Chapter 10

The bar was full. The usual patrons in various stages of intoxication occupied every available table and space. Mia assessed this in a split second. Calculating the probabilities and chances of escape. Small, seemingly insignificant, and very crucial facts aligned themselves in her head. One, the packed small bar would buy her some time. And second, the entire place smelled of alcohol and like a poorly ventilated sweaty room. But she knew if she could catch his scent, it wouldn’t take him long to catch hers. In conclusion, her chances were not good at all.

Connor stood at the door. His muscular build and tall height put him well above the majority of people in the bar. He hadn’t yet looked her way. His wandering, studying eyes had his face turned towards a small table of noisy drunks in the back, but Mia knew it was him. Not only from his scent, but she could never forget that face.

The head enforcer of Blue creek pack was one of those people a person just didn’t forget. Especially if they were on the run like her.

Mia had known Connor from the time she was born. He was pack; he was family. She knew him as well as he knew her. He wasn’t hideous to look at. In fact, he was quite handsome. Connor had a firm, square jaw that was usually dusted with a five o’clock shadow. A straight nose and piercing gray eyes when they did not glow with his wolf; that, by the way, was not often.

Mia had always believed, unlike most werewolves, Connor kept his wolf closer to the surface. It may have been because of his job description or just his natural compulsion for brutality. Whatever it was, it made him the wrong person to piss off.

To her misfortune, the Alpha had sent Conner after her the very second they had realized she had taken fate in her own hands and run. She found out when she had a near run in with him in the first week on the run. It had been such a close call; she had seen her freedom flash before her eyes before it had even begun. The man was nothing, if not efficient at his job.

But she had gotten away, and she was very determined to get away again. He hadn’t yet seen her. If the moon goddess was on her side, he didn’t even know she was there. He had probably just wandered into the bar or was just checking, but he didn’t know, she hoped. Her thoughts traveled to the mistake she had made to howl in the woods earlier that day. Maybe that was what had brought Connor into town, but she still doubted he knew she was there.

His body language confirmed her thoughts. He looked too relaxed for someone who was hot on her tail, hunting her down. With this in mind and a silent sigh of relief, Mia took a step away from the counter. 

She had to get into the back room to get away. She couldn’t move abruptly, it would draw attention to her. And she couldn’t panic. A sudden pick in her heart rate and Connor would be on to her like a rash. Werewolves had great hearing, and something suddenly irregular would draw his attention in a heartbeat.

In short, she had to stay calm but get away. She also had to do it fast before Conner spotted her or some other patron called out her name. She never changed her name when she got away from the pack lands. It had probably been a stupid move on her part; she thought. It was obviously impossible that she was the only Mia in the world, but she wasn’t naïve enough to believe that the mention of her name wouldn’t bring Connor’s attention to its peak.

Every step she took was like walking in a minefield. Any second and things could blow. She took another step, exiting the area of the counter and almost at the entrance that would lead to the back.

Jim caught her eye and raised his empty glass. Mia’s breath caught in her throat. Jim was about to call her for a refill. She could see it in his eyes. He was already drunk. She knew without a doubt, if he said anything, it would be loud. Sweat broke out all over her skin; another bad thing. It meant her scent would be stronger.

Fuck it. Playing it safe was about to get her caught, she realized. Mia turned and went through the door that led to the back of the bar. She didn’t hear Jim call out or anyone chase after her, but then again, the only thing she could hear was her blood rushing through her ears. Her wolf clawed and scraped at her insides, demanding to be let out.

She had a serious battle within herself. Part of her wanted to shift into her wolf and fight Connor. The other part of her wanted to turn into her wolf and run away as fast as she could. Since she wasn’t sure which option her wolf would go with, she didn’t dare let it loose even when she stepped into the dark back alley.

With a few brisk steps, she was out of the alley and away from the bar. She paused a block away to observe whether she was being followed. She saw and smelled nothing. Mia ran to her apartment. She didn’t let herself think about it, but she knew that would be the last time she worked or saw the inside of Red eyes bar. She was now out of a job.

*** 

“She was here,” Connor reported to his Alpha on the phone.

A growl rumbled through the line. Alpha Levi seethed. “How could you have allowed her to get away?”

“I didn’t expect her to be there. By the time I realized and caught her scent in the air, she had already left... She must have spotted me first and took off.”

“Connor,” the alpha roared. “Those sound like excuses. I gave you a task. I expect results... the pack is depending on you.”

Connor straightened his back to his full, imposing height. “I will not disappoint my Alpha or the pack. I will bring Mia back.” He said it with conviction. Every inch of him was determined to please the alpha and the pack. Connor tightened his jaw. He would bring Mia back kicking, screaming and tied like a kill if he had to, but he would take her back to the pack lands, of this he was certain. He was determined to make it happen. His honor was on the line. Failure was not an option.

He ended the call after reassuring the alpha again that he would deliver Mia back to the pack soon. Then he looked around. He was outside the bar. It was the middle of the night. He could still catch her faint scent in the air. He couldn’t believe he had missed it at first. Shit. He could have had her and put an end to all this nonsense once and for all.

He raised his nose to the air and took another whiff. She couldn’t have gone far, he mused. Connor turned and started walking. He had to find the others, then they would go after her. He was sure she was near.