The Chase Is On (Pack Everhart Book 1)

by Brooke Warren

  “What’s up?”

  “My set is coming up. Hannah wants you to cover my area until I’m done.”

  “Sure. I need to get more wine first.”

  She nods and I follow her through the crowd toward the kitchen. I peer over my shoulder, my feet faltering when I spot a man joining Stewart. It’s hard to see him due to all the bodies blocking my view, but he looks vaguely familiar. Which is crazy, because I shouldn’t know anyone out here. Maybe I remember him from one of Raphael’s jobs? My wolf perks and paces around in my head.

  I whip around when someone grabs my wrist, ready to shove them off me. Then I see the hand is attached to Jessica, who tugs at my arm again.

  “Sorry,” I mouth, guilty as I realize that she was just trying to get my attention. I let her pull me into the kitchen, but not before glancing over my shoulder one last time.

  “Without further ado, please give a warm welcome to . . .”

  The door closes, cutting off Stewart and the guests. The only sounds I can make out are the claps and cheers.

  Granger

  The room darkens—my cue—so I make my way closer to the middle of the room and watch Stewart walk out through the crowd.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention.”

  My eyes dart around the room. This place is packed with a lot of money, power, and influence. It’ll be interesting to see their reactions when the evening’s entertainment begins.

  It only took a little persuading in my father’s ear to take over the reins for tonight’s entertainment. From there, I managed to talk an acquaintance of mine, Hannah, into organizing a show with her dance studio. It’s not her first time performing for me, just the first for this type of crowd.

  It’s not every day that your best friend turns thirty and his status as Beta is made official. My friends and I already had plans to celebrate with Milo, but it was quickly shot to hell thanks to his father. Then the Alpha took it one step further. Nothing can ever be about anyone else; he always has to insert himself into every event.

  “On behalf of Pack Everhart, I would like to welcome you all here this evening. Tonight, we join members of Pack Banks, Pack Everhart, Pack Vacarro, and Pack Silver.” The crowd breaks out into cheers and applause. “Without further ado, please give a warm welcome to Mr. Granger Kendall of Pack Everhart.”

  I set my drink on a nearby table and join Stewart, who hands me the mic. “Thank you, Stewart, and thank you again to everyone who ventured out here this evening to celebrate with us. I speak on behalf of Pack Everhart when I express how grateful we are to maintain such amazing relationships with each pack represented here tonight. Looking around this room, we’re reminded of the enduring friendships and alliances that came together over two hundred years ago. But tonight isn’t just about celebrating our alliances; it’s also about honoring a friend of mine, who turns thirty today, solidifying his position as a future Beta for Pack Everhart. Let’s all congratulate Milo Daddario with a big round of applause.” I pause for all the cheering, flashing a smile in Milo’s direction. I can’t see him through the blinding spotlight beating down on me, but I know he’s hating every second of this.

  “Dinner will be served shortly. In the meantime, grab a drink from either bar or the lovely waitresses walking around—and enjoy the entertainment.” I hand the mic back to Stewart and hurry off the dance floor, taking note of some of the dancers moving in my direction.

  Ascher is wearing a cheeky grin, and Milo’s mismatched eyes narrow at me when I return. I can't help but chuckle.

  “I hate you,” Milo sighs and takes a sip of his beer.

  “No, you don’t. In fact, you’ll be thanking me later.”

  He eyes me quizzically and shoves a hand into his pocket. “Doubtful, but do tell.”

  “I hired Hannah again. She brought eleven women with her to perform. That means there are eleven opportunities for us to find a female, or two, or more.” I flash him a wicked smile.

  “Fine, I may hate you a little less now. We’ll see how the rest of the night goes.”

  Ascher laughs. “I like the way you think, G. You sure do know how to sweet-talk me. You don’t even have to twist my arm; I’ll offer myself up willingly. So glad I wore this tonight.” He brushes the sleeves on his jacket.

