The Monster Within Me

Chapter 2

Quinn

She was the most beautiful and perplexing girl he'd ever seen. When he'd almost run her over he had been angry because she obviously hadn't been paying attention to where she was going and he'd just gotten the car detailed the day before. But when he'd stepped out of the car and the breeze had brought his scent to her, he was entranced. She smelled like chocolate and honey as well as something spicy like cinnamon or nutmeg. She was also hands down the most confident girl he'd met since coming to this town and she was the first person to speak to him with such open hostility.  He was having a hard time keeping a neutral expression while admiring her.

He'd felt the thrum of a strange power accompany the familiar magic of a werewolf come to life inside her when she became angry. It was a completely foreign feeling, it stroked through him and felt like it was constricting his veins in delicious ecstasy. He almost came in his pants when he saw the expression she gave him when he removed his sunglasses. It seemed she'd melted in front of him. Normally, it wouldn't matter what he said next, the girl would always become mush in front of him and very nearly physically thrown themselves at him. Yet she fought the feeling to the extent of becoming angry? Huh, that was new. Did she just compare him to a cartoon?

"I don't appreciate name-calling. Count yourself lucky I stopped or you would have found yourself splattered across the street. You should get to school before your mouth gets you into more trouble." He responded while dropping his eyes to her full lips. She was absolutely perfect. Tall, fit and thick in all the right places, he was struck by how lithe and graceful her movements were, even angry she was beautiful. Her green eyes were like a forest in the summer or the purest jade. And her mouth, her mouth was one that he could imagine wrapped around tightly around his d**k. Tightly pursed as he watched himself disappear inch by inch into her tight little mouth. s**t. He needed to get f****d. And soon, because his wolf was a growling mess of arousal and he was having a hard time focusing as a result. He could tell she'd thought about him when he did that, saw the heat appear and vanish ever so quickly. That was what had shocked him, had cracked his act so slightly and he'd asked for her name.

Her power had vanished once her nerves begun to show. Her reply return stuttering, ""M-my n-n-name is Ma-," and she cut herself off. A hardness returning to her eyes as she startles him yet again. This time for denying him what he's asking, "You know what? I don't owe you a damn thing," she said while walking away. "Next time no speeding in a school zone asshole." Then she was gone. He'd never been so thoroughly dismissed in his life and was frozen in shock. He was enraged to be spoken to in such a manner and his wolf was losing his mind watching her walk off. Huh, he must be just as angry and yet, there was also amusement. He'd have fun getting her, learning about her and what could make her moan his name while she writhes beneath him. He also wanted to know what that power was, he'd have to ask a pack elder what their take was on what he felt.

He was still staring after her when she turned and looked at him again from the top of the hill. Her hairs were blowing in the slight breeze and her scent traveled down to him. So sweet and sultry it made his d**k twitch just thinking about all the fun he'd have unraveling how she withstood his charms. When she finally disappeared at the top of the hill, he shook himself out and got back into his car. There was a reason he'd come to this town and he needed to get it done in order to get back to his pack in Oregon. He didn't mind the mission his alpha had sent him on, he just wished it wasn't to a place that could roast him alive where he stands.

He needed to get going if he was going to make the meeting with the leader of the Moon Pack, Alpha Fen. They'd had some weird occurrences within the pack. A few of the warriors a couple of girls had gone missing without a trace, and as an enforcer in the Goddess of the Moon Pack, the largest and leading pack in the US, our alpha pair were the reigning mates in America and delegated and handled all issues that couldn't be handled by the smaller packs. They ensured peace and officiated all legal werewolf affairs. Quinn wasn't at the top of the food chain, but he was part of his alpha's personal enforcer squad consisting of only 10 enforcers. He was rather proud of himself and his squad and was glad the alpha had given him a place in his circle. 

As he pulled up onto Moon Pack territory, he was met with Fen's beta, the second in command after his mate.

"Thank you so much for coming. We were getting so worried after the second warrior disappeared with one of our pack healers. We're so relieved that Alpha Rhys could send help so quickly."

"I'm gonna do my very best to help you guys figure out what's going on. Let's go sit down with Fen so you guys can get me up to date with everything you guys know. What's your name?"

"Sorry, where are my manners. My name is Franky, the pack's Beta."

"Nice to meet you, Franky," he said while shaking his hand.

