SHE'S ALIIIIIIIIIVEE! XD XD
Yessss ladies and gents! I'm back! And I'm BETTER!…for the most part lol! Ya'll SOOO much stuff has been going on this year! And I sincerely apologize to my readers for the long delay! I haven't had any time to really sit down and write until these past couple of weeks.
I'm so invested in this story, I have so many ideas brewing! I hope I don't disappoint with this chapter!
Just a couple S/O's to those who have been probably waiting since Quarantine! Smh… I truly am sorry ya'll.
RabbitMelody: Thank you for being so patient! I'm all good and feeling GREAT now that I'm updating! I hope you'll enjoy!
ThatBlackGirl:HEEYYY GIRL HEYYY! Omg, it's been so long! I miss our convos! I know it was so cruel of me to leave ya'll with a cliffhanger like that lol!… And yeah, when you're dealing with aggressive and territorial werewolves, there's gonna be some hostility most of the time lol, but they are unquestionably loyal to each other at the end of the day… You like "In charge" Huey? girrlllll read on! you gon LOVE this! ;)
GREENPEACE1990: Thanks for reading and reviewing! Yeah, there's definitely some pull between Huey and Jazmine, but it's not going to be just easy sailing when you have two Alphas butting heads all of a sudden! Please read and review! Hope you'll like this chapter!
Chel29: I'm SOOO SORRY for making you wait so long darlin'! I appreciate you for checking on me occasionally! You're such a loyal reader! I can't thank you enough!
Mauriah Milton: Thank you so much for your support! I can't lie, I'm addicted to my story too… is that conceited of me? Lolol, it's just I never thought I had a creative enough mind to write a supernatural story. But I'm liking where it's headed so far, and i hope you will too!
Cheyenne: I knowwww! I hated leaving the story there, it was such a close encounter, but NOT CLOSE ENOUGH lol! Please read and tell me what you think of this chapter!
Joyette: Thank you for the review! I hope you'll like their "meeting"! A lot of TENSION awaits! ;)
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE BOONDOCKS OR ANY OF AARON MCGRUDER'S CHARACTERS MENTIONED IN THE BOONDOCKS
"BOOOOOOOOO! AYE!…..GETTODASTORY!"
"Spaghetti and meatballs with light marinara and extra toast, and then here's your pot roast with garlic mash and string beans, and I went ahead and got some extra brown gravy for you! Careful these plates are pretty hot!" Jazmine set the plates and large gravy bowl in front of the couple who were regular customers here. She never needed a mitt, for her body temperature was damn near the same as the plate the food was served on.
"Thanks so much Jazmine! You mind getting us some refills on these cokes darlin'?" The husband asked.
"Of course! Just gimme a sec and I'll be right back! You guys enjoy!" Jazmine gave them a bright smile as she took their empty cups to the bar line to refill them. "How are those sandwiches ladies?" She asked a different set of customers.
"Delicious, Jazmine! May we get a couple more things of ranch please?"
"Coming right up!" Jazmine said cheerily.
"Young lady!" An elderly white woman snapped her fingers.
'Oh hell nah…I know this bitch ain't snapping at me like a damn dog!...oh wait…' Jazmine hid her annoyance and kept her bright smile as she approached her.
"Yes ma'am? We doing alright?" She said as sweetly as possible.
"I told that other waitress I wanted my steak WELL-DONE! And look!" She split open the steak to show just the slightest bit of pink, which was more like a borderline nude color.
These 'well-done' steak-eaters really got on her nerves! What was the point in eating a steak if you couldn't enjoy the juices that came with it!? Might as well eat a burnt tire!
"Oh! I apologize for the inconvenience ma'am! Would you like me to take it back and have them cook it more? Or would you like a substitute?" Jazmine took out her order pad.
"Ughhh, just bring me a garden salad, WITH wonton noodles. I'll chop this up and eat it with that," the elderly woman grumbled.
"No problem at all! I'll have my coworker bring that out straight to you!" Jazmine got done writing and pulled the order slip out.
"No, no! I want you to bring it! That other girl can't seem to get anything right!"
"We're pretty busy tonight ma'am. We all try the best we can. I'll bring you that salad. Is ranch okay with that?" Jazmine asked, starting to get anxious. This woman was adding more work on her where it really wasn't needed.
"Yes, that will be fine," she shooed her hand at her and turned back to her table. Jazmine discreetly rolled her eyes as she sped-walked away and got started on her prioritized tasks: getting the refills, getting the sides of ranch, running them to her tables and then putting in the order for her damn salad.
"Just toss some lettuce and vegetables on there so I can run it to this Ms. Priss," Jazmine attached her order slip to the overhead, revolving ticket holder with an exasperated sigh. "Wonton noodles too."
"Oh Jazzy-Baby chile, you should already KNOW tossin' salads are my specialty!" Donovan, the gay, head fry-cook smirked naughtily as he shimmied his way to the salad bar.
"Boy, you are something else!" Jazmine chuckled as she shook her head.
"And you lookin' like something that came straight out of a porn magazine wit' that caramel skin and pink lip gloss," he said saucily as he placed her salad and dressing through the window. "You tryna fish a man ain't you?"
"No?" Jazmine affronted. "Men just tip me better when I put on a little make-up… that and if I act like I don't have a single clue or thought in my head. Or else, people like to think I'm a freak or something," she shrugged.
This was true. As much as Jazmine tried to blend in, certain features just couldn't be hidden and it still drew some unwanted attention towards her.
"Oh I have no doubt suga' baby…" Don leaned through the window in a seductive manner, making Jazmine lean back awkwardly. "You got that wild streak in you, I can feel it."
"Don, when exactlywas the last time you felt anything of a woman?" Jazmine retorted smartly.
"When I was comin' out my Mama's punannniii, baby girl!" Don leant back and went over to the grill, dancing while he seasoned the burgers. Jazmine looked like she was going to gag.
"I could've gone the rest of my life without that image…" Jazmine grabbed her plate and turned around, nearly running into Treasure who stomped up right behind her.
"DON! WHERE THE HELL IS MY SLAW?!" She shouted through the window as she attached another order slip onto the ticket holder.
"HEIFA! I KNOW you see me back here grilling! Damn!" Donovan threw his metal spatula onto the counter and went to the prep line, scooping out a big glob of coleslaw into a serving bowl. "There! Take 'dat nasty mess up out my kitchen! What is it wit' white people and mayonnaise?"
"Hell if I know! But I thought someone as colorful as yourself would be absolutely obsessed with mayonnaise…" Treasure muttered sarcastically as she piled all her orders onto her tray.
"Awh, so you think you funny?" Don picked his spatula back up and pointed it at her. "You lucky I can't leave this kitchen!" Treasure giggled and poked her tongue out through her gapped teeth as she strutted away.
"Hey, I'm fixing this table for you, just so you know," Jazmine said to her as they made their way back out to the dining area.
"Which one? That old woman? Psh, girl TAKE IT! She had an attitude with me since she first sat down! Good riddance! You can keep the tip too for all I care!" Treasure rolled her eyes as she went to serve her tables. Typical, she was always dumping her tables on Jazmine anytime things got stressful.
Then, there was a loud raucous group of customers who burst through the entrance, yipping and shouting with glee. No doubt with the colorful and festive cowboy/girl costumes they were wearing and the trophies, ribbons and other prizes they were holding, they were coming straight from the rodeo festival. Jazmine released a laborious sigh as she went to serve her tables as well.
"You sure about this?" Riley asked Huey as they stared across the street.
With their sharp wolf senses, they could see and hear all the commotion and clamoring going on in the diner through its thin, but wide wall-to-wall windows. The two stood there for quite a while, trying to size up the situation and how they would go about this.
"Yeah, why? You don't think this is a good idea?" Huey asked genuinely. They've recently come to find out that this she-wolf worked at this diner, which complicated things a little bit. Huey could see the troubled look on his brother's face.
"I was just thinking… Have you considered what'll happen, structure-wise, if she ends up being who we think she is?" Riley watched as Huey's eyes hardened even more as he stared across the way. "Because the law states…"
"Stated…" Huey interrupted with a subtle growl. "That law was revoked a long time ago Riley. There have been amendments made regarding Pure-Bloods since they've been believed to be wiped out. If she submits under me and joins our pack under her own free will, then her ranking won't interfere with our titles." Huey said assertively. Riley nodded slowly, but still held a look of uncertainty. "What, Riley!?"
"Look, I'm not trying to make this shit more difficult… but… I know, that you know we're outside our District borders… in District 8," Riley hinted. He could see the irritation grow in the crease of his brother's eyebrow. "If he finds out we extracted an unaffiliated wolf from his grounds, a Pure-Blood at that, that could mean war Huey. That's law," Riley reaffirmed.
"And under whose law do you serve, Riley? Me or Cairo?" Huey's head snapped to glare at him dead on. Riley looked at him like that was the stupidest question ever.
"I serve under you, Huey," Riley answered humbly. "Your word is law, brother."
"So leave the law-enforcement issues for me to deal with. Same with Cairo. If he were half as wise as he is arrogant, he would've sensed her presence in his district long before we got here. Any other legal matters you would like to discuss?" Huey asked annoyedly.
Riley was a dutiful and more-than efficient Beta wolf, recognizing and sealing the cracks that Huey sometimes overlooked. And Huey was always grateful for that. What was ironic, was that Riley would sometimes have to be the voice of reason, which in the end, prevented a lot of recklessness on Huey's part believe it or not. Even Huey was too stubborn to admit it.
They held an interchangeable balance between them, a balance that was vital between Alpha and Beta for a pack's survival. As leaders, they were all-powerful to their pack. As brothers, they were ever-faithful to each other.
"Nah, man. I just wanna make sure you know for a fact that this is what you wanna do. This gon' change up the atmosphere of our pack indefinitely. You ready for that? Whatever you decide, you already know I'm behind you all the way, no matter what… no homo!" Riley quickly checked himself. Huey chuckled through his nose as he shook his head.
Although, Huey would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous, but he couldn't display it in any shape or form. They've come this far, and they were so close. It was now or never.
"Yes, I'm sure. Tell them come on, and reiterate to them what I said. There can be NO slip-ups! This is her workplace, and she's amongst her own people. We're there to observe and make ourselves known, That's It!" Huey turned and looked at him directly.
"Word," Riley nodded his head and went back to the rooms to fetch the rest of the gang.
Huey turned back to the diner and continued to intensely gaze upon it. It was like the place was just oozing with her scent, her presence, her all around aura. The connection they unknowingly initiated earlier that day was already taking its toll, sending him into auto-drive.
And he hadn't even met her yet! That's how he knew this Pure-Blood's strength was extremely compelling, almost intoxicating. Riley was right. If she could get such a rise out of Huey, then her potency would drive his whole pack in general into a complete frenzy!
Another 'what-if'… but he couldn't worry about that, at least not now. He couldn't have any doubts or hesitations if this meeting were to go as planned.
Huey's pointed ears perked under his thick afro, at the sound of his entourage approaching. He nodded at them once and their eyes glowed in affirmation. Huey took one step forward and they all followed.
The dinner rush was just starting to slow down, but there were still some parties coming in here and there. Jazmine just closed out her most recent table and collected the hefty tip they left her, stuffing it into her apron pocket. She quickly bused her table and slipped into the back, desperate for at least five minutes of quiet.
She was right about one thing; Burying herself in her work definitely silenced the apprehension and uneasiness in her mind. But as soon as she found quiet, her acute instincts resumed full force. However, this time, she knew better than to ignore them. Someone was definitely watching her, someone was coming.
And if this certain somebody didn't reveal themselves soon, she was going to track them down her damn self. If they thought she was just going to sit idly by while they crept further and further into her life, they had another thing coming!
Jazmine released an irritated huff, but had to quickly regain her composure. She couldn't get herself worked up. She still had a job to do.
"Jazmine? Hop to it girl, you just got sat," Jaime poked his head from around the corner. She tiredly let her head fall back against the wall before lifting off the stool she was sitting in and adjusted her apron. "And just a heads up, it's those frat brothers from the university again."
"You've got to be kidding me," Jazmine gave him a hard glare. So much for not getting worked up. It was bad enough that these fraternity brothers came in and patronized the place. On top of that, they were the specific group of guys that only came in for the service… Jazmine's service more to speak.
"Now, look, I'll be out on the front line and I'll keep my eyes on them. Last time they snuck out with half of our condiments."
"Well, glad to know your salt and pepper shakers mean so much to you," Jazmine muttered.
"You know that's not what I mean Jazmine," Jaime shook his head. "If they get inappropriate with you, just let me know and I'll take care of it."
Jazmine scoffed and walked past him annoyedly. As if the first several instances of harassment weren't enough. Why didn't he just ban these assholes from the establishment completely and save everyone the trouble? So she reluctantly grabbed her prep and made her way to the front.
"Ahhh there she is boys!" The head frat brother, named Chad, lifted his head towards her and the other three all turned and smirked at her as well. "Lookin' good tonight J."
"Jazmine… Only my friends call me J," she said stoutly as she placed their coasters and silverware in front of them. She automatically caught the smell of alcohol on them, already a red flag.
"Awhh, so you don't consider us your friends gorgeous?" Chad asked licking his lips.
"I prefer cancer… What do ya'll want?" Jazmine said immediately, making everyone raise their eyebrows. She didn't even bother giving them a pleasant attitude. It was a waste of breath and effort.
"Well, why don't we uhh…start with an appetizer of mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce," the second named Pete blatantly looked her up and down. "And four coffees all around, sweetness."
"You want sweet? Splenda's right there. Anything else?" Jazmine deadpanned.
"Give us a few more minutes, then we'll be ready, baby" Chad said. Jazmine cringed at the pet name.
"No shock there," Jazmine muttered as she finished writing in her pad and walked away.
"Ouuuu, burn!" One of the frat brothers elbowed him.
"Mozzarella sticks please! And if you drop a few of them on the floor, that's fine too," Jazmine said through the kitchen window.
"Got it!" Donovan shouted from the fryer. "Damn, who got you all pressed?"
"Those… uh.. frat boys again," Jazmine hesitated to bring them up. And she had every reason to, because at the very sound of the group of customers, Donovan automatically removed his apron, pulled off his one hoop earring and threw his spatula onto the counter, making his way out of the kitchen. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on Don! They haven't done anything!" Jazmine pushed him back by his chest.
"Not yet! And I'm not gonna wait for something to happen! I still ain't got my ones wit' them rednecks from last time. Fuck that, let me through Jaz," he nudged her aside, but she used her strength to pull him back.
Jaime might not be proactive about sticking it to disrespectful customers, but with Donovan, he had zero tolerance for that shit, especially with Jazmine. On top of that, a few weeks ago, the notorious fraternity not only made their usual provocative advances towards Jazmine, but made some tasteless, drunken remarks about the head, gay fry cook and it got real ugly.
"Don, stop! Look, I got this okay? I don't need you getting fired because of those privileged prep boys! Come on!" She ushered him back into the kitchen while he kept his hardened, fixated stare on the walkway towards the front of the diner. "You just go on back there and continue being your usual, fabulous, colorful self. I can handle them boo!"
The alarm for the fryer sounded and the basket of mozzarella sticks automatically rose up. Don sighed irritatedly through his nose and went to go toss them onto a plate, negligently letting a few plop down on the cement floor.
"Oops…" Donovan faked a shocked look as he picked them up and carelessly placed them back on the plate.
"Oh well," Jazmine shrugged as she picked up the plate and a few additional appetizer plates.
Trifling, yes, but you are what you eat, and vice versa. Jazmine giggled mischievously as she made her way back out to the dining area.
And as soon as she turned the corner, she nearly dropped the dishes she was holding as her whole body tensed up and that same chill coursed through her body. Jazmine sniffed twice, then her head snapped to the front door, and it was like everything fell into slow motion.
In, walked a group of random, unfamiliar people with hardened and determined looks on their faces. The whole diner fell silent, followed by the sound of a fork clattering on a plate. Even the music paused. Everyone stopped and stared at the out-of-towners, consisting of a white woman, an Asian man and woman, and three black men.
"The fuck ya'll lookin a- AAGHH!" Riley yelled before Huey elbowed him in the side.
