Chp 3: Raven and the Chase

Sophie POV

Krystal caught up with me at the same time.

She began speaking at once,

"Raven, what's wrong? Look, I know you said you wanna leave immediately. You hate it here. I get that. But it's just for the early hours, I promise. You're standing in for Glitterz, that's it. And Kingpin said he'll double your tip. Just look at this place. It's huge. The security is awesome. You have no idea. Kingpin would shoot anyone who dares pull a Larry on any of the girls."

I half-listened while the human and I stared at each other.

The smile remained on his face, raising my anxieties. His wolf friend remained hidden, but he had to be nearby.

I turned back around and kept walking with Krystal beside me. Soon, I found myself back in the same office with the tall baldy.

"Good job on changing her mind," said the man to my friend. Then to me, he said, "Count yourself lucky. We don't take just anyone. Your friend spoke well of you, so I'll give you a chance. Consider tonight your audition."

I opened my mouth to say that I was here to hide not dance, but he went on quickly,

"Now, she'll explain the rules and show you to the dressing room. The others have started getting ready. It's Friday. Work starts early. Off you go."

"Thanks, Kingpin. You won't be disappointed," Krystal replied, then turned to me. "Come on, let's go to the dressing room."

When we got out of the office, mister cornrows was gone. I looked around but saw no sign of him.

My friend led me into a large dressing room with four human girls. Two were already doing their makeup.

I considered leaving at this point, but the possibility that the human knew who and what I was made me reconsider. And what if his warrior friend came after me this time?

That smile on his face earlier was a bad sign. He no longer cared about pretending?

"Krys," I called absently. "I'm just here for my money."

"Yeah, I got it. I'll give it to you later. After work."

"I need to take off!"

"You don't need to. If you disappoint Kingpin, he'll make it hard for you to find work after this, Rav."

I didn't care about the threat since I was leaving. But the thought of returning outside to find those men again so soon was unappealing. I decided to stick around and leave through a private exit later.

Making extra cash tonight was not a bad idea, too.

Some hour and half later, it was nightfall and the club was packed. I had been briefed and knew that dancing here was the same as all other clubs where I'd worked before.

The time came for work to begin. Krystal, Princess and I strode seductively unto the stage and started to do our thing. Eyes watched me intently, but they had to be eyes of the crowd. Cornrows and Pinnochio was surely among them, but it didn't matter for now.

It was in the middle of my performance that I began to feel the strong presence of my kind. Not just one but a few. I couldn't tell how many or where they were sitting because of all the mixed smell of tobacco, alcohol and human. I didn't dare look around.

I almost stopped dancing out of fear, but it was strictly against the rules to stop in the middle of performing.

The werewolves in the midst of these humans were members of my former pack. They had to be. The city belonged to them.

My mind screamed danger as I danced on.

Ever since I came out here on my own, I avoided werewolves and stuck strictly with humans. I always shuddered when I recalled what Larry nearly did to me. Reason? He would have overpowered me if he were a werewolf.

My skin crawled at the thought of a male forcing themself on me. I focused on dancing and didn't dare look at any place in particular.

Finish this dance and vanish, I sang in my head.

Krystal would wire all of my money to me somehow.

With this thought in my head, my focus wavered for a moment. I was sliding down the pole when I made the dreadful mistake of letting my eyes wander before settling on him.

Not one of my stalkers. A different werewolf, and a big one indeed.

The light was dimmer where he sat watching me. The smoke from his cigar formed a cloud around his face. But it did not hide the intense green eyes that shone like jadestones.

His face was expressionless. Like he couldn't care less about the girls dancing half-naked on the stage.

He sat apart from the crowd on an elevated bench. Flanked by two other wolves. His gaze remained fixed on me when I felt a forceful movement inside me, and my wolf called out to him,

'Mate.'

My heart slammed. I looked away and kept dancing.

Stealing a quick glance, I saw that the male now held the cigar away from his lips. He didn't blink despite the smoke. His eyes remained on me.

My heart thundered in my chest as I began counting every second to the end of our performance.

Sometime later, we finished that round. I didn't dare look in his direction as I sauntered off the stage with other girls and security. But I felt his eyes on me like a hawk zeroing in on its prey.

The moment we reached backstage, I snatched my jacket from the hanger while kicking off the six inch-heels. Then I rushed to the drawer where I kept my things.

Krystal was speaking excitedly, but I didn't hear a word. Flinging the wig inside the drawer, I pulled the jacket over my shoulder and knelt to buckle my boots

"Krys! Krys! My 1050," I snapped. "Gimme. Quick!"

"What? Oh... Of course." She walked leisurely to her drawer while speaking. "But we're not done for the night."

I grew impatient with her sluggishness. "You know what, I'll get it later! You better have it!"

"Rav, calm down? What's going on?"

I quickly shoved my other leg into my boot and began buckling.

"Wait, what are you doing? We have another round in forty-five minutes."

I was already rushing through the door as I called out,

"I can't stay. I'll call you. You better have my money, I mean it!"

"Raven!" She called as she followed me outside into the hallway.

But she couldn't catch up. I was already running.

Mate? I did not need a mate. That guy was no ordinary wolf. He was a dignitary and a Night Stormer.

He would reject me. That was for sure. But then he would drag me back to the pack. As a captive.

Never! I could not have that.

I had no idea where I was headed because the building was four in one. There would be a door somewhere. One that clubbers weren't allowed to use.

I slowed down and began jogging. How could there be no window? The first door I spotted did not look like an exit. But there had to be a window in there, so I raced towards it.

Without listening or feeling for people, I yanked it open and stopped shot between the doorjamb.

Someone oddly familiar was speaking in an intense voice. My name was mentioned.

"Raven. That's her name, you say? Bring her to me this instant! Only her..."

Our eyes met for the third time that night, causing the speaker to trail off.

"Say no more, sir," said the bald guy. "Here she is."

I turned around so fast that I got dizzy and almost fell, but that didn't stop me.

As I bolted out of the office, footsteps prowled behind me like a predator in the night.