An Unlikely Mate

Alexander let out a heavy sigh. It was Halloween weekend, which meant the bar was packed. He was the bouncer, a job he really enjoyed. Just not on Halloween during a full moon... But he was more than just the bouncer. He was also the part owner, sharing the business with his childhood best friend. He just preferred the hands on work of running the place. Tonight things were much more rowdy than they usually were. He'd caught a man being a little too suspicious about around a woman's drink and threw him out. Another man had started a fight, a woman had thrown up so he'd had to find her friends to bring her home and he'd put a stop to some fun twice in the bathroom. Bedroom activities were not allowed in the bathrooms here, but that never stopped anyone. He checked his watch. It wasn't even midnight yet... "Ready to call it a night already?" Lucious asked as he walked up to stand beside Alexander. Lucious had been Alexander's closest and oldest friend since their childhoods. When you're a 700 year old Lycan, oldest really means something. They'd been friends since boyhood. Medieval period boyhood as Lycans had forged a bond that could never be broken. "No... but it has been a rough one," he answered. "Full moon on Halloween... you know what that means." Alexander nodded. Werewolves and vampires would be out. Not only having a good time, but possibly hunting. Lycans were like werewolves, but stronger and they were nearly immortal. Living thousands of years if they were careful. Wherewolves lived normal human lifespans. Werewolves had much less self control and hot tempers. They lived in packs, many of them never setting foot off their pack lands. Vampires had a special hatred for Lycans, but they kept away for the most part. They, too, could live very long lives. If they were careful. Life was easier now in some ways than it had been in centuries past. People didn't believe in the supernatural like they used to. There was no fear of being hunted or killed by religious leaders, but they had to forge documents every few decades and move around to keep off the government's radar. The government could be more dangerous than a mob with weapons. "Look alive, there's a brawl starting up," Lucious said. Alexander let out a sigh and began walking toward the commotion. He could smell the scent of werewolves and human fear before he even got close. Two wolves were about to go at each other over a human woman who didn't look comfortable with either of them. "What's going on here?" Alexander asked as he drew near. He put himself between them and the woman. "Nothing, this man was just trying to steal my girl," one of them said. "Your girl? We both met her tonight!" "I saw her first!" Alexander stepped between them and shoved them apart. "You're both going to leave this establishment." "Oh yeah? Says who?" They both turned on them at once. He let his eyes show what he was and let his scent out. "Okay! When you put it that way... There are other bars," they mumbled as they quickly retreated for the door. Alexander turned to see if the woman was okay, but she was nowhere in sight. Hopefully she'd found her friends and was safe with them, he thought. Suddenly a sweet, intoxicated scent overtook his senses. It brought him back to... her. That couldn't be, it had been nearly 500 years. He whipped around to see a woman with fiery red hair in curls trailing down her back walking through the bar. She wore a tight, little black dress with a leather jacket and opaque tights. Her heels shaped her legs. Alexander tried to peel his gaze away, but her eyes had met his. Her green, intense eyes looked like they could look straight into his soul. A shock went through him, but she just turned and walked toward the bar counter. She was human... she didn't feel him the way he felt her. She couldn't smell him like he could her. He'd be damned if he went through all that again, much less for a human. No, he'd kill those feelings before they started. Alexander decided to take his break. He pushed through the crowds and slammed through a side door. He stood in the rain, hoping that the water would wash away her scent. If only he could be that lucky.