by Helen Scott
"There's no pen," the guy said, starting to sound legitimately pissed off.
"Top draw on the right," I replied, tossing the wrench into my toolbox and picking up a screwdriver. I hardly ever used it, but I may as well clean it while I waited Mr. Shifter out.
"Fine," he said after a moment. He'd clearly been waiting for me to come over and get the pen for him. Not going to happen buddy. This girl wasn't going anywhere near you. The pen scratched angrily on some paper before he slammed it down on the counter. "Call me when it's ready."
Finally ... he left. My lungs felt like they could expand again and my shoulders came down from where they had been up around my ears.
I walked over and snatched the keys off the filing cabinet where they were sitting on top of the paper with his name and number on it. Roman Beck.
Well, Roman, thanks for finally leaving.
I was just about to go get the car and pull it into the open bay when Clark came out. "What the fuck was that?"
"What?" I asked innocently as I tucked the rag into my back pocket.
"You treating the customer like shit, acting like a complete idiot, or insane, I'm not sure which. When I asked you to help the customer I actually expected you to do it so I could finish a phone call, not to drive the customer away and make him think I employed lunatics. We'll be lucky if he comes back after this, let alone if he doesn't tell all his friends about the female mechanic down at Clark's who's a little coo-coo," he snarled as he twirled his finger against the side of his head.
I knew I should feel bad, but Clark didn't know about shifters, definitely didn't know I was one, and didn't know that just looking at a male shifter could trigger the mate bond. I certainly wasn't about to destroy his world view and introduce him to the supernatural so I said, "Sorry boss. I just got weird vibes from him."
"Well next time you get weird vibes, stuff them deep down inside you and do your job anyway!" He turned and slammed the door to his office.
It was the most pissed off I'd ever seen him and definitely the angriest he'd ever been with me. Which for me, might spell some serious trouble. I needed this job if I wanted to get out of the city, and I desperately wanted to go somewhere where I could be free from the constant pressure of shifters lurking around every corner.
I might have just ruined my meal ticket out of here.
5
CLARK NEEDED to cool down and I did as well. My heart was still hammering after the encounter and my hands felt shaky. Having a shifter show up at the shop wasn’t exactly my idea of a good time, and after that clusterfuck of a morning, lunch seemed the best option before I started on Mr. Shifter's car.
I sighed as I cleaned up and grabbed my bag from the filing cabinet where I stored it during the day. I didn't bother changing out of my coveralls because I had to be back and working too soon to worry about that.
A quick trip to the cafe down the street would give me what I needed, plus the barista there was one of my favorite people to live vicariously through. Kylie was younger than me, and completely boy crazy, but it didn't stop me from wanting to be her friend, you know, if I could have friends. Truth be told I envied the way she lived her life, so carefree and vivacious, whereas I had to skulk about in the shadows.
The cafe was only a couple of blocks away and took no time at all to get there really. The blue and white awning flapped happily in the slight breeze that was coming down the street, and the bell chimed as I walked in. I waited while Kylie finished up an order for another customer before I placed mine. "Just the usual please hon," I said as I pulled my wallet from my purse.
"Comin' right up, sugar." Kylie grinned as she took my payment and set the espresso machine to rumbling. When the other customer left Kylie said, "Quite the shiner you've got there."
"Boxing this morning," I replied, touching the puffy skin around my eye delicately. "Let my guard down." If that didn't summarize my life then I wasn't sure what would. The minute I let my guard down I got hurt. Always. "Did you have a good night?" I asked remembering she mentioned a date.
"Ugh. The guy was a complete dickhead. Got mad when I ordered a beer with dinner. Can you believe that shit?" Kylie demanded as she peeked over the coffee machine, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Jackass," I agreed.
"Gave good head though," Kylie muttered as the machine stopped rumbling and she began to combine ingredients for my coffee.
"You did not!" I gasped, my lips parted into a smile even though I felt like I should scold her for her behavior.
