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From the unwashed clothes and dirt on his face, he looked like he didn’t have a pack either. Or a shower. Or a way to wash his clothes. His hair was greasy and hung around his shoulders, gray eyes calculating and wise despite his appearance. There was something off about him, but I couldn’t quite place my finger on it.
“Now, is that a way to speak to an alpha?” he rumbled, raising a bushy eyebrow. “I’m just passing through as well, we can have a fun little chat.” His smile made my stomach churn, missing teeth adorning it. Usually I could scent an alpha easily, but his was either masked by his body odor and booze, not to mention the crowd around us, or he was lying. My guess was the latter.
“Of what, your one-man pack?” I laughed and the way he tensed, he didn’t think it was very funny. “An alpha isn’t an alpha without wolves behind him, buddy.”
“I’m no buddy of yours, little girl,” he seethed. “And I suggest you keep your childish commentary to yourself.”
“I’m not a little girl, nor will I keep my thoughts to myself. You interrupted my night, you get my snark,” I said with an unapologetic shrug. “You want a peaceful night? Then kindly fuck off.”
“That mouth of yours will get you in trouble,” he promises. The fact that he was casually threatening me wasn’t a good thing. All humor faded from me and I leaned in close.
“I’m not yours to take, and it would be smart to leave me alone,” I warned, not showing a hint of weakness. If he wanted a fight, I’d give him one. It had been far too long since I’d shifted, he just had to give me a fucking reason.
His eyes narrowed and he had to glance down to keep himself calm. He took measured breaths, his glowing eyes focused on the bar and hair rippling in a flash over his arm before he got himself under control.
“Leave me be,” I said again, turning away and taking another long drink. But he didn’t take the hint. Instead, he took it as an invitation to move in even closer. The bold wolf stared at me intently with his dull gray eyes and tucked some of the greasy black hair behind his ear as he breathed through his rising anger yet again. He didn’t speak, letting his glower do the talking for him. He was aiming for intimidation and I tried not to take the bait.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, but I held my ground. He couldn’t do anything to me here with humans around and we both knew it. Showing our nature would be a one-way ticket to a death warrant, and I wanted no part of that.
“I’m a tracker, I’ll find you,” he promised in a low voice. I froze at that, drink nearly spilling in my shock. Trackers were one of the most feared among packs, skilled in following a hunt as far as their alpha commanded, but they often found themselves in more trouble than they could talk their way out of. It was easy to lose yourself to the chase, give over to those animalistic instincts that ran a bit higher in a skilled tracker. Insanity wasn’t unheard of in his line of work and now seeing one in person, I believed it. He was a spy of sorts, often isolated from the pack for longer than most could handle. But in the cutthroat world of packs… they saved lives. They’d spread intel, give their pack the advantage during battles. But where was he from? Would he truly track me without a command? Was he part of the pack that I’d faced at the Crow’s Nest? Was this simply revenge? An eye for an eye?
“I believe the lady asked you to leave,” the bartender said, pulling out a shotgun and pointing it at the man.What a badass.I’d have cheered her on if I wasn’t internally having a fucking panic attack. It wasn’t every day the most ruthless hunters claimed you as their prey. Because of course this was the fucking twist fate decided to throw my way.
My eyebrows raised in surprise, but I couldn’t help flashing her a grin before turning a glare on the offending man. He was scowling at her but held his hands up, scrambling off of his barstool and backing away slowly.
“I’ll be waiting for you outside,” he growled low enough the humans couldn’t hear. But I did. The reality of the threat settled in as she tucked the shotgun away and the noise around us resumed. A few patrons shot me curious glances but I kept to myself, realizing that this meant I’d never be safe here. Yet I had nowhere to go. No pack to back me up. For the second time since I accepted exile, I felt genuine fear. Though this was far more terrifying than the wolves crowding me before. They were unorganized and going for an “easy” target, a tracker would never give up.
The enticement of the alcohol faded quickly and I wanted nothing more than to leave. Yet the fact he was waiting for me was enough to make me not want to walk outside. I’d gotten myself in an even tighter spot than I anticipated. I was not a weak wolf but facing an experienced tracker alone would end badly. What I needed was to shift and heal the last of my gunshot wound, but that wasn’t even possible with him lurking out there.
“We have security if you want to be escorted to your car, hon.” The bartender saw right through my worry.
“I didn’t drive,” I admitted. “I’m across the street at the motel.”
“We can make that work,” she promised. “Just say the word.”
“Thanks,” I said before downing my drink. “I’m ready. He kind of killed the vibe.”
“Men tend to have that effect sometimes,” she said with a smirk. She turned to the side and barked out her next words. “Blake! We need an escort!”
Somehow the bouncer heard her over the music and came over. He was a fucking mountain of a man, the kind that you’d think was fat if not for the well-defined muscles under the surface. His dark hair was buzzed military style and from the angry crease on his forehead, he thrived on that intimidating look he wore at the moment.
“What do you need, Tina?” he asked, glancing down the line of patrons before settling on me. His gaze lingered a moment too long but he was harmless. And definitely not a wolf so that was in his favor.
“She’s at the motel across the street but some dick was harassing her. He might be waiting outside. Get her back safe,” she ordered.
“You got it, boss,” he said before gesturing to the door. “I’ll wait over here.”
“Thanks,” I told her as I slid across a nice tip.
“No problem,” she said with a nod as she tucked the tip away in her half apron and went right back to work.
Blake was waiting by the door. He glanced up and down the street before locking eyes with me. “All clear?”
“I think so,” he shrugged. “But I’m armed, too.” He patted his hip as he led me across the silent street. My senses were on high alert as we walked. I could smell the wolf out here, feel his eyes on me as we walked, but he kept his distance. Blake was a good enough escort to keep an angry tracker at bay and that was definitely some good fucking luck. And luck was one thing that hadn’t been on my side today.
When I locked my motel door behind me, I finally took a breath. If not for Blake, I’d likely be wounded or dead. I shuddered at the thought of the evil in that wolf’s eyes. There would be zero sleep happening now that I knew he was out there, waiting for a chance to strike. And I had a feeling he wouldn’t mind doing it in daylight either. I would be safer than at night, but only just. It left me little choice. I needed the protection of a pack, yet no pack was in sight. The Bluffs might hold answers, but their protection clearly didn’t extend to Dixon. And if they were rich enough for a gated, mansion community… well it wasn’t the pack for me.
“Fuck,” I cursed as I paced back and forth in front of the door. My eyes continuously snapped from the knob to the lock, reassuring myself that I was safe here even though I felt anything but.
