Chapter 2

I shoulder my way into the dingy club, making my way through the crowds on the dance floor as I head towards the bar. It's always busy here, even on a weeknight. Thankfully, once I make it through all the sweaty, dancing bodies, there's a stool at the bar that is unoccupied.

With a grateful sigh I sink into it, feeling the tension of the day ease out of my bones. What a night. After the shift I've had, I deserve a drink, but that's not the only reason I am here tonight. I take a moment to look around the bar. It looks like it used to be a nice place, but years of misuse have left it needing some TLC.

The patrons don't exactly help the image. This particular establishment caters only to supernatural beings. The world that we live in is not as simple as the humans like to believe it is. Werewolves, vampires, fae, witches, and demons? All real, not to mention the hundreds of other creatures that roam the streets. We're not like the movies portray us. The moon doesn't force me to shift, and vampires are not all gorgeous, otherworldly beings—they are dead, after all. Werewolves are just one of many types of shifter, we just happen to have the largest population. We don't all live in harmony—there is always a blood feud going on between several of the races—but this bar is one of the neutral territories in the city where everybody is able to mingle freely. There is still a lot of prejudice, though, and you can almost see the divide in the room between the magic users and other supernaturals.

Now, I know what you're thinking: why would a person who's determined to stay as far away as possible from other shifters be sitting in a supernatural bar? Unfortunately, it is necessary to show my face occasionally, even for a lone wolf like me. The powers that be at ASP expect us to make appearances. If we don't, they start poking their noses where they don't belong. If you want to stay off their radar, you have to act like they expect you to. So for me, that means showing up at the occasional bar, as would be expected for a young unmated shifter, and keeping out of trouble. Plus, places like this are great for finding out information and listening to gossip.

"Wolf girl, haven't seen you here for a while."

I spin on my bar stool. I know that growling voice, and only one person would dare call me ‘wolf girl.' Trying to hide a smile, I scowl at the towering wall of muscle in front of me.

"Garett, what have I told you about calling me that? Or shall I refer to you as ‘grizzly' again?" I retort, addressing the bear shifter in front of me.

Laughing, I watch as he starts to pour my usual. Like his inner animal, he's huge, his muscles almost bursting out of his white shirt as he moves around behind the bar. My eyes drop to his ass, and let me tell you, in his tight black jeans, it's a sight to behold. Turning around, Garett raises his eyebrow at me as I'm caught in the act, then he smirks as he places my beer on the counter in front of me.

"Like what you see, sweetness?" Flipping him off, I take a sip of my cold beer, trying to ignore the blush that covers my cheeks.

Laughing, Garett turns to serve a willowy fae at the other end of the bar. Man, I really need to get laid. But he is the closest thing I have to a friend in the shifter community, and I'm not going to ruin that by jumping his bones.

The club is crowded, people are pushing for a space at the bar and trying to get served, all except for a clear circle of space around me. I smirk into my beer. This is another reason I came to this particular bar—no one is going to mess with someone who has a grizzly bear looking out for them.

Falling into my thoughts, I take a sip of my drink, not really paying attention to the people around me until I feel a tingle race down the back of my neck. Someone's watching me. I slowly sit up straighter in my chair, trying not to tip them off that I know I'm being watched. My wolf pushes to the surface, wanting to protect me. An uneasy hush falls near me as the supernaturals closest to me feel my power start to emerge. They may not all be shifters, but they can feel the waves of alpha strength rolling off me.

All shifters are born with a certain amount of power, and within a pack, our ranking is determined by how strong that is. Certain shifters will be powerful enough that they can claim positions within the pack, such as beta or gamma, the second and third in command after the alpha. Some of these shifters will have alpha power, which means they have the potential to become head of the pack. This is why I stay away from most shifters, as I am unusually strong for a female shifter. I happen to have alpha power, although I've never wanted to claim that responsibility. This puts a target on my back, either because I'm a threat that needs to be taken out, or I'm viewed as a prize for the strongest male to win. That doesn't work with me, hence the lone wolf attitude.

