Kirith sneered as he eyed the sign over the pub’s façade. The Hog and Tortoise, the letters read in elegant gold font.

“Ridiculous,” he scowled.

Who the hell came up with these names? As if pigs and turtles coexisted in any ecosystem on the planet. Why didn’t someone, somewhere, just name a pub “Joe’s Fucking Bar for Shit-faced Cock-wombles” or “Come in Here to Find Someone Drunk to Fuck, You Dirty Blighter?”

But this was where the members of the Dragons’ Guild had said they wanted to meet, so here he was. Apparently the Kindred had fewer hangups about pub names than he did. Not entirely surprising, given that he had a chip on his shoulder that weighed upwards of six-hundred kilos.

As he stepped inside, an almost forgotten scent breezed through the air towards him. Thirteen years had passed since he’d last smelled another of his kind. Thirteen years of voluntary isolation.

His body tensed with anticipation as he assessed the source of the aroma. Three Dragon shifters, all male. But there was something else as well; a scent that he’d dreaded since he’d left his home in the North.

“Fuck me,” he muttered as he contemplated turning around and walking straight out. He’d known, of course, that London was crawling with Wolf shifters, but it was too soon to deal with one. Far too damned soon.

He started to wonder why he’d thought this meeting was a good idea. There was no telling how the Guild would receive his presence, anyhow. Their Alpha would want to know why Kirith had come to London, and there was no answer that he could give that wouldn’t incriminate him in some way, or make him look like a vigilante taking the law into his own hands.

As he mulled it over, he spotted the three men he’d come to meet. Big, broad, suspicious-looking, all three of them. Two of the men had light hair and blue eyes, the third, jet black hair and even lighter eyes, which gave him a strangely menacing look.

Laugh lines accented the eyes of the first two, while the third gave off a hostile vibe.

You’re probably the Alpha, you grumpy sod, thought Kirith. Good. I’m far more likely to trust you if a man who doubts me than one who welcomes me into the fold with open arms.

The shifters stood out like sore thumbs in a room filled with weedy young lads and half-drunk young women, all hoping to get into the other’s pants and beds later that night.

Ah, to be human and live the simple life. Fucking, drinking, working at a shite job. What a blessing it must be.

As Kirith approached the table, his pace slow and measured, he spotted the smaller figure who was seated on the other side of the men; a dark-haired woman who hadn’t yet bothered to turn his way. But even though he couldn’t explain it, the stranger radiated the impression that she already knew what he looked like. She seemed to know, even, what he was thinking.

The bloody Wolf was a Seer.

His pulse quickened with the thought that a Wolf shifter could possibly penetrate his mind and search out his ugly history. He didn’t want to think of it himself, but the concept of an enemy moving through his thoughts was an assault, a violation of his vault of secrets.

“You’re Kirith,” one of the light-haired men said, cutting through his torment as he stood up and politely pulled a chair out in offering.

“I am.”

The other two Dragon shifters remained silent as Kirith assessed them. The one with blond hair looked inquisitive; the dark-haired scowler looked annoyed. Well, it seemed he wasn’t Alpha after all. Perhaps that was why he was such a grumpy bugger.

“Have a seat,” said the man who’d greeted him.

Kirith spun the chair around so that its back faced the gathered shifters, straddled the seat and crossed his arms over the back. “So, you’re the leader of this bunch, then?” he asked.

“I’m Lumen,” the speaker replied, nodding. “I’m the Guild’s Alpha. This is Minach, Aegis and Amara.”

Kirith nodded a silent greeting to each of them, his eyes focusing on Amara last. She finally turned his way, offering a polite smile. Meeting her eyes, he could see that there was a kindness about her, an almost sympathetic expression that went straight to his chest. It should have been a comfort, but instead he found his chest tightening, his breath coming in short huffs.

He didn’t want any sodding sympathy, particularly from one of her kind. Didn’t want to be friends. He just wanted to do what he’d come to London to do and then piss off back to a world of isolation.

