Page 33 of Rafe

“It’s okay,” she heard Rafe tell her, his reassuring voice surrounding her like a comforting blanket. Memories of a second bar flooded her mind. A speakeasy. “There’s another room.”

Rafe stepped toward the hostess, towering above her. She averted her gaze and looked to the floor.

“What pack are you?” he demanded.

“There is no pack,” she whispered and shook her head. “Nothing is left here.”

“Hunter Livingston is coming to Vegas. If you’re involved in any crimes, with vampire or humans, there will be accountability, do you understand?”

“Alpha, I—” She stole a glance over her shoulder then closed the door and continued in a whisper. “There are ears and eyes everywhere. I’ve only been working here for a month. I’m the only wolf. The vampires…they are everywhere and nowhere.” She nervously clutched her hands. “This room here? I’ve been told it’s converted for certain events. I wasn’t working last night. I swear it.”

“Why were you standing at the door?” Rafe asked.

“I go where my boss tells me to go. The room has always been a coffee bar. No one’s allowed in the back except certain staff members. I never go back there,” she told him.

“Are you telling the truth?” Rafe pressed. “Look at me.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“I’m not your Alpha,” Rafe replied, his tone emotionless. “I’m only here to help with the pack.”

“But sir,” she pleaded, “I know an Alpha when I feel it. And I most certainly feel you.”

Anger boiled underneath Skylar’s silent stare. Who is this woman? The interaction between her and Rafe seemed familiar although he acted as if he didn’t know her. But she most definitely knew him.

“Alpha Hunter Livingston is coming soon.” he told her. “If you can, get out of town for a few days. Stay away from vampires. We’ll be in touch.”

Skylar’s stomach rolled at the thought of Rafe seeing this woman again. But he shared something with her Skylar could never understand or experience. He’s a wolf. Rafe had left her on read for a reason. He’d hurt Skylar because she wasn’t like him.

She glanced to Greyson who gave her a knowing nod. She sucked in a deep cleansing breath, letting the soul-crushing truth settle in on her. She’d never be paranormal.

“Hey darlin’, you okay?” Rafe asked Skylar.

Her body flared to life as his hand brushed her shoulder. Her emotions warred between anger and arousal. She bit her lip in an attempt to shake off her racing thoughts.

“It’s going to be all right, now.”

“Yeah, sorry. I just don’t understand how this bar is now a coffee shop. I’m telling you…there’s another room here somewhere.” She changed the subject. “We don’t know that woman. She could be lying.”

“You have to trust me.”

“But you just met her,” she protested. “Seriously how could she not know where it is? She works here. Come on. This doesn’t make sense.”

“Look at me, Sky.”

She reluctantly lifted her gaze to his. The electricity between them hummed as he spoke.

“I’m wolf. I know. I’ll explain it later. I promise. But please. Just trust me. I know she doesn’t know, okay?”

“Okay.” Skylar acquiesced. “But I want to know now why this place is the way it is. We need to find the hallway to the back.”

Skylar crossed the room to the counter and placed her hands on it. She closed her eyes attempting to remember what she’d seen. A long brass bar across the back of the room. Round tables. Chairs. She opened her eyes and stared at the wall. What had been against the wall? A mirror?

“This.” She tapped the bar. “Last night it was made of brass. I don’t know how they changed it, but the tables and chairs - they could have been switched out easily. But this wall? I don’t know how. It was mirrored.” She wandered behind the bar and stared at the large tapestry on the wall. “Something’s wrong.”

“It’s magick. Perhaps a glamour of some kind,” Greyson suggested.

Skylar turned to the bar. “Where are the coffee machines? Where’s the coffee cups?”