Kierra

Someone comes at my back. My claws extend immediately as I spin, hand at mid-level as I ready to swipe across the body. Xavier catches my hand before it lands and pulls it to his hip facing the bar. My eyes center on his chest as my hand reforms back to normal.

"Easy there demon wolf, sheathe the claws. Too many eyes around here."

He says it low, but I know every supernatural ear around hears it, the group of them still loitering in front of the bar. I avoid looking at them as much as possible.

"Sorry. Your scent didn't get a chance to connect to my brain before I acted. Good thing I'm not too much shorter, otherwise you'd be a very unhappy eunuch."

Xavier's cocky grin actually helps to settle my nerves. His hand presses mine to his hip, but I tug for it back, putting it under my coat with the other to hold it in front of me. Turning my back to the bar, I look out over the courtyard and breathe slow and even.

"Next time, don't listen to me. I suck at the whole undercover thing."

He chuckles at me, standing at my side in a way that he can see out over the wide area and the bar entrance.

"Did you learn anything in there while I was out here kickin' butt?"

"Might say that. Out of the all bars here, you decide to pick a fight outside the one run by a Pack of Werewolves."

I groan. Of course. So much for my luck being with me. Hearing a pair of heels clacking up behind me, I sigh and half turn, looking over my shoulder. The green-eyed monster rears its head then as my eyes travel over the woman coming towards me.

I'm not one to fuss over my looks and such, never felt lesser to any other female. Some do make me envious though, and some just as jealous. When I was younger, back in my middle and high school days, I had wished and prayed for a thin, tall body.

Don't consider myself an ugly duckling, but I'm not striking either, like this woman is. Thick auburn hair curls around her sculpted face, skin sun-bronzed, unblemished and smooth. Grey eyes look over me from behind long, darkened eyelashes.

Tall, even without the heeled boots on her feet, model-thin wearing a mixture of casual and biker-chik. Dark blue jeans enclose long legs, black boots, and a black corset top with a vest thrown over it bears a biker's colors, tags, and logo. I flick my eyes up, and sure enough, the bar's named 'Howler's Bane Bar & Grill'.

I turn and face her when she gets close, envy still digging into me. My shoulders are wide, as is the rest of me, I'm thick, muscled and short. I'm also covered in scars, I see none on her exposed skin. Hmm.

She stops when she sees me visibly tensing up, eyes once again flashing yellow as a warning to not get close. A couple feet away, she takes me in from head to toe, an unamused look on her face. Well now, she's one of those. Lovely. Makes disliking her all the easier.

"If you're done with your inspection, what do you want?"

Her gray eyes darken as they fly to mine, lips pursing as she crosses her arms over her flat stomach. My attitude doesn't improve at all when I smell the maned wolf's interest, as well as hers when she looks over him heatedly. Great. I'm surrounded by horny animals.

"I wanted to see for myself what all the talk is about. This Silver Wolf supposedly 'all-powerful' and special."

I snort at her and she frowns.

"I can assure you, there is nothing 'special' or interesting about me. I just want to be left alone."

She sneers at me, her hip leaning out to one side.

"Hard to believe when you draw attention to yourself right outside our Pack's bar."

I shrug, really not caring what she thinks or her opinion of me.

"That just seems to be my luck lately. If you didn't serve to assholes high on drugs, then we wouldn't have had a problem."

My cheek explodes in pain, blood coating my tongue from my teeth slicing into soft tissues. Raising a hand to my lip, it also has a cut. I raise my head slowly, my rage coiling white-hot within me.

I have been through too damn much to be slapped around by some she-bitch who wouldn't know the right end of a fucking decent conversation if it bit her in the ass. Xavier freezes next to me as my burning eyes raise to hers. Several males behind her on the stairs of the bar look on with mixed looks of amusement, horror, and fear.

"I am the Alpha of this Pack, and I will be treated with respect."

Someone behind her tells someone else to go get the Alpha. Great, an alpha pair. My tongue slips out and slides along my lower lip as I glare at her. My voice comes out low and mean.

"You, are not my Alpha."

Several things happen at once at this point. My coat drops as a hand reaches to my hip where I have my stiletto dagger. Grabbing it, I leap at this haughty bitch, my weight pushing her back to the ground, her head hitting hard as I straddle her body. Strong legs wrap around her arms so she can't use them as I lean over her, face to face with my blade pressed tight under her chin.

Takes her a moment to focus as everything else around us goes completely still, her shocked expression all the more irritating. Xavier had lept forward the same time a male from the steps came forward, each one holds the arms of the other to keep them from landing a blow.

"Respect is earned, even among wolves. I think you need to read up on the animal you imitate. Even one with a half a brain would get more respect from me than I will ever give you."

My blade digs in deeper as she tries to spout some bullshit at me. Bright red blood trickles down her throat. I'd moved fast, but she could have stopped me if she hadn't been so caught up in her own self-importance, thinking herself untouchable.

"Don't push me, bitch, I've gone through way too fucking much to not go stark raving psycho on your ass. Push me, and this blade will find the backs of your eyeballs. Let's see if Weres can heal that much damage."

Her gray eyes now start filling with fear as I whisper to her, my voice calm. A ring of wolves around us makes me very nervous, so the blade goes deeper, causing her to whimper.

"Please, stop. My wife is a hothead, damn near no sense, obviously, but she is a good woman."

Yellow orbs rise to a darkly tanned man crouching in front of me. His green eyes widen just a little as I look at him. My long, unbound hair falls around me and hides the woman's head from the view of those around us.

Right hand holding the bloody blade, left gripping a handful of her hair, I watch the man claiming to be her husband, my body tense and ready.

"A good woman maybe, but not very smart. I did not come here looking for trouble. I was not aware there was a Pack here until those men came out and came at me."

He nods, hands hanging loose between his legs. I keep the blade steady, a good solid inch of the tip has slipped into the soft squishiness of the area under her chin. Too much further and she's going to get a free tongue splitting.

"I do apologize for that, but I cannot control people once they are out of my bar."

"Nor can I, upon contrary belief. I just wish to be left to go my own way."

His head bobs again, looking almost desperate as his mate continues to bleed under me.

"You're a pack of Red Wolves, aren't you?"

His eyes widen a little once again as he looks over me.

"If I let her go, I want no more trouble. She came at me, she got what she had coming. I want no more."

I don't see his response as I look down at the woman, her speeding heart vibrating throughout the center of my body feels amazing. Seeing only fear and submissiveness in her eyes, no retaliation, the blade slips from her flesh. Leaning back, I stand in one fluid movement. Cleaning it along my thigh, I return the blade to its sheath at my side as a sign that I don't want any more trouble.

She stays down, exposing her belly. The man claiming to be her spouse reaches out and pulls her back to him before they both stand. His strong Hispanic features are framed by thick black hair, loosely pulled back at his nape.

I step back, turning to Xavier who's being pinned down, his face filled with anger. The two big men atop him watch their Alpha who stays quiet.

"Release him."

"You called for freedom for yourself, not him. You are free to go, he stays and deals with punishment for striking several of my wolves."

I grin as I look at him, his face hardens at my look while he holds his wife close. Her hand is at her throat as she hides her face in his shoulder. Makes him taller than she, over six-foot, more than likely.

"I'm not all-powerful, but I have learned a few things in the last couple days. Would you like to see what I can do? I'm eager to try it again."

His jaw clenches, some of the males around us starting to fidget. I reach out my hand and wiggle my fingers at him, an eager look crossing my face with a smirk.

"Release him."

He's let go instantly, the ones holding him down leaping back as Xavier jumps to his feet with a growl, taking slow steps toward me till he's at my side once more. The flesh circle around us steadily declines as more and more go back into the bar.

Biting my lip, I call out for the Big Cheese as he turns to go in as well. He stops but ushers his wife with another male to go inside. Turning back, he takes a couple steps towards me, discontent and distrust on his face.

"I was honest when I said I want no more trouble, I just wish to ask you something."

He looks on with boredom. Fine. Reaching for my wallet, he tenses, I scowl but keep reaching. Pulling it out, I retrieve the picture of my sister and hand it to him.

"Have you seen or heard of anyone who resembles her? I need to find her, and any information you could give me would be immensely helpful to my finding her alive and not drained somewhere."

His brows lift at that, looking over the old image in interest.

"Take it you're mixed in with Vampires?"

"Not intentionally."

He smiles at that, but shakes his head as he returns the photo, his expression honest as he shows his sympathy.

"I've not had any dealings with Vampires for the last thirty years."

"What about a wolf who travels with one? Coloring almost like that of a Red, but he's a timber, if I'm understanding how things work. He went by the name Anthony last I saw him."

Of course, last time I saw him I was bashing his face in with a rock, but still. Hands go into pockets as he looks up and thinks, eyebrows drawing together. Another head shake has my heart sinking with disappointment.

"I know I have no right to ask with everything that just happened, but could I leave you my number in case you or one of your wolves do hear anything? Please, she's very important to me."

Unashamedly, I mentally broadcast my grief and desperation to find her. Didn't need to though as he was already nodding before I started in. I see his shoulders slump as Xavier touches my hand.

"You're crying out too loud, everyone in that bar feels what you do right now as well as some of the humans around us."

I take a breath and cut it off quickly, closing my mind and looking down as I pull it all back to me. It doesn't feel all that great.

"So it was you. Your song that came from the lake. I wasn't there, but a few of my wolves had heard it and told the rest of us that they could feel your emotions in the notes, your pain, and rage."

I glance back up and give a small nod, red tinging my cheeks in embarrassment. His eyes are sad as he looks at me, a muscle in his jaw tweaking. Pulling a pad of paper from the apron he's wearing, that I didn't notice before, he swipes a pen from a breast pocket and hands them to me.

I know I'm really out of it when I don't realize what he's wearing. Not that that is the kind of stuff I focus on, but all details count. I can smell his wolf, so I make sure I don't make skin contact.

He sees that and obliges by moving his hand when I grab the items. Writing down my number on one of the pads that meal orders are written on, I don't want to give my name, so I just write 'Silver' next to it.

He smirks when he sees it, but says nothing as I hand it back. I fidget before opening my mouth.

"I'm sure I don't have to mention that having that knowledge right now can be dangerous to you and yours. If things get too...hairy, lose the number and claim you've never seen me. Or tell them which way you see me go, either way, don't let me be the cause of any more problems."

His brow rises, seemingly taken aback, eyes really appearing to look at me now. He looks over to Xavier who just inclines his head once with a small smile. Not sure what's going on between them, but I don't much care at the moment. It's getting dark and I told Bastion I wouldn't be out too late.

Thanking the Red Alpha, I turn and go on my way, Xavier close to my side.

"Well, that was eventful."