Un.Bridled (Claimed Series #2) (6 page)

The builders did an excellent job remodeling the tavern, going so far as to replicate its earlier design. The bar still occupied the first level while dancing and dining was designated to the second floor. There were quite a few werewolves occupying the tavern tonight, the sounds of conversation and dining a steady buzz.

Looks were deceiving, however. Hayden gazed across the tavern with a critical eye. The soothing music, the dim lights, and the sheer number of werewolves socializing civilly, were merely masks to the true atmosphere of the room.

The occupants’ postures carried wary tension and stiff caution. They crossed the invisible barriers of pack loyalties and congregated amongst each other, speaking of their reservations.

It was the first time Hayden had ever seen the werewolf community united. The Hunters’ presence may have put the werewolves on edge, but it had also unified the packs.

“You look amazing,” Asher admitted, finally finding his voice.

Hayden smirked and looked down at the dress she had donned for the night. It was a simple black dress that fell a few inches above her knees and crisscrossed in the back. Hesitant at first, Hayden
eventually decided a pair of heels would complete the ensemble.

She plucked at the dress and taunted the blond beta with a grin. “I thought you said I always look good.”

Asher, having just arrived, leaned against the bar with his chest facing Hayden. “You know exactly what I mean,” he remarked lowly.

Hayden raised an eyebrow and broke the tension by looking away. Her eyes automatically landed on a figure across the tavern, a presence she certainly hadn’t noticed before. Cole sat at a table with the rest of the Alphas, though he was hardly paying attention to the discussion around him.

He watched her intently, a curled fist resting against his stern frown. Even when a crowd walked between them, he somehow maintained unblinking observation on her.

He was not happy.

Hayden grew self-conscious under his stare and wondered why her dress seemed shorter now than it had before she arrived. He was hardly bashful in his assessment. Possessing an air of ownership, his eyes aggressively roamed the length of her legs.

“You didn’t tell me Cole would be here,” she hissed darkly.

Asher had the audacity to look guiltless. “It wasn’t on my mind at the time.” He smirked haughtily and glanced over his shoulder at an ominous-looking Cole. “He’s with the other Alphas discussing a sighting. Getting up and leaving would be considered disrespectful. You’re safe for now.”

Hayden perked up, her agitation dissipating.
“A sighting?”

“A band of rogues were spotted a few miles away from town.” He reached over and touched her arm in quick reassurance. “The old-fashioned rogues, not Nicolas’ organized rogues.”

“What are the Alphas going to do about them?”

In a typical Asher fashion, the beta shrugged and made light of the situation. “A few out-of-control werewolves are better off being exterminated before they are recruited by Nicolas.”

“And you think exterminating them is the best option?”

In response to her fierce skepticism, Asher backtracked. “I didn’t say that’s what the Alphas have decided, but it is being considered.” He examined her resolve. “The number of humans being
Sired is increasing. If the trend continues, it won’t be long until the rest of the world finds out about us. Population control is necessary, especially if Nicolas gets a hold of the newborns.”

If the rest of the world became aware of the existence of werewolves, Hayden knew there would be fear. And when there was fear, hate would fuel the resolution to eliminate the threat.

It could get ugly, but she wondered if exterminating rogues was the best way to accomplish things. Before Cole took her in, she’d been a rogue. She’d had an identity, a personality, morals, and above all else, she had been scared and alone.

“Why aren’t you sitting with them?” Hayden observed the Alphas from over her shoulder. It was still a shock to see Nathan so involved and influential.

“Alphas only. Nathan made sure to kick me out when the topic came up.” He glanced at her. “You still haven’t been invited to the meetings, have you?”

Hayden turned her back on the Alphas and stood closer to Asher. “No,” she replied moodily. “Cole hasn’t even mentioned them.”

A part of her understood his reasons for not inviting her to the meetings. She was still new to their world, still unfamiliar with their customs. Moreover, Hayden and Cole had conflicting personalities and opinions. Clashing at the meetings would hardly earn them respect amongst the other Alphas.

