Read with BonusRead with Bonus

CHAPTER 3

Then again, his look was puzzled. The hat and glasses appeared to confuse him. Maybe the fact that she wore the faux pierced earrings that looked like the real thing did too.

She was the first to break eye contact, with her hands shaking and her skin perspiring. He was a bigger wolf than she was, by God.

Used to working with—taller and with broad shoulders. His guilty determination prevented him from averting his gaze from her or making a concession. It is understandable why Larissa was drawn to the attention-grabbing gray. Lelandi couldn’t help but ponder the experience of having a romp with a boisterous wolf like him. Yet, damned if it hadn’t resulted in Larissa’s death. Keep company with those of your own type, as her father would have advised. No humans; only the red type of lupus garou.

No one raised a cup to take a sip of their beverage, and not a single person moved. She fought the need to swallow and pushed herself to look at Darien to see what he was doing right then.

I’m still fixated on her. She desired to disappear into the ground like hot daytime mop water. She clinched her teeth, picked up her glass of water, and took another gulp, praying her nerves wouldn’t cause her to unintentionally choke on the ice drink. But before leaving Silver Town, she had to get revenge on Larissa’s killer.

Sam gave a shoulder shrug and handed Darien an empty glass as he caught his attention. She had to be moved if Darien wanted her out of his chair.

Macho gang leaders had to assert their authority and ensure that no one, especially women, could overshadow them in their region. None were more well-known for it than Lupus Garous. Unless another Lupus Garou was successfully trying to take over the pack, no one ever challenged them and won.

She didn’t belong to his pack. She was a woman. She also wasn’t gray. Even worse, she reminded him of his deceased friend. On the other hand, he didn’t seem certain of what he was seeing.

Once more, she was the focus of frigid eyes that also showed sadness. He swung the glass off the table and strode over to where Jake and Tom were sitting. Darien was able to get a better view of her and the entryway when he persuaded Tom to relocate to the chair with his back to the door. If the pack leader was watching her, how could she observe the other members of the pack? She was certain he could still smell her terror at this moment. She reassured herself that she didn’t fear him, but any Lupus Garou worth his pelt would be cautious when approaching a pack leader.

She remained in her seat, frozen with indecision. Let him believe that she was too terrified to get up from her chair—or his chair, for that matter.

A woman wearing mid-thigh leather boots and short shorts with a turtleneck top entered the tavern for the first time this evening. Her sable hair was piled on top of her head in whirls of dark curls.

One of the four men seated at the bar whistled and shouted, “Hey, Silva.” Looks good.

She flashed him a dazzling red-lipped grin before casting a quick glance Lelandi’s way. Her expression revealed her amazement. Silva’s focus changed, and she noticed Darien close by. She said something to Sam while crouching down at the bar so the boys could see her ass better. He turned to face Lelandi. Yes, she was certain to come up in conversation this evening.

Sam gave a shrug. Silva, you’re drawing a sizable crowd tonight. Why not check to see if the boss needs another beer?

Tom raised the drained pitcher. Need to restock. It appears that the lady needs another drink.

Lelandi sunk into her seat, wishing she could be anywhere but under the spotlight.

Silva grinned sourly at her. “Oh, well, it appears that word has spread to many faraway locations. I imagine it won’t be long until the place is swarming with

Sam pounded the counter with a pitcher of beer. Silva, look after the customers and be kind.

She gave him a smirk before grabbing the pitcher. That’s what you pay me for, sir, boss. She delivered the beer to Darien’s table with a swing of her hips before grinning broadly at him. “All right, boss. Whistle if you require more.

Without saying anything, Darien simply sat back in his chair and turned to face Lelandi.

Silva scowled and moved toward Lelandi’s desk. Need another bottle of water, please?

Drink time has come. Have some margaritas? Lelandi spoke quietly, but not quietly enough.

Tom swallowed his beer hard. A few of the patrons at the pub laughed. Sam grinned as he poured a man a drink of whisky.

I’m not sure, sugar. Silva then looked at Sam. Hey Sam, fancy cocktails for a visitor from out of town? How about a margarita? She uttered the phrase as if she were referring to a cute female name.

More giggles followed.

“I can make anything the little lady wants,” you say.

Little. She was well described by that. A female red lupus garou is five and a half feet tall.Her seat was higher.

Is that what you want, Miss…? Silva drew it out and questioned, looking for a name.

Thank you. “Yeah.”

Goodness, damn it! In front of the grays, Lelandi wished to project a more intimidating appearance. What did she do after practicing endlessly? Acted like a damned squeaking mouse. As she was used to being with people of her own kind, she rarely felt intimidated. Double black belts in jujitsu and kung fu helped her feel more at ease with brutish people. Yet these people were neither humans nor of her own type, and if she gave them the chance, a pack of them could eat her alive.

Lelandi was once again certain that she was about to be exposed as the woman drew in closer. Silva inhaled, her brown eyes growing droopy. Lelandi hoped no one could smell that she was a lupus garou and not one of their own kind, despite the fact that she was wearing a ton of ostentatious human perfumes and, of course, the stench from the recent dye job—despite the fact that she had tried to mask that smell by washing her hair in strawberry shampoo. It appeared that it had failed.

Good, good, good. Silva shifted her weight forward. Sam, please make the lady a margarita.

Tom spoke out, “Put the first on my tab.” “I wouldn’t want the lady to think we’re just a bunch of grumpy old coots,” the man said.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter