Alcide Herveaux roused awake as soon as the sun began to rise through his curtains. He groggily rubbed his face, the gruffness of his own facial hair helping to wake his fingertips. He walks, naked, across his bedroom to the small attached bathroom and gets into the shower. He lets the water start out cold and gradually heat to warm as he washes his hair and scrubs off the thin layer of forrest left over from his run last night. He finishes up and steps out he rubs off the fog from the mirror and begins his day.
"Unc! Unc!" The little boy runs at break neck speed down the small walkway of his house towards the old truck.
"Hey buddy, ready for your first day?" I grab the boy up in my arms and give him a little toss into the air as I catch him and his new blue back pack.
"I'm really ready Unc, momma gut me this new bag and I have folders for my papers and pencils and crayons and a lunch box with Buzz Lightyear and it even came with a thermos for my juice..."
"Alright buddy, I hear yah, you're all prepared, now hop in the truck I got your seat in there and everything."
"Thanks for taking him Alcide, I've got to run to get the salon ready for the morning, god forbid the old birds get there for their blue dye jobs and I'm not ready. Momma loves you Caleb I'll be there to pick you up at 2:30"
Here I am near 28 years old a damn blood thirsty monster playing Mr. Mom to my nephew.
Janice has to work hard for her and Caleb, it's the least I can do. She's always been a good girl, took good care of me growing up, seems right for me to help her out every since that no-good shit for brains husband of hers up and left. They're better off without him. Caleb needs a real man to look up to and I'll be him if I have to. Now I've got to go drop him off at his first day of kindergarten and damn if I don't even feel a little proud.
"Alright buddy, here we are" The seat belt fastens and I double check and tug just to make sure the little man is safely buckled into his booster seat.
The old ford fires up and we clear the drive way and start on the road to the small county school.
"What is school like Unc? Momma keeps telling me I'm going to learn a lot but I think I already know enough to know everything"
"Well I think you have room to learn a few more things, can you count to 100?"
"Well no, but I can count to 20, and that's pretty high"
Caleb was a funny kid. He was only 5 but already he seemed like a little adult sometimes. He could turn serious as a heart attack about somethings, I guess it comes at the cost of having to be the man of his house when he was barely a boy himself. He looked like our side, thankfully, not enough of his father in his looks to remind him of that rat bastard. He was dark haired and dark eyed, he was growing fast, I can remember how he was when he was just born, seemed like only a few days ago when Deb and I were waiting in the hospital...
Deb. Another memory of mine she infects. Caleb had loved her like an aunt, he cried when I told him she wouldn't be coming around anymore. But I couldn't ever expose him to her now, not with her all strung out on V. No sir, I'd have to hurt away from her.
"Do you think my teacher will be nice? I hope she is, I hope she's like Gramma or Momma, except more like Gramma because she makes better cookies than Momma."
"I think she'll be a very nice lady, and you best be sweet to her and treat her with respect just like you do Gramma, even if she's not very nice in return because she's your teacher."
His little face turned serious and he shook his head quickly "Of course I'll be good to her Unc, you know Momma raised me right"
"I know buddy, she certainly did and she won't let you forget it."
I slowed the truck down as we pulled into the parking lot and cut the engine. The wind kicked up as I stepped out of the truck. A familiar smell came with it, sweet and warm. And strong, stronger than I've ever smelt it before, it was close, so close.
"Unc! Get me out I'm gonna be late for my first day!"
I shook my head and cleared the thought as I unhooked Caleb from his seat and helped him jump down from the truck.
"Come on Unc! Come in and meet my teacher with me!" He grabbed my hand and tugged me towards the doors of the school. "Momma said I'm in Room 2 and my teacher's name is Miss Walker. I remembered that real good, so you think that means I'll be good at learning what Miss Walker teaches me? I reckon it does"
"I do too Little Man, now come on I'll walk you in and see you off properly"
I pushed open the doors and we walked down the hallway past the office and secretary and towards the classrooms. I couldn't help but notice the smell getting stronger as we walked through the school. The Were was here, she was so close. I was almost intoxicated as I walked with Caleb. I couldn't focus on his constant chatter, all I could do was focus on the smell, it was melting me. I was falling deep into my own senses getting every note of the smell, peonies, and sugar, and sweet tea and mint, there was a bit of earth and the smell of the air just after a warm summer rain.
