Page 15 of Clash of Kings

“If she is, you’ll have a fight on your hands, Brother. Phoenix said she’s Kingston’s mate,” Anthony stated.

“Then I’ll kidnap her ass and disappear. Fuck!”

Anthony started the SUV and drove away from the pack house. “We need information if we’re going to find her.”

“Maybe we should follow King. He said he could track her.”

“They’re wolves, Bas. They’ll sniff us out, and how will we explain why we’re sneaking around? I think we should start at The Depot. Panther isn’t that big, and there aren’t that many businesses here.” He punched the Bluetooth button on his steering wheel. When it beeped, he said, “Call Carleigh.”

“Is your meeting over already?” Carleigh asked instead of saying hello.

“It was cut short, and we need your help. Bas may have found his mate. Well, not found, because the female has allegedly left town, but she works at a place called The Depot.”

Carleigh’s fingers flew over her keyboard. “That’s like finding the proverbial needle, Bas. I’m happy for you if she turns out to be your mate.”

Bas groaned. “Yeah, well, there’s a small problem. According to one of the pack members, she’s already mated to the Alpha.”

“Oh, shit. What are you going to do?”

“Fight like hell.” So much for making a friend out of Kingston.

“Okay, there’s a bar called The Depot at the edge of Panther. I’m sending you the address now.”

Sebastian’s phone pinged with the incoming text. “Thanks, Carleigh. All we know so far is the female’s name is Dakota. She left The Depot less than an hour ago, so if you could somehow work your magic?”

“I’m on it. I’ll pass my current job over to Harlow and make this priority.”

“I appreciate it.”

The Bluetooth beeped when she disconnected. Sebastian pulled up the address in his map app and gave Anthony directions. It didn’t take long to find the place. The inside was what Bas expected. A well-built bouncer guarding the door. Loud music. Booths lining the left side, and square tables filling the middle of the space. There were almost as many women as men filling the seats, so Bas didn’t worry about Lydia being the only female. The bar was to the right, and Anthony tilted his head that direction. Bas followed his cousins to three empty stools at the far end. They seated Lydia in the middle. She could handle herself, but it was ingrained in the males to protect their females regardless.

“Wh-what’ll it be?” the bartender asked, wariness coming through loud and clear. Conversation had halted when they stepped through the doors and hadn’t started up again.

Sebastian did his best to study the tap handles. The same aroma he’d scented was faint there in the bar. “I’ll have the Cosmic Rays stout.” Anthony added his selection of an IPA, and Lydia asked for a Strawberry Sloth sour. The bartender turned to fill their order, glancing over his shoulder a couple times.

When he returned, the male set their frosted glasses in front of them, not bothering with coasters. “I haven’t seen you around here.”

“I’m Sebastian, and these are my cousins, Lydia and Anthony. We had a meeting with Kingston Bridgewater earlier.”

The male’s eyes widened. “Oh. You’re the Alpha here to talk about a council, right?” When Bas nodded, the bartender extended his hand. “I’m Noah. It’s a pleasure to meet y’all. I hope your meeting went well. King told us about what happened in South Carolina. Scary shit.”

“Scary indeed,” Anthony said. “But our meeting was cut short. Some emergency with the Alpha’s mate.”

“Mate? King doesn’t—”

“Noah!” Bas turned to see the bouncer scowling at the bartender. When Bas glanced back at him, Noah had his head tilted to the side. When a waitress stepped up beside Anthony, she held out a ticket. Noah took it and hustled to fill several glasses.

“Hello there,” Anthony said to the woman.

“Hello, Anthony,” she responded, grinning. “Sebastian.” She inclined her head in respect when she looked at Bas. She greeted Lydia warmly.

“And you are?” Anthony purred. The male was a consummate flirt.

“Jolee.”

“A unique name for a unique female. Tell me, Jolee, do you have a mate?”

Noah placed her order on her tray, and Jolee lifted it with practiced ease. Instead of answering, she winked at Anthony, then sashayed off to deliver the beers.

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