"What?" she demanded. "I was horny, he was there, we both got what we wanted."
"Get it girl, but be careful with that shit. You can never tell the crazy ones until it's too late," I warned. Not that I had a ton of experience to draw from, just enough shit that had happened in my life. My coffee was ready before my food which was fine since it gave me something to do with my hands while I waited. I was a fidgeter otherwise.
"You think I don't know that?" she replied with a smile as she leaned against the counter while we waited for the buzzer to go off for my food. "They start getting crazy, I can always out-crazy them, don't you worry. Get them a love fern and shit. Name their dick something ridiculous. You know, the classic crazy girlfriend moves. Besides, I haven't heard of you going on any dates recently, have I?" Kylie asked. Her question was innocent enough, but it was like a spear through my heart as it highlighted just how different our lives were.
I shook my head and my smile dimmed. Dates weren't something I could do without an element of risk. I'd occasionally met a human I thought I could chance it with, but it always turned to shit once we got into the bedroom, like they could never give me what I needed. Of course, they didn't know that, I was excellent at faking my orgasms, I mean When Harry Met Sally kind of good. It got them to shut up and fall asleep faster so I could sneak out.
"Well, I know what your answer is going to be but I'm obligated to tell you that there's a party this weekend being organized by Noodles. It's going to be epic so you should totally come."
I grinned as I almost spit out my coffee. She knew my stance on parties. "Hell no. Not over my dead body. I'm sure you are going to have an amazing time though. Plus, I can't wait to hear all the stories on Monday."
"Fine," she replied, drawing out the word. Fortunately the buzzer rang and saved me from being talked into going.
We said goodbye and I left, food and coffee in hand, to return to Clark's. I had a car that needed my attention, and I wanted to get Mr. Shifter out of my life as quickly as possible. After inhaling my lunch and downing my coffee I set off toward work.
The heat of the afternoon sun made the shop even warmer than normal, and I could’ve sworn it made his car smell ... Good? I'd done the oil change but I couldn't get the whiffs of the scent out of my head. When I opened the door again to move the car I felt like I was overwhelmed by a cloud of sexy man scent. I let it stand open for a moment, hoping it was just the heat that had made his scent more prevalent.
When I went to get in I paused, my head in the body of the vehicle, and just inhaled. God that man's cologne was amazing. It had to be his cologne because no one smelled that good naturally. It just wasn’t possible. It was intoxicating, and my wolf agreed.
I didn't even realize that I'd dropped to my hands and knees, and had my nose almost pressed against the driver's seat until Clark's voice sounded from behind me, "What the fuck are you doing?"
My eyes flew open as my brain scrambled to come up with an excuse. "I thought I spilled some oil on the seat, so I was looking for stains," I said without thinking.
"You did, it's comin' out of your pay. We could use a good customer like him, nice expensive car to class the place up a bit. Don't fuck this up. If there's oil on that seat then you best be getting fuckin' rid of it before you do anything else, you're not getting paid to detail the seats though, so if there's no stain then call the man and get back to work," Clark said with a grumble and went back into his office again and closed the door.<
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Clark's words were like a bucket of ice water being dumped over my head. I had my nose pressed to the seat this guy had probably farted on more than once, let alone thinking about his sweaty ball sack dripping through his gym shorts after a workout, although I felt fairly certain that this guy, Roman, would shower before leaving the gym. Hell, I bet he went to one of those gyms that was super fancy and clean, where every device had a TV screen and there were different rooms for different classes. Probably even had a sauna and fancy shit I'd never seen in my life.
I pushed the thoughts of Roman working out from my head and called him. My heart thundered in my chest and I prayed to anything and everything that I would just be able to leave a message. When his smooth voice announced that he couldn't answer the phone I felt my body sag in relief.
It was only a few minutes later when I heard a male throat clear at the front of the garage. I inched my way to look around the car I was working on, and Roman was standing there.
