Maira watched Basil and Lila join the table where Kairo was engaged in an intense conversation with Fehim, the leader of the Warg pack. Maira decided to step away for a moment, seeking solace in the bathroom. Inside the bathroom, the soft notes of 'Just Because I'm a Woman' escaped her lips as she hummed her mother's favorite song by Dolly Parton. Maira cherished the memories of her parents, who had always encouraged her love for singing. It was heartwarming to be reminded of those happy times amidst the complexities of her life as a shifter.
As she exited the bathroom, her heel wobbled on an uneven surface, causing her to stumble into a handsome stranger and accidentally spill his drink. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she apologized, feeling flustered by the mishap. Trying to make amends, she offered him a tissue from her purse. As he smiled at her, a dimple appeared on his left cheek, sparking a sense of familiarity in Maira.
"Have we met before?" Kerim asked, mirroring her feeling of déjà vu.
Maira chuckled, "I was just about to ask you the same thing. I'm Maira."
"Kerim," he introduced himself with a friendly tone. He then glanced towards the table where Basil had been sitting. "So, are you here with the guy I saw you singing with earlier?"
"Yes, that's Basil," Maira replied. "He had to attend a meeting briefly, so I'm on my own for now."
Kerim playfully joked, "Leaving such a beautiful woman alone to attend a boring meeting? He must be out of his mind. Well, I'll keep you company until he returns."
Maira laughed at his playful comment, feeling at ease in his company. "I suppose he's just fulfilling his responsibilities and I am grateful for your company," she said graciously.
As they continued chatting, he asked about her pack affiliation. Maira was surprised when he recognized her as a shifter, even though she couldn't shift into her wolf form, which usually made her scent subtle and hard to identify.
"I belong to the Jaha pack," she disclosed, wondering how much Kerim knew about her pack.
"Ah, the Jaha pack," he mused, "a prominent and respected pack indeed."
Maira was intrigued by Kerim's familiarity with her pack and decided to inquire further. "And which pack do you belong to?"
Kerim's smile turned elusive, and he responded, "Let's just say I have connections with various packs. It's good to know our fellow shifters in this world."
Their conversation turned serious when Maira mentioned her father's death, and Kerim's eyes narrowed in concern as he offered his condolences. He empathized with her situation, "I can imagine how tough it must be with a new alpha leading your pack," he said, his voice tinged with sympathy. "A new alpha can be challenging, especially someone as arrogant as Kairo."
"Oh, you have no idea," Maira nodded, relieved that Kerim seemed to understand her predicament, "He's making everyone's lives miserable, and I'm afraid I'll lose my place in the pack just because I can't shift."
Someone cleared their throat behind her but she ignored it and continued, "Kairo's ego is the size of Texas. He's turned into a workaholic and a slave driver, expecting everyone to prove themselves or leave the pack. Even I, the daughter of the previous alpha, was given an ultimatum."
Kerim seemed amused by her candidness as he looked over her shoulder at someone, causing Maira to turn around. To her dismay, she saw that Kairo and Fehim had approached their table, overhearing everything she had just said. Her heart pounded in her chest as she nervously gulped down some water. Embarrassment washing over her as she realized the consequences of her candidness.
Fehim's voice was casual as he greeted Kerim. "Hey, little brother, what have you been up to?"
Kairo's expression was stony as he took a seat next to Maira, his displeasure with Maira evident in the way his body was taut with controlled anger. Maira's heart raced, knowing she had just exposed her pack's vulnerabilities to a member of an enemy pack.
Kerim, however, seemed amused by the situation. "Just having an interesting conversation with Maira here. She's quite outspoken, isn't she?"
Maira's cheeks flushed, feeling like she had made a huge mistake. She attempted to recover from the awkwardness. "Uh, yeah, I guess you could say that."
As Fehim's attention shifted to Maira, she felt a mix of embarrassment and unease. She hadn't intended to reveal so much about her pack's troubles to a member of the Warg pack, especially one as close to their alpha as Kerim turned out to be. She fidgeted nervously, feeling foolish for not realizing their connection sooner. They looked so similar, and even their names rhymed.
"You've got a great voice. We could use a singer like you in our pack to lighten things up," Fehim complimented her.
Before Maira could respond, she felt Kairo's protective hand behind her on the chair, silently staking his claim. "She's not going anywhere," Kairo declared firmly, his eyes locked on Fehim.
His territorial behavior both reassured and irritated her. She appreciated his concern, but she didn't need him asserting his dominance at a time like this. However, she refrained from saying anything, knowing this was not the right moment for an argument.
Kerim couldn't resist adding a teasing remark, "Ah, seems like you've struck a nerve, Fehim."
Maira tried to deescalate the situation by steering the conversation away from the unexpected turn it had taken. "Thanks for the compliment," Maira replied to Fehim's praise of her karaoke performance, "I enjoy singing; it helps me forget about all the stress in my life."
Fehim raised an eyebrow, looking amused and steering the conversation back to the uncomfortable topic. "Well, if you ever get tired of singing your heart out in Jaha pack, we'd be delighted to have you in the Warg pack."
Kairo's patience wore thin at the insinuation. "Focus on your own pack members instead of trying to poach mine," he retorted, his voice edged with irritation.
As the tension between the two alphas escalated, a loud crash echoed through the restaurant, capturing everyone's attention. Maira turned her head to see a Warg pack member transformed into a feral shifter, wreaking havoc and endangering everyone around.
The feral shifter swiped and bit anyone who got in its path. Maira was frozen in place as the feral shifter's wild eyes focused on her from the other side of the room. She could feel her instincts urging her to flee. Fear pulsed through her veins as she stood paralyzed, watching the feral shifter make its way towards her. She glanced at Kairo, whose face was stern and focused on the threat at hand.
"Get ready to move," Kairo warned her discreetly, positioning himself between her and the approaching shifter.
Maira nodded, trusting Kairo to keep her safe.
Fehim's pack members also sprang into action, attempting to restrain their crazed pack member. However, the shifter's uncontrollable rage made him a formidable adversary.
Maira's heart pounded as the chaos unfolded before her eyes. She could hear screams and shouts as the patrons of the restaurant rushed to safety. The Warg pack members struggled to subdue their fellow shifter, but the feral strength was overpowering.
Kairo's hand tightened around hers, pulling her slightly closer to him. She hadn't noticed he had taken hold of her hand. "Stay close to me," he whispered in a low voice, his protective instincts on high alert.
Maira nodded, her heart pounding in her ears. She felt vulnerable and exposed, and yet she found comfort in Kairo's protective presence. Despite their differences, in this moment, he was the alpha, and she knew he would do whatever it took to keep her safe.