by Lisa Kessler
Funny how your life could change in an instant. A week ago, I might’ve taken her up on the offer, but today…nothing was going to keep me away from the Wolf Pack Bar and Raven.
“Sorry. I already have plans.”
She raised a brow. “That didn’t take long.” My confusion must’ve been written all over my face because she added, “Good-looking single guys get snagged fast in Sedona.”
I chuckled, handing off Sabrina to the groom. “Not sure what to say to that, but I appreciate the offer.”
Her expression brightened a little. “Rain check?”
Shit. I hadn’t meant to give her hope. “We’ll see.” I turned to the ranch hand with the wheelbarrow. “Be sure Sabrina gets cooled out before you put her away.”
He nodded. When I looked back, Gabby was already on her way up to the main house. “Catch you later, Luke.”
“Will do.”
After a shower and a quick change of clothes, it was about eight o’clock when I parked at the Wolf Pack Bar. I should’ve sent Raven a text to let her know I was coming, but I knew she’d try to talk me out of it. Adam had already tried.
If my Alpha couldn’t force his will on me, no one was going to change my course.
I got out of my Mustang and headed for the door. The Wolf Pack Bar was just out of the tourist district, a little ways back from the road. Since I’d been lying low in Sedona, this would be my first time inside. I didn’t know what to expect. A public bar was bound to be full of humans, but I had no way of knowing for sure. If I opened the door and found myself surrounded, I had my story ready. As long as they bought it, I’d be in.
The tricky part would be not killing the asshole who hit my mate.
One problem at a time.
I pulled the door open.
Three werewolves. Raven looked up from behind the bar. I broke eye contact with her and focused on the other two at the bar stools. They got to their feet but didn’t attack. Thankfully there were a handful of humans in the bar, too. They couldn’t kill me first and ask questions later with witnesses in the bar. The two were clearly twin brothers, and one had a swollen, purplish eye.
My wolf growled, a deep, dangerous rumble from the darkest pits of my soul. The fire followed, smoldering as he came closer. This had to be the one who smacked Raven. My hands balled into fists.
The clean-shaven, uninjured brother spoke first. “This is a private club.”
I glanced at the humans and back to meet his eyes. “I’m here to find Allen Caldwell.”
The brothers shared a look, and the other one grunted. “You’re new around here.”
“Wow.” I cocked a brow. “You’re a genius.”
He lurched forward, but his brother caught him. “Go sit down, Bo. I got this one.”
I was going to beat the shit out of Bo.
His brother turned to me again, lowering his voice so the humans wouldn’t be able to hear him over the music. “You’re on the Sedona Pack’s territory. We could kill you and no one would ever find the body.”
I rolled my right shoulder, loosening my muscles. “You could try.”
He laughed. I didn’t.
He sobered. “Get out of here. We don’t want whatever you’re selling.”
“Tell Caldwell Nick Reynolds’s son is here. I’m pretty sure he’ll want to talk to me.”
He tried to stare me down. I waited him out. Finally he broke eye contact and stormed through a door to the back. I made my way farther inside, leaning my forearms on the edge of the bar. Bo was two stools down. I sized him up. He was about my height. Definitely a gym rat. I got my strength from moving hay bales and wheelbarrows.
No built-by-Bowflex body could compete with power that came from muscles forged from hard labor.
He glared at me, but before I could respond, Raven was in front of me. “What would you like to drink?”
Her get-the-hell-out-of-here expression was loud and clear. I pretended not to notice. “What do you have on tap?”
She focused on the taps. “Blue Moon, Howling Wolf, Red Wolf, White Wolf, Yellow Wolf, Wolf Ale, and Heineken.”
“You guys really live up to your name.”
She still didn’t smile. “They don’t call us the Wolf Pack Bar for nothing.”
“Heineken. Thanks.”
Her eyes lingered on mine for a second before she turned away, and suddenly Bo was right beside me. “Don’t get any ideas. She belongs to me.”
My gaze bored into his. “Did she give you that black eye?”
He shoved me, but I was ready for it. He wasn’t. When I pushed back, he smacked the bar stool and tumbled backward onto the floor. He scrambled to his feet and started for me but stopped after only a couple paces.