"Nina, you're up!" Clark yelled from his office.
I swear that man didn't actually do anything anymore. Probably just in there watching porn or something. After taking a deep breath and forcing myself to be calm I stepped out from behind the car and I heard Roman shuffle about as though he was not sure he wanted to deal with the crazy mechanic. Clark's words from earlier echoed in my head and I stuffed all the worry and fear I had into a mental jar and tucked it away while I attempted to help the shifter.
"Here to pick up my car," Roman said, already sounding aggravated.
"Here's your bill. The total is just there," I said as I pushed a piece of paper toward him over the counter that had the total circled in red pen on it. I kept at least six feet from the guy at all times, backing up whenever he reached forward, and I kept my gaze firmly planted on my boots or his fancy, shiny shoes.
"Card okay?" he asked.
I nodded, and he pulled his wallet from somewhere, I wasn't sure where because it definitely wasn't in his back pocket earlier, that much I was sure of, and I wasn't looking above his knees. When he held a card out I reached out and snatched it from his hand, finally feeling some relief that I could turn around and run the card.
As I waited for the approval to come through I pulled some of my hair loose from my bun so I could use it as a shield when I turned back around. I just had to keep enough space between us and not make eye contact and hopefully I'd make it through the encounter without him realizing I was a shifter, or worse, my wolf taking an even bigger interest in him than she already had. When I put the card and slip of paper on the counter with a pen and his keys I practically ran as I backed away from him.
Before I could get back behind a car his voice called out, "Do I know you?"
"What?" I demanded, but before he could repeat the question I added. "No. Definitely not. I've never seen you before in my life."
"Okay, well thanks for the help today," he replied, being oddly congenial when I'd just snapped at him. The keys jangled in his hand as he picked them up and headed out. I glanced at Clark's office and saw him watching me through the blinds with one bushy caterpillar of an eyebrow raised.
I turned and got back to work, my mind still fixated on the shifter, Roman, and the scent of him in his car. I was able to leave on time and got home before the sun set, which made me feel more secure. I felt like the people in my building didn't pay much attention when the sun was out, but as soon as it went down all the looky-loos came out. Or maybe I just didn't notice them as much during the day, either way I felt safer, less tracked, when I was home before dark.
Every noise was setting me on edge though so I turned the TV on and cranked the volume up to drown out the noises from outside. It didn't stop the paranoia, but it certainly lessened it. It helped lessen the loneliness as well, but I tried not to think about that.
That guy today had looked about the same age as Sam, or the age that Sam would have been if he hadn't died. Ugh. I really shouldn't be thinking about Sam, not after the nightmare from last night, or rather memory, since the only thing that was different was the two of us being left alive by the alpha.
He's invading my thoughts. Mr. Shifter could have even known Sam. I hadn't thought he was from the same pack as my family, but then who knows. People change a lot as they grow up sometimes.
Sam was never far from my thoughts or heart though so it wasn't hard for him to invade either. My brother had been amazing. He'd raised me for years after my parents were slaughtered in front of us, then when I was old enough he told me he was going to get me out of the pack, but that I'd have to go on my own, he couldn't come with me.
My heart twisted at the memory. He'd been working two jobs within the pack to save up enough money to get me out. One as a runner for the alpha, the other he wouldn't tell me about. Neither paid particularly well, but then that wasn't a surprise with the packs relying mostly on illegal activities to keep themselves afloat. Kids raised in pack life never got a diploma, never even got a GED for the most part, so we all clung to each other, keeping one another fed and clothed.
Sam had told one of his best friends, Landon, that he was sending me away. Landon betrayed him. We had never known it, but after our parents were murdered the alpha made a proclamation that if either of us were to ever act up or do something suspicious it was to be reported right away under penalty of punishment. He wasn't about to suffer a rebellion from the kids whose parents he'd killed. The easiest way to do that was to turn everyone against us. The whole time we were growing up we didn’t know why they hated us, not until it was too late. We never realized that he'd promised retribution if he discovered something that should have been reported. I don't think Sam ever knew, he was killed too quickly to find out.
