Chapter Five

James

I think Caine gives my daughter too much leeway, not that I would say it out loud. She does and says whatever she pleases, and he simply smiles. In the few hours I have been here, he hasn't said no to her once and now she is taking my mate out. I couldn't believe Caine was so calm about the entire situation.

"Will you please stop pacing?" Max, one of the other males asks. "They only left five minutes ago. They haven't even made it to town yet."

"I can't believe you are all being so calm about this!" I throw my hands in the air, my frustration reaching its peak.

All the men stare at me. Each of the men sitting here is mated to one of the women that has gone into town for drinking and dancing with my daughter and my mate. My unclaimed mate.

"It's her birthday," Calum, Caine's brother, says. "She has had a rough go of it for years and deserves to have some fun."

"Besides, we know the guy who owns and operates the only bar in town. The moment they walk in we will know about it," Max adds. "Once in a while they go to the bar and have fun. That's it."

"There are hunters out there for God's sake!"

"Not within a fifty-mile radius of Katu Falls. We monitor the area," Max says.

I glare at him. "You think you have this all under control?"

"I know we do." He leans forward with a smirk. "We have been doing this for a while, old man."

I want to punch him in the face just to see if he will challenge me. Not that it matters, I can feel the Alpha energy rolling off him.

"Enough."

Caine stands staring at us like an impatient father trying to corral his wayward children. "Not one of us is willing to stand up to our women when they set their minds to something. But not a single one of us will ever put our mate at risk," he says, before turning his gaze to me. "If April decides to take you as her mate, you'll find out."

"I know what it's like to have a mate," I scoff.

"You knew," he counters. "Things change and memories fade." Some of the guys chuckle.

"Whatever," I grumble. "What do we do now?"

"Have a beer, shift, hunt, whatever you want," Max suggests. "We prefer to stay here and wait."

"What are we waiting for?"

"Our women. They'll either be home in a couple of hours, or we will head into town to go and get them."

****

April

"I wish I was there," Sapphire says with a sigh. "I would have loved to see your animal. I've only ever seen wolves."

"I saw a fox once," Emmaleigh inserts before taking a sip of her drink. "He was only passing through, but he had the worst attitude."

"That sucks," Sapphire says, drunkenly swaying to the music. "I would love to make friends with different breeds. We could go drinking and hunting together."

I laugh out loud at the wonder in her voice. "I don't think predators should hunt together."

"Why not?" Peyton asks.

"That's a ridiculous question," Keela cuts in. "How am I supposed to compete with … what are you?" she asks me.

"A panther."

"Fuck me!" she says in awe. "I can't hunt with a panther. I'd die of starvation."

Everyone at the high-top table stares at her before turning to me. It only takes a moment before everyone bursts out in giggles.

"Okay, so maybe that's not my best idea," Sapphire concedes. "But you have to admit, it's totally badass to be friends with a panther."

Laughter bubbles out of me. I am blessed beyond measure to have found these people and that they accept me into their lives. And now that I know they don't care whether I'm a wolf or not, I feel more secure in the pack. My pack.

This is also the best birthday I have ever had. We drink and dance and laugh for hours and I honestly can't remember the last time I had this much fun. I don't think I ever have.

"I think you should dance with me," a male voice says behind me as I grab my drink order from the bar.

Turning, I take in the man. He's attractive. Dark wavy hair, with grey eyes and a beautiful smile. His jeans hug his thighs and the blue t-shirt he is wearing molds to his muscles. I can appreciate an attractive man as much as the next woman, but he does absolutely nothing for me.

"No, thank you," I say, stepping around him to get back to my friends.

"I wasn't asking," he says wrapping his hand around my wrist and pulling me back and making me spill my drink.

I glare at the offending appendage considering removing his arm from my body. I don't like people touching me without my permission, especially men. It probably has to do with the time I spent with the hunters, but I couldn't say for sure.

"Let. Me. Go."

"Oh, sugar, don't be that way," he drawls. "We're all here to have a little fun."

"If you don't get your hands off her," a deep male voice says from behind me, "I will break it."

I didn't scent him when he walked into the bar because there are so many people in here, not to mention all the other smells. Alcohol, smoke, food, and sweat cling to the air. But I know my mate the moment I hear his voice, even if I've never seen his face.

"I don't need your help," I say to the man behind me.

"You're mine," he growls lowly. "I protect what's mine."

"Stay out of it, old man," my wannabe dance partner interjects, sneering. "I don't want to have to hurt you."

I laugh loudly, handing my drink to my would-be mate, before I grab the wrist of the hand still holding onto my arm, and with the flick of my wrist snap the bone. The attractive man falls to his knees with a shriek so loud it can be heard over the music. I stare down at him with a sneer.

"I said, I don't want to dance." Turning, I stare at my mate. His hair and beard are grey and white, long, and overgrown. He is so much taller than I am, towering over me, his muscles tense as he watches me closely. I grab my drink from his hand. "And you." I poke a finger in the center of his chest. "I am not yours. I belong to no one. And I can take care of myself."