead.

“Take a break. Let’s get some fresh air. You need it.” He laced his arm through hers and started to walk her out to the back.

Jordan smiled and turned to Sonja. “I’ll be back in ten minutes ok?”

She watched Sonja give her a thumbs up, and they retreated out the back exit.

Jude pushed her up against the brick wall and crashed his mouth onto hers. His lips and tongue were exploring her mouth as he had never tasted her before. She pulled back gulping fresh air and smiled. “What was that for?”

“I just miss you.” He said pressing his forehead into hers.

“Jude. You saw me this morning.”

He leaned his right shoulder against the brick building, looking at her with a sexy stare, then within seconds she watched his face go from relaxed to intense and then anger.

His shoulder came off the brick building, so he was standing at his true height. She watched as his fists clenched into balls, his eyes starting to glow bright amber when a low growl emitted from the back of his throat.

“Jude, you're scaring me.” She said in a trembling voice.

Jude grabbed her shoulder and pushed her behind him. “Don’t move Jordan and stay behind me. When I say run, run!” He growled.

Jordan looked over Jude’s shoulder, and her eyes fell on a single man, walking through the middle of the others, and she noted the way they moved for him, clearing a path. His command and the respect he demanded exuded from him. As she stared at him, no longer moving, she saw that he had a two o’clock shadow, encasing his chiseled facial features, and his jet black hair was short but tousled in a mess. His blue jeans and tight white shirt showed every muscle, and his strength was obvious in width and the carriage of his shoulders. His neck was thick and strong. And to top it off, he amplified a sexual appeal that drew her in like a trance she couldn’t shake off.

Jordan tried to rip her eyes away as they traveled up his bare arm that was threaded with muscles. They were covered in tattoos that ran all the way beneath his sleeve, reappearing on his shoulder, the most apparent being on his neck. Her heart thumped so hard she thought her rib cage would explode, and she wanted to run, but she felt rooted in place behind Jude. The word ‘Kodiak’ was tattooed in dark blue ink on his thick neck and was now in clear view as the man’s gaze fell on Jordan.

She instantly panicked.

“Run, Jordan,” Jude said, holding a stance and exposing his canine’s to the man.

She heard him telling her to go, even more forcefully now, but she was transfixed on the stranger. Before she could even blink, another man bolted and had Jude pinned off the ground by his neck.

Jordan finally unglued her feet, trying to bolt to the door that was beside her. But she wasn’t fast enough, and she found her body pinned to the brick wall with the man standing just inches from her face. She felt his large calloused hand come up and cup her face, staring at her like he was trying to memorize her features. Then his mouth curved wickedly as he stared at her.

He was stunning, built like a statue. His enormous frame stood more than six feet tall, and his icy blue eyes bored into Jordan’s as she stared up at him, unable to breathe. He swiped her blond hair away from the right side of her neck which revealed the bite mark which Jude had given her. Her heart was beating so fast she thought it would burst through her chest as a white glow rimmed his amber irises, and he turned to look at Jude.

A low deep growl emitted from the back of his throat. “You fucking tried to claim her?” Jordan watched his hand come up, his claws exposed and he swiped at Jude’s face, leaving a trail of claw marks down his cheek. The wounds cut into his skin like razor blades, and she watched the blood seep out and down his face in horror.

Tears were streaming down Jordan’s face now, and she was sure he would kill her. The stranger in front of her turned her chin with his partially exposed claw, so she was now staring at him once again. A soft look fell over his face when he whispered in a deep rough voice, “You belong to us Jordan. You belong to me.”