Sierra Cartwright - Doms of Dark Haven

Over the music, she listened as Harte spoke quietly with Chase. He signaled a waiter over, and soon they all had drinks. Eva downed her water gratefully. She tracked her stalkers from the corner of her eye, praying that they looked like nothing more than a group of people having a good time. In reality, it was a war council. Harte nodded to Brian to take a seat. His little posse hung back, watching carefully. Patrice was in a rare fury at being excluded. She stood behind her mate's chair.

“What's this show of power about, Brian?” Harte asked.

The beta didn't like being singled out. His skin flushed, and his eyes flashed with anger.

“It's between us, Sommers. Later.”

“Are you challenging me for the pack? Do I need to watch my back when I step outside?” He had no intention of dropping the subject. “You haven't issued a formal challenge. We have an outside alpha here to witness the battle. Is that what you wish?”

Brian nearly squirmed. “We're leaving. Tonight. We're setting up new territory here in San Francisco.”

Harte's lips twitched in humor. “A new pack. Here in the heart of the city. I suppose you can run in the park. How brave of you, especially considering that Abraxas is here.”

“Looking for her.” Brian nodded toward Eva. “Once they have her or know they've lost her, they'll be gone. That tracker is tuned to her. Not us.”

“What's the matter, Brian? Don't have the balls to challenge your alpha in a fair fight?”

A tall man with wild auburn hair dragged a chair to the table and shouldered his way in between Chase and Brian. His eyes were fierce and wild and exactly the same wine red color as his hair. He was handsome, but his looks were nearly overshadowed by his feral expression. He was inserting himself between his alpha and a possible threat. This was the one she'd sensed earlier.

“We've decided to split off peacefully. We don't like the leadership anymore, so we're leaving.”

The redhead sniggered and clapped the man over the shoulders. “Peaceful wolves. You just keep telling yourself that, Brian.” He snagged the beta's drink and helped himself to it. Chase looked unmoved as his beta taunted Brian.

“We'll help with the hunters, but then we're on our way.”

Eva saw that the three new members of Harte's pack were hanging back, looking distinctly unhappy. Her gaze darted to Brian and Patrice. Were these wolves being compelled to rebel? Or were they simply distressed about being caught in the act? Perhaps it had been their intention to defect quietly. Eva glanced around the room, searching for Kevin. She spotted him leaning against a wall, ostensibly watching a naked couple dancing seductively on the stage. In reality, he was carefully watching Harte's back.

Next to her, Harte shifted. His body heat had risen a notch. “No, Brian. You've effectively tried to make me lose face in front of another pack leader. You might not want to challenge me, but I think that I'd like to challenge you. We will fight immediately after we take care of business with the hunters.”

“Not necessary, Harte. I don't want your pack or territory. We just want to live our lives our way. You can come into our territory just as long as you give us a heads-up first.”

“He knows he can't take Harte in a fair fight. He'll try and take you out tonight while you're distracted.” Kevin knelt next to Harte's chair, his arm looped over the back. His fingers brushed Eva's shoulder.

“Shut up, sub!”

Kevin smiled at Brian. “Game's over, Brian. Truth is, you probably can't even take me . Funny to hear you claiming territory that you have no right to.”

Eva looked at the group at the table. The level of tension had risen dangerously. Across the room, she saw a DM standing next to Master Xavier. They watched carefully.

“I think we're drawing more attention than we should.” Eva spoke softly. “As far as I'm concerned, you're in my territory, Brian. I've been the only wolf in the city for over a decade. I've fought off every imaginable threat, including vampires and creatures you've never dreamed about. I don't welcome you here. And by joining with me, Harte has a claim on this territory as well. Maybe you should look farther south. I hear Bakersfield is nice.” She held his gaze this time, not even feeling the temptation to look away. It was Brian who broke eye contact.

“Little girl's got balls. I like that.” The redhead grinned. He clearly enjoyed stirring up trouble.

“Eva, let me introduce you to Sage. This troublemaker is my first beta.”

Chase's lieutenant reached across the table and extended a hand. She shook it, and her skin tingled with his wild energy. She couldn't help smiling back at him.

“Kevin, take Eva to the locker rooms and guard her while she gets dressed. We need to get out of here.” He turned to Eva as she rose. “Leave off the corset and boots. We'll need to move quickly.”

The omega nodded and held Eva's elbow lightly. With a nod at his alpha, Sage rose to follow.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, Sage and Kevin waited by the door.

Harte joined them as they returned to the entrance of the club.

“Are we ready?” Harte rested a hand on her shoulder and tipped up her chin to look into her eyes. “Kevin, take our stuff to the car, then come join us. You and Sage are to find their car. Sage will take care of the driver; you guard the tracker. Be ready in case anything…unexpected happens. Understood?”

“Understood.” Kevin's voice was soft, but there wasn't the slightest trace of fear in it. He vanished into the fog, and Sage stepped back into the shadows, melting from sight.

“Damn.” She stared after him in amazement.

Harte clasped Eva's hand. He kissed her lightly, pausing to nuzzle her hair.

“You are a miracle, Eva. I won't let anything happen to you.” With the fog swirling around them, she felt as if they were in their own private world. She was frightened yet oddly calm. For the first time in years, Eva knew what it felt like to be part of a greater whole.

“What's going to happen?”

“We're going to let them herd us into an alley, where my people are waiting.

Chase and his men are standing by for emergency, and they'll do the cleanup.”

“That's not what I meant.”

“I know.” He held her at an arm's length. “You know we belong together.”

She nodded.

“After tonight, we'll get the details worked out. You're part of my pack now.

You're free to continue your life, but I want you to come home with me. We've got plenty of time to work things out. Though I might want to, I'm not going to take over your life.” He grinned and began walking down the sidewalk, her hand tucked into his elbow.

“You really fought vamps?” He glanced at her and then away into the darkness.

“Sure did. When I was on the street, they'd come creeping in while we slept.

Vamps have a really twisted moral code. They go after drunks and junkies, but they prefer criminals. They don't believe in rehab or the justice system. I never hunted them, but they learned not to prey on me and my neighbors in the camps.”

They walked silently for a while.

“Now, Eva, are we alone?”

“No, there's someone at the end of the block behind us. He's starting to move quickly. There's another ahead. He's waiting.”

“Very good.”

“What about Brian and Patrice?” she asked.

“Brian intended to make his move tonight but didn't expect you to come along.

He meant to ambush me. Now that I know of his plans, I can exile him rather than hurt or kill him.”

“Kill.” She automatically tightened her hand on his arm. Over the years, Eva had seen a side of life that most people knew nothing of. It had been hard and cruel and didn't fall in line with human law.