The people nearby start shuffling away from me, aware something is happening, even if they're not sure what that is. Garett stalks towards me, frowning as he scans the bar, looking for the threat that has sent my senses into overdrive. His shoulders are tense, and he braces himself against the bar, leaning towards me. His eyes widen with surprise when he feels a wave of my power as he moves his gaze from the crowd to study my face.

"When was the last time you shifted?" he asks. "I know you don't like doing it, but you're putting yourself and everyone around you in danger. Plus, you're putting off my customers." He says the last part with a sly smile to take the sting out of his reproach, although his posture is still tense.

This is a long-standing argument of ours. The tingling has stopped, so whoever it was has moved on, most likely because of the scene I unwittingly caused. I close my eyes, calming myself. I am in charge, I am in control, I am not in danger. Opening my eyes, I see Garett's look of concern quickly turn to amusement.

"Want to get naked together?" he asks with a grin, although I'm sure I hear a note of worry in his voice. Shifting is something he's been trying to convince me to do more often, and he tries to hide it under smiles and jokes because he knows it makes me uncomfortable, but I know he worries about me.

Laughing at his comment, I roll my eyes and take a sip of my drink to hide the blush that's covering my cheeks.

"Oh, Garett, how could I say no to such a proposal?"

Garett and I have shifted together on occasion. I may distance myself from other shifters, but at a base level, wolves are pack animals. It feels good to rub my fur against someone else, even if that someone is a massive, seven-foot bear. Garett may look ferocious in his animal form, but really, he is a fuzzy, overprotective mother hen. He may play it off like he wants to see me naked, but his first instinct is to protect me. Plus, his favourite hobby seems to be making me blush. I place my beer back on the bar, running my finger through the condensation forming on the glass as I muse over today's events.

"Garett, have you heard of any…unusual attacks on humans recently?" I sense him pause, and I glance up to see him frowning before he continues polishing the glass in his hand.

"What kind of attacks?" he asks, his voice low as he glances around the bar, eyeing the goblin on the stool closest to me. I sigh.

"A human turned up at the hospital today barely alive, and he had a pack symbol carved into his back," I tell him quietly, aware of how many supernatural ears may be listening.

Garett instantly stiffens, his eyes briefly flashing amber as he fights his bear for control. His gaze flicks to my shoulder as if he can see the tattoo between my shoulder blades. While shifting doesn't require a person to take their clothes off, it is easier to shift naked, so he's seen my tattoo on several occasions.

"Any particular pack symbol?" he inquires, his voice deeper and more gravelly than it had been a moment earlier. He tries to pass it off, but I know what he's asking.

I nod, verbal confirmation not necessary for the direction of his thoughts. He crushes the glass as his control slips, the sharp shards exploding from his hand and covering the bar. I raise my eyebrows at him as I see blood dripping from his fist, gesturing for him to let me have a look at the damage he caused. Garett doesn't know the specifics of what happened between me and my pack back in England, but his suspicions make him very protective of me. I shake my head as I look at his fist. Had he been human, he would have needed it to be cleaned and stitched up, but being a shifter, he's protected from infection and would be healed within an hour. I pluck out a few pieces of embedded glass, raising my eyebrows at his noises of complaint.

"You grizzlies are so easy to rile up," I tell him with a small smile, letting go of his fist.

The bleeding has already stopped. He looks at me with a serious expression, leaning closer.

"If they have found you, you will need protection."

My inner wolf does not like the comment. Hell, I don't like that comment, not when we have proven that we can protect ourselves just fine. I've managed on my own for six years, and for eighteen before that in the hellhole that my former pack had called ‘home.' I'm just about to whoop his ass and give him a piece of my mind when I feel a strong presence behind me.

"I guess it's a good thing I'm here then," a deep, velvety voice remarks. I grudgingly look over my shoulder at the person invading my space. Usually, I would be kicking serious butt if someone snuck up on me like this. However, I know that voice all too well .

