The Hunter and the Rogue Workers Union

Chapter 8

Fights and Soft Kisses in the Moonlight

Time passed quickly and before Sally knew, two weeks had passed. It was a straight two weeks of work and planning on the pack projects. This had pushed back all the fights as Alpha Siman focused on maximizing the Council money for the greater pack benefit. There was an upcoming smaller fight, but Sally was not worried about it. Her opponent was just a kid that was showing some promise. Carter, the brother of the Silver Pack Alpha, said that the young man needed to be taken down a peg and nothing more. They wanted a good show, and Sally needed the money, so she planned on giving them a very good show. The young man, Mitch, had already dispensed with two other opponents that evening with little effort, and was presently sitting at his table with three of the loveliest unmated ladies in the pack. Mitch and his ladies smirked towards Sally’s table, which currently held Russell and Starlit, who were both destroying their second burgers. How both of them could eat so much simply amazed Sally? They were both just sticks. The little girl noticed the stares from the other table and returned the looks with ice-cold eyes before putting down her hamburger.

“What a cute little bodyguard. I guess that is the best the rogue union has to provide. A washed-up hunter looking for fame on the fighting circuit, a weak little boy begging for protection from everyone, and a tiny pup more rat than wolf.” Said a half-drunk she-wolve that was setting on Mitch’s lap.

“Stop it, Clare.” Said Mitch to her. He pushed her off of his lap. Go get some food and sober up. He turned towards Sally’s table after he watched Clare walk off. Hate in Clare’s eyes as she looked one more time at Sally before walking off. “I am sorry about that. I have to admit the pup is precious, but she seems to be on target for the rest of you. I have never seen such a small hunter in my life, and the only fight I bet that boy has ever won was in a video game.” A smile crossed his thick lips.

Russell was trying to hide his hurt, but Sally could feel it coming off of him in waves. Starlit started to say something back when Sally raised her hand to stop her. The announcer called Mitch’s name and he walked by their table, “Ladies,” he said as he went inside the ring. Russell turned three shades of red.

“Just wait for it. Just wait… OK, this will be fun, I promise.” Then her name was called and she walked into the ring taking off her outer shirt, she pulled up her hair into a tight bun. A collage of scars became visible all over her back. The scar spider webbed out up over her shoulders and upper arms. A cracked looking scar resembling broken porcelain became exposed on her perfect soft black chest, shined for all to see with a necklace laced with copper wires and a single bullet bounced off of her sports bra. The room went silent and Mitch turned white. “Is there anything else you want to say to me and my friends before we start?”

“I was just talking sh…”

Sally shook her head no. “Baby girl is right there. Try that sentence again.”

“I was just talking mess; you know, before the fight to make it more exciting.” He said just a shade whiter. She looked hard at the man for a few moments.

“That is fine with me, but never with non-fighters. I highly recommend your girl, apologies once she sobers up, but once she sees you after this fight, I am betting she will apologise very quickly to both my friends.” He just stood there looking at her in disbelief. “Next time you may want to pay attention to who you will be fighting. That is another mistake I promise you will never make again. Get ready to fight, it is not a good idea to make me mad. No one wants to hear me count. That would end badly for you, I am afraid.” The man pulled himself back together and put his fists up. He knew this was not going to end well, but he also knew he had no choice.

A large hunter took a table towards the back of the crowd; Sally knew he was there. The man leaned back in his chair crossing his arms with no emotion on his face. He had been in the building for some time, but he had kept his distance. She was not sure what he wanted, but she planned on giving that man a show, while also reminding everyone else what even the smallest hunter could do. Why humans were to be feared and left alone. Before she started the fight, she could feel a certain set of eyes on her. Now she knew she had to really show off to the crowd.

The bell rang signaling the start of the first act of this one-act play. She allowed the man to nearly hit her a few times, not using her full speed but dancing around him. His eyes gave away his feeling, poor man felt like a tiny mouse in the paws of a lioness. Good, he needed to feel fear. The boy’s head had gotten too big, it was better if she deflated it as opposed to someone who did not mind seriously hurting him. The more she played with him, the more his nervousness showed. The cat and mouse game was wearing on him and it was showing in his dancing. His footing started to become unsure and his attempts to read her disappeared. He was just going through the last motions of a desperate man in a losing battle. Suddenly an opening appeared, like water in the mist of the desert, and he took it, hitting her twice in the ribs. He thought to himself, “I must have broken at least one rib.” But to his dismay, instead of howling pain, all he got in return was a smirk, “good hit,” as she increased her speed. The fight went on for twenty minutes as the crowd screamed in delight. The intensity increased every few minutes with both giving and taking impressive shots, but alas, all good things must come to an end, even this fun.

Siku walked around the back of the table right behind Starlit, pulling her attention towards him. He nodded his head, smiling at her. The hunter in the back of the room watched as if bored with the show. He also nodded at her, which caused a bright smile to spread on her smooth face. With a few more moves around her victim, the skilled lioness landed her final blow right across his face, sending Mitch for a long nap on the floor. The crowd went wild, loving every moment of the show. Their roar flowed through her, filling her with its energy. It was an amazing moment and a real smile filled her face. Sally had to admit there was something intoxicating about the roar of the crowd and the energy from the fight. She stepped over Mitch, receiving a high five from Beta Carter Silver and a hug from his wife Eva.

“That was precisely what I was looking for in a fight. The one on Friday night will be amazing. Next Friday night, anyway. They did tell you that we pushed it back one more week.” Sally just shook her head, wondering if May was ever going to let her leave this pack or at least, allow her to fight the rogue Alpha.

