I weighed my words. “No injuries. Other than a small scratch. Whether or not he’s okay remains to be seen.”
That sharpened both of their focuses. Not only were they damn good friends, I’d never met better soldiers.
“He’s in trouble?” Hux’s voice was its usual low rumble.
I confirmed my suspicions with a nod and moved toward my office door. They followed me in, watching silently while I grabbed the first aid kit from the wall and pulled a t-shirt out of the bottom drawer of the file cabinet where I kept all kinds of extra clothes. You’d think I’d need them for shifting, but truthfully, I had to change far more often from having drinks spilled on me.
Once I had the shirt over my head, shoes on my feet, and the first aid kit tucked under my arm, I turned back toward the door, only to pause when the muted noise from the bar rose a decibel. Specifically, my bartender and pack mate, Aiden.
I glanced at the other two. “Let’s go.”
I left the kit on the couch by the door and led the way to the end of the hall. We spilled into the main bar area and a rush of noise and scents washed over me. One scent in particular caughtin my nose, making my hackles rise.Alpha.And while it was faint, the scent of my mate lingered with him.
Aiden faced with three men. The Alpha was in the middle while two betas flanked him. I’d never seen any of them before. The two thugs looked right at home amongst the rustic barstools and neon signs hanging from the walls, but the Alpha in his three-piece suit and gaudy gold watch looked entirely out of place. I would have laughed if I hadn’t been seething with rage.
“I’m telling you, the omega is here. I can smell him. I demand access to the rest of the building.” The Alpha spoke like he was used to no one questioning him. When Aiden didn’t immediately comply, the ruddy flush of anger creeping up the Alpha’s neck turned darker.
Aiden opened his mouth to respond, but I cut him off, stepping up beside him and resting a hand on his shoulder while I met the Alpha’s stare.
“I’m Shep, and this is my bar. What can I do for you?”
He puffed up his chest and stood taller. “I was just telling your employee that my Omega is here somewhere. I can smell him. He’s lost and confused and probably hiding somewhere on the premises.”
With an amount of control I didn’t know I had, I kept my face neutral. “Dark hair,” I asked. “About so tall?” I held my hand up to just below my shoulder line.
“Yes,” the Alpha said quickly, glancing around like Rylan was in the room and he’d somehow missed him. “Where is he?”
“He was in the parking lot about fifteen or twenty minutes ago. Some other Alphas were harassing him. We don’t stand for that kind of thing here, so we cleared them out. The Omega thanked us and went on his way.”
“You didn’t detain him?” It burst out of him like water from a dam. He took a step forward, that flush rising once more.
I cocked my head. “Now, why would I detain him? He wasn’t in the wrong.”
The Alpha’s jaw flexed. “Of course. I’m just worried about him.”
“Well, like I said, he headed on up the road.”
Clearing his throat, the Alpha reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a business card. “Here’s my card. If you see him again, I’d appreciate a call.”
I took the card, my gaze never leaving his. “You got it.”
With a sharp nod at the two men with him, he turned on his heel and headed for the door.
As soon as they were out of earshot, I looked at Hux. “Make sure they leave.”
He gave me a nod, face grim, and headed for the side door.
I watched him go a moment before I looked down at the card in my hand. Trent Lawson. Apparently, he owned a pawnshop the next town over. I was guessing jewelry and electronics weren’t the only things in his inventory.
“I’ll keep an eye from the door.” Thorn was already moving in that direction before he’d finished speaking.
“That guy’s an asshole, boss,” Aiden said from beside me. “More than actually.”
“Yeah.” I turned to look at him. “You good?”
“I’m good.” Aiden leaned in, lowering his voice. “Is he here?”
I nodded. “In the kitchen having a meal.”
