Two

Chapter 2 Seline

He’s handsome, in that rugged way, some men are. His dark brown hair is rough and uncombed and looks wildly sexy. Amber eyes that are pinned on the panther shifter closest to me. Under his plaid flannel shirt and jeans, I can make out a lean and muscular figure. And he’s tall.

So tall.

I’ve always had a thing for tall men.

But as he steps closer, I feel my skin prickle in that familiar manner and I realize he is Other. But I can’t seem to tell what he is yet.

“Get lost, man!” One of the panther shifters scowls. “This has got nothing to do with you.”

But the man isn’t interested in backing off. “Maybe you should leave the lady alone.”

“I just said—” the panther shifter begins, but a terrifying growl leaves the man’s throat and I can see the panther shifters almost wilt in fear. Even I can feel the waves of power rolling of the man. It makes something inside me recoil. My skin feels uncomfortable and I scratch at it, watching the panther shifters skulk away.

Within moments, it’s just me and the stranger in the alley. “Are you okay?”

I take out my cigarette pack and remove one of them with my teeth. “I had a handle on it. You didn’t have to step in like this. Panther shifters are a pain in the ass, you know. They’re going to come looking for you once they get their shit together.”

A lighter is held out in front of me and I blink.

When did he get that close to me?

Warily, I allow him to light the cigarette for me, and allow myself to enjoy my first drag.

“That stuff is going to kill you, you know?” He sounds a little amused for some reason.

“Yes, well,” I let out another puff. “It can get at the back of the line.” When he doesn’t leave, I study him. “You new in town?”

“Yes.” “Figured.”

The silence between us is comfortable, and then he asks, “Is it normal for so many Others to gather around here?”

I’m trying to determine what he is, but for some reason, my own body is tingling in a strange way. My skin is itching from underneath, and I can’t seem to focus.

“It’s always been this way here,” I tell him, letting out another puff of smoke, feeling more tense. “We have a settled community of Others here, mostly vampires. Arrow Brooke has a lot of human tourists here, so the fanged ones like it here. They don’t have to worry about being careful. We have a lot of vampire-owned businesses here.”

“So, mostly just vampires then?” He frowns.

I shrug. “There are rumors of mermaids living in Lake Asla, but I’ve never come across one, and I’ve been living here for more than two decades. We have a few rogues living in the area—rogue shifters. They run small businesses and usually keep to themselves. There are a few fae in the woods, but they frequent the bar…so, yeah.”

“What about the humans?”

My lips curve slightly. “Some of them are aware—those who have generational roots in this town. But they pretend not to know, and nobody

bothers them. But it’s a very small community here.”

For some reason, the man seems pleased with this information.

I suddenly notice that he isn’t offering any information. “Are you passing through here?”

“No. My pack just moved here.”

I raise a brow. “You purchased homes?”

This time, his lips curve, “We don’t like living above ground. We bought some land in the forest.”

I remember the mayor mentioning something about it, but I wasn’t paying much attention. Something in my brain itches when he mentions his pack doesn’t live above ground. He’s clearly a shifter, but why can’t I see through him?

It unnerves me, especially when I can clearly tell that he is no ordinary shifter. Raw power is running through his veins.

Alpha.

He’s the Alpha of his pack. That’s why the panthers freaked out and left.

My cigarette break isn’t over yet, but I’m beginning to feel exceedingly uncomfortable now. It’s not him, but my own reaction to his presence. I put out the cigarette and toss it in the trash before murmuring, “I should go back.”

“See you around.” He gives me a quiet smile that makes my blood hum.

I walk over to the door, and just when my hand is on the knob, I look over my shoulder, only to see that he’s no longer there.

I stare at the spot where he had been standing for a few long seconds before retreating inside.

“ARE you sure you’re okay with it? I just don’t want Frank entering my apartment, Lacy,” I speak into the phone. “The plumber will be there

tomorrow to fix the leak.”

My friend and neighbor reassures me as I walk into the bar. “I’ll bring you some leftovers tonight then,” I smile, relieved. However, my smile disappears once I close the phone.

Sometimes it feels that even living is exhausting. It’s like I’m fighting against the world with nothing going in my favor. I shake off the tiredness as I dump my things in the locker and get changed.

“Seline,” Ellie, who’s taking a break, gives me a concerned look. “There are some men outside, waiting for you.”

I blink. “For me?”

The corner of her mouth curls downwards. “I didn’t like the look of them.”

I slam the locker shut and give her a wry smile. “You don’t like the look of half this town, Ellie. Your trust issues are showing.”

