8- Threats

Kael.

I walked into the club with the kind of authority that made every single man in the room stiffen and even the drunk lesser wolves sensed something shift in the air. My wolf was restless inside me pacing and snarling the same way he had been since that night.

It had been days and I still hadn’t been able to get her scent out of my head and still hadn’t been able to forget the way her body had tightened around me like she was meant for me alone. It was ridiculous, maddening and completely unacceptable that I, Kael, Alpha of this pack was losing sleep because of a nameless dancer from a filthy human club.

The lights flashed against my eyes and the music was pounding like a second heartbeat and all I could think about was how I wanted to rip this place apart until I found her. My wolf growled.

“She belongs to us. She gave herself to us. And you let her walk away like nothing happened.”

I clenched my jaw and ignored him though it wasn’t so easy when he was right. My hands itched, my body ached and for the first time in a long time I was not in control of myself. That night replayed in my head like a curse from the way her moans had broken down to the way she had clawed at me like she didn’t want to survive me but drown in me.

That night was only supposed to be a distraction from the failing businesses and pack work that has been going on. Not something I wanted to add to my list of problems.

I shoved through the crowd until I spotted Kurt standing near the bar looking too relaxed for someone who was about to lose his head if he gave me the wrong answer.

“Kurt.” I said my voice cutting sharp even through the noise of the speakers. He turned and his face immediately shifted as respect painted on his features as he gave a stiff bow.

“Alpha.” He greeted though I could tell he was nervous. His heart rate picked up and my wolf snarled with satisfaction.

“Where is she?” I asked simply. No need to explain who. He knew.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed eyes darting toward the dancers on stage before flicking back to me.

“Scarlet Red?” he asked carefully his voice low.

“Yes.” I bit out my tone cold enough to make him flinch.

“Where is she? Why hasn’t she been here? Don’t play stupid with me Kurt. I don’t have patience tonight.”

“She… she hasn’t been in for a week Alpha. I assumed she took some time off.” He hesitated and I could smell the sweat breaking out across his back.

The words hit me like a slap. A week. A whole fucking week. My wolf snarled inside me so loud I nearly growled aloud. She’s hiding because she doesn’t want to be found. Maybe she found out who I was cause I’m damn sure she didn’t when she tool me in her mouth.

“Time off?” I repeated slowly and dangerously ad if I was testing the shape of the word.

“And you let her? You let one of your girls disappear without telling me?”

“She didn’t - she didn’t leave details Alpha. Some of the dancers choose to stay anonymous and I respect that privacy. We don’t collect real names, no phone numbers amd no addresses. It’s safer for them sometimes.” He was speaking too quickly tripping over his words.

“Do I look like I give a fuck about their privacy?” I took a step closer towering over him, my voice dropping to something low and dark.

Kurt froze. His scent soured with fear. My wolf growled with satisfaction and annoyance. The freak likes dominance. .

“Break him. Make him talk.” He said or more lkke snarled really.

“I want her name. Her address. Anything. Now.”

“Alpha, I swear - we don’t have it. All I know is her stage name. Scarlet Red. She never filled in details and she paid the f*e upfront to keep her record clean. We let some of them work like that.” His lips trembled.

I growled low the sound vibrating from my chest making the glasses behind the bar clink. Everyone nearby went silent wijt their heads ducking as the air tightened with the pressure of my wolf clawing close to the surface.

“So you’re telling me you have nothing on her. Nothing.”

“Please Alpha, I can find her. I will find her. I’ll ask around and I’ll make calls, I’ll -” Kurt’s hands shook as he raised them slightly in a placating gesture.

“You’d better. Because if you don’t, I will burn this entire club to the ground and bury your body under the ashes.” I snapped cutting him off. My voice was a whip.

“Yes Alpha. Yes. I’ll find her. Just… give me some time.” His breath hitchef and he nodded furiously.

“You have one week. If she isn’t standing in front of me within seven days, you won’t have a club to run anymore. Do you understand me?” I stepped even closer close enough for him to smell the rage rolling off me.

“Yes.” he whispered his voice breaking.

My wolf pressed against me snarling, his words cutting through like sharp blades.

“ Why wait? Drag him by the throat and make him cough up her scent. Make him bleed until he gives us what we want.”

I clenched my fists struggling for composure. As much as I wanted to rip Kurt apart, I knew the bastard was telling the truth. He didn’t have her amd that only made it worse.

She had run from me vanished as if what we shared that night meant nothing. My chest tightened with something ugly rage, need and jealousy. She’s mine. She’s in this pack and she thinks she can hide?

Kurt dared to open his mouth again his voice trembling. “Alpha… if I may. Why her? You have your harem - ”

The words cut him off when I slammed him against the bar with one hand with my claws half bared at his throat.

“Don’t ever speak about my harem to me again,” I growled my voice low and evil.

His eyes went wide with terror and I released him abruptly disgusted with myself for even entertaining this conversation. I turned sharply and strode out of the club, the music crashing back into my ears like static my wolf still restless and growling.

“Drag her here. Make her kneel. She belongs in our harem, in our bed, under our rule.” My wolf persists.

I pushed a hand through my hair my jaw locked. He was right. She was mine whether she wanted to admit it or not. I was her Alpha. She was already bound to me in ways she didn’t even understand. She could try to hide, she could run but she couldn’t escape me.

Not forever.

And the longer she stayed out there the worse it was going to be when I finally dragged her back.