“Tell us what business you have here,” said Minach, the grumpy looking, dark-haired one who seemed to be the Seer’s mate.

“I’ve come to see about working with your Guild,” Kirith said, trying his best to seem jovial but failing miserably. “To offer you my services, such as they are. I’ve heard that changes are afoot in London. I reckoned you could use another Dragon shifter about.”

“Yes, I’ll admit that we could use some new blood,” Lumen replied. “But tell me specifically—what’s brought you here now?”

Ah, so you’re no fool. You know there’s more to tell. I suppose I should be glad of it.

It seemed that the strange Wolf woman wasn’t the only one who could gain access to the inner workings of his mind. Kirith could feel the Alpha trying to push his way into his head as well, probably attempting to assess his honesty.

But Kirith fought back, blocking off Lumen’s entryways just enough to keep his deepest, darkest secrets concealed behind closed doors.

“Specifically, I’ve heard that Wolf Packs are making their way back into London, now that you lot have rid the city of Lapsed and Forsaken,” Kirith replied, trying his best to look impressed at the Guild’s progress. “I thought I’d offer my services in keeping them under control. I’ve had some experience with Wolves over the years.” With that, he shot Amara a look, checking for her reaction. She remained stoic, as though she felt no great loyalty to her own kind.

Lumen sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. “What you say is true, of course,” he said. “Shifters are returning to the city in droves, and we could certainly use some peace keepers. We have a couple of younger members who are keen to help, but older, more experienced blood is certainly appreciated.”

“If you’re really here to wrangle Wolves,” growled Minach, the one who seemed in a permanent state of curmudgeonly suspicion, “it seems to me you’d have been better off staying in the North. Word has it that there are still many Packs up near the Scottish border. We have no need of grandstanders around these parts.”

“I’m well aware of that. I used to live in that district,” Kirith replied, his tone mildly confrontational. “I suppose I wanted to spend some time in a larger city. I’ve been alone for some time; I thought this might give me a chance to re-enter society. I know what unruly bastards Wolves can be; I’ve seen it first hand. Seems to me that your Guild could use some help, whether you’re personally happy about it or not.”

“Ignore my friend,” Aegis said, offering up a friendly smile. “He likes to be a tosser for its own sake. It’s like a sport to him. Problem is, he’s shite at it.”

“It’s fine,” Kirith said, though the truth was that he’d have liked to punch Minach in the jaw.

“Tell me,” said Lumen, “do you have a mate, Kirith?”

He shook his head, his eyes moving to the floor as he inhaled air into his chest, focusing all his energy on not thinking about the family he once had. “No, I don’t,” he said.

Not anymore.

“Not that it’s important to us. I’m only asking because a number of Guild members, including myself, are starting families. It means that our numbers are currently stretched a little thin, which makes you all the more welcome in our time of need.”

“I see. Well, you don’t need to worry that I’ll be running off and falling in love with a sweet thing anytime soon. I’m done with such frivolous pleasures.” Kirith all but growled the words, his eyes still fixed on the floor. He tried to centre his mind on the zigzag pattern of a distant piece of tile in order to steer Lumen’s invasive mind away from his personal affairs.

“Forgive me, but it seems that there’s something you’re not telling us,” Lumen said. Kirith raised his eyes to look into the Alpha’s. Something strange had just happened, as though a subtle nuance in Lumen’s tone of voice suddenly made him want to speak his mind, to open up and reveal what was buried deep inside him.

Strange, powerful man. It made sense now that he should be Alpha of such a Guild.

“A certain Pack has recently found its way to London,” Kirith said, trying hard to control every word that emerged from his mouth. “Their Alpha is power-hungry and dangerous. I have unfinished business with him. But I also have reason to believe that he would do the Guild harm, given the chance.”

“I see,” said Lumen, pressing his palms into the table. “You do realize, however, that we need you to abide by certain rules, however cruelly a Wolf Alpha may have wronged you in past. If you’ve come here on some sort of vendetta, you should tell us now.”

