by Bryce Evans
She needed something that wouldn’t be obvious if it was sprayed on you. London had a lot of research to do and only a few hours until her date. It was already lunchtime and she didn’t even have time to eat.
“I need help, Zoey. I can’t build the program and do all the research for what we need too. This is something that has got to happen fast before someone gets hurt.” London explained.
“Girl, all you had to do was ask. Let me go and get my laptop and I will start the research,” Zoey said as she ran out of the room.
London had just gotten started when Donnie came walking in with a bag and a pizza box. “You are the greatest.”
“Yes dear I know. I know.” He raised his eyebrows up and down grinning. “Here is what you asked for. These things cost a fortune. The cheap ones were one hundred and fifty dollars but these babies were five hundred. I figured they would be best because the guy didn’t know if they would capture it from a distance and we need the distance. The woman had to be a long way away so we need to be able to see her on the hill.” Donnie explained then pulled out the glasses. He was right. Those bad boys looked hi-tech.
“Okay let’s eat then we will see if they work.” London suggested. They sat down and started eating. London couldn’t wait so she decided to try it out on Donnie without him knowing just to see if he would notice her putting it on him.
“Hey Donnie, can you go and get some napkins from Zoey’s office.” London asked.
“Sure sweetie, watch my pizza.” Donnie got up and went to get the napkins. London jumped up and poured some of the dust in her hand. Donnie had on a dark shirt so she used the darkest powder then sat back down. Zoey and Donnie walked back in her office. When he went to give her the napkins, she jumped up and hugged him. Quickly, she put her hands in his hair. “I love you. I just wanted you to know that.” London quipped.
“I love you too, baby girl,” Donnie answered. Zoey was looking at her like she was crazy.
“What the hell is up with you?” Zoey asked, then pulled out a piece of pizza and sat back down to eat.
London walked over to the glasses and acted like she was playing with them. She turned them on and placed them on her head. She couldn’t see anything until Donnie got up, went to the mini fridge, and pulled out a bottle of water. She had only put the powder on his back and on the back of his head. She started giggling then got up and took them off. She handed them to Zoey.
“Put these on and tell me when you see something.” Zoey didn’t say anything at first then London went over to Donnie and turned him in the chair he was sitting in. Her mouth opened wide as she dropped the pizza in her lap.
“You are a freaking genius, London. He is lit up like Christmas tree,” Zoey gasped.
“What? What are you looking at?” Donnie asked.
“You actually. Now don’t get mad but I kind of tested the spy dust on you. When I hugged you I put it in your hair and on your back.” London cringed when she saw his expression. His eyes widened, and she hurried to explain, “It comes right off. It won’t hurt you. I promise. Are you mad at me?” She knew she should have tried it on Zoey to see if it aggravated her wolf. If it did then it probably wouldn’t work.
“Hey, you can put it on me. Here put some on me.” London picked up the container and held it out to her friend. He still wasn’t saying anything. She couldn’t read his expression. Zoey put the glasses down and tried not to look at him.
“This is a Calvin Klein shirt. If that dust had ruined it, I would have made you pay for it. Give me that shit and let’s put it on you now.” Donnie flashed a grin that could only mean trouble.
“Okay, okay put it on me. I deserve it.” London turned around so he could put the dust on her now. She didn’t even feel him touch her.
“Did you do it?” London asked. She turned around to see what he was doing. Donnie was smirking when she turned around.
“Did you do it?” London asked again.
“Yep,” Donnie answered.
“When? I didn’t even feel it. How did you do that?” asked London defensively. How could he put it on her without touching her?
“I blew it on your hair and back. Turn around and let me see if enough got on you,” Donnie ordered, then quickly picked up the glasses, and put them on.
“Got you,” he teased, the satisfaction was evident in his voice. Donnie jumped up and down giggling then turned around in circles.
“I think we need to make a blowing machine. We need something that can blow it on them instead of us taking a chance on hugging them. We can’t hug them all,” London suggested.
“How are we going to get it on the people we need to tonight?” Zoey asked concerned.
“Okay put your thinking caps on people. How can we spray the dust on them?” London sat back down and started searching the Internet.
Zoey picked up her laptop and started looking at the cameras and other things they would need. This was a business of three, so Donnie went to her desk and used the computer to help with the research.
She had an idea but she didn’t know if it would work or not. She leaned back in her chair twisting the pen in her mouth. “What if we got up in the ceiling and sprinkled it on their head when they came in?” London suggested.
“What would be cool is if the Rusty Nail stamped you before you came into the bar and as they leaned over to get the stamp and it blew on them?” suggested Donnie.
“That would be cool, but I think they would catch on if they saw us blowing something on them,” London slowly answered. She had to come up with something and fast. She only had two hours before Nolan came to pick her up.
“Hey you know what? The Rusty Nail has air vents right above the door when you walk in. It pisses me off every time I go in because it blows your hair. Rusty said it keep the bugs outside so they don’t come in with you. The air blows against you to do this. If we rigged it in the vents some way, we could blow it on them as they stand there waiting to get stamped before walking in. You will need to tell Nolan so he can talk to Rusty the owner. He will have to know that one of us is in the ceiling dumping this stuff on people as they walk in,” Zoey explained.
