here runs Hunter Hardware if you haven’t made the connection.” Sully smirked as he took a drink of his beer.
Hunter eyed Knox. The shifters who lived in town had been there when Jackson ruled over them. It was dark days back then, the Alpha demanding thirty percent of their earnings, claiming it was for the pack.
They all celebrated when Zeus took over. The heavy tax was lifted and everyone could make a decent living now. Though the soldiers never socialized before, it was getting better now that Zeus was in charge.
It was a long process, but Hunter was getting to know some of them. Sully had pretty much thrown his friendship on Hunter. The guy was full of piss and vinegar and was fun to be around.
“So if you haven’t gotten out from behind that counter does that mean someone has been under there taking care of business for you?”
Sully laughed when Hunter threw his beer cap at him.
“That would be none of your business. Go get laid and leave my sex life alone.” As nonexistent as it is .
Business was booming since Alpha Zeus had decided to rebuild, and most nights Hunter was too tired to even use his hand. But Sully didn’t need to know that.
“Here comes the biggest troublemaker of them all.”
Dino came sauntering over. “All lies.” He chuckled and took a seat. “Glad you made it, Hunter.”
Hunter held his bottle up and then took a drink, feeling the friendship all around him in the tavern.
“Jaxxon and Ian are supposed to be joining us,” Knox said as he leaned over and whispered something into Sammy’s ear, who was sitting on Trevor’s lap. Whatever it was, the guy turned so red, Hunter thought he was going to have to turn a hose on him to put the fire out.
Hunter
35
He knew Jaxxon and Ian were soldiers. Hunter knew all their names, he just didn’t know them.
“Where’d Tristan go?”
Hunter turned to look over his shoulder, and his brain took a dump. He couldn’t think of one word to say as his mate stood there staring at the crowd around the table.
“He excused himself. I think he went to the bathroom.” Trevor pointed in the direction toward the back of the tavern.
“But that’s the kitchen.” Sammy looked puzzled as he stared at Hunter’s mate.
“Why would he do that? Did someone say something to him?” the man asked. He had a sun-kissed heavenly face with sensuous eyes.
But his jaw was set, clenching as it held back his anger. What was going on? Did his mate have another?
“No.” Sammy shook his head. “Trevor said he looked a little green, and I said something about his face matching his shirt.”
Sammy looked contrite. “I wasn’t making fun of him, I swear.” The man seemed near tears, and Hunter was even more intrigued as to what was going on.
His mate cursed and headed to the back of the tavern. “Pardon me.” Hunter jumped from his seat and ran after the guy.
“Is there a problem I can help you with?” he asked as he caught up to his sexy mate.
“Who the hell are you?” The man walked through kitchen and looked around. “Has anyone seen a guy about five foot five, red hair, big red hat on his head with a feather sticking out of it?” he asked the personnel working in the kitchen.
Was he serious? Big red hat…feather?
“He went out the screen door.” One of the men answered.
His mate shot out of the door. “I’m Hunter. I own the hardware store.”
That got his attention. “The one Dino deals with?”
36
Lynn Hagen
“That’s me.” Hunter rounded the brick wall, wondering who they were looking for. “What’s your name?”
“Quinn.” He stopped and threw his hands up in the air. “Fuck.”
In a heartbeat I would. “Who are you looking for? Maybe I can help.” Hunter laid his hand on Quinn’s forearm to stop him. The muscles underneath flexed as Quinn ran his hand down his face, frustration written all over it. His cock hardened with that one small act. Man, it had been too long since he last got laid if