She grins, “Look who’s talking.”

But just as I’m about to walk out, she says, “Be careful though. They had a mean look in their eyes.”

A minute later, I understand why she was so concerned.

My jaw tightens as I see the three buff-looking vampires sitting at a corner table, waiting for me. They’re all in suits, which gives them a businesslike appearance.

“What are you doing here?” I hiss. “It’s not time for the monthly payment.” “The boss wants an advance in your payment,” the taller one of them says harshly.

“Well, I can’t give you what I don’t have,” I say tightly. “I’ve paid sixty percent of the loan already. He should have some faith that I’ll pay the rest on time as well!”

One of them sneers and holds out a paper. “Unfortunately, two more loans have been added to your name.”

My blood grows cold as I seize the paper from his hand and see the massive amounts that have been taken out with me as the guarantor.

It’ll take me ten years to pay them off!

“I told Jamie not to make the guarantor for any other loans that woman takes out!” I shove the paper back at him, an acrid taste in my mouth.

The three men exchange a look. “You need to sign a document for that. You can come with us and do so. Then we’ll just go straight to the source and take out money from her.”

He holds out another piece of paper and offers a pen.

My mouth is dry as I take it, but when it comes to signing the paper, my hand is unable to move. Jamie is being considerate of me because he likes me, but what will he do to my mother when it comes to demanding money? She doesn’t even have a job.

I close my eyes in regret and lower the pen, defeated. “Add these to my tally then. But tell Jamie to turn her away when she comes for more money.”

One of the vampires snickers. “Sure.”

I know that means it’s not going to happen. They know that I will keep on paying off my mother’s growing debts. And loan sharks love regular customers.

“As for why we’re here today,” the vampire holds out his hand, “the boss wants you to pay half the money upfront.”

“I don’t have that kind of money,” I retort sharply. “If his intention is just to harass me for no reason, we have a contract in place, so no!”

The vampires exchange grim looks and shrug. “So be it. But just remember that we asked you politely first.”

I watch them leave, and as I do, I see someone watching me.

It’s the same shifter from that day.

It’s been a week since I last ran into him, and this time, he is not alone. He’s

with a group of friends, it seems.

His brows are furrowed together as he watches the departing vampires.

All the men around him are bulky-looking shifters, but their Alpha still stands out. They’re all mostly good-looking males but their Alpha is strikingly sexy. I usually don’t react like this to a man, but even looking at him makes something in my stomach twist in hunger.

He’s gorgeous in that brooding way, his deep-set eyes almost peering into my damaged soul. I have never been one to seek out one-night stands, but I wonder if wanting one with this particular Alpha makes me a tramp.

I must have stared at him for a long time because he straightens up and walks over. I instantly stiffen. Oh crap!

However, he casually sticks his hands in his pockets. “Friends of yours?”

Hmm, he’s quite nosy.

“Something like that.”

Before he can say anything else, I say, “I’ll send Marie over to get your table’s order.”

It seems like he wants to say something more. There is definite curiosity in his eyes, but he just nods and walks away. I didn’t even know I was holding my breath till it comes out in a huge whooshing sound.

“Get a grip, Seline,” I mutter to myself, irritated. “He’s not the first hot man you’ve laid eyes on.”

I hear a chuckle from behind me. I whip my head around, only to see the Alpha looking away, almost deliberately.

Dammit! I forgot about shifter hearing!

I send Marie to receive their orders. When I study the slip she brings me, I raise a brow. They are a bunch of meat eaters. Must be from the carnivore side.

“Marty,” I tap the window, sticking the order slip on the slider. “Three rare

steaks, six triple meat pounders, rare, and a side of fries.” With an afterthought, “Uh, the fries have to be cooked.”

Marty grins, his cheeks creasing. If I didn’t like the man so much, his one eye would creep me out. Marty swears up and down that he got into a fight with a unicorn when he was just a young man. But then, he also believes that aliens are stalking him, so I take what he says with a grain of salt.

The shifters are engaged in a serious discussion, and by the time the order comes in, Marie is occupied with other customers. She gives me a pleading look and I slide around the bar, grabbing the food and bringing it over.

“Here you go, boys. Your meat festival has arrived,” I say as I start handing out the plates. I still can’t get a sense of the Alpha, but as I look at one of his companions, I feel my stomach sink. I can get a read off him.

Wolf shifter.

My sudden fascination with the Alpha plummets as I realize that it’s a wolf shifter pack that has moved into Arrow Brooke.

I have a sour history with wolf shifter packs.