Wolf Spirit Awaken, The Summoner Series

Chapter 11

Chapter 11: POV Jackson

I have been staring at the alcohol inventory list for the past five minutes. I pinch the bridge of my nose. I hate taking inventory but that's the life of a bar owner. What’s next here? I ran my pen down the checklist, Tequila, mhmmm five bottles. That should take us into next month. It isn’t tourist season yet in Maine, but even then we are never slammed. The visitors have increased ever since I added a large screen TV that plays sports and the pool tables have significantly helped attract new customers. That was a good investment.

I write down the last of the inventory and place my clipboard back on the small wooden desk that serves as my office and storage room. I looked at my watch and saw it was only 4:45pm. Let me go check on Ron and make sure he has everything stocked for the regulars who swing in here after work. It is a Friday night after all, so we should be busier than the workweek. I opened the office door and proceeded to close it behind me. I scanned the room to see if we had any patrons yet. So it happens there are a few familiar faces. Billy, the local handyman, must be off work today. I gave him a quick wave. Then there is Jack at the barstool closest to the pool tables. He doesn't even spare me a glance, looks like he is still drinking his sorrows away about his break up from Denise. I’ll let him be and drink his feelings tonight.

Then my eyes spotted this brunette also at the bar. She looked fit and great from behind. I stick my nose in the air but not too high to draw anyone's attention. I take a deep breath but don’t pick up on any scents. That's odd. She doesn’t smell much like anything, which is even more weird. She appeared to be human. I have never seen her here before or around in the town. I have been so busy with keeping the bar a float and juggling life just by myself, that I haven’t even had time for a woman or even a relationship.

I moved here a few years ago from Florida after my mother passed away. She was a rogue and not part of a pack. I didn’t find out until I was a teenager that she had an affair with the Alpha of her pack. She was banished by the Luna when they discovered that she was pregnant and didn’t believe her when she shared that it was the Alphas. She has lived on her own since she was 19 years old and pregnant with me. She raised me without her family since they disowned her over the whole incident. I have never even met any of my family, it has always just been my mom and I. Even though she was of Delta blood, there was a high chance I would have dominant Alpha traits from my father’s side. I was raised as a werewolf my whole life but we never interacted with any packs.

My mom fell sick when I was 20 years old. It was very unexpected and shocking, since werewolves don’t get sick like humans. I still don’t know what she had, but she passed rather quickly from the onset of her symptoms. It was very hard for me to cope, she was my only family and after hearing stories about my father and his pack I knew that I wasn’t going to go there. I might have strong dominant Alpha traits, but I wasn’t a match for a pureblood Alpha. After so many years of hiding, I wanted to get in touch with my wolf side more. I sold our house and took our savings to move to a remote part of Maine.

I wanted space and an area where I could live more freely like a werewolf and shift whenever I wanted. There were tons of forests here, so it wasn’t hard to shift without being seen. I job hopped a little bit until I found this rundown bar for sale and bought it. It had an upper loft area that I converted into an apartment for me, so it saved money by being my house and business. I invested my money in fixing up the place and it has been a more popular dive spot for the locals and has been catching tourist attention during the season. I wish my mom could see me now. I just need to do more advertising and offer more social-type events and I think it could be even more profitable. I know she is always with me, hence why I dedicated the bar in her name “Willow Inn”.

I shake out of my thoughts and decide to chat up this pretty thing here. I don’t have much else to do. Maybe I can talk her upstairs to my place. I stood behind the wooden barstool next to her on her right. I might be mistaken, but she looks a little tense now. I smile inwardly, this might be fun.

“Well, hello there, pretty lady. I haven’t seen you in here before,” I said with a boyish grin on my face. She looks at me and lets me know she is just visiting the area. When she turned to me, I got a better view of her face. Goddess, and I thought she looked great from behind. She has a very angelic looking face, with pink plump lips and dark blue eyes, her brown wavy hair frames her face but it is still long and looks silky smooth. I just want to reach out and touch her hair. Ughh what’s wrong with me? I don’t think I have ever been so drawn into a human before.

