Evie punched the heavy bag in the Guardians’ training room. She was solely focused on making every hit count. It was just after sunrise, one month to the day after Savage had been shot, and she knew she’d have a few hours to train before Kye was out of a meeting with the alpha. He’d taken on more roles within the pride since the breach, and had been learning everything he could in the event that he’d have to take over the pride in the future.
The door to the facility opened and Evie glanced out of the corner of her eye to see Hope enter with a bag slung over her shoulder. Ranger followed a few seconds behind, dropping his own bag on the bench.
“Good morning,” Hope greeted, kicking off her shoes. “Where’s Calla?”
“I’m here!” Calla called out as she rushed through the door, out of breath and already sweating. The young female had her short, blonde hair tied back with a black bandana to keep it out of her face. “I decided to take a long run through the woods.”
“By yourself?” Ranger frowned. Evie cringed when Calla looked at him with narrowed eyes. The Community was still on the hunt for their kind, and even with the heightened security, the alpha wanted everyone to be in pairs when out of their homes.
“I was fine,” she bristled. “I have my gun.” The young female turned around, lifting her tank top to reveal a holster sewn into the workout pants she was wearing. A pistol was secured in place at the middle of her back.
“The Community is still out there,” Ranger warned, looking at all three women. “I know you’re training, but these guards they’ve trained are showing no mercy when it comes to rounding up shifters. Have you not been watching the news? Do you not remember what happened last month?”
“I have, and I do remember,” Calla replied, dropping her eyes to the mat. “I’m sorry.”
“Come on,” Ranger said, backing down just a little. “We need to do some training before I have to go into work.”
News reports were full of the Community rounding up shifters and the government raiding their churches where the shifters were being held. From the looks of it, some of the buildings had been turned into prisons, and the conditions were terrifying.
Just two nights ago, a breaking news story had come out, saying that they’d found another lab where some of the shifters were being held and studied in California. The pride had gathered around the television in the alpha’s home to watch them pulling out several body bags of the deceased.
Evie tried not to let all of the news reports get to her, knowing that what the Community was doing was just as terrifying as what the wolves had done to her. It tested her strength more so than anything since she’d been kidnapped and tortured.
A wolf with a collar in his hands.
“Bitch!”
His boot as he kicked her in the belly.
The needles that gave her sedatives.
Evie squinted her eyes and shook her head, trying to clear the memories. Her PTSD was still present, and it was something she was probably going to have to deal with for the rest of her life, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to survive. She’d come this far in her healing process, and there was no way she’d go back to those dark days.
“Evie?” Ranger called out, pausing as he approached. The large Guardian stepped up to her side and lowered his voice. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” she answered, shaking the thoughts from her mind. “Nothing at all.”
“Do you want to sit out today?”
“No,” she scoffed. “I’m not leaving.”
“Fine,” he replied, handing over a set of gloves. “You can spar with my mate today.”
Hope approached and waited for Evie to prepare for their training session. She took a swing and missed Hope. Cursing, she held her ground as the female struck out against her. Bouncing on the balls of her feet, Evie tried to concentrate, but it wasn’t working.
Evie tried not to let the worry seep into her mind while she trained, and for the most part, she succeeded. Until a memory flashed through her mind and she lost focus for a split second.
“She’s bleeding.”
“Good! That’ll keep ‘em from making more.”
“Oh, poor kitty, don’t cry. We’re doing you a favor.”
“Evie!” Hope hollered, rushing to her side. Evie didn’t even realize she was flat of her back until she opened her eyes and saw Hope, Ranger, and Calla standing over her.
“Sorry, sorry,” she said, trying to sit up. Her jaw ached a little from the blow Hope had delivered.
“You lost focus,” Ranger growled.
“I know!” she snapped, tearing at the Velcro straps on her gloves. She tossed them to the side and looked up at Ranger. “We done?”
“Yeah, but you better be here in the morning,” he warned as she grabbed her bag and made a move for the door. “I’ll walk you home.”
“Don’t bother,” she bit out through her clenched teeth. “I’m fine.”
The hot September breeze coiled around her body as she stopped at the edge of the building, taking a few deep breaths to calm her beast. The memories would always be there. It was just when they struck out of the blue, Evie couldn’t stop the flashes that ran across her mind’s eye… and that was when she would be set back. That was when she would regress back to that scared and defenseless girl from so long ago.
Fabric tore as her panther took control, shifting in a blink of an eye. Claws dug into the dirt at her feet as she fled for the forest behind the alpha’s home, knowing she shouldn’t be alone, but at that moment, she just needed to run.
