Obsessions (20 page)

“Got you,” he teased, the satisfaction was evident
in his voice. Donnie jumped up and down giggling then turned around in circles.

“I think we need to make a blowing machine. We need
something that can blow it on them instead of us taking a chance on hugging them.
We can’t hug them all,” London suggested. 

“How are we going to get it on the people we need to
tonight?” Zoey asked concerned.

“Okay put your thinking caps on people. How can we
spray the dust on them?” London sat back down and started searching the Internet.

Zoey picked up her laptop and started looking at the
cameras and other things they would need. This was a business of three, so
Donnie went to her desk and used the computer to help with the research.

She had an idea but she didn’t know if it would work
or not. She leaned back in her chair twisting the pen in her mouth. “What if we
got up in the ceiling and sprinkled it on their head when they came in?” London
suggested.

“What would be cool is if the Rusty Nail stamped you
before you came into the bar and as they leaned over to get the stamp and it blew
on them?” suggested Donnie.

“That would be cool, but I think they would catch on
if they saw us blowing something on them,” London slowly answered. She had to
come up with something and fast. She only had two hours before Nolan came to
pick her up.

“Hey you know what? The Rusty Nail has air vents
right above the door when you walk in. It pisses me off every time I go in
because it blows your hair. Rusty said it keep the bugs outside so they don’t
come in with you. The air blows against you to do this. If we rigged it in the
vents some way, we could blow it on them as they stand there waiting to get
stamped before walking in. You will need to tell Nolan so he can talk to Rusty
the owner. He will have to know that one of us is in the ceiling dumping this stuff
on people as they walk in,” Zoey explained.

“Can you call him and ask him to come over earlier
so we can plan this and get it set up. I don’t even have the man’s number.”
London laughed to herself. Zoey left and went in her office to make the call.

Chapter 27

“You owe me a kiss for this,” Nolan replied, as he
leaned against her.

“If this works I will give you a slew of kisses,”
London whispered.

“Hey, I’m going to hold you to that,” he answered.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her in the back door of the Rusty Nail. They had
been in the attic sweating while people from different packs entered the Pub.
She got a good look at the witch, Metilda Blackwood, as she entered with Jim.
She made sure she dumped extra on them as they stood paying and being stamped.

The Alpha didn’t understand why they had to pay a
cover charge and get their hand stamped, so he grumbled and argued. She knew
she looked a mess after sweating so much in the attic. Why Nolan still wanted
to take her to the Pub was beyond her. He took her to Rusty’s apartment in the
back to freshen up before they walked in. She knew that the word had gotten out
that she was going to be at the Rusty Nail with Nolan, and people came out in droves
to see the new girl that had caught the Tiger’s eye.

London had done as much as she could to freshen up.
Her sundress was a light green and it made her eyes pop. Nolan struggled to
speak when she walked out.

“You are beautiful. You will make him a great mate,”
Nolan muttered.

“What?” she sputtered.  She knew her eyes were about
to pop out of her head, but an intense look of calm came over Nolan’s face. She
couldn’t decide if he was serious or not. If he thought she should be with
someone else why did he ask her out, and why was he always hitting on her.

“You know he’s crazy for you, right?” Nolan answered
simply.

London had a feeling she knew who he was talking
about, but she asked anyway, “Who?”

“Ahh, I see we are going to play games with each
other. I will say this, London Grey. If he doesn’t pull his head out of his ass
then I will consider you fair game, and I will pursue you after tonight. When I
see something I want, I go for it. It doesn’t bother me that you are human. I
have seen your power, and your magic is more powerful than I’ve ever seen in a witch.”

“He doesn’t want me because I’m a human?” London
screeched.

Nolan shrugged his shoulders. “I’m putting you on
notice that he has tonight to get it together and if he doesn’t, be prepared to
be hunted.”

She didn’t respond, because she didn’t know how to
react to that. Ryder didn’t want her because she was a human. He was a bigot,
and now she knew the truth.

“He can’t have me, and besides, I don’t want him,” London
grumbled her frustration.  She walked over and grabbed her purse.

“Whatever.  Let’s go.” Nolan smiled, and it pissed
her off more. He acted as if this was a game or something. She would ignore
Ryder tonight and find another place to live tomorrow.

Neither would know what hit them after she was done.
She meant to show the wolf that she was a human, but she was the strongest damn
human he would ever see. He would regret those words and if he wanted her then
too damn bad. Nolan grabbed her hand and opened the office door.