Should I say a funny pickup line like, Are you a care package? Because you must’ve fallen from heaven or I hope Angels know CPR because you took my breath away. I feel like I have been staring at her forever, I just might need CPR. Way to play it cool Jackson, your of Alpha blood, for Goddess sake, man up.

I plaster on a s**t eating grin before asking her, “What is a beautiful girl like yourself doing drinking alone at a bar?” She doesn’t seem to be keen on coughing up any details about herself. This might be a hard score but she seems to be quietly checking me out? Ohh, there might still be hope yet. I can’t help but smile again at her beauty.

“Are you the mayor of this town?” she asked. She is beautiful and funny. I can’t help but chuckle at her silliness.

“No, just the owner of this bar,” I said proudly, waving my hand around the room. I slightly puffed out my chest. It has been a huge accomplishment to be at where I am at only 23 years old.

“Really?” she says but can’t contain the surprise in her voice. I get this often. People always underestimate me because of my age.

“I’m Jackson, and you are?” I wait to see if she bites. I just want to know her name. I suddenly wonder if she has a lot of admirers. She must fight a lot of guys off with her looks.

“Tessa, and to answer your question, I am waiting on a few people.” I was confused for a second, I didn’t even know what question I had asked her before her name. Gosh, I feel like she has me under a spell. She doesn’t seem fazed at all.

I need a drink, “Ron, a beer, please.” I welcomed the distraction. Ron nods his head as he grabs me one of the local pale ale’s I like.

“Do you mind if I sit with you while you wait? You seem like an interesting person. We don’t get too many unfamiliar faces, if you know what I mean.” I guess I probably should have asked this awhile ago since I have just been standing here like a goof. I am a gentleman after all, with your typical dirty thoughts, but she doesn’t need to know the latter yet.

“Sure, it’s your bar, and it’s your seat.” She gestures her arm toward the seat in front of me. I inwardly frown. I usually don’t have to try this hard and she seems so unfazed by me. My werewolf charm and swagger usually does wonders for the ladies.

“Right,” I responded. I pass a hand through my hair nervously and pull out the bar stool next to her. I sit on it with my legs apart and angle myself so I am almost touching her body. Maybe my proximity will get her going, but she doesn’t say anything or give any indication. Ron places my beer in front of me and I decide to sip on it while the silence draws on. Am I making her uncomfortable? I wonder. She cleared her throat for the second time.

“Are you okay?” I asked. Am I really this far out of the dating game that I make girls uncomfortable?

“Ohhh, ummmmmm. I…Can I ask you a question? It’s going to sound really crazy and I promise I am not a threat,” she stumbles on her words nervously. Her statement catches me slightly off guard, a threat? I wonder what her human self could possibly think would be a threat to a werewolf, but not that she knows I am a werewolf.

“Doll, you do realize you are like 5’ 4” to my 6’ 4?” I said to try to break the tension that I feel is building around us. I don’t think anyone around us has picked up on this conversation yet. They are all human after all.

“I am not 5’ 4”, I am seated, how do you even know how tall I am?” Yes, she is funny and feisty. What a catch!

“You're a little feisty thing aren’t you! You might be dangerous after all.” I said, chuckling at her defiant reaction to my statement. Her face is all serious though, which just makes her look cuter when she is mad. I smiled back at her. She turns toward me to give me her full attention and leans inward so that we are just inches apart. I think she is about to tell me off in my own bar.

“My friends that are coming are werewolves. Is that going to be a problem?” she practically whispers to me. If I didn’t have werewolf hearing, I wouldn’t have heard it over the hockey game playing on TV. I was definitely not expecting this question and couldn’t help my facial reaction. I looked around a little to see if anyone else heard her. Did she know I was a werewolf? How would a human know about us and or me specifically? I have only been in this state for a few years. I have only had a few run-ins with some packs but they pass through peacefully and fully respect my bar as a neutral area. Sometimes I’ll even close my bar for two packs to meet on neutral ground. My Alpha status speaks for itself, so I have had no issues.

