Chapter 3 Gods, I fucking hate Christmas. I'm just glad I found a bar that's still open on Christmas Eve, available to me to wallow in self pity. I'm only two drinks in, but I plan on getting wasted by the time the night is done. I'm not sure what I thought would happen when I decided to stay in Starbrook City after my sister's trial, but sitting alone on Christmas wasn't it. I mean, it's not like things were ever the same after she left home to go live with Nana, but it was something. To be fair, Hannah did invite me to come have dinner with her pack and Pack De Lucca. But I don't belong there. I'm not sure I belong much of anywhere. Apparently, that counts the road, considering I almost hit someone with my motorcycle when I was pulling into the parking lot. Someone. Too general of a term for the fierce little slip of a woman who wasn't looking before crossing the road. Sure, she had probably had a few drinks, considering how her friend with purple hair had pulled her out of the way as she unleashed her tirade on me. I'm not sure who hurt her to make her react like that, but my fingers itch to meet the flesh of the fuckers. Then a small smile pulls at my lips. She had reacted so aggressively as I pulled my bike to a hard stop and held up my hands in apology, even though she was the one who stumbled into the middle of the street. Her pale-blue eyes had flashed with so much anger, it startled me. 'You fucking alphas think you just own the whole world, don't you?' Her cheeks had been flushed, and she had been wearing an ugly Christmas sweater that read, 'Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animal', her long black hair falling around her in loose waves. I had been so caught off guard by the reaction, it wasn't until she made it across the parking lot with her friend that I pulled off my helmet and called an apology out after her. Her hand, on the passenger side door handle of whatever ride share they had ordered, lifted, and I thought she might wave back. Laugh and say it was okay. Nope. She had scowled at me as she raised both arms in front of her and flipped me off with each hand. Then, she oh-so-eloquently stuck her tongue out at me. What a little ray of sunshine. 'One more, Bernie,' I hold up a finger at the old bartender, who only grunts at me before fixing up another neat whiskey and sliding it over. 'Kieran? Is that you?' A vaguely familiar voice pulls me out of my own self pity, and I look over to see Brody Benson, the lawyer who helped my sister with her case this last fall. 'Hey man,' I reach out for a handshake, and his grasp is firm as he takes it, 'didn't expect to see you in a bar on Christmas Eve.' He takes the seat next to me, raising his chin at Bernie. 'Hey Bernie.' The old bartender, without a word, slides over a glass of scotch on the rocks. 'I come here a lot these days...since I left my pack.' Fuck, right. He left his pack after he found out what they were planning on doing to Cady De Lucca. I'm here, drowning my sorrows because I don't have anyone...but I've never had anyone. Brody had a pack and lost it. From what I remember of what Hannah told me, this'll be his first holiday without a pack. 'How're you holding up?' I ask, nursing my glass. Usually, I hate it when people sit right next to me, or try to talk to me while I'm drinking. With Brody though, it feels weirdly natural. Like we're two old friends catching up after not seeing each other for a while. 'It is what it is.' He shrugs, swirling his drink around. 'I've mostly been pouring myself into work, and your sister has been a huge help in funding other lawyers to come work for me.' That's right. After leaving his pack, he also left their law firm and started doing work for omegas pro-bono, which is how he ended up representing my sister to begin with. 'Speaking of your sister,' he drawls, 'is there any particular reason why you're here, drinking, instead of with her and her pack?' 'They invited me,' I shrug, then down the rest of my drink, 'I just couldn't bring myself to be submerged in a happy pack when I'm feeling like this.' 'Like what?' he asks, but I can tell by the look on his face that he already knows. I say it anyway. 'Like something's missing.' Before he can answer, his eyes catch on something over my shoulder, and I turn to see who just walked in. An alpha and a beta, by the looks of it. The alpha is tall-taller than me-and is built like a damn tank. He definitely has some Asian heritage, and if I had to guess, I'd say Korean. Black hair is cut high and tight, and his dark, almond-shaped eyes sweep the room as if evaluating for a threat. He's wearing a button-up shirt and tie, with leather shoulder holsters and a shiny police badge on his waist. Ah. So he's a cop. 'Detective Song,' Brody calls out, his hand waving in the air. 'Fancy meeting you here.' 'Just Hunter is fine, Mr. Benson,' the alpha shrugs, walking up to the seat next to me. 'This taken?' He directs his question at me, and I quickly shake my head. Guess I'm feeling social tonight. The beta sits on the other side of Hunter and reaches out his hand, a lazy smirk in place. 'Since this brute didn't feel it was prudent to introduce me, I'm Damien.' Damien's eyes crinkle with his smile, but he has that air of playboy surrounding him too. His dark brown hair is swept back from his face, and his rich, coppery skin makes his hazel eyes pop. I've always been attracted to both men and women, but that's not what I'm feeling with him. 'Kieran,' I take his hand and shake it, 'Brody and I are...acquaintances. We just ran into each other.' 'Are you a client of his?' Hunter asks, nodding his head at Bernie as the bartender slides him a drink. 'He represented my sister a few months ago in a bogus case. Our stepsisters were trying to sue her for our step-grandmother's estate. How do you two know each other?' I motion between the two of them with a finger. Damien grins as he slings an arm over Hunter's shoulder, and the detective gives a heavy sigh, like he's so over his antics. 'We grew up in the same town in rural Idaho. Being the only two second generation immigrants in all of Dry Creek, we stuck together and he hasn't been able to get rid of me since.' Hunter's face breaks out into a small grin for the first time all evening. 'At least you tell the story right. Though you did leave out the part where you were stuck on the toilet for two days after having Eomma's Kimchi Jigae. You never lied about eating a whole malagueta pepper again.' Damien only throws his head back and laughs before turning his attention to Brody and me. 'Have you ever heard one stubborn woman screaming in Portuguese while the equally stubborn one on the other side of the phone yells back in Korean?' 'I was on the Korean side of the phone, and it wasn't pretty. Until Eomma told Mamãe he lied about the pepper so she thought he could handle it.' Hunter smirks, and Damien sighs. 'They're still best friends, you know. And give us shit about settling down every time we see them.' As we all talk and get to know each other, I find that for the first time, I feel like...like I belong somewhere. When Hunter and Damien ask if we have any plans for Christmas the next morning, and if we want to come crash on their couches, I have a feeling our lives are about to change in a very big way. Title: A Mother's Rewind Tomorrow In "A Mother's Rewind Tomorrow" by CrushReel, Flora Hayes's life takes a tragic turn after a fatal car accident. However, her final moments reveal a chilling glimpse of a future fraught with peril for her children two decades ahead. Exploring themes of resilience and sacrifice, this CEO drama intricately weaves elements of modernity and time travel into a compelling narrative set within the grandeur of a mansion and the intensity of an office environment. As Flora grapples with the aftermath of her premonition, the story delves deep into familial bonds and the weight of destiny. What sets "A Mother's Rewind Tomorrow" apart is its masterful blend of suspense and emotional depth, captivating readers with its intricate plot twists and nuanced character development. Discover the gripping saga at CrushReel, where this ongoing tale awaits those eager to embark on a journey through time and motherly love.