“Can you call him and ask him to come over earlier so we can plan this and get it set up. I don’t even have the man’s number.” London laughed to herself. Zoey left and went in her office to make the call.
Chapter 27
“You owe me a kiss for this,” Nolan replied, as he leaned against her.
“If this works I will give you a slew of kisses,” London whispered.
“Hey, I’m going to hold you to that,” he answered. He grabbed her hand and pulled her in the back door of the Rusty Nail. They had been in the attic sweating while people from different packs entered the Pub. She got a good look at the witch, Metilda Blackwood, as she entered with Jim. She made sure she dumped extra on them as they stood paying and being stamped.
The Alpha didn’t understand why they had to pay a cover charge and get their hand stamped, so he grumbled and argued. She knew she looked a mess after sweating so much in the attic. Why Nolan still wanted to take her to the Pub was beyond her. He took her to Rusty’s apartment in the back to freshen up before they walked in. She knew that the word had gotten out that she was going to be at the Rusty Nail with Nolan, and people came out in droves to see the new girl that had caught the Tiger’s eye.
London had done as much as she could to freshen up. Her sundress was a light green and it made her eyes pop. Nolan struggled to speak when she walked out.
“You are beautiful. You will make him a great mate,” Nolan muttered.
“What?” she sputtered. She knew her eyes were about to pop out of her head, but an intense look of calm came over Nolan’s face. She couldn’t decide if he was serious or not. If he thought she should be with someone else why did he ask her out, and why was he always hitting on her.
“You know he’s crazy for you, right?” Nolan answered simply.
London had a feeling she knew who he
was talking about, but she asked anyway, “Who?”
“Ahh, I see we are going to play games with each other. I will say this, London Grey. If he doesn’t pull his head out of his ass then I will consider you fair game, and I will pursue you after tonight. When I see something I want, I go for it. It doesn’t bother me that you are human. I have seen your power, and your magic is more powerful than I’ve ever seen in a witch.”
“He doesn’t want me because I’m a human?” London screeched.
Nolan shrugged his shoulders. “I’m putting you on notice that he has tonight to get it together and if he doesn’t, be prepared to be hunted.”
She didn’t respond, because she didn’t know how to react to that. Ryder didn’t want her because she was a human. He was a bigot, and now she knew the truth.
“He can’t have me, and besides, I don’t want him,” London grumbled her frustration. She walked over and grabbed her purse.
“Whatever. Let’s go.” Nolan smiled, and it pissed her off more. He acted as if this was a game or something. She would ignore Ryder tonight and find another place to live tomorrow.
Neither would know what hit them after she was done. She meant to show the wolf that she was a human, but she was the strongest damn human he would ever see. He would regret those words and if he wanted her then too damn bad. Nolan grabbed her hand and opened the office door.
“Show time,” she whispered. She knew he heard her but it didn’t matter because that was all it was, a show.
* * * *
Ryder and his pack had arrived and were seated across from the Sander’s pack. All the other bears, tigers, jaguars, and panthers were scattered in between. Judd Walsh, Brody King, and Kayden Lynn were sitting at the same table as Ryder when Nolan and London walked in, and it was like a spotlight turned on, and everyone in the room watched a little wide-eyed as Nolan and London calmly walked in the room.
Ryder let out a low growl when he focused on Nolan holding London’s hand. Zoey and Donnie showed up at the same time, and they all congregated together until Kayden waved them over. He pulled up four extra chairs to their table allowing everyone to sit down.
“Hey guys, this is Donnie Morgan. He is working for Zoey and London.” Nolan made the introduction. When Judd Walsh shook Donnie’s hand, he didn’t let it go for a few minutes. He just stared at him for a few seconds, before he leaned forward and sniffed his arm. Donnie looked over at London.
“Either my gaydar is off or that man has a problem with me,” Donnie whispered in London’s ear.
“You have some Panther in your family,” Judd said in explanation for his odd behavior.
“What? Uhm no, I’m not a shifter,” Donnie argued.
Kayden spoke up in support of Judd’s claim, “No you’re not full blooded but you have some family in your past that was a Panther. I can smell it on you,”
Donnie leaned over and sniffed his arm. He tried to be nonchalant, but everyone saw what he did and started laughing. London couldn’t help it but she laughed along with them. She nudged Donnie and smiled. She didn’t want him to feel awkward but it couldn’t be helped. She forgot to tell him about his heritage and what Ryder smelled on him.
“Ryder told us before that he could smell Panther on you. It wasn’t a lot but enough that it still lingered in your bloodline. You see nobody gets to live in Alpha City without their approval.” London explained, nodding toward the Alphas. “Since you have it in your family you were allowed to come and stay here.”
Donnie didn’t say anything; he just nodded and raised his hand to the waitress. She would need to sit down with him tonight and explain everything.
London leaned over and whispered in his ear. “Hey, please don’t be mad. I was going to tell you but with everything going on it slipped my mind. I really am sorry, but tonight after we leave here we will sit down and I will try to explain everything that I know.”
