Chapter 1: The Aftermath

Raven awoke with a start, “Fuck!” It was that dream again. Raven sat up in her bed, breathing hard, running a hand threw her dark hair. It’s been six years since the incident. Her parents had called the cops, because she was late coming home, and they finally found her in the alleyway.

Raven’s parents decided to move out into the country where it would be safer, after she was released from the hospital, where she had spent weeks recuperating, from the ordeal and therapy. They never found her assailants, even with the tattoos she described. When Raven was eighteen she joined the police academy, refusing to ever be a victim again. She wanted to be a detective, in hopes of helping others through similar trauma and getting revenge.

During her first couple years in the academy, one of the trainers, Marshal, fifty, turned out to be a hunter, and after hearing her story, knew she had been attacked by werewolves. They were alphas, only alphas wear tattoos of their pack. Raven was skeptical at first, but it didn’t take long for her to realize that horrors do stalk the streets at night.

Marshal had taken her on a hunt, and she knew from that moment she was going to kill those that had harmed her. Over the next couple of years, she trained as a hunter and got a job as a detective, through Marshal’s guidance. Yet, the job wasn’t all it seemed. The cases dealt with the supernatural world, handed down by those in the police force who knew of that world.

Now that she was up, she decided to work. Raven got out of bed, slipping on her clothes, and headed into the office.

As soon as she walked through the office with two coffees in hand, knowing that Marshal would be there already, he glanced up at her from his desk.

“You’re early Raven,” mentioned Marshal accepting the coffee.

“Couldn’t sleep, had the dream again,” mumbled Raven, sitting down across from him and propping her feet on the desk.

“You’ve been dreaming a lot lately. Does it have anything to do with what we’ve been talking about. Going back to the city it happened in?”

“Most likely, Do you think I’ll find them there?”

Marshall nodded, “Every couple of years, all the alphas get together, bringing the new Alphas in, and discussing alliances, territories, and such. That’s not the only reason you’re going though.”

“I know, there’s been a lot of activity there lately and missing girls, more than usual,” mentioned Raven. People have always gone missing in the city, but this was more than normal, and all females, not just the poor, but some wealthier ones too.

Marshal had got a message from an old friend, Scott, who needed some help in the city with the disappearances and some supernatural problems. Marshal had thought Raven would be of good use. He knew that she wanted revenge for what happened to her, and she was good at what she did, as a detective and hunter.

“What time is Scott expecting me again?”

“Not until this evening, anxious to leave already?”

Raven was silent for a few seconds, “I don’t know, but I think I’m going to head out soon. Maybe get a lay of the land again.”

“Just don’t push yourself too hard, and if you need anything, I’m a phone call away,” offered Marshal.

Raven stood, “Thanks Marshall, for everything. Just in case I don’t come back, donate my shit.”

Marshall chuckled, “Not if I go first, with not having you watching my back.”

Raven laughed, “Take care old man.” She walked out of the office.

***

Raven climbs out of the car in front of an old motel stretching. She walks to the office and saw a larger man behind the counter, bald head, “You Scott?”

“Yes ma’, you must be Raven. Marshal talked highly of you.” He waved for her to come around, leading her to a back room. All over the back wall was an evidence board, there were pictures of the missing girls, possible culprits, snap shots of the area where the crime happened.

Raven walked closer, eyeing up the pictures. Most of these girls were rather similar, long black hair, tiny structure, pale complexion, plump lips, and blue eyes. “I see our perpetrator has a type.” Raven turned to look at the possible candidates. Older men, rather beefy men. Her eyes landed on a younger man, probably a few years older than her. He looked strong, but his green eyes were soft. Raven pointed at the picture, “What’s his deal?”

“That’s Oliver Flemming, he’s not the one I’m after. It’s his father that I want,” replied Scott.

“You don’t have a picture of him?”

“No, he stays out of the spotlight, his son does most of the companies work, he’s the golden boy.”

“Golden boy?”

“Yeah billionaires, Oliver branched off from his father’s company and made his own, yet he’s still the face for his father’s.”

“If he’s the face, then he should also know what’s going on,” stated Raven, looking back at Scott.

Scott shrugged, “From what I heard, they have an intense relationship, a little rocky.”

“What’s his father’s name?”

“Stefen Flemming.” ‘Stefen, that was great.’ Raven shook her head, ‘common name, doesn’t mean it’s him…’

“You alright girly? You look like you saw a ghost,” joked Scott.

“I’m good, I haven’t eaten in a while, maybe I’m just hungry,” avoided Raven, she changed the topic. “Marshal mentioned you might have some intel for me too,”

“Ahh yes, I’m waiting on my associate to bring it to me. In the meantime, I’m glad you got here early. There’s a ball tonight with a good potion on these men attending. I want you to go in as a waitress for the event and see if you can gather any information. I also…”

Raven didn’t let him finish, “And you want me to dress up as one of them.” She pointed to the women.

“You are quick,” praised Scott. “You might even find one of your assailants there too. Half of these men on here are from werewolf pacts.”

“Really? Any with tattoos?” Scott pointed to a figure in the middle.

Raven moved closer to look, large, gray hair, beady little eyes. “That’s Leo Rambert, he has a wolf tattoo with a moon on his wrist.

The image of that night flashed in Raven’s mind, hand resting on the ground next to her head, tattoo clear, as he pushed into her deeply, ‘you like that, don’t you baby?’

 Raven snatched the photo down, “When do I need to be ready?”