Chapter 6

6

Preston, Reed’s former pack member, marched towards us with a deep frown.

“Kass?” Theo asked.

“Get Tonka or one of the other bouncers,” I said softly. “I don’t know what he wants and not sure if this will end in bloodshed or not.” It likely would.

Theo hurried down the stairs.

“Can I help you, Preston?” I asked calmly and stood, drink in my hand so I could casually take sips. Rule number one in the predator world, never show fear.

Preston stopped in front of me, towering over me and obviously trying to intimidate me.

It was not working.

He growled. “Did you put a spell or use witchcraft on Reed?”

“I can’t use witchcraft,” I said honestly. “Why would you think I did that anyway?”

“We offered him everything he’s ever wanted, exile removed and a chance at having a litter. Yet, he hesitates and claims to have some type of connection with you.” He said “you” like it was a foul word.

The information he gave me made me smile wide, which incidentally showed off my teeth. “So, you’re upset that he might actually like me? You’re upset that he might have a pack that was found instead of assigned and he prefers that? Why are you so upset that he found someone who loves him? Just because you want more werewolves to be created?”

“It is his duty to provide?—”

I held my hand up. “I’m going to stop you right there. Duty does not exist. It’s a made up idea by a society that is too toxic to keep their members organically.”

His lip lifted in a snarl.

“I’m not forcing Reed. I’m not begging him not to go. I am allowing him to make his own decisions. I understand that a concept like that is foreign to someone like you, but…” I shrugged one shoulder and took a long drink from my cup.

“Fuck you,” he growled and swung his meaty fist at my face.

I dodged the fist, spun away, and took another drink. “You’re obviously angry, but you’re taking it out on the wrong person. You should be mad at the people who decided to exile Reed in the first place.”

Claws grew out of his fingertips and his teeth sharpened into canines.

“Oh, scary,” I teased and let my teeth grow larger. “Want to see whose can bite through bone cleaner? Spoiler alert, it’s mine.”

The other two guys who’d come with him the first night walked up the stairs, taking spots behind me.

“Oh no, they’ve got me surrounded,” I said in a higher-pitched voice and put a hand against my cheek. “I’m so scared.”

“You should be,” Preston growled and shifted into half-shift. His shirt tore and pieces floated to the floor. His head shifted into a wolf’s head and his body was covered in fur.

The other two followed suit.

Where was Theo with the bouncers?

Downing the rest of my drink, I set it on the table that was beside me and winked at the couple cowering there. “Watch that will you?” With a deep breath, I shifted into my half-shift, letting my head become more shark-like, my skin becoming grey with stripes just like in my shark form, and let a bit of my tail grow out as well.

“What the fuck?” one of the two behind me asked.

“What are you?” the other one asked.

I turned and said, “I’m your worst nightmare,” then winked. With their wide eyed surprise making them freeze, I spun and hit the two behind me with my tail, sending them sailing over the edge of the banister and down to the first floor where women screamed in surprise.

Preston howled his fury and charged towards me with his claws extended as he prepared to swipe at me.

I ducked and dodged out of the way of his swipes, dancing around the center of the upper floor to try to avoid the patrons who sat in their chairs. “You’re pretty slow,” I critiqued, “and telegraph your movements with your wide swings.”

“If I kill you, Reed will return with us,” he said.

An opening came and I punched him in the stomach as hard as I could, knocking him onto his back. He gasped for air for a few beats.

“If you kill me, you won’t make it out of this city,” I countered. “You’re in my father’s bar. Threatening me is really stupid right now.”

“Enough!” Reed barked as he stomped up the steps to us.

I pointed at Preston and shifted to my human form. “He started it!” I pointed at the couple I set my drink down. “They were witnesses.”

They both nodded with eyes wide, clearly terrified.

“What are you thinking?” Reed asked Preston. “You think killing her would make me more compliant?”

“She’s bewitched you!” Preston growled.

“You’re drunk,” Reed said. “Get out of here before I take offense to you threatening the one I’m courting.”

“Courting? You’re courting that … monstrosity?”

I stuck my lower lip out in a pout. “But I’m a cute monstrosity.”

Reed laughed and pointed at the stairs. “Get out of here, Preston. Don’t bother her again or we’ll have a duel. You remember what happened last time we dueled?”

Preston flinched, which made me really curious about what had happened last time. Without another word, Preston walked down the stairs.

Theo and Silver came up the stairs with smiles.

I put my hands on my hips and narrowed my eyes. “And where were you two? I specifically asked for you to get a bouncer, Theo.”

“We were dealing with cleanup downstairs after two werewolves fell from this floor,” Silver said. “It took us a minute to get up here.”

“Mmhmm,” I said with as much disbelief into that sound as I could.

“Are you hurt at all?” Reed asked and set a hand on my cheek.

I looked up and smiled wide. “Nope! Although, my feelings are a little hurt from being called a monstrosity.”

He kissed me lightly on the lips and said, “You are a very cute monstrosity.”

Was I cute enough to convince him not to leave? That was the most important question.