“I liked the Arc of the Scythe series,” Titan said. “But I think it gave me an ulcer. There was so much tension!”
“I know what you mean,” Beatrix agreed with a chuckle. “I can only handle so much anxiety. That’s why I didn’t even make it through the second book in the Red Rising Trilogy."
“I couldn’t finish the first one,” Titan admitted. “It was all so horrible!”
“Have you read Children of Ruin?” Beatrix asked. “I just started it, and I’m absolutely enthralled by the spiders.”
“I haven’t heard of that book,” Titan said. “Can I borrow it when you're done?”
“Sure,” she agreed.
Arthur loved how happy his flock was. Although they weren’t officially his yet, after the intimacy at Beatrix’s apartment, he was sure it would happen. The only question was how long it would take them to convince Beatrix that she could trust them and the void magic pulling them together.
“We’re here!” Titan announced as he pulled into a small parking lot. He was quick to get out and rush around to open Beatrix’s door for her.
“Aww, thanks,” she said as Arthur hurried out of the vehicle and joined his flock to walk into the bar. They were at the door when Beatrix stopped.
“Are we sure about this?” she asked, staring at the bar’s door. There was a sign declaring the bar closed for a private event.
“The event is the book club,” Titan said, reaching for the door. “We’re invited. I checked with Mikey.”
She grabbed Titan’s arm before he could push the door open. “Maybe we shouldn’t do this.” She looked at Titan then to me. “I’m not prepared. What if I say something offensive? I don’t want to hurt or upset anyone because I’m ignorant. Let’s go back to my place. We can order food, and you guys can explain everything.”
Arthur didn’t need a bond to feel her anxiety in every word. Titan pulled his hand away from the door and turned to face her.
“I understand your concern, but you’ll have me and Arthur to guide you,” he said.
There was no second thought, Arthur’s instinct was to do as Beatrix asked. They could take her to a nice dinner and talk for as long as she liked.
Before he could guide her away, the door was pulled open, and Briar stuck her head out. “Hey, Mr. The III! How you doin’?”
His eyes narrowed at the stupid nickname, and he wanted to curse the bright haired hoyden when Tobias appeared next to her and gave Arthur a raised eyebrow while pulling Briar out of the doorway.
“You did it to yourself,” Tobias said.
“I didn’t think she’d go that far,” Arthur grumbled.
That was when Briar noticed Beatrix. She stopped letting Tobias pull her back and gave the other human a big smile.
“Hey, you must be Beatrix! Come in, come in! Book club is waiting for you. It’s a big day. We get another human, and Titan is finally joining us. He’s been promising to attend forever, but there’s always an excuse.”
“Dogs are not an excuse!” Mila, another human, said as she came to stand next to Briar. As Arthur expected, Mila’s vampire, Gio, was quick to step up behind her.
Usually vampires hated having their flock near other vampires, but that had changed with this group. The human and shifters associated with the Lobo Gris pack refused to remain isolated. The vampires in their lives were forced to concede.
Arthur blamed it all on Briar. She was the first one to bring the wolves and vampires together.
“Sorry, Mila, I didn’t mean it like that,” Briar said. “Dogs are awesome, and Titan is wonderful because he rescues dogs. Just like you!”
Mila blushed. “I only rescued one dog. Titan’s rescued thousands!”
“I don’t think it’s been that many,” Titan said. “How is Babette doing?”
Somehow, while Mila and Titan chatted about Mila’s rescued dog, they were all herded into the bar. He was surprised thatBeatrix didn’t even notice, she was too busy engaging with Mila and Titan about animal rescue.
Of course his flock would have something fundamentally important to them in common, he just hadn’t expected it to be animal welfare. It seemed he would soon be investing a lot of money in the health and lives of stray dogs and cats.
If it made his human and wolf happy, he couldn’t wait.