Kirith winced. “Yes, I realize that.” He inhaled deep and spoke slowly, the lie coming with some effort. “I have only come to see to it that my fellow Dragons are protected, and to offer whatever meagre help I can.”

“Good.” Lumen looked over at the others before speaking again. “Well, as far as I’m concerned, you’re welcome here as long as you’d like to stay. Tell me, do you have a temporary residence?”

“I was going to get a room in a hotel for the foreseeable future,” said Kirith. “Money is no object, of course.”

Lumen shook his head. “No need for hotels, at least for the time being. My mate, Neko, and I are heading off on a sort of holiday with our son tonight, and we plan to be gone for a few weeks. Why don’t you stay at our place until we return? Perhaps you could keep an eye on the goings-on in Hyde Park for us.”

Kirith nodded. “That would be fine,” he said, noting the look that Aegis and Minach exchanged. It seemed that the two shifters were surprised by their Alpha’s trust in the stranger. Well, he couldn’t very well blame them; he wouldn’t have trusted himself, either.

“Meet me in the park tonight at ten, by the memorial fountain,” said Lumen. “I’ll show you the way into the flat from there.”

Kirith rose to his feet. “Thank you. I’ll see you then,” he said.

“Excellent,” replied the Alpha. “Oh, and Kirith…just so you understand how things work around here, our Guild lives and breathes as one unit. We have no secrets from one another. We are a loyal bunch, and I want it to stay that way. Is that clear?”

“It is. But I’m not a member of your Guild.”

“No, you’re not. But I want you to seriously consider the option of joining our ranks. We could use a man like you in our midst.”

“I’ll consider it,” Kirith said, attempting a smile. Strange to think that anyone could want him around. For the briefest of moments, the thought made him feel almost good.

“We’re done, then. Would you care for a pint to seal the deal?”

Kirith gestured towards the door. “Thank you, but no. I think I’ll go for a wander and reacquaint myself with the city a little. Perhaps another time.”

When his eyes met Amara’s, he went cold. Her expression hadn’t changed, but somehow he could feel her inside prodding his mind, seeking answers that he hadn’t given. He wanted nothing more than to get away from the witchy Wolf as quickly as possible.

It was time to find a pub where he could sit alone and have a drink without anyone trying to break open the shell that had protected him for well over a decade.

* * *

When Kirith had left, Lumen turned to Minach, Amara and Aegis.

“What are your thoughts about him?” he asked.

“You’d have done well to ask that before offering him your flat,” Minach grumbled. “You don’t know who the man even is, where he’s been, what he’s done.”

“I like him,” said Aegis. “Reminds me of a surly bastard I know well.” With that, he punched Minach hard in the shoulder.

“Don’t break your fingers, you great tosser,” Minach growled, rubbing his shoulder.

“Hardly likely on your flabby muscles,” Aegis replied dryly. “Like a sack of old mushrooms, you are.”

“Amara,” Lumen said, ignoring the other two, “you have the most insight. Tell us your thoughts.”

“He has a dark past,” she said slowly, as though she were still working it out.

Lumen nodded. “I know. But so does any shifter who’s lived as long as Kirith has.”

“I do think he’s a good man,” said Amara. “Troubled, but good. With help he could become great as he once was. But he will need help, and I’m not sure it will come from us.”

“Well, I wish him the best,” said Lumen, rising to his feet. “We could use more blood in the Guild. Shifters with potential are always welcome in London, as far as I’m concerned. Anyhow, I’m off to prepare for our trip. I’d appreciate if you’d all keep an eye on our visitor while I’m gone. If anyone needs me, you know where I’ll be. You’re the only ones who know where Neko and I are staying for the next few weeks.”

“Don’t worry; we’ll make sure the fucker doesn’t trash your flat,” said Minach.

“I’m more concerned that he’ll trash London,” Lumen replied, though he was smiling. “Anyhow, Aegis is right, Minach. He is rather like you. I suppose that should be enough to give us all hope.”

“If that’s so,” Minach replied sourly, “It’s no wonder you lot hate my guts. The guy’s a right prick. Now go have a nice trip, ya great wanker.”