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.

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

just a

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

judging by the looks of interest, the

pretty girl like you doing here, lost?" The barman asks as

again." By taking in his appearance it was the truth, I would have no reason to

that

worldly goods, all his riches into this bar in an attempt to escape the mate that

the curb moving her new lover in on the same day. Moving him into the house

as I down

"What's so funny?"

nothing, just keeping myself amused. I'll

work here you know." His tone is playful, but he'll soon learn

hates being told what to do, being corrected...especially by a

eyes, not backing down...I never

increasingly more uncomfortable by my stare, his eyes blinking as

turns away to fetch the bottle

might as well leave the bottle...please."

scoff he moves along the bar to another customer, a regular I presume as they both

eyeing me up from my

stupid...I knew how to dress

was part of what

bar and

in a cute little dress, not in my jeans that

meeting was

their stares, on their