September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)(16)

I nodded and faked a smile as an acceptance of her apology. My wolf was tense inside me, feeling out of place and ready to either flee or fight. I’d rather not do either. Somehow I managed to stay seated and calm. Tapping my power was tempting but throwing the Alpha wolf on his ass wasn’t going to convince him that I wasn’t more vampire than wolf.

Dayne glowered at me from his taller frame. His wolf looked out at me, issuing a silent but dangerous challenge. When I didn’t react, his shoulders settled ever so slightly, and he returned to his seat.

“Keep talking,” he growled, taking a large swig of beer.

I swallowed hard, seeking the right words to make him see the truth. Clearly the wolves here lived in their own tidy little world. Couldn’t say I blamed them. I would too if everyone would just leave me the hell alone.

“Shya, the demon, he’s got plans for all of us. We need to come together to resist him. The fact that I’m here telling you this should earn me some credit. If I planned to overthrow your pack, I wouldn’t come for a visit first.” I paused, and when Dayne indicated I should continue, I told him everything I knew about Shya.

Dayne’s expression never changed, though Hanna openly gasped and commented as I spoke. She was much calmer of the two of them. I wasn’t stupid enough to think that made her more reasonable. But one could hope.

“So what then?” Dayne asked in a gruff voice when I’d finished. “We either help you, or you make us your bitches for the demon?”

“No, of course not,” I said, incredulous. He was not listening. “This is not a threat. It’s an invitation. If you tell me to f*ck off then that’s what I’ll do. I’m giving you an opportunity to form an alliance with one of the most powerful people in this city. Me. If you don’t want to, it’s not my loss.”

Hanna and Dayne exchanged a look. With a hand on his arm, she stared at him, communicating without words.

“Isn’t this why we have such a strong pack?” She asked him. “So when trouble comes, we’re ready. This demon may not be our problem yet, but he wants to be. And I’d say that’s trouble.”

Dayne’s silence was heavy and uncomfortable. He stared at his wife for a long time before turning back to us. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to speak to Hanna alone about this. Just give us a few minutes.”

The Alpha pair excused themselves, disappearing through a door marked: Staff Only.

Shaz finished his beer and stretched. “That didn’t go so bad. I think they believe us.”

“I’m starting to think this is more trouble than it’s worth.”

I used the time to try calling Jez again. Still no answer. This was unlike her. The uneasy feeling I’d been plagued with all night began to grow.

“I’m going to find the restroom,” Shaz announced. “I won’t be long.”

He stood up and turned away right in time to collide with another wolf. The collision caused the other guy to spill his drink, most of which soaked his shirt and dripped down his pants.

“Oh, man, I’m so sorry,” Shaz said, grabbing frantically for the napkin dispenser on the next table over. “Please, let me buy you another drink.”

The wolf exploded without warning. He smashed his glass on the floor at Shaz’s feet before slapping the napkins out of his hand.

“You f*cking clumsy idiot,” the wolf growled, his eyes flashing with the beast within. “You ruined my goddamn shirt. Do you know how much this cost me?”

“Look, I’m sorry. I’ll pay for it. But it was an accident.” Shaz spoke calmly though a muscle twitched in his jaw. “Let’s just take it easy here.”

The angry wolf’s nostrils flared as he took in our scent. His gaze dropped to Shaz’s neck, seeking a tattoo that would mark him as a brother but finding none.

“How did you get in here?” He snarled. “You’re not pack. You’re trespassing on our territory. Guess what we do to trespassers here.”

“We came to see Dayne and Hanna,” I butted in when I probably shouldn’t have. But the two male wolves were staring at one another with a vicious need for violence. I had to do something. “They know we’re here.”

The feisty wolf looked me over, his wolf eyes lingering a little too long for comfort. He was a big guy, built like a football player and clearly eager to fight.

“Well, aren’t you a sweet little thing,” he drawled, ogling me like I was a piece of candy he wanted to taste. His gaze returned to Shaz, and he said snidely, “Let me take your girl home tonight, and we’ll forget it ever happened.”

Shaz’s calm, even tempered approach shattered with those words. He threw a punch I never saw coming. It seemed to surprise the aggressive wolf as well. Shaz’s fist connected with his jaw in a smack loud enough to be heard over the music. But Shaz didn’t stop there. He followed it up with another.

I was knocked aside in the flurry of fists. Snarls and growls drew the attention of everyone in the vicinity. We all looked on in interest as the fight went on. I stood there unable to believe what I was seeing. Getting involved wasn’t an option. The two males were fiercely going at it, throwing and taking punches that would have killed a human man. Jumping into that would mean taking a hit. Using power was also out of the question. I’d come here to proclaim I was still wolf. I intended to stick to that plan.