Her Impossible Mate

3- VIP

...Raine...

My handbag makes an audible thud as it connects with my apartment floor. I throw my keys onto the counter and roll my shoulders, stretching and cracking my back satisfyingly. Satisfaction is the theme of the night, as the confrontation that had me so rattled really did have a satisfying end. I smirk to myself as I wander over to the kitchen sink to wash away the altercation from my hands.

"Who's blood is that?" The concerned voice of my roommate Camille sounds from the shadows.

"Not mine." My tone is matter of fact as I watch the water swirl, streaked with red. Her footsteps shuffle closer, her fluffy 'mom' slippers weighing her feet down as always.

"I figured that. Trouble at the club?" Her lean frame hops gracefully onto the kitchen counter, head tilted disapprovingly at the mess I've made in the sink. 

I reach into the cupboard for two wine glasses and gesture my head towards the fridge. She rolls her eyes but hops down and grabs a chilled bottle of our favourite Pinot Grigio, perfect for gossip and ranting.

We assume our usual spots on the sofa, and I give her the story of my eventful evening.

Camille has been my roommate for the past three years. She is closer to family than anyone related by blood. Stealing from the shop that Cami worked in turned out to be the best bad decision I ever made. She caught me, and instead of turning me in, she took the time to look a little closer and noticed my dishevelled state. She also happens to be a packless wolf. She caught my scent and, thankfully, took me under her wing... paw? 

"You need to be more careful, Raine." Her voice has that disappointed tone a mother might use with her unruly teen. I raise my eyebrow to mimic her disapproval and take a long sip of the cool, citrus liquid. 

"I'm serious. You let your anger get the best of you. That man could report you. Or he could tell people there was something... different about you." Her mothering continues, and I can't contain the eye roll of annoyance. 

"Cami, please. The guy was clearly out of it. I didn't shift, just a little toothy rage. I just gave him what he deserved. You want to talk about assault? What would he have done to me if I couldn't defend myself? Maybe next time, he'll think before he follows a woman down an alleyway." She sighs defeatedly. Yes, I actually won one! I place my now empty glass on the coffee table and pour myself another.

"Y'know, you were more fun before you got with Kevin." My tone turns playful, ready to move away from such serious topics. I pour the last of the wine into her glass and smile coyly up at her. She laughs at my comment, picking up the glass and finishing it in one extended gulp. 

We laugh together, both happy that the tension has shifted. We don't always have time for each other, with Cami working during the day and me often at the club in the evenings. Despite our differing personalities and time apart, when we get together, nothing changes. We will always be best friends.

The laughing fades, and Cami starts to squirm awkwardly in her seat, her smile completely gone. Her sudden shift in mood has me on edge, and my smile fades too, replaced with a deep frown of concern. She breathes deep, her eyes making their way to make contact with mine. 

"Speaking of Kevin..." Her voice is quiet, almost as if she's afraid to tell me whatever it is. I raise my eyebrows expectantly. "He asked me to move in." She fidgets with her fingers, waiting for my response. My jaw slackens slightly, leaving my mouth ajar in shock. I cough myself out of it, ready to be a supportive friend.

"That's great!" My voice raises with surprise, the words coming out sounding a little forced. Her head raises again, a goofy grin on her face at my words. Clearly, she missed my tone. 

"You don't think it's too soon?" Her eyes bulge expectantly, waiting for my approval. And although it's soon, I am not going to be the person to stand in her way. 

"I think if you're happy, that's all that matters. The guy's a straight-laced suit, but he's a cute one. And he treats you well. If this is what you want, then go for it!" I place my hand on her knee for reassurance making sure my tone and my face are supportive.

She beams brightly, satisfied at my approval. Not that she needs it, of course, but over these last three years, we have become each others family. 

"And you'll be ok with the apartment?" Her face shifts to concern again, always looking out for me. I smile reassuringly, trying to hide any worry or disappointment.

"You know me, I'll be fine." I shrug dismissively, not wanting to take away from her happiness. "A little peace and quiet would be nice." We chuckle together. I really am so happy for her.

"This calls for a celebration!" I jump up and rush for another bottle of wine. This time something fancy, with a hint of fizz. Popping the cork and pouring us glass after glass, we continue to talk about Cami and Kevin and giggle into the night.

I continue to drink after Cami heads to bed. She has got work tomorrow and doesn't have the luxury of sleeping through the morning (and the hangover). My mind and body are restless, and I hoped the wine would help me rest. Unfortunately, it doesn't. I sigh defeatedly and head back to the kitchen. Washing up the glasses, I can't shift this weird feeling that something big is coming. It weighs heavily on my chest, a feeling of impending doom. I laugh at my dramatic thoughts and head to my room. The wine really brings out my drama queen.

