Chapter 2: Freya

He tapped me on my shoulder? The question kept circling my thoughts as I looked at him in disbelief. Surely there was some mistake. He was definitely not a kitsune; this man smelled of werewolf more than the average one. On the other hand, he was, without a doubt, looking at me. He wasn’t looking at the space where I was; his eyes and mine were locked together as he refused to blink. I on the other hand, was looking up at him, and I couldn’t stop. Every deep inhale I took as my chest heaved up and down forced his scent into my nose. He smelled of leather, not that old leather of this outdated bar, he smelled of new warm leather and a musk that was wanting me to lean forward into him.

Damn it, I cursed to myself. This goddess was working extra hard on me now.

He motioned for me to remove my earbuds, and I obeyed but he didn’t say anything. He just took a seat in the booth across from me.

“Umm… Can I help you?” I didn’t mean to sound annoyed, or maybe I did, and the hostility in my voice was what surprised me more. He had no right to just sit there across from me, and even less of a right to just assume it was available for him to do so.

He shrugged and before he could speak, another werewolf came bounding over. He looked more scruffy, definitely younger, his eyes a dark shade of yellow with brown hair so dark it was nearly black like mine. “Hey, what gives? We were doing something important!”

Mr Icy Stare looked him over and bared his teeth in a warning growl.

“Oh fine, you sour wolf! Sit by yourself. We're done looking for you, though.” That’s when he pushed back toward the rest of the group, joining back up in a loud, echoing howl.

“Oh Goddess, no! You boys know better!” The older grey-haired woman called, “Shift outside or I’ll have your tails!”

My attention was brought back to my table when the warm, smooth voice of my uninvited guest finally chimed through the air, “Care to tell me what that was about?”

I shrugged, semi-proud to know that my illusion was working on everyone else. Why it wasn’t working on him was still the mystery of the hour, though.

“None of them can see you.” He corrected, in case I was confused by what he meant.

I shrugged again and threw him an innocent smile, “Maybe I’m just easily overlooked.”

“You-” he pointed at me, then relaxed back down and threw a non-committal smile. “Okay fine, play it that way. You joining the run tonight?”

“Me?” I laughed loudly, mimicking his tone, almost too loudly, “No, I don’t run.” Not entirely true, of course. I did like running, but I just hadn’t done it in such a long time. Granted, I think if I were going to ever go running again, doing it with him might be a bit more than just a cardio workout.

He cocked an eyebrow at me as if I was lying which okay, fair enough. However, his little remark afterward was one I could have done without: “Looking like that, you do some kind of work out.”

“Excuse you!” I snapped.

He leaned backward, holding his hands up defensively, “You’re dressed like you go to a gym.”

I glared at him, criticizing every little thing, “I’m sure that’s what you meant.”

“It’s fine,” he shrugged, “We can just sit here.”

“We?” I laughed back.

“Well, if you’re not going to join, then why would I go running?”

I rolled my eyes and decided blatantly ignoring him was the better option as I put both earbuds back in and returned to my book. He took the hint immediately, thank the gods, only pausing with one hand still on the table. Looking up I removed one earbud just to hear his goodbye.

“Don’t leave town.” He growled low.

“Fuck you.” I mumbled back defiantly.

“See you soon,” he chuckled, finally leaving.

“Not likely,” I called back, but he was gone far too quickly. Not quickly enough, so that I missed the show of him ripping off his shirt and throwing it down on the ground, exposing more battle scars and copious amounts of tattoos. There was a paw print on his shoulder blade, a circle with runes on the opposite shoulder, and three stars in the middle of his back. When he ran out the door, he still had on his pants, though I doubted they were going to stay on long.

After he left the rest of the group followed shortly after, and soon it was just me and the grey-haired lady. She was older, maybe the moon didn’t hold as much of a sway on the elderly wolves? Whatever the reason, she was still here, and I didn’t care. She might have the answers I need.

I snapped my fingers once more, dropping my illusion, not that it was doing me much good anyway.

“Excuse me-” I squeaked nervously, walking up to her.

She didn’t even look up, “Run's started, dear, no more drinks.”

