Read Online Shifters Rule (Rule Series) by K.C. Blake - Free Book Online Page B

mother, like daughter.
    Better for everyone if he went without saying a word.
    So he did.
    .
    *****
    .
    The second he stepped into the bar he forgot how to breathe.   Memories of his life as Tobias crashed through his head like a jumbo jet.   So many details about this bar reminded him of the bar Tobias had lived above.   From the jukebox in the corner to the dirty floor, it was like he’d stepped into the past.   Only, instead of bikers there were truckers and a few couples at a table near the back.   They laughed, unaware of the danger.
    It had occurred to Jack while running to the edge of town that Jersey might not even show.   Maybe it was a trap.   Part of him hoped the head werewolf wouldn’t show up, but...
    Jersey was playing pool alone in an adjacent room.   Although the truckers didn’t know Jersey ’s origins, they automatically steered clear of him.   It was interesting to watch.   The head werewolf gave off a confident, yet homicidal vibe.   People gave him a wide berth even though they didn’t understand why they were doing it.
    Jack wondered why he hadn’t sensed the vibe when Jersey was teaching at the high school.
    Jack moved closer to the pool table.
    Jersey racked the balls into a triangle.   He took the stick to the other side of the table, ignoring Jack as he shot the cue ball across the green felt.   It hit the other balls with a solid crack.   They scattered.   Both stripes and solids went into the pockets, three or four of them.   Jersey righted himself and smiled smugly at Jack.   “Have you played before?”
    “It’s been a few years.”
    Jersey chalked the end of his stick.   “Care to make a friendly wager?”
    “Depends.   What do you want?”
    “If I win, you hand over the diary.”
    A huge fist settled in the pit of Jack’s stomach and cold sweat broke out under his arms.   “What if I win?”
    For a breathless moment the werewolf didn’t say a word.
    “I’ll return Silver’s prized possession to you.”   Jersey removed the familiar silver dagger charm necklace from the pocket of his black trousers.   He placed it on the edge of the pool table.   Light bounced off the charm and hit Jack in the eye, taunting him.   Jersey added, “You win, it’s yours.   Since you do not have the diary on you, I will have to ask you to swear on your beloved’s head that you will give it to me once you lose.”
    Jack didn’t want to do it, but he had to return Silver’s necklace to her.   He pictured the huge smile it would bring to her face.   She would continue to be sad about her father, of course, but having her necklace back would definitely put a spring in her step.
    Months ago she’d told him how her father had taken the necklace to the Pope to have it blessed.   It meant a lot to her.   He had given it to her on her twelfth birthday.   It was her good luck charm.  
    She needed it now more than ever.
    “I swear on Silver’s life.   If you win, I will hand the diary over to you.”
    And then I’ll kill you .
    Jack’s father had taught him to play pool as soon as he could see over the top of the table.   No way would he lose to a werewolf.   Besides that, Silver needed her locket to keep her safe from a growing werewolf population.   It could mean the difference between life and death.   As far as Jack was concerned, the bet was worth the risk.
    Jersey ’s mouth stretched and turned up at the ends.   Familiar amusement resided in his eyes.   “I’m solids.   You can have the stripes.”
    It was still Jersey ’s turn so he bent over the table and shot a ball into the corner pocket nearest Jack with a loud crack.   It almost got Jack’s finger.   He quickly removed his hand from the table.   Jersey missed on his next turn.   With a mocking bow in Jack’s direction, he retreated to the corner.
    Why did Jack feel like he was being tested?
    He took his time lining up his first shot.   He knocked two into a side pocket before saying,