Jazmine finally blinked a couple times at the encounter as she zeroed in on the leading black man. He stood at 6'3, had light mocha-colored skin, a dark brown, bigger-than-life afro that added to his built stature even more, and neatly-trimmed facial hair of a mustache that connected to a beard running along his chiseled jaw. Even with the deep and awfully intimidating scowl plastered on his face as if he'd never smiled a day in his life, he was a very alluring and extremely handsome man. Equally so, was the second black man, who looked nearly identical to the leader, except only a bit younger, with long cornrows and a clean-shaven face.
They were all looking around intensely, their nostrils flaring, discreetly sniffing around as if they were induced by some narcotic aroma. And Jazmine knew it wasn't the food.
She put two and two together; How Billy described the two brotherly-looking visitors from earlier, and how there were six visitors altogether. The pungent smell of wolf dander that filled the diner may not have been fragrant to the human nose, but to Jazmine; Let's just say her pack probably wouldn't come within five miles of her for a week!
Then, as if they could all sense the same thing, the group's gaze simultaneously fell straight on her. Jazmine felt like her feet were nailed to the floor. The air suddenly grew thick and heavy, as if a primal consciousness had been engaged. Jazmine's heartbeat increased, her breaths grew shorter and her skin was scorching.
'Calm Jazmine… Calm… Calm!' Jazmine chanted in her head like a mantra. She didn't know if it was fear, anger or frustration, but it was about to show its face here in a couple seconds if she wasn't careful.
"Evening folks! Welcome in! It's open seating, so please sit anywhere ya like!" Jaime announced from the bar line, breaking the awkward silence throughout the diner.
With that, the music continued and the rest of the diner went back to what they were doing. The group slowly walked past Jazmine, a few of them stealing glances along the way. However, the tall one with the afro, he kept his eyes fixed in her direction, but not exactly on her, like he was purposefully avoiding her gaze.
Jazmine slightly turned her head, her canine-ears trailing his footsteps as he passed. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Cinnamon, Turmeric, Teakwood. The perfect balance of spice and sweet, with a lingering, stimulating cologne that amplified his musk. He was coated in it. All the rest of the group had their own general smell, but him, she could smell so much stronger.
The rapid surge that passed through her from that one sniff was powerful enough to engage the golden luminosity of her wolf eyes as she slowly opened them.A change of mood suddenly came over her, something she's never felt before! It wasn't anger or annoyance that fueled her drive. Now, it was like a… craving… a yearning? Jazmine could feel herself starting to sweat a little.
"You got that Jazmine? Since you got double-sat, I don't have a problem taking it for you," Treasure came up from behind Jazmine, snapping her out of it.
"Hmm? Oh! Uh… no it's okay. I got this," Jazmine said nervously as she quickly closed her eyes again, blinking a few times as her eyes returned to their humanly color.
"You sure, hon? What's wrong? You look like you're about to boil over!" Treasure said concernedly.
"I'm fine, really," Jazmine chuckled. She wasn't totally sure that she was, though.
"Okay, don't fall out on me now! Just a couple short hours!" Treasure said tirelessly. Jazmine nodded, letting out a pent up sigh.
"Aye, Sweetness!" Pete hollered out followed by a whistle. "You gonna keep a man waiting or what?!"
"Yeah right… what man?" Jazmine retorted as she made her way over to them and set the plates down. The whole table clamored in an instigative way.
"Wouldn't you like to find out?" Pete smirked as he took a bite from the top mozzarella stick Jazmine had her eye on. She only smirked as she poured each of them a decent amount of coffee into their mugs.
"Find out what? How small and weak your ego is?" Jazmine said with a full on attitude. And she damn sure wasn't talking about his esteem. "Listen, I don't have time for ya'll's shit tonight. Either give it a rest, or pay and leave!"
"Alright, alright J! We didn't mean any harm baby, just having a little fun with our favorite waitress," Chad said in a tone that made Jazmine cringe all the more.
"That… is undeniably a Pure-Blood if I ever saw one," Ming whispered lowly as she slid into the cornered booth of the rounded table.
"No lies detected," Cindy agreed sliding in behind her. The men followed, leaving Huey and Riley on the outside, with Huey facing the front of the diner where he had a clear view of the working waitress. "Dang, she's pretty too! I was expecting some wild, country bumpkin or some shit. If she's a Royale, she surely lives up to the name." Cindy complimented genuinely. One thing Cindy was NOT, was a hatin' ass bitch. Cindy gave credit where it was due, and it was a rare thing.
"Pretty, but deadly!" Caesar counterpointed. "As soon as we walked in, she had her radar on us. You could literally feel her energy dawg. Did ya'll feel it? Like… did ya'll for real feel it?" Caesar asked making a fist at his chest.
"Yeah bro. Her energy is up there, and she's on full alert right now, no question," Hiro shook his head slowly. "How are we even going to introduce ourselves to her in a place like this?" He took note of the lingering eyes and the shushed conversations that were obviously about them.
As the Delta, Hiro was always on the lookout, always on his guard, the most acute-sensed out of his fellow high-ranked wolves. Any suspicious movements, sounds, or smells, Hiro was first on the alert. He has proven himself more than once by willingly putting his life on the line for Huey, as well as the pack for any possible danger. It put Ming on edge most of the time, but she was more than proud for having such a selfless partner. Born a halfling, naturally Hiro wasn't the biggest, strongest or the fastest, but he was the bravest. He feared neither death, nor pain. Hiro lived by honor, and without honor, his life was meaningless… and not in a figurative way.
"Oh wait… nah, never-mind that's just my stomach," Caesar patted lower towards his tummy. "Shit, we been driving all day and running and tracking all night. A nigga hungrier than a bitch!" He reached for one of the laminated menus from the condiment holder in the center of the table.
Caesar on the other hand? Not exactly the brightest as they come, and even sometimes just a complete goof. But when in wolf form, he was more beast than wolf, a complete 180 from his human personality. Brutally strong, aggressive, and a complete maniacal wolf, Caesar had earned his role as the Gamma by displaying his strength and dominance in troublesome situations, which was almost as acknowledged as Huey and Riley's. Caesar could surely be a show off at times, but he always did his part, and was more than quick to check someone out of line!
"Boy, you are so dumb!" Cindy shook her head laughing as she snatched the menu from him. "But damn, I kinda am starving too." Her stomach suddenly tightened and churned hungrily at the thought.
"Well, she's working ain't she? And we gotta get a vibe from her somehow. Might as well eat while we at it, kill two birds wit' one stone," Riley shrugged as he grabbed a menu as well. "What'chu think Huey?...Huey?" They all looked over to see their leader completely spaced out as he continued to gaze upon the biracial woman.
"Yo! Earth to Alpha-man!" Riley said louder.
"Hm?.. Awh, uh.. yeah. Ya'll go ahead and get whatever you want," Huey said absentmindedly. They all rose their eyebrows in surprise.
"You sayin' that to the wrong people, but aite!" Cindy shrugged as she looked at the menu items.
"Seems like that royal energy is already working its magic," Ming muttered, making everyone chuckle, but Huey just ignored them.
True, her spirit was quite magnetic, and even more so were her looks, but that wasn't what had him preoccupied. Something was off. Right from when they entered the diner, he sensed the waitress' anxiety and frustration, and it brought uneasiness to Huey as well. At first, he thought it was because of them, and thought it probably best they leave and approach this some other way.
But then, Huey watched her interact with her other table and how her eyebrows furrowed at them and her body language shrank uncomfortably. What, with the smug looks on the men's faces, how they licked their lips at her and their sweaty, intoxicated state, Huey could only guess what the issue was. He saw her desperately look back towards the bar line of the diner, probably looking for her manager, who wasn't paying any attention.
"Don't forget the pickle wedge, baby. And I'll try not to too," one of the frat brother's said a little too loud. Having heard the tasteless remark, everyone at the rounded table turned their heads with furrowed faces, as if they must not have heard this fool correctly.
"You all make me sick," Jazmine finished writing down their orders and quickly turned to walk towards the corner table.
Everyone immediately straightened up, except Huey, who just remained slightly slouched in the booth and watched her with undaunted eyes as she approached.
Jazmine's heart was racing at a million beats per second. She wasn't sure how her facial expressions were being displayed at the moment, but she guessed that they mirrored exactly how the group was looking at her: threatening. So, to change the atmosphere of this painfully obvious shakedown, with a smile of sunlight and a voice of silk, Jazmine spoke up with a cheery…
"Hi everyone! Sorry to keep you all waiting! My name is Jazmine and I'll be taking care of you tonight. Can I get you all started with some drinks?" Jazmine put on her best performance and placed some rolled up silverware and coasters on the table.
She thought it must have been a good one, because she noticed them all flinch when she placed the silverware down.
'Jazmine…' Huey repeated in his head as he scoped her up and down. The name definitely fitted her.
"Uhmm… Not a problem, Jazmine. You can just throw six waters this way, we'd appreciate it," Cindy spoke up.
"You got it! Do we know what we're going to order, or do we need a few more minutes?" Jazmine asked sweetly.
"Well, what would you recommend, Jazmine?" Caesar spoke up next.
"Well, our top fry cook, Donovan, is on the grill tonight and he makes a MEAN steak & eggs. It comes in a 6 oz. an 8 oz or a 12 oz, and two eggs cooked however you prefer."
"Is it actual fresh meat, or is it that cafeteria substitute meat they be serving at IHOP?" Riley asked with a sickened face.
"Oh no! This is quality sirloin steak, trust me. Don's also our food inventory guy and he always get's the good stuff." Jazmine pointed behind her with her pen.
Everyone nodded in approval with knowing smirks. Of course they'd take her word for it.
All the while, Huey still hadn't quite broken his gaze from her, tilting his head ever so slightly in a curious and somewhat star-struck manner. What he scarcely saw passing through in the suv earlier that day was only but a shred of what was fully displayed before him now. What started out as an alluring scent to simply track her down, was now teasing his nostrils with every inhale, tormenting him to an almost untamable hunger. She smelled of pine sap and of the Earth; fresh, raw and natural, like the smell of dew drops, defrosting on fresh blades of grass on an early Spring morning. And then there was her signature scent, a vanilla/cocoa butter fragrance that sweetened the air all the more.
'Awh yeah… she is definitely pure' Huey's instinctual conscience blurted out in his head, and he had to literally force it back into the shadows of his mind.
As if she could sense his tension, Jazmine turned to look at the afro-haired man and for some reason, she found herself smiling at him.
"You doing alright there, mister?" she asked sarcastically.
Huey's scowl slightly lifted in reaction to the brightness of her smile. It actually sort of annoyed him, like he had no control over the warmth it caused inside him. He looked down at her bright grinning teeth, and as expected, they were enlarged skeletal chompers with fanged canines. And he knew damn well she knew how to use them. He cautiously looked up and accidentally locked eyes with her.
'So damn green!' Just as big and green as he remembered from that same vision, and just as hypnotic. It all seemed so contrary, how the wild, confident and fierce wolf he had envisioned was this seemingly sweet and kind woman before him…seemingly.
I should be asking you that question," Huey finally answered.
"Pardon?" Jazmine gave him a confused look.
"They giving you a hard time?" Huey gestured his head down the way at her other table, where the frat brothers were all laughing and shouting obnoxiously. Jazmine followed his gaze and chuckled nervously as she turned back around.
"Unfortunately. They only come in here while I'm working just to annoy me," Jazmine rolled her eyes. Everyone turned around and looked down at the table again, glaring threateningly.
"So why doesn't your boss do something about it? You shouldn't have to put up with that… you don't have to put up with that," Huey scowled even harder. Jazmine felt a light flutter in her chest as she shrugged, still holding her smile.
"Jamie is a good man and a really good boss. He just likes to keep the peace. And they haven't actually done anything to me, so to speak." As soon as she said it, she realized it didn't make a lick of sense and she probably sounded dumb as hell. Huey just gave her a dull look. "So uh… what can I get you all?" She asked softly.
"Six 12 oz. steak and eggs, all rare," Huey ordered.
There was actually a time before Huey's first transformation where he couldn't even stomach the thought of eating meat. Now, as a fully mature werewolf, of course his appetite demanded heavy protein. He still liked to stick to a pescatarian diet most of the time, but as of now, his hunger was boosted to the max and red meat was absolutely what his body needed.
"Finally! Some people who appreciate a good rare steak around here!" Jazmine exasperated as she wrote in her order pad.
"You're a rare-lover too?" Ming raised her eyebrow inquisitively.
"What can I say? I like the cow still mooing if you know what I mean?" Jazmine winked with a giggle.
"Ohhh, we know exactly what you mean," Ming laughed along sarcastically. Cindy fake-laughed along as she kicked Ming under the table. Ming did a great job in hiding her pain and just winced a bit as she kept laughing painfully.
"Uhh.. yeah, hehe," Jazmine chuckled awkwardly. "And how would you all like your eggs?" Jazmine asked around the table, starting with Riley.
"Scrambled. And you can tho' in anotha' egg for mines, shawty. 'Preciate it!"
"Scrambled for ours too," Caesar spoke for him and Cindy.
"We'd like ours fried, and add a third egg to both of ours as well please," Hiro ordered for him and Ming.
"Over easy," Huey ordered last.
"Coming right up! I'll be back with those waters," Jazmine stuffed her order pad in her apron and headed to the back to the kitchen. When she was out of sight, Ming was the first to break character.
"Bitch what the FUCK you do that for?!" Ming quietly shouted as she slapped Cindy's arm hard. She rested her right foot on her opposite knee under the table and examined the bottom of her shin where a bruise was already starting to form. "Ssssss *curses in Mandarin*…This is my dominant kicking foot! You could've ruined me!"
"Girl boo, I ain't even kick you that hard! That bruise is gonna be gone in an hour tops! Stop being dramatic! Besides, that's nowhere near what Freeman's "Super Saiyan" ass did at that tournament and look, you're still fine!" Cindy said unapologetically. Even Huey had to smirk on that one.
Ming scoffed as she rubbed her shin, massaging along the vertical scar that ran from the front of her ankle, all the way up her shin, to just below her knee. Ming was undoubtedly the most dangerous woman in the WORLD with a kickball. However, she met her match when she met Huey Freeman, who also had matching horizontal scars running along the outside of both of his forearms, received from the last play of that blood-bath of a kickball game that changed her entire world. Ming's international title-winning kickball team may have lost, but she won her freedom in the process, along with a new home and family who she couldn't be more than happy with.
"So what's the point in acting like she doesn't know exactly what the hell we are? She's not stupid. She's putting on a front just like we are," Hiro defended.
"Because she's not intimidated," Huey said seriously. "She may know what we are now, but she might not know our culture and history, what she is compared to us. So no more wise cracks! Her discretion around these humans is just as important as it is for us back home. If we want her to trust us and feel safe with us, we have to show her we're just as serious about taking precaution."
"Safe with you, you mean?" Riley muttered lowly, making everyone else snicker.
"What was that?" Huey asked clearly across the table.
"Awh, nothin' bro. It's just you got that Captain Save-a-Hoe look on yo face, I'm surprised you ain't bust out yo cape yet, nigga" Riley cackled. "And you ain't gon' sit here and say I'm lyin'! Shit, I ain't seen you keep eye contact wit' a female like this in, I don't know… forever?" Riley snickered.
"Swear! By how you were looking at her, I thought we were finally gonna have a Madame in this pack!" Caesar added.
"Well technically she kinda is…"
"Riley! 'Da fuck I say back at 'da inn?" Huey interrupted in a growl, his hometown accent clearly peaking through. "Ya'll best stay out an Alpha's business and focus on the fuckin' task at hand. So, unless ya'll wanna take this shit to the woods, I suggest ya'll put a fuckin' muzzle on it." He threatened in all seriousness…. Silence.
Huey absolutely detested the very idea of Imprinting and they knew it too. It tied a wolf down forever. You were no longer your own person. Your thoughts, feelings and desires were forever linked to the wolf who imprinted on you, or who you imprinted on and vice versa. They were all you thought about, everything you lived for, the sole reason for your existence on this earth. Such a strong connection could lead a werewolf to do some pretty crazy and stupid things. Huey's seen it first hand, and he thought it absolutely ridiculous. The very thought made him grimace. Huey didn't have time to be focused on anyone or anything else but the safety and future of his pack.
