“SPARKS”

CHAPTER 6 

“SPARKS” 

Bridgette’s POV:         

        I sat at the bar quietly watching all the people within the club. I noticed that many of them were close to my age, and I immediately assumed that this must be a college town. There were a few wolves within the club, and I was thankful that I hadn’t accidently stumbled into some packhouse. The bartender was definitely a wolf but had been nothing but genuinely kind to me. 

         The bass pounded; strobe lights flashed as the multiple dancers took their party onto the stage. Most of the women were scantily dressed, miniskirts, bodycon dresses, stilettos and crop and tub tops, prowling around in search of male attention. I surveyed my surroundings as I turned back to the bar top and took a sip of my drink, Johnny Walker, the only Scotch this place had. 

        My senses stirred as I finished my drink and set it back onto the bar top. I took a deep breath and caught the most delectable scent of bergamot I had ever smelled. I lifted my head and turned around in my barstool scanning the area closely. I needed to be cautious for multiple reason, a foreign pack was nothing to take lightly, nor were rogues and unmated males. I was a lone she-wolf, not the best credentials in a club such as this. Thankfully, I seemed to have caught the attention of the bartender, who was a marked male, and he appeared to be keeping a watchful eye on me and I appreciated it. 

        I couldn’t make out where the scent was coming from, already at this hour the dance floor was full, and the people were still packing in from the entry. There was literally a line of people waiting to get inside.

        “Did you need another?” the bartender asked dutifully, redirecting my attention to him. He was probably about 30 or so, heavily built, deep brunette. He was not unfortunate looking and hosted a kind and genuine smile. 

        “Yes, thank you.” I replied as I slid my glass closer to him. I noticed a large group of men across the room nearest to the DJ box. 

        “They are all wolves.” Aurora mumbled, her hair standing up upon her neck, her head dropped low as she watched them carefully and constantly sniffed the air for danger. As predicted, she was on high alert.  

        “Such the drama.” I chastised my wolf, nodding to the bartender who set another drink for me on the walnut bar. I returned my gaze to the men. They all were appearing to be having a stellar time, some sort of celebration perhaps. A birthday or a bachelor party I wondered. I caught the scent again, fleeting, and watched as Aurora lifted her head up excitedly.

        “Mate!” she whispered. I froze and spun back around to face the bar, taking a deep breath. I could feel the anxiety rising in my chest and my heart began pounding. That was not possible! 

        “That’s impossible Aurora, you stop that!” I snapped at my wolf mentally.

        “But I know it!” she whimpered, still searching for who the scent belonged to.  I was so preoccupied mentally arguing with my wolf that I didn’t even notice when a stranger walked over to me and placed his arm confidently around my shoulders. 

        “Your new around here. What would a pretty thing like you be sitting here by yourself? Are you waiting for someone?” He asked boldly setting his drink in front of me.  

        “Get away from me.” I growled in frustration. I hated when men randomly came up and touched me. 

        “My name is Ned, let me buy you a drink pretty lady.” The man slurred as he reached around the front of me and attempted to pinch my breast. Reactively, I grabbed my drink and tossed the contents directly into his face. The man took a step back spitting and sputtering, wiping his liquor drenched face that was undoubtedly stinging from the alcohol when another stranger walked beside me and aggressively wrapped his arm around me. Immediately sparks erupted through my body causing me to freeze in terror and stare straight ahead. 

       “Mate!” my wolf shouted with glee. She was thrilled, and I was terrified.  

             “I saw her first.” The young man that had attempted to grab me growled. I could see in the bar mirror as I stared straight ahead the man who now held me tightly to his side simply smile with amusement and signaled two other men to walk closer to us. 

             “Perhaps, but she’s my mate.” I gasped as I heard his deep sultry voice resonate the words, “she’s my mate”. I closed my eyes tightly, this was not good, I was mated to a stranger from another country that resembled a mafia guy. Oh, dear God, I should have stayed in Scotland and obeyed my father, I thought frantically to myself, closing my eyes tightly and taking another deep breath.

         As I reopened my eyes, I looked ahead again and say my mate’s eyes flicker wildly, a cast of gold hinted through the black irises, and I instantly knew he had allowed his wolf to come to the surface. The young human male froze in his tracks upon seeing the unnatural color change of my mate’s eyes as he quickly began scrambling away from us. 

             “Gentleman, would you be so kind in helping this young man out of the club? I believe he was just leaving.” My mate ordered the two men that had accompanied him over to my side. The two burley wolves walked past us, causing the young man to panic and flee, and I couldn’t say I blamed him, they, like the striking man that held me, were wearing immaculately tailored suits. Every American movie I had ever seen, the mafia guys resembled these thee! Oh Goddess, what had I gotten myself into!

          The two men grabbed each arm and began carrying him like my father’s men stake a deer and promptly tossed him out the entrance, head first. I noticed the man smirk to himself, and then redirected his attention to me.  

         “I should probably introduce myself to you.” My mate smiled warmly, softly gazing down at me. I still refused to look at him, I could see his large toothy grin in the mirror, reflecting across the bar. My goddess was he gorgeous! Strong rustic features, dark walnut, almost black hair, and dark brown eyes, a slight 5’ o’clock shadow and strong square jawline. I dropped my eyes and allowed myself to side-eye him, he still possessively holding me. His biceps were larger than my thighs! And he was tall, very tall, easily over 6ft. Of course anyone was tall to me, considering I was barely 5’2. 

