some revenue out of them before they were poached by one of the bigger clubs.
“Good morning,” she started, her voice calm and level as she looked around the small gathering.
Keep it together , she reminded herself, careful not to show any emotion. In a room of mixed shifters, all predators, showing fear or anything like it was a complete no-no. If they associated her with prey, she was done for. No, she had to be the alpha, up to and including dry humping the fuckers if she had to. Her gaze fell on Niko. He was a big-ass werebear, so she really hoped it didn’t come to that.
“Rumors have reached my ears that some of you have decided you want out of your contracts.” Rather than pussyfooting around, she went straight for the jugular like the cat she should have been. The one Logan claimed to scent… “I’m here to tell you that no contracts will be renegotiated at this time.”
There was muttering and shuffling of feet but she ignored it, looking each and every fighter in the eye. “The Scarlet Moon has always and will always be run by a member of the Hunter family; be that my father, my brother or me—”
“Won’t fight for a woman.”
The comment came from somewhere in the masses, so she couldn’t be sure who the speaker was. It didn’t matter. Whoever had spoken, she still needed to address it.
“You don’t fight for a woman,” her voice sliced through the air, a whip of ice and steel. “And if you do, you’re in the wrong fucking game. You fight for yourself, your brothers and your club. And it’s the club, not me, that your contract is with, and by extension, the Shifter Fight League run by the king. Now, I don’t know about you, but the king is not a man I’d want to piss off.”
* * *
O h yes , Zara Hunter was glorious. Absolutely glorious.
Shoulders resting against the wall and his face shadowed by his hoody, Logan Reese watched the petite woman control the room with ease.
She might claim not to be a shifter, but she was all alpha female and it showed. Half the fighters in the room wouldn't meet her gaze and the other half were so deep in lust he could practically taste it rolling from their pores.
His cat snarled as his temper rose, but he kept both in check. They could look and lust after her all they liked, but if any of them laid a hand on her, he’d take it clean off…and their balls for good measure.
Zara Hunter was all his. End of story. She just didn’t know it yet.
He altered his position as his body reacted to her voice and the sight of her curvy figure highlighted by the lights above the practice ring. The spotlights would have washed any other woman out, but with her dark hair and feline-lined eyes, they worshipped her instead. The harsh lights molded to her generous figure and caressed the length of her legs.
He bit back a groan and readjusted himself. She had those “fuck me” heels on again. Thank god for baggy training pants or he’d be broadcasting his desire for the petite club manager to everyone.
At the mention of his name, the crowd quietened down. Clever move to remind them that all clubs, and by extension all fighters, owed fealty to him. Without his permission, no shifter could fight. Of course, that permission was usually assumed and taken for granted…but he could withdraw it if he pleased. And a fighter without his permission was a one-way trip to a shallow grave out past the city limits.
Eyes narrowed, he took note of the trouble makers as the crowd dispersed and went back to their training. He'd let her deal with it in her own way. For now.
Zara made her way down the steps from the ring, and he pushed off the wall to approach. Her eyes flashed a warning as she clocked a fighter stalking toward her and then widened as she recognized him.
“Logan? What are you doing here?” she asked as she hurried toward him. The tight skirt and the sway of her hips distracted him for a second before he focused on her face. Was that a hint of a smile