by Ruby Shae
The bar was divided into two rooms, and dark wood covered every surface from the floor to the ceiling. One room served as the main bar with tables, chairs, and a tiny dance floor, and the other, smaller open room housed several pool tables.
The theme of the day continued as many patrons turned to assess him before going back to their own business, but he hadn’t missed the fact that not everyone turned. It only took one deep breath to realize why. The clientele was an equal mix of humans and shifters.
Perfect.
It would be easier to blend in if humans were involved.
He made his way to the bar and sat in the corner closest to the door. The location granted him the most privacy to watch the crowd, and a quick escape if he needed it. He might not be an Enforcer anymore, but old habits die hard.
“What can I get you?”
Jase looked up to see one of the men from Sweet Retreat behind the bar.
Fuck!
“A shot of whiskey and a beer,” he said. “Whatever’s on tap is fine.”
“Do you want anything to eat?” the man asked, placing a small, quarter sheet of paper in front of him.
Jase glanced down and quickly read the paper menu.
“Bacon cheeseburger and fries.”
“You got it,” the man said, pouring his drink. “My name’s Gage, by the way, and that curvy woman cleaning up at the pool tables is my mate, Sienna.”
“Jase.”
Jase nodded once, looked at the woman, and noted she was surrounded by several men and very few women. He marveled at how calm Gage was with his mate across the room, gaining attention from nearly every male in the place.
“Oh, and you can mark my words,” Gage said, as if reading his mind. “She’ll pay for all the flirting later.”
Jase smiled and downed his whiskey in one gulp.
“Do you want another?”
“No, just the beer.”
“You got it,” Gage said. “I’m sorry we were so hard on you earlier. We take any threats to our women very serious, but Violet told us she overreacted. How long are you staying in town?”
Violet!
Her name, like her, was beautiful and he wanted to practice saying it over and over again. Unfortunately, his new brand of crazy would have to wait until he was alone.
“I don’t know,” he said, honestly. “I had planned to stay a few days, but it might be best if I move on. I guess I’ll decide in the morning.”
“There’s a pool tournament tomorrow night, if you play,” the man offered. “It might be worth sticking around for.”
“Thanks, I’ll think about it.”
“Good. Your food will be out soon.”
Gage left him alone with his beer and tended to the rest of the bar.
A few minutes later, the olive skinned man from earlier set a plate down in front of him. The huge burger was loaded with bacon, cheese, and a secret sauce that smelled delicious. A mound of fries surrounded the burger and covered the dish.
“Hey Jase, I’m Dean,” said the man.
Unlike earlier, his long hair was pulled back into a rubber band, and he wore the same shirt as Gage with the words Dark Moon stretched across the front.
“Hey,” Jase nodded.
“Do you want another?” Dean asked, motioning toward his empty glass.
“Yeah, tap.”
He picked up his burger and took a huge bite at the same time Dean set a new, full glass in front of him. The flavors of the food swirled around his tongue, and his bear growled beneath the surface. He’d had good food before, but he’d never been aroused from a burger.
What the hell? I’m losing my fucking mind.
He put the burger down and inhaled deep.
The scent of warm sweet apples and honey swamped him, and he looked toward the door in time to see Violet, his mate, walking across the room toward her friends.
Holy fuck!
She’d switched her jeans and t-shirt for a pair of black go-go boots, a short mini skirt and a form-fitting tank top. She held a little black purse by the strap in her hand, and random curls bounced around her head. Every few steps, her skin seemed to sparkle in the dim lights.
Earlier, when they crossed paths in the coffee shop, he’d been attracted to her simple style. The t-shirt had embraced her large breasts, pulling slightly between the two soft mounds without being too snug, and when she ran from him, her jeans had hugged her smooth, round ass, tempting him with every stride.
He watched every unmated man, both human and shifter, zero in on her as she crossed the floor. The urge to fight anyone who looked at her swamped him, and once again he wanted to claim her in the middle of the room so everyone would know who she belonged to.
“God damnit,” he whispered, forcing himself to look away.
“Want to talk about it?” Dean asked.
“Not even a little bit,” Jase responded, shoving another bite of burger into his mouth.
“Well, if you change your mind, a few of us live upstairs, so someone is always here.”
“Thanks man,” he nodded.
Dean left, allowing him to finish his food in peace, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of his mate. She hadn’t looked in his direction once, and the alpha in him wanted to assert his dominance, and punish her for the insult. Of course, his form of punishment involved tying her to the bed and licking her cunt until she screamed his name and vowed to be his forever.
A tall, dark-haired wolf approached her group, and when she allowed the stranger to lead her to the dance floor, he knew it was time to leave. He fished several bills out of his wallet, pinned them to the counter with his empty plate, and rushed out the door.
His bear growled, his hands shook and he started to hyperventilate. The thought of driving the Dragon back to his hotel scared him to death, so he ran. He entered the forest near his bike, and after a quick check for humans, he allowed the bear to take over.
The animal growled and grunted as his paws quickly ate up the forest floor. He ran until his body collapsed in a bed of wildflowers hidden beneath the trees, and then he closed his eyes and inhaled the smell of night.
