Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Katya’s movements paused. “I’m sure he is fine.”
“You don’t know?”
“During survival training, they are not allowed contact with the external world.”
Talia didn’t know that. “I see.”
“Don’t worry about Keith. He is strong and has a good head on his shoulders.”
Talia agreed with that one. Keith left the impression of a smart person.
“He will be happy you asked about him.”, Katya said.
“Of course. He is my coach.”, Talia responded without missing a beat. “I am training diligently and I look forward to showing him my progress when he returns. I’m confident he will be pleasantly surprised.” And he might praise her also.
Talia and Keith had only a few training sessions, but Keith always had plenty of words to encourage her to keep going. She missed that.
It’s not that Dayson didn’t encourage her, but their sessions usually ended with making out, and then in the shower… Talia blushed while thinking about it. Naughty thoughts.
Katya wanted to ask Talia how she ended up with the Alpha, but she kept those questions to herself. It was not appropriate, and everyone heard Maya’s and Jaeden’s warnings.
“Here you go.”, Katya said while giving Talia a tall glass with the cocktail that had a pinkish hue and was decorated with a wedge of an orange.
Talia took a few big gulps, finishing half of the glass in one go.
“It’s very tasty.” Talia smacked her lips.
“I’m not familiar with your tolerance to alcohol, but I need to warn you. These are sweet, and you don’t feel them sneaking on you. Be careful when you stand up.”
Talia was touched by Katya’s concern. “I will keep that in mind.”
Talia had no plans to get up from that barstool until Dayson comes to fetch her, and after that, he will be holding her, so she didn’t need to worry. Besides, she was feeling fine. Happy, but fine. Was Katya exaggerating about the effect of those drinks? Or maybe with her wolf awakening, Talia became immune to alcohol? Anything was possible.
Katya got busy preparing drinks for patrons who swarmed the bar, and Talia took the orange wedge from her drink and nibbled on it. It was soaked in liquor, and it had an interesting mixture of sweet, zesty, with a small bite of alcohol.
“Can I offer you a drink?” A male voice came from behind Talia, but she didn’t react until someone tapped her shoulder.
Talia froze for a moment before turning to see who was there because it was not Dayson. Dayson is usually announced by his addictive scent before he reaches her, and this man smelled… ordinary.
“Were you talking to me?”, Talia asked the tall blonde man.
He gave her a cocked smile and sat on the barstool where Mindy was sitting previously. “With whom else could I be talking to, doll?” He gestured to Talia’s half-empty glass. “Do you want another one?”
Talia blinked while trying to figure out if she knows him. Why else would he be that friendly and talk to her casually without introducing himself? But no matter how much she tried, nothing clicked. Was she that drunk to forget people?
No, no He was definitely a new face, but she still asked, “Do I know you?”
He chuckled. “You will in a minute. I am Cory. And you are?”, he was obviously expecting her to fill in the blank.
Talia’s brain worked in slow motion as she assessed her current situation.
She was in the nightclub, at the bar, a man approached her with a charming smile and an offer to buy her a drink… Eventually, she got it. This never happened before, but she knew what was happening.
Cory was hitting on her!
Of course, his advance was doomed to failure, but he was polite, and Talia didn’t have the heart to be rude.
“I am here with friends.”, Talia responded, hoping that he will get the hint.
“I know. Two girls. They went to the loo.”, he said matter-of-factly and Talia realized he was watching her and that Cory either missed or didn’t care about the part where she entered the club with Dayson, and they even kissed there for everyone to see.
Cory was not a guy who easily accepted a no for an answer. Besides, Talia was attractive, on her own in the nightclub, sitting at the bar. Wasn’t that a sign she was looking for company?
From his previous experiences, Cory knew that it won’t take much for a girl to give in to his advances, and the alcohol coursing through his system gave him a dose of courage. Failure was not an option.
“Since you are alone, I came to give you company. And maybe a drink. What do you say?”
Talia glanced in the direction where Mindy and Maya left. What was taking them so long? She knew they left only a minute ago, but suddenly it seemed like a looooong time.
Seeing that Cory was looking at her expectantly, Talia responded, “No, thank you. I am still working on this one.”
Cory was not discouraged. “I can get you another one, for later” Before Talia could protest, he waved at Katya with, “Give the lady one more of whatever she is having, and a beer for me.”
…
In the VVIP booth
Maddox and Dayson were still bickering when Jaeden tapped Dayson’s shoulder and pointed toward the bar.
Dayson’s head snapped in that direction and his expression darkened as he zeroed in at the bar over many heads that swayed on the dancefloor which separated the VVIP booth and the bar.
Where the hell were Mindy and Maya?
Who the hell was that guy?
Damn it! Dayson was not paying attention for a minute, and already some bastard was sticking to Talia!?
In slow motion, Dayson stood up and walked straight toward the bar.
The waist-high metal rail didn’t obstruct him as he leaped over it easily, without removing his glare from the bar.
With one thought, Dayson released his Alpha aura and the dancing crowd parted to make way for him, straight toward the unsuspecting Cory.
“That’s how Moses parted the Red Sea.”, Maddox told Jaeden while observing the scene with amusement.
Jaeden would laugh if he didn’t fear for that guy’s life. Why did he approach Talia? Didn’t he see the grand entrance of Dayson and Talia?
From this distance, Jaeden couldn’t determine if the guy is human or not, but he knew that he didn’t have the mind-link with the Shadow Fang pack, otherwise he would hear Jaeden’s warning to scram.
Rage rippled from Dayson with every step he took toward the bar.
That guy was smiling and leaning toward Talia and Dayson didn’t like it, not even a little bit.
When he was a few steps away from Talia and the guy (aka Cory), Dayson could hear them talk, even with the loud music blasting through the space.