“Show time,” she whispered. She knew he heard her
but it didn’t matter because that was all it was, a show.

* * * *

Ryder and his pack had arrived and were seated
across from the Sander’s pack. All the other bears, tigers, jaguars, and panthers
were scattered in between. Judd Walsh, Brody King, and Kayden Lynn were sitting
at the same table as Ryder when Nolan and London walked in, and it was like a
spotlight turned on, and everyone in the room watched a little wide-eyed as
Nolan and London calmly walked in the room.

Ryder let out a low growl when he focused on Nolan
holding London’s hand. Zoey and Donnie showed up at the same time, and they all
congregated together until Kayden waved them over. He pulled up four extra
chairs to their table allowing everyone to sit down.

“Hey guys, this is Donnie Morgan. He is working for
Zoey and London.” Nolan made the introduction. When Judd Walsh shook Donnie’s
hand, he didn’t let it go for a few minutes. He just stared at him for a few
seconds, before he leaned forward and sniffed his arm. Donnie looked over at London.

“Either my gaydar is off or that man has a problem
with me,” Donnie whispered in London’s ear.

“You have some Panther in your family,” Judd said in
explanation for his odd behavior.

“What? Uhm no, I’m not a shifter,” Donnie argued.

Kayden spoke up in support of Judd’s claim, “No
you’re not full blooded but you have some family in your past that was a
Panther. I can smell it on you,”

Donnie leaned over and sniffed his arm. He tried to
be nonchalant, but everyone saw what he did and started laughing. London
couldn’t help it but she laughed along with them. She nudged Donnie and smiled.
She didn’t want him to feel awkward but it couldn’t be helped. She forgot to
tell him about his heritage and what Ryder smelled on him.

“Ryder told us before that he could smell Panther on
you. It wasn’t a lot but enough that it still lingered in your bloodline. You
see nobody gets to live in Alpha City without their approval.” London explained,
nodding toward the Alphas. “Since you have it in your family you were allowed
to come and stay here.” 

Donnie didn’t say anything; he just nodded and
raised his hand to the waitress. She would need to sit down with him tonight
and explain everything.

London leaned over and whispered in his ear. “Hey,
please don’t be mad. I was going to tell you but with everything going on it
slipped my mind. I really am sorry, but tonight after we leave here we will sit
down and I will try to explain everything that I know.”

Donnie only nodded. He didn’t act like he was happy
with her right now and she understood. She felt bad because Donnie was
important to her. He was family and she had neglected him letting all the drama
come between them.

Life had been chaotic since she arrived in Alpha
City. Everything seemed to be moving quickly and she couldn’t wait until life
slowed down so she could just relax. She understood why Donnie was upset with
her.

The waitress came over to the table and drinks were
ordered. The Alpha’s looked on edge, especially Ryder who continued to watch
her and Nolan. She could see his face turn red when Nolan leaned over and
whispered in her ear.

“You look beautiful.” Then he added to it by kissing
her cheek.  Apparently, everyone at the table was enjoying the show as they watched
Ryder getting jealous. When her drink arrived, she took the shot of tequila.
London poured the liquid down her throat and about choked when she swallowed
too quickly.

Nolan patted her back then told her that he wanted
to dance. She didn’t have time to say no before he dragged her out of the chair
and onto the dance floor. She didn’t know how to dance. When she was younger,
she was never invited to dances so she never learned. She wished she had taken
a class. Maybe she wouldn’t look so awkward dancing. It was a slow song but
what made her heart flutter was when Nolan pulled her closer to his body. She
didn’t know if it was her imagination or if everyone in the pub was focused on
them.

Nope she was right everyone was staring at her and
Nolan. Then her gaze fell on the one face in the crowd she didn’t want to see.
Penny Sanders and her gang of bitches were sitting near her brother and his
mate Metilda. A look of hatred filled her face as she watched Nolan and her
dance. She had the same old bitter, hateful, and mean expression. Nothing new
in that face, London thought.

Then the song changed to a fast one and Nolan
continued to dance with her. He sped up his moves and twirled her around and
around. She couldn’t help but laugh when they got going. She knew she should be
paying attention more to the people in the room, but Nolan was fun to be around
and she needed to let loose some of the stress she had built up. The past few
days hadn’t been a wonderful experience. She had been broken in on and
attacked. So she needed a moment to have a little fun.

“Enjoying yourself?” Nolan asked.

