C7 She is dangerous

I stopped my search for the truck and looked at Mark . He picked up on my mood and said, "I'll go to lunch early." Then he disappeared.

Smart guy.

"I need to talk to you about our visitor," I said, pulling up another chair and sitting down across from Manala .

My friend's eyes lit up. "I hear she's hot."

A growl rumbled in my throat, startling me. I disguised it before Manala noticed. "You might not think that when I tell you she's a bounty hunter after my ass. One from Idaho. Not too far from Scott Smith."

"Shit. Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'm sure. It cost me a good amount of money to get the information on such short notice. But I plan to find out more tonight. I may hunt her down, claim I got home early and introduce myself early. Invite her to dinner."

"It might be a little late for that," Manala replied "She's going out for a beer with Mary."

"Really?"

She nodded.

"Okay." I rubbed my chin and thought about it. "I can play that angle. I'll make up an excuse to join them."

"And what's your plan after that, screw the bounty hunter into submission?"

"Now who's being funny? I want him to let his guard down, to think he's getting information on me. I want to find out more before I do something devious. And believe me, I'm angry enough to want to do that."

"She's not the first slayer to go after you," he reminded me.

"No, but she's the first one to find the town. And if the money-hungry bitch wants her payday, she'll have to play fair to sell me out." I sighed, my inner wolf gnawing at me for calling her a bitch. "I came to see if May knew anything else."

"Mary seems to like her."

Mary likes everyone."

"She's a good judge of character, man," Manala argued . "Too good sometimes..." Her voice trailed off as she peered through the open blinds.

"Are you all right?" I asked her.

"There's nothing wrong with me. And you've got enough problems without sticking your nose in mine."

"You snuck into my town, buddy."

He laughed. "Yes, I did.James wants to move up the follow-up meeting to next week. He has more information on the core herds we discussed at the last meeting. He also wants to talk about incorporating more herds into the alliance."

"He's cautious. We are four herds, four strong herds, and a collection of the largest in North America, but if the smaller herds were to ally against us..."

"James doesn't think it will come to that, not according to his intelligence, but he wants us to be prepared."

I nodded. "I understand. And I need to talk to all of you anyway, so do me a favor. I can play with the bounty hunter for a week and keep her here, but I need to come up with a plan within our laws to take Scott down . Normally he's nothing more than a pain in the ass I have to keep an eye on, but the fact that someone found this city shows she's getting close."

"If she has her wits about her, she's not going to give up your location until she gets paid. You have time."

"Yes," I replied. "Call me cautious."

"Maybe she'll spread her legs for you? Solve all your problems."

A relentless growl came from my throat and echoed through the garage. I snapped my jaw, needing to release the pent-up energy that shot out in sudden rage.

Manala stood up, on guard. "Paul . Your wolf. Pull him back."

"Pull what back!" I roared, but then I heard it. I had slipped and my wolf was trying to take over. Swallowing hard, stretching my neck. I howled. I couldn't help it. But with sheer bullishness, I squeezed it, coughing to expel the lump it left in my throat. Sweat dripped down my throat. I shivered as I felt Manala's comforting hand on my back. "Paul?"

"I'm fine." I nodded, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," I bit out. "I think."

"Well, I don't. I think you're fucked, buddy."

She's not that hot," I growled, knowing what he was getting at.

"So, it's okay if I go see if she wants to blow me?"

Her words sent a sting of pure, guttural fury through me. I stood up so fast that the chair crashed to the floor, leaping toward him. The wolf and the human in me teamed up to grab him by the throat and smash him against the wall.

"What's going on?" yelled Mary from behind us. My wolf whimpered at the sound of her voice, but held his ground. The animal would protect Mary from the two of us at all costs, but it also wanted to tear my friend apart for even thinking about Lara like that.

Manala winked at her reassuringly, a slow smile curving her lips.

"But what...?" I blurted out in surprise.

"Manala." Mary rushed to his side, but he pushed her away and she quickly hid her pain.

"I'm sorry," I breathed, trying to find my balance.

"What's going on?" Mary asked .

"Paul has a hard-on for Lara the bounty hunter," Manala laughed . "Let's hope it's not the awakening of mate magic."

"Fuck you, asshole!" I pointed my finger at him.

You two would make a very good couple!" exclaimed Mary , but then her nose wrinkled up in a sign ofconfusion. "Wait a minute." He turned to Manala . "Did you just say bounty hunter?".

"Yes," I blurted, answering instead. "Scott Smith hired her. She's dangerous, Mary."

"I knew she was hiding something," she whispered.

"Something huge," I retorted, my world spiraling. "The mate magic hasn't awakened," I growled at Manala .

"Whatever you say, man. But don't expect butterflies and rainbows when it comes. It's bullshit. Like a big chemical reaction. One you can't control. Trust me. Goddess Leto is laughing at us. Especially with her selections." He looked back at Mary , and I raised an eyebrow in his direction. He threw back the bird.

"Listen," Mary tried to placate, "Lara may be lying about who she is, but you have to listen to her. I've got a good vibe about her. A sense of urgency, yes. Weight on her shoulders, maybe. But I like her. She's got strength and character, and you have to admit it's no small thing that she's found the city when so many have failed in the past."

"She's dangerous," I reiterated.

"That's not what she tells me. And it's about time you did something about Scott anyway, save throwing all that money away to keep a look over your shoulder. You're more powerful than he is. Much more. You need to take that mercenary down."

Seeing the venomous look on his pretty face made me let out a chuckle and calm down a bit. I stroked her cheek, a friendly gesture, nothing more, for a woman I loved like a friend. Manala pulled my hand away from her face.

"Concentrate on the slayer," she spat. "I'll talk to James and fill him in on everything. We can meet in a week."

"But what do I do about Lara?". I asked them both in an appealing tone.

"Trust your heart," Mary said as Manala instructed, "Trust your gut."

"Be honest with her," Mary added , but Manala shook her head in disagreement.

"No. Find out what she knows first. Play it safe. Then you can have your cake and eat it too."

Mary scowled at him. "You're an idiot."