Our Aurora Borealis (Blue Lake Series Book 3)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Victor, Darius, Kelsey, Hugo, Lisa, Maddox, and Natalie decided to rain on Diana’s parade on her first night on the job as the new bartender at The Veil. Tasha and Justin wanted to go, but with Milan finally coming out of her shell, they decided to hang back at the packhouse with Jason, Milan, and their twins.

Victor and the gang arrived at the club with Hugo behind the wheel. Since he, Maddox, and Darius were the only ones who had been to The Veil before, they knew where the entrance was. Also, with Clara working last-minute to help Diana on her first night, Hugo managed to secure the VIP section and skip the line because he was friendly with the bouncer. Of course, as with any establishment, this didn’t sit well with those who had been waiting in line for hours just trying to get in.

“Oh, come on!”

“Why do they get to go in!?”

“This is bullsh*t!”

“We’ve been here for two hours already!”

Patron after patron in the agonizingly long queue shouted their indignation as Victor and the group swept past them, Hugo leading the way like a conquering hero. Kelsey, Natalie, and Lisa couldn't shake the guilt of cutting the line so brazenly, but Hugo, Darius, and Victor navigated the situation with the practiced ease of those who were veterans in securing the VIP treatment.

“Baby, are we allowed to just go in like this?” Lisa asked Hugo, her voice barely audible over the deep bass thumping from within the club.

“Yeah. I told you I got the VIP section,” Hugo replied, his chest puffed out slightly. “Clara will be serving us, so it’s all good. Relax, enjoy the privilege.”

Kelsey hooked her arm securely around Darius’s elbow, ensuring she wouldn’t lose him in the crush of bodies near the entrance. “Why do I get the feeling you cut the line here a lot, Darius?” she questioned, a teasing note in her voice.

Darius leaned down so she could hear him clearly. “Because I do. Hugo, Maddox, and I have been here a few times. The bouncer, Boris, is a friend from a neighboring pack. He owes Hugo a favor from back in the day.”

“Oh, that explains a lot, then,” Natalie mumbled, relief mixing with minor lingering discomfort. She was holding Maddox’s hand with a vice-like grip, her knuckles white.

Maddox squeezed her hand gently. “Baby, you’re going to cut off the circulation to my hand if you hold it any tighter,” he playfully teased, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Sorry,” Natalie replied, loosening her grip slightly. “I just haven’t been to a club in so long, I guess it feels a little weird. It's... a lot.” The noise, the crowd, the general atmosphere of easy abandon—it was overwhelming, even as a werewolf.

Maddox pulled her closer, his voice low and serious. “Nat, don’t worry. I won't let anything mess with your sobriety. Besides, now that you’re a werewolf, getting drunk or high is practically a thing of the past. Your accelerated healing and metabolism make it nearly impossible.”

“Exactly, girl, we've got your back,” Kelsey chimed in from her side, giving Natalie a warm, supportive smile.

Lisa nodded firmly. “And we are here for Diana, not to party. We'll be on our best behavior... mostly.”

Natalie smiled, a wave of genuine gratitude washing over her. She was thankful for her friends, whom she now saw as family, being there for her and understanding her past fights with addiction. Having their physical presence, their stability, made the chaotic club environment bearable.

The group moved through the main floor—a swirling mass of dancing patrons and neon lights—and headed toward the relative calm of the raised VIP section. As they went up a short flight of velvet-roped stairs, Clara saw the group walking in and immediately waved at Hugo, her face lighting up.

Hugo enthusiastically waved back, and Clara signaled she would be right with them. Hugo sent Clara a mindlink to take her time, and they were just getting situated.

Clara gave a slight nod that only Hugo would notice. She turned back to the table she was currently serving, offering a polite, professional smile. “I'll place this order immediately, and one of my colleagues will bring your drinks right out. I just need to check on something quickly.”

Clara then made a beeline for the bar to see how Diana was faring on her very first night. She had expected to find Diana flustered, perhaps struggling with the speed or the complex cocktails. To her utter surprise, Diana was absolutely rocking the bar.

