Beneath the Underbite

A Witty Werewolf

Luckily, I had met a surgeon at the local ER named Dr. Maya Thorne, who quickly became my best friend. Maya was a werewolf, and let me tell you, she was everything I wasn't in my personal life: charismatic, outgoing, and utterly comfortable in her own skin. Like most werewolves, she embraced all things natural, which often meant a very open approach to sexuality and being comfortable with nudity during shifts.

She wouldn't let me go more than two or three days without dragging me to the bar of a popular nightclub owned by a fairy in town. Sometimes we'd vent about difficult medical cases, but mostly I'd listen as Maya told me about whatever gossip she could get her ears into.

That Friday night, the air in Hazel's club was a vibrant hum of magic and music. The fairy lights woven through the ceiling flickered, casting a soft glow on the diverse crowd.

A dryad laughed a rich, woody sound near the dance floor, and the low thrum of a vampire’s bass line vibrated through the floorboards.

Maya and I had claimed our usual corner seats at the bar, our backs to the wall, offering us a good view of the controlled chaos. My martini, icy and crisp, was condensation-wet in my hand. Maya, always a fan of anything with a kick, was nursing a bright blue concoction that smelled vaguely of electrified berries.

"Seriously, Lena," Maya said, nudging my elbow playfully with hers, "you need to get out more. And by 'out,' I mean 'out' of that perfectly sterile office of yours. You're going to turn into a fossilized tooth if you keep this up."

I took a slow sip of my martini, letting the gin burn pleasantly on my tongue. "I am out, Maya. I'm here, aren't I? With you. At a very lively establishment." I gestured vaguely with my glass towards a group of gnomes attempting to limbo under a very low-hanging enchanted vine.

Maya snorted, a very un-werewolf-like sound, but it made me smile.

"You know what I mean. You're practically married to your scaler. When was the last time you went on an actual, honest-to-god date?"

Her bright, mischievous eyes twinkled at me. "Come on, live a little! Most humans who move to Summerset these days are practically lining up for the dating scene. There's so much variety, you know?"

I sighed, swirling the olive in my glass.

She wasn't wrong.

The sheer diversity of species that had openly integrated into Summerset had turned the town into a melting pot of cultures, and yes, romances. For some, it was a grand adventure. For me... well, it had been an interesting study.

"I have tried," I admitted, my voice dropping a little. "You know I have. It's just... complicated."

Maya leaned closer, her expression softening. "Complicated how? I thought that Argonian guy was pretty into you, and you were into him for a while too."

My face warmed. "He was. I was. Rith'an. He was charming, intelligent, and our connection was surprisingly strong, actually. He had a really fascinating perspective on ancient water magic."

"So, what happened?" Maya prompted, always ready for the 'tea,' as she called it. “You never told me.”

I hesitated, then took another gulp of my drink. "It started with... during our first time being intimate."

Maya's eyebrows shot up.

"Ooh, tell me everything!" she whispered, her eyes alight with curiosity.

"Well," I began, a faint flush creeping up my neck, "I was genuinely surprised to discover he had hemipenes—two p*****s. I mean, I'd read about it in my zoology texts, of course, for reptiles, but seeing it in person... it was just new. And he didn’t even warn me!"

I mumbled the last part, still a little miffed about the lack of forewarning.

"It wasn't a deal-breaker on its own, just... very unexpected.”

Maya let out a bark of laughter, drawing a few curious glances from a table of goblins nearby. "Two! You lucky duck! See, this is what I'm talking about, Lena. New experiences!"

"It wasn't quite like that," I insisted, though a small smile played on my lips.

"The real issue came later. He passionately desired a very large family. It's a core part of his species' culture, their lineage, the way they build their communities. They have huge clutches of eggs, you know?"

I shivered slightly, remembering the endless conversations about hatchlings and communal nurseries.

"And due to our vast genetic differences, I simply couldn't provide that for him. We had a long, very mature discussion about it, but ultimately, it was a fundamental incompatibility."

A shadow crossed Maya's face. "Oh, Lena. I'm so sorry. That's rough."

"It was," I agreed, tracing the rim of my glass.

"It left me with... a subtle sense of inadequacy, I suppose. A quiet reservation about the complexities of inter-species procreation. It just made me even more cautious about diving into the supernatural dating pool again."

I paused, then finished with a shrug.

"So I retreated further into my work. At least there, the complexities are predictable, and my contributions are always clear and appreciated."

"Nonsense!" a cheerful voice boomed from behind the bar. It was Hazel, the fairy owner, fluttering over to us on iridescent wings, two shot glasses clinking lightly in her hands. She had a mischievous glint in her eyes, perfectly complementing her perpetually sparkling dress.

"No retreating from life, my dear Lena! Here," she said, sliding the shots towards us.

"On the house! A little pick-me-up for two of my favorite regulars."

"Thanks, Hazel!" Maya chirped, already grabbing hers. "You're a lifesaver."

Hazel winked, then leaned in, her voice dropping to a theatrical whisper, though probably loud enough for half the bar to hear. "And speaking of lifesavers, Maya, did you hear about the two gorgons from the East Side? Apparently, they tried to get into a staring contest with each other last night... ended up turning their entire apartment building into a rock garden!"

She burst into a fit of tinkling laughter, looking to Maya for shared amusement.

Maya dissolved into giggles, her shoulders shaking. "No way!"

As Hazel and Maya dissolved into their usual exchange of Summerset's latest gossip – a never-ending stream of amusing, sometimes scandalous, tales about supernatural antics – I took my shot. The potent liquid burned, then warmed me from the inside out.

It was nice, I thought, to have a friend like Maya, who pushed me but also understood, and a place like Hazel's, where I could simply be, surrounded by the chaotic, beautiful new normal of Summerset.

Even if my personal life felt a little like a vacant lot, my professional one was thriving, and that was enough. For now.