"Oh God. What did I do to deserve you being here?" I groan, cursing my luck and putting my head in my hands on the bar.

I'm a nurse, I save people's lives on a daily basis, so why do the gods seem to hate me so much? Despite me wishing otherwise, I feel his presence moving closer as he takes a seat in the vacant bar stool next to me. My ‘piss off' vibes must not be clear enough tonight. Throwing a glare at the imposing werewolf next to me, I look back at Garett, who's watching the both of us with an amused smile. There are only a handful of reasons why Alexander Parker, beta of the local wolf pack, would be here sitting next to me. Judging from Garett's relaxed posture, he obviously isn't concerned for my welfare. He wouldn't let me get hurt in his bar. Besides, I stay as far away from the Moon River Pack as possible.

"Why is he here? Can't I get any peace in this city?" I complain before standing up to lean over the bar, taking a bottle of whisky. I'm going to need something stronger than beer to get me through tonight. What I haven't anticipated is how far away the bottle is, requiring me to lean far enough that my mid-thigh-length skirt rides farther up my leg. I hear a very appreciative male hum behind me, and I immediately straighten, catching said beta staring at my ass.

"Really?" I raise my arms in an ‘are you serious?' gesture.

Alex has the audacity to shrug, a small smile tugging at the side of his mouth, not in the slightest bit ashamed at being caught ogling me. Glancing over at Garett for support, I glare at him as he raises his hands in a ‘not my issue' gesture before heading to the other end of the bar. I don't miss the look he gives Alex before he leaves though, nor Alex's respectful dip of his head. Shaking my head, I turn my attention back to the bottle in my hands and pour myself a generous glass of whisky. Men are weird.

"Ari," he starts, the hair on my arm standing on end and my breath catching at his deep voice saying my name as he pulls his bar stool closer to mine.

Traitorous body. I turn and finally give him my full attention. He hasn't changed since I last saw him. The stubble across his lower face frames his jaw, emphasising his model-worthy cheekbones. His face has a raw, unmistakable masculinity to it, making him annoyingly handsome. Enviable long, dark eyelashes frame his piercing grey eyes, and his dark hair falls in waves to just above his shoulders. Perfect for gripping on to. Whoa, calm down, girl. My eyes flare gold as my wolf walks under my skin, making all of my baser urges come to the surface. Of course Alex notices this, his eyes glinting with a hunger I'm all too familiar with seeing in the eyes of male shifters. Ignoring him, I continue my assessment of his body, passing his broad shoulders and sliding my gaze down his chest. His loose T-shirt can't hide the muscle under there, the fabric straining against his biceps as he leans towards me, his gaze intense. Even sitting, I can tell he is tall, making me feel petite, which is a feat in and of itself since I stand just under six foot.

"What do you want, Alexander?" I ask, forcing my eyes away from his body, which is taking considerably more effort than I care to admit. Taking a swig of my drink, I savour the burn of the whisky, focusing on the comforting feeling rather than the sizzling power that is radiating from the male next me. He leans closer to me again, placing a hand on the bar, knowing better than to touch me right now. He may make my wolf want to rip his clothes off and have her wicked way with him, but he would be foolish to touch a shifter this close to losing control.

"Come to Moon River Pack," he says, his tone not leaving room for debate. He is used to being obeyed.

This is not the first time Moon River Pack has tried to get me to convert, nor the first time Alex has asked—although it has been a while since the alpha stopped sending eligible bachelors to try to convince me. I thought they finally got the message, but apparently not.

"Let us protect you."

Oh, hell no. I slam my glass onto the bar, albeit maybe a little harder than necessary, and push to my feet.

"I don't need anyone to protect me. Especially not some male who feels he has some claim over me," I bite out, my voice more guttural than it had been previously.