"Unc, we're here!" Caleb tugged on my hand and stopped me from wandering further. The door to the classroom was open, and the smell was stronger than ever.
"Why hello there," a sweet smooth voice said "I'm Miss Honey Walker, but you can call me Miss Honey, what's your name?"
The sight of her nearly knocked me off my feet paired with the smell. She was small boned, delicate, she was more a fairy princess come to life from a story book than a moon cursed animal. Her hair was long brown and tousled like she'd just come back from a run in the woods. Her eyes were as wide as saucers and bright grass green. Her body was slender and well built, long legged in her smart pencil skirt and white blouse. She was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen and yet she was also dangerous. Lone wolves were lone for a reason, and they shouldn't be taken lightly no matter their outward appearance.
"I'm Caleb Herveaux and this here is my Uncle Alcide, he's dropping me off today on account of my Momma having to work early."
"Oh, well hello there too Mr. Herveaux, Caleb you can go pick a cubby for yourself over there with the other kids and we'll make ourselves our very own name tags for them as soon as everyone is here."
I stood in awe as she raised her head up and gave me a knowing smile. The other parents were doing their duties as well, helping their kids put their backpacks into their cubbies giving kisses and comforting the ones who cried a little at the idea of their parents leaving. Little did their know they were leaving their children with an animal in sheep's clothing, and very very pretty sheep's clothing at that.
"You." I said as I narrowed my eyes to look at her
"I can't know what you mean Mr. Herveaux." She smiled again and winked and came in close to my ear "You know I know, and I know you know. But how about we just keep that between us."
"No, you're in our territory and you need to make yourself known. Don't you know any of the rules"
"I know all of the rules." She said gravely "Now you've dropped your nephew off and I promise to take good care of him. Your job here is done"
"I'll find you tonight, you know what night of the month it is."
"I know, and maybe I'll find you first."
With that smart remark she turned and walked towards the gaggle of 5 year olds waiting for her. I stood still for a moment, stuck wondering what to do. After a second she turned back and narrowed her large eyes at me and shot me a look that I knew meant "Get Out."
I looked down at Caleb to say goodbye but he was already engrossed with another little boy and a Tonka Truck. I shrugged and let out a small growl that I knew would only be audible to her and walked out.
Back in my truck I turned the radio off and tried to think of what to do. The rest of the pack knew about her, they noticed the strange smell too, they weren't stupid. My knowing who she was was my own secret. But I had to tell the pack, I had obligations. But part of me wanted to wait, maybe see what happened tonight, if she showed up, maybe get some answers to bring to the pack.
That makes more sense.
I have to wait until I have something to actually bring them. As of right now all I know is A.) she's a female, and B.) she's my nephew's school teacher. I don't know any important things like where she came from or who her pack was. I'll see what I can get out of tonight.
Work was hell, construction on a hot Mississippi day is never a particular treat. But when you got a thousand other questions going on in your head and these images of this girl you know nothing about but you can't stop thinking about it's the seventh ring of hell. I drove home stewing in my own head. I needed tonight, I needed some answers.
I'd only encountered 2 other lone wolves in all my years since my first shift. Those two were young and stupid and whacked out on V. Which I mean, considering the recent changes in Jackson, isn't so odd anymore, but back then, it was not the norm and it was cause for the lones to be taken care of by the pack.
But it was hard to imagine her being on V. She was a school teacher for Christ's sake. They have to pass drug tests for that, right?
Maybe I should stop by Janice's and ask Caleb about his first day. It's only right, and I bet Jan cooked something nice up for dinner.
"Hey Bud how was your first day? How was Miss Walker?"
Caleb barreled at me in the doorway and jumped up into my arms.
"It was the best! I love school, we learned about what we are going to learn about all year. We're going to learn about nature, and the forest and the ocean and the rain forest and the weather and everything! Miss Honey is the best, she's nice and she's real pretty too. I saw you talking to her Unc. I reckon I like her more than I ever liked Debbie Pelt."
"Easy boy, take it slow. I'm happy you liked school, and Miss Honey treated you kids right? She acted nice all day? Nothing strange?"
