by Dannika Dark
Austin shifted his glance toward our table, and his blue eyes went glacial. Like Wheeler, he also had on a sleeveless black shirt. Only, Austin’s tattoos wrapped around his shoulders and upper arms in a tribal pattern. His biceps flexed, and his jaw tensed.
I had a feeling Lexi was watching him from the corner of her eye over her shoulder, because she slowly turned around to face the man behind her. “I’ve already got a drink, but thanks for asking. Didn’t mean to give you the wrong idea; the music is loud and I was just bending over to hear my friend,” she said matter-of-factly.
Austin couldn’t hear what she was saying, but that didn’t matter. Howlers wasn’t just serving Austin beer and hamburgers tonight, but also a reminder of how desirable his mate was to other men. Despite the rogue Shifter hitting on her, Austin’s eyes were all over Lexi’s body—owning it with every heated glance. An amorous look crossed his expression, and I could tell he was itching to step in and intervene. Instead, he played it cool and started up a conversation with Reno.
While April was minding her business in the far end of the booth, Reno looked ready to lay any man to waste who so much as breathed in her vicinity. She was a woman in her prime who looked confident in her skin, and that was an attractive quality to a Shifter. Lots of them were curious about humans, and her shirt sliding off her bare shoulder was helping that along. Men couldn’t help but notice her big hazel eyes, and Reno couldn’t help but notice those men noticing her.
I sensed the perfect storm brewing.
“This should be uneventful,” Ivy remarked. “Lorenzo has never been a jealous man; he trusts me implicitly.”
Naya reached across the table and touched her hand. “Darling, this isn’t about trust. This is about men wanting to show off their peacock feathers. Let them strut around and do their dance until their feathers ruffle; it’ll just make for a steamy end to our evening.”
Ivy looked across the room at Lorenzo and blushed. I found it endearing that a woman could blush after having had children, but Lorenzo was the only one who could put color on her cheeks.
“Sure you don’t want that beer? Maybe something sweet, like a scoop of ice cream,” the man said to Lexi in a growly voice.
Lexi backed up against the table because he was suddenly invading her space. “No. I’m not interested.”
“You heard the lady,” Austin barked from across the bar.
The hair on my neck stood on end.
Austin must have read her lips. No was the only word he needed to understand when it came to his woman. He pushed off the bar and stalked toward the table, his fists clenched. Lexi tensed and gripped the table behind her, panic in her eyes. Meanwhile, Naya laced her fingers together and rested her chin on them, grinning from ear to ear.
The man turned to face Austin. “What business is it of yours?”
“Maybe you’re not the kind of man a woman like her wants,” Austin said.
Now, while Austin could have ended the game by stating Lexi was his mate, he interestingly chose not to. So in effect, these became two men on equal ground vying for the attention of one woman. Austin didn’t want to claim his mate; he wanted to win her.
The man with the jet-black hair folded his arms. “She turned her back to me and bent over. Doesn’t matter what she said.”
“Then why don’t we just ask the lady who she thinks is the better man,” Austin suggested with an arch of his brow.
When Lexi grinned, he looked a little nervous. You never could tell what my sister was going to say or do.
“I don’t know,” she said, looking between them. “You two look like strong, confident men.”
The Shifter wet his lower lip, ravaging her body with his gaze. Austin flicked a glance his way, uncertainty in his eyes.
“Take off your shirts,” Lexi blurted out.
I covered my face with my hands and stifled a laugh. By the time I opened my eyes, the two men had stripped out of their shirts, displaying a visual feast of abs and rock-hard muscles. Lexi’s suitor had bulging arms, but he didn’t hold a candle to Austin’s well-proportioned torso and washboard stomach.
She tapped her finger against her mouth and looked at the stranger. “I’m a dessert kind of girl. What kind of sweet would you buy me?”
He pursed his lips in thought. “Hot-fudge sundae with cherries.”
“Mmm. And you?” she asked Austin.