“No,” laughing, I scratched the back of my neck, “I’m looking for Rosetta.”

“What about her, kid?” Finally, she looked up, finishing wiping the bar and placing both hands on her hips.

My words were failing me now. I didn’t exactly know how to put it. I guess starting from the beginning was the best, “I’m Freya, my father was her cousin Sirus Wallace.”

“Was?” she whispered.

I nodded, “He passed away earlier this year, like six months or so ago-”

“He’s dead?”

I nodded and continued, “Yes, but he left me-”

“How did he die?”

“He-”

“When exactly?”

Pausing, I looked her up and down, “Are you Rosetta?”

She nodded.

My hands shot to my mouth as I gasped. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to-”

“Six months ago?” she sighed.

“If it makes you feel better,” I began, taking a seat at the bar, “he had been sick for a while.” A few years, actually but she didn’t need to know that. She especially didn't need to learn the details. “He passed peacefully in his sleep.” Another lie, this time to benefit herself. I never got confirmation of the cause of death, only what I felt to be true. I hadn’t been home in a few months. I only heard about his passing because I was an emergency contact.

“He was your father though?” Her head slowly rose as she looked me up and down. It wasn’t with as much scrutiny as Mr. Icy Stare, but it still made me uncomfortable. “So that makes you-”

“Freya Wallace,” I smiled, reaching out my hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Her face softened as she reached out and grabbed mine, “Rosetta. I am so sorry we had to meet under such circumstances.”

I nodded, “Me too, but-”

“Why are you here?” she took her hand back and gave me a curious look, like I had some ulterior motive. I got the feeling she was one who was going to speak her mind and never let a person get a word in edgewise.

“Well that’s a funny story-” I fiddled with the seams in the grain of the bar top as I tried to figure out a delicate way to say I never wanted to see these people again.

Luckily, she was going to bridge that gap, “Have you been by the house?”

I shook my head.

“Well you should, lots of the Wallace family goes there. I’ll take you tomorrow, it would be yours, I guess. Your dad hadn’t been around in years. Left it in the care of my brother, but never got around to changing ownership to him.”

“Funny you should say that.” I interjected quickly, hoping to get what I needed to out.

“You know, it’s almost midnight, I’ve got some stuff to do, where are you staying?”

“In a hotel, but-”

“Okay, come by tomorrow morning, say around eight in the morning. I’ll have a nice breakfast made up for you and then I’ll take you to the house. It’s a bit out of the way down a dirt path, but not too far.”

“That’s fine but-”

“You’ll want to meet everyone so I’ll be sure to tell them-”

“NO!” Finally, I managed to get her attention. As she took a step backward, “I’m sorry, really. I didn’t mean to yell. I just wasn’t planning on meeting everyone. I just need to know who to sign this property over to and then I need to get back home. I can’t really stick around long, I’ve got a job to get back to and it’s kind of a long drive. I’ll be over for breakfast tomorrow and we can go to the property but that’s all I can do. I’ve got other plans and I have to leave in two days.”

“You’re not staying?” Did she honestly think I was?

Shaking my head, I eased back from the irate attitude that allowed me a moment to explain myself, “I can’t. I’m not a werewolf. I don’t belong here; the property is better off with your family. So just tell me who you want to have it and I’ll sign it over to them.”

“You’re just giving it up?” She was acting like this was something I should have, like it was somehow my right. Did she not hear the part where I wasn’t a werewolf?

“I’m sure the property is better off in the hands of the werewolves.”

“Well kiddo, I’ve got to say this is kind of a shock.” She hopped over the bar, landing next to me, “If I remember correctly though, your mom wasn't a werewolf either?”

“Yes,” I nodded, “A kitsune,.”

"What's that?" She laughed.

Shrugging I couldn't blame her for not knowing, we weren't a widely known type of supernatural creatures, "Think of it as like a werefox."

“You’re like her then?”

I nodded again and reached out a hand to her, “It’s not that I don’t mind my father’s side of the family, but I really don’t belong here. I think it’s better if I just visit on occasion.”

