Page 8

He chuckles, the sound low and pleasant. “I think it suits you. You’ve got the kind of presence that makes people want to stick around. It’s great for business. I’m sure your boss wouldn’t dream of letting you go.”

I tilt my head, the compliment catching me off guard. It’s been a long time since anyone has said something like that to me, and for a moment, I let myself enjoy it.

“You’re good at this,” I say, arching a brow. “The whole…charming stranger routine.”

Lucas grins, leaning forward just enough to close the gap between us. “What can I say? I’m a man of many talents.”

“What other talents are you hiding, Mr. Charmer?”

“You’re gonna have to find out.”

“And how, pray tell, stranger, do I do that?”

“Go on a date with me. When are you free?”

I giggle. The girlish sound shocks me, and my wolf perks an ear at the sound.

“You’re gonna have to find out from my boss. They won’t let me go that easily.” I wink and he chuckles.

The banter feels light, easy, like slipping into something I’d forgotten I could still wear. But as the minutes tick by, my wolf starts to feel uncomfortable, her unease prickling at the edges of my thoughts.

Something’s wrong, she growls.

I glance at Lucas, studying him more closely. His smile is disarming, his gaze steady, but there’s a tension in his shoulders that doesn’t match his relaxed demeanor.

“Everything okay?” he asks, his brow furrowing as he catches my hesitation.

I force a smile, pushing the unease down. “Yeah, just…long night.”

His hand brushes mine as he reaches for his drink, the touch lingering just a fraction too long. My wolf bristles, a low warning growl vibrating in my chest.

I focus on busying myself with wiping down the bar. The feeling doesn’t go away, though. If anything, it grows stronger, a heavy weight pressing against my senses.

“I’ve got a night off tomorrow,” Lucas says, his tone casual. “Maybe you could show me around the city?”

I glance at him, my wolf’s growl sharpening into suspicion. “I don’t know about that, stranger,” I say, keeping my tone light.

Lucas’ smile falters, the first crack in his polished facade. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”

“I’m not much of a tour guide,” I reply, stepping back as I reach for a glass.

He leans closer, his voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down my spine. “You’re not scared, are you?”

Before I can respond, the door to the bar swings open, letting in a burst of cool night air. The scent hits me before I see him—sharp and smoky, with a faint edge of pine.

My breath catches, my wolf going still.

Kieran. My wolf whimpers and whines. Then she growls in anger, remembering the coldness in his eyes from that day.

I don’t have to look to know it’s him. The bond that’s been a dull ache for two years flares to life, sending heat rushing through my veins.

Mate.

The word echoes in my mind, my wolf’s voice a low, desperate whimper. She can’t help herself.

I grip the edge of the bar, my knuckles turning white as I fight to keep my reaction in check.

My heart pounds in my chest, the pull of the bond making it hard to think, to breathe.

I have to get out of here. It would be too painful and humiliating to be ridiculed by Kieran again. I can’t stand the thought.

“What’s wrong?” Lucas asks, his tone sharper now, his gaze narrowing as he studies me.

“Nothing,” I say quickly, my voice tighter than I intended.

His eyes flick to the door, his jaw tightening as he catches sight of Kieran. The shift in his demeanor is subtle but unmistakable. His posture stiffens, his easy smile replaced by something colder, harder.

Does he know who Kieran is?

My wolf growls, the pieces clicking into place.

Lucas isn’t just some sweet-talking stranger. I feel it deep in my gut that he’s one of Eldon’s men. That’s never good news. Can I really trust him?

“You seem distracted,” Lucas says, his voice low, almost a warning.

I force a smile, my pulse racing. “It’s been a long night, like I said.”

Kieran steps further into the bar, his presence commanding even in a room full of rogues and outcasts. He doesn’t look at me, but I feel him all the same, the bond humming between us like a live wire. His eyes scan the room, and my heart races in my chest.

Then he sees me, and those unforgettable eyes lock on mine.

All the emotions crash into me at once, almost knocking me off my feet, settling under my skin, washing over me.

The electric blue of his eyes, the scar running down his face.

Even the easy way he carries his muscular body makes me reflexively bite my lower lip.

There's a ghost of a smile on his face and I feel myself being sucked into his magnetic aura. My wolf is restless, the heat settling in our bones and growing more uncomfortable. My knees are all wobbly. My face flushes, and beads of sweat form on my upper lip. I can’t lose control. Not here. Not now.

He came for us. Despite the anger, my wolf feels relief.

No, he sure as hell didn’t. But the air here feels like he’s sucked it all up.

“I have to go.” I turn and leave to the backroom and out through the back door into the alley that stinks of garbage and shit. I breathe, trying to steady my breath.

“You okay?” Dana, one of the bartenders, asks.

“Cover for me, I feel a little sick.” He raises an eyebrow and glances at the pile of garbage a few feet away, then he goes back in without another word.

Lucas appears from the other end of the alley. He walks up to me, his charm suddenly gone .

“Do you know that man? What is your business with him?” Lucas demands, his tone sharper now.

“I don’t know what or who you’re talking about. He’s just a random stranger like you.” My voice is steady and hostile now, despite the storm brewing inside me. He's no longer the sweet-talking stranger from just a few minutes ago.

Lucas doesn’t look convinced. He leans closer, his hand brushing mine again, and this time I don’t hide my flinch. He grabs my arm now, also not hiding his motive. I was right.

“You’re hiding something.” He sounds dangerous, and I snarl.

“Back off,” I snap, my wolf rising to the surface, her anger sharpening my tone.

A smile spreads across his face. He has me where he wants me. I see shadows appear behind him—Eldon’s rogues.

I’m being ambushed.