He smiled wolfishly and reached around to his back pocket, pulling out a round sucker. He removed the wrapper and tucked the stick in the waistband of his jeans, right below his navel.
“I think we have a winner,” Naya said with a chuckle.
Lexi curled into Austin and wrapped her arms around him. “A man after my own heart.”
When they began to kiss intimately, the shirtless stranger realized they were mated and strolled back to his table in defeat.
“You want a lick?” I heard Austin murmur.
“Maybe later,” Lexi whispered as they walked off.
Each of the women at my table had their eyes on their own man, wondering how their game would end.
“I’m going to step outside for some fresh air. You three behave yourselves. No bar fights,” I said, laughing to myself.
When I scooted out of my seat and crossed the room, I glanced back and noticed a man stealing the spot next to Ivy. As I happened to be walking by Lorenzo, I heard him curse under his breath and mutter something about declaring war.
My ears were ringing from the music, so it was a relief to stroll outside where it was blissfully quiet and the dark sky stretched overhead like a velvet cloak. Howlers had a couple of beat-up chairs and a bench on the long porch just outside the door. But my butt was sore from sitting all night and I decided to stretch my legs in the open area in front of the parking lot.
The great thing about the Breed side of town was that you didn’t have to worry about muggers. Since Howlers was primarily a Shifter bar, we didn’t get many of the other Breeds hanging around like the more popular clubs. Howlers had always been a second home to me.
Before, I was the American girl living in England who never quite fit in. Now I was home and blended in like one of the spices in my mom’s famous stew. I couldn’t imagine belonging anywhere else.
The main door opened and from it poured music, laughter, and two women in a hurry. I watched them climb into a black sedan and speed off. I was beginning to wonder how I was going to get home with all the mates having showed up. They were probably going to want private time together. Just as I turned to go back inside, a man startled me so severely that I clutched my heart.
“Evening.”
I blew out a breath. “You scared me. I didn’t hear anyone else come out.”
The man who had managed to creep up without a sound was blocking my view of the bar. He was stocky with a thick mustache. I glanced down and wondered how hot his feet must have been in those tan work boots.
A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I haven’t seen you around these parts.”
“I’m with the Weston pack.” The best response around Shifters was to announce which pack you were in so they wouldn’t waste time trying to recruit.
I sensed his alpha energy, and a shiver skated down my spine.
A stick broke in the shadows to my right and snagged my attention. One of the shadows moved toward us, and when the lamplight illuminated Denver’s face, all I saw was wrath.
He stepped between us and curved his left arm in front of me, holding it there like a shield.
“Well, well,” the man said. “If it isn’t the delivery boy.”
I gripped Denver’s arm. “I thought you were at home?” I whispered.
He turned his head toward me but didn’t take his eyes off the man. “I got bored.”
“Lover’s quarrel?” the man asked. He gave me a penetrating stare, enough to make Denver stand even closer to me.
“I think you need to turn your eyes away, Bromus. She’s in the Weston pack.”
“Looks
like an unclaimed bitch to me. Just reached her first change, didn’t she? I can always smell it. Word is she doesn’t have a mate. I think I know exactly how Austin can settle what’s between us.”
“Maizy, go inside,” Denver said, his voice low and dangerous.
Bromus flicked his hand in a quick wave and a man just outside the main door stood up from his chair. “Maizy’s a real pretty name. I take it you think she’s yours.”
“We’re not afraid to take this to the Council.”
The man stepped forward and his lips peeled back. “I want her.”
Denver radiated heat, growling each word through clenched teeth. “You can’t have her.”
“You took one of my men and still owe me a breathing body. Think again what I’m entitled to.”
“You can’t trade me against my will,” I spat out.
“She’s right,” Denver said. “The laws won’t support you on this.”
Bromus smirked. “Laws? I think I can be persuasive enough. Packmasters prefer to settle disputes outside of the Council, otherwise it makes us look pretty damn incompetent.”
