45 Boar’s Bar

[Lyander's POV]

'Lyander, don't run so fast.' Colm shouted in my head.

'Why are you so slow?'

"You're just too damn fast!'

I ignored him and didn't slow my pace. My wolf was enjoying the long run across the forest towards the human territory. The cold night air was calming the burning heat we felt that couldn't be extinguished by just beers alone.

Within thirty minutes, I was near the bar. I spat my change of clothes on the grass and shifted. My silver furs were replaced by skin, and I wore my undergarment, shirt, and pants just in time that Colm arrived beside me.

He ruffled his dark red fur before he shifted into skin. His wolf was bigger than most in the pact, and he was agile and good at fighting too. I did not doubt that he would be beta if not that he was always with me.

Colm unwrinkled his dress and swiped his red hair to the side. "Good thing the food and beers here tasted good, or the humans' stench is enough to drive me away."

He followed next to me as we walked into the smoke, human sweat-filled establishment and made our way to the bar.

"She won't be here, you know." Colm ordered two strong beers and gave me one. "That witch. What's her name? Trinity?"

I grumbled under my breath. "I know."

"Do you now?" Colm smirked. "It seemed to me that the only reason why we ran all the way here was in the false hope of meeting her again."

Colm toasted his beer against mine before he took a swig. "It's futile. That woman's village is miles from here."

"I know." My wolf snarled, shouting in my mind not to destroy his hope of seeing Trinity in the bar.

I shook my head and let him do whatever he wanted. As long as he wouldn't peer in my eyes or take control over me, he could dance in my head for all I care.

Colm ordered four packs of hot wings and a whole case of the bar's strongest before we made our way at a quiet corner on the side.

"Do you have money for that?" I asked.

The corner of Colm's lips quirked upward. "Gils is the least of our worry."

True. Wolves' pact were mostly rich due to the spoils of a hunt or fight. It would either be spoils from humans, merchant wagons who didn't know any better, or valuable items from vampires who dared cross their lands.

In Twilight Woods, gil hardly amounted to anything since we could survive by hunting and bartering. In the land of the wolves, the only thing that mattered was strength.

Colm must have gotten those gils from the group of humans who stole our pups while I was busy relieving memories with Trinity in her house.

I shook my head.

The more I thought about her, the more I missed her, and my wolf was agitated again.

Since they were in the human territory, it wanted to run those kilometers to see Trinity and play with her.

What are you, a child?

My wolf grumbled and bared its teeth.

I sighed and took another beer. I wonder how many would I have to drink of this for my wolf to fall asleep?

'Good luck with that.' It smirked.

"Hey."

I spun to Colm's face. Did he ask a question just now?

"I said, do you want her?"

"Huh?"

Colm looked to the side before he whispered. "That witch."

My face twisted in a grimace, and my back went rigid as my wolf came to the front, glaring at him with the promise of violence in our eyes. "Her name is Trinity."

Colm backed off a little with hands in the air. "No need to be all hostile with me. You know that you could tell me anything, right?"

I didn't answer. My lips were pressed in a hard thin line.

Colm scratched his head, confused. "How could you want her if he's not your mate? And I can see it on your face that it's not just like the others who were playing around until they find their mate.

"You're serious about her, aren't you?" Colm continued in my silence.

"Is that obvious?" I bit out through clenched teeth. I had to do a better job at hiding my expression through my face couldn't get any more stoic than this.

Colm's eye grew wide. "Wow. I never expect you'd be honest."

I wanted to knock his head.

"But how could that be? You hardly even mention her. Was she that beautiful behind her disguise?" His expression was confused, and not a trace of judgment in his voice.

I wasn't sure either. Was it my wolf? Or was it the memories that brought back all my feelings to her when I had gotten a glimpse of her again after so many years?

"What are you going to do now?"

"There's nothing I can do," I almost growled as my voice rose. She was a witch, and I was a werewolf — the end.

I lowered my tone. "She's not welcomed in our pact, neither do I in her world."

Colm sucked in a sharp breath. "Holy shit. You're even thinking of bringing her in the pact?"

When I remained silent, Colm emptied another beer. "That serious, huh?"

I grimaced. "My wolf wanted her."

"And you?"

". . ."

I didn't have to reply. Colm already knew the answer.

"If Terishia finds out about this . . ."

I cut him a sharp glare. "Don't even think of mentioning this conversation to her. You know how she would react."

Colm chuckled. "It's either she would bleed her heart's out or tease you until you're the one who's bleeding."

He then muttered, "If you're already like this to a woman who is not even your mate, then I don't know what would happen if you found your destined one."

". . ." I don't know too.

It was also one reason that was holding my wolf and me back from seeing Trinity and claiming her as our partner. What if I found my mate? What would happen to her then?

I like her. Even possibly love her. My wolf felt the same too. But I didn't know if it was only brought about my time with her when we were but innocent children. Adding to that, it would be extremely unfair to her if I found my mate in the future.

My wolf whimpered in my head. For once, he saw reason, and his desire to shift and bolted towards Trinity died together with his hope of seeing her in this bar.

Parting from her was hard when we were children, and I occupied myself with training, hunting, and fighting to forget about her.

And when I almost succeeded, she came into my life and wrecked my world once more.

And this time . . . I didn't know if I could forget her like before.

I gripped my bottle harder, trying hard not to shatter it with my force . . . It was for the best. I repeatedly said to myself.

I swallowed the rest of my drinks and growled slightly at the burn.

A waitress interrupted my inner strife when she laid our orders on the table and looked at us like she wanted to eat us for dinner later.

She leaned low, and her cleavage pumped from her dress as she swiped a strand of her hair from her eyes and purred, "Is there anything else that you want?"

I didn't speak nor bothered to spare her a glance.

Colm grinned. "Nah. We're good."

But she couldn't take the hint and persist with a charming tone. "Are you sure there isn't anything ELSE that you want?"

Colm didn't lose his patience. "It's okay. We're good." He had always been tolerant of the female species.

The waitress puckered her lips and flapped her eyelids far too many times. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," I growled in impatience.

Her expression fell, and she huffed away.

"Now, look what you did to the poor girl." Colm clicked his tongue and shook his head in fake dismay. "She'd probably spit on our food and drinks next."

Great!

I opened my mouth to retort but stopped when the door opened, and two people walked in. Every hair on my body stood, and my nerves tingled in alarm when I caught their scent.

Vampires!