CHAPTER 4

Damn it, no. the bitches had asked for trouble and as much told Lelandi that Larissa had been slain for being a red.

She let the women’s obscenities in by opening the bathroom door and closing it after her. The males sat next to the women and turned their heads from Lelandi to the ladies room. Sorry, boys, but the gals need to do a little cleaning.

Sam signaled for Silva to investigate after Lelandi sat down again and the ladies still hadn’t left the restroom.

Lelandi should look for her missing brothers and uncle at this time, perhaps. Ignore the fact that Larissa fled and was slain, leaving Lelandi to face with Bruin’s pack on her own. She could also choose to remain and endure the wrath of a group of irate grays.

She stayed out of pride and a good lot of stubbornness. Lelandi sipped her second margarita coolly, all eyes on the bathroom. Nothing was said. Without a surety, tonight they would all kill Lelandi while she slept. She hoped that she hadn’t come here for nothing. She wasn’t giving up, though.

Silva emerged from the restroom with her head wobbling, her lips pursed, and her eyes glimmering with mirth. She walked by the males who were with the women and arched her eyebrows at them. She looked over at Darien.

Awaiting an update. She grinned more before speaking to Sam.

For the young woman, the next margarita is on me, Silva. Tom grinned and winked at Lelandi.

Shaking her head, Lelandi Water is going to be OK.

Ritka scowled as the three women filed out of the restroom, her swollen right eye already turning black and blue. Lelandi was reasonably confident that her jab to the gray’s throat would prevent her from talking much for a time. Yet, Angelina was still clenching her gut, and Hostene’s face was dark with rage.

Lelandi was the next to be examined after the women. She wasn’t competing to replace the pack leader’s bitch, though.

She assumed it was time to devise a fresh strategy.

This one was most definitely failing.

Darien Silver observed the young woman, who had to be the identical twin of his mate. Needed to be. The voice sealed the deal. He initially assumed she was some obnoxious person using his chair and table, and he was perplexed as to why Sam hadn’t ejected her from the premises. At least he had assumed she was a person. The visual acuity of Lupus Garous was remarkable. Only people could wear glasses. The pierced earrings, too. In their wolf form, no lupus garou would be seen dead with pierced earlobes. Or, for that matter, wear a watch. The straight black hair didn’t resemble that of his deceased partner, and the blue eyes froze him in place. He believed the perfume she had soaked herself in was a ruse to make all the men in the tavern hot and uncomfortable, but for Lupus Garous, the scent had been a revelation.

Their eyes burned, the fragrance was overpowering, and it had the opposite effect.

Her voice was all it took to cause goosebumps to break out all over his body.

He insisted that he saw his late wife drinking margaritas, something that she would never have done. She was a wine lady, in essence. Moreover, how did this woman treat the females in his pack? His mate never would have succeeded.

He calmed himself by taking a deep breath and telling himself the woman wasn’t his mate. Her petite face was dominated by the big Stetson and the bug-eyed, rose-colored glasses; otherwise, she only resembled her when he looked at her carefully. But, she couldn’t be more unlike his beloved Lelandi in terms of personality. Yet his people appeared to have already made up their minds. Lelandi was going to attack her once more now that he was back.

In a million years, no. Because she was mentally ill and unable to handle the pressure of dating the pack leader and not being one of them in the first place, she had killed herself. No, it wouldn’t take place again. A gray would come next, but not one from his pack. Lelandi couldn’t forgive the eligible ladies who had disliked him, with the exception of Silva.

He drank his third beer whole and then laid his glass aside. He made an effort to watch his fellow citizens in an effort to forget about his deceased companion, but the woman seated at his table fiercely diverted his attention. What in the world was she doing even here? Coming to claim the body of her sister? Shout at him for driving her sister to the brink of a cliff? He didn’t require assistance from anyone else because he had been feeling guilty enough about her death for the previous three weeks. Too few beers present

He could easily forget the expression of final tranquility on Lelandi’s face.

He gave a headshake. He typically waited until the store closed, but tonight he wanted to leave. How would it appear if the pack leader was unable to handle seeing his late wife seated at the adjacent table?

He poured himself another beer while harboring an inner growl. Darien: “Twin sister, don’t you think?” His youngest triplet lifted his brows and inquired, “Tom?”

“Yeah. Lelandi claimed she had lost all of her relatives. It appears that she lied. Darien was not pleased by this, but it was too late to express his resentment.

Why do you suppose she is in this location? Tom touched the perspiring glass with his hand.

“It must have something to do with her sister,”

Do you believe the woman believes Lelandi was killed? Jacob queried.

Darien gave him a stern look. “What the hell is going through your head?”

Jake gave a shrug. Why wouldn’t she come meet with you and explain why she’s here? Why would she strive to hide who she was? I can only conclude that she does not believe Lelandi’s death to have been an accident. She is also conducting her own research.

“Hell.” Darien scowled at the red, imagining how her hair would look if it weren’t that ugly black tone, which was far too harsh for her pale, creamy skin.

It appears that she treated the women badly who were trying to trick her. Tom beaming.

It implies that there will be more problems. As gloomy as Darien felt, so was Jake’s voice.

Darien looked across at Tom. I ask that you—

She is departing, Jake cut in.

The tavern’s discourse abruptly came to an end.

Don’t mess with me, her entire body language said as she moved toward the door with her hands clenched in fists and her boots clicking on the wooden floor. He yearned to pursue her and lay claim to her, just like he had done with her sister, despite his desire to deny it. His want to kiss her pursed lips, feel her tender, bare skin beneath him, and make love to her as he had made love to her sister overcame him.

Without a doubt, he was losing it.

He watched her open the door while remaining seated with the utmost control. Tom, follow her. Track her movements and, by all means, spend the night with her.

You’re sure? Do you truly mean it? Tom asked, sounding overly optimistic.

Please keep them from reaching her, okay?

Jake intervened, “He means, don’t allow anyone screw with her, and that includes you.”

Tom looked at Darien to get approval. Who was he to object if his brother desired her and she was willing? If she wanted a mate and Tom was interested, that was great because their race wasn’t into casual sex. Darien had no intention of continuing along that path. Be certain that none of our staff bother her by doing whatever is necessary.

Tom seemed like he had Jake under control. “Darien, thank you. I’ll look after her. The door slammed behind her, and he ran after Lelandi’s sister.

Darien wanted the woman to be left alone because sending Tom after her would have alerted the rest of his people in the tavern, and word would have rapidly traveled to the others. He would hold everyone who crossed the line responsible.

Jake scraped his glass back and forth across the wooden table.

Darien gave him a scowl. Whoa, Jake!

You ought to speak with the woman, don’t you think?

Discover her purpose for being here.

What led you to believe Lelandi was killed? “Brother, you’ve got your head in the sand on this one. Many of them think she was murdered, but when they see me, they stop talking. Nobody will divulge their suspicions to Tom or me.

“Is there a plot?”

“No. At least not in my opinion. Unless they’re trying to protect someone or they’re worried you’d get too angry if you found out the truth.

The majority of the pack thinks I’d be happier assuming she killed herself, right?