*Lucas*
Laughter and clinking glasses filled the stale-slling bar. It was a bottom-of-the-barrel establishnt where the beer was cheap, the snacks stale, and bar fights broke out a couple of tis a night.
And yet, I saw soone very out of place sitting at the bar.
She had curvaceous hips and long legs dangling off the barstool. She wore a short, skin-tight dress, showing off her incredible legs and every curve of her body.
Long, ripping hair flowed down her back like a waterfall. She tossed her hair and I caught her mouthwatering, tangy scent.
I went to the bar and slid onto the stool beside her. She sat straight, regal, and elegant. She definitely didn’t belong in a place like this.
Her thick eyelashes batted over blue eyes and her plush lips parted as she sipped her drink.
“You don’t look like you belong here,” I said, tapping the bar for a drink.
The bartender nodded to and slid a beer.
The woman turned toward and arched an eyebrow. “Is that the best line you have?”
I smirked. “No, just a stated fact. Look at that woman over there. She’s who I expect to find at this place every night.”
I nodded toward a woman in ratty clothing draped over the laps of three n. They all groped her and she laughed drunkenly.
“How do you know that won’t be after a few beers?”
I let my eyes travel over her ample, puffed-up breasts, her lovely lips, and her long legs.
“You’re far too classy to degrade yourself like that.”
“Now, that’s a good line. Unfortunately for you, I’m not here looking for a date.”
“Is that so? Most won that co to bars by themselves are on the prowl.”
“You’re assuming I’m by myself?”
I looked around her. There wasn’t anyone nearby. “Are you?”
She sighed and shook her head. “Okay, I’m done being nice. Get lost, pal.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary. I won’t push. But your drink is almost gone. Let buy you another.”
“My tab is covered for the night.”
I shrugged and sipped my beer. It wasn’t the woman I was after, anyway. She was hot, no doubt about that, but I just wanted a reason to sit there and talk to her.
The bathroom door opened and a burly, muscular shifter appeared. He beelined it right toward the woman I sat next to.
I pretended not to notice but I watched him out of the corner of my eye.
“Babe, you ready to blow this joint?” He slipped his arm around the woman.
“Oh, co on, Dante. I still have a beer.”
“Yeah, Dante, let the woman finish her beer.”
I turned toward him and grinned.
Dante gasped and scrambled backward. “You, how did you find !?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m a bounty hunter. How do you think?”
“I’m not going to let you take ! Co on, bounty hunter, co and catch !”
“Ugh. He’s got to be one of those hunts.” I chugged down my beer and pushed away from the bar.
Dante leaped at the bar door. I launched at him, tackling him to the floor. I wasn’t about to let him get away.
He jumped back up and threw a slow, clumsy punch. I ducked out of the way and slamd a fist into his stomach.
Dante groaned and reeled backward.
His date scread his na from the bar. Other drunken shifters started cheering and punching each other, happy that the bar fight had finally broke out.
“You’re not going anywhere, Dante. Sorry to disappoint!”
He ran from , right into the thick of the fight. I growled and rolled my eyes. He was an idiot.
I ran into the fray after him and kicked Dante in the ass. He pitched forward on his hands and knees. I brought my heel down on his back and he collapsed, gasping for breath.
“Stay down!”
He coughed in response.
“Close enough.”
I waved to my crew outside the bar. They’d been waiting for my signal.
“Tie up this piece of shit. Get him loaded up and I’ll join you to turn in the mark.”
“Yes, sir.” My n got right to work following my orders.
The bar fight ended and patrons began picking up their chairs and the rest of the ss. Dante’s date still sat at the bar staring with her mouth hanging open.
I straightened my clothes and ran my fingers through my hair. Smiling, I approached her again.
“So, are you free for dinner?”
***
I escorted Dante to Valoria. The whole way he whined and complained about getting captured. I almost knocked him out just to spare myself the constant whining and complaining.
“Hey, I don’t know how much the Alpha’s going to pay you, but I can pay you more.”
“I doubt you can.”
“Seriously. I’ll double it. I’ll triple it.”
I growled and raised my hand to him.
Dante shrank back and I lowered my arm harmlessly. “Stay quiet!”
I sent word ahead to Alpha Owen and his pack, Winter Moon. He’d contacted about his desire to get his hands on Dante a few weeks ago.
When we got to Alpha Owen’s mansion, I paused and held my n back.
“I’ll take him from here. Don’t worry, you’ll all get your share of the bounty.”
