The Foxx Among Wolves

"Daddy, where'd momma go?" My father just sat blank faced staring at the televison. "Daddy..? Where's momma?" I asked again. He took a deep breath and faced me, he smelt awful. "She's not coming back. It's just you and me now, cupcake." he snarled. I stepped back, shocked. He just glared at me, then slowly turned back to the televison. . . . "But, Daddy, what do you mean I have to go to live with Aunt Missy? Why do I have to leave?" "Tanya doesnt like kids, she just wants her teacup chihuahua. So if I want her to come live with me, you can't. Understand, cupcake?" He ignored the tears rolling down my face as he threw my only suitcase in the back of the taxi. "I gave the driver enough to get you to Salt Lake. You'll have to find your Aunt's house from there." I watched him walk back to the front door of the place I called home for 9 years. He didnt even make it to the door before he pulled his BlackBerry out and called who I assumed was Tanya. It felt like my chest caved in as the taxi driver put my window up and drove me away. I turned and looked out the back window. He didn't even wave. . . . I glare at the corkboard in the door way of the grocery store. Aunt Missy insisted that since I was 14 I could pay for my own things. But she failed to realize the limited amount of places that will hire 14 year olds. "Hey kid, you lost or something?" a deep husky voice calls to me. I turn my head to see a huge man towering over me. I hadn't even hit my growth spurt yet. He was easily a foot and a half taller than me. "No, sir. I apologize, I'm just trying to find a job." I gestured to the corkboard, "but it's hard to find places that hire 14 year olds." I scowled back at the board. "A job? Why do you need a job? Where's your parents?" He furrowed his brow confused. "I live with my Aunt, my mom passed away and my dads girlfriend didnt like me, so." I shrugged my shoulders. It stung a little saying it out loud. The big man stared at me for a moment, almost conflicted. His eyes glazed over white for a moment and my eyes widened but just like that it was gone and he smiled. I must've been seeing a reflection. "Why don't you work here? You'll get a discount on everything in the store and you get paid lunch breaks. You can start bagging groceries for now." I smiled from ear to ear. "Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!" I said excitedly, "When can I start?" "Tomorrow? We can do the paper work and get you a badge. What time do you get out of school? Do you walk?" He sounded worried at the last question. "Yeah I walk, it's only 12 blocks. This is about the halfway point." "How about you just stop in on your way home then? Sound good?" I nodded and we shook hands. His almost engulfed mine it was so massive! "What's your name, kid?" "Beatrice Foxx." . . . "Beatrice? Beatrice Foxx?" My trip down memory lane was halted by the receptionist calling my name. "Hi, sorry! Got lost in thought for a moment." I apologized as I jumped up and straightened my pencil skirt. "No worries," she smiled. "You can follow me this way." She lead the way back a wood paneled corridor with big oak wood doors on either side until we reached the end. She turned and knocked on one, the plaque on the door read Detective Stevenson. "Come in." he said. The receptionist opened the door to let me in; I thanked her as she closed it behind me. I turned to face Stevenson. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Foxx?" he grinned. I laughed at his old pet name. When we got out of basic, I was Bea to everyone but Stevenson. I was always Foxx. "Stevenson." I greeted him with a grin. "Well, I've got a couple interests you may be able to help me with?" His eyes flashed black for a moment before he leaned forward. "Show me what you've got." When it came to Flinn's case, he always dropped what he was doing. We spent the next hour going over my newly found leads. The last 5 years, this is what most of our conversations contained. Me bringing up theories and Stevenson working through them with me. After I explained my case, he sat back and rubbed his chin. "I see what you're thinking. I may have someone who can help." he paused as I leaned forward. I always took his advice to heart and his recommendations have always been great, especially the people he introduced me to. Some of the world's best private detectives, trackers, hunters, and assassins. "He runs a pack out of East Tennessee. He has a team of highly trained trackers and hunters; they specialize in bounty hunting for the supernatural." My eyes got wide. Stevenson had been turned against his will shortly after coming home from deployment. He was angry the first year or two but he slowly came to accept it and now he had some of the best werewolves, vampires, and other supernatural beings as his allies. "Just tell me where, Stevenson. You know I'll go." He hesitated. Almost at war with himself. "You know I love you like a sister, and I care about you." I c****d my eyebrow. I knew when he started with that sentence, he was about to give me another safety lecture. Me, the poor little defenseless human, and the horrors the supernatural could do to me. "Theres a LOT of unmated males at this pack. Just keep your guard up and if you need anything, you can call me day or night. And your room at the pack house is always there." Stevenson also happened to be the Beta of one of the biggest packs in the midwest. When my last hunt had failed miserably, I wound up at his door step bloody and broken. He convinced his Alpha to allow me to stay and slowly became my other big were-brother. "I can handle myself. You know I've dealt with worse than horny werewolves." I smirked and he rolled his eyes at me. It couldnt be that bad, right?