Man Handled
Ayla
Thane has been gone four days. I would be lying if I said I haven’t worried the whole time. I had to message Eric three times to help me with my anxiety in the evenings. I think I am afraid that my true safety net I have felt will be torn to shreds. The first glimmer of safety in ten years and I feel like it is close to crashing down around me. He is strong, and his team are fierce, but the fear remains. Kian has been messaging me every day and stopping by in the evenings. We make small talk. He pretty much just talks about himself, which I am fine with. The less people try to open my trauma box, the better. Tonight, he has invited me to see his bar that he owns in town. I am not terribly keen on the idea of going out around shifters, but he assures me that I will be safe. I also ate a few meals in the mess hall. I am getting pretty good at faking a good front. Pulling off the cool, calm, and collected. Underneath the surface, however, is a constant simmering of fear, guilt, grief. All undealt with. All ready to explode out of me at any moment. I have yet to make any decisions about my wolf. I am pretty sure that reconnecting with her to feel my mate bond is a necessity, because without it, I don’t think I can form anything with Kian. If I can find a way to reconnect and not shift around pack members that would be perfect. I would hate to use my trauma card, but self–preservation is more important at this point. The safety of the pack as well. They may not realize it, but if the people that killed my family knew I was here, they could come as well and hurt innocents trying to prevent me from fulfilling my destiny. One I don’t even want.
When I shifted for the first time, I never had to opportunity to come into my giftings. I don’t know what they are, if they are still there within Aramana. I know that is the reason they kept poisoning me. They knew I was gifted. I don’t know how anyone found out. My family kept my wolf a secret, vowing to not make it public knowledge until I was old enough to lead. That didn’t happen. Someone saw something and my family paid dearly for it. If I could trade places or give myself up to prevent it all from happening, I would.
The knock on my door takes me out of my flashback hell, and tells me that Kian is here. His cinnamon scent is mixed with something alcoholic. I scrunch up my nose as the smell is trying to bring back a memory I don’t want. Alphas and their liquor. It makes the bad ones do evil things. I answer the door with a nervous smile, and he smiles back, gesturing for me to take my arm in his and walk with him to his car. “I know you are nervous Ayla. I know this is a big step for you and I am proud of you. We will not be gone long. I want you to see my hard work. It also isn’t too busy at this time which will help your nerves.” I smile and pat his forearm. Thankful for the thoughtfulness around the time frame and crowd size. I can’t make a life for myself in my rooms, but I don’t know how to explain to people that I could freak out and break down at any moment. Hopefully, I stay in check tonight.
We drive the short distance into town, and I get out and follow him into his building. The curb appeal is nice. Kind of like a jazz bar type of establishment. It is, however, anything but NOT busy when we get inside. There are shifters everywhere. Couples kissing in corners, a live band playing music in the corner. The lighting is dim, and I am starting to feel claustrophobic. “It is alright Ayla. These are just regulars. They won’t bite.” I take no reassurance from his statement and find myself accessing the area for possible exits. If I have to bolt, I want to know where and how.
I am led to the bar with Kian, and he talks to staff and meets with a few waitresses in the back. I am not a fan of their attire. Short black booty shorts and tank tops that leave little to the imagination. Does he make them wear this? His idea? The thought of my mate dressing his staff like summer sleaze bags with cracks hanging out everywhere upsets me. I am not sure of the feeling. Jealousy? Is this a self–esteem issue? Possibly. Fates know I have none and really this is his business, and all of this was in play prior to me. I am curious when I hear a lot of giggling in the back kitchen, but I try not to look overly
nosey.
He comes back out and sets a drink in front of me. I have never had an alcoholic beverage before, and I am not sure I want to put myself under the influence of anything. Especially not in an environment where someone could slip something into it so easily. “Loosen up Ayla. Relax. It is a martini. It will help calm your nerves. I made it myself. Promise you, it is safe.” I nod and take a sip. I start sputtering and coughing. Is it supposed to burn so bad? Kian laughs and takes it from me and replaces it with a glass of beer. “Here, maybe you should start easier first.” I take a few sips of the beer. It goes down smooth. Not a terrible taste. Definitely not something I will be drinking again, but he is being thoughtful, and I want to show my appreciation. “That’s better. Maybe you will loosen up a little. Yeah? It will be good for us.” I take a look around as he goes over some scheduling things and finish my beer. Another one appears out of thin air in front of me and I start sipping on it. I do not want to finish this one.
