Chapter 30

Kaleb received a beer and turned to walk to the pool table but did a double take when he saw me. His eyes turned to saucers. He dragged a chair to our table slammed down and leaned forward.

"What are you guys doing here? You shouldn't be here."

Cassidy frowned. "Everyone comes to Pointer's Bar, Kaleb."

"Exactly why you shouldn't be here."

"What's going on?" I asked, my anxiety rose with each second.

"Nothing, Zora, but it would be safer if you girls weren't here."

Kaleb rose and surveyed the bar while Cass and I grabbed our bags.

"Fuck."

"What now?" I asked.

I followed his gaze to where three rugged dudes sat down near the pool table. One of them had a red streak in the middle of his jet-black hair while the other two were blond but one had an inch of hair while the other one was practically Rapunzel.

"You can't leave now. They're here and we don't know how many are lurking."

What had they gotten into? The three men leaning close to each other weren't locals and they didn't look like the law-abiding citizen type.

"Great, next time you want to chill indoors Zora, I won't protest."

Kaleb grumbled, "Just act natural and I'm talking to you, Cass."

She glared as he left to join the pool team.

"I can act natural," Cass puffed.

"No, you don't, especially when you're under pressure," I said, keeping my eyes on the trio. "What do you think they're up to?"

Cass rubbed her arms together and looked over her shoulder.

"I don't know but I don't like it. It could be linked to the murders in town. It's been weeks and there isn't even a suspect."

As Cass rambled on I kept my eyes on the trio. They spoke in hunched voices, the one in the middle was more animated in his actions. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't realize the pool game close to them had ended and Alpha Gunner's gaze was hot on them.

Dash appeared calmer but I knew behind his green eyes a storm brewed. A shiver ran down my arm just thinking about how intense he was. The way his muscles clenched under his shirt made me warm inside the thought of his facial hair tickling inside my thighs…

"Zora?" Cassidy hissed.

I blinked several times and shook my head. "Uh… what?"

"You haven't heard a word I said."

"Sorry," I lowered in my seat.

I blamed Dash.

"I think we should slip out the backdoor," Cass said.

I wanted to see the outcome. I didn't believe they were just spying. Gunner grabbed a guy out of his seat and threw him to the ground. I gasped. Cassidy and I hurried out of our chairs. Russel barricaded the door with his body while Kaleb and Dash handled the other two guys.

Gunner towered over them. I never realized how much authority he carried. He struck fear into the man he attacked. A part of that fear crawled into me. Cass and I couldn't run now we stuck close to the counter though.

"Alright, we're going to handle this quickly. What the hell are you doing in my pack?" Gunner demanded.

The guys shared a look. The one in front of Gunner looked ready to spill his guts.

"Keep your mouth shut!" The one with the red streak yelled.

"We're surrounded," the guy with an inch of hair said.

"Listen to your friend, you're surrounded and I don't play kindly with trespassers."

Rapunzel snorted. "You're not doing anything about all the rogues coming in and out of your pack. Maybe you can't handle it."

I thought Gunner would back down an inch but he smirked instead.

"You're right. Maybe I should make an example out of the three of you."

"No, we're just amateurs okay? There are lots of other guys with more money than us looking for the Pandora. They don't even want to give it to the man offering the reward they want it for themselves."

My heart slammed forward. The Pandora? My search for more information on it ended when Mr Dean gave me a faulty address.

Dash looked up and his eyes locked with him. I sucked my bottom lip in response. His hard stare told me to keep my mouth shut.

"Who is he? The man offering the reward," Gunner demanded.

"No one knows. We swear. He's offering a lot of money for a map or a location," the guy with the red streak said.

A map, just like Mr Dean said. I had to tell him what was going on when I got the chance.

"How many more are there searching for this thing?"

"Hundreds man and dozens have been killed. It's like someone gets close to something and they get killed. It's crazy man."

"No shit," Gunner murmured. "If I were you guys I'd leave the pack. Unless you want to end up dead. It's not worth it."

The trio shared glances. I didn't believe they would give up without giving it a real shot. If the money up for grabs is that enticing it might be hard to walk away.

"Let them go," Gunner said.

Russel stepped aside and opened the door. I realized then that the only people in Pointer's Bar were Gunner's men. Once the trio had run off the atmosphere shifted.

"Okay, Cass, I guess we can go now," I said casually.

Cassidy had me in a death grip the entire time the trio was being shaken down. She was the wolf here but if danger came our way she would have kicked into attack mode.

Cass cleared her throat. "Uh… yeah, too much alcohol for one night."

She adjusted her bag and so did I. Our lame attempt to act natural was met with a blockade. Gunner stood in our path.

"Not so fast. We need to talk Zora," Gunner said.

"I don't have anything to say. I'm tired and I want to go home," I mumbled.

Cassidy and I rounded Gunner in hopes of a quick and clean escape.

"Russel, stop her," Gunner ordered.

My heart slammed forward. Stop me? Was I under arrest?

"Do not touch her, Russel," Dash's deep drawl stopped Russel in his tracks.

Gunner growled and his wolf flashed in his eyes. "Are you more scared of Dash now, Russel?"

Poor Russel looked between one dominant Alpha male to another and looked like was about to have a nervous breakdown.

"Uh… uh… this is a trick question isn't it?"

Gunner's eyes returned to normal as he rubbed his temples.

"Ugh."

Dash put his hand on my arm and locked it in place.

"You're not putting a finger on Zora."