So, Huey purposely avoided all initial eye contact with unmated she-wolves and even some human women. Just at least for the first couple encounters or so, until he felt like it was "safe". He was that fully committed to being boundless and free of soul-ties to anyone!
"In case you all forgot, we're here to investigate! So believe it or not, in order to have a viable conversation with her, I'd have to look at her every once in a while! Ya'll are worried about the wrong thing. Instead of worrying about what the fuck my eyes lookin' at, ya'll need to keep ya'll eyes on ya'll own females… Oh wait, sorry Riley," Huey apologized sarcastically, with a cruel nonchalant tone.
Cindy slowly sucked in air through her teeth, Caesar pretended to look interested in the dessert items on the menu, Ming pretended to swat at a fly, and Hiro just tightened his lips as he stared awkwardly ahead. Riley defeatedly sat back in the leather booth absolutely steaming as he glared at Huey. Even for a hatin'-ass, bitch-ass, pussy-ass nigga like him, that was a low blow.
Riley wasn't as opposed to the thought of Imprinting as his older brother. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Riley would kill to imprint on someone, or to be imprinted on, but he would never admit it, not even to himself. The whole process of Imprinting has definitely not been kind to him and has left him emotionally scarred. It sure sounded like a beautiful thing: being mentally, emotionally and spiritually connected to someone for life. What no one ever discussed was the trail of unfortunate, broken hearts of those unmatched souls left in the dust by those who were more fortunate. Riley was one of those unfortunate, unmatched souls.
"Oh come on, Freeman. You can't keep your walls up forever, you know. Sometimes life just pitches whatever at you… or whoever," Ming paused and looked over at her mate, brushing a few of his bangs out of his eyes. "And you just gotta roll with it." A slow smile crept on her lips as she trailed her finger along his jaw.
"Or just straight roundhouse-kick that motherfucker out of the stadium," Hiro said lowly as he grasped her thigh under the table.
"I can't believe I found my mate and nearly killed him all in the same day," Ming chuckled as she shook her head.
"Nearly killed ALL of us, what'chu mean?!" Caesar cocked his head to the side.
"I know… isn't she amazing?" Hiro said dazedly as he continued to ogle into Ming's deep black eyes.
Huey just shook his head slowly. May the Moon Goddess and all of the wolf forces of nature spare him.
"Got another six-top for ya Don!" Jazmine shouted through the window as she attached both order slips to the ticket holder and rotated it for him.
"Heard we got some stragglers," Donovan reached for the tickets with his tongs and placed them back down on the counter. "Ouuu and they want Donnie's Special?"
"Yeah, and if you could, really make them really, really special?" Jazmine pleaded. Donovan eyed her as he went to the walk-in refrigerator and got out three packs of steak.
"Uh-oh, a heartfelt platter? I'm on it boo!" Donovan winked as he began cracking eggs into a large bowl.
"It is NOT a heartfelt platter! I just really want to leave a good impression on these guys!" Jazmine said truthfully.
She didn't know why she cared what they thought. She didn't even know them. Why, just a couple minutes ago, she was ready to rain down black Hell on whoever has been making her lose her mind all damn day. Now, she didn't know what changed.
"Yeahhhh right! From the way that big-haired guy was staring at you, I would say he's probably staying for dessert," Treasure came up behind her and nudged her elbow. "He is kinda cute, huh J?"
"I mean… he's alright I guess," Jazmine nervously began to click her pen.
Okay, he was FINE! Like fine, fine! Quite possibly the most striking man she's ever seen! He had a hard demeanor about him that demanded respect and subservience. He looked ferociously strong, but still had a subtle calmness about him. He definitely didn't seem like the most joyful person in the world, but he had a leader's presence… an Alpha's presence. Jazmine felt herself getting hot again, so she quickly pushed her thoughts to the side. "He doesn't seem like that kind of guy. They're all actually pretty cool!"
"They're certainly a rare bunch. Where are they from?" Treasure grabbed some hot mitts to grab the plates of food Don just put in the window. Jazmine was about to answer, but decided to keep playing the clueless game.
"I didn't ask. They all kinda seemed to be interested in… me and what I think," Jazmine trailed off in realization.
"Mmmhmm, I told you! Gotta love the lip gloss darlin'! Better not get rid of it!" Treasure tilted her head with a wink as she walked off with her plates. Jazmine rolled her eyes and shook her head, but then kind of thought it over.
So she quickly pulled out her lip gloss from her back pocket and used the chrome reflection from the bell in the window to apply some more on her plump lips. Hey, it couldn't hurt!
"Uh-huh, you better gon' wit' ya bad self honey chile!" Donovan called after her. Jazmine giggled as she sauntered over to the bar line and got her newest table their waters.
"You know, I don't think I've seen you all in this part of town before. You from around here?" She asked smoothly, already knowing the answer. There was a slight pause where they all kind of looked at each other.
"Nah, we're just passing through from Oregon. Sandy, Oregon," Huey spoke up.
"Interesting," Jazmine smirked as she placed some straws on the table. "And what brings you guys all the way out here?" Another pause.
"It's kind of a… scouting trip, looking for new recruits," Ming answered as she reached for her straw and placed it in her cup.
"Oh! For like a sport's team?" Jazmine asked inquisitively, and somewhat sarcastically.
"Yeah,… something like that," Ming smirked as she slowly sipped, playing right along with Jazmine's game. Everyone else just went along with it and nodded their heads. In a way, it was halfway true. "What kind of sports you like, Jazmine?"
"Oh that's easy, I LOVE to hunt!" Jazmine said giddily.
"Really? Ya don't say!I NEVER would have guessed!" Caesar said sarcastically as he rested his elbows on the table. Cindy then kicked his ankle under the table, except Caesar wasn't as subtle. "OW! Bae! What the-.."
"That's not a common sport you hear about every day. Especially not from no female, no disrespect," Riley chimed in, holding up his hand defensively.
"None taken," Jazmine shrugged.
"So what'chu like about it?" Riley asked perking up a bit. Remembering the power and agility of how she moved in the vision he saw, he was actually real interested in hearing her answer.
"Well, I wouldn't really call it a sport, so to speak. Hunting isn't a competition or a diversion just to pass the time. And I especially don't find any enjoyment taking the life of another animal…uh..I mean an animal just for the fun of it. I see hunting as a complete absorption of testing one's own self and skill. It's the primal drive I feel being in the natural world, a predator seeking its prey, and the thrill of avoiding being the hunted. And yet, with every kill, I try to keep my humility and respect, not just for the animals, but for nature herself," Jazmine finished passionately.
Everyone just looked at her in utter awe, completely entranced by her thoroughly accurate description of the violent, yet coordinated game of which their species thrived on. And that was more than enough proof to them.
"So you be huntin' by yo'self or what? It's gotta be easier wit' a team though, right?" Riley asked in a hinting tone as he raised his eyebrow. Huey shot daggers at him from across the table.
"No, I usually hunt alone," Jazmine giggled. "Just me and ole Winnie."
"Uh… Winnie?" Cindy questioned.
"Winnifred, my deer rifle," Jazmine smirked. Huey was completely enthralled at this point. She was a hunter in wolf and human form? That, he was not expecting.
"Damnnnn! You be gettin' down wit' it like 'dat?" Riley lifted his eyebrow impressively. Jazmine shyly tucked a stray curl behind her ear as she giggled some more. Riley has had a thing for guns since he was eight years old and was now a complete expert. He could talk about them for hours on end, that and hunting. "What kind of rifle is it?"
"A Weatherby Vanguard series 2 Sporter, .270 Winchester caliber, with the latest Monte Carlo walnut stock and cheek piece. Makes it better for mounting and looking through the scope," Jazmine answered expertly. "I got quite a few others too."
The tremendously pleasant vibe that settled over the table was completely cordial and so welcoming. It was almost like they all forgot the real reason why they were "jeffing" in the first place. Come to find out, all of their first assumptions had been completely wrong.
"Aye! Jazmine! Need a refill over here Sweetness! How long on that food, huh?" Pete shouted from the other table.
"Except it's not the food I'm hungry for," Chad side-marked, making his whole table bust out laughing.
"Yo! Are they fucking serious?!" Cindy turned completely around in their booth and eyed them down.
"It's okay, I'll be right back with you guys," Jazmine sighed.
"It's not, but if you say so," Huey grumbled. Jazmine couldn't help but glance up at him hopelessly just for a second, before going to the bar line and grabbing the freshest pot of brewed coffee.
Huey locked his scowl on the drunken offenders, his muscles suddenly tense and attentive. He felt perplexed at the whole situation, to see such a lively and volatile werewolf reduced to serving the likes of these people. It was like she was the polar opposite, personality-wise,of what he's read about Pure-Bloods. The whole thing was backwards.
As Jazmine began refilling their coffee mugs, Huey could again see the visible uncomfortableness in her face and body language. And then, the final straw, Jazmine slightly leaned over Pete to reach the mug on the other side of him. Pete smirked and invasively leaned in towards her, sniffing into her breasts, making Jazmine pull away violently. Huey saw the tension in her knuckles as her grip tightened around the plastic handle of the searing glass pot of java juice, but she only held her deadly glare at them, still refusing to retaliate. She said a few choice words before turning around and going back to the bar line. At that, Huey slowly stood up out of the booth, raising the sleeves of his black, cotton long sleeve.
"Going to the restroom, be right back," Huey said to his pack members. They all nodded and continued talking amongst themselves. "Be ready…" Huey sent a thought to his brother as he walked past him. Riley tilted his head back in confirmation before turning back to the table.
Jazmine heard the kitchen bell and sighed in relief. Eager to get these assholes up out of here, she quickly placed the coffee pot back on the brewer. When she spun back around, she ran smack into what felt like a brick wall, but then soon felt a pair of solid, muscular arms wrapped around her, preventing her from falling.
"OH! I'm so sorry! Please…" Jazmine trailed off as she looked up. "… pardon me," she finished in a dream-like sigh as she gazed up into the wine-stained orbs of her aide.
Good Lord, he was even finer up close! His scent was muskier, his demeanor even more enticing! The way his facial hair perfectly framed his scowling face, making him seem that much more animalistic, so intimidatingly breathtaking. The strength, yet tenderness in his large, warm hands sent an electric jolt through her, she would have collapsed again if he didn't have such a secure grip on her already.
"ORDER UP!" Jazmine could hear Donovan impatiently shout from the back of the diner as he impulsively rang the bell, but she found it impossible to pull away at the moment. The fraternity's food could dry up under the heating lamps for all she cared.
"Nah, my fault," Huey slowly helped her up grasping her sides firmly. He couldn't help but stay there for a second, holding her. He was surprised that she hadn't pulled away either. His fingers strained not to linger too much. He couldn't deny, her frame felt good in his hands. She was incredibly soft, but with the prominent feeling of lean, active muscle underneath. And again, those eyes! The way she innocently blinked up at him with those long, thick eyelashes, intensifying her gaze. Her stare was wild, intense… beckoning.
Nope! Huey quickly snapped out of it. He broke the eye contact again, dropping his hands at his sides and stuffing them in his pockets as he took a step back.
"Careful…" he said just above a whisper before continuing into the restroom.
"Yeah… thanks," Jazmine said just as low as she dumbly made her way back to the kitchen, walking past her other table who were all just smirking at her.
Okay, what the hell was going on? This wasn't what she was expecting at all! These people weren't invasive, they weren't troublesome, or problematic. They seemed to be very civilized, disciplined and friendly. Jazmine found it very easy and effortless talking to them, but that Alpha… Jazmine shuddered.
This was crazy! How could she feel so strongly about someone she only just met? It was uncanny, a total head trip. Jazmine still didn't want to fess up to the possibility, that maybe, just maybe, there were other people like her in the world. Why was she so afraid to admit it to herself?
"I SAID ORDER UP!" Donovan hollered again through the window.
"I'm coming, I'm coming! God!" Jazmine hollered back as she walked up and grabbed the steaming hot plates from under the heat lamp and placed them on a tray.
"That's what he sai…"
"DON! Please…" Jazmine grimaced as she rolled her eyes. "Must you be such a pervert all the time?"
"Would you love me any other way?" Donovan shrugged. "By the way, be sure to tell me what Chadddd thinks of his burger." Jazmine eyed back and forth between him and the plate with the burger, while he simply threw the tail of his headscarf over his shoulder in a fashionable way. Jazmine smirked and shook her head before heading back out into the dining area.
"Okay, got a double hamburger with everything, well-done, extra waffle fries, a clubhouse sandwich with slaw and a pickle wedge, short-stack with turkey sausage and eggs over easy, and country fried steak with mashed potatoes and brown gravy and peas," Jazmine placed the plates of food in front of their respective customers.
"My syr…?" One of the frat-brothers asked rudely. Jazmine had already placed the warm syrup bottle in front of him.
"I wanted mustard and mayonnaise?" Another one complained. Jazmine reached into her apron and annoyedly threw three packs of each on the table.
"The ketchup's out," Chad complained. Jazmine rolled her eyes as she turned her upper body, snatched a ketchup bottle from another table and slammed it down in front of him. "Damn baby, you are on it tonight," he groaned as he bit his bottom lip.
"Anything else?" Jazmine sarcastically asked. She didn't even give them a chance to answer, for she already turned and began walking away.
"Yeah, you could give me a piece of that sweet caramel ass," Chad muttered back as he reached out and grabbed her left buttock.
Before Jazmine could even turn around, before she could even react, before she could even contemplate exposing her true nature in front of all these humans and possibly annihilate this son of a bitch and his friends, Jazmine felt a gust of wind behind her and then…
WHAM!
In a split millisecond, Huey had appeared right behind Chad and yanked Chad's arm behind him by his wrist and shoved him down with severe pressure just above his elbow, making Chad slam his head down quite forcefully into his plate of food.
"AAGHH! WHAT THE FUCK?!" Chad screamed in agony. The whole diner stopped and fell silent again, turning their attention to the ordeal with covert astonishment. Riley, Caesar and Hiro were already quick on their feet and stood up out of the booth, approaching at-the-ready behind Huey.
"So you like to harass and touch on women?" Huey growled down at him as he applied more pressure on his elbow and bent his wrist back further, making Chad scream even louder.
Jazmine stood stuck in place as she let the scene play out before her. She scowled down at a struggling Chad, her closed lips straining to reveal her incoming fangs as she watched his pained face start to turn purple.
"But get a couple hands put on you and you cry out like a little bitch," the corner of Huey's mouth curled into a sinister smirk. "I'll make damn sure yo weak ass won't reach for nothing ever again."
"Dude! Let the fuck up! You're seriously gonna BREAK MY ARM!" Chad wailed.
This made the two frat brothers on the other side of the booth spring up from their seat, but Riley, Caesar and Hiro took a hard step forward, visibly vibrating in furor with looks of impending rage on their faces. The frat-brothers were completely shaken down as they started to retreat.
"Apologize to the lady," Huey ordered. Chad squirmed defiantly in his grasp, but Huey tightened it all the more. "I said…. Apologize!" Huey growled even deadlier. Chad looked up from the table and up at Jazmine, who placed her hands on her hips and held her head high.
"S-sorry! Okay? I'm sorry!" Chad stammered. Jazmine pursed her lips smugly and gave Huey a simple look, letting him know to let go.
Huey released Chad with a shove, making him groan out again.
"I think it's best you all leave now, and do NOT… come… back!" Jazmine said through her gritted teeth. Two of them slowly and embarrassingly helped Chad out of the booth as he painfully held his left arm, and started to turn and leave.
"Nuh-uh, run that shit nigga! Better tip the woman!" Riley stepped up aggressively. Pete quickly reached into his wallet, pulled out all the bill notes he had and laid them on the table, before they hurried to the exit, tripping and staggering over each other.
Jazmine turned back to face her now two-time savior and nearly melted under his inferno glare. She could literally feel the fire blazing from within him, from within all of them! The whole diner probably raised ten whole degrees from just their presence alone.
Huey looked over his shoulder one time and his male comrades guardedly retreated back to their table. Cindy and Ming scooted back into the booth as well, after already half-standing out of it had anything really gone down. Huey turned back to Jazmine, his scowl softening and finally letting his body relax.
