Chapter 4

Dante POV

I left out of the house and headed toward the tree line. Passing the omegas that were breaking down the event decorations and tent. My mind was racing and I was a ball of rage. I needed to run. I unbuttoned my jacket and shirt and began removing my clothes. I shifted before I could remove my pants and tore through my bottoms. Black fur sprouting everywhere as Romulus pushed his way through with a vengeance. I bolted into the forest and began running. *Mate with another she wolf? How dare he think he can make those decisions for us!* Romulus roared. I just grunted in agreement and pushed forward. We ran for miles without stopping before we came to a small stream. I stopped to take a drink. *Dante, where are you?* I heard Augusts voice through the mind link. I grunted and stuck my nose in the air to sniff *east of the pack boarders, I think I smell a city near by. Maybe 10 miles outside of the city near a stream. I needed a run.* the link fell silent, I knew what he was thinking, would he say it is the question. *run towards the highway, sounds like you’re close to downtown LA. I’ll meet you with some clothes.* he says and cuts the mind link. I begrudgingly do what he says and wonder towards the highway without getting too close. I shift back as I see my black SUV pull off to the side of the road and walk up. August quickly gets out and hands me some clothes. I pull on the boxer briefs and black jeans before pulling on the black muscle tee. I run my fingers through my hair and slide on the black leather boots I keep in the car. August hands me a cigarette as if reading my mind and I lean against the SUV and light it. “So are you going to tell me what got you so riled up that Romulus made an appearance?” He started “I mean I haven’t seen him since…” I growled cutting him off. “Don’t.” I said coldly. A long silence filled the void between us before he finally spoke again. “Looks like you could use a drink Alpha. There’s a new were club downtown Rahul put our names on the list, what do you say we check it out?” August suggests. After pondering for a few minutes I nod and put the cigarette butt out under my boot before climbing in the passenger side. I was in no shape to drive. A few minutes later we pull up to a large grey building with two huge bouncers outside. Both werewolves from their scent. Probably Rahuls men. August hands the keys to the valet and we walk up. August says something to the bouncers and they open the door allowing us to pass. We go to coat check and August checks his blazer with the little shewolf behind the counter. He begins flirting with her. I’m not surprised, August was a ladies man. Unlike me who had ever been with one shewolf, August had bedded many. He was holding out hope for his fated mate but said it couldn’t hurt to have fun! I rolled my eyes at them as they flirted shamelessly. Then I turned and made my way to the bar across the room. Pushing my way through the sweaty bodies dancing in the flashing lights. The DJ was spinning EDM. Great. “Must be Rave night” I said to myself. August said we had a private booth but I’ve never been one to take special treatment. I was just fine down here in the crowed. I got a few stares from some of the shewolves no doubt plotting how to get into my bed. I posted up at the bar and watched the dance floor, the bartender came over. “Can I help you stud muffin?” She said in a deeply southern accent, a sly smile across her face. I turned to meet her gaze, she was attractive. Blond hair, straight down her back, big breasts no doubt silicon. I rolled my eyes, we’re all women made of plastic around here. “Whiskey, top shelf, double, on the rocks.” I said plainly. “You got it suge” she said with a wink. She returned quickly with my drink and set it down before walking away to help the other patrons. I sipped my drink while scanning the crowed before my eyes fell on her. I didn’t even realize I was watching her. Her olive skin shined under the flashing lights of the dance floor, her long wavy locks flowed freely as she moved her body to the music. She definitely looked different than the business woman I’d seen earlier at dinner. Don’t get me wrong she was equally beautiful in her pants suit, though not what I expected to see from an 18 year old. But the way her little black skirt hugged her hips and just a peak of her toned abs shone through between her top and skirt. Don’t get me started on her legs. The girl was stacked. I finished my drink and motioned to the bartender for another one as I became engrossed in watching her every move. As I was working on my second drink a hand landed on my shoulder snapping me out of my stupor. “She’s something isn’t she.” August said almost yelling over the music. I quickly turned around and shrugged my shoulders. “She’s the Alpha Major. Don’t you think it’s weird for her to be out dancing in…. That?” I scoffed as if I hadn’t just been checking her out. “She’s also 18 and allowed to have fun. Just like you’re allowed to have fun.” He winked at me and motioned to the bartender. “Hey suge, well aren’t you a handsome sack of