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Ignoring the urge to stick up for my mate, I simply shrug. His comment was designed purely to test my reaction to his insult. No still-mated wolf would let someone call their mate stupid without some kind of retaliation.
“Your ex, then?” Leon presses, his interest piqued when I don’t immediately spill my sorry story. His dark brown eyes are similar to Marcus’, but lacking the depth of colour and humanity; it’s easy to see that Leon left his conscience behind a long time ago.
“You could say that.” As Billy arrives with another drink for Leon, I lean toward him, “Any chance I could get something? I believe you promised me a beer.”
Billy looks to his father for approval. Judging by the relatively few patrons in the bar, that they’re all bears studiously pretending they’re not listening to this conversation, this is a Lennox-only establishment. Do I even get to stay long enough to have a beer?
Amusement dancing in his eyes, Leon nods, and I take the longneck from Billy and wince. It’s not exactly cold, but it’ll do.
“Tough few days, sweetheart?”
Downing half the bottle in one go, I wipe my lips with the back of my hand and close my eyes. It’s exactly what I need to bury the guilt eating away at me, and to drown my nerves.
“The worst,” I admit honestly. “I know you already know. Don’t make me say it out loud.”
Leon laughs heartily and kicks out the bar stool beside him, enjoying my misery immensely.
My emotions are raw; it hurts every time I think about Lucia putting her filthy paws on my mate. And now I’ve sent him back to her, without our bond. My grip on the bottle tightens until a clearing throat pulls me back to the present.
“See this here, boys?” Leon calls out to nobody in particular, titling his head as he observes my every move. The rest of the bears look around at each other and shrug, unsure what he’s talking about. “This is the most terrifying thing in the world. A pissed-off woman on the hunt for revenge. I’ve known a few in my time.”
I’ll bet he has.
Letting him watch me all he wants, I take another gulp. I’ve heard stories that he likes to keep a harem of women, and regularly takes advantage of female bears in heat. There’s only one way to end up with so many kids.
“So, what’s your poison, little lady?” Stroking a hand along his scarred jaw, he looks me up and down, trying to get a read on me. “Actual poison?” he asks, “Because that can be arranged. Or would you like him to meet a more gruesome end? So he knows it was you who sent us.”
As the last drop of heaven hits the back of my throat, I place the bottle calmly back on the bar and turn to face Leon, ignoring the repulsive way he’s leering at me.
“Better than that. I want him to watch his golden ticket die, to know he gave me up for nothing, and feel the pain of losing his mate. Just like I did.”
My plan hinges on Ethan not actually mating Lucia, giving me more time to investigate; after what I’ve just done, I don’t know for certain that he won’t. My insides twist as I picture her sinking her teeth into his neck, and, for a second, I think I’m going to be sick in the middle of the bar.
“But they’re not mated yet?” Leon looks from me to Billy, fixing him with a hard stare like it’s Billy’s fault I’m wasting their time.
“Yet. It’s only a matter of time. He ditched me so he could be with her. She’s coming into a big windfall, and he’s only interested in money and power, not fate. I want him to watch that slip through his fingers and know he’s lost everything for no reason, including me.”
Leon’s eyes burn into me as he processes my words and something else. Curiosity. Suspicion. My mention of money was meant to catch his attention. Without knowing how much research he’s done about who I am, or if he has any idea who I was supposedly bothering in Grey Ridge, I can’t mention Lucia’s name without being too obvious.
There are a few muttered “Yikes” from the shadows, some low whistles of disbelief; none of them bothering to pretend anymore that they’re not listening. Even though bears don’t have fated mates in the same way we do, they know how precious the bond is to wolves. And that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
“You want us to wait until they’re mated, and then kill her… so it’ll hurt him even more?” Leon ponders that for a moment, his cunning eyes shining with a cruel glint that wasn’t there a moment ago. “But what about him? He gets off scot-free?”
“Physically, but I have plans for Ethan,” I promise, plastering a nasty smile on my face. Leon’s jaw twitches, the only indication that he might recognise the name.
“You’re an evil bitch,” Leon declares with intrigue. “Just my kind of woman.” Swirling his whiskey in the glass, he stands and raises it in my direction. I know I can’t relax, but hopefully this toast means I’ve made it past the first test. At least, I’ve managed not to neither be killed on sight nor laughed out of his territory.
“Right back atcha,” I mutter, holding my bottle out in cheers.
Leon stares at me then thumps the bar. Laughing loudly, a deranged sound that sends a shiver of fear down my spine, he orders Billy to get more drinks. Leon sits back heavily, his large frame making the stool creak.
“Did he tell you about the money she’s coming into? Where is it coming from?” His interest sounds casual, but I know better.
“No.” Shrugging, I pick at the label on the bottle. “I’m not even sure he knows. Even if he did, it’s not like he was going to tell me.” Huffing, I roll my eyes, playing the bitter ex.
Accepting that as reasonable, Leon nods and drums his fingers on the polished wood bar. I look around, taking in the dingy decor and the darkened windows. It’s more like a motorcycle club than a bar, with a lingering smell of stale alcohol that no amount of disinfectant could erase. I’m surprised the bears can stand the stink.
“How much, hypothetically, would something like this cost? I mean I have money, I’m just not sure it’s enough… and I don’t want to waste your time.”