"You okay?" Huey finally spoke up as he took a step towards her.
"Yeah, I'm good," Jazmine answered softly, taking a step closer to him as well. "Sir, you didn't have to do that. Don't get me wrong, he deserved it! But you should've just let me handle that myself."
"No offense, but he wasn't getting the message, and I wanted to make it clear for him. He's only lucky I didn't do worse, much worse." Huey answered, lowering his sleeves back down. Jazmine slowly exhaled as her eyes trailed down his chiseled arms, catching a glimpse of his tattooed skin before being covered.
"Our women are valued and respected unconditionally where we come from. Their health and stability is just as vital, if not more than that of our men," Huey turned around slightly, gesturing towards Cindy and Ming. Ming lifted her chin at them, while Cindy threw up a gang sign. Jazmine grinned awkwardly and waved back at them.
"Glad to know I'm valued by a total stranger," Jazmine smirked, slowly trailing her eyes back over to his remarkable face. Huey lifted his eyebrow at her as he coolly tilted his head.
"Even a total stranger can recognize a woman of quality," Huey said in a smooth tone. Jazmine could feel her heart jolting through her chest and the heat rushing to her cheeks.
The deep resonance of his voice, his rough, but laid-back attitude, along with his powerfully animalistic protectiveness he just demonstrated, stirred feelings inside Jazmine she's never felt about anyone in all of her twenty-six years of life. Compared to how she was feeling earlier today, this was unexpectedly and remarkably a comforting turn of events.
"Well uh… thanks again… mister?" Jazmine invited, extending her hand. Huey hesitated a little, glancing down at her rather large, slender hand.
Huey considered himself a humble Alpha, but he honestly couldn't remember the last time he had to introduce himself. He was engaged in werewolf matters most of the time, where for those who didn't know who he was, one of his elected officials would introduce him. It's an ancient custom, not a very humble one, but it's meant to emphasize an Alpha's status, a custom Huey has grown to follow robotically. And as soon as Huey raised his hand to shake hers…
"Eyes back on your food people! It's all over, go on about your business!" Jaime shouted at everyone in the diner. Again, they cautiously returned to their conversations and meals, a few side-comments here and there. "Jazmine! Are you alright? I saw what happened! I'm so sorry about that hon'" Jaime released an exasperated sigh as he approached from behind her. Before Jazmine could answer…
"Saw and did nothing," Huey interjected. "Jaime is it? Do you normally sit back while your workers are in distress? Or does a piece of ass naturally come with every meal?" Jaime stood back stunned for a second, obviously intimidated. Jazmine just stayed quiet.
"Wha-? Of course not! Sir, this is a respectable establishment, and we are all family here. I would never subject Jazmine or any of my employees to any harm," Jaime defended. Jazmine could've scoffed if half of it weren't true. His optimism could be slightly annoying, and sometimes insulting. "I apologize you had to get involved and I sure appreciate you sticking up for her, but I cannot condone violence in my restaurant."
"No more than sexual harassment no doubt…" Huey retorted. "Because if you want to get technical…" his tone was getting up there again, so Jazmine decided to finally intervene using the most ill-prepared story she's ever made up.
"Ohh he's always been so protective over me. Thank goodness you all stopped by! It's been so long since we've seen each other, right best friend?" Jazmine turned to Huey with a lively smile as she playfully hit his arm. Huey just straight up looked at her like she was crazy. Jazmine motioned with her eyes to follow along.
"Uh…right… a long while," Huey poorly followed.
"Wait a minute, so you know them Jazmine?" Jaime asked, seeming to fall for it.
"Yeah! This is uh… one of my long lost friends.. uh… uhmm," Jazmine motioned with her hand.
"Huey," Huey thought to her telepathically, testing out their connection for first time. Jazmine gasped sharply, so sharp she ended up choking on her own saliva. She hacked and coughed through her choking fit, using the crease of her elbow to cover her mouth, holding up a finger for them to wait.
"Whoa! You alright there Jazmine! Breathe, girl, breathe!" Jaime patted her on the back.
"You straight?...Best friend?" Huey smirked.
Jazmine looked up from her elbow at him with a look of total fatality. Straight? Yeah, he could go straight to HELL with that smug look on his face! Jazmine finally caught her breath, clearing her throat a few times.
"Yeah, Huueeyy, I'm just fine!" Jazmine said in a coo-like voice with the fakest smile she could ever stretch across her face. The whole gang stopped and looked back at her from the table, having heard their leader's name in a manner they NEVER heard before, basically on the verge of dying laughing it was so new to them. "You've helped me enough tonight, don't you think?" She asked with an upward surge in her voice.
"I don't know… what am I thinking, Jazmine?" Huey mocked, purposely saying her name nice and smooth. Huey saw her eye twitch as she huffed irritably through her nose. He should have known better than to provoke her even further, he had more discipline that that. But honestly, he thought she looked downright adorable rather than intimidating, like an angry, little puppy.
"You know what, Jaime?" Jazmine redirected with a genuine smile. "Go ahead and put their tab on me, since my friend here wants to be a smart-aleck. Don't worry, Huey. Save that thought for later," Jazmine said with a flirtatious look before sashaying away. However, Huey's instincts were way too sharp to fall into her generous gesture. There were daggers behind those emerald orbs.
"Oh! Well uh.. Ja-! Jazmine hold on! Ah forget it," Jaime sighed, throwing his hand up. "She's always on the go, that one. Well, I guess you ought to know that, Huey? Was it?" Jaime asked inquisitively, using the same tone Huey had with him. Huey slowly turned back to Jaime, his scowl on full display as he simply looked down at him before giving into his civil side and extending his hand.
"Freeman, Huey Freeman," he reluctantly introduced himself as Jaime shook his hand. First time an Alpha introducing himself in nearly ten years, and it's to the Pure-Blood wolf's human boss. That's three oxymorons right there.
"Well, despite the circumstances, pleasure to meet you Mr. Freeman. I'm sure Jazmine's very thankful to have a friend like you," Jaime said in an odd tone. "It's funny, because she never really talked about her past life before coming here to Libby… at all," Jaime pointed out crossing his arms. "Just how exactly do you know Jazmine?" Huey simply lowered his eyelids at him and shook his head with a cocky smirk.
"We're from a closed-off society," he muttered truthfully, before casually walking away and back towards his table. Jaime kept his wary gaze on him before turning and walking towards some other tables to downplay the previous situation to his customers.
Huey sat back down in the booth to find five smirking faces just smiling knowingly at him. There was no question, this she-wolf was going to give Huey a run for his money. Things were definitely going to get interesting.
"What?!" Huey growled annoyedly.
"So I guess the "Don't draw any unnecessary attention" plan is no longer valid," Cindy said with air quotes.
"Like I said," Riley smirked, crossing his arms as he sat back in the booth. "Captain Save-a-Hoe to the rescue," he cackled.
"And I thought showing off was my job," Caesar cackled along, until he noticed the raging sapphire scowl on his mate's face. "Er..uh.. I mean showing off only for you baby! You know I only got eyes for you shawty," he grasped her chin softly with his finger and thumb.
"M'cht! Boy bye! That's strike two! Show out for these hoes if you want to! Let a bitch get bold!" Cindy snapped, her voice starting to increase.
"Now you just talkin' to hear yourself white girl," Caesar smirked, resorting to the taunting nickname he called her when they first met. "Ain't no floosie bold enough to try shit when I got a Bad Bitch on my arm. You need to loosen up, woman."
"Why don't you loosen me-" Cindy started.
"Ahhh! Ah! Ah! Ah! EHHHH!" Riley waved his hand. "Niggas we is in a RESTAURANT!"
Jazmine headed straight to the one-stall restroom, slamming the door shut and locking it before pressing her back against it. She was trembling. Every single fiber of her being was vibrating. All her thoughts and emotions were completely jumbled in a mystified blur.
This was it, this was truly it. She wasn't alone in the world. She could either jump with total joy, or simply faint; The latter being most likely. Matter of fact, she did feel lightheaded.
The complete and utter nerve of that guy, blind-sighting her like that, just freely messing with her head. So, was that a demonstration, an invitation? Or what? She had all these questions buzzing around in her head, and she needed answers, now!
Jazmine took a deep breath, fixed herself up in the mirror before washing her hands and going back out. It was pretty much getting to closing time, so there was only her table and two other tables Treasure was serving. Donovan rang the bell from the kitchen window again, and Jazmine headed back there to get them their food. As Jazmine passed them, she sent a stern, cautious look towards Huey, who only returned it with a deeper one of his own.
"TREASURE! Come help me run this food!" Jazmine yelled behind her in almost a roar as she grabbed a tray and started placing a few plates on them.
"Yo, J, you alright girl?" Donovan asked sincerely leaning through the window. Jazmine nodded and "I heard what the fuck happened! Damn, I knew I should've done something when I had the chance! But, I heard someone beat me to it?" He raised an eyebrow in a hinting manner.
"Damn straight, no pun intended," Treasure said coming up behind Jazmine and placing a few plates on her tray. Donovan just rolled his eyes. "He put that Chad guy in a jujitsu arm lock for getting handsy with her. Mm-mm-mmm, you a better woman than me, Jazmine. I woulda had to thank him in private for standin' up for me like that! Him and his sexy friends."
"Friendsssss?" Donovan paused cleaning his grill.
"Don't you two even think about it! Look, what he did was… noble and all, but that doesn't mean they're complete saints either. I'm grateful, but… I don't know how I feel about them yet," Jazmine glared over her shoulder instinctively.
"Wait, wait! Jaime was mentioning that they were your friends from your previous home? I thought you said you didn't know them." Treasure scratched her head.
"You didn't tell him that, did you Treasure?" Jazmine stiffened with a worried look, afraid she was caught in her lie.
"Girl, of course not! I ain't stupid! Trust me, I can read the signs," Treasure smirked looking her up and down before looking over at Donovan, who was peeking from the kitchen with a smirk of his own. Jazmine lowered her eyelids at both of them.
"Let's just get them their food so they can leave!" Jazmine exasperated.
"Hey, fine by me! Let everyone know I'm doing last-call. I don't care what Jaime say, I'm closing this bitch up early," Donovan announced. Jazmine and Treasure both nodded and went out to the dining area with their trays of pure protein on them.
As they approached Jazmine's table, Jazmine eyed every single one of them down as she handed each of them their plates one by one. That cordial and welcoming vibe she had was long gone. Now that she knew for a fact these were werewolves like her, she resumed her full-on alertness with an unapologetic hostility.
"Can I grab you guys anything else? Last kitchen-call," Jazmine poorly hid the apprehension in her voice as she grabbed a fresh water pitcher.
"Some steak sauce? Extra napkins? Extra sides," Treasure hinted, twirling her hair as she stared over at Caesar.
"Nah, we good!" Cindy interjected, leaning her head directly in Treasure's line of vision. "The Fuck?!"
"Thanks, Treasure. I got it," Jazmine side-beamed as she refilled their waters. Treasure gave a nervous chuckle as she inched away. When Jazmine turned back to the table, she noticed something weird.
They seemed to be very pleased with the display of the food before them. But, Jazmine noticed it wasn't the food that they were looking at. She saw the Asian man cautiously reach out and very lightly tap the exposed part of the silverware wrapped up in a napkin. That's when it dawned on Jazmine.
"They're not real silver…" Jazmine muttered loud enough for them to hear. All eyes shot up to her, and Jazmine just gave them a crooked smile as she walked away.
"Thanks Jazmine," Huey thought to her again with a smirk. He watched her stop in her tracks as her shoulders tensed up angrily, before taking a deep breath and continuing to the back again. Huey gave a hmph before reaching for the silverware and unrolling it.
Jazmine got a head start in her closing-prep and didn't reappear to the front of the diner until they were pretty much almost done eating. Now, it was just them and one other table, the perfect time to make her stand.
She put on her professional smile again as she approached them, noticing the plates were practically licked clean, the rare juices and egg crumbles left to a bare minimum.
"Yo, Jazmine, I don't say this shit to everyone who cooks my food, cuz that shit's gay!" Riley held up his hand. "But you was sho' right about that meat quality! My compliments to that Donovan kid back 'der!"
Jazmine held a blank expression for a second, unsure of how to properly acknowledge his homophobic compliment. Of course, he couldn't have known Donovan was gay, but that just made it even funnier.
"I'll be sure to tell him. Glad you all enjoyed," Jazmine said sincerely. Then she turned to her far right. "Did you enjoy your steak and eggs, Huuueeyy?" Jazmine asked sarcastically with that same cooey tone. Everyone sputtered raspberries into their hands, trying to keep from laughing out loud.
"Well, I finished it," Huey deadpanned.
"Excellent!" Jazmine flashed a bigger smile, before it disappeared and she practically yanked Huey out of the booth by his sleeve, leading him to the back of the restaurant.
"AYE! WHAT THE-" Riley shouted as everyone stood up out of the booth, ready to charge after her.
"Chill," Huey simply thought to them, making them halt in their steps as they continued staring after them. Huey couldn't help but be somehow amused at her unexpectedly powerful strength. Although, he knew she wouldn't do anything as to harm him, he still kept his guard up as he continued to let her drag him out the back door.
Although, his guard was slightly rattled when she unexpectedly turned around and shoved him back against the metal door, making it slam loudly. "OOF!"
"What the FUCK kind of game are you playing at?!" Jazmine growled loudly.
"The f-..?! Woman, you fucking crazy?!" Huey growled back, standing directly over. Jazmine bucked up to him too, her nostrils flaring.
"Ohhhh, you haven't seen crazy! I'll show you crazy, you would've wished you'd never laid eyes on me!" Jazmine sinisterly chuckled. "I'm warning you, do NOT fuck with me! You're in for a real mothafuckin' hurtin'! You just better be glad I'm on the clock!"
"You know, you acting real tough now that you got me by myself," Huey said looking her up and down. "Wonder if you'll keep that cute little puppy bark with my friends around."
"Puppy bark? PUPPY BARK!?" Jazmine snapped. "Now you really got me fucked up! I'll SHOW you mothafuckin' puppy bark! I can take you ANDthat pack of mutts you got in there with one hand tied behind my back! Ya'll ain't scarin' no fuckin' body!" Jazmine was basically throwing her hands around and pointing and clapping, until she pointed a finger too close.
"AND YOU THINK YOU ARE, WERE-BITCH!?" Huey roared, swatting her hand away quite hard as he got directly in her face, his fiery wolf-eyes ablaze, and his fangs on full display. Jazmine's face completely dropped. So that's what she would look like to other people! No.. Huey was scarier! In other words, Jazmine had never seen anything so terrifying, yet devastatingly mesmerizing in her life.
"Yeah, get a good look! I can bark too! You ain't the only one with a fuckin' temper, and I damn sho' not afraid to lose it wit' u!" Huey had ended up circling around her, nearly barking in her face, making her step back. "Yeah, that's right were-bitch! I called you exactly what the fuck you are! The fuck you gon' do about it? You was talkin' all 'dat good shit a second ago, now a bitch wanna get quiet! What you got to say now, huh?!" The force in his voice made her completely stumble back against the wooden railing of the stairs beside them, trapping her by the wall.
Now, Huey had more than enough sense than to call a woman, human or werewolf, out her name, even if it is the literal term for a female canine. But this was far from a civil argument. He had no doubt Jazmine could whoop the dog shit out of him if she truly wanted to, but he'd rather walk on silver barefooted than let a bitch think she could disrespect him.
Jazmine on the other hand, was dead silent, her lips quivering angrily as her shaking hands squeezed into fists by her sides. He was incredibly close to her now, and this wasn't like the cautious, curious tension from when they bumped into each other earlier. The tension between them now was purely and explosively primal. Again, those Alpha-malepheromones got to her, making Jazmine's front visibly falter as he towered over her. His unapologetically dominating disposition in how he put her in check, suddenly made Jazmine stumped on how she should really be feeling right now, but her body sure seemed to know.
Huey saw the faintest curve of the corner of Jazmine's mouth, like a mischievous smirk as her eyes lit up at him. Gahh damn…she really is crazy, Huey's subconscious alerted. Had it've been any other woman he yelled at like that, they would've ended up running away screaming and crying in utter terror. And here she was… smirking at him.