She was moving with grace, shaking a cocktail tin with flair, and tossing ice into glasses without spilling a drop. Her concentration was absolute. Clara glanced down at the tip jar situated prominently near Diana’s station. The glass was already almost half full, glittering with several twenties, and even a crisp fifty-dollar bill nestled among the singles and fives.

“Wow,” Clara murmured, impressed, leaning over the counter during a brief lull. “You are killing it, D. I thought I might have to rescue you.”

Diana continued to move fluidly behind the counter, her focus laser-sharp despite the noise and the looming sight of her friends. She didn't miss a beat as she poured a measure of gin, catching Clara's attention again.

“Clara, I told you that bartending is my thing,” Diana called out over the rhythmic thump-thump-thump of the music, her voice carrying a playful challenge. "I love the fast-paced environment and the challenges of people's ridiculous drink orders. Bring on the five-ingredient specialty cocktails!"

Clara chuckled, resting her elbows on the bar. "You certainly look like you're in your element. But speaking of ridiculous drink orders, my brother and the gang are all here."

Diana stopped stirring the current glass and looked directly at Clara, her expression shifting from focused concentration to playful annoyance.

"They're here to stress me out, aren't they?"

“You’re the one who said they could come!” Clara laughed.

“I lied!” Diana joked.

"Oh, you love it! Victor is here supporting you, and of course, our friends, too!”

"Fine," Diana said, grabbing a shaker. "What are they getting? Give me the heads-up.”

"Not sure yet," Clara admitted, straightening up. "I have to go take their order right now. But I'll warn you: Hugo is a heavy drinker, and he downs his s**t like candy, so stock up on whatever he asks for. And listen closely—this is the important part." Clara leaned in conspiratorially. "He, Darius, and Maddox are apparently friends with Boris, the bouncer, and Bubba. They get a friend and family discount. So make sure you mark their ticket correctly, or Bubba will have my head.”

Diana smirked, tapping the side of her shaker. "Friends and family discount, huh? Does that mean their drinks are practically free?"

"Almost," Clara said, pushing off the bar. "Which means they'll probably order enough to bankrupt us. Wish me luck taking that monumental order. I'll shoot the list over to you ASAP."

"Go get 'em, Clars. And tell your brother if he asks for anything that requires more than two minutes of effort, he can come back here and mix it himself!" Diana yelled after her, a wide, genuine smile finally breaking through her professional facade.

Clara walked across the room, the relentless bass of the music vibrating through the floor, and ascended the short flight of stairs to the VIP section. The group was already settled into a massive, plush black leather booth—a semi-circle designed for luxurious lounging.

Clara paused, taking in the arrangement, a slight smile tugging at her lips. The group had packed itself in a very specific, protective configuration.

Starting with Hugo and his mate Lisa sitting together, Lisa had Darius immediately to her left, followed by Kelsey, then Victor. On Hugo's right sat Natalie, who was sandwiched between Hugo and Maddox.

Clara noticed the pattern immediately: the women were comfortably—if snugly—tucked into the interior of the booth, essentially "smushed" between their men. It wasn't just about closeness; it was a subtle, protective instinct they often displayed in new or crowded environments, ensuring they were shielded and secure from the swirling energy of the club.

A slight, fond smile tugged at Clara’s lips. It was typical—even in a supposedly safe VIP section, the pack instincts were always humming beneath the surface.

"Welcome to your VIP ambush," Clara greeted them, stepping fully into the area and pulling out her notepad and pen. "I hope you all appreciate the fact that I offered to serve you guys, big bro,” she teased, directing her comment to Hugo. "I could have stuck you with Brenda. She charges double for breathing."

Hugo laughed, leaning forward slightly. "Brenda is a menace. She hits anyone with a pulse! That's why I called in a family favor. Thanks, Clars. We owe you one."

Victor cut in, his eyes scanning the bar where Diana was expertly tossing ice. "You owe her one if she gets our order to Diana fast enough to interrupt her current rhythm. We're on a mission, Clara."

"I know, I know," Clara said, rolling her eyes affectionately. "Operation: Stress Diana Out. Don't worry, your orders will be hitting the bar in exactly three minutes. But I’m warning you now, Victor, your mate is killing it behind the bar. The way her tip jar is filling up, she might make more than you in a night than you make in a week.”