potatoes. What can I get for you?” She winked at August. Goddess these women have no shame. “August flashed her a sly smile, “well, I was gonna order a double vodka but maybe I’ll take a shot of you instead sweetheart” he gave her a toothy grin. “Oh sweetheart even if you could afford me, I’m batting for the other team. But I’ll get that vodka for you hon.” She strutted away and august looked almost confused. I laughed “what’s wrong? Not used to getting turned down?” I tease. He wrinkles his nose “no but I could have sworn she was flirting with me first!” He protested. “Maybe your juju is fading.” I said mockingly. “Don’t even joke about that. It’s not funny. First the coat check girl, now the bartender.” He said annoyed. I laughed and chugged the rest of my whisky, motioning for another. The bartender brought both our drinks shortly after. I turned around to face the dance floor again. My eyes instinctively search for the golden goddess only to find her dancing with another wolf. Look at that prick. Tank top, douche bag hair, he even has the backwards baseball cap. I laugh to myself. She’s definitely too good for him. Romulus grunts in agreement. As I’m watching them dance the prick starts to cop a feel on Anna and my blood boils as she tells him to stop, clearly wanting none of his advancements. I toss back the rest of my whiskey and make a beeline to Anna in the middle of the dance floor just as the prick grabs her arm. I walk up behind her and place a hand on her shoulder. Just then she leans into me and kicks the douchebag in the groin then brings her leg back up and sends a crushing round house kick to my jaw. The idiot crumples to the ground and Anna turns to face me fists raised before shock sets in on her face. I grab my jaw and rub it “I guess you didn’t need my help after all.” I said through gritted teeth. Though it would take a lot more to bring me down I won’t lie and say that felt good. Cause it didn’t. She cups her tiny hands over her mouth. “OH MY GODDESS DANTE! I AM SO SORRY. I thought you were with that asshat.” She yells over the music. By now we’ve drawn a small crowd of onlookers. “It’s okay.” I say still rubbing my chin. “No, it’s not! You’re bleeding. Oh my goddess I can’t believe I kicked you in the face! Here come with me!” She grabs my hand and leads me away before I can protest. I follow her up the stairs and she brings me into a private bathroom in the VIP area. Once we’re inside she closes the door and I stand there awkwardly. Well this isn’t how I saw this night going, I said to myself. She grabs some paper towels and wets them under the faucet. She pats the counter next to the sink “sit” she says. “What am I a dog?” I say scrunching my face up at her. She laughs and rolls her eyes “just sit down, please.” I begrudgingly sit on the sink so that we are somewhat eye level. She takes the damp paper towel and wipes the corner of my mouth and neck. I didn’t realize I was bleeding so much. “You’re already healed.” She says matter of fact. I cock an eyebrow at her “well, I am a werewolf so….” She laughs again. I kind of like her laugh. It’s….. cute. “Take off your shirt” she said cutting me from my thoughts. “Huh?” I say flabbergasted. “Look you’re very attractive but this isn’t how I uh…. Well… this isn’t what I…” I stutter over my words. What the hell is wrong with me. She looks at me with her doe like amber colored eyes and a smile cracks onto her face before she starts cackling. I grunt standing up “what is so funny? I just meant that..” I start. “She points to my shirt “you’ve got blood on your shirt, i want you to take it off so I can get the stain out.” She says calmly with a slight smile still on her face. Suddenly I feel embarrassed. I NEVER get embarrassed. I roll my eyes and pull my shirt over my head then hand it to her. I don’t miss her eyes roam over my body as She takes it and puts it under the running water in the sink, adding some hand soap and scrubbing the blood off. “You didn’t have to do that.” I say in a desperate attempt to fill the awkward silence. She smiles and her eyes meet mine as she turns the water off. “It’s the least I can do after I round house kicked my knight in shining armor” she says teasingly. She holds the shirt under the hand dryer for a few seconds and hands it back to me. “There, it’s not totally dry but now you don’t have to go around smelling like blood.” She says scrunching up her nose. A laugh escapes my lips and we look into each others eyes for a brief moment before there is a knock on the door. “ANNA GET OUT HERE! There’s a guy at the front entrance making a scene, says he knows you’re in here and won’t leave until you come out!” Anna’s beta shouts through the door. She rolls her eyes in frustration “goddess, what now! Can’t a girl celebrate a birthday drama free.” She says as she pushes past me and flings the door open. I follow behind her, not sure why. Her beta catches a glimpse of me coming out of the bathroom behind her and give me a sly smirk. “It’s not what it looks like.” I say flatly. “Uh huh, sure thing big guy.” She winks at me. I roll my eyes and we head after Anna.