Huey resisted the urge to bite his lower lip as he gave a reluctant grunt, before he took a hard step back and closed his eyes for a second, subtly shifting his jaw to retract his fangs. He gave a soft sigh as he opened his eyes again, now back to their normal maroon color. Then, he spoke again, this time his voice was so even and smooth.
"Jazmine, we're not here to do you any harm. We just want to get to know you."
"Why? Why me? And why now? You don't just walk in here at my workplace and catch me off guard like that! I appreciate your help back there, but that doesn't give you the right to mess around in my fucking head either! Just who the hell do you think you are?!" Jazmine crossed her arms.
"Someone who wants to help you, Jazmine," Huey answered.
"Stop saying my name like you know me! You DON'T fucking know me and I DON'T need your help!" Jazmine shoved past him.
"I know you better than you even know yourself," Huey said to the back of her head.
"Is that right?" Jazmine turned around with a sarcastic smile. "And just what the hell do you know?"
"I know you're living a double life. I know you're lonely, misunderstood and drained," Huey answered as he shifted his hands into his pockets.
"Yeah? Who isn't," Jazmine scoffed as she shook her head discerningly. Huey tilted his head as he took another step closer to her.
"I know you constantly battle an impulsive drive within you, like you could lose control at any second. You have abilities that you can't explain, powers you never knew you could muster," Huey continued.
"P-powers?" Jazmine stammered. Huey hesitated. So she didn't know about that either? He thought it best to glaze over that for now.
"I also know that you think real wolves are your chosen family," Huey even hesitated going there. And with how her head snapped up towards him, he had every right to. But he kept going nonetheless. "You run, hunt, eat and sleep with them, but you still feel an emptiness when you're amongst them."
"Excuse me?" Jazmine growled.
"They will never accept you as their equal. Even if you hunt their food, watch over their young, fight alongside them versus predators, they still see you as an outsider," Huey carried on.
"Awh nah… Now, you've really crossed the line," Jazmine gave him an almost crazy look, like she was really about to fight him. "You know you've got some fucking nerve. How do you know about my pack? How do you know about me?! About all of this?! And tell me the truth!" She pointed up at his face again.
Huey gave her a long hard look, absolutely struggling to not swat her hand away again even harder this time. He just drew in a slow breath and let it all out..
"My name is Huey Freeman, PackMaster of The Crescent Pack, Lord Alpha of District 7. And those mutts you referred to in there, are my top-ranked officials. My pack is stationed in Sandy, Oregon, where we reside in a werewolf community-compound that accommodates all affiliated werewolves under my care and jurisdiction… My Mystic, Osena, an elite healer in my pack, saw a vision of you hunting amongst your wolf pack, notifying us of who, and where you were... I've sought you out, Jazmine, to personally invite you to join my pack, as an honored member and royal-ranked officiate." Huey exhaled impatiently through his nose when he finished as he waited for her response.
Jazmine's eyes remained still for a second, creating a very awkward silence between them, before she sputtered a raspberry and busted out with an outrageous laugh, doubling over and smacking her knee, and then leaning over the railing. Huey just rolled his eyes before blankly staring ahead annoyedly.
"Are you done yet?" Huey agitatedly asked after a good twenty seconds.
"BaHAAAAAAA! HAHAHAHAHAAA!" Jazmine just kept on going, now full-on hooting and hollering.
"I… really… don't like being laughed at," Huey growled.
"Wait, I'm sorry. Because you MUST be high!" Jazmine wiped a tear from under her eye. "Werewolf community? Mystics? Healers and visions? You're more insane than I thought!"
"In terms of basic knowledge of werewolf conduct, I'd say you're the one who's insane here," Huey snapped back. "There's a reason our existence has remained merely a myth to humans for thousands of years. We're territorial, secretive… pathologically vicious," Huey hinted with his eyes. Jazmine sneered at him.
"And here's what else I know about you. You're so hard-set on blending in with the human population, you don't realize just how much you actually stand out, which could raise suspicion about you… or wind up getting you killed.
"You think I'm that stupid?"
"No, I think you're naïve."
"Don't underestimate me."
"Don't underestimate yourself!" Huey said forcefully. Jazmine blinked a couple times in response. "Your life is too valuable to just be surviving amongst those who can't do anything for you."
"So what then? Huh? Who's going to teach me "Basic Werewolf Conduct" then? You? You're "officiates" back there?" Jazmine air quoted with her fingers.
"Yes, along with the entire pack, who will be there at your beck and call whenever you need them," Huey answered matter of factly. Jazmine paused for a moment.
"You said I'd be an honored member? Something about a…royal position? Wh-what does that mean?" Jazmine's stomach slightly tightened, as if she was afraid of the answer.
Huey knew she was going to ask at some point. And he hated that he'd have to be the one to tell her. But, there was no other person who could do it and it was as good a time as any. So, he swallowed his pride and hesitantly enlightened her.
"You are royalty, Jazmine, a Pure-Blood," Huey said. Jazmine's eyes slowly widened as her lips parted in shock, trembling confusedly. "See, I'm a full-blooded werewolf, but there has been human integration somewhere down my family tree. Whereas, your bloodline stretches all the way back to the first superior race of werewolves to ever roam the Earth, and that of actual wolf blood, completely uninterrupted by human heritage."
"S-so does that m-mean I'm…not.." Jazmine stuttered.
"Human? Relatively, no," Huey answered. "Your wolf chromosomes will always overpower your human DNA even in your human state. That's why you feel a driving force within you constantly. That's how you're able to cohabitate and communicate with real wolves."
"And… you can't?" Jazmine asked. Huey slowly shook his head. Jazmine felt like her heart was pounding out of her chest. She was scared to even ask her next question. "You said something about…powers?" Her eyes slowly trailed up to meet his. She could tell he was extremely reluctant in answering. Even his scowls had their own emotions. "Tell me, Huey."
"Well, I'm sure you know about most of the basics yourself… enhanced speed, strength, senses, healing abilities."
"Yes…what else?" Jazmine pushed on.
"Not only can you communicate and live with real wolves… you can warg into them. You can transfer your spirit into a wolf you're connected to, enter its mind, experience its senses, control its actions. Your ancestors would sometimes use them as decoys to stay hidden from human exposure, which in today's day in age, can be more than useful" Huey explained.
"I…I didn't know that," Jazmine said breathlessly. "I can…warg whenever I want?"
"Yes. Except on a full moon because…well, you know why," Huey hinted.
"Right…" Jazmine nodded slowly.
"Do you… have a warg specimen? A specific wolf that you're connected to?" Huey pried.
"Any other powers I don't know about?" Jazmine redirected, purposefully ignoring his question. Huey lowered his eyelids at her, but continued.
"You have the power to turn a human into one of us," his voice turned dark all of a sudden. "Our condition is purely hereditary. However, Pure-Bloods are the only werewolves who can infect a human from a single bite on a full moon… but only once. Once a Pure-Blood turns a human, they forfeit their bloodline, as well as their powers along with it. Their abilities and lifespan are filtered out to that of just a standard full-blooded werewolf."
"Lifespan?" Jazmine asked even further. He was nervous to say this next part. She looked frightened enough as it was.
"Werewolves aren't immortal… but we're not entirely mortal either. For us, a normal healthy werewolf can live up to almost… two-hundred?" Huey shrugged. Jazmine's eyes bulged out of her head. Her chest visibly heaved as her breathing quickened.
"And… Pure-Bloods?" She asked shakily.
"…There have been reports of Pure-Bloods living up to six and even seven-hundred years old," Huey watched her shoulders completely slacken in disbelief.
"Oh my fucking God," Jazmine whispered. "Y-you…You're lying!"
"What reason would I have to lie about this? You don't think us being what we are is uncanny enough? You don't think our magic and gifts are anything short of a supernatural phenomenon? How do you think we found you? Don't you understand? We traveled all this way to find you because of what you are, to help you!" Huey expressed as he circled around her again. Jazmine suddenly found herself circling too. "Join us, Jazmine. You'd be respected, protected and you'd never have to conceal who you really are. You could be free," Huey explained. "…moderately speaking."
"Moderately free?" Jazmine repeated stopping in her tracks. "Well then you already contradicted your proposal, mister Lord Alpha-Master.. or whatever the hell," she crossed her arms. "The term "freedom" isn't one for moderation. You're either completely free or you're not, freedom is an absolute term. So what's the catch here? Because nothing is free!"
"You're a smart woman. Yes, that is true," Huey nodded. Jazmine motioned with her hand for him to spill it. "It's nothing big… you'd just have to submit to me as your Alpha."
"Well there it is then," Jazmine scoffed. "I understand perfectly now. You just want to put me in a cage! Keep the honored Pure-Blood under "your jurisdiction", control me and my powers, and dictate me to however you see fit! Like a damn genie in a bottle!"
"That couldn't be further from the truth, Jazmine! I want you to join my pack because your strength, let alone your presence could enhance the strength and overall environment of my pack. I don't want to control you or your powers, I want to help you improve them. I want you to experience what the life of a werewolf is really like. Live up to your best and fullest potential. Be part of a family."
His voice spoke so clearly and genuinely. He had to be telling the truth. What would it really be like though? To live amongst her own kind, to explore the lost world she never knew existed, to find herself in the estranged culture of her ancestors? It did sound very exciting, but she couldn't. She was still bound to her furry family. And she was not going to dishonor Twilight by breaking that bond.
"I can't…I WON'T!" Jazmine growled angrily. "I already have a pack and I am still bound to them. I would NEVER betray them! And I will NEVER submit to you, Huey!"
"Hate to burst your bubble, but you kinda already did," Huey muttered.
"W-what do you mean?" Jazmine stammered.
"Remember earlier today, when you saw us first pass through here? You felt something didn't you?" Huey asked. Jazmine nodded slowly, her brain starting to piece everything together. "Yeah, well, I saw you too, and felt the same thing. That was us opening a connection, which is the first step in the initiation process of every submission. It's how I'm able to communicate with you telepathically, as well as all of my followers. It's a sign of trust, in exchange for loyalty and vice versa." Huey clarified. "Can I trust you to be loyal, Jazmine?" He thought to her.
"Is your trust worth my loyalty, Huey?" Jazmine thought back. This time, it was Huey's turn to be surprised. Her voice resonated so clearly in his head, it was quite possibly the most beautiful thing he's ever heard. He found himself just staring at her, he was so entranced, that they realized neither of them answered the other's question.
"No need for either of us to answer. We'll find out soon enough. And you want to know why?" Huey asked with a smirk as he took a hard step closer to her, just within breathing range. Jazmine looked up at him with deep, yet defiant eyes. "My instincts tell me you will come on your own accord… You will. Because soon, you will come to realize that there is nowhere else, nor anyone else you can be your true self around. And the only place you'll have left to go, is to me."
"You sure are a cocky bastard," Jazmine scoffed.
"It's not cocky if I can back it up," Huey said smugly. Jazmine tsk'd her tongue and rolled her eyes. Ouu she couldn't STAND it when he did that! It's like he took great pleasure in being proven right! "You can't keep straddling two worlds Jazmine. You're going to kill yourself. Which sounds better? Living two, half, incomplete lives with double the chance of danger, or living a full, structured, happy one with complete preservation and stability in the company of those who'd admire and appreciate you?"
Damn, he was putting it on thick! With every persuading word he spoke, Jazmine found all the more sense in what he was saying. He sure sounded like an adept leader, and looked even more so. But it wasn't that easy. She couldn't just DROP everything and go off with him and his friends! Or couldn't she? Could it all be so easy? She tried searching for the answer in those ginormous wine-colored eyes.
"Huey…I-" Jazmine started softly before the metal door swung open again.
"Jazmine, you out he-?… whoa," Treasure came out but stopped when she saw the two suddenly step back from each other. "Uhh..You doin' alright out here hon'?" she asked amusedly.
"Yes, Treasure, I'm fine. Sorry, I didn't mean to step out so long. We're just talking," Jazmine tried returning to her humanly demeanor, but suddenly found it more difficult than usual. And the smug look on Huey's face wasn't making it any easier. She seriously just wanted to sock him one good time in that damned handsome face of his! "Is Jaime ready for pay out?"
"Yeah, I just closed out my last table. Get in here, so we can get gone! You can talk to your "friend" after, or whatever it was y'all were doing!" Treasure looked both of them up and down.
"Okay, okay! I'll be right there. Just give me a sec," Jazmine smiled disguisedly. Treasure gave a lingering look, before shrugging and walking back inside.
"Look, Huey?" Jazmine sighed as she twiddled her fingers. "I'm sorry I dragged you from your friends, and shoved you, and cursed at you, and called you names, and laughed at you, and…"
"It's cool, Jazmine….it's cool," Huey annoyedly interrupted. Had it've been any of his other followers, they'd be wearing the Collar for a MONTH! "And I apologize for us barging in on you like this and making a scene in front of your people. I see you've made a life for yourself here, and I also see there are people here who care for you. But are you truly being honest with yourself that this is the life you deserve?"
"After talking with you tonight… I honestly don't know, Huey. This is just all becoming too much, too fast," Jazmine signed rubbing her hand across her forehead. "As if being a werewolf wasn't enough for me to deal with, now I find out I'm not even REMOTELY HUMAN!…I really am a monster."
"Not even in the slightest," Huey immediately rebuffed. "You are a breathing and walking miracle, Jazmine. For years, Pure-Bloods have been believed to be wiped out of the world. Our culture, our pride , the very manifestation of our species was wiped out along with them. But you…," Huey stopped when he saw her stoic expression at what he just said.
Fuck, he just kept unraveling and unraveling, but she had to find out one way or another. Did she really not know anything about their history? What upbringing could she possibly have had to where she was so alienated from her own kind? Now, he needed answers to his questions.
"Can we… continue this discussion in a minute?" Jazmine asked quietly.
"Of course. We'll be waiting in the parking lot," Huey nodded.
"Okay, I'll be out there in a minute," she answered softly. They both headed back inside, and Huey rounded his gang up to head out to the front parking lot, while Jazmine finished the rest of her closing prep.
Jazmine tried avoiding her co-workers' stares, but she could care less at the moment. They needed to mind their own business. So many things were going through her head all at once.
Could she live such a life for centuries to come? Could she handle living to see her loved ones grow old and die for the next six to seven lifetimes, while she lingers on solely, and undiminished with each passing day? Or, could she trade away the lonely curse of her prolonged life by cursing another human?
These questions stormed through her mind as she watched Jaime count her pay-out cash balance. And it seemed like her mind wasn't the only one that was preoccupied. Jazmine could tell he was just itching to say something, but he wouldn't.
Jazmine never, ever, not once, complained or took advantage of Jaime or his kindness to her. She considered herself very lucky to have such a dedicated and generous manager for a friend. However, as much as Jazmine didn't want to say it, Jaime was a pushover. He didn't know how to be forceful when time calls for it. Like tonight for example. He would've rather "kept the peace" than admit there was anything wrong. The fact he simply glossed over the fact she was getting harassed and didn't do anything to avoid the whole thing did not sit well with her at all.
So, as soon as Jazmine collected her total tips for the night, she stuffed them in her wallet-purse and darted for the door to leave his office.
"Jazmine," Jaime called out. Jazmine stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around. "Look, I'm not stupid. I know you don't really know those people out there. I'm sure that Huey fella means well.. but I'm not catching a good vibe from him at all. Why'd you feel like you had to lie to me? Who is he really?" he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk.
"Jaime…." Jazmine sighed. No, she wasn't going to tell him, but she didn't know how to make him understand. "I'm sorry I lied to you about that. I just wanted to save face for the sake of the whole situation. Yes, Huey Freeman may be a stranger, but… at least he stepped in when he had no cause or reason to. And true, from a first glance, he doesn't look like Mr. Optimistic, but… he is good. He is a devout leader to his friends, they stand by him, they respect him, they trust him… and I do too." Jazmine stated, finally realizing it herself.
"Why though, Jazmine?" Jaime stood up from his chair and walked in front of it. "He stands up for you, fine, but then you disappear in the back with him? You know I did not take you for a foolish girl! What if something had happened to you?!"
