Tarnished Gold

Chapter One

NOTE: Okay so perhaps it has been a hot minute since I worked on this story. But I am going to try updating more frequently. That said though, I AM working on a number of stories and so I am not going to have a set schedule. I will do my best to do once every two or so weeks, maybe more if possible. So many ideas... so little time... I also do art, as well as coding. So... I am a busy woman lmfao.

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"Del..." the voice was mixed, a cocktail of pity and disappointment, hand firmly placed on Delilahs elbow. Marks soulful blue eyes beseeching her to stop. Talk. Listen. It had been a while since she had last seen her friend. Not since the funeral. The few people that had been in her life had been cut out. He had tried helping, as had Jennifer.

 But help was not what she had wanted. It was vengeance. She had learned her friends had been the same as the monster that had attacked her that night. That had torn the thing that mattered most to her into pieces. Knowing what that Delilah had been attacked by a werewolf - both the Lupine's had tried to get her to talk to them so they might prepare her. Best they had been able to do was get her to accept a stranger - a friend of theirs - to teach her of what to expect.

  It had been over two years since she last saw Mark. The life that she had been working so hard to build had since crumbled, it couldn't even be called a skeleton of what it was before. She no longer had that nice place. She no longer had that stable job. She no longer was working for that career and no longer was going to school to give herself a bright future.

 Without Lily she had lost her reason to truly live. She had survived the abuse and instability of her family home, she had survived her sister taking her own life, but losing her daughter... That was what just to much. She had used her curse to try finding vengeance but aside from getting a few leads, all had lead to nothing and the path had grown  cold. Never would Delilah be able to forget what that wolf looked like. Finding that mother fucker and ripping him to shreds was the only reason she bothered keeping alive. Until then... She'd numbed herself. Drugs. Alcohol. It took a lot to effect her now that she had a wolf in her...

 Dealing with old friends wasn't on her list of things to do. Glazed eyes hardened as they settled upon the hand on her elbow, gritting her teeth, a coldness was in her tone - as if something truly had died in her, "don't f*****g touch me Mark. Go home to Jennifer and leave me the f**k alone."

 Hurt was on his face. But so was determination. And that served to irritate Delilah. "What are you on?" Being a born werewolf, he could smell the fact she'd taken something. But Delilah would not, and could not care if it hurt her friends to know how far she had fallen. Unlike her friends, Delilah had not join any pack. She was rogue. Made it all the easier to avoid Mark and his wife.

 "Don't worry about it Marky. Now how bout you keep your claws to yourself and let me carry on. I'm don't need liars in my life," it was a low blow. Understanding why they had never told her. Knew it was against wolf laws.

 Marks jaw flexed as frustration pinched his brow, but instead of snapping at her his voice was soft again - pained - "Tommy and Sammy miss you..."

 As much as Delilah would have loved to give a sneer - to give no reaction would have been an even better option. But it was agony that crossed her face. Devastation. Thinking of the cute little blonde children bouncing about the Lupine home... And it forced memories of her little Lily with them. The raw look she gave Mark made him wince. He hadn't been trying to hurt her. Just trying to remind her there where people that loved her, wanted to see her...

 It was a moment later before she gathered herself - face going blank, "and you should go home to them. Now leave me alone, mutt."

 Secret it was not that Delilah hated werewolves. That she hated what she had become. And perhaps it was unfair to act like she hated her former friend. His hand dropped. Sighing, "you can come stay with us. Life isn't over little one. Let us help you..."

 No matter how much she pushed, how she barked... Some people refused to give up. Even after years of not seeing her. A bitter laugh as she shook her head, "aren't you listening to me? I want not a single goddamn thing to do with you, or your family. Leave. Me. The. f**k. Alone."

 She wanted him to get mad, to hate her, to just leave. "Delilah..."

"Goodbye Mark." There was a hardness to her tone as she turned and walked towards the club, smiling at the brute standing at the door, "don't let that fucker follow me in, Davie."

 Not bothering to look back to see if Mark was trying to follow her. The bouncer knew her, as did a number of the more shady people that came around. The club was one that was dominated by wolves. She might not like other werewolves. But she needed them in her hunt. It didn't help she'd found some work to keep funded in the... less than reputable work that could be found in the dark corners of Lunar Eclipse.

 Pack wolves and rogues alike frequented the neutral grounds. All ranks. Delilah would have never thought before that night, she'd kill anyone. But she had. Hunted down other wolves and ended them. A bounty hunter of sorts. It would seem that despite being female, and being bitten, she had a very strong wolf. At least the curse had its uses.