Tasting blood on my lip, I know my fangs have descended. My wolf is just as pissed off as I am at the insinuation that we cannot protect ourselves. This is just one of the many reasons why I can't stay in a pack. I am too dominant for most shifters, and I'm not content to be some trophy mate for those who wish to dominate me.

Striding away from the bar, I'm aware of how quiet it is, as many have turned to watch the scene unfold. I see Garett glaring daggers at Alex, but he makes no move to defend my honour, knowing it wouldn't end well for him. I snort. Useless males. I'm getting out of here before I tear into someone, literally.

"Ari, wait. We need you."

I come to a stop, and a frustrated sigh passes my lips. It's not so much the words that make me stop, but the hint of desperation in his tone. Part of me wants to tell Alex to go fuck himself, but the other part of me wants to hear him out. It would take a lot for a male such as Alex to come to me for help. However, I really, really don't want to get involved in pack politics. Ever since I arrived in America, I have tried to have as little involvement in the local pack as possible. I followed protocol and presented myself to the pack council within twenty-four hours of arrival in the city. I then politely but firmly told them I did not wish to join the pack, that I wanted lone wolf status. The alpha knew that forcing me to stay wasn't in anyone's best interest and granted my request. He seemed kind. Alex's older brother had been beta at the time, though I don't remember his name. What I do remember is that he stood up for me when some of the higher-ranking wolves wanted to stop me from leaving.

I think again about turning Alex down, but a part of me—the damaged, broken part of me—reminds me that I have some atoning to do. That if someone needs help and I can offer it, I have an obligation to do so. With a groan, I turn to him, pointing my finger at him accusingly .

"I will give you ten minutes to tell me your problem. After that, I'm out. Oh, and you're buying the next drink," I order as I stalk towards the bar, ungracefully throwing myself back into my seat and gesturing a smirking Garett over to get our drinks.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm sitting in a booth, pressed up against six feet something of sexy werewolf, uncomfortably trying to pay attention to what said werewolf is telling me. Alex suggested a quieter spot to discuss ‘pack business,' and insisted I sit next to him so he could speak quietly. Personally, I think he just likes to be close to me. Our power levels must be similar, as I can feel my wolf pushing for dominance against the waves of alpha power that are rolling off him. I keep my eyes on the glass of whisky I have been nursing since we sat down. I can't possibly make a rational decision when I am this close to shifting. Fishing my phone from my skirt pocket, I push it across the table.

"Give me your number. I'll think about it and get back to you." There is no room for compromise in my voice, and I think he can sense that. He doesn't push the matter, merely entering his number and nodding to me before leaving the booth.

Once he has gone, I feel like I can breathe again. I may not like the guy, but I have to admit he is one sexy male. I mull over what he revealed to me. His pack is having problems carrying pregnancies to full term, or even conceiving in the first place. Turns out their pack medic was killed in an attack last year. Even I had heard of the attack. It was a massacre on a scale that made ripples in the supernatural community. It even made it to the human news, although they were under the impression there had been a large fire that had killed sixteen people at the local woodland retreat. After that, the pack had attempted to recruit me again, which I politely but firmly declined.

And now they are trying again, but this time they want me for my nursing skills. It helps that I'm a werewolf too, they won't trust anyone who isn't. Not that I know how I can help them. Sure, I have completed my emergency birthing training as all nurses do, but I don't know the slightest thing about pregnancy health—I'm not a midwife! But apparently, I'm their best option. I think it has more to do with the fact that I am a strong female with lots of power, as I can't be the only available nurse in the shifter community. What Alex doesn't know is that he has played right into my soft spot—I'm a sucker for protecting those weaker than me.

I throw back my glass, savouring the burn of the whisky as it glides down my throat. I send Garett a quick text letting him know I'm going for a run. I stand up and throw a mock salute in his direction, gesturing to my phone as I walk out of the bar. I don't want to talk to anyone right now, I just need some space, and I know he would make me wait for him so he could go with me. I snort to myself at this thought and step out onto the dark streets. I don't need anyone's protection.