"Someone New"

Tatum's POV:

 I walked into my family's bar greeting Jack as I walked up to the counter. As I'm taking a seat a sweet unfamiliar smell wraps around me.

"You want your usual?" Jack asks.

I give him a nod as I glance around the empty bar. He pulls a crystal bottle of rum from the cabinet and pours me a glass.

"What's that smell?" I ask Jack as he hands me my drink.

Jack looks at me with questioning eyes.

"It's sweet and soft. Almost intoxicating." I reply.

"Oh that smell. I hired someone for the open position. She was in here a little while ago. She's a wolf like you. Her scent is soft but I’d hardly call it intoxicating." He replies as he eyes me suspiciously.

"I doubt she's wolf Jack. I would have recognized her scent if she was in the clan." I reply then take a drink from my glass.

"Nah she said she had just gotten back so she's not in the clan." He replied.

"What clan is she from then and why is she here?" I ask.

"I didn't ask all that. Come back tomorrow and you can ask her yourself. She'll be here around 5. Maybe you two can chat and get acquainted." Jack replies with a mischievous grin.

"Not likely old man." I respond.

Jack rolls his eyes as my phone suddenly vibrates. I glance at it to see it's from my father.

"Clan meeting at Angels Keep tomorrow at 4:30" The message read.

I sigh inwardly. Our clan meetings are usually my father's way of trying to help me find a mate, and usually end with him and my mother upset that no one stuck out to me. I swiftly get up and throw my hand up to Jack as I leave the bar. It's already dark out by the time I leave the bar. I recall my father's words the last time we had a clan meeting.

"As the alpha and future clan head you should have found your mate by now. You're 25 already, you may just have to pick someone!" He scolded me.

For him marrying my mom was easy. In the beginning it was about status. My mother's a healer and was considered a huge asset to the clan. Their marriage bound two different realms together in a successful attempt to put differences aside and focus on more important things. Things were rough for them in the beginning. My father had slept around quite a bit in the beginning. I was five years old when the news of my father's infidelities came to light. I remember watching my mother cry as my father begged for her forgiveness. At first it was to prevent a war between the realms but he eventually fell in love with her and fate decided they should have the mate bond for enduring such hardships. Despite their marriage being one of the strongest I've ever seen I never wanted to put someone through the same things or be forced to marry and my father knows this. The women in our clan only see me as a status symbol. A way to climb the ladder to an easy life.

I sigh again as I look up at the full moon above me and think about the intoxicating scent at the bar. It's been a while since I've taken my wolf form and tonight looks like a good night for a run, I think to myself as I get in my car and head home trying to clear my head.

 I decided to head to the bar around 4. I'm sure my mother and father are already there setting up last minute touches for the meeting. I straighten my tie and smooth out my black suit. I grab my keys, wallet, and phone then walk out the door.

Once at the bar I stop just before opening the door. The same soft, sweet, intoxicating scent is in the air. I quickly glance around but I don't see anyone unfamiliar nearby then I swing open the door slightly aggravated.

"Titan! My son, you 're here early!" My father says as he and my mother approach me.

"It's nice to see you too, dad." I reply as he shakes my hand.

"You left so quickly after our last meeting your father and I didn't get a chance to speak to you." My mother says as she hugs me.

"You know how it is mother, I'm always on the go." I reply.

"Yes but you should really make more time for family." My mother responds.

"And finding a mate." My father adds.

"That just might happen sooner than you think!" Jack shouts from behind the bar.

I glare at him from where I'm standing.

"Admit it you're only here this early to see the new wolf in town." Jack continues.

"Shut it old man!" I snarl a warning.

"A new wolf?" My mother says looking at Jack.

"Yeah! Hired her yesterday. She should be here soon though I don't know why someone like her would want to work here. Maybe it just drew her in because the place felt comfortable." Jack responds with a smirk.

"So she's not in our clan?" My father asks, somewhat excited.

"I've never seen her before and your boy here says her scent is intoxicating and one he isn't familiar with." Jack responds.

"Is that true son? Why didn't you say anything to us? If there's a new wolf in the area and one who could potentially be your mate we need to know." My father replies grinning.

"It's nothing dad and that's not why I am here. And besides there was no need to alert anyone until we knew for certain who she is and why she is here to begin with." I continued.

My father nodded somewhat reluctantly but still held that same look of hope in his eyes.

"Well that's enough chat we still have things that need to be done." My mother says as she pulls my dad through the bar.

I find a table in the corner and get comfortable. I pull my phone out and glance at the time as more of our clan begins to arrive. It's 4:15 and the meeting will start soon when I shoot a quick text to Kin, one of the clan underlings.

"Gonna send you a name soon. Find out everything you can." I send

"Will do boss!" Kin replies.

Luna's POV:

I had awoken late the next morning and stretched enjoying the amazing nights sleep I had gotten and the beautiful sense of freedom. I quickly ate and dressed myself in a pair of jeans and a light tee shirt.

"Last night was the best sleep I've had in over a year." I said to myself as I stretched in front of the hallway mirror.

I pulled my hair up and studied myself closely to make sure my bruises and various wounds weren't visible. I still had a few hours before I had to be at the bar so I decided to head out and do a bit of shopping before work. I found myself getting excited about such a small thing but it had been so long since I had this type of freedom. I grab my wallet and keys and head towards town.

I arrived at the bar around 4:45 and quickly walked in. It was much livelier than the day before and I could smell a mixture of scents in the air. I quickly found Jack and got my uniform trying to avoid the new pack I was now in the center of. Jack pointed me in the direction of the bathrooms and said I was welcome to take my uniforms home with me. I went to the bathroom and changed into the black heels and black strapless cocktail dress that stopped just above the knee and had a sweetheart neckline. Everything fit me like a glove.

I looked in the mirror and noticed a yellowish fading bruise on the side of my neck. I gently pulled my hair down allowing it to fall into its natural wave to hide the bruise without having to use magis. I gathered the rest of my clothes and quickly took everything to my car keeping only my wallet, phone, and keys with me. I then made my way to Jack as I came behind the bar counter.

"Alright here are the papers I need you to fill out and here is a pen. You can go down to the end of the bar there and fill them out." Jack says as he hands me the papers and points to the stool behind the bar at the end.

I made my way to the end of the bar and sat down on the black stool then began filling out my papers when a masculine woodland like scent filled my nostrils causing my heart beat to quicken. I pushed the thoughts and feelings aside and began to fill out my forms.