Lowell had to admit his defeat. Going off like he did without a plan or even a clue on how to gather intel had been a bad idea. He’s been sitting in the bloody pub for hours, nursing his pint, not wanting to drink more as he rode his bike. He had tried asking some discreet questions, had tried to befriend locals. It didn’t work. Everyone in the pub was tight-lipped when it came to the local pack. Lowell reckoned it was to be expected. The pack must have not want to advertise their sanctuary status. Add to that the prejudice that could still be found against shifters and the lack of forthcoming was understandable. It didn’t mean Lowell was going to back off. No, he decided drinking the last of his beer. He was going to withdraw and regroup, come up with a better plan. With the decision made he went to stand up and leave.
The front door to the pub opened and a man strode in. From the first moment he saw him, Lowell knew he was looking at a shifter. The man simply had that aura of danger around him, the barely restrained wildness. Lowell had learnt from his experience with Purr that it was something inherently natural for shifters. The man nodded to a few patrons and Lowell noticed some glances exchanged that held more meaning than a simple greeting. So there were more shifters in the pub, go figure. The newcomer had to be someone of position in the pack since the other very obviously deferred to him. Lowell was fascinated. Purr had been alone for a long time when Lowell had found him. He had no clue about working of a pack, and so Lowell was mostly ignorant too. He did remember some things from his time in the Shifter Equality movements, but they were basics. Shifter packs were structured mostly like some traditional human tribes from times of old. There was a clear chain of command with Alpha – the pack’s Chief, and his second Beta, or Betas. There was sometimes also a Council of Elders, but that was the extent of Lowell’s knowledge.
The man’s gaze zeroed in on Lowell and he started towards him with a purposeful gate. Lowell felt a sliver of unease creep up his spine. The man was huge, well over six feet tall and with wide shoulders. He was very well muscled and seemed as if he could break Lowell in two without even breaking a sweat. Lowell thought that Purr might look similar given a year or two. Lowell’s darling tiger was already tall and muscular but he clearly haven’t reached his full potential. Being locked in a basement without nearly enough sunshine, exercise and proper nourishment was partially to blame for that, the other part was Purr’s young age.
The man came closer and Lowell could see his dark-brown, nearly black hair and hazel-coloured eyes. Lowell had also a great view of the man’s scowl. He swallowed loudly and waited for the man to approach him. It was obvious that the conversation they were about to have wasn’t going to be pleasant
