What Was Wolf Thinking? Scarlet and Wolf

Chapter 10: A Tattoo Like Mine

by Down Iris

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I do not have any rights to nor make any money from the characters in this story.

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Wolf was getting anxious. His fight with Hunter was coming up soon, and Scarlet still hadn't shown up. He wondered if somehow her father hadn't mentioned the tattoo, or if she hadn't noticed his.

Finally, he caught her scent and relaxed. He watched her as she paced through the crowd. She stopped in a corner, still searching for him. He moved to join her.

"You came," he said enthusiastically. For some reason he couldn't describe, he felt happy to see her, even more than just because of his assignment.

Scarlet jumped and turned toward him. He stepped back. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

She stepped forward, her face filling with anger, and punched him in the chest. It didn't hurt very much, as he was used to much harder punches. "Where is she?"

Wolf tried to keep a neutral expression, though it was hard. "Who?"

"My grandmother! What have you done with her?"

He looked down at her, trying to appear confused. "Your grandmother?"

Scarlet punched him again, and he flinched. "I know it was you. I know you took her and you're keeping her somewhere. I know it was you who tortured my dad! I don't know what you're trying to prove, but I want her back and I want her back now."

He glanced over her head to see the mediator trying to get his attention. "I'm sorry…they're calling me to the stage."

Scarlet grabbed his left wrist and aimed her gun at his tattoo. He felt a thrill rush up his arm. "My dad saw your tattoo, despite your attempts to keep him drugged up. I find it unlikely that there are two identical tattoos like this, and that you happen to show up in my life the same day my dad's kidnappers let him go after a week of torturing him."

Wolf acted like he finally understood, and frowned. "Someone kidnapped your father…and your grandmother. Someone with a tattoo like mine. But they let your father go today?"

"Do you think I'm an idiot?" she yelled. "Are you really going to try and convince me you had nothing to do with it?"

It was hard to keep a smile off of his face, as amused as he was by Scarlet's antics. His wrist still tingled where she was holding it. Wolf looked up as the mediator tried to get his attention again. Everyone was looking at them. "I've been at the Rieux Tavern every day for weeks. Any of the wait-staff can vouch for that. And I've been here every night. Anyone will tell you so."

Scarlet scowled. "Sorry if the people around here don't exactly seem like the trustworthy types."

"They're not," he said. "But they do know me. Watch. You'll see."

He tried to slip around her but she turned with him, her nails digging into his skin. "You're not leaving until you—" She paused as she saw the crowd watching them.

"Looks like the wolf has found himself a tender morsel tonight," the mediator said from the stage.

Hunter was behind him, leering at Scarlet. "Think I'll be taking that one home after I've destroyed dog-boy's pretty face!" he called, which irritated Wolf, though he didn't know why. He was used to such taunts, at the fights and among his pack. He kept his face neutral. Someone nearby asked him if he was afraid to test his luck.

Wolf turned back to Scarlet. "He's undefeated. But so am I."

Scarlet seemed to get even angrier. "I already commed the police and they'll be here any minute. If you just tell me where my grandmother is, you can leave, you can even warn your friends if you want. I won't shoot you and I won't tell the police about you. Just—just tell me where she is. Please."

He tried to look calm, even though it was hard when he heard the pleading in her voice. He thought it would be best to get away for now, and then talk more after he won the fight. He gently pried her fingers from his arm. In response, she aimed the gun at his chest.

"I believe your father did see a tattoo like mine." He leaned toward her. "But it wasn't me." He thought he'd let her think about that for a while. He turned away and walked toward the stage.

As he was waiting on the stage, he risked a glance at Scarlet and saw her face full of rage. It unsettled him more than he would have thought, even though he should have expected it.

He felt more nervous about this fight than any other, even when he had fought before the queen. He desperately wanted to impress Scarlet, even more than just to fulfill his assignment, but he wasn't sure why.

Finally the fight started. As they exchanged blows, Wolf kept wondering what Scarlet was thinking.

Eventually Hunter dropped to his knees, and he found himself ready to snap Hunter's neck in his madness, but something stopped him. He glanced up and caught Scarlet's eye. All the pent up anger drained away as he saw her revulsion. He swallowed hard and leaped back, away from Hunter.

The horn sounded to end the fight, but he barely heard it. He was too focused on Scarlet and her disgust. As the mediator climbed back onto the stage, Wolf jumped off and ran out of the building as fast as he could.

As Wolf ran he thought, This is who I am. And Scarlet doesn't approve. He didn't understand why that bothered him so much.

Eventually he stopped running, and in his frustration, he let out a single, long howl.

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The next chapter is what Wolf does during the special operatives' attack.