Chapter Three

Unfortunately, all hope for an easy night out with the boys fell short.

“Jo was pretty quick to remind me of the dinner reservation we have this evening at a place outside of town. She set it up a week ago, if I cancelled, she’d kill me,” Nick explained, remorsefully. “Tom already had plans with Savannah at the lake, too. Sorry about getting your hopes up, Dan. I didn’t mean to let you down.”

Ignoring the swift kick of disappointment, Dan shrugged. “It’s no big, I don’t mind drinking alone.” He grinned. “Besides, maybe this way I can finally get some action, eh? Girls love the lone, dark stranger type!”

Nick chuckled. “After some female company, are you?” he grinned, slapping Dan’s arm. “Is that what’s been bothering you today?”

Dan shrugged again, feigning nonchalance. “Nah, I just got up on the wrong side of bed this morning,” he lied quickly, dancing away from the topic of his love life—or lack thereof. “But don’t worry about me. I’ll head out early for a run in the woods before going to the bar. Give you guys some alone time.”

Nick looked as if he wanted to protest, his eyes filled with guilt, but he settled on a small smile to mask his concerned expression. “Drink a beer for me, eh?”

Dan nodded, raising his hand in a wave. “You know it.” Without another word, he departed the shop. He knew that Nick saw the disappointment in his face because of the cancellation, but there was little either of them could do about it now. He’d get over it, he always did. Life’s too short.

The bear came easily as he cleared the tree line, shoving from his skin as he leapt hurriedly into the deep darkness of the forestry. His large frame shredded through his clothing as if they were made of paper, and he didn’t care. He was hurt, angry, and lonely. He just needed to get away.

Instead of trying to calm the bear inside of him, Dan let the emotions roll over his body as he ran. As the bear, there was no hiding his emotions in laughter and jokes. He felt everything; all the small thoughts and sentiments that he hid from the others, and from himself. It was overwhelming and therapeutic, and in a bout of pain, he lifted onto his hind legs, throwing his large head back and letting out a loud roar. He didn’t care if the others heard him; it felt good to let it all out. He stretched toward the leaves before falling back on all fours and tearing off through the trees once more.

Branches cracked and splintered as he barreled senselessly onward. He didn’t know where he was going or what he’d do once he got there, but that didn’t matter. All that mattered right now was that he ran. His bear reveled in the way the wind whistled past him, the way he didn’t have to worry about tripping over wrenches or knocking over cans of paint. The power felt… good. It made them feel in control. Dan hadn’t felt that way in a long time, basking in the sensation like the radiance of an old friend as the anger slowly left his body.

Eventually slowing to a halt, Dan threw himself onto the ground, rolling over and over in the dirt as he caught his breath. In times like this, the instinct of the bear felt really nice. He could just roll around in some dirt and forget all of his sorrows, at least for a short while, so that’s what he opted to do.

Figuring the others should be long gone by now, he finally decided it’d probably be safe to return to the shop with minimal humiliation. A large part of him didn’t want to face Nick after the way he’d basically tucked tail after hearing a bit of bad news. He could play it off with jokes later, but seeing Nick again today would be much too soon.

He made a mental note to give the lake a wide berth on the way back, not wanting to disturb whatever private night Tom and Savannah had planned. Wincing, he worked not to dwell on thoughts of the mated pairs as he meandered back to the shop. As the side view of the garage came into view, he sampled the air. Their scents lingered, but it was nothing fresh. They were gone, as he had suspected.

He was quick to shower and dress, wanting to drown himself in booze as soon as possible before the weight of the day’s interrogations bared down on him once more. Being back in the shop only reminded him of the questions that would surely continue as the dread he felt at being mate-less became harder and harder to hide. Why was his bear so eager for a mate all of a sudden, anyway?

Was it being constantly surrounded by two mated pairs? Or maybe it was because with Lucas, the possibility of a mate was never even considered an option. Here, there wasn’t a constant need to fight for survival or intimidate pack mates. Did his bear think joining Forest Haven was a cue to finally settle down? Dan didn’t know, and it only added to his building frustration.

Shaking his head in an attempt to free himself of the wayward thoughts, Dan finally set out for the bar. Wallowing in his misery would do little to solve the problem or provide him with answers, so it was best to stop thinking about it. He didn’t want to think about a mate he’d likely never have or peace he’d likely never find. His mind reached greedily for something simpler to ponder while he walked.

I wonder what the Northern Wind is doing right now…

Not exactly a simpler train of thought, but he’d take it. If Lucas stuck even slightly to some of his old routines, he was likely patrolling the borders of the alpha territory with whomever he’d appointed as his second in command after his leaving Dan to die. The memory still stung, but Dan knew Lucas more than almost anyone else that remained in the Northern Wind. He’d long since stopped being surprised at his old leader’s ruthlessness.

