Gideon Channing
scanned the crowd through the monitors, looking for any signs of trouble. It was his job to make sure that all the
shifters, humans, and vampires mingled well together. No one had ever been
injured or forced to do anything since the opening of his place, Silver Bullet,
and as owner and pack Alpha, he planned on keeping it that way. From his
office, located above the club, Gideon couldn’t hear the pounding music, but he
could enjoy the view. Sitting back, Gideon watched gorgeous, half-naked men
gyrating across the dance floor rubbing against each other, creating a sea of
delicious, sweaty flesh.
His pack of red wolves had changed so much over the
years and he was content with the way things were. Before his father became the
Alpha, the wolves had been ruled with an iron fist. Members of the pack were
punished and put to death for whatever infraction the tyrant of an Alpha
considered to be disgraceful or wrong. Families were broken a part, children
slaughtered for stepping out of line, and men and women were held to different
standards.
He could still remember the night when he came clean
and told his father he preferred men. He didn’t expect the man to accept him as
easily as he had, with open arms. That
same night, his father told him a heart breaking story about an uncle he never
knew existed. The man had been killed for his sexual preferences,
murdered, before his father was old enough and strong enough to step
in and fight. Since then,
his father felt guilty over the loss of his older brother. A man that, from
what Gideon heard, he resembled in a lot of ways.
When he took the reins from his father, the few families that remained
went with his parents to Europe. Now, his pack consisted of gay men, a haven
for anyone that needed a safe place in honor of the uncle he never knew. Some
of the men he’d grown up with and others found and joined them over the years.
Their numbers were growing and he always welcomed anyone who needed a place to
call home. The clubs success could be attributed to the entire pack and their
hard work. The Silver Bullet had become well known for catering to everyone and
their tastes whether conservative or wildly kinky. The large profits not only helped them all live a life of luxury, it
also paid the way for the younger members to further their education. College
and traveling were important elements in a young pup’s life and he didn’t want
any mistakes closing this place down.
Ever since the
paranormal world had been exposed to human kind, years ago, they’d lived in
relatively peaceful conditions. There were rogues, but they were policed
closely by a group called, F.P.A. or Federal Paranormal Agency. The paranormals couldn’t be blamed for
everything though. Humans committed crimes and killed all the time.
There were
radical groups also known as PARA-haters out there, but their numbers were
small and Gideon’s pack hadn’t had any problems with them for a while. Where
ever those trouble makers were, he was glad they weren’t in New Orleans,
harassing his pack.
After human-kind
got over the shock that shifters and vampires were real and not a myth, most
humans became curious about paranormals. Over time humans started trusting that
they weren’t in any danger. Gideon named the club, Silver Bullet, as a little
joke since many human’s believed that shifters or werewolves could only be
killed with silver. He wouldn’t confirm or deny that rumor.
Gideon’s hope
was that the Silver Bullet would bring everyone together, paranormals and
humans alike.
Having a club
was also a good excuse to help his pack find their mates. He’d been searching for his own far too long
in his opinion. At thirty-five, he was ready to settle down with a good man by
his side.
Scanning each
screen, he watched his employees for a few minutes before checking each dark
corner, the dance floors, and even the private rooms. Security and safety would
always be his top priority. Everyone coming inside his club knew that, and all
the players agreed to the discreet surveillance. It was one of the reasons they
were always busy. The other was due to the fact that they were the hottest gay
club in the state, and quite possibly the country.
The Silver
Bullet was a sprawling building almost a block long in the warehouse district
in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was a well-known hang out and attracted lots of
different clientele. Luckily, they could accommodate everyone’s tastes. From
quiet relaxing atmospheres to extreme forms of BDSM, the club had it all.
Gideon made
sure to do his homework before opening. He wanted this place to be the go-to
for paranormals and humans alike. The sprawling club was cut up into different
mini-clubs, some more private and exclusive than others. In fact, in order to
get into the dungeon, each member needed a background check and a psych
evaluation. If they passed, then they were given their own four digit code.
He loved New
Orleans. It had it all. The big city, music, food, swamps, and open spaces that
allowed him to shift and run freely. To him, Louisiana wasn’t like any other
place in the world. There was a certain magic that hung in the thick air and
clung to a person.
Paranormals
were everywhere, all over the world, in every city. For the most part, within
each city, the different factions kept to themselves. Los Angeles, City of Angels,
was the home of actual angels, some vampires, and a few demons. New Mexico,
also known as the State of Enchantment, was the home of witches, warlocks, and
different breeds of shifters. Texas with all of its open spaces was home to a
lot of paranormals, but mostly big game shifters. The list went on and on. His
own pack of Red Wolves was a rare breed that could be found in Louisiana.
After a few minutes of watching the sexy men on the screen, he heard a
knock before the door opened. Gideon swiveled his chair around and grinned as his
Beta, Sean Griffin, strolled in. His best friend could easily be mistaken for
his brother. They looked similar in a lot of ways.
“Enjoying the view I see. You should come down and see it up close and
personal.” Sean winked.