After changing into something to sleep in - an oversized tee from a long-forgotten ex - I slip into bed, humming with delight. Thinking about my mood swings and restlessness, I realise it's been a while since my last wolf shift. I really should plan to do that soon; my body obviously needs that release. Maybe then I can settle my mind and body. My head presses deep into the pillow, and with forced thoughts of the latest sexy actor to get me all hot and bothered, I drift into a restless sleep.

The faint sound of my phone buzzing wakes me from my slumber, the sun blinding me as my sleepy eyes finally open. Quickly, I slam them back shut, not ready to adjust to the bright light. I c***k one eye slowly as I reach for my phone. One unread message...

Cami: "I'm just about to go on my lunch. If you're still asleep, I will be so jealous!"

I chuckle, knowing Cami will be sitting behind her desk at the monotonous admin job that Kevin helped her get. It's nice to see her happy with him but strange to see her insert herself into a mundane human life. In fact, she's so sickeningly in love she told me last night that she plans to pack immediately. Kevin is such a sweet guy, but god, is he dull. Cami has this whole side to her that she will never show him, and I'm not sure I could live like that. Watching her makes me think about what I expect for my life and the future, something I actively avoid thinking about or planning for. Do I imagine doing this job forever? Will I ever get into a serious relationship? Will they be human? Wolf? Packless or not?

The questions circling my head begin to make me feel nauseous, and that weight of trepidation returns to my chest. With a disgruntled groan that my lie-in is over, I swish the blanket off my body and force myself out of bed.

My morning (now afternoon) is slow like any other. A touch of housework here, a bit of lazing around there. After starting a roommate advert I'll need to run, I finally hop in the shower to start getting ready for my VIP shift. VIP means extra money but also extra effort. And I will be on time.

Stepping out of the steaming hot shower into the now steamy bathroom, I wrap myself in one towel and my hair in another. I tiptoe myself to the mirror and wipe away the fog. As I brush my teeth, my stomach twists and turns, an unusual occurrence for me. I should know that something is big coming, but I choose to ignore it, chalking it up to too much wine instead.

I slip out of the still steamed up bathroom and back to my room to get myself ready. Picking out a classic black lace set tonight, I make sure my bag is filled with essentials. I sit at my vanity table, brushing through my nearly dry raven locks. My heart thumps loudly in my chest, worry circling my veins. I shake it off again, moving on to complete my natural but still glam makeup. My eyes are the focal point, apart from my body. A warm brown with a subtle dark smoke to line them accentuates my emerald iris. Fine sparkles of gold on my lids complement the rim of gold flecks in my eyes also. 

Checking my watch, I notice the length of time a good makeup look takes. Quickly, I run my curling wand through my hair for a subtle wave, throw on my jeans and grab my bag. As I leave my apartment, I scoop up my long black trench coat in case of rain. 

The walk to the club is a leisurely one today. Thankfully, my slight rush at the end of getting ready means I have a decent amount of time to make the 25 minute commute. And while everything seems fine, and I don't expect any issues, I still feel uneasy. 

I had done a lot of work on myself in the last four years recovering from the abuse of my family. They had made it their mission to tear me down for some unknown reason, and in some ways, they had succeeded. While I was strong enough to run away, I was a scared little kid with no self-esteem or confidence. I'm glad to say that today, that is no longer true. And that is why this feeling left me so uncomfortable. I haven't felt this kind of way in a long time, so what does this mean?                          

The club comes into view, and I have to push these thoughts aside. I walk in to Jamie standing at the bar talking with Steve and Kayla. I check the time on my phone and smile smugly to myself. 15 minutes early. I'm now employee of the month material for sure.

Jamie finishes what he's doing and turns just as I start walking across the room. He smiles, almost in an unboss-like way, before he returns to his usual self and gestures his head towards the changing rooms. I can't deny he looks good in the seductive lighting of the lounge, and I smile sweetly back while walking past. What the f*ck am I doing?

Butterflies attack my stomach as I enter the changing room. I shove my stuff into my locker, agitated by my thoughts and this unmoving anxious feeling. I hum to soothe myself while I tie up my black boots to complete my outfit. 

My look is usually dark and moody, much like my personality. So tonight, it is unsurprising that I have chosen an all black ensemble and added a garter accent on my right thigh for something extra. I sweep some lipgloss on, shake my fingers through my hair for a little roughed up look then stride out into the main lounge. 

Jamie is waiting for me as I enter the room, and I strut over to him with a polite smile on my face.