He wondered what Lucas had scouted since their last encounter with him. How much did he know? Did he know that Nick was looking for reinforcements, more alphas to help pad the numbers if the two packs ever fell into war? Did he know that so far, no other pack wanted any part of it? Dan had his suspicions why. It was mainly to do with a certain human life-mate, but it wasn’t something he dared utter aloud, and not just because Lucas might overhear. He’d never seen Nick truly angry, but a shudder quaked down his spine at the thought of getting on his new leader’s bad side. Yep, definitely keeping his mouth shut.

When would the Northern Wind attack next? Dan wasn’t sure. It had been weeks since their last battle, but the memories of the bloodied and beaten Northern Wind leader were still fresh in Dan’s mind. He knew that Lucas was likely fully healed by now, and angrier than ever at yet another failed attack. He was always angrier. A bite of conscience worried at the back of his mind, silently praying for the wellbeing of his old pack mates. They were not exactly close, for a good reason depending on the bear, but they didn’t deserve whatever wrath Lucas would exact upon them for his own failure. Dan had been in their shoes more than once.

The initial plan to spread truth to the Northern Wind had backfired violently all those weeks ago, and in the time since, Dan was at a loss at how to go about it post-battle. How much had changed since he and Savannah had sworn their loyalty to Nick? How many more young, impressionable bears had Lucas ensnared in his trap of abuse and tyranny? Dan didn’t know. He felt like he didn’t know much at all these days.

There was one thing that was completely certain to him regarding the Northern Wind pack, though. He couldn’t quit. He needed to find a way back to their territory. He needed to find a way to save as many bears as possible before Lucas corrupted them, before they succumbed to an endless life of darkness the way he had. They didn’t deserve this eternal curse of unhappiness. No one did. Not even Lucas.

“For some of us, it’s too late,” Dan breathed, puffs of white air billowing outward into the cool evening weather. But not all of us, he finished internally, renewing his fervor to save those who needed it most.

No more sulking, he declared, as he swung open the old bar doors. Tonight, I’ll drink, but tomorrow, I’ll get things done.

Almost immediately, Dan collided with someone who felt like they were made of solid brick. Stumbling backward, he ran a frustrated hand down his face before muttering, “Got eyes, pal?”

As his vision cleared, he locked onto the man that still stood in the doorway and realized that he might have made a small mistake. Dan knew he was a big guy; in both of the packs he’d been a part of, he was smaller in size only to Nick and Lucas. But as he stared at the man before him, he was painfully aware that he stood eye level with this man’s shoulder. He was big.

Not just in size, either. His stringy tank top showcased hills and valleys of overly bulging muscles, darkened by a large expanse of tattoos that didn’t seem to end at any point below the man’s neck. He glared down at Dan with murderous intent in his eyes, and Dan knew that human or not, this wasn’t a man he wanted to mess with.

“Got somethin’ ta say?” the man sneered, eyes narrowing as his hot breath coiled around Dan’s jowls. It was heavy with the scent of alcohol.

“Not at all,” Dan muttered. Drunken humans were touchy, mercurial creatures. He’d have to diffuse the situation quickly. “Sorry to bother. My mistake.”

“Yeah,” the stranger growled lowly, jabbing one large finger deep into Dan’s chest. He was surprised that it kind of hurt. “It was.”

Dan held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I’m not trying to cause any trouble, bud. I’ll just be on my way and you can hate me from wherever you’re going.” He nodded amicably to the man who still seemed to be fuming before carefully shouldering past him into the bar. He made sure not to make any bodily contact for fear of setting off the human, but it was difficult; his large frame took up a considerable portion of the doorway.

The man didn’t move as Dan made his way deeper into the bar, and slowly he allowed himself to exhale. The last thing he needed tonight was to get into a tussle with someone who’d pumped themselves up with one too many steroids. He’d hate having to explain that to Nick.

Even as he walked, he made sure not to take his vision completely off of the man, in case he decided that he wanted more trouble before departing into the night. Thoroughly distracted by the angry man behind him, Dan didn’t notice that he wasn’t the only person he needed to dodge. Promptly, he toppled into yet another body.

This time, it was the other person who stumbled backward, hard and sudden enough to make them fall to the floor.

“Shit,” Dan exclaimed quietly, internally scolding himself and his terrible clumsiness as his feet tangled with the legs of the fallen human. He lurched forward, sure to land on the person below him. In the last second, his hands shot out, latching awkwardly on the countertop, stopping his descent.

The room fell deathly silent around him, and he felt the beginnings of embarrassment warm his cheeks as a small chuckle sounded from the floor.

“Well you’re certainly clumsier than most, I’ll say,” the voice chided lightly. “Can you lend me a hand?”

“Oh, uh, yeah, sure…” Dan’s response died on his lips as his eyes locked with the most beautiful woman he’d ever met.