Page 63 of The Thief

“Submit!” Hamish shouted.

When she snapped at his hand, he crushed his foot down on her paw. My wolf yelped. Though I could feel the pain, it didn’t register the same as it did with her. She wanted to attack, but pack wolves knew instinctually not to go after an alpha without their Packmaster’s order.

Someone hoisted me off the ground. My wolf jerked her head up to bite, but then she immediately caught Bear’s scent and capitulated. He smelled like home, and my wolf instantly calmed.

Bear held my heavy wolf. His arms were shaking, but I was certain it wasn’t from the weight. I could scent his rising anger the way you can smell ash in the wind from a nearby fire.

“A good Packmaster never slaps a female,” he growled.

“A good bitch submits to an alpha,” Hamish fired back. “Had she bitten me?—”

“But she didn’t,” Montana said matter-of-factly. “I’ll give Tak the message, but like I said before, the mare’s harmless. We’re building a fence, so that shouldn’t happen again.”

Hamish opened his door, and his packmate jumped in. “See that it doesn’t. You’ve been warned.”

Bear kissed my neck before setting me down. No one noticed, but that gesture wrapped itself around my heart like a flowering vine. My wolf licked his hand before going to check on Catcher. She sniffed the blood on his snout and whimpered. He gave her a reassuring nudge before trotting after Hamish’s car as it rolled away.

“We need to be careful,” Montana told us. “Hamish doesn’t know Tak’s not here, and I want to keep it that way. The pack needs to be on the same page. All it takes is one person to make a mistake.” Montana stroked my wolf’s head, his tone soothing. “You were just vocalizing. He had no right to strike you, but we can’t take the bait and attack.”

I wasn’t certain if Montana knew I was still awake in here or if he was addressing everyone. I licked his hand, letting him know that I understood.

“Good job alerting us,” he said to Archer, clapping him on the shoulder. “Next time, try not to point a gun in a Packmaster’s face.”

“Gotcha.” Archer wiped his sweaty brow with his arm. “But the guy’s a real dick. That piece of shit doesn’t deserve a car like that. Did you see how he used his packmate on Catcher? I’ve known Packmasters like him, and they’re dangerous.”

“Agreed,” Montana said.

My wolf collected my clothes in her mouth and dropped them at Bear’s feet.

Turning toward Montana, he said, “Why don’t you two head back. Mercy needs to shift before her wolf takes over. It’s almost time for work.”

Montana sat on my Vespa. When Archer saw the small amount of room left on the seat, he opted to walk. Catcher would probably guard the road for the remainder of the day after this fiasco.

Bear knelt and stroked my face. “You okay?”

My wolf groaned.

A smile touched his lips. “I don’t know anyone else brave enough to go after an alpha, but you did real good reining her in like that. You can shift.” Bear stood and faced the private drive.

I shifted to human form and picked up my clothes. “If that’s how our day is starting, I’m afraid to see how it’ll end.”

* * *

After our confrontation with Hamish, our friendly neighbor, Montana ordered everyone to work on the fence. Until completion, Luna would remain in the stable. Bear and I wanted to help, but we had other obligations. I let Calvin know we were running a few hours late and would make up the time. Except for Virgil, who was undergoing a second glue treatment, everyone pitched in with the fence. By the time Bear and I left, one side of the field was completed.

At the Rabbit Lounge, a throng of customers kept me busy. Once Bear finished repairs in the kitchen, he compiled a list of supplies and food. It was still Calvin’s call, so the two of them hashed it out while I cleared tables, emptied ashtrays, served drinks, and fixed a toilet overflow in the bathroom.

After my shift finally ended, I approached the bar and saddled up. “Calvin, serve me the Wild Rabbit.”

He quit what he was doing on the opposite counter but didn’t turn around. “Say again?”

“You heard me. My shift is over, and I’m not driving.”

Calvin turned and rested his elbows on the bar. One could hardly tell his eye color with all the squinting he did at people, but up close, they were a faded blue. “I thought you liked them fruity drinks?”

Undeterred, I folded my arms on the bar. “I need to see what you’re serving customers. My customers. The ones driving home. I want to see how strong it is, what it does, and how much it impairs thinking.”

“We live in bumfuck nowhere. People need fun.”

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