"Good timekeeping, Raine. Keep it up." I was half expecting a 'good girl' with his tone. "I won't be in the club tonight, got other business to do. Shane will be running things." I nod at him, confused at the passing on of this information. We didn't usually get updates about when Jamie was here or not, so I wasn't sure what the purpose of this conversation was.

"The people in VIP tonight are important business execs. This is important for the club, Raine. They requested only one dancer as they are having some sort of meeting. I'm trusting you with this. Please, keep your head on straight tonight." This direction of conversation did make me a little mad. But evidence would show that I'm a hothead, so I can't really blame him for his concerns. 

"I've got this. I won't let you down." I remain calm to reassure him, and he seems to relax.

"Good girl." Woah, there it is. And clench. That was not the response I expected from myself. I can practically feel the feminism leaving my body. I mask any changes in my body well, a soft smile never leaving my lips. He heads off, and I move to the VIP room to get myself ready and calm down. 

The room is prepped, and Steve brings through a bottle of Dom in an ice bucket to finish. As the time ticks by, I continue to fight to control the tangle of emotions within me.

I stand patiently awaiting tonight's VIPs. An older, well-dressed gentleman enters, followed by a beautiful young woman with fiery red hair bouncing around her shoulders. He flashes me a toothy smile while she looks over me with utter distaste. He reaches out his wrinkled hand for a handshake, I return it quickly. His presence demands respect for some unknown reason. 

"My name is Nyx, sir. I will be your dancer for this evening." I offer up my stage name and a polite smile. His eyes scan over me, his nostrils flaring as if taking me all in. 

"Nyx? Goddess of the Night, how interesting." His eyes bore into me, his toothy grin returning. "Would Selene, Goddess of the Moon, not be more me appropriate?" He knows what I am because he is one too. The pretty redhead with him scoffs, looking me up and down in disgust. He inhales deeply, trying to place my scent. Good luck. I'm a nobody. 

I stand awkwardly, unsure of how to proceed. It has been a long time since I encountered another wolf unexpectedly. The last time was Cami, honestly. I decide it's best to just continue on, a tight knot of discomfort begging me to do something as a distraction. 

"We have a bottle of Dom Pe-" His hand lifts to silence me, and I instinctively obey. This man is clearly someone important, an Alpha perhaps.

"We'll need something a little stronger for the men." I bite my tongue at the toxic masculinity emanating from him, a forced smile etched on my lips. 

"A bottle of 18 year old McCallan should do, my dear." I nod at him and turn to fetch the bottle he requested. With my back still turned, he calls after me.

"And when you return, just get along with dancing. You're the perfect distraction for my guests." I try to hide the grimace on my face at his command. Nodding to show my understanding, I quickly duck out of the room.

Damn wolves and their backwards ways. Of all the people I could have for my shift...

I sulk my way behind the bar to pick up his desired bottle and shout on Steve to add it to their tab. As I stand straight, my stomach somersaults and the air feels sucked from my lungs. I steady myself against the bar, gulping at the air around to catch some oxygen. I feel nauseous and unsteady at the sudden change in the atmosphere. The heavy weight of anxiety presses heavily on my chest, and I squeeze the railing of the bar, grounding myself. 

I hear Steve calling my name, but it sounds as if I am underwater. His touch to my arm brings me back to the room. The wave of whatever feelings that engulfed me subsides only slightly, and I shake myself free. 

Catching my breath, I reassure Steve that I am fine. I have to do this, I promised Jamie. My job was on the line. A low hum in my chest appears to be the hangover from whatever feelings just assaulted my body. It feels unsettling but also prompts a desperate need to return to the VIP room. Not just for Jamie and my job, there's something more.

I brush myself down, grab the whiskey and stride purposely back to my clients. The hum in my chest grows stronger the closer I get to my intended destination, like a magnet being drawn to another.

I pull back the red curtain behind the door, and my heart feels like it's pulled from my chest. Standing there, shaking hands with the older gentleman, is the most beautiful man I have ever seen. He stands tall and incredibly strong in a sharply tailored suit. His brown hair swept gracefully to the side, his sharp jaw clenched, with stubble dabbled neatly over it. Time stands still as all the air in my lungs feels punched out. I clutch desperately at the bottle in my hand, frozen in this moment for what feels like forever.

He must have been alerted to my presence as his head turns slowly and his piercing blue eyes collide with my own.

And as if a lightbulb had switched on, I understand. I've heard stories of this feeling, but the fact that it was here for me is impossible. 

His eyebrows knot together in confusion as he appears to feel it too.

This is a mate bond. Impossible.

At that acknowledgement, time speeds back to normal. The silence is broken by the smash of the whiskey bottle connecting with the floor.

I have to get out of here. Now.