Black Magic (Alpha Pack #1.5)(3)

But she wasn't strong enough to win against the evil that permeated the air, closer than before. Something big was on the hunt.

Suddenly anxious to get to her side, Kalen took a couple of steps forward-and found his path blocked by one of the local yokels who, no doubt, the building was named after. He resembled a grizzly, too, really hairy and sporting a big gut.

"Weeell, whattawe have here?" His grin boasted grungy, blackened front teeth.

So, the ass**le was swimming in the shallow end of the gene pool. Good news. The bad news was the top of Kalen's head came to the guy's chin. His right hand twitched, itching for his Sorcerer's staff. But he couldn't call it, or utter a spell, in such a public place, especially since they were gaining an audience.

"I'm joining someone, and I've got no problem with you, mister. So if you'll move aside, I'll be about my biz."

The shithead blinked, and then turned to share a too-loud laugh with his equally IQ-deficient buddies. "Ya hear that? Pretty boy wants me to move!" Chuckling, he smiled at Kalen, an unpleasant gleam in his beady eyes. "I think you'd best be the one headin' back the way you came, 'cause we don't take kindly to queers around here."

Wasn't the first time his appearance had drawn a comment like that, and he didn't care. Now they had everyone's undivided attention. Glancing past the jerk, he saw that Mackenzie and her friends had spun around on their barstools and sat gaping at the scene. Fantastic. Returning his attention to the mountain in front of him, he kept his expression neutral and spoke evenly.

"Then you and your f**k buddies might want to leave."

It took the guy a few seconds to get it as he stared at Kalen. When he did, his lip curled, all traces of false humor gone. "I'm gonna give you to the count of three, boy-"

Ignoring him, Kalen made to push past him, not really believing the ass**le would let it go. He didn't.

A beefy shoulder connected with him, hard, knocking him back a couple of steps. The man was still planted firmly in his way. Clenching his fists, he forced himself to remain calm-and to not turn the guy into a fat slug, right in front of the entire bar.

"Mister, trust me when I say you don't want to mess with me," he said calmly. The jerk and his buddies thought this was hilarious, hooting and clanking their longneck bottles together, then turning their avid attention back to the coming fight.

There wouldn't be one if he could help it. Mackenzie was staring at him, eyes wide and worried. More than anything he didn't want to disappoint her by getting into a brawl, but he wasn't about to let a sack of shit run him down in front of her, either.

"I'll do more than mess with you, boy! I'll pound you into the floor."

"Bigger sons of bitches than you have tried."

Some had actually succeeded. Best not to think of that now, when he couldn't afford the distraction.

Again, Kalen attempted to step around the man, but two meaty hands landed on his chest, giving him a hard shove. He staggered backward, managed not to fall-but his tight control over his temper snapped.

"No one touches me," he snarled.

And took two steps forward, unloading his fist into the bastard's face. The man's head jerked back and he stumbled into a nearby table. The couple sitting there jumped up, the woman letting out a shriek as they scrambled out of the way. Kalen's nemesis lost his balance as the table tipped, and was dumped into the floor.

Kalen's body tensed as the man brought a hand to his nose and wiped away a trickle of blood. He knew he was in trouble when the man's lip curled into an ugly sneer and his friends stood, chairs scraping in the silence, beers abandoned and amusement gone.

"Fuckin' kill him!" the bastard shouted, lurching to his feet.

Kalen had about two seconds to brace himself before a wall of pissed-off rednecks buried him in a sweaty, stinky dogpile. A fist slammed the side of his head and more found his ribs. The air rushed from his lungs and he bucked, pushing at the closest one, to no avail. He wasn't going to be able to budge them without using his magic-and at the moment, his actions were concealed from the crowd.

Quickly, he summoned a bit of power and channeled it, letting the stream of energy flow to his fingertips. A whispered word fell from his lips and the weight suddenly disappeared as the four men flew off him and landed like dominos pushed by an invisible finger. The sight would've been funny except he'd only succeeded in pissing them off even more.

"You little f**k!" one of the men bellowed.

"How'd he do that?" a nearby patron asked in awe.

The question would remain unanswered. As he pushed to his feet, the bully who'd started the confrontation smashed a heavy fist into his mouth, and pain exploded in his face. He landed on his ass, thinking he just might get it thoroughly kicked when a booming voice brought the fight to a screeching halt.

"What in the motherf*ckin' hell is going on here?"

The crowd parted to make way for a tall, blond man just this side of thirty who looked like he might've spent time in the military. His back was ramrod straight and he had the bearing of a man used to giving orders, and having them followed. His gaze immediately found Kalen's tormentor and his buddies, and if the clenching of his jaw and expression of distaste was any indication, he'd located the source of the problem.

Beer Gut went on the defensive. "Aw, come on, Jack. We was just havin' us a little fun with the fruitcake is all. Didn't mean no harm-"