Curiously, working part-time as a bartender in a shabby club has become the only distraction in my dull life. It's funny, because I know humans tend to believe being a shifter is very exciting - even though they would probably be scared shitless if they were confronted by one of our kind, especially a feline. Still, we're very fortunate to be able to hide our identities. We might be stronger but they outnumber us and some of them don't like us very much - to say the least.

Most of the time being a shifter means being lonely, secretive and keeping yourself on a tight leash. The only moment when this burden is lifted from my shoulders is when I go into the deepest part of the forest, outside of town, and shift. I used to run for a couple of hours, enjoy the feeling of the wind and rain on my fur but I do it less and less because its becoming too risky. Some crazy humans who call themselves Hunters organize secret hunts, at different times of the year, and proceed to kill as many living beings as they can. Naive enough to think they will come up with a solution to fix the damages later, they've created massive destruction and bloodbath in the huge forest surronding us.

"Nour, watch the guy sitting at table four. Although he's had at least seven pints and is drunk off his ass, he keeps ordering new ones," Lewis, one of the waiter, says to me.

"I'm on it"

I head toward the poor guy who's about to fall from his chair. He's probably a shifter, there is actually a few shifters who come here and try to forget their loneliness in alcohol. I learned to recognise them quickly by the way they're able to drink an impressive amount of alcohol in a ridiculously short time. That's what makes my job more interesting; I'm not just working as a bartender, I am in charge of making sure no shifters loose control and act in a way which could betray their identity. Of course, none of the humans are aware of my double hat. If they knew, I'd be fired immediately- at best. Only Ed, the owner of the bar, knows about it. He's a cat shifter, and doesn't feel he can handle drunk shifters on his own.

Of all shifters, I don't know why he chose me though. I'm not the strongest one and I am certainly not the biggest one. He could have chosen a wolf or - nah, I know why he chose me. It's because I'm clever as fuck.

"Sir"

"Hmmm?"

"Are you feeling alright, sir?"

"Damn, you smell good. I thought waiters couldn't afford more than cheap perfumes" He opens one eye, then the other, looking me up and down. "What are you, boy?"

I cringe. Not "Who are you?" but "What are you?" That's one of the numerous reasons why I hate being a shifter.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, sir" - he's probably just taking a wild guess. I hope so, anyways.

"Don't you dare lie to me, boy. A friend of mine told me how one day he was very drunk and you helped him avoid making a fool of himself. He heard you muttering about how clever you were compared to these goddamn rabbits. So, I'm gonna ask you one more time: What. Are. You?"

"I am a freaking lion, that's what I am"

He bursts into laughter, which is, I have to admit, pretty humiliating. He eventually calms down a bit and replies in annoyed voice:

"Don't you dare lie to me, boy. There are very few lions left and I know exactly who they are. Plus, you don't strike me as a feline."

"I am quite muscular, though."

"You know that has nothing to do with it."

"You were only pretending to be drunk, huh?"

"You're only catching that now? And here I thought you were clever - yeah, you're right, I'm almost completely sober. How could a lion be drunk with less than thirty beers?"

"What do you want?" I ask through gritted teeth.

He looks at my chest then finally meets my eyes, no longer bothering to hide his lust. I start feeling nauseous and try to stay focused. If I start panicking now, who knows what might happen?

"I want the lion's share" he replies with a mocking tone, licking his lower lip and putting his big hand on my chest. It does not feel good at all. He has no right to treat me like I'm some fucking piece of meat, only good enough to satiate his hunger.

"Can I have a drink before?" I ask with what I hope sounds like a seductive voice.

"I knew it when I saw you that you were a little slut" he laughs. "Of course, hon, go and fix yourself a drink. You're the bartender after all. Bring me one too, but don't take too long or I will take you on the counter in front of everyone. Bet you would like that, hmm?"

"Haha. Yeah. Maybe" I hastily reply, before rushing toward the bar.

I am very lucky this lion is as dumb as he looks. I let out a sigh of relief while taking a pill from a small tube I always keep with me, and put it in his glass. This bar isn't in the safest part of the town, so keeping that kind of thing with me comes quite handy - even though it could give people the wrong impression. I'm so glad to have it with me tonight: I would become suicidal if that pig was to take me against my consent.

"What are you doing, Nour?" a stern voice asks, making me jump. Crap, Lewis? Did he see me putting the pill in the guy's glass? "What do you mean?" I reply with feigned innocence.

"I thought I told you the man was already drunk? Why would you pour him another drink?"

"He was just faking it, Lewis" I quickly answer. "Can't you see how sober he looks right now?"

"Hmm, you're right, he does look a hundred times better" he nods, a bit surprised.

"He's fine and once more, it's kinda our job to serve alcohool to people. We're not their guardians, they're supposed to be adults."

