The Café

Chapter 4

I was storming back through the pub when I was yanked back by my arm.

"Where are you going? I only just got here!" Sam yelled over the music excitedly.

I groaned. "I'm heading home."

"Home? Are you ok? You look a little shaken. Is everything alright?" Sam asks turning me to get a better look at me.

"I'm fine Sam, just really tired." I lied. Someone bumped into me while dancing, pouring their drink all down my back. That was it. I was done. I needed to get out of there now. Sam shoved them out of the way protectively and tried to wipe some of the excess bright red drink off my dripping back.

"Everyone is out in the booth." I state as I walked out the door. "Have fun!" I tried to say cheerfully for Sam's sake. I didn't hide my frustrations well.

Sam shrugged and turned towards the bar.

I notice Sasha walking in while I cross the road outside - that is going to be a disaster.

I began looking for a cab. Nothing coming either way, so I decided to start walking. Surely I will cross paths with a cab eventually.

I walk for about 10 minutes when I suddenly smell the most revolting scent, like cat wee and rotten lettuce that has been left in the bag too long. It makes my stomach flip as I gag and hold my nose. What the hell is that?

I walk a bit faster. My wolf is standing at attention and the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up in warning. I continue walking briskly to get out of the dark section of the street. I can feel my wolf pushing me to walk faster. My heart stops when I hear a noise behind me.

Laughter.

The kind of laughter you think you usually only hear from villains in movies. As if someone has told a sick joke that only the emotionally unstable, sociopaths at the party laugh at. It is even more threatening in person.

I was having an internal battle with myself about whether to turn to see where it is coming from or to just flee. My fight or flight response was making a serious pros and cons list.

My curiosity got the better of me.

I slow down enough to get a glimpse over my shoulder at who was there. I knew if it was a human I didn't really need to be concerned; even as a female wolf, I am ten times as strong as a human male. But if it is a werewolf I could be in real strife. Although I am quite fit (thanks to my weekend surfing and netball) but I am also quite small in stature for a wolf and I have never had any real combat training.

Looking back I can't see anything. No one is there. Completely empty street. Maybe it was in my head? I feel myself begin to calm as the threat seems to be gone. My wolf was still on high alert but I slow my pace and get my phone out to actually order an Uber instead of walking around aimlessly. I type in my location and order the car - 5 minutes wait. Not too bad. I go to cross the road to sit at the empty bus stop while I wait. I feel a rip across my back as my shirt is torn to shreds. Feeling my shirt flap down exposing my bare back to the night air, I turn back to see what it was. Nothing is there. That feeling of uneasiness has crept back with my wolf howling warnings to me.

I hear them loud and clear.

"Who's there?" I yell out to the empty street. It was a long shot but who knows!

I hear a faint laugh coming from my right. The laugh was very similar to the one I heard earlier. My hands begin to tremble in fear. There is no one around. Who can possibly help me now?

I can smell that disgusting smell again. Whoever this is, they are clearly a rogue wolf. We get them from time to time. Trying to cross through our territory. The Alpha and their Beta etc all live in the centre of our pack but others choose to live in the human town to make a living, closer to schools and we get to meet more people. Although we are not as protected from rogues here, we are allowed more freedom.

"I'm not alone!" I call out to the rogue, clearly lying but hoping it might deter them. The chuckle I hear in response tells me that they are not buying my lies.

"One must not tell lies little wolf." The rogue states walking out of the shadows. His whispering tone make my stomach flip as a shiver runs down my back when he appears. He is dressed in dirty blue jeans and a black top that has been ripped and stained. I dread to think what the stains are probably from. The rogue has a crooked smile showing his sharp teeth making my bonds tremble.

He stalks closer. Closing the space between us in easy, long strides.

I am frozen in fear. My wolf is warning me to remain calm and not phase into my wolf form - we are still in the middle of the human town after all.

The rogue is standing too close. I can smell the rotten smells coming from him making my nostrils sting.

"What are you doing walking the streets alone at this time of night?" The rogue whispers in my ear as he circles around me. His breath feels like it singes my hair on contact.

"I'm just waiting for my Uber." I answer truthfully, my voice shaking giving my fear away.

He strokes a loose stand of hair behind my ear. I flinch from his touch. I can hear my heart beating loudly in my ears.

"You are quite a pretty little thing, aren't you?" He says looking me up and down. "Pity the Alpha allows so many wolves to live down here in the human town - can't protect you this far from the pack territory, can he?" His distaste for the Alpha solidifying that he is rogue.

"This is still pack territory." I correct him smartly. Wrong decision. He pulls on the strand of hair he has been playing with hard. I feel some of the hairs rip out of my scalp in the action. I scold myself for being so bold when I am all on my own, unprotected.

"I don't think there is anyone here to rescue you here. Do you?" He questions, still clasping my hair tightly. I shake my head as much as I can, trying to avoid eye contact. All I can think is, surely the Uber is close now!

The rogue starts touching my clothes examining me closely. He hums in approval. I gulp.

"Now be a good dog and obey, ok?" He demands while forcing his mouth onto my own. He tastes like old booze and sweat. I swallow down the bile rising in my throat. I grab him by the wrist and twist, desperately hoping to cause some pain. He yelps out but does not back away. He simply places his hand on my waist pushing his nails into my skin. I scream as the pain burns in my side. Reaching my knee up, I aim at his groin but his hold on me is so strong that I miss and get his thigh instead. The force was enough to make him stagger back but not to delay the assault. I was shaking as my wolf was at the edge of her control but I knew I needed to keep her contained.

"Can't bring that wolf out, can you Love?" The rogue mocks me, "The Alpha doesn't like the use of wolves outside of the pack walls does he?" He continues. I didn't usually mind this rule, but at this current point in time I wasn't too impressed. My wolf was spectacular. She was a lot larger than you would expect of someone my size and had such power. I knew she could have been done with this rogue easily if allowed.

He was running his hands over my body, he reached the hem of my shirt and worked his way underneath to my skin. I felt stabs of pain from his touch. He had his nails out, scratching me wherever his hands went. Drips of blood were dripping down my chest and stomach. I could smell my blood mixed with the revolting smell of the rogue. I was going to have to soak in an extra long lavender bath to remove this stench if I make it out of this.

I was screaming out for help and thrashing my body, trying anything to even slow down the rogue until my Uber arrived. Either this was the longest 5 minutes in history or the Uber was late.

"Oi!" Someone calls from down the street. I heard the footsteps of several people running down the road.

"Rogue!" I hear them calling as they get closer. Wolves. Thank god!

The rogue senses that he is outnumbered and decides that I was not worth it. He retreats back into the shadows quickly, leaving me bleeding, with clothes shredded on the side of the road.

I don't know whether to be humiliated or relieved. I look up to see the figures finally reach me. A pack of 4 large men. One familiar scent of vanilla and pancakes, a few scents I haven't smelt before - peppermint, lemon and honey - and the most delicious smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. I have never smelt a more delicious smell. I am surrounded by it. Immediately, I felt calm and alive at the same time.

"Tess? Is that you?" one of the men asked before I feel my eyes close, not sure if it was the shock or the loss of blood.

I vaguely feel thousands of tiny electrical sparks all over my body as someone lifts me and seems to be carrying me. I hear voices and a car before I completely black out.