Page 38 of Bonded

“Oh, I can take care of myself, but thanks for the heads-up. I know Digby’s just acting the way he should, after all,he-is-what-he-is, right? Isn’t that how you Alpha’s see it?”

“Guess… pretty much. Eat, Drink, Fuck; that’s my motto.” He smiles. “Digby and Zak… they’re old school alphas.”

“How about Darius? Is he how he should be?”

“What do you mean?” He frowns, cautious in his reply. “You know… I don’t really have a lot to do with Darius, he doesn’t drink in here that often, he uses the other bar.”

“The one through there?” She cocks her eyebrow as she questions him. Noticing how the normally confident Hudson suddenly becomes apprehensive—even nervous. “What is it with him… Darius? Everyone seems so fearful, even the mention of his name. Does he really have that much of a reputation?”

“Kat, can we change the subject; I really shouldn’t discuss other clients. But if you really wanna know…” he hushes his voice, “then yeah, he does. Darius is pretty dangerous, and he knows everything—or finds it out, so don’t underestimate him. Darius has been around a long time.” He looks up and around the bar nervously. “If I was you, I’d stay well clear.”

“Really… See, now that just makes me even more curious. Oh, don’t worry, I won’t tell him you said anything,” she laughs, “but I will have another vodka, on Digby’s tab.”

***

“Hey, Zak! Zak wake up.” Oz nudges the slumbering body laid next to him on the seat in the booth. “Zak you need to see this…” He gestures, pointing to the end of the bar where they can both now see Kat sitting, alone.

“Oh, what the hell’s she doin’ here? And more to the point, what do we tell her? I mean, she’s bound to ask where Digby is, so what do we say? Oh, shit, this really isn’t gonna end well is it?”

“I don’t know, but maybe you should go over and speak to her. She really shouldn’t be in here drinking alone, not this week anyway.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right… I’ll go talk to her.”

“Oh Zak… you know what, just leave me the hell alone, I don’t need any more bullshit tonight… And tonight, started so well.” She thinks back to the wonderful time she had earlier—at the restaurant with Riley, then at the fair, and she considers now if it was a mistake not to go home with him.

“You okay?” he asks. “I mean I don’t wanna leave ya if you’re not okay.”

She looks up from her drink and her green eyes glare focused on him. “Zak just fuck off and leave me alone.”

“Whoa there… So, okay, so how many of those have you had?”

“Not nearly enough.” She gulps back the clear liquid in one go and sliding the empty glass along the bar she shouts, “Hudson! Hudson, I’ll have another… Digby’s tab like before.” Taking a breath—the drink clouding her judgment, she turns facing Zak. “You still here?”

“Kat is everythin’ all right?”

“No Zak, no it’s not.” She sniffs and glares at him. Her green eyes are fiery with rage. “Did you know he took that bitch home with him? He was fuckin’ her in the kitchen when I got back.”

“What?! Sorry, took who home?”

“Oh, don’t play dumb like you don’t know. He was here with you; you know exactly who.” She grinds her teeth and looks up, she nods thanking Hudson for the drink. “You know, I asked him not to do that, I specifically asked him not to do that. Not to bring women to the house but… Oh no… no, he can’t keep his dick in his pants, right? But then you know that already. So… cheers! Here’s to being a wolf on her own—during the full moon.”

“Kat, you’re drunk.” He frowns watching her, “Look, I don’t know what to say about that whole situation, but for what it’s worth, I told him not to do it but—”

“But… he is what he is, right?” she laughs loudly. “Digby’s an alpha wolf… cheers! Hmm… and he wonders why I don’t do all this wolf bullshit. Geez… it’s like we went back a century. Do you know how much that hurt Zak; And how hard it was not to kill her? To not let Luna, rip her heart out? You can’t imagine how much self-control I had to have.”

“Okay… So I think you’ve had more than enough now. Why don’t we take you home?”

“I told you, leave me the fuck alone!”

“Kat c’mon… please. I can’t leave you here like this. Digby will… well I just can’t.”

“I don’t care. I don’t care about him, or any of this bullshit. None of it.”

“Yeah right, and so that’s why you’re here throwing vodka down your neck because you don’t care?”

“Go away, Zak. Leave me alone.”

“All right, I’m leavin’ but I’m just over there if you want me. I’m not going anywhere.”

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