Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

Runa POV

*3 months ago*

I let my fingers strum against the dark varnished oak wood bar which is designed intricately with various scenes of wolves in group hunts.

This was very much a shifters bar but on the off chance a human happened to stumble by, they would take it as a tourist attraction.

It reeked tourism even in the wooden smell, the stale beer spilled carpet and the fire cracking in the large fireplace, they would think that this is a bar designed to offer passing trade an insight into perhaps a time from before.

But it's not, it really is a forgotten dive.

Any tourists that happened to come this way most likely wouldn't be escaping without their wallets, even at times...their own lives. Most would open the bar door, sense the unease...the wolf auras mixing in the poorly lit space, and with any luck they would let their instincts kick in and close that door without taking a step inside.

This bar was off the beaten track for a reason, it served as a place for the lowest of the shifter community, and on the rare occasion alphas used it for off the record meetings.

The kind that are required to take place away from their own pack lands.

"Another?" The barman eyes me suspiciously as I down the whiskey shot in one, placing the now empty glass upside down on his pristine bar top.

He takes the shot glass from me, making a point of wiping the alcoholic residue away. He's just shown me his weakness...he is a clean freak.noveldrama

Oh well, he isn't going to like the mess I leave for him later.

"Yep!" I sigh out, pulling my phone out of my back jean pocket and placing it on the bar top, checking the time.

He was late.

I was definitely in the right

It was now just a waiting game.

Looks like I'm going to be soaking up more of this dive bar and its occupants.

I was the only female and judging by the looks of interest, the only female for quite some time.

"So, what is a pretty girl like you doing here, lost?" The barman asks as he places a refilled shot glass out in front of me.

"Just passing through, don't worry...you won't ever see me again." By taking in his appearance it was the truth, I would have no reason to come back here for him.

There is nothing that he could give me.

He's probably put all of his worldly goods, all his riches into this bar in an attempt to escape the mate that caught him cheating on her because he thought he deserved better.

Then that mate casted him out, kicking him to the curb moving her new lover in on the same day. Moving him into the house that this barman had paid for.

I chuckle out as I down another shot.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh nothing, just keeping myself amused. I'll take another..."

"Please...manners work here you know." His tone is playful, but he'll soon learn there is nothing playful about me.

I hold his eyes, my wolf burning through as she hates being told what to do, being corrected...especially by a male.

I hold his eyes, not backing down...I never back down.

He grows increasingly more uncomfortable by my stare, his eyes blinking as he

finally gets the message and turns away to fetch the bottle of whiskey.

"You might as well leave the bottle...please." My smile matches my tone, sarcastic.

With a scoff he moves along the bar to another customer, a regular I presume as they both mutter about me in hushed tones.

The regular eyeing me up from my ankles to my

breast. Yes, I wasn't stupid...I knew how to dress to attract male attention.

It was part of what I did.

Although any other bar and I would

be dressed with my legs on full display in a cute little dress, not in my jeans that are slightly restrictive, but wasn't given a lot of notice to come. swnovel

Apparently, this meeting was organised last minute.

I don't call them out on their stares, on their slanderous tongues...I need to

remain composed for what is yet to come.

The bar door opens, a bell ringing out...the barman standing back to full height behind the bar as he welcomes a new customer.

Someone new he can sell this watered-down shit whiskey too.

Maybe the regulars are constantly drunk not to notice but the last one, he's

definitely slipped in water to save his stock levels. Greedy prick.

"What can I get for you?"

"I'm meeting someone here, but it doesn't look like they've arrived...erm, a beer while I wait."

"Sure thing Alpha." The barman

moves to work, I doubt he'll water

down his beer. You could sense his alpha aura from the moment he walked in. Fucking idiot, he hasn't even attempted to rein it in. Why are men so stupid. swnovel

He takes a seat at the bar, a few stools from me as he takes in the place, his hands moving across the bar top before leaning down to notice the wolf carvings, swnovel.net

"Nice place you have here."

Really?

"Thanks, I've not seen you around before."