Chapter 69 Into the Den
Jenna’s POV
The door closed behind me with a sound that felt too final.
The air hit first—thick with smoke, sweat, and something feral. Every instinct I had told me to turn around and run.
The Moon Den was half dive bar, half underworld bazaar. Rusted pipes ran along the ceiling, neon signs flickered like dying stars, and every table seemed to hum with secrets. A jukebox in the corner played something low and bluesy, and I realized the sound was only there to cover up the quiet conversations happening just under it.
The man who’d let me in went back to his post without another word. I forced myself to move, heels clicking against concrete. I reminded myself of what Emma had said—walk like you belong there.
I didn’t.
I took the first empty stool I saw at the bar. The bartender was a mountain in a black T-shirt, arms covered in ink that crawled up his neck and disappeared into his beard. He didn’t ask what I wanted. Just looked.
“Whiskey,” I said, because it sounded tougher than wine.
He poured it without a word. When I reached for my wallet, he waved it off. “First’s on the house.”
“Why?”
He smirked, like I’d said something funny. “All humans get a free drink for their first time at the den.”
I froze halfway through my sip. “What makes you think—”
“Please,” he interrupted. “I can smell what you are from a mile away.”
I swallowed the burn and the panic together. “Maybe that’s the perfume.”
“Maybe,” he said, still smiling.
I turned my body slightly, scanning the room. Emma’s voice was a soft hum in my ear. “You’re doing fine. You’ve got two rogues to your left, one behind the booth near the jukebox. Don’t stare.”
Too late. I’d already made eye contact with the booth.
The woman there sat alone, legs crossed, cigarette in one hand. Her hair was ink-black and glossy, her lips the color of bruised cherries. She didn’t smile, didn’t blink—just tilted her head, like she could hear my pulse from where she sat.
Rhea.
“I think she found her,” I whispered.
“Good,” Emma said. “That means you don’t have to ask.”
The woman rose and crossed the room without hurry. When she reached the bar, she nodded to the bartender. “Give us space, Gregor.”
He vanished like a shadow, leaving two glasses behind.
Rhea slid onto the stool next to mine, and the world shrank until it was just her voice. “You smell strange,” she said.
My throat went dry. “I get that a lot.”
She smiled. It was beautiful and terrifying all at once. “You’re brave for coming here.”
“I’ve been told that’s a euphemism for stupid.”
That made her laugh—a low, melodic sound that made the hair rise on my arms. “Maybe both. So what brings a human into the Den? Lost a lover? Looking to buy one?”
“Information,” I said, steady enough to surprise myself. “About a man.”
She leaned in, elbows on the bar. “That’s specific.”
“He came here a few weeks ago,” I said. “Sam. Short hair, glasses, polite.”
"Baby, you just described half this city." Rhea’s expression didn’t change, but her pulse jumped in her throat. “Sam,” she repeated slowly, like she was tasting the word. “And why are you asking about him?”
I looked down at my drink, pretending to think. “Because I think he’s in trouble.”
That got her attention. Her gaze sharpened. “You know about the wolf girl.”
My heart stuttered, but I kept my face calm. “I know about a woman he may have took.”
“And what makes you think I have information on him?”
I met her eyes then. “Because you know everything that happens in this city.”
For the first time, she smiled like she meant it. “Smart girl.” She swirled the liquid in her glass. “Sam may have passed through here.”
“Where is he now?”
“How would I know,” she said. “I don't keep tabs on humans.”
A chill crawled down my spine. “So you helped him?”
She tilted her head. “Everyone helps someone.”
I swallowed hard. “Then stop helping him.”
“Why should I?”
“Because he’s has someone important to me,” I said, leaning closer. “And if something happens to her, every rogue in this city will wear the blame.”
Rhea smirked. “You’ve got courage. I’ll give you that.”
“I don’t need courage. I need answers.”
She took a slow drag from her cigarette, exhaled through her nose. “You’re new to this world, so I’ll tell you something for free. Free wolves don’t play nice with humans. If you want information it's going to cost .”
My stomach dropped.
I tried to keep my voice level. “Is that how it works? How much did Sam pay for your help. I'll triple it”
She arched a brow. “I like you.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Where is he?”
Rhea’s smile vanished. “You think I’d keep a ledger on every human fool who wanders through my bar? He disappeared. Like smoke. Took the girl, took the drugs, and vanished off my radar.”
“You’re lying.”
Her eyes flashed—silver, bright, dangerous. “You’re not in a position to say that.”
The air between us crackled. Every instinct screamed to run, but my earpiece hissed softly: “Keep her talking,” Emma whispered.
I forced my shoulders to relax. “You could clear your name,” I said quietly. “Help me find him, and I’ll make sure no one comes for you. They’ll think you were just collateral.”
Rhea studied me. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then she stubbed out her cigarette. “You think you understand power, little human, but you don’t. You’re only breathing right now because I’m curious.”
I didn’t blink. “Then stay curious.”
A long silence. Then she laughed softly. “Curiosity killed the cat.”
My heart hammered. “And you're the big bad wolf.”
“Yes,” she said.
I gripped the edge of the bar. “Do you know where he went?”
She hesitated. For the first time, uncertainty flickered in her eyes.
“There’s a warehouse near the river,” she said finally. “But he’s not there anymore. Someone helped him move.” Her lips curved again, slow and wicked. “Maybe your Alpha isn’t the only one with enemies.”
The words chilled me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’ll see soon enough,” she said, standing. “Tell Kier Blane he owes me a favor. And tell him next time, I want to meet the wolf, not some human.”
She turned and walked away, smoke trailing behind her.
My hand shook as I lifted the glass and whispered into my mic. “Emma, I’ve got something. She said—”
Static.
“Emma?”
Nothing.
The bartender reappeared, wiping his hands on a towel. “Everything okay, sweetheart?”
I nodded too quickly. “Yeah. Perfect.”
He smiled faintly. “Good. Because you should probably leave before the crowd gets less friendly.”
I slid off the stool, pulse thundering. My phone buzzed once—signal lost.
I moved toward the door. Every step felt heavier than the last.
The red light above the entrance flickered twice. A shadow passed behind it.
Someone whispered my name.
And then the door opened—
and everything went black.