Iron: Blue Collar Wolves #1 (Mating Season Collection) by Ronin Winters, Mating Season Collection Page B

through the spell Bella’s eyes always cast over him. “What’s Bella doing here, anyway? I thought she lived at the hospital these days.”
    Hospital. Doctor Isabella Santiago. Ice-cold reality doused him, and Iron tore his gaze from her, slamming glasses on the bar and began pouring.
    “You said the h word. Mistake.” Steel was responding to House, but his attention was fixed on Iron. “We don’t use such dirty language around here.”
    “Steel, man–” Iron bit his tongue to keep from continuing the sentence. His alpha would put up with a lot of talk, but the words that wanted to escape Iron’s throat right now would get them into a fight that would leave a bloody mess across the bar. Besides, this was Steel’s way, trying to goad him into something that wasn’t going to fuckin’ happen. Steel might be doing it out of brotherly love, but it got tired.
    In answer to a prayer Iron never said, the door behind him opened and in walked Melissa Harris for her shift, her dyed blonde hair up in a ponytail, face make-up free with her usual outfit of T-shirt, jeans, and boots, all well-worn. “Hey, guys.”
    Brick and House both tensed, their gazes locking on Mel, which she seemed oblivious to as she started on her prep for the night. How much House and Brick’s situation sucked hit Iron again, making his own issues more bearable. Having the same true mate as another wolf? Not for any amount of money would he sign on for that.
    As she finished counting the till, Mel said, “I’m surprised to see you guys here. Shouldn’t yinz be out, finding your true mates? Don’t be a dumbass like Iron here.”
    Iron threw up his hands. “Fuck my life, man.”
    “Why don’t you fuck Bella instead? And mate her while you’re at it?”
    Fierce. That described Mel more than anyone else he knew, even Bella. She hadn’t blinked when she discovered in seventh grade that two of her three best friends were werewolves, and she discovered that after an attack where a werewolf from a different pack went after her. Steel stopped the attack, but it was Mel who had doused the bastard in mace, then when he was back in his human form kicked him in the balls so hard he was probably still singing soprano.
    As awesome as it was to see her in action, it was less satisfying when she used it against him. When the season started and he hadn’t gone after Bella – for yet another year , the Mel voice in his head said, angry drawl and all – she’d taken to glaring at him as a hobby, and he knew the minute she began to suspect he was going to do something with Laura because she served his prized whiskey stash to the bar one night he was off, feigning wide-eyed ignorance of how it happened the next day.
    Never let it be said Mel was subtle.
    Steel spoke up, and though Iron could try to pretend it was because Steel was going to back-off, why bother? The reason was it would be bloody if Brick and House tried to make a wolf skin out of Iron should he lose his temper and upset Mel. “Mel, Bella’s here. Shouldn’t you go say hi?”
    Mel cut her eyes at Steel, but she smiled anyway. “Fine, right after I’m done prepping.” She turned back to Iron, poking him in the chest with her finger. “You – grow a dick, or a brain, or something. Quit making her wait.”
    Twin growls of protection reached Iron’s ear, both pitched too low for Mel’s human hearing to grasp. Iron stepped back an inch in a show of understanding, head bowed a fraction to Brick and House. As beta he didn’t show submission to anyone but his alpha, but he was willing to give a small acknowledgment to keep the peace. No need for instincts to take over and start a bloodbath.
    Both the other wolves knew Iron wouldn’t touch Mel, knew he wouldn’t hurt her for her display, but as Iron knew too well, logic meant fuck all when it came to mates.
    Brick and House shook off their reaction as well. House gave Iron a conciliatory smile, and Brick – well, Brick didn’t leap