Asher pressed his shoulder against hers and trailed bold fingers across her bare arm. “Don’t worry about those things, Hayden. Focus on what you can control.”

Hayden pressed her forearms on the counter and tried to ignore Asher’s infectious smile. Unfortunately, the blond beta went out of his way to make her look at him, going as far as draping his torso across the bar to catch her eyes.

“Alright,” she exclaimed in defeat. Straightening, she basked in his playfulness and grinned back. “I’ll focus on what I can control.” Tapping her nails on the counter, she eyed him elatedly. “Point her out.”

“Glad to.” He leaned in close and trailed his nose near her cheek, finding her ear with his lips. “She’s on the lower floor. You can see her at the corner table, piercing Blake’s forearm with her talons.”

She scoffed but sobered when she discovered it wasn’t far from the truth. Examining the pair, Hayden noticed the woman’s fingers were curled around Blake’s arm, appearing as if it would take hell and high waters to separate them. The female was somewhat attractive, with a curtain of brown hair and delicate features.

Superficial appearances aside, Hayden was more interested in the woman’s—Rachael’s—smile. It didn’t reach her eyes as she laughed at Blake’s overzealous gestures. She was simply humoring him.

“And you said she’s like this with Fergus?”

She wondered why Cole hadn’t addressed Blake’s and Fergus’ disregard for the rules. There was no dating outside the pack. Everyone was aware of that fact after what happened with Devan and Joseph.

“Fergus and Rachel tend to meet during the day. It’s very controlled on her part, but sometimes Blake and Fergus clash and she comes off as a helpless and bashful victim.” Asher pushed off from the bar. “I’ll distract Blake and you can have your time with her.”

Briefly, she wondered if she was doing the right thing by scaring this woman away. But then she remembered the antagonistic relationship between Fergus and Blake and wanted nothing more than to fix it.

Hayden turned partially, watching as Asher approached Blake and Rachel. The blond beta leaned down and whispered something in Blake’s ear. Apparently, whatever distraction Asher created was effective enough to warrant Blake’s complete attention.

Blake unwound Rachel’s hand from his arm and traded a few words with her. Moments later, he followed the blond beta out of
The Lounge
. Before departing, Asher shared a smug wink with Hayden.

Not knowing how much time she had, Hayden darted across the tavern and approached Rachel, who was now rising from the table. Quickly, but gracefully, Hayden snuck up behind the woman and reached for her chair.

“You may want to sit back down,” Hayden instigated calmly.

The female whirled around in surprise, but the surprise slowly turned to unease. “Hayden Grey,” she started slowly, cautiously. Her eyes evaluated Hayden closely, sizing her up. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

Hardly flattered, Hayden pulled out the chair Rachel had recently occupied. “Please.” She motioned to the chair, her expression schooled impassively. “Sit. I want to talk to you.”

Rachel’s body was stiff with hesitation, but she eventually sat down. She smoothed out her skirt and smiled thinly at Hayden when the blonde Alpha sat across from her. “Blake was going to introduce us. He speaks so highly of you.”

“Blake was going to introduce us? Or was Fergus?” Hayden asked, crossing her legs and leaning back in her chair. She initiated eye contact with Rachel, grinning when the other female looked down in submission. “I heard you have both of my pack mates wrapped around your finger.”

“I don’t know what you’re accusing me of,” she replied softly, innocently.

“You can drop your act,” Hayden rebutted ominously. “You aren’t striking a chord in me as you do with the males. I have no compulsion to protect you or get close to you.” She raised both her eyebrows. “I only have the instinct to protect my pack from people like you.”

Rachel looked up at that, her dark blue eyes a shower of emotion. It appeared as if she wanted to retain eye contact with Hayden’s unwavering stare, but her submissive wolf wouldn’t allow it. Hayden was the dominant one of the pair and they both knew it.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Rachel bowed her neck and spoke to the table. She placed her hands on her lap, maintaining a posture of deference.

