Chapter 20
The Westmores were the strongest clan in Etna, but they weren’t the only clan. The Davos clan was a rough-and-tumble group that operated mostly out of the Weeping Willow Tavern, a rodeo bar not far from Red Moon Ranch. Too close for comfort, really, but Jacob was an inclusive Alpha. Territory boundaries just incited the Beast in everyone and caused conflict. So everyone got a piece of everything, as long they followed some basic ground rules. And—
“You got spotted,” Jacob explained. “That’s a violation.”
“Aw, c’mon now,” Major, the Alpha of the Davos clan, flashed Jacob a crooked grin. “Bears get spotted all the time on these mountains. It happens, right? Nothing to shed a tear about.”
They sat across from each other in the plush red booths of the Weeping Willow Tavern, Jacob and Brent on one side, Major and his Beta on the other side. The bar still had a couple hours before it opened, but country music crooned softly over the speakers. The tavern was a favorite for shifters in the area and the place was covered in animal smells, not to mention the scents of the Davos clan and Major’s Alpha aura. All of it roused Jacob’s Beast and he felt his hands begin to tremble once more.
“The bear was spotted in my territory,” Jacob said, voice low, trying to keep the growl out of it. “That puts eyes on my ranch.”
“Jacob,” Major coaxed with that same smile. “Red Moon Ranch has seen worse. They can handle one meager bear sighting every now and then. What’s the Sherriff gonna do, hire hunters, start a witch hunt?”
“Point is,” Brent interjected, “we don’t want it to get to that point.”
Major laughed, lifting his hands. “You’re all blowing this out of proportion—”
“That’s my family!” Jacob roared and slammed his hand down. The table shook and his claws made dents.
Claws. He realized before it was too late, and just then, Brent put his hands on Jacob’s shoulders. “Give us a second, yeah?”
Jacob felt Brent usher him to the back of the bar, out the door. Brent was trying to tell him something, but he couldn’t hear over the rush of blood in his ears, the gnawing pain in his muscles. Jacob doubled over with a groan; he could feel his gums stretching, his teeth lengthening to fangs, the Beast raging through him—
“Jacob!” The sound of his name shot him back to life and Jacob glanced up. He could see worry in Brent’s eyes as the other man held him up and said, “Hold it together…what am I gonna tell Holly if you go full-bear in the middle a’ town, huh?”
Holly. Her name was like an ice bath, slowing the rush of Beast in his blood. Holly. He thought about her smile. He thought about the way she chewed the end of her pen. He thought about the way she curled up against him when he slept, fitting perfectly in his arms, and how holding her filled his chest with warmth.
Jacob braced himself against Brent and caught his breath. Slowly, he felt the Beast recede back inside of him.
“Y’alright, boss?” Brent gave his shoulder a squeeze as Jacob rose full onto two legs.
His shirt had ripped around the shoulders, tattering his back, but he nodded. “I’m fine. Get me back to the booth.”
“Don’t strain yourself,” Brent muttered.
“I’m fine,” Jacob said, more adamantly.
Brent sighed and shrugged out of his leather jacket. “Shit…you’re a stubborn bastard, y’know that? Here.” Brent held out the jacket and Jacob slipped it on, successfully hiding the rips in his shirt.
By time they got back to the booth, Major and his Beta looked pale, shaken. It’d been unintentional, but nothing rattled another clan like an angry, Beast-roaring Alpha. “So we’ve put some thought into it,” Major said, “and you’re right. I’m sorry we were careless…it won’t happen again. Is there anything we can do to make it up to you, Jacob?”
“Just don’t do it again,” Jacob said, exhausted. His forehead pounded.
Brent perched on the cushions and glanced around. “How much does that mechanical bull go for?” Brent asked. He pointed to a shoddy, rusted-up mechanical bull in the corner.
Major’s eyebrows lifted. “That old thing? It’s busted. Hasn’t worked in years. She’s just there for show now.”
“I’ll help you fix it if y’let us ride it for free,” Brent said. Jacob shot him a glare. Brent shrugged. “What?”
“Hey, you’d be doing us a favor, taking her off our hands,” Major said, then laughed and slapped his Beta on the back. “Always good working with you, boys.”