Russell stood at the back of the crowd that had formed around Sally holding Starlit. The Princess looked concerned, she did not like that many people around Sally. The large man that had made eye contact with her earlier walked out of the building. Carter and his wife, Eva, tried to talk her into going to an after-fight party at the local club, but Sally was more interested in the man who had just left. She made her excuses, followed by a silent understanding between her and Russell. She then went out the door and after the man.

The air had a chill in it which was strange for that time of year.

“Nature still has trouble with her emotions. I will be glad when that woman works that all out.” Sally just smiled at the man.

“Speaking of trouble… How is mom doing?”

“Oh, you know, her normal. Not any better, but no worse. Just the normal level of crazy. She always did her best by you. You know. She gave it all she had. It was just there was not much left after… well you know.”

“Yes, well, it was what it was.” Started Sally as Russell walked up with Starlit.

“I am sorry. She refused to leave you. She even said she would fight the man if she had to.” Starlit flexed her muscles and gave the man her best mean look. It was hard not to laugh, but no one wanted to damage that kind of spirit.

“It is OK, tough girl. I know you got my back; this is just my stepfather. He can be a handful sometimes, but he is a good man. Just a little rough on the outside, but I assure you, he is all soft on the inside.” The man shot her a hard look for calling him soft. He turned his gaze to the little one and a soft smile showed itself in his hard eyes.

“Hello young warrior. General Thomas, Prince of the Saulteaux tribe and direct descendant of Chief Peguis at your service. Just like my step-daughter, I am a hunter.” He smiled at the child. “What is your name and rank?”

The child had already perked up looking firmly at General Thomas. “I am Starlit, Princess Starlit, ruler of the Shifters. I am very pleased to meet you, General.” Everyone smiled at her and bowed their heads in respect.

“Well, Princess, I would think it is getting past your bed time. I know it is well past mine. How about we pick up this family reunion tomorrow, say over lunch. There is a small park just outside the pack territory.”

“Always the good Hunter and just a little weary of packs.” Said Sally with a smirk.

“I am… one of the best, and because of that I am wary of everyone else,” he said pointedly.

“Now that is the old soldier talking. I thought hunters trusted other hunters.” Sally took Starlit as Russell dug around in his pockets for his keys.

“Before, mostly, but much has changed.” He said before kissing Sally's forehead and giving the child a slight bow. Russell was still digging around in his pockets when Thomas threw his keys at him.

“Vigilant, boy, especially in a crowded room of wolves. The man was drunk and sloppy when he pickpocketed you. Don’t worry, he will not be pickpocketing anyone for a while or at least not with his right hand.” He said with a dark smile. The man turned and walked off towards a large truck in the back of the parking lot.

Russell looked frightened. “What did he mean by that?” He whispered to Sally.

“Since it had to be a werewolf, I am guessing he smashed some of the wolves’ bones in his right hand. If not all of them. Smashing them really slows down the healing process. Hunter 101. Anyway, we got to get sleepy head to bed.

Russell looked truly mortified but Starlit, on the other hand, had a different reaction. “I really like him. He is so funny.” Russell just looked sideways at the child. You two are like two peas in a pod. A very dangerous pod that could decimate a city.”

“Aww, peas are cute. He just said we are cute. You are as cute as a pea too, Russell.” Said the child before putting her thumb in her mouth and laying her head down on Sally's shoulder. A warm feeling spread across Sally's chest. Something she had not felt in a long time. A feeling she had feared was lost to her.

Soon enough, the child was safe in her cot at Sally’s cottage. She stood there for a long time, watching her sleep just to make sure she was truly in a deep slumber before speaking. “Front door”, she said as she walked out of the room. She opened the door to a man standing there filling most of the space. She knew her mate was a large, powerful man, which meant little to her, but at that moment it caused her to pause and marvel at him. Siku grabbed her by her upper arms, pulling her out of the house, and then pinning her to the outside wall. Before she could protest, he kissed her with all his being. For a few moments, there was only the two of them, while his wolf paused as if he almost recognized something. Something that calmed him, and almost brought some healing to his broken mind. But suddenly the rage returned, and he slipped back into his deteriorated self.

Siku pulled away from the kiss, looking into her eyes, and then he carefully moved her hair as he kissed his forehead. “That was wonderful tonight, but you are always wonderful. I have never been so proud as when I watched you. You were so calm in a hyped-up room of blood-thirsty monsters that I simply have no words. And then you gave them the show they all come to see with drama, grace, and skill.”

Sally smiled at him in a sad manner. “I guess it is easy to forget because there are just a few of us without a human settlement.” She paused for a moment. “What most beings do not understand is that the true monsters in the room are usually the calmest.”

“I see no monster. I only see my Heaven.” He said before he kissed her again. They spend some time up against that wall just kissing. The sparks danced around their skin, pulling them closer together as they enjoyed that blessed moment in each other’s arms. Soon, Siku went into her cottage to kiss his child good night. She did not move, but simply smiled in her sleep. With that, he kissed Sally once more on her forehead before leaving the cottage for his own prison.

Sally felt light with a pleasant kind of feeling warming up her soul. She laid in bed for some time as she replayed the events of the day. The excitement of the fight, the cheers of the crowd, and the warmth of her mate’s lips all replayed in her mind for some time. Tonight was going to be good dreams because they just had to be. With her mate so close to her, how could they be anything but sweet dreams?