         “My name is Lucca Mariano. And you are?” he asked, quietly, gently, doing everything possible not to spook me. However, I was spooked, the idea that I was in the arms of a total stranger that looked like a mafia guy, in another country, that the Moon Goddess so chose to fate me too was beyond comprehension. I hesitated for a moment, deliberating my next move, until he carefully squeezed my shoulders with his arm, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes took my breath away, he was so handsome, and his eyes appeared so kind and pleasant, and although he portrayed a very powerful aura, he only radiated kindness to me. 

         “Bridgette.” I whispered, my throat feeling like it had been charred by a desert. Lucca raised his eyebrows at me and grinned. Goddess, that smile! Aurora was howling in my mind and distracting me horribly. This was not good, I needed to get out of here and fast.

         “Stop it!” I snapped irritably to my wolf, between mister gorgeous here and her teenage crush behavior, it was nearly impossible to think straight, not to mention the epic panic setting in. 

         “He’s gorgeous!” She panted. I rolled my eyes and exasperatedly exhaled. Lucca moved away from my side and fluidly took the stool beside and gently placed his hand upon my thigh, rekindling the sparks through my skin and forcing me to redirect my attention back to him. 

         “Internal conversation?” he asked with a hint of amusement. My eyes grew wide, and I knew bewildered look was plastered on my face. I must fancy a complete idiot. However, my mate narrowed his eyes, his lips pursed as he studied my face closely. Nervously I straightened my back and regained my composure, holding my head up high.  

         “That is none of your business sir.” I snarled at him coolly. Lucca smirked and removed his hand from my leg, my leg instantly turning cold. 

         “Okay.” He re-adjusted himself and his Alpha aura began to radiate though the room. Shit, I was mated to a foreign Alpha. This keeps getting better and better. My father was really going to kill me now on top of everything else. A million scenarios raced through my head, perhaps if I just called my father, he would forgive me and allow me to return to Scotland and I could go about my life as I had never come here at all. I felt feverish, terror was wracking my body, yet I focused and attempted to maintain my head about me. To add to it, I could tell that he was trying to sway me with his powerful Aura, however lucky for me, my mate was always going to be at a disadvantage. I was the daughter of the Lycan King.  

         I smiled ever so sweetly to him, trying to play along. Let him think he is winning, I thought to myself. Aurora howled and began yipping in my head. 

        “Don’t you dare reject our mate!” she snapped at me furiously, a panic already hinting into her mannerism. I ignored her, I had no intentions of accepting some random American Alpha, one that I know absolutely nothing about. This was all insanity and a horrible mistake. All this time I had dreamed of finding my mate, and when I do, I randomly find him in some human club, in a different continent and looking like he just came out of the Godfather! Goddess help me! What were you thinking! 

          “So, tell me, what would a foreign she-wolf be doing in Morgantown West Virginia?” My mate asked me gently, appearing a little more confident since I relented to his Aura. I tipped my head and smiled kindly, ignoring his question. 

         “This is all so sudden. If you don’t mind, I need to utilize the loo.” I stood abruptly, causing my mate to raise quickly as well, a slight alarm hinted upon his face. He appeared confused so I casually pointed to the restroom doors. He immediately appeared more at ease and nodded with understanding, re-taking his seat. 

         “I will order a drink for you and be eagerly waiting for your return.” He told me calmly. I nodded and gathered my bag and quickly walked over to the loo, however I slowed my pace and glanced over shoulder to see if he was watching me. Luckily for me, he was speaking with the bartender ordering drinks. I smiled and carefully changed my direction from the bathrooms to the exit, glancing over my shoulder one last time to see my mate calmly sipping on his new beverage, expecting me to return to him, but I had other intentions as I slipped out of the front door and hailed the Uber that was dropping a couple off. I rushed over to the black SUV and leaned into the front window. 

         “Would you be so kind to take me back to my hotel please?” I asked the driver; I could feel my brow begin to sweat with panic. If I didn’t get out of her quickly, Lucca was going to notice my absence and come looking for me. It only took so long in a restroom after all. 

        “What hotel ma’am?” the young gentleman asked, he must have been a local college student working for extra money. 

         “Hampton Inn.” I answered, and thankfully the kid nodded, indicating that he would take me back to the hotel. I sighed with relief and frantically pulled open the passenger door and quickly jumped into the front seat of the car. However just as I did, I saw one of the men that had been standing behind Lucca that had been responsible for tossing the inebriated man out of the club walk outside and witness me leaving. I slid down and my seat, biting my lip, but it was too late. He had seen me. I just had to pray that he wouldn’t inform his boss and I would make it to my hotel quickly enough to escape and go back home. 

         “What are you doing!” My wolf exclaimed as the car began to drive away from the club. “You can’t leave our mate, he perfect!” Aurora was frantic, spinning around in my head like a caged animal. 

         “It is for the best.” I answer, keeping my eyes straight ahead. The Uber driver glanced over to me curiously and shrugged his shoulders. 

         “Whatever you say ma’am. I don’t judge.” I peeked sideways, suddenly embarrassed that I had spoken out loud. 

         “Sorry.” I muttered in response, and for the remainder of the ride I remained quiet despite Aurora barking in my head in a frenzy. All I knew was that I needed to get on the first flight back to Edinburg.