Unexpected Mate

Jason, the bartender, was wiping down tables and putting chairs up side down on top, so the floor could be mopped. Kai, the bar owner, was downstairs hauling up cases of beer to restock for tomorrow.

Just as Kai stepped into the hallway from the basement the atmosphere changed. A scent caught his nose and he froze to identify it. Wild flowers, earth, and blood.

"Jason!" He alerted. "Incoming!" He moved behind he bar and set the three cases he was carrying down. He stood up and a girl, at least he thought it was a girl, slipped in the door. She was dressed in a big over sized hoodie which covered her whole face. A black pair of sweatpants that were at least two sizes to big. She was barefoot. Her golden hair was hanging just on the one side outside the hoodie. She was gripping her right side tightly and Kai noticed her hand was bloody. Almost silently she moved and slipped into the booth and sidled down deep into the corner. Not looking up. Jason followed her with his eyes then looked over the bar at Kai. Kai grabbed a glass filled it with water and moved over to her. He slipped the water down in front of her. As he drew closer to her he could smell the fear rolling off her. She kept her eyes down and reached for the glass with bloody hands.

"Thank you." She whispered weakly. Picking the glass up she drank it all down.

"You're hurt." He stood in front of her.

"I'll be okay. Just need to rest." Again her voice was weak.

"Kai!" Jason pointed at his ears and nodded towards the outside.

Kai looked at the little thing hiding in the corner of the booth. "You running?" He asked. As he heard boots walking in a hurry outside.

Blue eyes shot up from under the hoodie. Fear, no..terror flashed across her small face. " I'll leave." She slid over and tried to stand. A moan of pain came from her lips.

"Which pack? I smell wolf all over you." She stopped. Peered at his grey eyes and then hung her head.

"Red Dawn." She whispered.

"That's all I need to know. Follow me." He turned around and lead her to the back hallway. " Red Dawn Jason." He called out over his shoulder.

"Shit!" Jason exclaimed then moved behind the bar.

Kai stopped in front of the women's room. "Take off your hoodie." He ordered.

She looked at him, but complied. Lifting the bloody hoodie off her body. She was wearing a dirty white tank top underneath. The tank showed even more blood.

Kai took the hoodie into the bathroom and draped it over a stall door, then when he stepped into the hall he handed her a small spray bottle from his pocket. " Spray yourself. It's a scent blocker."

She took the bottle and sprayed her neck. He nodded then opened another door just down the hall. " My office. Sit tight while Jason and I talk to your pack members. They are coming in hot."

"Not my pack." She mumbled. Slipping by him she sat down in a chair still gripping her side. Blood oozing between her fingers. He frowned.

" Three coming in boss." Jason mind linked.

Kai moved back to the bar after he closed and locked the office door. Jason was restocking the cases of beer he brought up so he grabbed a bar towel and started wiping down the bar.

Three males walked in, and he looked up. " Sorry fellas. Bars closing!" He called out to them.

"Don't want a drink." One growled. "Looking for someone." Kai looked up. They were a mangy bunch. Dirty and rough looking. Hair all wild with almost feral snarls on their faces.

"You're looking at all who is here." He stood taller.

"We can smell her!" Another growled.

Kai moved around the bar. He pushed his brown hair off his forehead and met their stares head on. " I'm Kai Winslow. This is my bar, and my pack. Which pack you from?" He growled back. Not liking the attitude of these men.

"Red Dawn." The first one answered. Pushing his chest out.

Kai stared him down till he backed up a step. His Alpha aura pushing forward. "As I said. We are the last ones here."

" Yeah well...I can smell her!" The skinnier one of the bunch said nervously.

Kai moved his grey eyes to him. "Go a head and look around. Ain't much to see." He waved his arm. The skinny one moved towards the back hallway while the other two looked under tables and in the booths.

The skinny one hollered out and came back with the hoodie in his hands. "Found this in the ladies room. Got her scent all over it." He said excitedly.

The bigger of the two grabbed it and shoved his nose into it. "It's her." He confirmed. He turned to Kai. " Where did the girl go wearing this hoodie?"

Kai glanced back at Jason. " You serve a girl wearing this hoodie?" He asked.

"No. But she could have slipped in during the pack meet we had. We were pretty busy." Jason responded.

"Sorry fellas," He handed them the hoodie back. "Can't help ya." He shrugged. " She a run away?"

"Ain't none of your business." The bigger one said.

Kai stepped up to him. "You just made it my business." He said back. "Hunting someone on my pack lands, makes it my business. Now... what's this about?" He said sternly. " Or you can go to the cells and tell me anyway." He threatened.

Big guy gulped. "She belongs to our Alpha. He..he wants her back. They had a disagreement and she took off is all." Kai could hear the lie in his words.

" What does she look like? Apparently she's hurt. I can smell the blood on that hoodie. Maybe she'll look for help here in my town."

"Small." The second answered. " Little thing, with blonde hair, and blue eyes. Scar above her left eye. I think she's around 16, maybe 17 years old."

"She your Alpha's mate?" Kai asked.

" He just wants her back. That's all you need to know." The big one answers.

"Yeah? Well tell your Alpha he needs to check with me before hunting down any one on my pack lands again. Next time I might take it as an aggressive move and retaliate." Kai told them.

"Do you know who our Alpha is?" Big guy asked.

"Yes, I do. Alpha Meyers. Draiden Meyers. Son, Cole. I know very well who he is. He was my Uncle." Kai responded. " Which one is asking for the return of this girl?"

"Cole. He's the Alpha now. Alpha Draiden retired." The second answered.

"Well you tell my cousin I expect a phone call. I want an explanation. In the morning!" Kai pointed at the front door. "You gentlemen are done here." His wolf surfaced and his eyes turned black.

The three misfits turned around and left. Taking the bloody hoodie with them.