Love and Deception

Chapter Two

Noah

Noah put his muzzle up to the crisp night air and sighed blissfully. This was the life. No rules, no responsibilities, no constantly worrying family. Just him and the great wild. No limits. Wind ruffled his fur carrying with it all the scents of nature on the edge of civilization. Civilization was a very pungent odor, one he never really much cared for. Even in his human form. But he was on a mission and that mission was sadly forcing him into that hated world of clothing, structure, and rules. There was no trace of werewolf scent out here. Which was odd considering how as a species they tended to prefer nature to the mad press of people. But if this really was a rogue wolf and it was hunting people then what better place to hole up than a bustling city?

At least he had checked first. Tomorrow night he could prowl the city streets and search for the scent of werewolf. Well, the unfamiliar scent as his sister was a resident of this city it was more than likely her scent was present. Another conundrum. How did the rogue wolf not know she was there? Or maybe it did and it just didn’t care? It was unlikely it had any great designs for Elizabeth although the thought made Noah’s chest rumble in anger. Elizabeth was a strong purebred werewolf and capable of taking care of herself no doubt about it. But the rogue would have attacked her by now if it intended to make this place it’s territory. It was just all so strange and starting to hurt his brain. He weighed the idea of traipsing through the city in his wolf form over in his mind than decided on it with a lolling wolf grin. Yeah he could just wait to see the news reports tomorrow. Wolf spotted in downtown Chicago!

Despite his amusement at the idea he did slink and generally try to keep to the shadows. Panicked humans were never a good thing, they tended to bring firearms. If a rogue wolf was capable of shielding its presence than he could too. His apartment was a tiny studio about six floors up in a building that wasn’t exactly pleasant. He figured that he’d take the place thus forcing someone who couldn’t take the general bad attitude of the other inhabitants to a nicer place. Of course, he didn’t really spend that much time here but he needed some place that was his and his alone. Being close to his sister was a perk as well. One that the rest of his oversized family wouldn’t understand. Hell they still couldn’t figure out why she had moved away to live in a big city on her own in the first place. He spotted the fire escape and silently thanked whichever of his crack dealing neighbors had left it down. It made climbing the thing in wolf form much easier.

He always left his window open partially so it was the work of a moment to nudge it far enough to squeeze his body in. Maybe he should lose some weight. It seemed to him that he’d had to open it further this time to fit. He shook his fur out one last time for the night, from muzzle to tail and then hunkered down with a sigh. He never liked changing back to human. It seemed as if he were losing something rather than gaining it. But he did it. He barely even noticed the pain as his bones shifted and slid back into place for a two legged creature. He froze once on the other human side of the change having detected a presence in his apartment. Damnit! He should’ve noticed before he’d changed. Now he was naked, huddled on the floor, trying to relearn the breathing process and an unknown possibly hostile person was in his space. No doubt they’d gotten an eyeful at the very least. Man his dad was going to ream him…

“Didn’t you smell me before you came in through the window?” A soft amused chuckle sounded as the light was clicked on, momentarily blinding him. He turned to growl and glare at his closest sister simultaneously. Yeah cause he could multitask like that. “By the way, thank you. That was even more amusing to watch than my mental images of it.”

“You’ve seen me change.” He snarked, finding his feet and staggering for his room and some sort of pants. It was cold.

“Yes but watching your giant wolf butt shimmy through a window….” She laughed again this time trying to muffle it with her hand. “It was classic. I wish I’d brought a camera.”

“What are you even doing here?”

“I came to check in and tell you what I know.” She said as she flopped onto his bed. He finally looked at his sister who was decked out in baby pink scrubs with a white under shirt. He c****d a smirk at her and was rewarded with a growl and mocking snap of her jaws. “Don’t even start okay. My shift begins in an hour. This is called a uniform. Those of us who work have to wear one.”

“But does it have to be that color?” Another growl.

“There have been a few suspicious incidents since I started working at the hospital, that I’ve seen at least. Nothing to indicate a werewolf specifically but definitely one of the more carnivorous supernatural species. I did my own sniffing around, so to speak, and came up with diddly squat. If there is another wolf here then it’s adept at covering its tracks. If it’s another supernatural then either I have never smelled anything like it or the scent is too faint to detect. All of which I explained to Dad on the phone by the way.” She added the last with her usual level of pique.

“Look, I think Dad sent me out here to give me a break okay? It’s got nothing to do with you.” Noah received a disbelieving look. “Okay it’s mostly got nothing to do with you.” Another supernatural though, that was a disturbing thought. He hadn’t come across too many and the ones he had seemed to be terrified of werewolves in general. That suited him just fine normally but it wasn’t very helpful in using scent memory for an investigation.