“Ayla, I would like to take you over to the back table and introduce you to a few business associates of mine. It won’t take long; they are eager to meet my mate, and I would like to dispel some rumors that me being fated to the most beautiful shifter on the planet is something I am lying about.” I give him a half smile grin. I get what he is saying, but this niggling that I don’t have bond confirmation is irritating me. I also didn’t agree to meet anyone, but don’t want to hurt his feelings, so I slide off of my stool and let him lead the way.
“Ayla, this is Sam Crawford, Miles Northstar and Ben Sutton. They are very prominent men in the community. They own several businesses and are working with me on an upcoming project.” “Possibly. Possibly working with you Kian.” The one with a terrible combover snarks off. There isn’t a single shifter at this table that doesn’t give me the creeps. I have alarm bells going off in my head. The problem is that I don’t know if the alarms blaring are true threats or perceived ones because of my trauma. I have to trust Kian as my mate, possibly, that he wouldn’t put me in harm’s way. I nervously smile, failing to hold eye contact with any of them for too long. The one with long black hair in a braid down his back has his eyes roaming all over me. It makes me want to puke. They probably had too much to drink. The three of them make no attempts to hide the fact they are checking me out. ‘You were right Kian, you do have a very beautiful mate. I am happy for you. Drinks on me. Why don’t you go and round us all up one. Leave her here, we will watch after her for you. Before I can turn and flee, or grab Kian in anyway, he has already headed to the bar to start pouring drinks. How could he leave me with strangers? How could anyone know what I have been through just a little and think that is, okay? He looks up from the bar to check on me and then starts pouring drinks again. Maybe he was checking to see if I am in fact okay. Maybe he really trusts these shifters and I should as well. I have no idea.
I turn back to the men sitting at the table. Still leering. So, Ayla, is it? That is a very beautiful name. How did you get to the Midnight Pack? You don’t have our scent on you. the fat one asks me, and I just stare at him. I didn’t bring my paper, and I don’t feel like telling him anything. I point to my mouth and shake my head ‘no‘ hoping he can take a hint and leave me alone. “Oh, you can’t talk? Well, that is a damn shame. Isn’t it. Kian should be back soon. He looks busy. Why don’t you take a seat while you wait. We won’t bite. It could take a while.” When I make absolutely no attempts to sit at his table, he
1/2
Man Handled
reaches over, wraps his arm around my waste and pulls me down on his lap. I immediately start kicking and scratching. I am hitting his forearm, desperate to get free. I don’t care what the scene looks like. “Take it easy. Take it easy. Geez, I didn’t mean any harm. What harm could come from sitting down for a while?
What is going on here? Kian hurries over and helps me out of fatso’s lap by my elbow, but his grip is painfully hard. He is glaring at me, his wolf close to the surface, eyes glowing. Instead of rescuing me, he is looking at me like I just ruined his life. “What the hell are you doing causing a scene here Ayla? These are some of my best customers and business partners. They don’t need you thrashing around and carrying on like you are under attack. Fam breathing rapidly while he holds me and getting more fearful by the second. His eyes are darting all over my features while his are contorted with rage. We were just trying to talk her into sitting while she waited for you and she spazzed out. Acts like she has never sat on another man’s lap before, is that it? You some prude, virgin pussy?” I gasp in complete shock and denial that someone would actually talk to me like that here. I don’t know why. All alphas are the same. Power hungry, fear mongers. Abusers of women. Haters of good. Lovers of lust and evil. Why would I think this experience would be any different.
*If my friends want you to sit on their lap Ayla. You sit. They do the same to my waitresses, there is nothing wrong with it. My girls wouldn’t be working and happily doing it, if there was. They are just being friendly. They don’t mean any harm. They are old flirt bags is all. One of the scoffs like he is anything but a flirt. I didn’t get flirty with me vibes when I was being manhandled.
