Chp 2: One last job

My heart leapt to my throat at the sound. I turned around but saw no sign of another wolf. The air itself felt empty. I was all alone.

I quickly realized that I was stark naked and reached for my clothes to cover up.

I dressed up in a haste while looking around to make sure I was indeed alone. The sound must have come from a passing animal. Maybe a hare.

With my senses, I searched nearby but couldn't pick up any scent except that of a giant bush rat.

Once I was done wearing my clothes, I rushed out of the woods and found myself in a rather quiet street.

*****

I had never worked in Jefferson City before. My reasons were obvious. Pack members ran businesses among the humans here. Werewolves were all over the place.

It wouldn't take long to run into one or more of them if I dared stick around. Then they would drag me back and force me into the very life that I escaped.

I looked up in the sky as I made my way down the quiet street. The sun had begun to travel west. I increased my pace, realizing that I had lost track of time in the few hours that I was in the woods.

I should not be here at all. Today was a full moon. A dangerous day to stick around until dusk. In fact, I should not be anywhere near wolf territory at sunset.

There was just one thing I had to do before I left. Get my money from Krystal. I would leave the moment I had my cash.

I reached the end of the street when I felt someone's attention. I didn't turn around but was sure it was one of my new friends.

They found me too soon this time. It was not possible that they followed me into the woods, so how come?

Fear began to take hold of me. I decided to lose them quickly before seeing Krystal for my money. I couldn't let them know what city I was headed next.

I could feel their eyes on me, and the feeling grew too intense by the second. I had to turn around. They stayed hidden this time. I looked all about but saw no sign of Pinnochio or his human friend with the fancy cornrow braids.

I kept going till I reached a busy diner. Then I turned on my phone and began to dial a cab when I looked again and saw the human. He was alone.

As usual, when our eyes met, he looked away. His friend had to be nearby. I was sure because I could sense a werewolf around.

I tried to guess where he was watching from but couldn't. He stayed well-hidden. I gave one last glance at the human stalker before slipping out of the queue at the diner. Then I set out to lose him for real.

Krystal was waiting impatiently, according to her text. Apart from my money, she claimed she had something good for me. I was dead curious about the 'something good' and eager to get my money.

I took my stalkers round and round the city, and in an hour, I lost all sense of their presence. Once satisfied that they were no longer on my trail, I proceeded to go meet my one friend. The sun was beginning to set.

*****

I got to the street address Krystal texted no sooner than I liked. The driver stopped in front of what looked like a large fourplex building by the side of the busy street. My heart was in my throat as I got out of the cab.

In front of the building was a bold signboard with cursive letters. The Hurricane Night Club, it read.

It was not yet sun down, but the lights illuminating the bold alphabets had been turned on. My instincts screamed for me to call back the cab and have him take me straight out of this zip code.

The building was intimidating and smelled of werewolves. The type I should avoid.

As much as I wanted to see Tessa again, I did not wish to get dragged back to the Night Storm.

I turned around and began to walk away when Krystal's voice rang out,

"Raven, over here! C'mon."

I stopped but didn't go to her. Then she ran over and pulled me along by the wrist. Into the building.

"C'mon. Kingpin is waiting!"

Krystal was my only friend. She was human and lived here in Louisiana. She was the one who first introduced me to this job, promising a fortune.

'"You've got the face and body, gurl. You can make it big,"' she'd said.

I'd quickly confirmed that she wasn't lying about the money part. Dancing half-naked in front of hõrny human men was quite lucrative. The cash was my single motivation.

Because of the job, I could afford to wander anywhere and didn't have any money worries. As long as I worked four nights a week, that is.

As she pulled me by the wrist now, I followed without protest into the building. I would be out of here in a moment. My senses remained alert, scanning the place for danger. By danger, I meant werewolves.

We soon entered a well-lit office with floor to ceiling glass windows.

"She's here," said Krys to a tall bald guy. "I told you she'll come."

The man's eyes moved over me appreciatively. Then he nodded.

"Welcome to the Hurricane. Raven, is it?"

I could hardly pay attention. Something felt wrong. The unmistakable smell of a werewolf was right inside this very office. It was faint but not undetectable.

"I'm sorry, this is a mistake," I said, backing away.

Then I opened the door and ran out. Krystal was at my heels, calling out to me.

I ignored her and kept going. I was close to the stairs when I caught sight of a familiar figure near the door. A human male with neatly braided cornrows decorated with tiny fake seashells.

I halted, shocked as the dark-skinned guy strode into the club. How was it possible that he found me again? Within an hour?

He kept looking around as he walked nonchalantly further inside. It didn't take long before his eyes found me.

This was the part where he looked away and pretended he was interested in something other than me. But instead, he smiled and winked.