“So when are you going to tell them you have a place here?” Noah grimaced. Never. “I mean he’s probably tweaking out that you wouldn’t let him rent you a hotel room.” Oddly enough it hadn’t come up. Their father had just assumed Noah would crash at Elizabeth’s place and he wasn’t going to disabuse him of the notion.

“Clearly your memory of the time when you moved away is very hazy. I have no desire to repeat that incident.”

“It’s just a place Noah. You barely spend anytime here.” She was frustrated with him. Exasperated was probably a better word but he liked to pretend he didn’t know any words over three syllables.

“I just don’t want him to think that we’re all going to leave him or that I don’t want anything to do with him anymore. That’s not the case.” He added in firmly when she shot him a questioning glance.

“Then why are you here?”

“Like I said, it’s a break from the nauseating duo.” He said with a shrug. “I’m glad the hospital thing is working out for you Liz. You seem happy.” Now it was her turn to shrug and smile wryly.

“I know that you’re just trying to get me to change the subject but I’ll let it go. For now. And I don’t know how much longer the hospital thing is going to work out actually.” Noah raised an eyebrow. Damn he needed to keep this place stocked better. Where were all his shirts? “People have already commented on my high metabolism, seemingly endless energy, and the little fact that I have to pretend I’m germophobic just so I can use the excuse to double up on gloves.” That made sense. Elizabeth would have to be extra careful about passing the disease onto a patient.

“I don’t think it works like that Lizzy. I mean everyone we know has been born this way or bitten. Bitten.” He emphasized. “Alex thinks it’s transmitted via saliva.”

“And if he’s wrong?” Noah frowned. “I went through nursing school to save lives not ruin them. I can’t take the risk.”

“You think being a werewolf is ruining a life?” This was heavier than most of their normal conversations but she’d let it slip. He hadn’t had any idea that his sister had felt that way. She sighed and rested her chin on her knees.

“Not me, no. I love it but I was born this way. I’ve never been anything else. You saw what it did to Olivia. Sure Mom chose to be a werewolf because she loved Dad so much. Mystery though that is. But what if somewhere, out there, there are wolves that don’t make the choice? Wolves that get forced into it and turned into this raging beast with no idea how to control it and no one to help them?” They both stared out into the city nightscape as they thought that over. He’d never considered it himself but he supposed that was more than an average possibility. Not everyone was a closely knit family like they were. “Anyway, I gotta bounce. But I’ll stop by tomorrow. Breakfast?” Noah nodded. Liz kissed his cheek and then walked out of the room her ponytail bouncing behind her. He resisted the urge to snicker and looked outside again. What the hell? He wasn’t tired and the city could use another scour with a more experienced olfactory sense.

Carlie

Carlie let out a deep breath and then immediately sucked another one in. Ten. She had to get to ten and calm down. Just because she had an irritating customer did not mean she was free to fly off the handle and douse the man in cooking oil. Even if ‘irritating’ was the understatement of the century. She was at seven when his low gravelly voice interrupted the bubble. “You’re burning the bacon again. I’m paying for you to cook me breakfast the least you could do is not char broil it.” She gritted her teeth and watched as Steve, the short order cook’s shoulders tightened. Yeah she thought I feel you Steve. Just once she’d like to bring her serving tray down right on that pompous head. If he didn’t like the way the food was made he didn’t have to come here.

But the bacon was heaped onto the plate which was then deposited onto her tray. “You want me to dump something on him?” Her only friend in this hell hole Ginny whispered. She eyed the customer clearly strategizing.

“Nah it’s cool. The faster I serve him the faster he’ll be gone.” She flashed a weak smile and took the food laden tray over to Monsieur CrankyPants. And that was the most flattering nickname she had for him. She set the plate in front of him and refilled his coffee. When he didn’t speak she turned to leave and then nearly clobbered him to death all over again when he rapped his knuckles on the table to get her attention. Of all of his many snobbish habits that one was the worst. “Something else I can get you?”

“Salt.” He probably had a wife somewhere. Maybe even kids. They were more than likely ecstatic that their overbearing father/spouse was away so often. No doubt they didn’t even think of the havoc he was creating in the small town he was staying in. She mused about it picturing a fantastically beautiful supermodel type. He wasn’t ugly after all. In fact he was fine. Tall with broad shoulders, a chiseled jawline and full black hair. He had the palest eyes she had ever seen in a person. The irises were almost white. He looked like such a catch. She set the salt on the table and was not surprised when he turned his attention to the paper without so much as a thank you. She frowned. Yeah he looked like a catch. Then he spoke or moved and ruined the effect. He would’ve made a hell of a statue.