The alpha was vicious, blood thirsty, and totalitarian. No one else would hold power until he could be defeated in battle, we were all too scared of him, so it would take a special kind of crazy to take him on in the first place. Everyone feared his punishments, especially after what happened with my parents. It became obvious that even raising concerns about the health of the pack, the safety of its members, had become unstable ground.
Landon had told the alpha that Sam was going to smuggle me out of the pack. A young female just coming into her breeding years? It was a slap in the face to the alpha.
I was supposed to go with Sam on one of his runs for the alpha. Looking back on it now, I think he was probably transporting drugs or cash, something to keep the businesses the pack owned in the black, or at least appearing to be that way. He knew something was wrong, people had been acting weird around us the whole day, so instead of introducing me to his outside contact himself he had me leave a few blocks earlier, gave me all the info and told me where the contact would be, before he continued on alone.
The alpha was waiting at the drop off location and when he confronted Sam about me. My brother told the truth that I'd left him somewhere in the city and he had no idea where I was. He definitely didn't know that I'd tailed him to make sure he was okay. The alpha had shot him point blank for letting a valuable pack asset go. I never went to Sam's contact, too scared that he'd hand me back over to the alpha.
It was in that moment that I realized how little I, as a person, meant to the pack. I was a breeder, a machine designed to pop out pups until I couldn't anymore, then it would be my job to keep the pups entertained and help educate them while all the women still able to breed continued to do so. You would think with a culture like that shifter numbers would be sky high, but most children didn't survive their first shift. That was also part of the elder women's jobs, caring for the grieving mothers, helping them to remember the babes that still needed them. The fact that my parents’ only two children had survived was remarkable in and of itself. It spoke of good genetics, which was like the holy grail to my people. To let good genetics in a female go was tantamount to treason.
When Roman asked if he knew me that afternoon it was like a punch to the gut. If Sam knew how close I'd come to being recognized,
how close I'd come to making his death meaningless, I was sure he'd be tossing and turning in his grave, wherever that was. Still, nothing about Roman seemed familiar to me, so my hope that he came from a different pack was valid.
Even being from a different pack might not mean anything though. The shifter world was small, tight knit, and the alphas talked. For all I knew every pack knew about the missing female shifter. And wasn't that a terrifying thought?
All I would need was for a shifter to recognize me, take me back to their pack, and I'd be done. Females were never strong enough to fight back against males. It was part of the reason I trained so hard. I was stronger than the average female wolf because I gave a shit and wanted to at least stand a chance, even if it would be like a snowflake surviving hell.
I wanted to fight, wanted to make a lot of the members of my old pack suffer, but I had forced myself not to dwell on that, not to lose myself to a vengeance that would never succeed, never happen. Instead I focused on what I could change, me. I could get stronger, faster. I could have a shorter reaction time. I could have muscle memory for fighting. All of that was within me, but that didn't mean I could get lazy.
Strength and cardio tomorrow morning, with an extra session of boxing with Richard if he was up for it. I needed to be prepared. Anything could happen, and I needed to stay in shape so I wasn't wasting my brother's sacrifice.
6
THE NEED TO be prepared clawed at me the next morning after a fitful night’s sleep. I’d become too comfortable in my routine and that was something that could easily put me in danger. Even if I changed up my routine though, I still needed to be ready. I always needed to be ready. After all, my freedom could be ripped from me at any moment.
It was why I was at the gym before it opened and had to wait for the new badge scanner to get there before I could get going. My workout was hard, and I was dripping sweat before Richard ever even got there. As soon as he was warmed up and saw me shadow boxing in the ring, he joined me, seeming to sense that I needed to fight, even though it wasn’t our regular schedule. When I was almost too tired to even lift my arms anymore, I went and showered before heading to work.