“That’s a big word for an uneducated dickhead like you. Don’t come at our pack in dark corners like a big pussy.”
I tried to hide my snort but Bromus caught it.
“I’ll give you something to laugh about,” he snapped. “Seems like you’re a little cocky because you just went through the change. That kind of back talk doesn’t go on under my roof. I know just how to keep a bitch in her place, and keeping her mouth shut isn’t so hard as long as my cock is in it.”
I barely had time to form a cohesive thought. I knew only one thing: Denver was about to commit murder.
Chapter 22
“You just insulted the wrong woman!” Denver roared. He slammed his fist into the Packmaster’s face, and I grimaced at the bone-crunching sound it made.
Bromus bared his teeth and swung back. Denver barely flinched, and a feeling of dread took over as the two men circled around each other.
“Denver, stop!” I shouted. “Let it go.”
“The hell I’ll let it go.” He kept throwing punches until Bromus spat blood.
Knowing a Packmaster would never harm a woman, I ran forward and wedged myself between them.
“Don’t let him use this against us.” I pushed at Denver’s chest, which felt like granite against my palms.
“Looks like the Weston boys can’t control their bitches. Here, let me.”
Bromus grabbed a handful of my hair and jerked me out of the way. I fell on my butt, stunned that a Packmaster would have put his hands on me like that.
Denver’s eyes blazed with something so hellish that I shuddered. In a fluid movement too fast to track, he shifted into his wolf. Bromus responded, shifting into a solid black alpha.
They lunged, snarling and snapping. White fangs gleamed beneath the moonlight as they rose to their hind legs.
I scooted away from them, unable to breathe. My muscles clenched as my wolf fought to get out, sensing a packmate who needed her. Oh God, I was going to shift. This was all too new; I didn’t know how to control it.
“Austin!” I screamed. “Austin!”
The wolves drew blood, growling and widening their jaws.
With no time to waste, I sprang to my feet and ran toward the door. But Bromus’s packmate blocked me from entering.
I shoved at him and he laughed, pushing me back.
“Austin!” I screamed again.
“No one can save your pup now,” the man said in thick, menacing words. “No wolf has ever insulted Bromus and lived to tell about it.”
Impervious to his threats, I ran up the steps and ducked beneath his arm. He snatched me by the waist, so I elbowed him in the back.
“Fuck!”
I wriggled free and then shoved him so hard that he fell backward into the parking lot. I wasn’t raised to fear or obey anyone.
As I hurried inside, I scanned the crowd with wide eyes. I didn’t see Austin, but Reno caught sight of me. He was the kind of guy who was always watching the front door and aware of his surroundings. He rose to his feet the second he saw my frantic condition.
Austin, I mouthed.
He pulled out his phone and sent a quick text. Within seconds, Austin flew into sight from a crowded area and rushed toward the door. He gripped my arms. “Reno said level red. What is it?”
“Hurry!”
I ran out the door, and when Bromus’s man tried to grab my arm, Reno severed the contact with a series of maneuvers while Austin rushed past them to see the commotion.
“Who the fuck is that?” Austin shouted. No doubt he could sense the wolf was an alpha. The question was whether or not he was rogue or a Packmaster.
“Bromus,” I replied. “We have to stop them!”
A yelp sounded and Denver locked his jaws on the wolf’s neck, thrashing until Bromus’s wolf lay still below him. Austin charged toward them and grabbed Denver’s hind legs. “Submit!”
A Packmaster wasn’t stupid enough to grab a wolf by the head who had blood in his mouth.
Denver growled low as he defied Austin’s orders.
“Submit!” Austin pulled him so hard that he dragged him back a foot. Denver’s jaws were still locked onto the alpha. “Reno, get over here, goddammit!”
But Reno was busy subduing the second man.
I jogged closer and Austin held out his hand to warn me to keep my distance. Ignoring him, I crossed into Denver’s line of view and knelt down. “Denny?”
His eyes flicked up and he tugged on the wolf’s throat even more. Blood covered his mouth, staining the snow-white part of his face.
