“Floyd, I was just…” Sam began, before Floyd raised the palm of one hand. I watched it turn into a wolf’s paw complete with two-inch-long black claws. I knew the claws would make quick work of Sam’s throat, of all our throats if the werewolf alpha wanted to be so bold.
“Having a drink with the enemy, were…wolf?” Floyd enunciated each syllable of the word with a voice as deep and intimidating as he could possibly make it.
“Put your claws away, Floyd,” I said quietly. “Unless you want me to forcibly remove you in front of all these humans.”
Floyd turned to look at me, a half-sneer half-smile on his face. He wasn’t a good-looking man, far from it. Instead, I figured he used his size and position in the pack to intimidate people into following him. He wasn’t what I would call charismatic, and I’d heard that he was a bastard when it came to the weaker members of his pack and the women he hit on here in this bar. And all that wasn’t even taking into consideration how he’d behaved at Vincent’s place; frankly, I didn’t like the guy. Even if he’d not threatened to kill my vampire that night, I wouldn’t have liked him. Sally had said he was a menace, and I believed her. My hand tightened on my weapon.
“That’s no idle threat, Reardon. Put away your claws and settle down or I’ll remove you from the saloon.”
He growled. “This is my bar, unicorn.”
“And there are innocents in here who can’t see that shit,” I said, tipping my head at his shifted hand.
He glared at me for several seconds before looking at his hand. A second later, the appendage shifted back to human as the man straightened.
“What do you want?” I asked.
Floyd glared through yellow eyes, and then turned to Sam, pointing. “I want to know why a member of my pack is drinking with the enemy?”
“Th—they invited me to sit down,” Sam explained in a shaky voice.
A throat suddenly cleared behind Floyd and his men. “I have food for everyone.”
I looked up to find Greg standing behind the three huge wolves holding a massive circular platter on which dishes of steaming food were set. He turned and put the platter on the table beside us and picked up two plates of burgers, looking innocently at Floyd as he waited for the alpha and enforcers to move out of his way. Reardon glared at Greg for a few seconds, and then he and the other two wolves stepped back to let him begin setting down food.
The air was thick with menace coming off the men, but I didn’t think they were going to do something when the bar had human patrons in it. I also felt like Floyd understood that, if necessary, I’d use my powers to protect everyone in the bar. He’d felt my power once before and I didn’t think he’d want to be subjected to it again. Then again, maybe he’d prove me wrong and act as stupidly as he had before.
Of course, there was always Sid and his powers to consider. I wasn’t sure if Reardon was even aware that Sid was a witch, but I figured he had to be since they’d both occupied the town for decades. Actually, Sid had been around longer than that…at least a century from what he’d told us.
Greg set down Sid’s food as well as mine. And the scent of perfectly cooked cheeseburgers and deliciously breaded and fried onion rings, hit my nostrils, mingling with the scent of Sam’s fear, and Vincent’s rage. I thought about that for a second, realizing for the first time that my sense of smell really was getting stronger along with my hearing and eyesight, just like Vincent said it would. I could actually smell Vincent’s anger, and I glanced at him, seeing the glint of hatred in his eyes as he stared at Reardon. When he tore his gaze away from the alpha wolf and turned to look at me, the glowing red swirl in the pupil of his eyes was on full display.
Greg went back for Sam’s plate and when he turned to set it in front of his best friend, Floyd’s hand shot out and grabbed the bartender’s wrist. “Stop! He’s done here.” Floyd held onto Greg’s arm, but turned to look at Sam. “Get up. You’re leaving.”
“Stay where you are, Sam,” I said. “You’re welcome to eat with us.” I turned to look at Greg. “Right? Greg?”
“I’ll leave,” Sam said, looking worriedly between me and Greg.
“If you leave, they’ll punish you, Sam,” Greg said, looking straight at Floyd and then turning to nod at the two large wolves he had with him. “They’ll punish me too. You know what that means.”
“But, Greg…” Sam whimpered.
“If you don’t come with me and face the consequences of communing with the enemy, you’re done with the pack,” the alpha said, glaring at Sam. “We might even let you live when the scourging is over.”
I felt Sam’s terror as the alpha werewolf promised him punishment simply for sharing a booth with us.
“Sam…” Sid said, “the scourging means you’ll be flayed in human form until you’re nearly dead. You’ll be locked in silver chains, so you won’t be able to shift and heal. Greg will be punished right beside you and he’ll be unable to help you get away. Do you understand? You most likely won’t survive it and if that happens, who’ll protect Greg?”
Sam turned to Sid who was frowning beside him. His eyes were wide with terror as he nodded.
“You’ve done nothing wrong, Sam,”
