Page 15 of A Love Bite
Jake
As soon asAlex and Opal walk out of Luna’s Moon, I feel an unexpected pang of emptiness. It’s strange how quickly I’ve become accustomed to her presence, and now that she’s gone, the bar feels different, less vibrant. I try to shake off the feeling, but it lingers like a stubborn shadow.
Lila, ever observant, notices the change in my demeanor almost immediately. She sidles up next to me, a playful smirk on her face. “Miss her already, huh?”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips. “You know me too well, Lila.”
She chuckles, nudging me with her elbow. “Come on, Jake. I saw the way you looked at her. It’s obvious you’ve got it bad.”
I sigh, leaning against the bar. “Yeah, I guess I do. There’s just something about her. It’s… different.”
Lila nods, her teasing tone softening into something more supportive. “Different can be good, you know. Maybe she’s exactly what you need.”
I glance at her. “Maybe. I just hope I get the chance to find out.”
“You will,” Lila says confidently. “If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.”
“Most wouldn’t suggest that a werewolf and a human…”
“You aren’t the guy to fall for just any girl,” she says. “I haven’t seen you swoon over any girl for that matter. She must be something, and…” She sniffs. “You smell different.”
I blink a few times. Can she tell that I found my mate?
“Seriously, just be patient,” she adds.
I nod, trying to take her words to heart. Patience has never been my strong suit, though, especially not when it comes to something that feels as important as this.
As the night continues, I throw myself into my work, hoping the busyness will help distract me, but every time I glance toward the door, I can’t help but hope to see Alex walk back in. Lila catches me a few times and just shakes her head with a knowing smile, but she doesn’t tease me again. Instead, she quietly takes on a bit more of the workload, giving me space to sort through my thoughts.
As I continue working, trying to push thoughts of Alex to the back of my mind, the buzz of conversation around the bar starts to shift. I catch snippets of hushed voices and the occasional nervous glance, and it’s clear that something has happened. Lila notices it too, her eyes narrowing as she listens in on a nearby conversation.
“Jake,” she says, her voice low, “I think you should hear this.”
I move closer, leaning in to catch the details. A couple of regulars, Bill and Tom, are discussing a fight that apparently took place not even an hour ago, just a few blocks away from Luna’s Moon.
“Yeah, it was nasty,” Bill is saying, his voice tinged with concern. “I heard there were a bunch of guys from some rival gang, and it got ugly fast.”
Tom nods, his expression serious. “I heard someone got seriously hurt. Ambulances and everything. They’re saying it was territory-related. Could be connected to those new guys trying to move in.”
I exchange a worried glance with Lila. Rival gangs and territory disputes are bad news, especially if they’re happening this close to our bar. The last thing we need is trouble spilling over into Luna’s Moon.
“Do we know who was involved?” I ask, my voice steady but firm.
Bill shrugs. “Not sure. Just heard bits and pieces, but if it’s the same guys who’ve been causing trouble lately, it’s not good.”
I nod, processing the information. This is more than just bar talk; it’s a real threat that could affect us all. “Thanks for the heads-up,” I say, giving them both a nod of appreciation.
As I turn back to Lila, she gives me a concerned look. “Think it’s going to be a problem for us?”
“It might be,” I admit. “We need to keep an eye out and make sure it doesn’t spill over here. The last thing we need is a fight breaking out in the bar.”
She nods, her expression serious. “I’ll spread the word to the staff. Make sure everyone’s alert.”
“Good idea,” I say, appreciating her quick thinking. “I’ll keep an ear to the ground and see if I can find out more.”
As I move around the bar, serving drinks and chatting with customers, my mind is racing. The thought of Alex and Opal out there, possibly walking into trouble, gnaws at me. I hope they’re safe at The Blue Lantern and that Kathy’s concern wasn’t related to this latest incident.
Despite the tension in the air, I try to stay focused on my work, but it’s hard not to worry. The night is far from over, and there’s a sense of unease that I just can’t shake. As I pour another round of drinks, I keep my senses sharp, ready for anything that might come our way.