Chapter Six
Joanna
I stormed up the stairs, Maya’s grip firm on my arm as she led me away from the cells, her blank stare fixed straight ahead.
Marcus was going to execute Ethan. Without me.
“Let go,” I demanded, yanking my arm from Maya’s grasp as we reached the top. She released me but said nothing.
I paced the hallway, and my hands clenched into fists at my sides. This was my kill.
I turned to Maya and the young werewolf at her side. “This is bullshit.”
Maya crossed her arms and unpressed her lips, exhaling sharply. “What is? Forgive me. We ‘wet dogs’ have trouble understanding human emotion.”
I winced, rubbing the back of my neck as I recalled my words from the night before. “Look, I’m sorry about that. First impressions are… well, they’re overrated.”
Maya’s eyes softened, but her stance remained firm. “Whatever.”
I resumed my pacing. “I should be down there.”
Maya’s brow rose. “Is it just the hunters, or are all humans this egotistical? Ethan is our beta, Miss Sullivan. Our alpha’s best friend. And while he’s out helping you, he gets mixed up in shit that destroys him. Do you not understand what Marcus has to do now?”
“Are you saying this is my fault?” I exclaimed. “I don’t know how much Marcus shared through the wolf bond, but to summarize, this uprising didn’t start because of me.”
Maya’s silence was unnerving. What’s worse, the silence of… Lucas, from the moment he said “guilty,” was making my skin crawl.
“I think I should leave.”
Maya gave a single nod. “Lucas will grab your things.” She watched as he headed for the guest room where I’d spent the night.
This woman wasted no time. “If circumstances were different, I might’ve liked you.”
Maya shrugged, her face bearing no emotion. “I’m afraid the feeling isn’t mutual, Miss Sullivan.”
***
What does a woman wear to a secret werewolf club? Not much, apparently.
I stood in front of the mirror, tugging at the hem of the ridiculously short black dress I’d bought for this little expedition. It barely reached mid-thigh. Paired with knee-high boots, I looked like the type of girl who wanted to get into a bit of trouble.
I swept my braids up into a ponytail, leaving a few strands down to frame my face. Dark, smoky eyes stared back at me in the mirror, and I practiced my smile—seductive, mysterious, the kind of smile that said, “Of course, I wouldn’t wipe you from the face of the earth if given a chance.”
I took a deep breath before removing my locket and slipping a gold necklace around my neck. The smoky crystal pendant hummed against my skin, masking my energy with its own.
I traded my knife for a tiny push dagger that I could fit in my boot. It paid to be prepared.
As I headed out, I sent a quick text to Marcus. I hadn’t heard from him since I left the compound days ago, and I wasn’t sure what to make of the silence. Part of me was still pissed about being excluded from Ethan’s execution, but the other part…
Ugh.
Reminding you. Club Luna tonight. You’re welcome to join me.
***
The music pounded through the cement as I waited in the check-in line.
I chuckled. At least they were carding people.
“Bitch! You’re sexy as hell.” A thick Latina with beautiful brown hair, but eyelashes that could shade the Sahara, looked me up and down.
“I’m only trying to keep up with you, honey,” I replied, matching her enthusiasm. “Have you been here before?”
She grinned, her eyes shining with excitement. “Baby, I live here. The music is amazing, and the crowd is… large.” She winked at me, her slurred voice laced with innuendo. “You gonna be okay by yourself, chica? You can roll with me and my girls.”
I shook my head, smiling at her. “I don’t plan on being by myself for long.”
“Yes, Queen!” She winked again before sauntering off, skipping the line with no resistance.
Even from outside, the bass pulsed through my body. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Club Luna, but I was itching to find out.
The line inched forward, and I finally reached the front. The bouncer, a tall, muscular human with shrewd eyes, looked me up and down before stamping the back of my hand with a glowing mark. I ignored the tickle of the stamp’s magic, giving the bouncer an innocent smile as I strutted past him.
Inside, the club was sensory overload. Strobe lights flashed, casting everything in a disorienting glow.
The music was a thumping beat that seemed to reverberate deep within everyone.
Bodies rubbed against each other, grinding on the dance floor, a writhing mass of limbs and desire… Of werewolves and their prey.
I studied the crowd, my eyes adjusting to the pulsing lights. I could see them, the werewolves, moving with predatory grace. Their bodies pressed against unsuspecting humans—hands roaming and lips meeting in desperate, heated kisses.
