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“How do we know his clanmates won’t try to kill us right there in the bar?” Noah asked, sitting in the front seat of Lev’s car.
Lev shrugged, which irked Noah.
“We don’t, unfortunately. But I’ve heard rumblings of his followers and their discontent. It seems to be more than what an average alpha has to deal with … or ever wants to.”
Chris and Simon, a ginger, brawny mass and an older, chatty slender bear with silver swirls around his sideburns, sat in the back seat, noble and loyal. Noah’s eyes flickered at them in the rearview mirror, seeking opinions.
Chris also shrugged, crisp blue eyes icy in the dimness.
Of course, though, Simon chimed in. He was Lev’s close enforcer, who Noah had just met, and was far more talkative than any non-alpha he had ever met.
“A few of them are pretty vocal,” Simon said, eyes wide and curious. “Especially on karaoke night.”
Noah didn’t laugh, but Chris let out a small, polite snort. Simon cackled as they pulled into the bar, a tiny hole-in-the-wall along a long desolate stretch of highway, simply calledFangs.
The bar was bustling, with cars and trucks and even motorcycles squashed within the limited parking lots. Some vehicles found themselves in the field nearby, not a single care for the legality. That, to Noah, wasn’t a good sign.
They all climbed out of the car into the brisk fall air. Lev zipped up his jacket to his throat, then turned to the three of them with a stone look.
“So our goal tonight, gentlemen, is tonot get into a physical altercation. That will only escalate and further entice Dustin’s interest in a battle. We don’t want a battle. We want Noah to challenge the alpha, and that is all.”
Chris nodded while Simon perked up. Noah didn’t like how excitable he was, like a golden retriever.
“Basically, don’t give them a reason?” Simon said, teeth gleaming.
Lev gave him a courteous grin and nod of approval. He turned, with Noah walking by his side, and muttered with a sarcastic flair that Noah knew well.
“You get used to him.”
“Are you sure about that?” Noah quipped with a smirk
Lev opened the door to the bar to sounds of harsh death metal pummeling through the walls and chatter that ranged from hysterical banter to squeals of delight. Noah led the way inside, standing tall and ready.
Noah knew by scent alone who was who, as did all of the other shifters who seemed to be regulars. The bar itself was jammed with wolves, bears, cougars, and even spicy dragon and phoenix shapeshifters. There was a scattering of humans here and there, but the majority of the paying customers fell into the category Noah was most familiar with.
Lev knew who they were looking for since his enforcers had secretly observed Dustin’s clan while Noah had been gone at the lake house with Becca. The establishment swarmed with Dustin’s clan, according to Lev, who leaned into his friend’s ear to yell over the thrash of metal that continued to pound through the speakers.
“I see a couple in a booth at six o’clock, then a cluster of women at one o’clock at the round table. Where should we venture first?”
All four of them had ordered a drink, not only to fit in but to settle their nerves. Noah was on high alert, not quite afraid but more buzzing with anticipation.
He smirked with the tip of the glass of Jack and Coke touching his lips.
“Which ones are nicer?”
Lev and Noah approached the women while Chris and Simon guarded the bar, ordered to simply observe the group in the booth for any suspicious movement. Lev agreed with Noah that four men surrounding two women, no matter who they were, could easily be seen as aggressive.
Plus, there was a likelihood that Dustin's clan also knew who they were.
They spoke casually with the women at first, then eased into a conversation about Dustin.
“Oh, I see,” one of the women named Marlene said, flipping her hair in Noah’s direction. “So you’re the one he came back for?”
Noah raised his eyebrows, feigning ignorance.
“Came back for?”
“Dustin doesn’t exactly keep his thoughts to himself. He isn’t shy, not in the slightest. He wants everyone to know his story.”
