Free Owned By The Alphas - The Prequel by Faleena Hopkins Page B

answered, “You talking about booze…or you?”
    Calt and Borhan dropped their gazes, both grinning at the lack of game the young wolf had. The bartender rolled her eyes and walked away.
    Borhan said on a low chuckle, “Dumbass.”
    Lucin blushed and glanced over at her back, mumbling, “Does that mean I don’t get a beer?”
    Tawny walked up behind them. “She’ll be back. I saw her looking at Calt here last night.”
    Calt stared ahead, not taking the bait. He ignored the looks males on either side of him gave him, too. But when Tawny whistled under her breath, he turned to see why.
    In the door walked some members of the other pack. Calt’s eyebrows rose, and the four stared, finally understanding.
    Borhan said what they were all thinking: “Now it all makes sense why Ivar kept the alpha out of view at first.”
    Tawny was quiet.
    Lucin said, under his breath, “This is the first time they’ve come out since he passed.”
    Calt nodded. “Lucin, get Rait.”
    Lucin ran off, leaving a stool open, but Tawny didn’t take it.
    “Well, I’ll be,” she muttered. “He’s like me.”
    “Don’t get your hopes up.” Borhan snickered, “You’re not an alpha.”
    Tawny shot him a look, as Calt turned around and told them, “Alright. Stop staring at him.”
    “He just looked at me,” Tawny said, turning away. “He’s handsome...but not as powerful as you are,” she added awkwardly.
    Calt took a drink. “We are not in a contest.” As he stared ahead, his thoughts were haunted by Ivar’s passing and the loss his pack endured, how rough it must be to lose one so clearly capable of earning trust. What was this new alpha like? With a quick glance over, he saw the betas deferring to him as though they respected him. As they stood talking and playing pool, there was a friendliness to them as though they’d known each other much longer than they had. What was the story?
    Borhan fidgeted beside him, while Tawny left to get Bloo. After he couldn’t stand it anymore, he hissed, “What are we waiting for? Let us see what this new alpha is made of!”
    “What’s an alpha?” the bartender asked, coming for their empty glasses.
    Borhan glanced to his friend and Calt flashed a sexy, distracting smile to the woman. “Are those new earrings, Debbie?”
    Her hand quickly flew up to the silver bobs dangling from her earlobes. “These? My mother gave these to me when I was a little girl. You like ‘em?”
    Calt reached out and she leaned in to give him access. He touched the tiny gem on one and then let his fingertips brush her cheek as he withdrew his hand. “Beautiful.”
    Debbie blushed a smile normally seen on a seventeen year old, not a fifty. Stuttering, she thanked him and hurried to get the beers when he held up two fingers. “Be right back!”
    As soon as she was out of earshot, Calt shot a warning look to his friend. It was unneeded. Borhan knew his error. “That was well played.”
    “Do not flatter me. And do not make me have to improvise like that again. It was careless and unlike you.”
    He quieted as Debbie quickly returned and set down freshly chilled pints. “Anything else?” The question was loaded.
    Calt gave a curt nod. “Send four over to the men by the pool table. The ones who just came in.”
    “Let me take them over,” Borhan whispered.
    Calt smirked. “Nice try.”
    Upon her return, Debbie smiled and rested her hand on the bar, the other on a jutted hip. “They said thank you .”
    Calt nodded just as the front door opened and his father walked into the room. He knew the sound of his footsteps instantly, and he turned. Rait’s eyes were on the blue-eyed alpha. Calt looked over to see the alpha staring back. He tipped his head, and Rait returned the gesture, then took the stool left empty by Lucin.
    “I told Lucin to stay back.”
    “Dak and Calus?” Borhan asked, out of turn.
    “Them too. They’re outside. Just in case.” He nodded to the bottles on the wall and told Debbie,