“Please, Denny. Let him go.” I reached forward and brushed my hand over his muzzle.
“Maizy, get away from him!” Austin shouted. “He’s got blood in his mouth.”
Denver’s wolf snarled in response, his eyes rolling back as if trying to look behind him.
I brushed my hand over his head, seeing the recognition in his eyes. “Come out of there, Denny. I want to go home.” When tears hovered on my lashes, Denver’s wolf relaxed his jaws and stepped forward, pressing his body against mine. I hugged him hard and wept against his neck.
“He’s dead,” Austin said. “Fuck. We have to call this one in.”
“This is problematic,” Reno said gruffly. “Let me call William first.”
“I saw it all!” the other man shouted, his nose bloody. He was on his knees and slowly rose to his feet, raising an accusing finger. “He attacked my Packmaster. You’re going down for this!”
“I’m going to snap your head off if you don’t shut up. How ’bout that?” Reno put the man in a headlock and gave him a hard shake. “Now sit down and keep your trap shut.”
I leaned back and gave Denver’s wolf a grievous stare. “Why did you have to do it? Now they’re going to take you away.”
Austin knelt down beside us. “What happened?”
“The Packmaster threatened to blackmail you.”
“Did he put his hands on you?”
I had to think for a moment. Everything was racing in my head. “He pulled my hair.”
“What made Denver shift?”
I looked down at the wolf and stroked his face. “Bromus said some vulgar things about what he wanted to do to me. Denver lost control.”
Austin cursed under his breath and covered his face with one hand. “I knew Bromus was going to be a problem. I offered him a hefty settlement and he said he’d think about it, but I knew that was a line of bullshit. Look, when the Council sends someone out, don’t talk to him unless I’m present. Don’t answer any questions. Do you understand?”
I nodded.
“Good. Maybe they’ll be lenient because of the threats and attempts at blackmail, but I don’t know. Denver killed a Packmaster. Do you realize how serious that is?”
I knew by the tone of his voice. The Bromus pack was now disbanded, so it was more than just a life lost. The Council would have
to either find a replacement alpha to take the role or else the packmates would be on their own. Anyone who killed a Packmaster could be sentenced to death. I didn’t know if the laws had exceptions since I’d never heard of anyone committing the crime.
Austin softly stroked Denver’s ear and said, “Shift.”
In a quick motion, the wolf changed form and became a man. Denver blinked a few times and looked between us. When he saw our grave expressions, he turned around and stared at the wolf’s lifeless body.
After a pregnant pause, he spat on the wolf. Then he gave Austin a cursory glance. “You wouldn’t happen to know of a place nearby that makes fried hush puppies, would you?”
Austin smacked him in the head. Denver’s shift craving was deep-fried hush puppies. Now wasn’t the time for jokes, but that’s just how he dealt with things.
“So now what?” Denver asked. “Should I run?”
Austin shook his head. “You need to face the Council. If you don’t own up to your actions in this life, they’ll catch up with you in another. I thought you were learning to be less impulsive.”
Denver tipped his head to the side. “And tell me what you would have done to a man who threatened to put his cock in Lexi’s mouth to keep her quiet?”
Austin went rigid.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” He stood up and found his jeans, yanking them on. “I don’t make apologies for defending my woman. Ever. So let’s just clear the air on that one. I have no control over my wolf, Aus. Not where Maizy’s concerned. Fuck Bromus and any man who lays down a threat on my woman.”
“Maybe you can tell them you’re my watchdog,” I suggested.
He flashed me an amused glance. “You’re too old. It would never fly. Plus you’re my girl, right?”
“Then protecting the honor of your girl?”
Austin stood up and dusted the dirt off his jeans. “Unless you’re his mate, he doesn’t have special rights. He only has the right of a packmate to protect you, and your life wasn’t in mortal danger.”
“So if he’d assaulted me, then that would be okay because my life wasn’t in danger?” I argued, standing up to face him.