Dane stood with his back against the end of the bar closest to the door, his foot crossed over his ankle. He appeared relaxed and with no cares in the world, but what others didn’t know, he was on guard. His eyes scanned the crowd, and his nose was alert to every scent that drifted through the bar. He was in charge of security at the door of The Deuce, acting as the first line of defense against any enemies who might try to cause trouble.
Human deputies, wearing plain clothes, ate lunch and played pool as if they were any other average Joe in town. Cole Bryant was behind the bar, a pistol strapped to his hip and a shotgun secured under the bar. Noah was at the pride house, monitoring the cameras with a keen eye. The security and fire-power in the bar was as good as any military installation, and everyone who worked there had been trained in the event of any trouble from the Community. Even Moe, the cook, was armed in the kitchen.
Winter was sitting at the bar with Ranger at his side. Luke, the other bartender, was washing glasses at the sink. Both Guardians were watching their mates as they worked at The Deuce. Liberty had put her foot down about the bar, refusing to close its doors during the protests with the Community. Talon had fought her decision and put up quite the fuss of his own, but in the end, his mate’s wishes were granted.
“Want a beer?” Cole offered as he leaned against the inside of the bar.
“Sure,” Dane nodded, watching Cole when he reached into the cooler to grab a beer. The bartender was a little older than him. For a human, he was almost as large as Dane. He’d served in the human’s military and got out after a few tours overseas. He had a small scar on his upper lip that made him desirable to the women who came to the bar. Yeah, Dane had noticed them flirting with him, but the man kept to himself and did his job, rarely giving the women his time. Unlike Dane with his longer hair to cover his mangled ear, Cole kept his deep brown hair cut high and tight.
“Liberty is conducting interviews today for another waitress.” Cole rolled his eyes, setting the beer in front of Dane. “I’m sure this is going to be fun.”
Dane lazily reached for the beer, accidentally touching the tips of Cole’s fingers. A shiver of awareness rolled through his body, and he frowned. That was very strange. The feeling wasn’t magical enough to call to his beast, but it was definitely something. Maybe he was just on edge? Whatever it was, Cole hadn’t felt it, because the male moved over to take an empty beer bottle off the bar top to toss in the trash can like nothing had happened.
“Yeah,” Dane said, clearing his throat. “Winter is going to sit in with Liberty for her protection. We don’t trust anyone these days.”
“Agreed, my friend,” Cole said with a nod. Dane tipped the bottle toward Cole as sort of a thank you before taking a drink. When the bottle leveled out, the door to The Deuce opened and in walked the most beautiful blonde female Dane thought he’d ever seen.
“Damn,” Cole whispered under his breath. Dane had to agree. Since he was closest to her, and in charge of security, it was his job to check this woman out. It’d be my pleasure.
“I’m here for an interview with Mrs. Shaw,” the woman said, her emerald green eyes assessing him in that way that males loved. “My name is Olivia Stone.”
“I believe she’s expecting you,” Dane replied, his eyes scanning her face and trying his best not to stare at her breasts or thick hips. He failed, and miserably, at that.
Fuck! She was stunning. Long blonde hair, big green eyes, and breasts that would fit his palm perfectly. She smelled of sunshine… and she was human.
“I’m a little early,” Olivia stammered.
“No, I think you’re right on time,” he flirted, holding his hand out toward the bar. “Why don’t you have a seat and let Cole make you a drink while I have someone get Mrs. Shaw for you.”
“Thank you,” she said with a smile, a light blush dusting her cheeks when her eyes traced his outstretched arms and the mass of muscles there. Yeah, that right there was what men loved; to have women look at them with lust in their eyes. Even his panther sat up in his mind, purring softly at her.
Cole leaned against the bar with a naughty smirk on his face, asking her if she’d like something to drink. It wasn’t like the bartender to show much interest in the ladies. Interesting. So, this change was enough to make Dane raise a curious brow at the male who was putting the charm on the same woman he had only seconds before. Dane waited for his panther to snarl at the other male flirting with the female, but the beast didn’t. He still panted with interest at the two of them flirting. In fact, he liked watching them. Dane was known to have a certain taste in his pleasures. Seeing those two together was one of them.
Cole told Luke to cover the bar, and then he escorted the female toward the back office by placing his hand on her lower back. Dane’s upper lip lifted, wishing he could touch a female as easily as the human males did. Being a shifter, you touched women, but only to fuck or to see if they were your mate. Either way, most of them at least wanted to get to know the females first.
Dane had touched plenty of women, but mostly for a hot night in the sack. He didn’t care much for finding a mate. Now wasn’t the time to be bringing a female into their world. It was best that he stay single and stop looking at sexy, blonde females.
Yeah, right.