 Usually the club caused her nose to curl up with disgust. At times she did wish there was a way to turn off some of her senses. The scent of beer, sweat, and s*x was not a good one. Breathing predominantly through her mouth always helped. She could get hooked up with some new pills, have a drink (or multiple), talk to her 'boss', and maybe check in for more information... Not necessarily in that order.

  Growling at anyone who seemed to look to look at her to long. Deciding that drink actually sounded good. While most dressed rather nicely in the club - Del was in worn jeans, combat boots, an old Prince tee. All finished with a black leather jacket. Her course, curly red hair cascaded down her back in a lazy braid.

 Showing off her body wasn't a thing she ever was concerned about. Delilah was aware she was considered attractive. But since the attack she was left rather - brutally scarred. Once the clothes came off - it made most hesitate. Mostly out of shock. Those scares did not paint a pretty picture.  She looked like a grizzly had gotten her in their claws.

 It was one reason she tended to f**k the same people. Though she never gave any illusion it would ever be more. It was just easier not to have to try getting new people to shut the f**k up about the scars and get to s*x. As a werewolf she'd found her libido had become... demanding. At least she couldn't get pregnant again. She could only get knocked up if she found her mate. A laughable idea that she would.

 "Hey Fang!" the tattooed bartender looked over at her, lip twitching into a grin.

"Well well. Looks like troubles here," to be  fair - for being so small... Delilah had started - and finished - a number of fights in the club.

"With a capital T," nodding, "get me some rum - on the bosses tab." She flashed a smile that didn't reach her eyes. It wasn't the first time she'd done such a thing. And they both knew it wouldn't be the last. Her boss, Victor Kohlev, owned the place. Being one of his top little attack dog - she drank free.

 A chuckle left the burly beast behind the bar, sliding a glass and bottle, "try not to f**k up anyone's face tonight. Vicky boy is in a sour mood."

 She scrunched her nose, "fantastic." Thinking maybe she perhaps, could wait till tomorrow to seek out the boss. There was no desire to pretend to have some form of self respect, she filled the glass with rum. Taking a moment to pull a vile out of her leather jacket, dropping a few drips of the liquid in it... and brought it to her lips. She loved a good spiced rum. And if she was going to drink, she'd need to do a lot of it to get any effects. As a human she had been a heavy weight. As a werewolf... Getting a buzz was a f*****g workout. That was what the little extra addition was for.

 Fang shook his head. For someone working at a bar - she'd never seen the guy drink. But she knew as a werewolf he was aware of her little additive. That it was wolfsbane. A little didn't kill. But it was enough to effect her wolf enough to get that buzz a little easier.

 At least the bartender knew to not try making small talk. He disapproved, it was clear. But he minded his own f*****g business. Delilah was thankful for that. Over the usual scents about the bar though... something new tickled her nose. It had the effect of making her heart stop. For some reason - it made Delilah think of her daughter. The scent was hard to place. It wasn't something one could give a name to. It just... was. Her body tensed, heart feeling like claws reached into her chest and gripped her heart. Breath stopping.

 Almost like she feared taking another breath.

 The glass was set roughly on the bartop. If she'd had it in her hands any longer, Delilah would likely have crushed it in her fist. Fang frowned, giving her a strange look. The look of shock, of being shook by something... it wasn't what anyone was used to seeing. It was either blank, or more like a shark. But now she looked more like a scared doe.

 Delilah was always aware of those around her. But she flinched as a hand gently ran around her waist. Her body felt like it was set ablaze, nostrils flaring, invading her with more of that scent. That beautiful smell she'd never think she'd ever get so strongly again. So alive. It was very much not her daughter. She knew that. The hand was large, and the face that slid and burrowed into her neck and inhaled was clearly male. The wiry hairs  of a short beard caused her to shiver.

 The wolf in her growled possessively, "mate..." the smokey tone caused the male to tighten his grip on her, pulling her into him.

 His own husky timber responded, "mate," he agreed.

 Confusion on Fangs face melted to pure amusement.

 The stranger behind Delilah moved to guide her, he wanted to see her. Eyes glowing with his wolf clearly in control. Just as hers now glowed with the pale white blue hue that always signified Winter being in control. Dazed as neither took time to really look at each other before the taller wolf dragged her into a hungry kiss.