“I don’t?” Hayden scoffed and interlocked her fingers over her knees. “When Xavier Slayter died, you fled because you didn’t want to be a part of an unstable pack. Now that Falco is gone and Nathan took his place, you’re itching to crawl back to Cole for security. And Cole has come a long way since becoming Alpha. He’s successful and you’re using Fergus and Blake to get a spot ready for you.”

Rachel was quiet for a brief period. “You can’t blame me.”

Hayden inclined her head. “Humor me.”

“You haven’t been a werewolf for long, but you already established stability within Cole’s pack. It’s hard living with so many males, especially if your Alpha doesn’t grant you immunity.” She glanced at Hayden. “Being seen as nothing but a potential breeder gets insulting after a while, wouldn’t you agree?”

Hayden’s first response was to agree whole-heartedly, but then she saw a glint in Rachel’s eye. It was the kind of spark one possessed when they hoped their manipulation was working.

“What makes you think you can escape all that by coming to our pack?” Hayden uncrossed her legs and leaned across the table. “You’ll be discriminated wherever you go.”

Rachel seemed taken aback at Hayden’s proclamation. By mentioning the discrimination of women, Rachel had assumed that Hayden would become distracted and agree. Unfortunate for her, Hayden wasn’t that naïve.

“What’s the real reason you want to change packs?” Hayden pressed after Rachel remained tightlipped. She curled her hands into fists on the table and leaned even closer to the woman. “You’ve indirectly admitted that you don’t care for Fergus or Blake.”

She watched the
brunette, knowing the exact moment when Rachel decided silence was the best method. The female Alpha shook her head, wondering if Rachel would be intimidated enough to leave Fergus and Blake alone.

“You may have a rational reason for wanting to leave Nathan’s pack, I understand that.” Hayden caught and held Rachel’s gaze. “But by no means will I sit back and watch you use Fergus and Blake. You may have been in their pack years ago, but it’s my pack now. Stay away from them.”

Rachel flashed a fleeting grin before frowning deeply. Her whole persona seemed to shift within a matter of seconds. Instead of being merely submissive, she now gave off the impression of being threatened and helpless.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she whispered under her breath.

Before Hayden could comprehend the change of performance, she caught sight of Blake’s quick approach. Hayden stood abruptly when she discerned the beta’s expression. Forbidding lines creased the man’s face and his eyes were bright, focused.

She’d never been the subject of Blake’s anger. For the first time, Hayden personally saw why Cole chose Blake as his second-in-command. Teasing and good humor aside, Blake had muscle and unbridled wildness.

Hayden stepped back uncertainly before Blake reached out and grabbed her arm. His hold was unforgiving and detaining as he dragged her forcibly toward the back door.

“Uncool, Hayden,” he bit out harshly.

She exhaled shakily, trying to recover the use of her legs. “Let me go,” she demanded lowly.

Blake slammed open the back door and tossed her outside. Hayden stumbled, but easily regained her balance before facing her beta. Before the door closed behind Blake, Asher raced outside and stepped between the two pack members.

“Settle down!” Asher placed his palms on Blake’s chest and jolted him away from Hayden. “You’re overreacting.”

Hayden squared her shoulders when Blake shoved Asher back. The blond beta grunted from the sheer force of the shove and almost lost his footing. When he straightened, he stood inches in front of Hayden, a solid buffer between her and Blake.

“Overreacting? I should have known you were behind this, Asher.”

As if the situation wasn’t already tense enough, the door to the tavern opened again and Cole glided into the back alley. His dark eyes jumped from Blake to Hayden, but he simply remained a silent spectator.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Hayden surveyed a fuming Blake. “Asher had nothing to do with this.”

Blake nodded mockingly, ignoring Cole at his back but relaxing his intimidating aura nonetheless. “I’m sure you found out about Rachel on your own, Hayden. The way you handled this was incredibly immature. It reeks of Asher. He never grows up.”