A cool breeze rustled the leaves on the trees moments before it skated over his fur. He could hear a few birds tweeting somewhere under the blanket of darkness, and the full moon lit up the sky. He’d always loved the country more than the city, and for the first time in nearly a month, he felt free.
About an hour later, he stood with the intention of lumbering back to the parking lot when he felt the ground shake beneath his paws. He remained still and surveyed the area. He needed to be ready for the threat no matter how it hit, but fear rode him hard. He’d been a mess since the attack, and his skills were rusty. He wasn’t sure how he’d fare in a fight, and a part of him wanted to run and hide, but he stood on all fours and waited for the threat to come.
Suddenly, the scent of sweet warm apples and honey assaulted him. A second later, a small, dark brown wolf burst into the bed of flowers. She was being followed closely by a large black wolf, and Jase roared into the night.
Both wolves stopped for a split-second before Violet raced behind him, using him as a shield. All the fear and doubt he’d harbored over the last month disappeared, and he charged the black wolf.
Protecting his mate was the only thing that mattered.
***
Violet took a deep breath and pulled open the door to the Dark Moon. By the time she’d arrived in the packed parking lot, most of her confidence had waned. She’d sat in the darkness a full ten minutes before she’d worked up enough courage to walk inside the biker bar.
Greer, another pack leader, was working the door, and he flashed her a huge smile. She didn’t know the reason, but it didn’t matter. When Monica waved her over, she used Greer’s smile as incentive to cross the center of the room.
At least one person thought she looked good.
“Oh my god, Vi,” Monica screamed, “you look fantastic.”
“Sexy lady,” anot
her friend said.
“Smokin’ hot,” another chimed in.
The other two women in their group added additional praise, and then Monica bought her a drink to calm her nerves.
“What is it?” Violet asked. “You know I have to drive home later.”
“Trust me,” Monica said. “By the end of the night, you’ll have danced so much this drink will definitely be out of your system.”
She reluctantly picked up the short glass and took a sip of the bright green drink. The fruity flavor swirled around her mouth, and she was surprised to find it didn’t taste like alcohol at all. She downed the liquid and enjoyed the warmth that surrounded her as she bounced to the music of the hidden sound system.
Monica had been right, she felt calm, confident and sexy.
A short time later, a tall, dark-haired handsome man she’d never seen before approached their table. It wasn’t unusual for men to approach their group, but it wasn’t normal for them to ask her to dance before any of her friends.
“Hi, do you want to dance?” he asked.
“Sure.”
He held out his hand, and she took it, following him to the tiny dance floor.
“What’s your name?” he asked, turning to face her when they reached the center of the room.
“Violet,” she smiled. “What’s yours?”
“I’m Drake, and you’re exactly what I’m looking for, Violet.”
The words seemed to have another meaning, but she decided not to worry about it. Dancing and having fun wasn’t a crime, and she’d made a pact with herself. She deserved to have some fun with a man, and Drake definitely fit the man category. The fact that he was also sexy and charming was an added bonus.
The first few songs were fast, and she enjoyed the attention he gave her, even if he was laying it on thick. Every now and then he’d touch her shoulder, lean forward and whisper a compliment in her ear. They ranged from praising her dancing skills, to her beauty, to sexual innuendos.
A slow song filtered through the speakers, and he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her body against his. She felt his hard cock against her stomach, and her cheeks heated, exposing her innocence. His lips touched hers in a gentle kiss, and then he smoothed his hands over her ass, pulled her close, and whispered in her ear.
“I’m so horny right now. Let’s go out to my car and have some fun.”
Sex in a parking lot wasn’t her idea of fun, but she wasn’t about to admit it. She had no idea if Drake was a shifter or human, but most shifters had no problems with nudity and sex in public places. She wouldn’t risk revealing the truth, plus she’d never lose her virginity if she followed all the rules she had for herself.
She waved at Monica as she allowed Drake to pull her out of the Dark Moon, grateful she’d kept her tiny purse tucked under her arm.
“My car is over here,” he said, pulling her toward the edge of the forest.
A niggle of doubt started to rear its ugly head, but she pushed it down. She wanted sex, and Drake was willing to give it to her. That’s all she needed to know.
When they reached his black SUV, he pushed her against the door hidden from prying eyes, placed his hand around her neck, and slammed his lips down on hers. His rough, aggressive behavior was so different from the gentle kiss he’d given her inside the bar, and she gasped, allowing him the opportunity to shove his tongue down her throat.
His teeth banged against hers in his haste, and she placed her hands on his chest and tried to shove him away. His thumb pressed against her windpipe, and he pulled back, breaking the kiss and laughing hysterically.
“What’s the matter, fatty?” he sneered. “You don’t like it rough?”
“No, I don’t,” she said. “Let me go.”
“No, I don’t think I will,” he said, sliding his hand under her skirt. “I didn’t spend all that time dancing with you not to get rewarded.”
“I don’t owe you anything,” she said, pushing on his chest again.
