He nodded as though he totally understood. Then he asked, “So you play pool?”
“Lisa taught me.”
“Let’s play a game, then.”
It was a distraction, and right then, I needed a distraction—badly.
“What are we going to play for?” I asked as I followed him over to the pool stick rack.
“What do you want to play for?”
“If I win, you leave without me.”
He was reaching for a pool stick when my words hit him. Stopping, he studied me. “Are you that good?”
“Maybe.”
He shrugged. “Okay. If I win, you have to accept me as your mate.”
“That’s ridiculous. You don’t select your mate based on the outcome of a game.”
“But you’re willing to risk your life on it. You don’t seem to get it, Hayden. You’re in danger here. I’m the best chance you have of surviving what’s coming.”
His tone wasn’t cocky or boastful. He really believed it. Unfortunately I believed his best chance of surviving to live to an old age meant me going my own way. Reaching for a stick, I skimmed my hand over the wooden rack. I felt a sharp pain. “Ouch!”
“What is it?” Daniel asked, grabbing my hand.
I tried to pull free, but he had a strong grip.
“Just a splinter, I think. Let me see,” I ordered.
“I see it.”
I jerked. He yanked.
“Hold still,” he demanded.
“I can take care of it.”
This time, he lifted his head and pinned me with his gaze. “Hold. Still. Please?”
At that moment I realized he never backed down. I also suspected he never lost. He was like an immovable force. A couple of people were looking at us. I did not want a scene. I swallowed hard and nodded.
He turned his attention back to the stupid splinter. He had large hands, long, slender fingers. I was surprised he was able to grip the splinter and pull it free. A tiny bit of blood pooled on my palm. I watched in amazement as he lifted my hand and sniffed. Then he rolled out his tongue and licked away the blood.
Heat speared me clear down to the soles of my feet, and my toes curled so tightly that I wasn’t sure they’d ever straighten back out.
“Blood scent,” he said, his voice a deep growl, his gaze back on mine, causing me to grow so warm that I thought I might have to remove my sweater or boil. “The strongest. Now I’ll always find you—no matter where you go.”
I jerked my hand free. “What are you—a vampire?” My heart nearly seized up. “Is that it? Is that why I can’t feel your emotions? Why you think you’re immune to the harvester?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Vamps and Shifters don’t mix.”
“That’s not an answer. It was a yes or no question.”
He narrowed his eyes, sighed with impatience. “No. I’m not a vampire.”
“What are you?”
He glanced to the side. The people who’d been watching had turned their attention back to their game. He slid his gaze back to me. “A Shifter.”
“Not like any I’ve ever met.”
“And how many have you met? Other than those at Wolford, I mean. There are different clans, different tribes. Maybe you can feel the emotions of only those who originated in Wolford.”
I wrinkled my brow as I considered his words. “Why would where someone was from make a difference?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s something in the water.”
“Okay, that doesn’t make any sense. And I have been around Shifters who didn’t come from Wolford.” We were talking quietly so no one else in the room could hear us. “When I went on vacation with my parents, there were those I didn’t know. And I still felt their emotions. It’s just you. There’s something different about you.”
For the first time since he’d arrived, he seemed uncomfortable. His gaze darted briefly away from mine. “Let’s change the stakes. How about if you lose you cook me breakfast in the morning?”
Why was he changing the subject? Was I on to something? The room was becoming more crowded, and I knew any in-depth conversation was out of the question. But his reaction was something to ponder and consider. “And if I win?” I asked.
“I’ll cook you breakfast.”
“I have to be at work at six.”
“Not a problem.”
“Actually there is. No free tables.”
He winked at me—I resented that so simple a gesture made my knees weaken—and grabbed a stick. I watched as he slowly surveyed the room, then he strode over to a table on the far side and just stood there. I could tell the two guys who were playing were growing increasingly uncomfortable, even though Daniel didn’t do anything. He didn’t threaten them, didn’t speak to them. His nearness, his stillness, and his watchful gaze were enough. They left their game unfinished.
Impressed, I walked over and joined him while he began racking up the balls. “That was the same thing you did earlier in the day when you wanted that stool. How do you do that?” I asked.
“There are submissive Statics, just like there are wolves. You simply have to recognize them.”
“And you’re an alpha.”
“All Dark Guardians are,” he said quietly.
“That was really kinda mean.”
He shrugged indifferently. “All they had to do was defend their territory by not leaving. I wasn’t going to fight them for it.” He stepped back. “You break.”
I guess I couldn’t really fault him for his approach to getting us a table. He hadn’t been aggressive, but he gave off such powerful vibes—even standing still. He’d be the leader of the pack.
Although the Dark Guardians already had a leader: Lucas Wilde. But Daniel was right: All the Dark Guardians had alpha tendencies. They didn’t back down from a fight. But they also recognized and respected the acknowledged leader. I’d always thought it took a lot of confidence in one’s abilities not to feel threatened at taking orders. I had to admire Daniel for joining our group and blending in without creating any conflict. The elders had to trust his abilities to send him off on his own to find me.
I smacked the balls, watched them roll over the table, and since none dropped into holes, found myself glad that we’d changed the terms of the wager.