Chapter 2

Eric stared at her while cleaning some glasses, his stare taking her in like a crafty old wolf's.

He probably was on the younger side of middle age, but his beard made him look older than

he was.

Still smiling at her, was he trying to figure her out? Or had he realized her disguise already?

She was used to Hunting in the wild, but hunting this way, Never.

She opened the cap of her bottled water and looked at her watch again.

It was only Four twenty-five.

Are you waiting for someone? Eric asked with one dark brow cocked.

She nodded her head to say No.

Her hat jiggled, her glasses slipped, and the annoying earrings danced.

Two men appeared in front of one of the dingy tavern windows and then the door jerked

open.

Her heart skipped with fear.

“Hey, Eric! Bring us a pitcher of beer,” said one of them.

About six-foot--he was as tall as her brother--with windswept shoulder-length dark hair and a

newly started beard, his amber eyes hinted at cheerfulness and good-humor rang in his

words.

Both men wore leather jackets, plain shirts, denims, cowboy hats, and boots, and they

looked so much alike, they were twins she thought.

Multiple births were common among Lycoans, so she wasn't surprised.

They looked like they were mid- to late-twenties and walked into the place like they owned

the joint.

“Lucas, Mike.” Eric glanced in her direction, alerting them to the presence of a stranger

among them

She stiffened her back and gripped her glass tighter.

Mike--his hair the lighter of the two, longer, curling around his wide shoulders, his face

smooth as silk--fastened his gaze on her and raised his brows, tipped back his cowboy hat,

and grinned at her.

Now self-conscious, her whole body heated and alarm bells rang.

So much for keeping a low profile! She muttered to herself

Mike took a deep breath as if he were love-struck.

“The place looks a might better tonight, Eric.I see you've done some nice redecorating.”

The bearded one furrowed his dark brows.

“Didn't you tell her it's a private club and no matter what, that table is reserved?”

“We're bending the rules today.

It's a first come, first served basis today”

Eric grinned and winked at Akila.

Damn!! Was this where Dustin usually sat?

She thought he'd be seated at the center, so everyone could see their leader.

That's the way Marcus did it back at home.

Now what? Move? Where was she going to move to? If she moved to the table across from

Dustin 's, she feared she'd be drawing too much attention to herself.

Not like she expected anyone to harm her here, but she had thought she'd be able to keep a

low profile.

The tables located on the other side of the bar was just in front of the Restrooms.

Anywhere else was too close to the front door or in the middle of the floor, and no matter

what, she wanted to have her back against the wall.

Mike took the Jug of beer and grabbed a glass cup.

“Come on, Lucas. Change is good for the soul.”

He moved over to the table opposite her and sat where he could see both the front door and,

most especially, her.

Immersed in a goldfish bowl, she wondered what had made her think she could enter the

wolves' lair without arousing suspicion.

Lucas sat with his back against the wall to have a better view of the entrance.

If he wanted to look at her , he'd have to turn his head and it'll be pretty obvious.

He did turned his head around not caring that it was obvious.

The expression on his face was dark and foreboding.

The humor and features which he held on his face when he first came in had disappeared.

Laughing aloud and boisterous, three more men entered into the tavern, glanced to where

Lucas and Mike sat, then shifted their gaze to Akila.

Which meant what?

That Lucas and Mike normally sat with Dustin at the table where she was now sitting

Oh no!! This was bad she thought

“Evening gents,” the eldest bearded man of the group said, nodding a greeting.

The other two were nearly as old, gray streaking their brown beards, their gazes pinned at

her direction.

“Serve us our usual, Eric.” He turned to Lucas and nodded his head at her.

“Does he know about this?” he asked.

“He is stil giving orders at the factory, Baker,” Mike said.

The bearded man grumbled, “Fourth of July's approaching us for a second time this year.”

Figuring she'd be better off sitting next to the restrooms to reduce the chances of creating

fireworks, Akila grabbed her purse.

The door Swinged wild open again.

There was a sudden silence I'm the tarvern as all chattering died.

As soon as she had her eyes on him, she knew it was him--not only because of the sudden

silence that cloaked the room and every eye in the place watched Dustin Silverback's

reaction.

His sable hair curled at the top edge of his collar.

Brooding dark eyes, grim lips, features handsomely rugged, but definitely tough, defined

him.

He was putting on a leather jacket, western shirt, jeans, and boots, everything was as black

as his somber mood.

He looked so much like Mike and Lucas, she realized that they were triplets, and he was the

leader of the Black Lycaon in the town.He had to be, the way everyone stared at him, waiting

for the fireworks.

Something about him stirred her blood, something akin to recognition, yet she'd never seen

him before in her life.

It wasn't his face, or clothes, or body that stimulated some deep memory--but the way he

moved--commanding, powerful, with an effortless grace.

He looked at the barkeep and gave a nod of greeting--sullen, silent, was he still in mourning

for his dead mate?

If he found out why Akila was here, he'd be angry.

A shiver trickled down her spine.

She dropped her purse and remained in her seat, for the

moment.

Everyone was behaving so strangely, she imagined that was the reason he quickly surveyed

the current seating arrangement of the room

His eyes lit up when he gaze met her, incredulity registered.

Crap! He recognized her; she just knew it.

Didn't matter that she had dyed her hair this horrible color that didn't do anything for her fair

skin, or that her eyes were now blue.

Didn't matter that the heavy padded leather jacket gave her broader shoulders and made her

appear heavier, or that she wore her hair straight as blades of uncut grass, compliments of a

hair straightening iron, when her sister's and hers was naturally curly.

She couldn't hide the shape of her face or eyes or mouth.

All of them looked exactly just lik her sister's.

Then again, he was still looking puzzled.

The cowboy hat and pair of glasses she put on appeared to confuse him.

Maybe the fact that she wore the faux pierced earrings that looked like the real thing did too.