I frowned, then the scent hit me. Another wolf. I turned around to find my father’s first Alpha, Allen Caldwell, and he didn’t look happy.
“Bo, if you break another stool I’m going to shove it up your ass. Are we clear?”
“Yes, sir.” He righted the stool as Caldwell stepped forward.
“So little Nicky found a mate and had cubs.”
“Yeah.” I crossed my arms, hoping he’d take my rapid heartbeat as an aftereffect of my rumble with Bo and not for the lies I was about to tell. “Yeah. He and my brother are still with the Pack in Reno.”
He raised a silver brow. “And why aren’t you?”
“The Reno Pack killed Damian Severino. Nero is obviously coming for them, but they’re pretending to be busy with their new families like it’s business as usual. They’re soft. I want to be on the winning side.”
He grinned, clearly impressed with my lack of faith in my family and Pack. “So you’re a smart boy.”
Caldwell came closer, and Raven set my beer on the bar.
She cleared her throat. “That’s five bucks.”
I met her eyes, gathering strength, although her expression was less than happy.
Caldwell glanced her way. “This place needs to be emptied in five minutes. Cash everyone out and send Alexandra and Mike home.”
Raven’s attention flicked my way before she hustled out from behind the bar. While she made an excuse about a gas leak in the kitchen, Caldwell’s gaze settled on me. “You have Nick’s eyes. I heard about Malcolm’s death.”
I nodded slowly, not trusting myself to speak. I was prepared to lie my ass off, but I couldn’t talk smack about Adam’s father, our previous Alpha. Malcolm had been one of the best men I’d ever known, like a second father to me. And because of Nero, he wasn’t here to defend himself.
Caldwell leaned on a stool, shaking his head. “I warned him not to make Nero an enemy, but I guess we both know who was right now.”
I ground my teeth and glanced away. Raven stared at me, her lips tight. I cleared my throat and forced myself to engage again. “I’m not looking to repeat that mistake.”
“You’re a wise wolf.” A dangerous spark lit in Caldwell’s eyes. “I’m no fool, either.”
The human waitress waved at Raven. “See you tomorrow.”
The cook and the final couple followed her out of the bar.
Caldwell nodded to Blake, and he locked the doors behind them. “Lower the shades and call the males over here.”
His tongue ran along his white teeth as he focused on me again. “You understand, I’ll need to test your loyalty and obedience. If you drew the short straw to come to Sedona to spy, I’ll find out.”
He leaned closer, his freshly minted breath filling my nostrils. “And then I’ll kill you.”
Chapter Seven
Raven
“Oh, please, you’ve bitten human men to grow your Pack, and now a real wolf knocks on your door and you threaten to kill him?” All eyes were on me, and although I knew I would pay for getting involved, I couldn’t stop myself.
I couldn’t let them kill Luke.
As nuts as it sounded, they’d have to get through me first, and frankly, after the past three months with these bastards, I didn’t have a lot to live
for anyway.
Caldwell cocked a brow, and Bo snapped to action. He came at me like a freight train, but I was ready. Under the bar towel, I gripped a beer bottle. As he reached for my arm, I whacked him in the head. Glass shattered, a couple pieces catching the side of his face, leaving a bloody trail. The sudden stench of beer and blood assaulted me.
In a split second, Luke was between me and Bo. He shouted over his shoulder, “Get out of here, Raven.”
Caldwell glared at me. “Seems you two have already met.”
Shit. I held a hand out to Luke. “I’m not leaving without you.”
“I’ll be fine.” He passed his phone back. “Press nine. Go.”
I had no clue what he was talking about, but I jammed the phone in my pocket.
Bo got up, and Luke shook his head slowly. “You should’ve just stayed down.”
“Fuck you.” Bo wiped blood off his face. “I told you before, asshole, she’s my mate. Butt the hell out.”
He started toward me, but Luke blocked his path.
Caldwell growled. “You want to be a part of this Pack, boy, you live by our rules.”