“I beg to differ,” he said, shoving his hand between her legs and cupping her sex. Pain shot through her body, and she tried to push him away, but he was too strong. He tightened his grip, and pressed harder on her windpipe.
“You owe me this pussy and your ass, and you’re going to take it in both holes until I say you’re done. From behind, though,” he added, “because if I have to look at you while we fuck, my dick will never stay hard.”
“You’re an asshole,” she spat.
He removed his hand from between her legs and slapped her across the face. Pain burst across the whole side of her head, causing her eyes to water.
“You’d better watch it,” he said, “otherwise you’ll die a virgin.”
She knew he was baiting her, but she also knew he would kill her when given the chance.
She glanced at the entrance to the Dark Moon on her right, and the entrance to the forest on her left. She still had no idea whether he was human or shifter, but it didn’t matter. If she could get away, her chances of making it back to the bar were slim, but she might be able to hide in the forest if he were human. If he was a shifter…
No, she couldn’t think about that right now.
“Now turn around, bitch, and get ready for the ride of your life.”
Luckily, her brother had taught her a few things.
Drake loosened his hold on her neck and stepped back, allowing her room to turn around. The idiot honestly thought she would bow down and give up without a fight, but she refused to give up. Her brother had taught her how to defend herself for a reason.
She took a step forward, giving the illusion she would obey, and then slammed the heel of her boot on the top of his foot. Luckily, he’d dressed up more than most of the men in the bar, and he was wearing dress shoes instead of work boots. His face scrunched up in pain and she took that moment to knee him in the balls. When he bent over slightly, she punched him in the throat and ran.
His angry growl echoed through the parking lot, answering the question of whether or not he was a shifter, but she didn’t look back. She ran into the forest and called her wolf as she moved deeper into the trees.
Hair sprouted all over her skin, and her clothes shredded as her bones popped and reformed, turning the human into the wolf. The entire process took about a minute, and while it was uncomfortable, it didn’t hurt.
Unfortunately, the change had slowed her escape, and she wasn’t a fast runner to begin with. Drake had speed on his side, and he must have shifted in the parking lot, because the huge black wolf rapidly ate up the distance between them.
Suddenly running seemed like a stupid plan.
She needed a miracle to survive.
The forest of trees gave way to a bed of wildflowers and a huge grizzly bear stood on all fours near the opposite end. Besides the newcomer, Calder was the only bear anyone had ever seen in Deals Gap and she knew the bear wasn’t Bhric’s bodyguard.
Her wolf ran behind the bear, seeking refuge, and though she didn’t miss the irony, she didn’t have time to worry about it. Once she was safely behind him, the bear charged the wolf.
Growls and grunts filled the air as the two animals fought. They used their claws and teeth to tear into each other’s flesh, and though the bear was bigger and did more damage with each swipe, the wolf was faster which gave him the ability to strike more often.
Several harrowing moments passed as they both repeatedly ripped into the other’s fur, and blood canvased the now trampled flowerbed. The wolf clawed his way up the bear’s back, seemingly gaining the upper-hand, and clamped his jaws down on the beast’s shoulder. The bear roared long and loud, pulled the wolf off with his claws and hurled the animal against the nearest tree. The wolf whimpered when he hit the bark, and then silently fell to the dirt below.
The bear advanced, but when he was about to deliver the final strike, the wolf jumped to his feet and ran back toward the Dark Moon with his tail between his legs.
Violet watched as the bear surveyed the dark
trees, sniffed the air, and let several minutes pass before he turned and walked back toward her. She understood he wanted to make sure the enemy really had retreated, but the waiting made her nervous.
She emerged from her hiding place and met him half way.
His injuries looked worse up close, and though shifter magic healed most wounds, many of his gashes were deep enough to warrant concern. She wanted him to shift and finish the healing process.
Most of the time she avoided shifting in front of others, but unless she wanted to forgo talking to him and run home in her wolf form, she didn’t have a choice.
She took a deep breath and started the change back. Her fur, fangs and claws receded and her bones popped and reshaped into her human form. Nearly a minute later, she stood in front of the bear completely naked.
The bear furrowed his brow, cocked his head, and in an instant, the man from the coffee shop stood in front of her.
Fully dressed.
Oh god. Kill me now!
“You’re not naked,” she squeaked, crossing her arms over her chest. It didn’t matter though, he’d already seen her unremarkable body and she only had two hands.
“No, I’m not,” he growled. “What’s going on? Where are your clothes?”
He seemed angry, but she didn’t know why. It seemed like he regretted helping her.
“They shredded when I shifted,” she said. “No one around here can complete the change as fast as you did, or keep their clothes intact if they don’t remove them first.”
His brown t-shirt was dotted with blood in two places, but he pulled it over his head and handed it to her.
“Here, put this on.”
Deep down, she’d secretly hoped he would find her attractive and disappointment flooded her. She took the garment and pulled it over her head. It was loose around her middle and the seam stopped just under her ass. Wildflowers, cool evening air, and something she couldn’t quite name, assaulted her nose and made her pussy flutter.