I open my mouth to ask her if she is a spy but think twice before insulting her or worse; is this a trick to accidently, out my kind. I mean she is human, right? They don’t know about us and it is highly unlikely that a human is mated to a werewolf. As I think of a response, her face lightens up with amusement and she chuckles a little. So is this a joke? I thought to myself.

“I know you're a wolf,” she then states matter of factly. Well, s**t, how does she know that? Can she read my mind? She wasn’t joking then. She tosses back her drink. I am about to respond but she puts her hand in the air to stop me.

“Don’t ask me how I know. I just want to know if it is going to be a problem if more wolves come into your bar, is this on pack territory, are you an Alpha?” Mhmmm interesting, okay, so if she was a local spy or a mind reader she would already know I am an Alpha. I rack my brain for an explanation of her statement. I am a straightforward person, let me see what she says if I toss her some information.

I cleared my throat, “I am an Alpha, but I don’t have a pack. This bar is my home and my life. I let anyone come from wherever to enter my bar with no problems, it is a safe sanctuary but like I said before, we don’t often get visitors. Just locals. As long as they don’t cause a problem then they are welcomed.” I finished off my beer to help cool my nerves. I do offer this place as neutral ground, but I am still going to be cautious, especially if it is out of towners who have never been in this area before. I don’t want any trouble. I narrowed my eyes at her, trying to read her expressions.

“You seemed different. There is something about you that just drew me to talk to you,” Like I said, I am straightforward and definitely not horny any longer. Potential imminent threat, what a buzz kill.

“So are you human?” I asked her with a hard look. I don’t like people pretending to be something else.

“Didn’t I say not to ask?” she retorts. Goddess the balls on this one. She is like a bundle of firecrackers. Too bad she is a human, she has werewolf material written all over her, not only that but she has ranked wolf attitude.

“No, you said not to ask how you knew I was a werewolf, or even an Alpha at that?” I responded still in a low voice, so Ron didn’t overhear us.

“You ask a lot of questions for not being the mayor of this town and all,” she responds, trying to lighten the mood. I can’t help but laugh at her. I guess she can’t be a spy. I think she would probably make a bad one at that. The bubble we were in bursts the moment the bar door opened. I catch several werewolf scents and immediately get tense in anticipation of anything. They enter the bar nonchalantly and are scanning the room. I am looking at them intently but my gaze is torn away when I feel Tessa’s hand land on my arm. Her small hand on my large bicep sends chills up and down my spine. Her hand is very warm and soft. I am just staring at her hand placement when she tells me, “They are family. They are good.” She speaks softly and I make eye contact with her. My eyes had darkened a little as I had brought my wolf sense forward, not knowing what was going to happen.

Since the werewolves entered the bar, her demeanor of serious and slightly lonely vibes had now turned into excitement and joy. She winks at me before jumping off her seat and practically running toward the werewolves she says she calls family. This is interesting, I think. I just watch their interactions as she greets everyone, she even seems to call two of them mom and dad. I snap out of my trance when I see Tessa making her way back to me with the group. I immediately stand from the stool so that I am at the advantage just in case something happens. None of them seem ranked but the two younger ones are very fit, possibly warriors from a pack.

“Jackson, this is my family. Grace, my mother, Noah, my father, and my best friends Ella and Jonah. They are here visiting from Pine Creek Pack.” She still states the last part in a low voice.

“It is a pleasure to meet you all. Please enjoy yourselves while you're here.” We exchanged a few questions back and forth and I relaxed a little better, knowing that they are actually here for Tessa’s 18th birthday, which she didn’t mention. Maybe because she was being served underage, damn Ron. Always a sucker for pretty faces. Apparently, Noah is a respected doctor and Grace is a school teacher. Ella and Jonah seem funny and personable. I’ll just sit back and watch and let them do their thing. I need to mention to Ron to not serve the three 18-year-olds.

They make their way to an empty table that is close to the pool tables. I try to pay attention to other things happening in the bar and not make my glances at Tessa so obvious. I am still kind of stumped as to how she knows I am a werewolf and how she is associated with other werewolves, whom she calls family. This is a first.

