Cassidy didn't know if he was stubborn or suicidal.
"Please, Samson," she tried again as he pulled into the gravel parking lot in front of the bar. "You don't have to do this."
"Yeah, I do." He set the brake and cut the engine. "We do."
Cassidy's stomach sank as she watched him get out of the truck. He didn't wait for her. Instead, he started for the steps.
After a long second, Cassidy drew in a deep breath and followed him.
She couldn't let him go in there alone. Her place was at his side. No matter what.
Samson kept his shoulders squared and his head high as he swung open the door to the bar and stepped inside. Cassidy stayed close behind, shielded by his massive frame.
She might not be a coward, but she wasn't an idiot either. Samson was lucky enough to be bigger and stronger than ever other alpha around, but Cassidy was as average as betas came. One flick of an alpha's finger would send her flying.
Fortunately, Evander's wasn't packed like it had been the night before. It wasn't empty, either. There was a pack of three alphas standing around the pool table, while a lone alpha downed a beer at the bar.
Every one of them turned and looked at her and Samson.
"I thought I smelled you out there, Samson." A light-haired alpha gave a dark smirk before laying his pool cue down on the table. He stepped forward, his chest puffed out on full display. "Someone said you'd bound yourself to a beta, but I didn't believe it. Guess it's true, though."
Cassidy's throat tightened. She knew they shouldn't have come here. This was a bad idea.
A very bad idea.
She gripped the back of Samson's arm, hoping he could sense how much they needed to get the hell out of there.
But, apparently, Samson didn't agree.
"You got a problem with that?" he said to the younger alpha.
The alpha quickly glanced back at his friends, making sure he had their backing, before raising his chin. He must have figured that though Samson was bigger, they had numbers on their side.
"Guess I do," the alpha said, edging closer. Cassidy didn't need alpha-level senses to pick up on the aggression in his tone. "Nicky's girls are one thing, but this is unnatural. It's—"
Whatever the alpha was going to say next, he never got the chance.
Samson pulled back his fist and smashed it into the man's jaw faster than Cassidy could track.
One punch, and it was done. The young alpha crumpled to the floor, unconscious. A stream of blood trickled from his mouth.
Cassidy gasped, her hands flying up to cover her mouth. She'd never seen anyone move so fast before, or hit so hard. The sudden burst of violence was both efficient and terrifying, and she wasn't quite sure how to react.
Samson turned his head, slowly scanning the bar. "Anybody else got shit to say about my woman?"
No one uttered a word.
"Good," Samson said with a nod. Reaching behind him, he grabbed Cassidy's wrist and led her to the bar. Her knees were still shaking as she lifted herself up onto one of the stools.
Ty let out a groan as they sat down. Shaking his head, he picked up a rag and started walking over.
"Two beers," Samson ordered. Without lifting his head, he glanced up at his old friend. "Assuming you'll still serve us."
"He'll serve you," a deep voice said from a few stools down.
Cassidy looked over at the big alpha sitting there alone. He turned his head, met Cassidy's gaze, and gave her a nod.
Ty glared at both the alphas with exasperation before reaching for the mugs. "Somebody gonna take care of Rowan, or are you just gonna leave him bleeding on my floor?" he asked.
Samson shrugged. "The pup will wake up soon enough. "
"Hopefully, he learned a lesson about when to keep his mouth shut," the other alpha agreed.
"Shit, Kian," Ty grumbled. "Whose side are you on?"
The alpha palmed his glass. "Didn't realize we had sides," he said before draining his beer.
So, this was Kian. Cassidy's eyes widened. She'd heard plenty about the alpha who was the first in decades to meet his omega, but she'd never met him. He didn't come into neutral territory much anymore. Especially not now that he had little ones at home.
Cassidy watched as Samson took a gulp and stared balefully at the taps in front of him.
Well, this was fun.
After a long, silent, and painfully tense minute had passed, she reached over and pulled on his sleeve.
"You've proven your point," she whispered, knowing full well that every conscious alpha in the place could hear her crystal clear. "Can we go home now?"
Samson looked at his glass. "I think I'll have another one."
Oh, for fuck's sake. Was he trying to punish her, making her worry that another fistfight was going to break out? Was he trying to prove something to Ty? That he wouldn't be driven out or pushed around?
Whatever it was, Cassidy was sick of playing along.
She grabbed her beer and slid off her stool. "Well, you have fun in here," she said. "I'm going to get some fresh air."
Cassidy didn't look back as she pushed the side door open and stepped out onto the patio.
The second she was outside, her guard crumbled. Her hands shook, making her beer splash and froth in the mug. The stifling weight on her chest eased, but her breathing still sputtered.
If Samson had come here to show her that she'd been a jerk for telling him that his life would go on as usual, he'd proved his point.
This wasn't some frivolous game for him. For the first time, Cassidy realized just how much he was gambling—his friendships, his standing in the community, even his safety.
Maybe hers too.
Cassidy jumped at the sound of a squeaky hinge swinging open. She breathed a sigh of relief to see Mia standing in the doorway.
Cassidy couldn't help herself. She rushed over and gave the omega a hug before
