The man behind the counter turned around. He must have been fifteen years older than me, but looked much older due to his wrinkled, frowning face. True to his name, scars ran up and down his one arm. The other arm was missing. He also seemed to have a healedbrokennose.
“What?” hesnapped.
“I have someone here who wants to ask you something. He’s looking for somebody,” Ryu explained, gesturingtome.
Oh gods, don’t make me the center ofattention!
Scar turned his glare to me. “What do you want? What’s a knocked up omega doing inmybar?”
As hard as it was to hold my tongue, I ignored his comment. I wasn’t here to start anargument.
“I’m from Stoneheart pack,” I said. Instantly something flickered across the man’s face. “I’m looking for information about a mannamedLoni.”
Scar’s face twisted into a snarl. He slammed the beer glass onto the counter. “Well, he doesn’t wanttotalk.”
I was right. ScarwasLoni.
I lowered my voice. “Please. You’re the only person whounderstandsme.”
“Is that right?” hesneered.
“We both escaped Stoneheart pack,” I saidfirmly.
He let out a humorless laugh. “Let me guess from your pretty face and the fact that you’re knocked up. Some alpha came and rescued you, isthatit?”
I winced. I couldn’t deny that. Judging from Scar’s appearance, he clearly hadn’t had the samegoodluck.
He growled, leaning in closer, “That’s nice for you. I didn’t get rescued until the humans already hacked off my arm and leg and gave me all these cool scars,” he saidsarcastically.
I swallowed hard. I couldn’t see his missing leg from behind thecounter.
“What happened? I mean, who rescued you?” I askedsoftly.
“Cinderhollow scout,” he grunted. “Not because they needed me as an omega, but because they felt sorry for me. I was passed out in a cage and I barely had a sayinit.”
Ryu frowned and asked, “Do youregretit?”
Scar grunted. “No. I would’ve died there. But living like this isn’t much of a life,either.”
Ryu didn’t seem impressed by his attitude. “At least you’realive.”
“So what the hell do you want?” Scar asked me,ignoringRyu.
“I… I want to help Stoneheart pack,”Isaid.
Scar burst out into ugly laughter. When he was done and I was thoroughly embarrassed, he wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Okay? And? How’re you gonna do that? Build abiggerwall?”
“No,” I said, staring at him. “Build a barrier, like the one here inCinderhollow.”
Scar shook his head. “You’recrazy,kid.”
“Why?” I asked indignantly. “We’re the only ones who can help, you know. Nobody on the inside has this kind of knowledge or power. They’restuck.”
“Am I supposed to give a shit?” Scar growled. “And for that matter, why do you care? They left you to die, same as me. They don’t deserveourhelp.”
“They don’t know any better,” I argued. “We can change theirminds.”
“Keep dreaming.” He wavedmeoff.