Bo came around Luke and grabbed my arm. I struggled to break free, but his grip was solid. He shoved me toward Caldwell. Luke narrowed his eyes, his shoulders tight as he stepped into Bo’s path again.
Oh, shit. Did the mate thing come with telepathy or anything useful? I tried to send him the message to stay out of it. I could handle this.
He either didn’t hear or was beyond caring. “Let her go,” he growled.
Bo shook me a little for show.
Luke did the opposite. He hit Bo so hard in the jaw the blowhard lost his hold on me and flew backward, crashing down on one of the round cocktail tables. The rest happened so fast, it almost blurred together.
Bo got up, and Luke shoved him down again. Blake came through the back door with Asher, Deacon, and Dex. Ryker followed behind them. I grabbed a bar stool and swung it at Blake. The legs snapped, but the force of the blow knocked him back into the others.
I yelled to Luke, “Let’s go!”
He forced himself back from Bo’s bloody face, and we pivoted toward the door. Blake jumped Luke from behind, grabbing him around the waist. They fell to the ground, grappling. Luke threw his elbow back into Blake’s ribs, then spun around, nailing him in the nose.
My skin crawled with the urge to run. Since becoming a werewolf, I’d never been exposed to this much blood. The wolf inside me crept closer to the surface. Survival instincts took over. I kicked, scratched, bit, and punched anyone who touched my mate.
We scrambled for the door, only to find Ryker blocking it. Ryker had been bitten a couple months before me, and it was easy to see why Caldwell chose him. He was massive.
Ryker clenched his fists, ready for battle. He rushed Luke, but Luke dodged to the right, sweeping his leg and landing a solid blow to his temple as he went down. Ryker lay motionless on the floor.
Caldwell rose from his stool, his tone calm and cold. “Deacon and Dex, grab Raven.”
“What?” I smacked Deacon, stunning him for a second, but Dex got my left wrist, and no amount of struggle loosened his hold. I tried to shove Deacon back, but with only one hand, he barely moved except to pin my arm behind my back.
“Let her go!” Luke shouted, turning to punch Dex in the side.
Suddenly a cool blade was on my throat. Instinctively, I stopped struggling. Caldwell wasn’t young anymore, but he was still damned fast. He stood right behind me with a knife pressed against my skin until a bead of blood trickled down my neck.
“Enough.” Caldwell growled. “You hit my men one more time, and I slit her throat.”
Ryker groaned, slowly getting up.
“You’ve got me.” Luke opened his fists. “She doesn’t need to be involved.”
Caldwell looked between us and wet his lips. “I have something better in mind. Asher, take his right arm. Ryker, the left. If he resists, sadly I’ll have to kill Raven.”
Luke offered them his wrists, his eyes never leaving Caldwell’s face. “I’m not resisting. Let her go.”
“I’m still not certain whether you’re a spy, but judging by the way your hearts are both racing in perfect unison, I’m willing to bet you’ve touched our little Raven.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I did my best to hide my true feelings, but Caldwell had been an Alpha longer than I had been alive. He could hear my pulse and probably smell my panic at seeing Luke restrained and at their mercy. “I just didn’t want to see another wolf killed. That’s all.”
“Is it now? Really?” He tipped his head toward Bo. “How about evening up the score?” To Luke, he lowered his voice. “If you fight back, Raven dies.”
Bo’s smile was lopsided, making him look even more twisted. He loosened up his shoulders and stepped in closer. Suddenly he slammed his fist into Luke’s jaw; the scent of his blood sent my wolf into a rampage. I kicked my foot back, burying my heel into Caldwell’s groin, and stomped on Deacon’s foot.
Caldwell bent forward, shouting, “Blake!”
The Alpha’s right hand man drew his Glock and tugged the slide back. Everyone froze. The barrel was aimed directly at Luke.
Caldwell narrowed his eyes, speaking through clenched teeth. “You will watch this and act like a lady, or we’ll finish this with a bullet in his head.”
I swallowed the bile rising up my throat.
He raised his voice. “I want to see you nod, Raven. I need to know you understand that if I kill him right now, it’s your fault.”
My eyes welled with hot tears as I stared at Luke and nodded slowly.