"Okay, go on then but be careful okay?" he gives in.

You bet I am going to be careful, I mentally add while going back to the other man, who's looking at me with an impatient expression.

"Finally!" he sighes, taking the glass from my hand and purposely brushing my wrist with his thumb. I shiver with disgust but he obviously mistakes it for lust. "Guess you're barely holding it down there, huh" he whispers as he grabs a handful of my ass. "Don't worry, I'm going to get in very soon." Stop it, I mentally beg, I am going to be sick.

I bring the glass to my lips "To us" I exclaim cheerfully. "To us" he replies gleefully, winking at me before taking a big sip of alcohol.

I have to listen to him for five long minutes, as he tries to explain all the dirty things he wants to do to my body, his words more and more slurred as time goes by. He eventually falls asleep and I quickly walk back to the bar, where an angry-looking Lewis is waiting for me.

"I am not going to tell you that I told you so, but why on earth don't you - "

"Lewis" I interrupt him. "I quit"

"Wh- what? Why?" he falters. "You're joking, right? It's no big deal, Nour. You wouldn't get fired for something like that. Like you've said, it is our job to serve alcohol"

"It's not that, Lewis. I can't handle it anymore, that's all" I reply with a tired tone.

"What? I thought you liked it here. You said once that it was the only place where you felt you could be a bit more yourself. Did something happen with this guy? Did he - did he say something? Did he - did he try something? Do you know him?"

"No, none of that. I just want to do something else. I want to discover new things," I lie.

"Fair enough" he sighs. "At least tell the boss before you leave."

"I can't" I reply. I have to get out of here as quickly as possible. "Please tell him for me. Bye, Lewis. It was a pleasure working with you."

Without waiting for his reply, I start heading toward the front door. "Wait!" I hear him cry behind me. "You didn't even collect  your paycheck."

I keep walking without looking back and start running once I'm in the streets. I don't even want to take a bus, it's no longer safe. I tricked a lion and there is a good chance he will get mad once he's awake. I will have to keep a low profile for at least a couple of months, but what if he finds me? He must be pretty powerful in this city and I don't want to see him ever again! I've had enough of horny rapists who try to grab me first chance they get (they are mostly shifters, because I tend to intimidate humans).

Thirty minutes later, I am finally home. I let myself fall on the couch, then start thinking about how I need to find another job quickly. It sucks, because I loved that job, even if it meant often being among shifters; I loved the danger, the adrenalin. Now that I hardly go to the forest and stay in my human form both day and night, going to that bar was making my life a little more exciting - but I guess I can't even have that. Feeling frustrated, I grab the nearest thing in my reach, which happens to be the remote control and throw it against the wall.

"Be quiet!" an angry voice suddenly hisses in my ear, making my heart beat wildly before I recognise its owner. "It's four in the morning and everyone's asleep, so please stop throwing shit!"

Rémy is looking at me with his arms across his chest. His hair is a bit messy and his gray shirt falls a bit on his right shoulder but other than that, he looks completely awake. I suddenly feel better, though I don't really know why. Maybe it's because nobody in this house has been saying a single word to me for the last two weeks. They are mad at me, and with good reason. I guess. I tried talking to them a couple of times but they never reply, even when I'm only saying good morning or please, pass me the salt.

Sure, Rémy looks pissed off right now but at least he's talking to me. God, I am pathetic. Am I getting softer? No, I am not. I am Nour the Great, who is always on his own because nobody can handle his greatness. Maybe Rémy looks better and maybe he looks mysterious but I have no doubt, deep down, he is boring as fuck. Why is he even awake anyway?

"Why are you even awake?"

I expect him to just go back to his room without replying but he surprises me by getting closer - okay, his arms are a bit bigger than expected. I would stare, if I was a girl.

"Ask nicely," he orders, "and I might answer."

"Please," I reply quickly. "Tell me why you're always up so late." I then realise how obedient I sound and to my horror, feel my cheeks grow hot. "I mean, I don't care you asshole. Go back to bed".

"I was writing."

"Really? What are you - I mean, okay I'm not surprised: I've always known you had no social life apart from Amine and my brother"

He looks at me, then sighs "and here I was thinking that you could be decent sometimes. I won't ever make that mistake again."

I nod stiffly, then leave the living-room without saying anything. As I reach the stairs, I suddenly hear him exclaim:

"Nour! Did you actually throw the remote against the wall? 

If you enjoyed (and even if you didn't actually) this chapter, please let me know! :) Comments and constructive criticism are always welcomed. Also, if you have any suggestions/ideas, I  would love to hear them!

That being said, I wish you all a pleasant day and I'll be back next Sunday!

xoxoxo

#hasnoshame