“Yes, I am and thank you. I needed this.” London
spoke loudly. The music was so loud that everyone had to yell if they wanted to
ask a question.

“Good, because it has only just begun.” Nolan was
about to take her back to the table but Ryder stood in front of him.

“I think this dance is mine.”

The music changed into a slower song, and Nolan
looked to London to see if she was okay with dancing with Ryder. She could feel
the tension between the two men. Ryder held his hand out to her and reluctantly
she placed her hand in his. Immediately, she could feel his heat and the spark
of electricity as it traveled up her arm. He pulled her body closer to his and
she thought she would push it out of her mind, but her body quickly wanted
more. She couldn’t believe how her body was reacting toward him. It was as if
it had a mind of its own. He hugged her closer until she could feel his erection
poking her in the stomach, and then she made the mistake of closing her eyes
and inhaling his scent.

“Why are you doing this to me?” she whispered,
knowing he could hear her no matter how low she spoke. 

“Doing what?” Ryder’s voice was low and husky.

She pulled back so she could look him in the eyes. She
needed him to see that she was serious. “You know what you are doing Ryder. I
mean you don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me either and
that isn’t fair. You are playing with me—with my emotions, and I want you to
stop. I have a home here now and I want to meet someone who wants me. Don’t you
understand that? Are you such an arrogant bastard that you continue to treat me
this way? What have I ever done to you?” She could feel her body getting hot. She
was getting angry and she didn’t need to do this here. People were already staring
at her now.

“What makes you think I don’t want you, London?”

“Oh give me a break. Please don’t insult me.” She
blew out her breath. “Nolan told me already that you didn’t want me because I’m
a human. I never imagined you were such a bigot, but then again we really don’t
know each other. Or I should say I really don’t know you. I guess I could have
you investigated and maybe then I would understand why, but I don’t think you
even know why. You just think because you're the Alpha you can have whatever
you want. Well get this. I don’t want you.”

“What?  He told you that,” Ryder roared. She could
feel his body change like his wolf was about to come out. Ryder started to
leave the dance floor, and she could tell he was headed straight to Nolan. She
stopped him by grabbing his hand.

“Just say it, Ryder. Just say it and let’s end this
okay. You can’t have it both ways,” London said, angrily. She could see Nolan
stand up and walk toward them. Apparently, they were making a bigger scene than
she thought.

“What’s wrong, London?”

She could see the concern on Nolan’s face. He acted
as if he truly liked her, so maybe she could get to like him just as much.
Ryder just needed to leave her alone.

“Nothing is wrong, Nolan, except you. Why did you
tell London that I didn’t want her because she was a human? Shit man. I thought
we were friends. I never thought you would play dirty to win a woman.” Ryder
stood toe to toe with Nolan now and it was all her fault. She never meant to
make problems between best friends.

Getting in between the two Alphas, London could feel
her magic flare up. “You know, both of you are jerks.” The magic and her
comment seemed to jar the Alpha’s out of their anger to stare down at her. “Neither
of you want me; you just want to play with me. For all I know this is a game
you Alpha’s play with the new girls in town. Damn, how stupid I am? You can
have each other.”

Nobody had seen Jim Sander walk up with his mate.  “So
this is your new bitch, Ryder.” Jim Sanders made the mistake of using the word
Bitch to a human witch who was already fighting mad. Before he knew what hit
him, London reacted and punched him in the face knocking him down to the ground
hard. The room became deathly quiet as everyone watched, and her body seemed to
lift off the ground as she started pacing around Jim Sanders.

“You piece of shit. You fucking ever call me a Bitch
again and I will knock your teeth out. Do you understand me?” London shouted.
Everyone including Ryder and Nolan was watching. Metilda Blackwood helped her
mate up, and started backing up with him. Her attention was focused on London’s
necklace as she whispered in her mate’s ear, but London was so pissed off she
couldn’t hear what she was saying. They continued to back up until they were at
their table.

Ryder grabbed London by the hand and began dragging
her outside, with Nolan following. She tried to pull away but Ryder held on
until he could get her out of the room so she could calm down. She struggled
but not enough to hurt him. She continued to take deep breaths as her body
started to cool down in the cool air.

“Damn girl. Never knew you had that in you. You put
an Alpha wolf on his ass,” Nolan said laughing, “It couldn’t have happened to a
better person.”

Feeling defensive, London narrowed her eyes at
Nolan. “Stop it both of you. Just leave me alone. I just…”