The Broken WereQUEEN

Chapter 4 Job Offer

I walked briskly back out of town. Humans gave me goosebumps and every time a man stared at me I felt the hairs on my neck stiffen. Disgusting humans, walking and living in their own filth on the outside and as filthy on the inside.

I walked a long time through the forest. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't followed. I wasn't going to let them get any ideas or wonder why there were cat tracks right after mine disappeared. The werewolves always did that and it's why they kept getting caught.

   "Amateurs"

Truth be told I wish I could just stay in my cat form all the time but if there was a year of scarce food in the wild, the humans always managed to find some in exchange for coin. I also grudgingly liked luxury like the comfort of a cottage with a roof and pelts to stay cozy. It beats living in a burrow or a cold stone cave.

After reaching the edge of my territory I bundled my clothing up and tied it with a string. The cold air nipping at my skin. I shifted into my mountain lion form.

The shifting always started with a tingling sensation at the ends of my fingers and toes. The tingling would spread inward till my head felt light and a cool sensation made my body feel like a pool of water being remodeled. 21 years and I still found it as thrilling to shift as the first time.

Being back in my cat form I took the string with the clothes in my mouth and headed in. I put my clothes near my burrow and went off to patrol my territory. I also used it as an excuse to shake the human smells from my nose and fill my ears with the sound of the wild.

   "Home....better"

The next day I walked back into town in the evening and headed directly to the saloon. I waved the manager down.

"Hold on"

As I waited, a patron came to stand very close to me, leaning on the counter with one elbow while squarely looking down at me.

"Hello puppet, so you're the new and shiny toy Chad got eh?"

"Excuse me?" I asked appalled

"Chad" he pointed at the manager "he just hire you? The boys spoke about you last night and I just had to meet you. I always like to take first dibs at the new girls, I don't like being second to anyone."

A shiver went up my arms with revolt. He was disgusting, his body was soft and round and his eyes made my cat uncomfortable. The eyes were of pure greed looking at me with no self-control, and so possessively. This man could not repulse me more.

"I am here to speak to Chad about a possible job as a maid or nanny. I do not work here and I am not a first or second dibs to any man"

"O come on puppet, don't be such a prude, all the girls start out like you but eventually they all calm down, you just need a little more experience"

He leaned in closer to say those words and as he finished he placed his hand on my waist. My cat had had enough of this man.

   "Won't....hold back"

I grabbed his fingers from the hand touching me and twisted, hard. From my grip alone I could have broken them but I practiced self-restraint somehow. Instead, I used my leverage to keep him in close and whisper back.

"Touch me again and it's the last time your fingers touch anything"

"Ooooo that hurts puppet. Let go now"

He spoke very loudly and almost everyone in the bar heard and looked over. I let him go and acted like an embarrassed girl.

"O my, did that hurt, I didn't mean to be so rough, but you're ok right big man?"

I figured the aftermath of breaking fingers might be too much of a bother but hitting a human male in his ego was almost as satisfying.

   "You're a wild one, I like 'em like that. More fun to break" he said as he rubbed his injured hand.

I whispered so only he would hear and I traced my finger with a now very sharp claw under his chin.

   "I'm as tame as I'll ever be big man"

I cut him just a little under the chin to make my point.

   "Oww, what the hell b***h"

I made my most innocent face and brought my arms up looking like I had no idea what he meant.

The manager walk over briskly and waved a working girl over to help his patron get comfy on a couch nearby with her in his lap. Both men leered at me but the manager wasted no time in telling me I was in the wrong.

"I will not tolerate that kind of behavior in my bar missy, you will behave! You hear me"

"Of course, sorry for the inconvenience"

  "You better be, young lady. I'm deducting a coin from your earnings once you have any"

   "What, why?"

I asked undignified

   "For disrupting the peace. I told you to be nice to the patrons last time you were here and you didn't listen. Next time it'll be more than a coin"

   "So I have a job then?"

"A yes, I run all the girls so of course I found you something. You better be on your best behavior when you go over there or I promise you that'll you'll regret it. You hear me?"

   "Yes yes, all good, so when can I be expected to meet the family and discuss my employment?"

The manager looked at me with desperation.

"You will not meet them anytime soon. You're the help, I hire you, you do the work and if they are pleased, they will pay me and you'll get your cut"

I didn't believe I could be outraged any further yet here I was, being proven wrong. He was one of those personal procurers I'd heard about! He'd be taking a cut of my earnings and he would only pay me what he wanted!!!! O the steam was building within me, the rage at being treated as less than was about to be unleashed.

Now I understood why the werewolves were often caught in action. How could anyone live among the humans and not want to kill one?

I tightened the lid on my anger and remained collected somehow.

"Fine, where do I go and who do I talk to?"

"Walk parallel to the train tracks to the east end of town and just on the outskirts you'll see a field of crops, the house is in the middle. Knock on the servant's door at the back and speak to the head of staff, Mr. Adams, he's expecting you shortly. Come through here at sunrise for roll call before you head off to work."

I simply nodded and headed off, I just needed a few coins to buy some supplies in town to build my house and save a little in case of a slow hunting season. I wouldn't need to work for long depending on how much the manager gave me. I just had to stay calm for a little while. Once my house was build and I had set up a nice little nest I'd start looking to mate and be done with humans.

As I was leaving I noticed the frisky patron still had his eyes on me. My cat couldn't help herself but scowl at him.

   "Loser"

   "Be seeing you puppet" he said as I left.