“Good girl.” He replaced the knife at my neck and focused on Luke. “If you don’t want to be responsible for her bleeding out, you won’t fight back.”
Luke didn’t move, his blue eyes like ice.
Caldwell put pressure on the blade until a squeak escaped my throat. “Answer me, boy!”
“I understand,” Luke growled.
He turned to Bo. “Continue.”
Bo hit Luke in the face again and again. A single tear rolled down my cheek. Luke didn’t defend himself, taking each blow and then refocusing on Caldwell. His nose and mouth oozed with blood, but he didn’t so much as utter a word in protest.
I lost count of how many punches Bo threw before he stepped back, panting for air. It was over. I could finally breathe.
Caldwell growled. “Blake, take over for your brother.”
Bo took the Glock, and Blake approached Luke. My chest burned with rage and desperation. “Blake, please. Don’t do this.”
Luke’s face was a mess. One eye had swollen shut, blood dripping from his chin, but he still did nothing to protect himself. Caldwell was pushing me over the edge. I didn’t want to fight anymore—I wanted to kill. And I would.
My words had no effect. Blake started burying punches in Luke’s abdomen until he was coughing up blood and his legs gave out.
“Asher, hold him up,” Caldwell barked. “We’re not through here.”
Asher’s dark eyes met mine. He was probably a couple inches taller than Luke, definitely the tallest werewolf in the room. His black hair hung just past his shoulders, and right now his chiseled jaw was tight.
“Now, Asher.” The Alpha command sank into Caldwell’s tone.
Asher’s gaze fell to the floor, but gradually I realized he was shaking his head. “I can’t do that.” He lifted his head, fire in his eyes. “I won’t.”
Caldwell dropped the knife from my throat, storming toward his bitten wolf. “You will do what you’re fucking told or I’ll kill you myself.”
Asher raised his chin. “If I keep helping you beat on this man, my spirit will already be dead. I’m not one of your dogs.”
Caldwell shoved him so hard he lost his grip on Luke, and my mate crumpled to the ground. Deacon and Dex relaxed their grips on my arms, and I ran to Luke’s side. Ryker released his other arm, and I cradled Luke’s head in my la
p.
Behind us, furniture crashed and punches were thrown as Bo and Blake put themselves between Asher and our Alpha. Finally a gunshot froze everyone in the building. Caldwell lowered his pistol, his gaze moving from man to man until his glare landed on me.
“So it’s true. He’s your mate.”
I nodded. No sense lying now. I was ready for him to end this pain.
He shook his head, glaring at the other men around the room. “This is exactly why your Alpha should choose your mate. Love like this…” He gestured to Luke and me, disgust plain on his face. “It makes you weak.” He pointed at Luke. “Is he still breathing?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Good. Clean him up. Tomorrow I want him in my office by nine o’clock.”
“Why would I bring him anywhere near you, you psychotic prick?”
Caldwell stopped at the back door and grinned over his shoulder. “Because I still have your sister. Be there with him, or I’ll make her wish I would kill her.”
Blake and Bo followed Caldwell out, but the others hung back. Deacon and Dex started righting the tables that had been knocked over while Asher came over from the bar with a wet rag and a bag of ice.
I took both and lifted my tear-soaked face. “Thanks, Asher.”
He shook his head. “Nothing will make up for what just happened here.” He laid a big, heavy hand on my shoulder. “Your mate has a strong will.”
I carefully wiped the blood away from Luke’s face, examining the cuts. Earlier today, I’d kissed those lips and admired his smile. Now he was in my arms, nearly beaten to death. Couldn’t one thing in my life work?
Dex and Deacon knelt on either side of me. “Sorry, Raven. Our Pack didn’t used to be like this.”
I didn’t respond. What could I say?
Ryker stayed back, muttering under his breath, “This is fucked-up.”
Luke coughed and groaned in pain. “Understatement of the fucking millennium.”
I stifled a chuckle and bent to kiss his forehead. “When you heal up, I’m going to kick your ass for coming in here tonight.”
He stared up at me with his one good eye, his swollen mouth curving into a crooked grin. “You’re all right.”
