excitement, and lust in the crowd was spiking. It was such a terrible idea to bring someone like Lexi to a place like Saucebox, where shifters hung out, got drunk, and confessed their sins to Isaac in order to feel better. There was no Isaac acting Omega counselor to them that evening, so they were already on edge. Adding Lexi to the mix was like throwing Marvin into a lifeguard convention.
The ear-bud cracked to life in Colin’s ear:
Judd: “Isaac, where’s Xavier?”
Kevin: “Short little fucker is impossible to see in this mess.”
Isaac: “Let’s just get her up to VIP first. Worry about X later. Safest.”
Judd: “Kevin, watch your three. There’s a drooling posse of barghest coming at you.”
Kevin: “Where?”
Judd: “Close in! Colin, where you at?”
Colin: “Just behind her. Don’t worry about me, I’ll shift if necessary.”
Kevin: “Col, grab her hips and steer her right. Push if you have to. Isaac, clear us a path.”
Judd: “Isaac, you got this?”
Isaac: “No problem. They’re used to me being in a hurry and cutting through crowds here. Bartender, remember?”
Judd: “Colin, keep your eyes focused on where you’re going. Don’t look at anyone. Don’t challenge, just keep her moving.”
Colin: “Ugh. I’m touching my mother. The things I do for this pack.”
Kevin: “Sorry bro, that sucks.”
Judd: “Kevin, they aren’t backing down. To the rear. Stand firm!”
Colin, hands on his mother’s hips, pressed her forward, steered her to follow Isaac until they reached the stairs up to the roped-off VIP area. Xavier had a bouncer stationed there. The big man saw Isaac heading straight for him. He had the rope down and was standing off to one side in a jiffy.
Colin let go of Lexi and shoved his mother up the stairs after Isaac.
“Get off me, puppy!” was her only response.
Colin gestured for Risa, Jojo, and the manager to follow. They all gave him dirty looks, but they weren’t hearing what he was hearing in his ear-bud. Also, they hadn’t looked behind them to see the roiling mass of excitement and agitation that bubbled through the club in their wake.
Colin looked at the bouncer. “Rope it.”
“What about you?”
“I’m staying here.” Because I’m a complete idiot. He glanced longingly up at the safety of the VIP zone. Then he turned resolutely to stand shoulder to shoulder with the bouncer. Okay, more shoulder to arm. The man was big, but didn’t smell like shifter, which was a bummer. Colin would have preferred a berserker on his side.
“No offense, boy, but you don’t look like this is your regular gig,” said the human.
“I know,” admitted Colin, “but they do.”
He gestured at Kevin and Judd, who had swung around just in front of them and were acting first line of defense, keeping anyone from approaching.
There were too many scents, plus flashing lights and loud music. Colin couldn’t really follow what happened next. But suddenly someone went flying. It was possible that Kevin had picked him up and thrown him.
It seemed clear that some kind of brawl was imminent.
Colin started unbuttoning his nice stretchy shirt − it would impede movement if he had to shift. He wasn’t wild about the idea, but if he must fight, he certainly wasn’t doing it in skin.
The bouncer next to him said, “I don’t think it’s that kinda party, baby boy.”
Colin didn’t reply. Silly man, a quarter of the people in there were shifters. Didn’t he know the look by now? Then again, politeness dictated shifters rarely stripped down in a crowded club.
Speaking of which, there came a very loud ripping sound. Loud enough for Colin to hear it above the yells and growls of the crowd. Velcro, tearing.
12
Rippin’ Velcro, After Midnight
Who knew Velcro could sound so ominous?
“Woohooo, take it all off!” cried someone.
Silky black pants came hurtling in Colin’s direction. He plucked them out of the air and tossed them behind him onto the stairs. A monogrammed t-shirt followed. Judd’s boots, fortunately, did not.
Colin knew it was Judd because Kevin, in human form with a nosebleed and a big grin, was suddenly standing next to him, and a stunning black wolf with brilliant yellow eyes was at his feet.
The wolf bared his teeth, long and wicked sharp. Then he threw his head back and howled.
Technically a wolf’s howl is for summoning – a call to hunt, a cry of loneliness, a beckoning to shore up the pack. Occasionally, it was a warning to other wolves. Not exactly something one does at a dance club.
But werewolves also knew that with humans, their howl was a weapon. Like