He chanced a look around and noted three long tables filling the room.To the right along the short side, there was a kitchen.Half a wall with a countertop functioned as a room divider between the dining hall and the cooking area.The scent of bacon was heavy in the air, and Ezra's belly rumbled again.
Rourke steered his steps toward the kitchen, and Ezra followed.There was a woman in there, and Ezra pressed himself against the wall trying not to annoy her.Women were always more vicious.
"There are a few boiled eggs if you want."She spoke to them both and Ezra struggled for something to say.Before he'd found his voice, she'd slipped out into the dining hall.
"Egg?"Rourke held one out to him.
"Thank you."He cradled it in his hands, and Rourke gave him another of those contemplative looks.It made him want to hide.
"Any allergies?"
He shook his head.
"Then grab what you want."He gestured at the counter where there was bread and cheese and some sliced tomatoes.The bacon appeared to be gone already, but it didn't matter.
Rourke piled a mountain of food on a plate and headed out of the room before Ezra had grabbed one.Damn.He made two sandwiches, and when he noticed there was coffee, he looked around to see if someone would get annoyed with him if he had a cup.
* * * *
Chapter 5
Rourke picked the table closest to the windows and sat next to Farkas with a low groan.He looked as exhausted as ever.Rourke met Due's gaze across the table.
"That bad?"She raised an eyebrow.
Rourke bit into a sandwich to not have to answer.It was bad, and he was being an ass, but he couldn't hover over Ezra the whole time either.
Tala plunked down on the other side of him."Have a good night?"She grinned toothily, and he rolled his eyes.His muscles ached from having held himself still the entire night.Ezra didn't look any better.He hadn't noticed the dark circles underneath his eyes until now when he balanced on the threshold between the kitchen and the dining hall.His gaze found Rourke's only to skid away.
Damn, he should've made sure there was a seat for him next to him.Then Ezra surprised him and walked toward the table closest to the door.He sat next to Ulric who was nursing a cup of coffee.It made Rourke frown.Why was he sitting with Ulric?
"What's the plan?"Due leaned back in her seat.
"For?"
"I don't know.For months, the plan has been to defeat the witches, then it was the negotiations, then it was the mating, and now it's all done.So what's the plan?"
Rourke didn't think it was all done.He'd hoped the mating would mean a long-lasting peace, but he didn't believe it anymore."Work.Money.Build our defenses."
Due grimaced."I was afraid you'd say that."
They ran a security firm.Most of their clients were human nightclub and bar owners, which meant they mostly worked at night.Rourke seldom worked in the field, he did the admin job and everything an alpha of a werewolf pack did, but they needed more money."Any new clients on the horizon?"
Due was the one who had the most contact with clients, but they hadn't dared take on anyone new since they'd been at war.With too many away working at night, they left themselves vulnerable, and if they failed to show up, it damaged their credibility in town.
"I can spread word about us looking, see if anyone takes the bait."
"Do it."
"What about the wicked witch?Does he have a job?"
Rourke didn't think so, but maybe he did.Witches often did magic work.Their clan functioned like a pack in many ways.People bought their services--spells or whatever.He wasn't entirely sure how it was operated, but since they worked as a coven, he doubted Ezra could do anything from here.He'd have to ask him.
Due got to her feet."I better get started or I won't get anything done today."
Rourke nodded and swallowed a bite."I'll be in soon."
She gave him a long look, then she shrugged.