For a Friday, it was fairly packed in the bar. We had several groups come in and out in addition to Tessa’s group. I gotta say Ella and Tessa did get a lot of looks while here. I am going to guess it was probably from their looks more so than not being locals. It was almost midnight and we had already made our last call about 15 minutes ago. Two more locals were still at the bar and Tessa’s family was in the middle of a pool tournament amongst themselves. They have been laughing on and off the whole night. The evening flew by fast, no issues, it was a good and profitable night. I let Tessa’s family hang around longer than I would normally let others. They seemed to be having a good time. I let Ron go home, figuring he didn’t need to wait around. I could close by myself, heck, I just needed to make my way up the stairs in the back to get to my apartment.

Around 1:00 am, Tessa’s family grabs their belongings to leave. I had overheard them say that they were going to stay the night at her place and do a run with her. I am not sure what they were referring to but it definitely was not meant for my ears. Do a run? I pondered over it in my head. What does that mean, and what is she?

As they exit the bar, I pick up the empty glasses and wipe the bar down as fast as I can. I lock the doors securely for the night and make my way out behind the bar. I throw out the trash in the large dumpster. I can hear car doors closing from the front of the bar. They must be getting ready to go.

I am just so curious as to what is going on and who she is. There is something about her that makes me comfortable but also curious. Maybe she is a hybrid? I stripped out of my t-shirt and jeans and laid them next to the dumpster. I shift quickly into a dark brown wolf, and take off following the cars from the woods. I am deep enough so they can’t see me from the road. I don’t need to run at my full speed since I have Alpha blood and they are driving on back roads. When they start to slow down, they turn down a gravel road that takes them deeper into the woods. This doesn’t really look like a place where someone lives.

As I get closer, I can detect a werewolf scent. It is one I don't recognize but it is very strong in this area. Like the area has been marked to establish ownership. Maybe she is dating a werewolf too. This scent wasn’t at the bar and she didn’t seem too interested in me. I can see them far in the distance as they exit their vehicles, they still all seem very jovial from the night. I am too far away to hear exactly what they are saying, but the intention of their actions become obvious when they all start taking off their clothes and shifting.

To my surprise, Tessa also shifts into a wolf. Not just any wolf but a massive wolf that is white with gray highlights. If that didn’t surprise me enough, it’s her eyes that really have me speechless. I am far enough away to not be seen but close enough to still be drawn to her bright golden eyes. They look like mini suns. I have never seen anything like that before. I mean, I don’t think that is normal. I haven’t grown up in a wolf pack. After all. They take off running and I hang back a little but follow from a safe distance. I think I got my questions answered, but now I also have more questions than before.

I hid myself down in between some brush as they entered into an open field. The wolves decided to lay down in the grassy area and began howling at the moon. As soon as Tessa began to howl, I just had this strong itch to howl with them, it took a lot of strength to resist the call. I am not sure what that was, but it was drawing me in. Am I being called into a pack? What was she, an Alpha hybrid? I couldn’t take my eyes off her beautiful wolf and just admired how her fur glistened and sparkled under the moonlight. Unexpectedly, Tessa turned her head around in my direction. She begins to scan the forest around me.

Oh s**t, I think. Before I could back away slowly and not catch her eye, she saw me. We make eye contact, her bright golden eyes pierce into mine. I don’t break her gaze and we stare at each other for what feels like forever. I feel this connection to her that I can’t explain, it isn’t exactly romantic but an instinct to be close to her. I wonder what it means. She turns back and howls at the sky again. While she is howling, I take the opportunity to get out of there, not wanting them to think I am trying to interfere or that I am a threat. I made it back to the bar in 15 minutes, half the time it took me to get there since I could use my full speed. I grab my clothes and head up to my apartment.

Still slightly confused as to what I just saw and experienced. I decided to take a hot shower to wash away the dirt and grass stains on my body from my run. I throw my clothes into my hamper before turning to the shower to turn it on. I make sure the water is warmed up before slipping in. I put my hands on the wall under the shower head and let the water rush down my back, relaxing my tight muscles. I lean my forehead against the cool tiles and release a deep breath.I just have this feeling that my life is not going to be the same now since Tessa walked into it.