“Really now?” Victor asked, a hint of pride shining in his eyes as he watched Diana doing her thing.

“Yup. So, what will it be?” Clara asked the group and started with Victor, going around in order.

"I'll take a double shot of the house werewhiskey, neat," Victor stated immediately, still focused on Diana.

Darius nodded in agreement. "Same for me, Clara. Keep it simple, but heavy."

"Make mine a Vodka Cranberry, light on the cranberry," Kelsey requested, briefly popping her head out from behind Darius.

Hugo, seizing the moment, declared, "I'm starting strong. I need a Long Island Iced Tea. Make it large, please. And make sure Diana knows exactly who ordered the multi-layered drink."

Lisa gave Hugo a mock scowl. "And for the grown-up: a nice glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc, please."

"Sparkling water with lime for my sobriety queen," Maddox said warmly, rubbing Natalie's shoulder. "Tall glass, please."

Natalie gave Clara a grateful look. "Thanks, Clara. And Maddox, just a dark draft beer for him."

Clara swiftly scribbled the complex order down on her pad with professional speed. "Two double whiskeys, a Vodka Cran, a giant Long Island, a Sauv Blanc, one tall sparkling water, and one dark draft beer. Discount noted. The gauntlet has been thrown." She tucked the pad under her arm, looking straight at her brother.

"And Hugo," she added with a mischievous glint in her eye, "I’ll make sure to let Diana know you ordered the Long Island, which she’ll more than likely kill you for.”

Hugo's devious smile faltered slightly. "What? Why? It's a classic!"

"Because you ordered something with more than two ingredients, you maniac," Clara answered, deadpan. "She warned me earlier that she would make anyone who ordered a fancy concoction come back and mix it themselves."

"I know," Hugo admitted, his smile returning, wider and more devious than before. "I did it on purpose. It's her initiation test!"

"I'm going to tell her you said that, verbatim," Clara threatened, already walking backward toward the stairs.

"Like I’m scared of Diana," Hugo mocked playfully, puffing out his chest and throwing an arm around Lisa.

"Bro, don’t mock my girl like that," Victor immediately interjected, his voice low and firm, though his expression was amused. He was protective of Diana, even when she wasn't around.

"Dude, I’m just playing!" Hugo immediately replied, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Relax. Plus, one can easily f*ck up a Long Island. It’s a lot of spirits and measurements. I just want to see if your girl actually knows what she’s doing."

Clara stopped at the edge of the VIP section and threw a confident look back at her brother. "Big brother, be prepared to be blown away.” With that, she turned and headed toward the bar, navigating the crowds with practiced speed.

Clara found Diana expertly shaking another drink and waited patiently for the current rush to subside. When Diana finally finished and turned, Clara slapped the order ticket down onto the steel counter in front of her.

"Your ambush has commenced," Clara announced quietly. "This is your pack. Good luck with the Long Island."

Diana glanced down at the paper. She quickly scanned the list: the two neat whiskeys, the simple beer, the wine, the vodka cranberry... and then, Hugo's order. Diana scoffed, but not out of panic—out of sheer dismissal.

"A Long Island Iced Tea?" Diana muttered, rolling her eyes dramatically as she picked up the ticket. "That's it? That’s their big challenge? Please."

Clara stared at her, genuinely surprised. "What do you mean, 'that's it'? That's like, four different types of alcohol, plus the mixer. Most people struggle to remember all the steps." Diana placed the order ticket directly in front of her, already pulling the appropriate bottles into a line: vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and triple sec.

"Clara,” Diana said as she picked up her jigger, her movements precise. "A Long Island is basic high-volume bartending. It's complex by ingredient count, maybe, but it's a foundation drink." She paused, looking up at Clara with a triumphant smirk. "Tell Victor I said it was cute that they thought this would slow me down. And tell Hugo that he needs to try harder next time, as she placed all of the completed drinks on the tray for Clara.” Diana looked up at the group in the VIP section, blew a kiss to Victor, and saluted Hugo and winked.