“Why do you come in here?” She asked, her temper getting the better of her. There was maybe one other customer in the tiny diner and that person was now absolutely still. As was the chef and her fellow waitress. The customer didn’t even raise his eyes to her and acknowledge her question. “I mean, you don’t like the food, you certainly don’t like the company, and there is an IHOP about twenty minutes up the road. So what is it? Do you just get off belittling the rest of us who don’t happen to have your good luck in life?” The paper was set onto the tabletop with exaggerated slowness. The arresting frosty gaze leveled on her with unerring intensity.

“I come in here to see you.” She stopped and blinked trying to assimilate that information. It just wouldn’t process. He was being an ass and she should say something. “And I like the food just fine. I happen to prefer my bacon cooked instead of flash boiled. It’s a preference; everyone has got to have them.”

“You come in here to see me?” She said with obvious sarcasm. He nodded solemnly. “Why?”

“Because you caught my attention. Not an easy task I assure you.” She scowled at him as she tried to think of what to say. Several things came to mind of course but none of them left her with a job. And she desperately needed this job. “Honestly, didn’t you realize that I only ever come in here when you’re working?”

“How would I know if you’re here when I’m not?” She fired back. He c****d his head to the side considering it and then grinned briefly, revealing a flash of dimples.

“Alright, that one’s yours.”

“You come in here just to see me? That’s stalking you know. Not to mention harassment.” Ha! There, she’d found something. A good something too because she could totally call the cops on the creepy guy’s ass.

“I’m waiting for you to go out with me.” The term slack jawed amazement had never been more appropriately exemplified to her. Ever. In fact all of the people outside would probably laugh if they cared to look through the window.

“I am not going out with you.”

“Yes you will. But until you do I will continue to come in and see you on your shift.” She glared down at him. Cocky, arrogant, no good, smug bastard. She pivoted on her heel and marched past him, not getting a few steps before he cleared his throat. “It’s Noah, by the way.”

“What is?”

“My name.” She put the glower back in place.

“Whatever.” She stormed all the way into the stock room and began slicing vegetables for the lunch rush. She was not blushing.

Carlie jumped awake as her vibrating cell phone touched the back of her thigh. She thought she heard a low grumble and turned to kiss Noah’s cheek only to find the bed empty. Again. She shook her head to clear it of the dream fog and snatched up her phone. Damn, she’d missed the call. The caller I.D. read unavailable meaning it was her boss. Well at least he’d call back. When were these dreams going to quit already? God that life felt so far away and yet what had really changed? She was still in a bum town, in a bum apartment, doing things far below her intelligence level to make ends meet and pay off her debt. She still didn’t even own a car. It was sad really. Six years and her life had not gone any further. She’d only added to the heaping pile of s**t on her plate.

The phone rang again so she opened it, not surprised when the angry voice on the other end proceeded to ream her about responsibility. As if he even understood the level of responsibility she was capable of. Ass. When he’d finally grown exhausted of listening to his own voice he detailed her assignment for the evening. She was to track and beat down three gentlemen who were members of an opposing crew that had apparently struck some of her boss’ territory. Territorial was something she could definitely understand. “Explanation or execution?” She asked. Truth was she didn’t have a problem with either and at some point that would have upset her. But she was too cold now. Like a hollowed out tree.

“You can leave them breathing but make sure the point is clear.” With that he hung up. She spared a moment to glower at the phone before tossing it and getting up. Back into her black leggings and turtleneck. Back into the combat boots and motorcycle vest, all black. It hid her body while her natural stealth hid her movements. It was still annoying to have a monochromatic wardrobe. She tucked a set of brass knuckles into the hidden pocket of her vest with a predatory grin. Time to work out some life frustration on dirtbags who deserved it. She paused again in front of the mirror to stare at her reflection. She wasn’t the waitress that caught Noah’s attention all those years ago. Hell he’d probably never recognize her at this point. Just another street thug doing what it took to get by.

She slid her white mask over her face shielding the rest of her image from view. All that was visible now were her eyes. Eyes that were devoid of any of their former emotions and were slowly turning golden as the adrenaline for the upcoming hunt coursed through her blood. No, Noah wouldn’t recognize her at all. And she would rather be back in that Podunk pie diner with her aggravating customers than where she was now. But she had a job to do and focus on anything else would only get her killed. Someday, when this was all over, she was going to enjoy killing that boss of hers.