  Milo shakes his head. “Ascher, when are you gonna let me hook you up with one of the dommes I know? Show that virgin ass of yours a thing or two. You keep denying it, but you’ve got a submissive streak hidden beneath that pretty boy façade.”

  Ascher’s face falls then crinkles, pinning Milo with a dirty look. “Keep your kinky shit away from me and my ass. Better yet, stop thinking about my ass altogether. While it’s true that I have a very nice one, which I know you can attest to, the only people I want admiring my derriere are women.”

  I crack up laughing. “Aww. One day you’ll embrace your inner sub. Nothing wrong with slapping on some leather pants, a cock ring, and ball gag while crawling on your knees, begging for a release—if you’re a good boy. Have you been a good boy or a naughty boy lately?”

  Ascher points his finger in my direction. “I don’t need this shit from you, either. Go ahead and laugh, asshole. I’m going to scout the room.”

  Milo and I are still snickering as we watch Ascher stomp away. It’s annoying as hell that he can make jabs at everyone all day, but he gets touchy and defensive when the shit is directed back at him. Riling him up is easy and well worth the dramatics.

  “He’s ridiculous.”

  “That he is,” Milo snorts.

  “I’m going to get a refill. Want another beer?”

  “Yeah.”

  I’m halfway to the bar, still chuckling to myself, when my entire body tightens. That scent—honey and coconut. It can’t be.

  It’s a fragrance I haven’t been able to forget in two years. I spin in a circle, inhaling as much air as my lungs will hold. Mine. The word is projected from my wolf, who springs up and starts pacing. An image of black and silver hair framing a delicate face with violet eyes flashes through my mind.

  A wave of arousal sweeps through me, and I’m helpless to stop it. My cock swells to an almost painful degree. I grit my teeth, desperately trying to control the intensity of my reaction. Moving through the crowd at a hurried pace, I note each face, but I can’t find her. Long strides carry me to the other end of the huge room. I stop and survey the area—still no sight of her. My lungs expand again; this time, the scent is barely noticeable.

  There’s no way she’s here. She lives in a completely different state. Maybe I’m going crazy? I’ve heard of phantom spells where people think they smell a scent that triggers a memory, but there’s nothing there—it’s just their mind playing tricks. I take a few more slow, steady breaths while glancing around the area one last time. The scent has now completely disappeared. The only thing I can smell is the people standing near me.

  Jaws snap, and my wolf’s low growl rings through my head. She’s not here, I tell him. You saw what I did. Whatever we thought we smelled wasn’t real.

  It’s the most logical explanation, so I’m going with that. Huffs and low, quick barks continue to pour out from my primal side. The only way to shut him up is to ignore him. I throw up some mental blocks and push all thoughts of Claudia from my head. I haven’t thought about her for a long time. No sense in dredging up old memories that only serve to engulf me in guilt.

  Too late.

  A few slipped through.

  I scrub a hand down my face. “I need a drink.”

  Claudia

  I finish waiting on Jessica’s area and make my way through the mass of people, trying not to bump into anyone. The crowd seemed to enjoy the first performance; all eyes were on the dancers. Some were even singing along to the song. I can’t wait to talk to Hannah and see how she’s doing. With as many people as are in this room, her business will no doubt explode.

  “Excuse me,” I say when a man steps out in front of me. Keeping an eye on him, I side
step quickly to avoid a collision. “Oompf,” I grunt, ramming into something hard. My body begins moving in the opposite direction of my feet and all the air in my lungs burst free. There’s nothing left in me to make a sound or allow my brain to talk to my limbs. I know I’m falling backward, the sensation adding to my already churning stomach.

  “I got you.” Strong arms wrap around me, saving me from an embarrassing meet-and-greet with the floor. I cough as air rushes back into my chest. “Are you okay?”

  A voice, drenched in honey, sends a shiver down my spine. I cough again and catch myself before I groan when the scent of apples and mahogany, as sweet as the voice, invades my senses. I flick my eyes up to the face, and the air I just inhaled evaporates right out of my lungs.

  Mine. The claim is pushed into me. I can feel my wolf’s need stir.