Franky led Quinn into the Packhouse, nothing too extravagant but it had a very homey feel to it. The entryway opened up to a  nice imperial staircase leading to the upper level. On the right, was a dining room, most likely reserved for special dinner events and to the left of the staircase was a lounge full of couches where a few wolves were currently hanging out. They turned to speculate him as Franky led Quinn between the two staircases.

When they arrived at Alpha Fen's office, Franky knocked before opening the door.

"Alpha," Franky said while bowing slightly, "This is Quinn. The help that Alpha Rhys has sent to us to aid in figuring out the disappearances of our packmates."

"Alpha Fen, it is an honour to meet you. I only wish it could have been under more positive circumstances," he said while bowing slightly lower than the beta to show his respect.

"Thank you for the introduction Franky, and thank you and Alpha Rhys for answering our call so swiftly. We are hoping that with your help we can get to the bottom of the disappearances before we lose someone else." Alpha Fen said while rising and crossing the room to shake Quinn's hand and to lay a hand on his beta's shoulder. "Please, have a seat and we'll begin filling you in on what's been going on."

Ten minutes later, after telling Quinn everything they know, he finally begins to speak, "Since the curfew has been in action, have any of the wolves either outwardly protested it and defied it?"

A look passed between the alpha and beta before the alpha responds, "Yes, some of the younger wolves who enjoyed going out on the weekends have expressed their dislike for this new curfew. A few of them did, in fact, slip out on Friday to attend a high school party with some of the humans in the area. One of them- one of them didn't return when a few enforcers went to retrieve them." He said in solemn voice while hanging his head.

"I'm very sorry to hear that, did either of you know them personally?" They nod their heads as Franky responds, "He was my nephew. Only 18 and training to be a pack enforcer once he went through the rite." His eyes becoming glassy as he thinks of the boy.

"I would personally train him and some of the other aspiring enforcers a few times a week when I had an hour or two to spare. They all had promise, but Jace had been one of the ones I knew would get through the rite and excel at it. He'd only gone with the group to try to keep them safe in case anything happened. Now he's gone because of it." The alpha said, his rising anger coming out in waves that would have made a submissive wolf want to run out of the room as fast as they could with their tail between their legs. In a room full of dominants, however, it would spread like wildfire, causing all of the wolves to share the alphas emotions.

Quinn took a deep breath to get his emotions in check before responding, "I'd like to see the areas where the pack members disappeared if the area is known and meet with the families if they're willing of course."

Alpha Fen nodded, "We'll go to the sites we've been able to identify, in the meantime I'll have the head healer contact the families and ask if they're willing to meet with you."

"Please also allow them to choose wherever they are more comfortable, I don't mind going from home to home if they are most comfortable there or if they would like to meet in the Pack House."

"Of course, I'll pass along the message. Thank you for being so considerate Quinn, it will mean a lot to them."

"I'm here for them Alpha, I'll do whatever I can to assist your pack in finding your missing members."

After the long process of meeting with the families and visiting all the confirmed sites of disappearance for some of the missing, Quinn was in need of something greasy to eat so he stopped at a diner close to the town's downtown. Alpha Fen had offered him food and a bed within the pack territory during his stay, but he politely declined. Staying with the packs he worked with normally came with a level of attachment on his part and made leaving that much harder. He didn't know if he could even help them at this point. He was no closer to figuring anything out than he was that morning.

As he sat at a booth in the diner browsing the menu, he smelled her first and then he saw her approach his booth wearing the uniform shirt and her shorts. When she saw who was sitting at the booth, her smile slipped a bit and her pace slowed. It only lasted for a moment before she seemed to compose herself and come the rest of the way to the booth. 

"Welcome to Ricky's, my name is Maya and I'll be your server today. Can I start you off with something to drink?" She was tapping her foot, showcasing unconsciously just how nervous she was. Quinn smiled his most dazzling smile as he replied, "Maya," he caressed her name on his lips, "that suits you very well. A beautiful name for an even beautiful woman. To start I'll have a tall glass of water," he said while he let his eyes roam her long legs, "and if you're on the menu, I'll take you twice." He said with a wink for good measure.

He could see her breath become heavier when he was finished speaking. He could also smell her arousal and he was close to taking her right here on the table. He was enjoying watching her try to compose herself while writing down his water. "O-okay, water, um have you decided what you'd like to eat? From the menu," she added the last part in the hopes that he would drop the subject. Not a chance. "I'm still deciding which part of you I want first. Your lips, that delicious neck, your wonderful legs. Can I have you here or do I need to wait until I can get you somewhere more private?"

