Chapter 4

　　Leo

   "Bro, I'm not going out," I said, sinking deeper into my couch.

　　"Come on," Rowan groaned. "You have to. It won't be the same if you're not there."

　　I tipped my head back, already worn out. I didn't go out much, it just wasn't my thing. I'd been trying to get out of this little outing for days now. But Rowan had grown more relentless as the day went on. He knew he was wearing me down. There was blood in the water, and he was circling, ready to latch on and drag me out for a night of chaos that probably wouldn't end until sunrise.

　　"You don't need me to have fun."

　　Rowan dropped onto the couch next to me. "Leo, you're my best friend. How the hell am I supposed to have a good time without you?"

　　"I was really planning to turn in early tonight." The excuse sounded weak even to my own ears. I almost never went to bed early.

　　Rowan shot me a look that was honestly pretty funny. It was the angriest he ever managed to look at me. "You've left me no choice." He straightened up with fake authority and pointed down at me. "Leo Ashfang, I hereby order you to come out, get drunk, have fun, and if we're lucky, bring home a hot chick to bang. I demand this as my birthday present."

　　"Are you serious right now? Ordering me around? Who do you think you are, Queen Elizabeth?"

　　"Did you get me a birthday gift?" Rowan asked.

　　I laughed and rolled my eyes. "What? I didn't realize you were turning seven. I haven't bought you a present since we were in middle school."

　　"Ha!" Rowan pumped his fist. "Exactly. Since you've skipped my birthday gifts for, like, twenty years, you coming out tonight counts. We'll call it even."

　　"One night out equals twenty birthday presents?" I asked, already knowing I'd lost.

　　"Well…you'll need to buy me at least six beers tonight, but yeah."

　　I let out a long sigh. "Fuck it. Fine. Let me get dressed."

　　"Hell yeah," Rowan said, pulling out his phone. "I'll call the guys."

　　The rest of the crew showed up soon after, and we all piled into Rowan's massive Suburban before heading out to grab dinner. He insisted on this tapas spot downtown because he'd "heard you could pull a ton of tails there." The food was insanely good, and he wasn't wrong about the women. The place had a small salsa club attached, and it was packed with women out enjoying their Friday night.

　　We were halfway through a platter of roasted octopus, prawns, and Spanish sausages when a whole group of girls wandered over to our table. They were attractive, sure, but a little too young for my taste. Barely legal college girls, if I had to guess. They were practically draped all over my friends.

　　"Hey there, sexy," a brunette said, her chest practically spilling out of her top as she dragged a chair over beside me. She ran a finger down my chest and flashed a grin. "Shifters are hot."

　　I picked up another shrimp and tossed it into my mouth. "Yeah, thanks…uh, same to you."

　　Rowan leaned close and muttered in my ear, "Dude, what are you doing? She's hot, and she's basically throwing herself at you."

　　I shot him a look that clearly told him to shut it. The brunette was soon joined by a redhead, smaller chest, but an ass impressive enough to make even me take a second look. She dropped into a seat beside her friend. "Meg? Who's the hot guy?"

　　I forced myself not to roll my eyes. Definitely college girls. They were already drunk and on the hunt. I've seen the routine plenty of times. Once alcohol took over, all sense of restraint disappeared. If I were a different type of guy, I'd absolutely be taking advantage.

　　"Leo," I called out to myself.

　　The redhead's eyebrows lifted as she smiled. "Oh my God, even his name is hot. Meg, let's get this guy a beer. We'll be right back, babe," she said to me, grabbing her friend by the arm and dragging her toward the bar.

　　Rowan grabbed my arm, shaking it excitedly. "Holy shit, man. If you get a threesome on my birthday and I don't, I'm gonna be seriously pissed. Can I at least record it?"

　　"Dude, are you serious?" I grimaced. "I'm almost old enough to be their dad."

　　"You're thirty-five, not sixty-five, no matter how much you act like an old man."

　　The girls came back with a beer, which I accepted with a nod. I finished it in four long swallows. Shifters didn't get drunk the same way humans did. It wasn't impossible, but our bodies ran hotter and burned alcohol off two or three times faster. I'd need to drink triple what a human did to feel it. I rarely bothered. Most of the time, I drank simply because I enjoyed it.

　　The redhead glanced at Meg and bit her lip. They shared a silent exchange, communicating with nothing but looks. Meg turned away, her face bright red, laughing and nodding. As our server dropped the check on the table, the redhead rested a hand on my thigh.

　　"So…" she said, leaning in close. "My friend and I think you're, like, really fucking hot. Have you ever been with two women at once?" She flicked a look at Meg, then back at me. "We've never shared a guy before, so maybe it could be a first for all of us?"

　　I let out a quiet sigh and looked around the table. Every one of the guys was struggling to hide their smug grins. I already had a regular hookup I could call whenever I wanted. Taking random women home just didn't do it for me.