Chapter 24: Laurel


    The sun had already dipped behind the mountains, throwing shadows over the parking lot as Laurel


    followed Xavier onto the deck at Mack’s. She understood now why no one else bothered to use the


    deck out here. Only shifters wouldn’t be bothered by the drastic temperature drop when the sun went


    down. Even in August, it was chilly with the sun gone.


    Her hand was in Xavier’s as she walked. She spotted the Wilde crew at their usual table but stalled


    when she noticed Lucas wasn’t in his seat. He’d moved to the far end, leaving her the empty chair


    beside his alpha. Her heart panged, and she blinked back an unexpected tear.


    “You all right?” Xavier asked in her ear.


    “Better than,” she assured him. Who knew it could feel like this to have friends? To be epted.


    Lucas caught her eye. She smiled over at him in thanks as she slid into the chair Xavier held out for


    her. He ducked his head but not before she caught a returned smile of his own.


    “Mr. and Mrs. Alpha have arrived,” Jake announced.


    Xavier scowled as he took his seat but squeezed her hand.


    “Fucking finally,” Harley muttered before draining his beer. “I’m starving.”


    All of them already had a mug set in front of them, including her.


    “I ordered you what’s on tap,” Nash said. “If you don’t like it, I’ll drink it.”


    “Shit. I already called it,” Jake put in.


    Laurel smiled across the table first at Nash and then Jake. “This is great, thanks.” She held her mug up


    and gulped while the boys looked on with widening eyes.


    “Daaamn. Mrs. Alpha can drink,” Jake said in awe.


    Laurel emptied the mug and set it down, wiping the corner of her mouth as delicately as she could. She


    peeked at Xavier, self-conscious now. She’d been parched after their little interlude in his truck but


    wondered if maybe she should’ve sipped instead.


    Xavier blinked, shaking his head as if to clear it. “That was…”


    “Udylike?” she finished, wincing.


    “Impressive as hell,” he said and nted a smacking kiss on her lips.


    The crew apuded her. Even Harley pped three times before scowling at her again.


    Laurelughed, the relief and happiness at their eptance was so overwhelming. Laughing was


    better than crying, she told herself. And she was tempted to do both. Geez, how had she lived this long


    without friends?


    A face across the deck caught her attention. She looked over and went still. Her heart dropped into her


    stomach as she recognized Scott, her assistant. He stood near the door, half-turned like he’d been


    headed inside. He looked frozen in ce, just as shocked to see her.


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    “Laurel?” Xavier’s voice called her back, but she couldn’t take her eyes from the wiry man’s face.


    Scott’s shock turned slowly to confusion. His brow wrinkled, and he swept a look over the rest of the


    crew before returning to her. Laurel stood quickly, almost knocking her chair over in the process. Lucas


    caught it like he had with Xavier’s the other day. She ignored him, ignored them all, and rushed to Scott


    just as he disappeared inside the bar.


    “Scott!” She caught up to him inside, grabbing his elbow and then dropping it again when she realized


    what she’d done.


    Crap. Physical touch was not appropriate in a professional rtionship.


    “Ms. Adams, what can I do for you?” Scott’s voice was nasally as always, but there was a coldness


    he’d never used at the office.


    Surprise, she told herself. Of course, it was weird seeing her outside the office. Especially in such a


    rxed setting.


    “I just wanted to say hello,” she said, kicking herself foring over here in the first ce. What the


    heck was she supposed to say? Are you going to tell anyone you saw me with the most notorious crew


    of shifters in three states? Probably a little brazen.


    “Hello,” Scott returned, still curt. He shot a disdainful look over her shoulder to Xavier and the others.


    Laurel grit her teeth. “Look, I know it’s probably a surprise seeing me with the Wilde crew. Or seeing


    me here at all.” Scott’s brow rose, but he didn’t interrupt. Something about that irritated her, and she


    went straight into bossdy mode. Her voice went hard as she said, “I just wanted to be polite and say


    hello, but let’s be clear. Our personal lives are our own, especially outside working hours. I trust you’ll


    give us both the respect we deserve by not bringing this back into the office tomorrow. Or ever.”


    Scott’s eyes narrowed, but Laurel’s alpha act drained away. She knew if he argued or threatened or


    said anything but “yes, ma’am,” she’d fold. That was not happening. So she made the only move left to


    a bossdy. She turned on her heel and strode away.


    It might not shut Scott up forever. Probably tomorrow, there’d be consequences for her new alliance.


    Friends, she corrected herself. But tonight, she was determined to remain in control of her own


    choices. Tonight, at least, she would not hide.