"Excuse me?! I can take care of myself! SO WHAT if I went to the back with him! He wasn't going to hurt me! They're not like that!" Jazmine argued back.
"How the hell do you know?!" Jaime shouted throwing his hands up in the air.
"I just have a hu-"
"HAVE A HUNCH! Of course! Classic Jazmine-saying! Hunch about WHAT?!"
"THEY'RE LIKE ME, JAIME!" Jazmine shouted, throwing her fists down at her sides. Jaime stepped back surprisingly, as his eyes widened. "They act like me, they think like me, we come from the same place, they see the world like I do, or at least how I try to! I can't explain it to you any better than that!"
"And you know ALL of this just from meeting them once? What the hell, Jazmine! You are nothing like them! They're… snarly, aggressive, intimidating! What makes you think you can trust a group like that?!" Jazmine just scoffed as she shook her head.
"Just from that statement alone, let's me know how little you know about me. After all these years, you still don't get it…" Jazmine said softly.
"You're right, I don't know who you are, Jazmine! You never let anyone get the chance to! But these stragglers come along, and all of a sudden you all hit it off like it's a family reunion! I just don't want you getting involved in the wrong crowd!"
"What crowd is THAT?!" Jazmine retorted. She was getting really irritated now. "You know, I'm surprised at you Jaime! You welcome any and every type of sinner that comes through that door, but because I take a liking to this certain group of people it's a problem? You want to know what's wrong? Is judging an entire group of people based on the actions of a few individuals within that group! THAT is beyond morally wrong!"
"Don't pull that bs discriminatory card with me! You know good and well I judge everyone with a clear and non-judgmental head! Just because you stick your nose up at any and everyone who tries to get to know you doesn't mean you get to go projecting those kind of accusations! Is this what you two were discussing back there? Hmm? I didn't step in, but he did, so that makes him better than me? This place isn't fit, for a woman like you to work in?"
"OH, SHUT UP Jaime! You don't know what you're talking about! God! It has NOTHING to do with you!" Jazmine shouted again. "I appreciate you and am forever grateful to you for watching over me all these years, but I am a grown woman now! And I decide what's best for me, NO ONE ELSE! What Huey and I discussed is my business! And I will say this, Whatever you think of them, including him, is what you think of me! And since I already know what that is, then there's really nothing more to say!" She turned to leave, but he stopped her again.
"Jazmine!" Jaime gave a hard sigh. "I'm not trying to control you or decide what's best for you, I just… I don't want to see you get hurt," he said truthfully. Jazmine could see the sincerity in his eyes.
"Then just trust me to know that I know what I'm doing. Have I ever given you a reason not to?"
"No, you haven't but… I still don't think you consorting with them is a good idea," Jaime said strongly.
"Well, I'm sorry you feel that way. Because I will consort with whomever I please," Jazmine defiantly placed her hands on her hips.
"Then I guess I can't stop you," Jaime sat back down defeatedly at his desk, shrugging his shoulders.
"No… you can't," Jazmine said back before disappearing out of the office. She stomped around the corner. She removed her apron and clocked out before putting on her jacket and grabbing her purse and angrily threw it over her shoulder as she continued out through the side door.
She walked around to the front parking lot, and like Huey said they'd be, all six of them were waiting under one of the light posts near the entrance of the diner.
Now enlightened on her royal heritage, Jazmine approached them with a little more confidence than before. It was a surreal thing, finding out you're a long-lost "princess". It was a fantasy most young girls always dreamed about. And she's actually living it.
Seeing them now, seeing how solid they stood together, how they all stood up for each other, how closely linked they were, and how dedicated they were to each other. And they were the top ranked werewolves, so that had to be a reflection on the rest of the pack. She found a lot of comfort in that thought.
"Hey," Huey greeted.
"Hi…" Jazmine replied softly.
"Everything alright?" He asked raising an eyebrow, noticing her upset appearance.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just some damage control," she disguised a bright smile as she lifted her purse higher on her shoulder.
"Hope we didn't get you in trouble?" Huey said sincerely.
"No, no. Don't worry about it," Jazmine shook her head quickly. "Sorry if I kept ya'll waiting long."
"Nah, not at all," Huey furrowed his brows.
"Hell, kept us waitin' long enough! Just up and stole my damn brother, I thought I was gon' have ta come hunt ya high royal ass down!" Riley joked as he approached behind them. Huey stared off into space before drawing out a long sigh.
"Jazmine… meet my younger brother, Riley, Lord Beta of the Crescent Pack," Huey introduced. All five of the members' heads leaned back a little bit in surprise of Huey introducing Riley, but they justwent with it.
"Yo, what's poppin', what's good wit'cha?" Riley clapped and dapped her up while Jazmine awkwardly tried to follow his hand motions. "Damn, we gon' have ta work on 'dat later Queenie." Huey just pinched the bridge of his nose.
Jazmine couldn't help but be in absolute awe at the incredible resemblance between the two brothers. They had the exact same nose, hairline, cheekbones, jaw, eyebrows, and those hereditary maroon irises. The only noticeable difference between them was their facial hair and actual hair, and Riley's obviously more urban attitude.
"And this here is my homegirl, Cindy 'Fearsome' McPhearson, but we sometimes calls ha' C-Murph ya dig? Lady Gamma of The Crescent Pack."
"Yo, it is such an honor to formally meet you, fo' real! Like… yoooo man, I'm fuckin' speechless dawg, I can't believe I'm shaking hands wit'chu!" Cindy reached out and shook the living daylights out of Jazmine's hand, nearly making Jazmine completely tumble over.
Was this a black woman trapped in a white woman's body? Jazmine wasn't ignorant of her own heritage, but damn, there was NO mistaking Cindy was straight up hood! And Jazmine sensed a very powerful disposition within her as well.
"And 'dis is my main bitch! My ride or die! The bestest, the baddest, the fiercest, the…"
"Ming Long Dou," Ming annoyedly interrupted and introduced herself with a perfectly graceful bow as she said a greeting in Mandarin. "I am Lady Delta of The Crescent Pack. So sorry if we blind-sighted you, but this really is a miracle, meeting you Jazmine," she said in English, her tone drastically had changed.
"It's very nice to meet you ladies," Jazmine smiled awkwardly with a slight nod. Here, she thought Huey's scowl was discouraging, but Ming's glare nearly made Huey's look like a total joy! It was kind of hard to tell if she was really being nice.
"My mate, Hiro Otomo, Lord Delta of The Crescent Pack," Ming introduced placing her hand delicately on Hiro's shoulder. Hiro stepped up, and like his mate, did a formal bow as he said a greeting in Japanese.
"It truly is an honor Majesty," Hiro spoke in English. Jazmine eye's widened being addressed such a formal name. It sounded so… medieval. And did she say mate?
"Move over, mutt" Caesar pushed Hiro aside. Hiro just rolled his eyes as he put his hands in his pockets. Jazmine noticed this. "Michael Zenzabaar Caesar, Lord Gamma of The Crescent Pack. But everyone calls me Caesar, or just Caez." he held out his hand.
Jazmine only smirked and decided to get back at him for his rudeness at Hiro as she took his hand and nearly broke every bone in it with a hard squeeze.
"AGH! Got' damn! Little lady, strong handshake! Right on then," Caesar chuckled painfully as he shook his hand free from her grip, shaking it in the air to regain feeling in it.
"Pleasure to meet you, all of you! You guys don't know how much of a shock this is to me, meeting more… you know… werewolves," she whispered past her hand. "Just exactly how many of us are there?"
"We a global population, living amongst humans in our own society," Cindy answered. "Except, our society is completely identical across all international borders. All werewolves, all packs of different ethnicities, share the same culture. Our laws and traditions transcend in all corners of the earth."
"So… Humans don't know about us?" Jazmine asked nervously.
"No! To expose us and our existence to ANY human is a punishable and grave offense. Completely forbidden," Huey spoke strongly.
"Only the humans who werewolves mate with are allowed to live among us, but even they have to live under werewolf code to remain as such," Hiro explained further, followed by an eye roll. Jazmine noticed that too.
"Oh…okay," Jazmine said meekly. What was it with this mating term?
"No one knows about you, do they?" Ming asked with a raise of an eyebrow.
"No! Of course not! I haven't told a soul, I promise!" Jazmine held up her hand. "Well…actually,"
"Aye yo! Jazzy!" Donovan and Treasure came from around the side of the diner, lighting him a cigarette as they approached her car. She usually gave him a ride home when they worked dinner shift together. They fought like crazy at work, but off the clock, they were the best of friends. "We're heading to Winston's for a drink…maybe five! You and your "friends" coming?"
"Uhh…nah Donovan, I think I'm gonna pass tonight. We got some… catching up to do," Jazmine shouted behind her.
"DONOVAN?!" Riley exclaimed with a sickened face. "Awh HEELLLLL NAHHHH! What the-?! You mean he's…and I just ate… BLAAAUUUGHHHHHH!" Riley ran to the nearest bush and threw up everything he ingested earlier. "FUCKIN' PAUSE NIGGA!..mm-mmm-mmmBLLLAAAUUGHH!"
"Ughh, seriously Reezy?" Cindy grimaced.
"Serves him right," Jazmine laughed as she shook her head. Even Huey couldn't help but chuckle.
"Mmmhmm, alright then, hon'! You sure you're going to be alright?" Treasure asserted.
"Yes, you guys! I'm fine! I'll text ya'll when I get home, okay?" Jazmine waved.
"Okay, goodnight Jazzy! Goodnight Jazzy's friends!" Donovan waved his slender fingers at them. They just stiffly waved back. "Goodnight suga, mmmwah" he directed at Riley as he sent him a smooch.
"Euughh," Riley grimaced before vomiting even more. Jazmine waited until her coworkers pulled off completely before turning back to her "new friends."
"You were saying?" Huey redirected. "Does anyone know about you? Even the slightest suspicion can be important."
"I haven't told a single person what I am, that's the complete truth… But there are people who know," Jazmine said sadly as she looked down at the ground. Everyone just looked at her confused.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Cindy asked. Jazmine solemnly looked up at all of them, tugging nervously at her jacket.
"I-I… uh-uhm" Jazmine stuttered.
"Just speak truthfully, Jazmine. It's better you're telling us now so we know how to handle it sooner, rather than later," Huey said soothingly.
"You won't have to… they've probably forgotten I even exist…" Jazmine felt the tears already starting to form. First time voicing this out since it happened, and it was to a bunch of strangers. Don't cry, don't cry don't cry, Jazmine thought.
"Who, Jazmine?" asked Ming, her face turning worried.
"My adoptive parents…ex-adoptive parents…goddamn it," Jazmine's voice hitched as she quickly wiped away a tear that fell. "I'm sorry, I… I've never spoken about this with anyone."
"Oh, chile," Cindy stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. When Jazmine actually let out a sob, that's when Ming leapt forward too.
"It's okay, Jazmine. You can totally trust us. We'd never betray your confidence," Ming reached into her signature red and gold jacket and pulled out a monogrammed hanky which looked to be in Chinese symbols, handing it to her. Jazmine took it gladly and blew her nose into it, as a few more tears fell. "Maybe we should talk somewhere more private," Ming said to Huey.
"You're right. Would you be comfortable talking with us back at the inn?" Huey asked Jazmine. She only nodded.
"I'll give you guys a ride over," Jazmine said at the ground as she started walking towards her truck. Oh God, what are you doing, Jazmine? She inwardly screamed at herself. She knew she shouldn't be so trusting, but who else was there who could understand? This was what she needed. This was predestined to happen.
Jazmine wiped away a final tear with Ming's hanky before approaching her old, rusty, beat-up pick-up truck.
"WHOAAA! WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, HOLD UP! This is YOURS?!" Cindy exclaimed..
"Uhh.. yeah," Jazmine rubbed the back of her neck embarrassedly. "Named her Bula… Big Bula. I got her when I was just sixteen. I've only been able to get the engine replaced, but I know she looks…"
"BEAUTIFUL!" Cindy smiled brightly as she ran up to it, running her hand along the hood. Jazmine cocked her eyebrow up confusedly. "Oh my God, I've been looking EVERYWHERE for one of these! 1970 Dodge W100 Power Wagon Mecum?! Mannn, my old man used to work on these bad boys for years! Oh please, please, please, PLEEAASSEE just let me drive us across the street! Just this once! I gotta know how she feels! OH PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!" She clasped her hands together and was literally about to kneel down and grovel.
"Don't beg, you look like a dog," Ming scrunched up her nose. Cindy huffed at her with a glare, but just continued to plead at Jazmine.
"Okay, Cindy, OKAY! Just this once," Jazmine giggled as she reached in her purse and tossed her her keys. Hey, everyone else teased the hell out of her for her run-down piece of metal. Cindy was the first person to EVER compliment her on it.
"Yeah, YEEAAAHH!" Cindy pumped her fist twice as she immediately swung open the driver's door and got right in. She put the key in the ignition and cranked it up, resulting in a growling whir. She pressed on the gas a couple times, creating a louder roar until it rested at a comfortable rumble. "Ahhhhh, sounds like SEX! HOP IN YA'LL!" Cindy motioned her arm out the window as she did a little dance in the seat.
"I hope you realize, you just fucked up," Caesar muttered to Jazmine with a smirk. "She is a total motor head. Good luck getting those keys back." Jazmine's eyes sort of widened in fear. Great….
The men hopped in the bed of the truck while Jazmine and Ming slid in the front. Then Cindy backed the truck out of its parking spot and safely began driving them across the street.
"So… you said you and Hiro are mates, right?" Jazmine asked cautiously.
"Yeah?" Ming answered shortly with a glare.
"A-and you and Caesar?" Jazmine asked Cindy.
"Correckk," Cindy lightly pressed on the break and switched the manual gear shift. "When a werewolf imprints on someone, they are mated for life. I imprinted on Caesar, Hiro imprinted on Ming. We share the title of our ranks with our mates, because we are one of each other. It's corny, I know," Cindy shook her head with a chuckle.
"She doesn't know what imprinting is, Cindy," Ming pointed out.
"Well would you care to elaborate Einstein?" Cindy asked irritably.
"So basically, when you imprint on someone, that's it. You're hooked. It's as if their well-being is the only thing that matters to you in the entire world. All others become non-existent or secondary. You'd do anything for that person. It's a serious business. Not like that "love at first sight" bullshit they make it seem in the movies. It's rare, unforced and magical," Ming explained.
"Does… Huey have a… a mate?" Jazmine asked, trying to hide the eagerness in her voice.
"Been thinking about that, huh?" Ming smirked. Jazmine just looked ahead through the windshield. "But the answer is no, he doesn't. And I think he's hellbent on not ever having one. The man's as stubborn as a mule! I'm actually starting to think he's asexual," Ming looked behind her through the rear view window to make sure he wasn't listening.
"Now, Ming! You and I both know that man is NOT asexual! Cuz if he was, he wouldn't be…" Cindy started.
"CINDY! Off topic!" Ming interrupted.
"Right, my bad my bad. Ignore that, Jazmine," Cindy gestured her head as she pulled into the long parking lot. However, Jazmine kind of already got the idea. "There ain't an unmated female in our pack who doesn't DREAM of imprinting, or being imprinted on by Huey. And trust me… they've tried! But for real, I think it's just cuz he ain't found the right bitch to match his speed. He's an Alpha, and that requires she-Alpha energy," Cindy smirked as she peeked through the corner of her eye. Ming turned and smirked at Jazmine too.
"Yeah, right," Jazmine scoffed as she twiddled her fingers. "And Riley?"
"I ain't even gon' touch that one. No offense to you, cuz we don't really know you that well. But it's real personal," Cindy shook her head.
"Oh! Okay, no I totally get it!" Jazmine nodded, immediately disregarding it.
"Let's just say… he's made his peace of remaining single for now," Cindy hinted.
"Or forever…" Ming added. Cindy only shrugged. She ran over a deep pothole that Jazmine trained her muscle memory to avoid every time she entered through here, resulting in the bed of the truck to jump up violently.
"AYE YO! YOU FORGET WE STILL BACK HERE?! Crazy ass female driving.." Riley shouted from the back. Cindy just flipped the bird behind her.
