A Mate's Denial(18)

But what about the rest of the Ozarka wolves? The innocents like Gabby? They didn’t deserve what Ravendale was planning.

Asa slid stealthily into the seat across from Trager. He was massive, but nothing compared to Cael and his muscle-bound cohort. More along the lines of Trager. The older wolf hunched his shoulders, apparently trying to seem smaller or more inconspicuous.

“About time,” Trager muttered.

A red eyebrow, tinged with gray, arched. “Things are a bit… volatile right now.” His gaze drifted over to his alpha. “Besides, it’s not like we had an appointment, loner.”

“True.”

“So, have you come up with a plan yet?”

“Me? I thought you were going to work some kind of magic on your end while I put out a warning to Ozarka.”

Asa ran his hand through his hair. “I suck at magic. Listen, I don’t know how much longer the Elders can hold him back.”

Trager glanced at the alpha. His glare sliced through the room like a missile seeking a target.

“What’s your stake in all this?” He knew Asa had never been a part of Ozarka so he had no connections there, no reason to tip the scale. And as for his claims about not wanting a war, Cael looked like a freight train that couldn’t be stopped.

Asa’s mouth became grim. “I have my reasons.”

“Not good enough,” Trager snapped. “In order to warn Ozarka, I have to bring my mate into this. That means I better have a damn good reason for doing that. So far, you haven’t given me one.” He didn’t have to know Trager had reasons of his own. Gabbi and Farrow.

Asa’s eyes narrowed. “You think I’m an idiot, boy? I know you have family there, and I’m guessing you don’t want them in the middle of this.”

“I wouldn’t risk my mate for the people who threw me out.” It was true. But Gabbi and Farrow weren’t part of that.

Hunching closer to the table, Asa spoke low. “I owe him my life. I know he seems… hard, but his biggest problem is his heart is too big. Being an alpha didn’t come natural for Cael. He did it out of spite. It was something to work for, a goal to conquer.” He shook his head before speaking again. “His love for that female is eating him alive. And if he goes through with this, he’ll just end up hurt. I’ve been protecting him too long to let that happen.”

Trager looked to the bar to see two furious bronze eyes zeroed in on him.

“Shit,” he muttered.

Asa turned in time to see Cael and his man, barreling through the crowd toward them.

“Relax. It’s fine.”

Trager’s wolf growled low, already wanting to challenge rather than bow.

Cael walked right up to them, slamming his palms down and leaning low over the table. “Who are you?”

Ignoring Buzz-cut, Trager straightened. “Who are you?” He knew if he backed down now, he’d lose this battle of wills.

“You’re a wolf, in my bar. I guess that makes me your motherfucking alpha.” Cael’s eyes skated the edge of crazy, the way they blazed.

“It’s not your bar.”

His mouth formed an evil grin. “It is tonight. You Ozarka?”

“No.”

He stood up, tossing a look to Asa before turning to his partner. “Haze, it looks like we have a new recruit to train.”

Trager stood to his full height—which left him almost eye-level with the alpha. “I’m no one’s,” he growled. “I’m a loner, and I intend to keep it that way.”

Cael’s gaze narrowed. “Is that right.”

Trager nodded once.

“Asa, explain why you’re hanging with a drifter.”

The old man sighed. “You want the long or the short.”

Cael’s eyes broke away from Trager to glare at Asa. “Try the short.”

“I hang with whoever I want.”

The alpha looked like he wanted to throttle someone. Lots of someones. But specifically, the graying wolf. “Give me the long.”

Asa shrugged. “He doesn’t have a pack because they kicked him out when the Elders had a vision that his mate would reject him. Sound familiar? I was talking to him about joining ours, but he’d rather be a lone wolf. Then you walked up with your attitude hanging out, and pretty much sealed the deal, I think.”

Seconds passed before Cael turned back to Trager. “Your mate rejected you?” His question was quiet, almost inaudible in the noise that had resumed in the building. But what struck Trager as odd, was the fact that he didn’t seem to be judging him. Trager was used to people looking at him like he was a leper, but this wolf seemed almost… puzzled.

“Not yet.”