7
Harmony stood at the bar of the Full Moon Saloon and gathered the beers she’d come to get for her, Shauna, and Mallory. She was restless, and her chest was burning like hell fire and had been since the night before.
She felt eyes on her. The place was packed and now that she knew what she was, she could understand some of the smells that met her nose. Creed had been helping her and it had gotten her mind off the situation for most of the night.
He was so funny. He’d just grab somebody’s hand and hold it to her nose and describe the scent.
“Musty, stale, like wet moss and rotten bunnies. That’s grizzly.” He explained.
The giant of a man pointed at Creed. “Batshit crazy, smells like piss and those damned cigs he smokes, but they all have that bitter smell. Coyote.”
“Asshole.” Creed grumbled.
“Yeah, you smell like that too, but I was gonna let it slide.” The man laughed and slapped Creed on the back.
Harmony watched him as he lumbered over to a woman standing with Mallory and wrapped a meaty arm around her. Her wrapped the other around Mallory like she was something precious to him.
“Who is he?” Harmony asked. He felt dominant and terrifying, but he felt safe at the same time.
“Nick Carver. He is mated to Mallory’s friend Nancy, but not willing to tell her much. Scared of losing her.” Creed blew out a breath of smoke. “Smart of him.”
Harmony looked at Creed and for just a second, she saw pain in his eyes before he wiped it away. She reached across and touched his hand.
“If she is his mate, she will accept him, no matter what secrets he has. She can’t help herself.”
He studied her. It made her want to squirm, but she didn’t look away.
“I hope you really mean that. You may need to prove it.” He whispered.
“Nothing could make me love Line less. It would be like loving myself less. He is part of me.” She said, and she felt her chest burn. “I love him.” She said again, and the warmth grew stronger.
“Make sure you say that often, even when he gets back. It strengthens the bond. Think of him, love him, talk to him. Hold onto him and he will come back.”
He said and grabbed another man as he passed and got back to their game.
“Pissed off all the time. I don’t know if that’s a scent, but that’s a panther.”
She knew that scent too well. Don, her step father had been a panther.
“Woodchips and wet fur, fish. Beaver and why the hell he’s here I do not even know.”
The poor guy looked like he would pee his pants.
“I... I want to help...I’m smart…” The little man stammered.
Creed shrugged. “Might be a good snack at least.”
He laughed when the man scurried away.
“That was mean.” Harmony chided and Creed just grinned.
“Insanity and superiority. Tiger.”
Lucian barely gave him a glance.
“Money. Arrogance. Pussy whipped. Lion.” That one had gotten him a hiss from a well-dressed man who looked out of place in the bar.
It was late when she sat down with River.
“He ditched Pie last night in a whore house in Tucson, but that tells us he was alive last night. Pie is on his trail, but I’ve had no word since late last night. I feel like there is something wrong.”
“But he was alive last night?” she had breathed.
“He was.” River confirmed, and Harmony wanted to melt into her chair.
“Can’t you order him home? I thought that’s what alphas did. What good is the bond if you can’t do anything with it.” She was grasping at straws.
“I could if he would answer his damned phone, but he won’t. I will bleed him when he gets home, but until then, I have to rely on Pie to make sure he stays safe. All I can do now it keep the bond strong.”
Harmony didn’t comment. She’d heard Pie was losing his mind, so he probably wasn’t the best one to send on this mission, but she couldn’t question River.
“Here’s why I wanted you here. We have to look like nothing is wrong. You are his mate. I know he probably didn’t explain it or hell, even mention it, but that’s the deal. He is bound to you, for life and if you have a drop of wolf in you, you are bound just the same. I need you to look like a mate, act like a mate.”
Her breath sawed out of her.
“He will come home to you. He can’t help himself. You have to believe that right now and go out there and have a good time. The story is that Pie and Line are on a run. They are on club business and you are waiting here for him to get back. You do this, and you’ll have the respect of the club. We have council members here tonight. You need to be convincing.”
She nodded. “Ok. I won’t lie. They will smell that. I can be worried, but sure he’s coming back.”
“Exactly.”
“Ok. I can do this.”
River nodded and looked her over. “I know you’ve lived through hell before. I swear to keep you safe until I die. Nobody will hurt you as long as I live. No matter what happens to Line.” That is my promise. You are safe.
“You believe he’s in danger.” She said simply.
“I know he is and if you let yourself feel it, you know it too.”
The look on his face made her blood run cold.
“What can I do?”
“Just stay strong. Stay here. He will come back if he can. If he can’t, we will go get him. Give us a few days.”
“Ok” She whispered.
River nodded, and his lips curled into a gin. His eyes warmed.
“Welcome to the pack Harmony. Welcome home.”
“Home.” It was a word that had meant so many things to her.
“Your daddy was a wolf; do you know what happened to him?”
She shook her head.
“A wolf needs a pack, it steadies him. I don’t know if hybrids need that, but you have it. You have a family that will give their lives to protect you. You have a place here.”
She whispered her acceptance and took his hand. He leaned his forehead against hers and she felt warmth.
“Welcome to the Howlers Harmony. Welcome home.”