Jazmine giggled as she turned around to check on her rear passengers, where Caesar and Riley were completely discombobulated. Whereas, Huey was solidly leaned up against the side of the bed, draping his arms over the side in a cool manner. He caught her stare and lifted his head at her. Jazmine felt her stomach flip before she gave a faint grin and turned back around.
Yeah, definitely Alpha energy.
"I will say this though, the dynamic of our pack is verymale-dominated because our two top-ranked leaders refuse to find a mate," Cindy redirected.
"What do you mean?" Jazmine probed.
"When a male is PackMaster for so long, without a mate to share his authority, it can release a trickle-down affect to the rest of the male pack members, making them think they don't need female affirmation in anything they do. And it is noticeable, to me at least," Cindy explained.
"But, Huey mentioned that your women are respected and valued unconditionally," Jazmine pointed out. Cindy just scoffed.
"He would say that, seeing as he has no woman to value or respect," she muttered shaking her head.
"Careful, Cindy," Ming warned.
"Girl I know, I know! I ain't sayin' shit. I'm just keeping it real wit' her so she knows! I mean, I can only sanction so many requests and control so much within my power. But what the bitches really need is a she-Alpha to look up to. A female-leading influence to balance out the TESTOSTERONE in this mothafucka. And it damn sho' aint me! " Cindy clarified further.
Now Jazmine understood. Since Huey and Riley didn't have mates, that basically made Cindy the HBIC. And from how she described it, it sounded like a very strenuous job. Because as she said, it's not meant for her ranking. Jazmine was finally wrapping her head around all of this.
"But don't let my talkin' shit discourage you, Jazmine. Huey is an excellent PackMaster, and he is devoted to every single one of us and our prosperity as a whole. This pack was on the verge of falling apart… and… our last PackMaster was… detrimental to our well-being…" Cindy's voice suddenly got real tense as she trailed off.
"But!" Ming chimed in. "He and Riley literally rebuilt this pack from the ground up, creating a new and safer home for us, keeping us occupied, establishing and justly enforcing the laws set in stone to protect us. They are the longest reigning, and probably the most beloved leaders this pack has ever had. You would love it, Jazmine. You really would."
Jazmine listened carefully to every word they spoke. Of course, Cindy and Ming would vouch for their leader, and Jazmine didn't sense any sign that they were lying. But there was still that awkward hole Cindy left the topic on, for she fell silent the rest of the ride.
Cindy pulled up beside Caesar's suv and put the truck in park. The women got out as the men jumped out the back and they went inside the room numbered 10. Jazmine stopped to look across the way at the reception building of the inn, just to make sure Billy wasn't up still. There were no lights on, so she assumed he must've laid down for the night. She turned back around to see Huey holding the door open for her.
"Everything alright?" He asked. "Cindy didn't fuck up your transmission did she?"
"No, no, it's not that… at least I don't think," Jazmine chuckled. "I was just checking to see if my friend, Billy, was still up, the owner of this inn. You've probably met him already?" She stepped through the threshold as he followed her and closed the door, latching the lock-chain.
"Heavyset, elderly white man? With a non-cheery disposition?" Huey described with a raise of his eyebrow.
"That's him," Jazmine pointed. "He was the first man I met when I came here. Hell, he basically raised me until I could officially take care of myself. I lived in this inn," Jazmine explained as she looked about the room like it was a long-lost memory. "He was like a father to me… still is."
"So… he's the one you were referring to?" Huey asked seriously.
"No! God, no! He just gave me a helping hand when I came from…" Jazmine trailed off.
"Here," Riley pulled up one of the armchairs from the corner for her. "Just relax, shawty! We ain't no snitches up in 'dis bitch. Yo secrets is safe wit' us."
Jazmine slowly took a seat as she looked around at all their faces. Caesar and Cindy were sitting on one of the twin beds, while Hiro and Ming sat on the other. Riley sat opposite of her in the other arm chair, while Huey just stood, leaning against the dresser with his hands pockets.
"Should I… start at the very beginning?" Jazmine asked.
"That would probably be best," Huey nodded. So, Jazmine drew in a long breath and released it slowly.
"At three weeks old, I was given to the front desk receptionist at a hospital. There were no records to trace my DNA to any potential matches. Social services never got any records of my birth parents or who gave me away, no birth or health records of any kind. I was actually classified as a Jane Doe for a while…" Jazmine started. At that introduction, EVERYONE'S eyes lit up, sort of in anger. Jazmine swallowed before taking another deep breath.
"Then, at three months old, I was adopted by a human couple, Jason and Pyper Flannigan of Ely, Minnesota. They were amazing, loving and hard-working parents. They raised me as their own and gave me the best life that they could, even when they feared me half of the time," Jazmine slowly looked down at her hands. "As I grew up, more and more signs arose that there was definitely something different about me. My temperature always running on hot, but never getting sick, sharpened senses, sometimes my short temper…. Doctors tried to diagnose me with all kinds of mental illnesses, tried medicating me, but my mo-… Pyper… wouldn't let them. She knew that wasn't it, and that medicine never worked on me. Even when she was afraid of me she tried to protect me…until," Jazmine stopped.
"…until?" Cindy asked further. Jazmine finally looked up. Each one of them had unreadable looks on their faces, as if this kind of life was totally unheard of to them.
"Two weeks after my sixteenth birthday… I'm sure you guys know," Jazmine whispered.
"So they saw your first shift," Ming gathered.
"OnlyPyper did. I killed and ate our dog… I almost killed her too," Jazmine's voice hitched. "But I fled to the wilderness. Six nights went by and I finally shifted back, but by the time I returned home… they were gone, everything was gone," Jazmine finished.
"Fuckk," Cindy exasperated. "Well, I'm glad to see you got through all that Jazmine. You one strong bitch but… damn, I'm so sorry you had to go through all that alone," she said softly.
"That's sosad," Caesar shook his head.
"Like… Academy-Award nominated sad," Huey added.
"You ate yo DOG?!" Riley screwed his eyebrows up. "Deeyyumm, 'dat's fucked up!" Everyone smacked their teeth at him.
"I am sorry you had to go through that Jazmine, truly," Huey said sincerely. "But are you certain, that your ex-adoptive parent's would forget a thing like that? I mean, no offense, but it would have been hard for them to suddenly explain to others that they don't have a daughter anymore. How do you know for sure that they haven't told someone who they could trust?"
"Because my belongings were the only thing they left behind, Huey!" Jazmine answered tensely. "They cleaned everything the fuck out, except my room! My bed, my awards and trophies, my clothes, my pictures! They abandoned and forsaken the very memory of me! The only thing they left me was an envelope full of money!… MONEY!" Jazmine's teeth were barred now, but she quickly calmed herself down. "So yes, I am sure that they haven't told anyone. I moved here and I haven't heard from them since."
"So, you honestly thought you were the only werewolf in the world? It never occurred to you to actually venture out and look?" Ming asked next.
"Yeah, I went around asking random people if they could turn into a wolf and back into a human, just like me!" Jazmine answered back sarcastically.
"Okay, no need to get smart. It was a genuine question," Ming checked.
"Well, which is it then Ming?! Was I supposed to uphold "Werewolf Code" and keep under the radar? Or expose myself?! And while we're on the subject, if werewolves are such "law-abiding" creatures, why exactly would someone just give me away to humans in the first place?! They had to have known I was a werewolf right?!"
Everyone paused and looked at each other.
"…right?" Jazmine repeated.
"How old are you?" Riley asked lowly.
"…why?"
"If you want da answer to yo question, I suggest you answer mine."
"Twenty-six," she whispered. Riley's eyes puzzled for a bit, then he nodded affirmatively.
"She was obviously born after The Revolution, but The Mutant Law hadn't been lifted yet...that explains it." Riley looked back at his brother.
"What law?" Jazmine's gaze switched back and forth between them.
"So procreation would've still been illegal," Huey declared as he stood up a little straighter from the dresser.
"What… Law?!" Jazmine repeated slowly standing out of her seat.
"Then that means they abandoned her to save their own skins from persecution… probably hers too!" Cindy added.
"PERSECUTION?!… WHAT LAW ARE YOU GUYS-?! *GASP*! " Jazmine shouted, followed by a hard gasp, as a sharp, knotted, pain arose right at her heart. "Wha-? I ca-… Unnnghh! What's…happening? Mmmmm!" She clasped and grabbed at her chest as she fell back into the chair and hunched over.
"Whoa! Jazmine? Are you okay?" Cindy asked worriedly as she carefully approached her. Then, Jazmine started hyperventilating before a final and bigger knot panged her chest, and she let out a howling cry.
"YO! What the fuck?! What's wrong wit'chu shawty?!" Riley shouted as he covered his ears.
"Oh god…. Oh God! N-no…NO!" Jazmine cried as her eyes slowly widened.
"What is it Jazmine?!" Cindy then placed a hand on her arm.
"T-t-Twilight!" Jazmine whimpered as her mouth trembled.
"Who's Twilight?" Huey asked stepping forward.
"AaarrrwwuuuuUUUUUUU! WOOOO-HAAWWUUUUuuuu, OWWWUUuuuUUUUuuu!" Everyone's ears perked at the sound of a howl echoing through the air outside. Then they all looked at Jazmine.
Jester…
In super, wolf-speed, Jazmine snatched her keys that were still in Cindy's hands and leapt up out of the chair and lunged for the door, jerking the door open, and completely snapping the chain lock from the wall.
"Hol' up! JAZMINE!" Huey called after her as he ran out as well, using his sonic speed. He caught up to her right when she opened her truck door and gently grabbed her arm. "WAIT!….Jazmine what's wrong?"
"I have to go NOW Huey!" Jazmine shouted, yanking her arm from him. "My moth… I-I mean my Alpha-mother! She's… she's.. I can't feel her anymore! Huey! I-I CAN'T FEEL HER!" Jazmine panicked, her chest still pumping violently from her rugged breathing.
"Okay, okay, just calm down! Where did you feel her last? When did you feel her last?"
"I-I-I don't know! Last place was in.. our burrough! Just north of Buckholme's Lake!…But not since…" Jazmine's eyes slowly turned into a glare until they fell on him. "YOU!" She growled.
"What?" Huey scowled.
"YOU! You did this…YOU DID THIS! THIS IS ALL YOUR FUCKING FAULT!" She screeched, pushing him again and again.
"The fuck I do?!" Huey yelled back, blocking all of her hits.
"IF YOU HADN'T COME HERE, I NEVER WOULD'VE OPENED A CONNECTION WITH YOU! AND NOW MINE WITH TWILIGHT IS GONE BECAUSE OF IT! I WAS PROBABLY THE ONLY THING KEEPING HER ALIVE YOU FUCKIG MONSTER! YOU FUCKING KILLED HER!" Jazmine sobbed as she continuously pounded and pounded on his hard chest, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"JAZMINE! I don't know what the hell you're talking about! You're being hysterical! STOP!" Huey held both of her wrists in front of her, shaking them hard to get her to be still.
"NOOO! FUCKING LET ME GO!" Jazmine violently pulled away. "Go now, Huey! All of you! Leave and don't' ever come back! I should never have listened to you! I should never have listened to ANY of you! "Trying to help me" SOME FUCKING HELP YOU WERE!" She hopped in her truck and started it with a loud roar. "If I see any of you on my fucking turf again, you will regret it!" She said in the most monstrous voice she's ever spoken in.
She peeled off, kicking up gravel, dirt and dust behind her rusty wheels as she whipped out of the parking lot and sped down the street leading to the interstate.
Everyone came running out of the room and approached behind Huey as they watched her taillights grow dimmer and dimmer.
"Should we follow her?" Caesar asked. All of them stepped forward at the ready. Huey looked up to the sky, where dozens of stars lit up the moonless sky… A New Moon.
"We've had enough bad luck for one day," Huey muttered before turning around and heading back inside.
Jazmine had almost clipped the tree in her yard and just barely turned the truck off before jumping out and sprinting full sonic-speed across the plain and into the forest. Every pump of her arms, every stride of her legs, every breath through her lungs was aimed for the soul purpose of getting to her pack… were they still?
She was practically hydroplaning as she zoomed through the trees, leaping over roots and bushes, using low branches and vines to leap up to the next terrace.
'Don't be true, it can't be true. Oh please God, don't let it be True!' Jazmine wept in her head as she unzipped and threw off her jacket, and ripped her shirt and bra apart from her torso. She yanked her hair loose, pulled off her jewelry, and unzipped her jeans. She released a roar as she leapt across a skinny creek and shifted into wolf form, landing on all four paws.
"OWWWUUUUUuuuUUUuuu, WOWWWOOOWWOWWWUUUUU!" Wolf-Jazmine released a long, deafening howl before sniffing the air a couple times and she hastily continued to follow the other melancholic howls, until they brought her to a narrow glen, with gently sloped concave sides. But then, she stopped.
The look-out wolves released a series of growls and snarls, hidden in the darkness of the bush on both sides of her. And as she walked on through the valley, the growls grew louder, and began to follow alongside her.
'Traitor'
'Abomination'
'Imitator'
'Deserter'
Jazmine could feel these taunts growing inside her pack-mates as she ventured further into the glen. The only light coming from their beaming eyes, stalking beside her as she cautiously walked into the wolves' burrough. The masked moon gave no guidance or comfort for this solemn night. For when she finally approached the bulk of her pack, they were all circled around a motionless, furry mass, taking turns in singing a ceremonial farewell to their fallen leader.
Jazmine felt her heart drop as she released a long string of sorrowful whines. Then all the wolves' heads turned and looked at her, including Sparkle, Diesel, Jester… and Moxie.
Moxie stood at the head of the pack, pregnant as all get out, with Motor by her side, sitting tall and proud, and yet desolate for the circumstances of how they now obtain the title of which they sit.
They were the new Alpha pair, something Moxie has been waiting a long time for. Jazmine's only connection to the pack was through Twilight. And since her mother was now dead, there was nothing stopping Moxie from finally getting what she wanted.
Jazmine pleadingly lowered her front half to a submissive bow, still whining and beseeching to at least pay her respects. As she crept up further on her stomach, Moxie released a warning snarl, which made her subordinates follow suit, all except Jester, whose fluffy eyebrows furrowed nervously.
Jazmine could see Twilight's ears now, her muzzle, her paws, her decrepit torso, her fluffy tail.
'Oh, my poor, poor, Twilight'Jazmine huffed and sniffled as her wolf cheeks flapped and her eyes squinted and teared. And yet still, she continued to inch forward in the most submissive position she could be in.
'Traitor'
'Imposter'
'Snake'
'Betrayer'
'Traitor'
'Traitor'
'TRAITOR'
She wasn't connected to them anymore, and that was for certain, but she could still feel their hate, their contempt, their disgust! This couldn't be happening! She belonged here! This was her family! How could they turn on her like this?
When Jazmine crept an inch too close, a female look-out wolf, her given name Glitz, suddenly came flying in from the side and blocked her path, releasing a loud roar. Jazmine stood up fully, towering over her as she roared even louder in her face. If they wanted to kick her out of this pack, they better damn well earn it.
They both had a stand off, growling and snapping, until Jazmine just let go.
Jazmine stomped her front paws a couple times, extending her black claws before she leapt forward and Glitz met her halfway. They snapped at each other's faces, while still dodging the other's nashing jaws. Glitz got Jazmine on her back, but Jazmine quickly swiped her claw across her face and kicked Glitz off of her, sending her flying a couple yards back.
The rest of the wolves tauntingly growled and roared around them, while the two got back in stand off position. They went at each other again, standing up on their hind legs as they clawed, growled and bit back and forth. Glitz missed her next bite by a mile, while Jazmine swung her head around and got a clean, nasty bite into her neck, tugging and pulling with all her might.
Glitz released a whimper as she pulled her head free, with blood already trickling from her scruff. But Jazmine didn't stop, she kept snapping, and biting, while Glitz desperately tried to get away. That's when Diesel and Sparkle jumped in, and Jazmine automatically retreated.
Not because she feared them, but because she didn't want to fight them. She didn't want to hurt the wolves she grew up calling brother and sister. However, the feeling was not mutual. Sparkle puffed up her chest, a gesture Jazmine has never seen her do, and went at Jazmine full speed. Jazmine stood up on her hind legs just in time to catch her momentum and the two fell down a slope, rolling and biting in turn as the world spun around them. Of course, Jazmine ended up on top, pinning her down and growling in her face.