  Iridescent grey eyes framed by long lashes peer back at me, sweeping me away in their hypnotic dance. My eyes fall to a defined jawline, then latch onto a mouth, which starts moving.

  His downward-turned lips are just as mesmerizing as his eyes. Wonder if he tastes as good as he smells? I bite my bottom lip to keep myself from pressing my lips to his. The man's mouth keeps moving as he helps me stand.

  Is he saying something?

  The corner of his lip quirks. Why is he smirking? When my gaze travels back up, so does the heat radiating over my chest, neck, and cheeks.

  He was.

  He was totally talking, and I didn’t hear a word because I was too busy being paralyzed by how utterly sexy he is.

  “How are you feeling? You ran into me pretty hard.” He has a handsome, boy-next-door kind of face, but his chestnut hair, short on the sides with long, slicked-back locks on top, adds age to his features.

  “Okay,” I reply, more breathlessly than intended. I’m going to go with the excuse that my lungs are still recovering from being hit—I’m not reacting to the craving growing within me.

  I don’t even try to stop myself from ogling the rest of him. He’s dressed to impress in a light grey suit that does little to hide the thickness of his chest and arms. I slowly undress him in my mind, and as each article is removed, my core burns a little hotter.

  “Do I get to know the name of the woman who almost ran me down?”

  I blink. “Uh . . .”

  Now would be a great time for my brain to start firing on all cylinders. Something, anything would be better than continuing to stare at him. His mouth curves into a wide smile, breaking what little concentration I can muster. My wolf nudges me, rubbing her head along my barriers. Stop that, I hiss at her. She lets out a low growl that I ignore. What is going on? She hasn’t acted this way since that night with Granger.

  The man in front of me tilts his head. Crap. He said something again. What was it?

  Think, think, think.

  Oh, my name.

  “My . . .” I squeak, then clear my throat, “my name is Claudia.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you.”

  Even in the low lighting, his eyes are bright and sparkling. Wait, is his primal side lurking just below the surface? His eyes drop to the floor for a split second, then bounce back up to me. Hmm, the brightness in his eyes is gone. Weird.

  “I’m Ascher, by the way.”

  “Nice to meet you, Ascher.”

  “Just for the record, if you ever need anyone to crash into in the future, I’ll volunteer for the job. It’s not every day that I have my dream fulfilled—a beautiful woman, falling into my arms.”

  I cock a brow and snort. “Smooth. Does that line actually work?”

  He beams. “Don’t know. First time using it. Did it work?”

  I shake my head, chuckling at the sweet, innocent look he’s giving me. “Thank you for the save, by the way. I owe you one for not letting me bruise my ass.”

  He places a hand over his heart. “The pleasure is all mine.”

  “You’re ridiculous,” I laugh, finding myself drawn to him more than I should be. If I don’t leave now, no telling what I’ll do. Moss-green eyes flash in my mind without warning.

  Yep, time to go.

  “Well, it was nice meeting you, but I need to get back to work.” I bend over and pick my tray up off the floor.

  “You’re here with Hannah?”

  “Do you know her?”

  “I’ve only met her once, at another party. My friend knows her better than I do,” he shrugs.

  Hannah mentioned she knew a few people here tonight. I wonder if she remembers Ascher? “Listen, I don’t want to be rude, but I really need to get back.”

  “Sure, sure.” He steps to the side and extends his arm. I walk past him, then hear, “Hey, Claudia?” I pivot to face him. “I look forward to speaking with you later.” He flashes me all his teeth and winks before walking off.

  I watch him disappear into the crowd, confused over why I have an urge to chase after him. Jeez, something is seriously off with me. I shouldn’t be having this type of reaction. It’s eerily similar to the way I felt with Granger—that’s not a path I want to revisit.

  “Claudia, there you are.” I spin to see who called my name. Rachael comes walking over to me. “You’re up next. Go meet Hannah by the kitchen. I'll cover your area.”

  “Thanks.” I hand her my tray, then set out in search of my red-headed friend. I finally spot her standing near the door.