She looked down, thinking hard about my offer. I didn't understand why accepting this piece of property was so difficult. I’d have thought anyone would have welcomed being the new owner of it. “Okay, how about this? Come by tomorrow. After breakfast, I’ll take you over to see the place. If you don’t absolutely fall in love with it then I’ll tell you who you should sign it over to. Deal?”

I rolled my eyes but ultimately had to give in and nodded, “I’ll be over early tomorrow.” That’s when I heard the toll of an old church bell thundering through the streets. “What in all of creation-”

Rosetta just leaned back against the bar, laughing loudly, “Toll of midnight. Wolves will be going nuts in the forest. Streets will be practically cleared, though. If I were you, I’d make my way back to whatever hotel you poorly chose to stay in.”

Midnight on a full moon, I sighed. The wolves were either fully changed, running wild, or they were between man and beast. The heat of their blood nearly boiled them into a fit of rage. My father had always made a point of being outside, away from me when he was on the edge of transforming. He said his anger was heightened, and any little thing could have set him off. The moon was stripping away his humanity, wanting him to bask in the glow of primal power.

Rosetta walked me out the door and closed up soon after. I had only a short walk to get back to the hotel, it was through the park and in an upscale area of the city. Jericho was known for having wonderful options for dining, at least that’s what TripAdvisor told me. One reason I chose this hotel was the upscale bar and restaurant on the first floor. The richer citizens of the city lived in an apartment complex next door, and because of that, it was one of the better cared for streets too. Just hearing that I was convinced the werewolves would stay far away.

The park was a nice walk, it was well lit and quiet. Quiet enough so that I could hear every little noise. Foxes were still skilled predators after all, and if someone thought I was going to be an easy target, they were about to be really sore. I took a step and behind me someone else took a quiet step through some bushes. It was human, at least in the form of a human, two feet. Judging by the weight, they thought they were being light on them as well.

The last thing I needed was to take this watcher back to my hotel. I came to a clearing on the path and decided to stop to take a short break at the bench. This would either force the person out, or it would give me a moment to try and catch their scent with a stray breeze.

Even during the full moon, wolves were smart enough to stay downwind when hunting. That was another indicator that what was following me was human. Humans were stupid. Humans always choose the worst targets, and they were bold enough to underestimate a girl walking alone.

Where I lived, I was keenly aware of the type of predators my physique could attract. One reason I had taken several self-defense classes. I reached into my bag and took out my keys, putting them between each finger, fashioning them into a deadly fist. I willed my eyes to take the shape of my fox's. I could see far better at night with them and looking back I was able to see my stalker.

He was a short man, stocky, baseball cap on, dipped low so it hooded his eyes. Despite the night heat, he was wearing long sweat pants and a jacket. My guess he had some kind of weapon in his pockets. I pulled my bag over my shoulder, letting it cross my body. It would seem the moon goddess was creating lunacy in more than just the wolves tonight.

I got back to my feet and started to walk, not quickening my pace but making a very cautious effort to determine if this man was getting any closer to me or not. I felt it; he was daring to come out and was now walking behind me. I heard his feet on the pavement as he took two steps to my one. I was almost out of the park, maybe if-

“Excuse me, miss!” He called.

I pretended to not hear him, but he was close now. It was after midnight, no good intention was on someone’s mind when approaching a stranger this late. I was an idiot to think wolves were the only thing I needed to worry about.

“Hey, I’m talking to you!” He called, and I felt his hand reach out, grabbing my shoulder.

When I turned around I took a step back, swiping my hand wide. “What?” I snapped.

“Where are you going all alone?”

“Leave me alone.” I hissed, narrowing my eyes and making sure I looked him square back. Take every detail about him to mind. If something did happen-

A snarl wisped past me, followed by a rumbling that continued to hang in the air.

He looked up his dark eyes grew wide as he took back his hand. “Not alone?” His voice was shaking as he took a few steps back.

I didn't look behind me, I knew what it was. Judging by the sound of the snarl and growl, it was a massive one too.

“S-s-sorry.” he shook again, “I didn’t know-”

Then a massive paw hit the ground next to me, pulling the large black figure out of my blind spot into my field of vision.