"Acourse not Unc, she's the nicest. I think you and her should get married. I'd certainly like having her be my teacher and my auntie too."
"Well I'm sorry to disappoint but I'm not getting married anytime soon young gun."
"Suit yourself Unc, I guess I'll just have to marry Miss Honey." Caleb said and hopped down off my lap and scurried into the living room and the glow of the TV.
"So what'd you think of his teacher Jannie?" I said looking up as Janice bustled around the stove "And what's for dinner?"
"Can you even make yourself some damn macaroni and cheese Alcide? I swear I just better cook enough for three for every meal because you damn dogs can smell a free meal from 5 miles away."
"S'closer to 10 Jan, and what'd you think of his teacher?"
"I thought she was certainly very pretty if that's what you're asking and a regular sweetheart. I liked her very much. What do you care about it, you thinkin' of askin' her on a date because I think you should. Caleb was right, she's worlds better than that skank Debbie Pelt"
Janice was a rarity in the were world, she never shifted. She wasn't a Were. It happens once in a while, two full bloods have a kid that just never shifts. Jan didn't smell that she was a lone.
"She's a were Jan, and a lone one too"
Janice turned sharply, she may not be a Were but she was well versed in the ways of us and understood what a lone wolf meant.
"Have you told dad yet? Do you think she's dangerous cause I can't have a loose cannon like that in charge of my only son all day."
"I don't know yet, and I didn't tell Dad, when I dropped Caleb today she knew I knew and she told me she'd find me tonight during the shift. I'll get the answers I need from her tonight"
"Alright Alcide, I trust you to figure her out. Maybe she's not a bad lone. Maybe something just happened to her pack, I can't believe someone as sweet as her could be as dangerous as the other lones you've dealt with. She was so fantastic with all those kids today. Caleb's already in love with her, and I'd hate for her to have to be... dealt with."
"I would too, I mean, you're right she is pretty"
"I'm always right, and I'm making a roast."
I left Janice's and headed to Lou Pine's to meet up with the pack before the monthly run. A night a Lou Pine's used to mean a good time and a few beers with the guys and maybe even some dancing with Debbie. Now it meant being cooped up in a corner with the remains of the Longtooth pack trying not to get riled up with Coot and his pack of mongrels.
I parked my truck and hopped down into the parking lot. The line of bikes outside numbered around 20, I knew Coot and his pack were strong in there. I resisted the urge to kick them down like dominoes and walked up into the bar.
"Alcide, hey, ready for tonight buddy?"
"Yeah Basim, I'm ready" I bumped fists with Basim, he was our second tracker, and a good one.
"You find anything on that lone we smelled a couple nights ago? The sweet one?" he asked as he turned his beer bottle in his hands
"Naw, I tracked her into the river again she's smart, I'll give her that. Damn good at evasion. Hey Hobbs can I get a Bud please?" The steady bartender handed me a beer and I settled in with the pack. The moon would be at it's peak in a few hours, and then it would be time for us to run. And time for me to find her.
"What the fuck do you think you and your pussy pack are doin' here?"
"Hey Deb, glad to see you're still acting like a lady." I looked up to see the shell of the woman I'd spent the last 5 years with. She was dressed in this ripped up tee shirt and a leather vest over jean shorts short enough to leave the cheeks of her ass out. She was skinny and done up like a cheap bayou whore.
"No, you've got the lady part down enough for the both of us, and I found me a real man." She sneered
"Debbie just get on and leave us alone, we're just trying to have a beer, last I checked Coot didn't own Lou Pine's. I'm done with you Deb, go be with Coot. I honestly don't care anymore, you've made your bed, go lay in it Junkie"
"Fuck you Alcide, you'll never get over me, you're just trying to act like you don't care, but you do. I still have all those crying voicemails where you beg for me back."
"Alright Deb, you win, I'll leave, just to get away from you though. Boys I'll meet you out in the woods. I need to blow off some steam a little earlier than usual." I got up and pushed past Debbie while she cackled. She seemed on a mission to ruin my life any way she could. I left my truck at Lou's and walked straight around back. I undid my belt and and unbuttoned my shirt as I felt the shift coming. In a moment it was over and I felt a little freer. I set off towards the old county school and started smelling hard for her trail.