She practically collapsed into the seat across from me, her breathing heavy. She took a few moments before replying, an ice to her tone and eyes, "Look, I bet that s**t works for you with other women but it won't work with me alright? I don't even f*****g know you. So please just pick your meal and let me get it for you so I can get out of here." Her ability to push all her emotions and feelings aside and regain her composure was more than admirable. Her slight anger also brought back the feeling of that mysterious power. She didn't even seem to know she was consciously doing it. What was she? Another task he'd have to take up while he was here. Did she even know she was a wolf? Probably not if she hadn't already stated that she knew what he was. 

"I'll have the bacon cheeseburger with all the fixings and a large fry on the side. I'll also refrain from ordering dessert after I'm done if you'll let me drive you home after your shift," he said while leaning back in his seat. Watching her closely for her reaction, she simply wrote down his order and stood, returning to the kitchen to place his order and bring his water. When she came back and placed his water on the table, her shirt sleeve lifted a bit revealing the beginnings of a tattoo. He grabbed her arm and push the sleeve to expose the rest of the tattoo, the details of a wolf spanning from her wrist almost to her elbow. She snatched her hand back and yanked her sleeve down. "Hands to yourself asshole or I'll decline the ride," she said and then turned around and returned to the back. When she brought his food out 10 minutes later she disappeared before he could even say anything.

When he was close to finishing his meal he saw her emerge, no longer in uniform and with her backpack ready to go home. She brought the bill out to him and he paid it and stood. "After you m'lady," he said while holding the door for her. She rolled her eyes and walked through the door while he chuckled. When they finally made it to the car, he asked her to put in her address in the GPS before they left. She didn't exactly put in an address, only cross streets. Smart girl, can't give your address to a stranger of course. After a couple of moments of silence, Quinn decided to strike up a conversation, "So what's the meaning behind the wolf tattoo? It's very well done." He looked at her from the corner of his eye and saw her clutch the arm with the tattoo.

"It's a picture I drew of the wolf I see in my head sometimes. She's beautiful and sometimes gives me almost human expressions depending on the situation. Sometimes the picture is super clear and sometimes it's fuzzy. I don't know, I feel super attached to her. Like sometimes," she has a faraway look as she speaks about her wolf," sometimes it's like I can feel what she feels and like she knows what I'm thinking. Like she's part of me. That's why-," he could literally see the guards go up as she cuts herself off, "sorry, I got carried away, you don't need to hear my sob story about an imaginary wolf."

"On the contrary, I was quite enjoying it. I can see it's very special to you and there's no shame in that. I don't find it weird either considering I know precisely what you're talking about." He could see the shock pass over her features. She didn't believe him, he could tell by the look of anger that followed her surprise. Werewolves were not a secret anymore, not after they had decided to become public in the last 35 years. 

The transition had been smooth except for the bigots that thought that werewolves were gonna eat them and their children in their sleep. Due to the fact that werewolves were the most numerous species of Weres, it was normally wolves that were atop the hierarchy. However, Alpha Rhys had done a very good job of having a more inclusive council in the last 15 years in order for many if not all species had a voice on his panel. Just because they were public though, didn't automatically mean that everyone loved them. Not many people cared nowadays, the human and were communities overlapped for commercial reasons only. Humans lived with humans and Weres lived amongst themselves. Unless they were unaware they were of Were decent that it.

"There's no need to poke fun at me, it's not like I have an imaginary friend or something," Maya said, offended by his statement.

Quinn laughed as he responded, "I only said that because I have a wolf too, except, I know why I see a wolf. I'm a werewolf and I'm guessing you are too from the lovely image you've painted of your relationship with your wolf."

The shock returned and this time, it came with fear, "A-a w-w-werewolf? You're a werewolf?" Quinn simply nodded. "I'm not a werewolf, I'm sure I would know if I was." She said crossing her arms, she was trying to convince herself more than him.

"Not necessarily true. A wolf won't display any Were traits if they haven't been around other wolves at the time they're supposed to experience their first shift. I'm guessing you only live with humans which would explain your confusion. You're adopted aren't you?"

Her jaw basically hit the floor with that. We had been stopped at the cross streets she had entered for a few minutes while she processed this information. When she seemed to have gained enough composure to respond, she said, "I'm not a werewolf. I'm human. I've always been human," she turned to me with anger in her eyes as she continued, the power within her building, "this is the last time you'll see me wolfman, don't look for me again. I'm done with this shit." And with that, she got out of the car, turned and ran down the street.