They grinned and high-fived each other. I grabbed Dante’s arm and dragged him toward the mansion.
“Co on, man. I’ll give you anything you want. Just na it.”
“Shut up or I will shut you up,” I snarled. I shoved him forward.
I dragged him, practically kicking and screaming, into Alpha Owen’s office. I threw Dante forward. He tripped and fell face-first on the floor, groaning.
“Your mark, Alpha.”
Owen arched his eyebrow at and looked down at Dante.
“I thought I said ‘unhard.’”
I smirked. “He’s fine. A little bruised, but that’s because he tried to run.”
“When will they learn not to run from you?” Owen chuckled and looked down at Dante.
“I don’t know. You’d think word would spread and they’d just give up when they see now.” I shrugged and nudged Dante with my foot.
“Let get your paynt. I wasn’t expecting you for a couple more days.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
Owen chuckled. He went to a painting on the wall and pulled it down revealing a safe underneath. Owen spun the lock and the safe popped open. He pulled out a thick stack of cash and slapped it into my hand.
“That should cover it. I threw in an extra bundle because of your tiliness.”
“That’s not necessary, but it is appreciated.” I stuffed the money into my pocket and handed Owen the key to Dante’s handcuffs.
“Lucas, why don’t you ever ask what the marks have done?”
I frowned and looked at Dante again. “It doesn’t matter to what they’ve done, as long as I get paid.”
“I respect that about you. You know, if you wanted a more permanent position in my pack, one that ca with better pay and exclusivity, then I’d be happy to set sothing up.”
“Huh. Are you asking to beco a mber of Winter Moon?”
Owen grinned and nodded. “You know that I could set you up real nice. All that I ask is that you only use your talents for and don’t take any outside contracts.”
“That sounds a little restricted,” I muttered.
“Well, I can be flexible. If you bring outside contracts that seem worthwhile, I could make an exception.”
“And I’d be an official mber of your pack?”
“That’s the idea. I’d be your Alpha and–”
I shook my head, cutting him off. “Owen, I appreciate the work you provide with. But I’m not anyone’s underling. I need my freedom, and I need the autonomy to do what I want.”
Owen sighed and bowed his head. “I figured you’d say that. You’re lucky that your bounty hunting talents are so good. Otherwise, I might cut ties with you from turning down.”
I smirked. “No, you wouldn’t! All bark and no bite.”
“You’re probably right.” Owen chuckled. “Am I getting soft in my old age?”
“No, you’re getting smart. You know which bridges to burn and which ones to keep.”
“Well said, Lucas. Grab yourself a hearty al before leaving. I know you eat like shit on the road.”
“Eat? Most of my hunt sustenance is in the form of beer.”
“Like I said, you eat like shit.”
I nodded to Owen and headed to the kitchens. Owen was my greatest benefactor and always had bounty work for to pick up. We had a good working relationship and were almost friends.
At least, I’d think that if I had any friends.
I got myself a al in the kitchen and wolfed it down, my ravenous hunger from the hunt finally catching up to . Without allies like Owen, my lifestyle wouldn’t be sustainable.
Fortunately, there were other Alphas that also valued my talents and wanted to keep alive and willing to work with them. I never lacked for a good al or any money in my pocket.
I washed the al down with another beer and left the ssy plates for soone else in Owen’s pack to deal with. Since I wasn’t a pack mber, I really didn’t need to worry about what he or the other pack mbers thought of my manners.
My n were waiting for on the mansion steps. I pulled the money out and divided it into smaller bundles. They didn’t need to know about my bonus. That extra money was all for .
“Thanks, boss!”
“Stay in town for a few nights, have so fun. I’ll let you know when we’re heading out on our next hunt.”
Before I finished, they were already running into town ready to spend their earnings.
I shook my head. Though they were loyal and got the job done, they had no sense when it ca to saving money.
Several of Owen’s pack mbers were out in the yard on the nice day. I saw a few gardening and others playing with their kids.
I’d given up pack life a long ti ago, by choice, and I couldn’t imagine going back.
I headed down the walkway but suddenly stopped dead. I felt like I ran into an invisible wall. A hook grabbed my stomach and held firmly in place.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and heat swept through . The most delicious, powerful scent ca over and my wolf went wild–salivating and howling, excited and aroused.
“What the hell?”
Slowly, I turned and saw a woman standing near the mansion. Her eyes were on , and the mont our eyes locked, I was glued to the spot. Tilting my head, I looked her over. She looked a little familiar.
Without a doubt, I knew she was my mate.
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