Donnie only nodded. He didn’t act like he was happy with her right now and she understood. She felt bad because Donnie was important to her. He was family and she had neglected him letting all the drama come between them.
Life had been chaotic since she arrived in Alpha City. Everything seemed to be moving quickly and she couldn’t wait until life slowed down so she could just relax. She understood why Donnie was upset with her.
The waitress came over to the table and drinks were ordered. The Alpha’s looked on edge, especially Ryder who continued to watch her and Nolan. She could see his face turn red when Nolan leaned over and whispered in her ear.
“You look beautiful.” Then he added to it by kissing her cheek. Apparently, everyone at the table was enjoying the show as they watched Ryder getting jealous. When her drink arrived, she took the shot of tequila. London poured the liquid down her throat and about choked when she swallowed too quickly.
Nolan patted her back then told her that he wanted to dance. She didn’t have time to say no before he dragged her out of the chair and onto the dance floor. She didn’t know how to dance. When she was younger, she was never invited to dances so she never learned. She wished she had taken a class. Maybe she wouldn’t look so awkward dancing. It was a slow song but what made her heart flutter was when Nolan pulled her closer to his body. She didn’t know if it was her imagination or if everyone in the pub was focused on them.
Nope she was right everyone was staring at her and Nolan. Then her gaze fell on the one face in the crowd she didn’t want to see. Penny Sanders and her gang of bitches were sitting near her brother and his mate Metilda. A look of hatred filled her face as she watched Nolan and her dance. She had the same old bitter, hateful, and mean expression. Nothing new in that face, London thought.
Then the song changed to a fast one and Nolan continued to dance with her. He sped up his moves and twirled her around and around. She couldn’t help but laugh when they got going. She knew she should be paying attention more to the people in the room, but Nolan was fun to be around and she needed to let loose some of the stress she had built up. The past few days hadn’t been a wonderful experience. She had been broken in on and attacked. So she needed a moment to have a little fun.
“Enjoying yourself?” Nolan asked.
“Yes, I am and thank you. I needed this.” London spoke loudly. The music was so loud that everyone had to yell if they wanted to ask a question.
“Good, because it has only just begun.” Nolan was about to take her back to the table but Ryder stood in front of him.
“I think this dance is mine.”
The music changed into a slower song, and Nolan looked to London to see if she was okay with dancing with Ryder. She could feel the tension between the two men. Ryder held his hand out to her and reluctantly she placed her hand in his. Immediately, she could feel his heat and the spark of electricity as it traveled up her arm. He pulled her body closer to his and she thought she would push it out of her mind, but her body quickly wanted more. She couldn’t believe how her body was reacting toward him. It was as if it had a mind of its own. He hugged her closer until she could feel his erection poking her in the stomach, and then she made the mistake of closing her eyes and inhaling his scent.
“Why are you doing this to me?” she whispered, knowing he could hear her no matter how low she spoke.
“Doing what?” Ryder’s voice was low and husky.
She pulled back so she could look him in the eyes. She needed him to see that she was serious. “You know what you are doing Ryder. I mean you don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me either and that isn’t fair. You are playing with me—with my emotions, and I want you to stop. I have a home here now and I want to meet someone who wants me. Don’t you understand that? Are you such an arrogant bastard that you continue to treat me this way? What have I ever done to you?” She could feel her body getting hot. She was getting angry and she didn’t need to do this here. People were already staring at her now.
“What makes you think I don’t want you, London?”
�
�Oh give me a break. Please don’t insult me.” She blew out her breath. “Nolan told me already that you didn’t want me because I’m a human. I never imagined you were such a bigot, but then again we really don’t know each other. Or I should say I really don’t know you. I guess I could have you investigated and maybe then I would understand why, but I don’t think you even know why. You just think because you're the Alpha you can have whatever you want. Well get this. I don’t want you.”
“What? He told you that,” Ryder roared. She could feel his body change like his wolf was about to come out. Ryder started to leave the dance floor, and she could tell he was headed straight to Nolan. She stopped him by grabbing his hand.
“Just say it, Ryder. Just say it and let’s end this okay. You can’t have it both ways,” London said, angrily. She could see Nolan stand up and walk toward them. Apparently, they were making a bigger scene than she thought.
“What’s wrong, London?”
She could see the concern on Nolan’s face. He acted as if he truly liked her, so maybe she could get to like him just as much. Ryder just needed to leave her alone.
“Nothing is wrong, Nolan, except you. Why did you tell London that I didn’t want her because she was a human? Shit man. I thought we were friends. I never thought you would play dirty to win a woman.” Ryder stood toe to toe with Nolan now and it was all her fault. She never meant to make problems between best friends.
Getting in between the two Alphas, London could feel her magic flare up. “You know, both of you are jerks.” The magic and her comment seemed to jar the Alpha’s out of their anger to stare down at her. “Neither of you want me; you just want to play with me. For all I know this is a game you Alpha’s play with the new girls in town. Damn, how stupid I am? You can have each other.”