The air was thick with pheromones, the scent of sweat and desire mingling with cologne and expensive perfume.
A primal energy filled the club. A wild need that drove the creatures to seduce, to claim.
It was exhilarating… but dangerous. Because those eyes glinted with a hunger that was more than mere lust.
I made my way to the bar, sliding onto a stool and waving the bartender over. He was a handsome werewolf with cornrows that were neater than my braids. He smiled, and his teeth gleamed against the fullness of his beard.
“What can I get for you, sis?” he asked, leaning in to be heard over the music.
“Rum and Coke,” I replied, pretending to be more interested in the crowd than my order.
But I watched closely as he mixed my drink. I marked everything he touched, from the rocks glass to the can of soda. At last, he garnished the glass with a lime before sliding it across the bar.
I took a small sip of the cocktail, relieved to confirm it was, in fact, just a rum and Coke. In a club run by monsters with the occasional urge to butcher, a human could never be too careful.
I pulled out my phone and opened it to see a photo of Toya. She smiled up at me, her eyes full of playful mischief. I swallowed hard, pushing down the familiar ache her image always brought me.
I showed the photo to the bartender when he came back with the bill. “Have you seen her around here? It might have been a few years ago, actually…”
He glanced at it, his expression unaltered. “Can’t say I have. But let me know if you need anything else.”
I nodded, turning back to the crowd. I studied each face, searching for anyone I recognized, and came up empty. But I couldn’t do much attached to a stool.
I took a gulp of my drink, feeling the liquid courage spread through me. And as I set my glass down, I felt a presence approach from behind.
A hand brushed against my shoulder.
“Hey there, beautiful.” The werewolf’s vile breath clung to my cheek, reeking of alcohol and blood. “You here alone?”
I gave him a cool smile, forcing my hand not to move to my boot where the dagger hid. “Just waiting for a friend.” I held my phone up to his face. “Do you recognize her?”
The werewolf crept closer, his hand sliding down my arm until his fingers latched on. “No. But you and I can have a little fun while you wait, can’t we?” His eyes swept over me.
I shook my head, trying to remove his hand from my arm without the use of my power. “I’m good, thanks.” My pulse quickened, adrenaline beginning to pump through my veins.
He persisted, his grip tightening and fingers digging into my skin. “Come on, don’t be like that. We could have a real good time together.” Darkness laced his voice, sending a shiver down my spine.
Anger rose from inside me, the urge to fight back growing stronger. But I was undercover, and blowing my cover here would be fatal. I needed to stay calm and find a way out of this without causing a scene.
My brain went into overdrive, trying to think of a way to remove myself without drawing too much attention. “Thank you, but I’m not interested,” I said firmly, trying to keep the tension out of my voice. My palms began to sweat. This was going too far.
His menacing chuckle made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “You’re just playing hard to get, aren’t you?” He leaned in even closer. “Luckily for us, I love a challenge.”
Panic replaced my anger. Fear that I was about to lose control of the situation spread through my body. I needed to get away from this piece of shit.
But before I could act, I heard the growl from behind me.
The man’s eyes widened, and he stumbled back, the blood draining from his face. “Alpha.”
I turned to see Marcus, his amber eyes burning with fury. “She said she’s not fucking interested.” His voice rumbled, cutting through the air.
The man nodded, scurrying into the crowd.
Marcus turned to me, his eyes still hard. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, taking a deep breath. “I’m fine.” But I wasn’t fine. I was angry that Marcus had to swoop in and save me.
He slid onto the stool next to me, signaling the bartender. “What are you doing here, Joanna?” He dropped his voice until it was barely audible against the music. “And what happened to your power?”
“I’m dampening it,” I said under my breath. “It was the only way I’d get in here to look for answers.” I showed him the photo of Toya. “Ethan said she came here before she disappeared. I need to know if anyone saw her and if anyone knows anything.”
Marcus didn’t look at the photo. His eyes had widened at Ethan’s name, but now his gaze drifted from my neck to my chest. He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “Put this on,” he said, beginning to remove his leather jacket.
“No, thank—”
“It wasn’t a fucking request.”
I froze, my breath catching in my throat.
Marcus grunted before knocking back the drink the bartender had placed in front of him.
He signaled for another. “You’re going to get yourself killed,” he whispered to me.
“After everything I’ve done in the last week to protect your kind, the least you can do is not entice them.
” He gestured over at the bartender with a nod.