Page 30 of The Wild Moon
Mr. Unknown reclined deeper into the bar, resting his elbows on it as he regarded me. His eyes trailed down my tall, willowy body, pausing at my feet before making their way back up. I shivered. I’d never been the subject of such intense, blatant scrutiny before, and I suddenly felt completely, and totally, unworthy of it.
He was a walking billboard for sexual pleasure and satisfaction. Everything about him was perfect to the point of overwhelming. And here I was, a tall skinny chick with tiny tits, tiny ass, and no sexual experience. He wasn’t in my universe, let alone my league. This man would look at supermodels and have his pick.
Why on earth would I ever be of interest to him? All I had going for me was that I was a wolf shifter. I was far stronger and faster than I looked. But none of that mattered when he had no idea what I was.
“This should be interesting,” Mr. Unknown said as his eyes reached mine again. “Another for me, will you, Jakoby?”
The bartender nodded and immediately went to fetch him a second drink.
Apparently, Mr. Unknown didn’t plan on leaving. What’s more, I was getting the vibe that heknewwhat I was about to do. As if he was aware of everything going on and wanted to stay to see it through.
Which was impossible because evenIdidn’t know what I was going to do besides get rid of Johnathan. Somehow. It was a lot harder than it sounded. Not that anything could stop me from trying.
Casting one last look at Mr. Unknown, who was smiling broadly in anticipation of whatever he thought was about to happen, I set out into the crowd, trying to track my quarry down. The place was still rather full after the fights, but it had emptied enough that I was able to spot Johnathan without much effort.
He was on the far side of the bar, heading the opposite way as me, weaving his way through tables and the crowd as his head scanned the occupants. Searching for me. His height let him do it as he towered over most humans. It wouldn’t be long before he found me.
“Dani,” a voice said from my side, distracting me.
I turned to see Carl approaching, a giant, slimy grin on his face.
“What is it?” I said, keeping an eye on Johnathan.
“Here,” he said, pulling out a wad of cash. “Your take from tonight. Eight hundred. It was a better night than we thought!”
I eyed the money. If Carl had voluntarily upped my amount after I’d basically threatened him to pay me more already, than he must have taken insubstantiallymore. It didn’t matter. The money in his hand gave me an idea.
I knew how to get rid of Johnathan.
“I want you to take all the money and put it on me for the next fight,” I said. “Use your front or whoever, but put itallon me. Got it?”
Carl frowned. “What are you talking about, Dani? What fight? There are no more fights scheduled.”
“There’s about to be one,” I said, my plan coalescing in my mind.
“Tonight?” Carl sounded surprised. “But you already fought.”
“Start spreading the word, Carl,” I growled, practically wolfing out right there as I tapped into my other half, preparing her for what was to come. “Do it, or I’m done working for you.”
I knew that threat would work. I made Carl alotof money. A lot, both in my frequency of fighting, but also because I would win or lose against anyone that he told me to. I don’t know how others hadn’t caught on to the fact that I was throwing the fights, but it didn’t’ matter. Carl didn’t want to lose out on his cash cow.
“Okay,” he said, shaking his head. “Okay, fine. Who’s your opponent?”
I pointed through the crowd to where Johnathan had paused, staring straight at me. He stood out quite easily, not just with his height, but the blood-red shirt he wore was enough to catch the eye as well. Even I had to admit he looked good in it.
Stop it, I snarled at myself, feeling the insidious touch of the Soulbond trying to work its magic on me. Make me want to go over to him. Take his hand and leave this place. Together.
Enough.
“Him?” Carl croaked in shock. “Dani, come on. I’ve set you up with other women or very low-tier men. But this guy, this guy is huge. He’s going tohurtyou, Dani. I can’t do that.”
Still staring at Johnathan, I reached out and snagged Carl by the collar, yanking him in close.
“Make the damn fight, Carl,” I snarled in his face, my wolf right on the surface.
I’d never treated Carl like this. Never spoke up against him or threatened him. My actions stunned him, and he stood shaking, almost trembling in my grip. He was useless like that.
“Bet on me,” I told him. “And you’ll win a lot of money.”
