Mate Set (Mating Heat Book 1) Read online

  Sighing, she walked toward the door. “But what a way to lose them.”

  He growled at her again, glaring at her until they reached the Jeep. Even though he was pissed off, he opened the door for her and then shut it. He was quite the gentleman, at least when it came to installing a woman in a vehicle. He slammed his door when he climbed in and studied her in the dim interior. “Where do you want to go?”

  She hesitated. “Why don’t we kill two birds with one stone? Minnie told me you own a bar, so you could go in and get a little work done while I have a few drinks.”

  She saw indecision on Grady’s face but he finally nodded. “There will be wolves there but I have good security. We can go but you are to stay where I put you. Do you understand?” He shot her a hard look.

  “I speak English, so I understand what you said.” She smiled at him. That didn’t mean she’d do what he wanted. She didn’t mention that out loud.

  The bar was actually a nice place, certainly not the dive Mika had expected. It was decently lit, there was a large dance area, and tables separated the dance area from a game room. She counted four well-used pool tables.

  Grady pointed. “Over there at the bar.” He had to yell over the music to be heard. “You sit your ass down and stay there.”

  She rolled her eyes but headed where he’d indicated. Mika appreciated the muscular bartender in his mid-twenties with blond hair and dark brown eyes. He was total eye candy. Their gazes met and held until—Grady stepped between them so Mika was left staring at Grady’s back. She sighed.

  “Yon, guard her. She’s Omar’s niece. Her drinks and whatever are on the house. No one touches her. Am I clear?”

  Yon must have agreed because Grady jerked his head in a nod and slowly turned around to glare down at Mika. “I’m going to my office for a bit to check on things. Sit down and stay there. Order a drink.”

  She gave him a salute. If all of her fingers bent except for her middle one as she saluted him, so be it. He growled at her, dark eyes glittering dangerously, and then he shook his head slowly. He stepped into her personal space as his head bent so his cheek nearly touched hers. She inhaled his cologne and wanted to groan. Not only did he look good enough to jump on, but he smelled good enough to want to rub her body all over him.

  “You’re not worth losing my balls over,” he whispered.

  She clenched her teeth as Grady jerked away, spun on his heel, and disappeared through a doorway.

  She climbed up on the barstool and gave the bartender a once-over, immediately noticing that he wasn’t giving her a sexy look anymore. He actually looked damn unhappy to see her, now that he knew who she was.

  “May I have whiskey? I want ice too.” She held up her fingers. “That much at least, in a glass; I don’t want a tiny shot. I’m drowning my sorrows here and Grady said it’s on the house, so show me the love when you tip the bottle.”

  Yon’s eyebrows rose and he almost smiled but then masked his features. He walked away, grabbed a decent-size glass, dumped ice in, and set it down in front of her. Within seconds he’d filled it with whiskey. Their gazes met and held.

  “You’re really Omar’s niece?”

  She sipped her whiskey. She made a face when it burned down her throat, clearing a warming path all the way to her tummy where it settled. “Yeah.”

  “How the hell did that happen? You’re not one of us.”

  She knew what he meant. She wasn’t a werewolf. “I was adopted. My mom was Omar’s sister, his only sibling.”

  He blinked. “Do you know anything?”

  She took another sip. “I’m well aware. My uncle doesn’t lie to me.”

  “I see.” He nodded. “I have to work but I’ll keep an eye on you.”

  She watched him go down the bar, serving drinks. She was sure he would keep an eye on her. He was obviously pack, if he knew her uncle Omar. It also stood to reason that Grady would hire pack to work for him since pack stuck together. She sipped her whiskey and turned in her chair to watch the dancers, wishing she were out there since she loved to dance. She tapped her foot to the beat. Grady’s bar played good music and he had a great sound system.

  A dark-haired man walked up to her. He was nice looking, in his late twenties, and dressed in black slacks and a blue silk shirt. He smiled as he drew near. “Do you want to dance?”

  She set her drink down and was on her feet in an instant. “I’d love to.”

  Mika glanced at Yon, spotting him at the end of the bar. His gaze met hers and he shook his head. Mika ignored him and walked to the dance floor, with the man who’d asked her to dance right on her heels.

  “I’m Jeff,” the guy yelled at her.

  She turned on the dance floor to face the man, who was only a few inches taller. In her heels, she was just about five-seven. She met his intent look and smiled.

  “I’m Mika.”

  He grinned and reached for her hand, which she let him take. He tugged her farther onto the dance floor and started to sway with her. He danced a little too close, so Mika had to put some distance between them, and when he spun her, she pulled her hand out of his to keep back from him by a few feet. She knew he was examining every inch of her but she didn’t care. He was keeping his hands to himself and that’s all that mattered.

  Yon was watching her from behind the bar with a deep frown. Mika felt a little guilty but she needed to show Grady that she could make her own decisions. She turned her back to him and finished her dance with Jeff. The song ended and she smiled at the man.

  “Thanks.”

  “Come to my table with me.” He reached for her arm again.

  Mika dodged his hand. “I came with someone but thanks for the dance. Have a good night.”

  Jeff frowned, not looking happy, but he didn’t try to stop her as she walked away from him. She moved toward the bar, going between tables to get there. She noticed that there were already a lot more men in the bar than when she’d entered. There were women too but the men noticeably outnumbered them.

  She was almost back to her seat when a man stood up from one of the tables and purposely stepped into her path. She froze and looked up, taking him in quickly. He was a big guy, about six feet two if she had to guess, and about two hundred pounds of beefy male who was decent looking. The look in his green eyes was too intense for Mika’s comfort as his gaze locked with hers.

  “Let me buy you a drink, pretty.”

  Pretty? She gave him a tight smile. “No thank you.” She tried to step around him.

  His hand shot out fast and gripped her wrist. She was shocked that the man had grabbed her that fast, hadn’t even seen his hand move, but his hold on her wrist was tight. It didn’t hurt but she knew she’d be hard-pressed to make him release her if he didn’t want to. She tugged but his hold only tightened almost painfully, letting her know he wasn’t willingly going to let her go easily.

  “I insist.” He had a deep voice.

  “I insist you let me go. Thank you but no. I’m not interested.”

  He jerked her closer, hard enough to knock her off balance, and she gasped when her body hit his. She saw his nose flare and he had a hungry expression on his features as he looked down at her. His other arm wrapped tightly around her waist, locking her against his body. Her panic was instant as she realized he wasn’t human.

  “We’re leaving,” he growled. “I won’t hurt you if you don’t make a scene.”

  She saw three men at his table stand. It was obvious that they were with him. Shit. What is it about werewolves traveling in packs of four? Mika took a deep breath, pushing back the memories of four other werewolves outnumbering her, and glared up at the man who had her trapped in his arms.

  “I’m pack protected,” she gritted out. “I’m Omar Deken’s niece—and I’m also not your type. Let me go.”

  He blinked. “I don’t give a damn who you are, but I’ll tell you what you are. You’re mine tonight. If you’re worried about the other men, don’t be. I don’t share well with ot