DARIEN
"Onyx, what the hell are we doing here?"
"Relax Darien. You're always wound up tight. Let's get a drink. You've been grading essays for the past week".
" You've been quiet. You only make requests. I'm incomplete without you".
" No, we're incomplete without our mate".
" Not this again".
"Darien, it's the truth. We need to find her. Or we'll be stuck with Eliana".
"That's if I go back. Besides, we've been looking for her for the past three years. No luck. I'm starting to think father was right".
" So Eliana then?"
I smiled at the bartender and ordered…
" What're we going for Onyx?"
" A dirty Martini".
"Yeah, please I'd like a dirty Martini". I slapped a twenty down and grabbed my drink as soon as the strawberry blond passed it over.
I slipped into an empty booth in the far corner of the bar.
" Where were we?"
" I'm asking you if you'd be okay with Eliana? We're supposed to get married and you've put it off for a year and half".
" No. I don't connect with her".
" Then we'll find our mate".
I swirled my drink in my glass and scanned the bar. My brows furrowed as I watched a girl with long brown hair and blonde highlights stumbled to the bar.
" I want another drink". Her words slurred together. Her oversized hoodie and sweats were sopping wet and her hair was matted from the rain.
"You can't have another drink. You're wasted. I'm sorry, but it's the bar's policy. You're past your limit".
"Please", her voice cracked and I watched as her lips jutted out in a pout.
"No".
" Please, I just want one drink. Why's that hard? I'm still standing upright. Watch me".
She tried walking in a straight line but she stumbled and crashed into a table. Then she started laughing and it bled into huge sobs.
"Ma'am. No more", the strawberry blond motioned to security and he went up to her and held her upper arm.
"No", she screeched, "Let me go. I'm fine. Nooooo".
"Mine." Onyx's voice slammed into me, low and guttural, riding the fury already boiling under my skin.
"Let me out. Now."
I didn't think—I couldn't. My pulse blurred. One moment I was at the far end of the bar, and the next, space folded. The wolf was at the surface, teeth bared, heart thundering through my chest.
I don't remember moving.
But I remember the sound of the man hitting the wall, my hand wrapped around his throat.
"Mine" I growled, my voice half Onyx's now.
His feet dangled off the floor. My hand didn't shake, as I crushed his throat in a vice-like grip.
"O…. Okay", he choked, "I'm sorry".
"S… Sir, I'll have to ask the both of you to leave".
I glanced back at the frightened bartender behind me. I huffed and let go of him and his body thudded as he fell to the floor. He spluttered and coughed violently.
"Are you okay?", my voice was softer now but Onyx was still on the surface.
"Yeah. Thank you", she looked up at me with large hazel eyes and a tear streaked face.
She struggled to get up and I gave her my hand, and held her steady when she took it.
"Thanks", she whispered.
I wrapped my arm around her waist and led her out of the bar.
" She smells like almonds and lavender".
" Not now Onyx. She saw me run through the bar and pin a man to the wall with his feet off the floor. Don't ever do it again".
" You don't care that everyone else did too?"
"No". I growled in my head.
° ° ° °
She twiddled her fingers.
I turned up the heat of my car so she doesn't catch a cold.
"What's your name?"
Her head snapped up and she looked at me with the most innocent eyes. "Aria".
" If you can't hold your liquor, why drink in the first place?" My tone was harsh but I didn't care. It was 3am on a Tuesday morning, she shouldn't be drinking.
She blushed. "My boyfriend, well my ex-boyfriend, cheated on me with my roommate. I loved him so much. I did everything for him. But he always made me feel like I was excess".
"You're not", Onyx growled before I could stop him.
She blushed again and sniffled. "I'm sorry for ruining your night. I'm sorry for making you pin that guy to the wall. I'm…"
"Aria", I interrupted her, "Stop apologizing. It's not your fault. I did it because I wanted to".
"Did you now?"
"Shut up Onyx".
Her lower lip trembled and she bursted into tears. " Thank you".
I raised my hand to rub her back but stopped short.
"Do it", Onyx purred in my head.
I rubbed her back and the hairs on my forearm rose.
She sniffled and wiped her face on the sleeve of her hoodie. "Did you hear that?"
My brows crinkled and I watched her with a confused look. "What?"
"Nevermind. It might be the alcohol", she laughed nervously.
I brushed my knuckles on her face unconsciously. "Let me hear you princess".
She gulps, affected by my words. It shouldn't have affected me that she was so responsive to me. But it did.
" I feel safe with you", she scoffed out a laugh, "I don't even know you. But I feel this pull…. I don't know how to explain it".
"Me either", I smiled and wiped her tears with my thumb.
Her breath hitched but she leaned into my touch. "I've gotta go now", she said after a beat and opened the door, "Thanks again…"
"Darien".
"Thanks Darien".
She made to get out of the car but I stopped her.
"Aria… Are you okay?"
"Yeah, why?"
I shook my head. "Nevermind. Good night".
She gave me a curt nod and staggered up the stairs of the house I packed in front of.
"We've got a bigger house though".
"Your ego is bigger than your head Onyx", I chuckled in my head.
I started up the engine of my car and drove off. It was already half three am. I had classes tomorrow morning, but none of them mattered. All I could think of was the almonds and lavender scent lingering in my car.