"All I've fucking done for you! And this is how you repay me?!" Jazmine thought, but the message was not received, when Sparkle kicked Jazmine off of her and they wrestled some more. It ended with Jazmine snapping Sparkle's front paw, resulting in a squealing cry from her.
Diesel had came sprinting down the slope and jumped on Jazmine from above. They rolled around for a bit until Jazmine used her strength to flip him over and locked her jaws on his ear biting down as hard as she could. But then, Diesel whipped his head around and locked his jaws on Jazmine's muzzle, his go-to move.
Jazmine cried and yelped as she tried to pull away, but that only made his teeth sink deeper. She used her back claws to kick and scratch at him until he finally released, leaving Jazmine's face completely covered in blood.
By now, Jazmine's strength was weakening. The wounds on her body felt like fire, her night vision was failing because there was no moonlight, and she was losing her family and battling them at the same time. Her body was so tempted to shift back, but she had to fight! She wasn't fighting to stay anymore. She was fighting for survival.
In the middle of recuperating, Diesel came running at Jazmine unexpectedly, and knocked her over, pinning her underneath him again. His snapping jaws got closer and closer, until Diesel was sent flying into a tree, releasing a painful whimper on impact.
'Jester, NO!' Jazmine objected as he protectively stood over her. Motor leapt down from his high position on the rock and lunged at the two of them. Jester flattened his ears and shrank down fearfully.
Ten minutes later, Jazmine and Jester were covered in bites, gouges and blood as they limped through the pitch-black forest, having just been exiled from the one pack Jazmine ever felt safe in. After Jester displayed where his true loyalties lie, Motor made the same example out of him, and Jazmine had to draw the final line, nearly making Moxie an early widow.
They approached the edge of the forest, where it met the plain leading to Jazmine's cabin. Jester released a final whimper before his body completely gave out. Jazmine sighed through her bleeding muzzle as she leaned down and pushed up against his body, spurring him to get back up. Jester grumbled defiantly, but Jazmine wasn't having it. He was staying the night with her whether he like it or not. She couldn't risk his wounds festering or his ex-pack coming back to finish the job.
She pushed and nudged him with her head, pushing off of her paws and into his body, until she got the leverage she needed to lift him up. Jester accepted the help, and weakly stood upon his paws again. Jazmine stood close to him, letting him use her body for support as they limped across the plain.
Once they reached her cabin, Jazmine scoped her surroundings for a good two minutes before she lifted up on her hind legs and shifted back into a human. She went over to her truck to retrieve her keys she left in the ignition. Feeble and exhausted Jester, had collapsed again right as he stepped onto her porch.
Jazmine stepped over him, unlocking and opening her front door, before using the last of her strength to bend down and drag Jester inside.
By the time Jazmine was out of the shower and redressed, most of her wounds had completely healed. Only left with some scratches here and there that were definitely going to scar. But when she came out to her front room, Jester hadn't moved an inch from the large comforter Jazmine laid out for him, in front of the warm fireplace she lit for him.
Jazmine groaned solemnly as she looked down at her poor, disfigured best friend. She went to go grab anything she could use to clean and mend his wounds, but stopped.
Maybe her connection with Twilight wasn't synonymous with all of her kin. Jazmine has always had a separate connection with Jester. Surely if he still looks out for her, they must still be…
Jazmine slammed the cabinet she was in the middle of opening. She shook her head and stomped back down the hallway. "Lying bastard," she grumbled to herself.
Jazmine came back to the living room and knelt down beside Jester and softly stroked his ear. Jester weakly lifted his fluffy head and just blinked at her.
"Why did you do that, you big dummy?" Jazmine shook her head as she continued to scratch his head. He continued to blink at her, as if the answer wasn't already clear enough. "You're willing to fight your family for me… you've bled for me… you gave up your ranking for me, and what have you got to show for it?" Jazmine sobbed. Jester whined sympathetically, pleading with Jazmine not to blame herself.
"Jester… I want to try something. I think I know a way to help heal you, but it might feel weird at first… Do you trust me?" Jazmine sat up on her knees a little straighter. Jester just looked up at her with those blinking inferno eyes.
How was she supposed to do this? Huey didn't exactly tell her the specifics. Surely she can figure it out! It's in her blood, was it not? It should be as easy as shifting shouldn't it?
Jazmine took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She continued to breathe deeply and slowly. She focused all her energy on Jester, just Jester alone. His fur, his paws, his ears, his tail, his eyes. Yes, his eyes, how they always saw right through her, how they could always tell what she was feeling. And now, she sought to know what he was feeling. She wanted to make his pain go away, she wanted to see the world, to see herself through his eyes.
Before she knew it, a wave passed through her, like she felt her mind emptying, her soul leaving her body. Of course she didn't realize it, until she opened her eyes again, to be looking up from the blanketed floor, at her own kneeling, motionless body, and her eyes washed completely white as they stared blankly ahead.
Jazmine/Jester whimpered in shock, before she broke the warg connection and returned back to her body.
"Oh my God!" Jazmine exasperated placing her hand over her chest. She looked back down at Jester, who was looking just as shocked as she was. "D-did that hurt?" Jester huffed through his nose, before licking his lips eagerly, like he really wanted her to do it again!
"Uh..o-okay, I'm gonna try again, buddy. I'm sorry if this hurts," Jazmine scooted a little closer and took another deep breath before closing her eyes again. And like clockwork, her spirit casted into Jester again.
"No way, this is fucking unreal, AAGHH!" Jazmine/Jester tried standing up, but his front left paw, and right hind paw were severely sprained. His ribs were cracked, his limbs were aching, there were so many stings on his body, it felt like he'd been dipped in kerosene and set on fire! "Okay… I can do this. Shouldn't be long now."
Then momentarily, as predicted, one by one, his wounds began to heal. His muscles rejuvenated, his lost fur grew back and softened, even his old wounds that still haven't healed yet automatically scarred over.
When Jazmine felt like it was safe enough, she slowly stood up on all fours, shaking her head and body to get rid of the haziness. Wow, Jester was actually pretty strong. She could feel it in his shoulders and his back. His eyesight was incredible! It was like looking through a telescope. Everything was immaculate and well-lit. She then looked at her human host, and a chill coursed through her body as she slowly approached it.
It was such a creepy thing, seeing herself from another's point of view, it almost didn't seem like her! Jazmine/Jester inched a little closer to her human body, sniffing, and searching…. It was just a body!
It had no scent, no pulse, no brainwaves, no movements of any kind. Just an empty shell. Jazmine/Jester whined a little bit as she nudged the soulless vessel with her nose.
Jazmine inhaled deeply as her soul returned to her body, and Jester remained standing by her side, towering over her knelt frame. They just gazed at each other for a moment, until Jester leaned forward and licked all over Jazmine's face and neck. Jazmine let out a full hearty laugh as she pulled away and pushed him back.
"You're welcome, buddy, you're welcome. Ahh, I'm so glad you're okay!" Jazmine giggled before wrapping her arms around his scruff, holding him tight and scratching his head. "He was right… He knew."
She felt Jester give a defiant huff as he stepped out of her grip.
"Jester… you and your mother… rest her soul… you two always knew who I was, what I am. I couldn't help the connection I opened with him, it just happened. I didn't have a choice! And I'm so sorry, Jester… I'm so so sorry" Jazmine shook her head as more tears began to fall. Jester dipped his head lower and coaxed her to lift her head back up. "I thought I always knew where home was, but now… now I don't know."
Jester sniffed and licked his lips objectively.
"Yeah… I do know some things. I know you got my back, and I got yours. I know there are others in the world like me, who both fear and praise me for what I am. I know I could make a better life for myself…for both of us, if I'm brave enough," Jazmine said challengingly before staring into the blazing and crackling fireplace. "But who's to say what's a better life, if I have so much more to live for beyond this lifetime?"
She turned to look at him again, his eyes seemingly smiling at her.
"You'll come with me, won't you?" Jazmine whispered. Jester licked her face again without question or objection.
The following morning, Jazmine woke up bright and early, taking the extra time to really put herself together and look her best. She wanted to hurry and get back to the inn before they left. She should've never threatened and cursed at Huey… again!
She felt so stupid, letting her emotions run wild like that. She realized it wasn't his fault. It was none of their faults. After a good night's sleep, Jazmine was seeing clearly now. And she knew what her final decision was going to be.
Jazmine let Jester out, but he would just remain around her perimeter until she got back. She had plans to exercise their Warging when she did.
Jazmine hopped in Big Bula and drove into town. However, when she got to the inn, the maroon Ford Explorer was no longer in its parking spot. Jazmine's face dropped as she quickly got out, slamming her door. She went up to the number 10 door and gave eight quick, hard knocks. She waited a couple seconds before knocking again, harder this time. She went over to the number 9 door, and did the same thing, no answer.
Jazmine exhaled as she hung her head, her eyes puzzling for answers. So she went to the reception building, and didn't even bother ringing the front desk bell. She went straight to Billy's office in the back.
"Billy!" Jazmine called out as she barged in. He was at his desk, with a to-go plate of breakfast in front of him, no doubt from across the street. She had just caught him about to drizzle Louisiana Hot Sauce on his omelette. "AH-AH! Give it here!"
"Wha-? Jazmine! You don't knock, young lady?! And give me back my hot sauce dang it!" Billy reached up with his hand.
"No sir, Mr. Gunther! You're already eating eggs, and last I heard, your cholesterol is nowhere NEAR low enough for hot sauce! And it's 7:00 am! You trying to give yourself heartburn already? Come on, now!" Jazmine stuffed the 6oz. bottle in her purse.
"Dahhhh! Give me a break, Jazmine! My darling wife used to drench everything in hot sauce, it practically runs through my veins now!"
"Yeah, well nothing's gonna be running through your blood vessels at all if you keep it up! By the way, what happened to those tenants over in 9 and 10?" Jazmine pointed behind her. Billy gave her a long, unfaltering look before dipping his fork into his omelette.
"Mm… they headed out like around five, five-thirty this morning," he took a quick bite and reached into the bottom left drawer of his desk. Jazmine slightly cringed. "And that big-haired fella, he left this for you," he pulled out a wax-sealed envelope, showing it to her. "'Those tenants' and you seemed to have hit it off pretty well last night, I hear." Jazmine quickly took the letter and stuffed it in her purse as well.
"Is that really what you heard, Billy?" Jazmine crossed her arms. "Or did Jaime just give you his side of the story, which I'm sure isn't true."
"Which part? That big haired fella putting a beating on them fraternity boys, or you sneaking away in the back with him for the rest of your shift?" Billy sat back down and took another bite of his omelette.
"Well!… That isn't… ughhh it's not what it sounds like!" Jazmine complained.
"Jazmine, I'm not going to give you the same earful Jaime already did. You're a good woman, with a good head on her shoulders, and a good heart. You don't have to explain anything to me. When "whats-his-face" came in to check out this morning, I could see the concern and devotion in his eyes… Trust me, I know that look," Billy hinted softly. Jazmine couldn't help the small grin that appeared on her face.
"And any man, that takes the time to write to a woman, is a careful and caring man. I can see they are your type of people, Jazmine. I don't know what it is, but you all have it. Don't let anyone make you feel out of sorts just because you want something better. You do as you see fit for you. I got the chance to see you grow into a phenomenal young lady…" his voice suddenly got choked up. "But when a flower outgrows its pot, it has to be rooted into a bigger, more suitable environment, where it can fully blossom to its magnificent potential… That is what I want for you Jazmine."
"Oh, Billy," Jazmine sobbed as she bent down and gave him a big hug. Billy hugged her even tighter, squeezing his eyes shut painfully as he held her. She was the one joy in his life since his wife died, and though it pained him to think she was slipping away from him, something told him he couldn't stop the inevitable.
"Alright, alright, go on," Billy released her, motioning for the door. "It's bad enough you interrupted my breakfast, now you got me making a mess all over it."
"Seems to be my job description," Jazmine shrugged as she pulled her purse higher on her shoulder.
"Not at all darlin'. You have a good day alright?"
"You too, Billy. And thank you…. For everything," this would be the last time she ever thanked him.
"You're welcome, Jazmine," this was the first time he ever acknowledged her thanks.
Jazmine got back in her truck and just sat for a second, staring at the envelope with her name written on it, sticking out of her purse. She slowly pulled it out, and studied the navy-blue, wax, seal with a crescent moon symbol on it. She took a deep breath, and peeled the seal open, pulling out two neatly folded, unruled papers. The penmanship was exquisite, neat cursive,perfectly margined, no smears, no mistakes or cross-outs.
As she read, it was like she could still hear his low, smooth voice in her head:
Jazmine,
First, I would like to start by offering my deepest, and sincerest condolences on the loss of your Alpha-mother, Twilight. Please take my word, that it was not in my intentions to disconnect you from your wolf family. Granted, I do not know what it is like to live amongst wolves, for I am sure the ways and laws of their nature are totally different. However, I do sympathize with you in the loss of a loved one, or multiple. A broken bond is a painful experience, like a stab through the heart, isn't it? I've endured quite several myself and they never get easier. Though our scars may heal externally, our inner scars will always remain.
I know you bear internal scars that you wouldn't dare reveal to anyone. However, we are ALL grateful and humbled that you revealed them to us. Your story has moved us, and it will always be safe with us. Your privacy and discretion is important to you, as it is for us. So, we decided it was best that we head out sooner, rather than later and give you space and time to think on what all we've discussed. I understand that you may have some unanswered questions we didn't get around to. These have not gone unacknowledged. We will be happy to answer them, should you decide to join us.
Please be informed, that my offer still stands. A royal position awaits you here in The Crescent Pack of Sandy, Oregon. April 15th is the next Full Moon, where we all shift, run and hunt together. We would be truly honored if you would join us. However, your final initiation steps will have to be processed before then. I recommend arriving a few days prior to get you settled and make all the final arrangements. I understand if this seems short notice, and I am willing to be flexible as seeing this is all new to you. Should you need more time to prepare, I will extend my offer to the next Full Moon on May 20th. This will be the final deadline.
I know I do not need to iterate this to you, but for the sake of this letter, DO NOT SPEAK OF YOUR PLANS TO ANYONE! When you arrive in Sandy, go to the Sandy Hill Police Department and ask for a Sheriff Ramsey Burwood. Yes, the county sheriff is also a loyal member of my pack. He will be expecting you every day until then, to escort you to our compound.
Again, when you get here, DO NOT speak to anyone about what we've discussed EXCEPT Sheriff Burwood. I cannot emphasize this to you enough, Jazmine.
We truly look forward to seeing you. And I hope you will take the information we've given you and expand on it. You have already proven yourself to be quite a force to reckon with… I've got the bruises to prove it. Just think of the force you'll feel with the strength and power of a faithful pack behind you. It is an unbeatable feeling, Jazmine, just a precipice of what our community has to offer.
"Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are Free!" -Jim Morrison
Sincerely,
Huey Freeman
PackMaster of The Crescent Pack
Lord Alpha of District 7
P.S. Ming needs her hankie back. It was a gift from her grandmother.
P.P.S. If this letter is being read by anyone OTHER than it's intended reader, we will know, and you WILL be sorry! April 15th we are ON YOUR ASS!
Jazmine laughed through her teeth as she shook her head. Was that supposed to be threatening? Actually, considering who wrote it, yeah it was.
Well, April 15th was five and a half weeks away. More than enough time. But she knew it was going to fly by very quickly. She had to start preparing now!
So it was decided then…
Jazmine slowly released an excited exhale as she gripped her steering wheel. She couldn't help but chuckle at herself as she started her truck and headed straight back home… well, her cabin. It wasn't going to be her home, per say for very much longer….
Maybe she didn't have to wait the full 5 weeks…
Sooooo? What ya'll think? Pretty lengthy, I know. But as I stated before, I don't plan on making this a long story, so it will most likely have lengthy chapters. I doubt ya'll are complaining tho? lolol.
How did you guys like they're first encounter with Jazmine?
Please REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! I love reading your guys' feedback! It helps a LOT more than you think!
ALL LOVE to my Alphas and Omegas! xoxoxoxo
-BDF234