 Immediately the small redhead melted into the kiss. Devouring the passion. Her wolf wanting to feel her mate, to touch him, taste him. The wolf wanted to mark what was hers. A possessive rumble leaving her throat. Until finally Delilah seemed to come to her senses, fighting her wolf and pushing the man back. "Mother fucker," she growled. A mate was not in her cards. She didn't want one. Mates tended to want the happy family. She was to angry at the world to be happy again.

 She didn't want a family... She had a family. But it was slaughtered by one of their kind. Delilah didn't sound as sure as sure and set as was planned, "nope. Not happening. I don't need a mate. I don't want one."

 Delilah wasn't sure she could have said that if she'd taken the time to look at him. Instead she grit her teeth looking into the crowed to her right. Fists at her side. The last thing she expected to hear was a shocked, "Delilah?"

 The womans head snapped. Never could she have anticipated her finding her mate - or that she might know the man. He was much changed from the last time that they had seen each other. Fair considering that she'd been seventeen and he'd been eighteen. Of anyone in the world - it was him alone that could have made her heart shred. Though he looked at her with adoration, even if there was also shock.

"Teddy?" his name was nearly a whisper, rather what she'd grown up calling Theodore. She needed to get out of here. The turned wolf wanted to run. But her wolf while not in control, fought her hard enough that she herself was incapable of turning on her heels and running. He looked so good. Those hazel eyes felt like a stab to the gut. Her daughter had been the spitting image of her... But she'd had his eyes. Those hazel eyes.

 Confusion seemed to crease his brow as he noticed the pain in her expression, not understanding why seeing him was causing her such distress. She'd started shaking her head, "how are you..." a wolf. She understood. She knew he'd have smelled her as a werewolf at puberty. Even if he saw her before she'd have gained her first shift. After all. She had been human.

 So many emotions played over her face. He didn't know that he had a daughter. Had. That she'd been murdered by one of his kind... well. Their kind now. She had grown up with him, thought he was her friend. Fallen in love with him. Ended up having a one night stand and then he'd f*****g ghosted... But he'd given her Lily. He never got to know her, and he would never have the chance to. But it wasn't that she was angry about as she started to realize something. Her voice was shaking with anger through gritted teeth, "are you born?"

 That frown deepened on his handsome face as he moved closer, to brush her cheek, "yes... does that really matter?" uncertain was his tone. After all - usually it would be a born who would be hesitant at having a bitten or human mate. He was aware she'd been bitten at some point. But the anger - he didn't get it. Didn't know Delilah was thinking that perhaps they had been attacked - that her daughter had been the focus... was because that wolf... smelled wolf on her daughter... Lily could have been a were... Rage spiked further towards Mark and Jennifer. Because if she asked now and they told her...

 She stepped back, butt hitting the stool she'd been on before Theo had pulled her off and into him. Holding up her hand and lifting a finger. Why in that moment she needed to know, a phone was pulled from her pants. Angrily dialing a number she hadn't called in a long time.

 A hopeful "Del?" was on the other end.

 Her voice was nearly inhuman with the undertone of wolf, "was she one of you?"

 It was a stunned silence on the other end.

 Pain entered her voice, "tell me for f**k sake! I deserve to know!"

  Winter felt the rage. While she didn't exist before the attack... she felt the loss of her pup as deeply as her human part. After all. They had been one. She wanted her mate. But she also wanted answers... Both had been about to yell into the phone again before a weak, "yes," could be heard. The phone crunched in her hand. Drawing a curse from Delilah's lips. If Mark had anything else to say, she wouldn't hear it now.

 But she found she didn't care to hear it anyways.

 A gentle hand brushed against her cheek, sliding through her hair and resting on the back of her head. Concern was in those hazel eyes she found herself loving and hating... And tried to resent the calm that started to work into her bones at the touch. "I never was able to stop thinking of you," he confessed with a smile teasing the corners of his lips.

 Her wolf wanted to melt into his touch. To let his calming touch sooth her. To let him make her feel good... But his words seemed to hit her human side wrong, as her face hardened again, "funny. I stopped thinking of you after you f****d me and then disappeared."

 Perhaps it was regret that flitted over his features. Opening his mouth to say something when another voice barked, "Rourke! Office. Now." Had it been earlier - before Theodore came around she'd have groaned and complained at having to deal with a grumpy Victor. Now it was a saving grace.

 For the second time of the day someone gripped her arm. Delilah growled, "let me go."

 His hand dropped, "I'll wait."

 She snorted, "please don't."

 Too bad she didn't fully mean it.