  “Oh good, you’re here. Follow me.” Hannah takes off toward the other side of the room in a hurry. I follow close behind her, chewing on my lip and avoiding eye contact with guests as we pass. I was nervous before at the thought of dancing in front of all these people, but now that I’m actually about to perform, my stomach decides to bottom out, weighing my feet down as my heart inches its way up my throat. Hannah stops when we reach the other women already waiting by the stage.

  Hannah is overly excited. Her hands flapping around are a dead giveaway. It’s funny but also dangerous. I’ve been one of the lucky ones to get smacked, hard, in the nose from standing too close. That was my first time in the crossfire, and it only took one hit for me to learn I need to keep a safe distance around her when she gets like this.

  “You guys will start here. Spread out in this area, then walk straight through there when the music starts. At the hook, you should have reached the middle of the room.” She claps her hands and starts backing away in the direction we came. “Good luck, ladies.”

  Hannah skips off and the rest of us move into position. I close my eyes, inhaling slowly then exhaling. Hopefully, I can relax enough to stop focusing on the fact that I already have people staring at me and we haven’t even started.

  I take another deep breath. Instantly my body revs up—for a completely new reason. Circulating through my senses is a delicious woodsy musk with the barest hint of citrus. How is it that I keep encountering these panty-melting scents—and why is my body responding like a hormonal teenage pup? I do a scan of the room, trying to pinpoint the aroma’s origin. The scent teases me again, awakening an old memory that’s too fuzzy to focus on. Have I been around this scent before? It’s familiar somehow.

  Mine, my wolf practically groans.

  Not again.

  The lights in the room dim, forcing me to give up my search even as questions continue flying through my brain. Music floats from the speakers, so I force my brain to shut down, focusing on the beat.

  Showtime.

  Milo

  I stand in the shadows, alone, observing the individuals who fill the room. This is how I prefer to spend parties—watching people interact with each other rather than interacting with them. It’s not that I’m shy; it’s just that most people bore me. I learned at an early age that having above-average intelligence doesn’t fare well with the masses. The less I interact with people, the more I avoid situations that will surely turn uncomfortable.

  As music fills the room, my eyes dart around, trying to locate the dancers. There was a cute blonde dancing earlier that I wouldn’t mind watching again. Feeling my pocke
t vibrate, I roll my eyes.

  What now?

  Pulling out my phone, I read the text from AJ.

  Status quo. Kinda dead

  I shoot back a ‘thanks’ then slide my phone back into my pocket. Tonight’s his first night managing the floor at Club SYNFuL. He’s been a Dominant there longer than I have, and he’s the first person I approached when I decided to take a step back and focus more on the pack.

  Now that I’m thinking about it, I’m a little sad I won’t be spending as much time there anymore. Becoming an official Beta entails more responsibility, no matter how much I’d prefer the feel of my ropes in my hand while I create patterns over a woman’s body.

  “Milo.”

  I hear someone whisper-yell my name and see Ascher speed-walking toward me. As he approaches, I take note of his eyes bugging out of his head and the pale hue of his face.

  “You okay? You didn’t try to eat the entire meat section of the buffet again, did you? I don’t feel like cleaning up your vomit.”

  The memory of that night plays out in my mind. The idiot wanted to impress a female. I warned him not to, but he was adamant. Who was I to deny him his spotlight moment?

  “What? No. Listen, something is happening to me.” He leans close to my ear, dropping his voice to a whisper. Ascher never whispers. He spews all sorts of crap without thought. If he wants to confide in me, that has me concerned.

  Something hits my nose.

  I sniff. “Are you . . . turned on?”

  “Dude, will you shut up for a second. Jeez.”

  My brows furrow. “Proceed.” Now I’m curious. He’s aroused, and yet he looks like he’s seen a ghost at the same time.

  “I ran into a female—well, she ran into me. My brain went haywire, and now my wolf is going fucking nuts, and I can’t think, and I don’t know what happened, and I don’t know what to do. You have to help me.” His voice lifts at the end and his arms shoot up.