Little Wolf

Kenz gave the woman a soft smile. “It is a good one. What types of things do you watch?” She asked trying to keep the conversation more on the other woman. Kenz liked Keira but no one save for Silva knew much of her past and she wasn’t jumping to bring it up. Kenz wondered if it was she who brought the looming darkness, if she was cursed even before being bitten as a werewolf. Tragedy seemed to follow her and she was tired of seeing good people getting hurt. “You have people keeping you safe?” She asked a bit concerned for the other woman, despite their differences in beliefs, Keira was one of the closest people to Kenz. “I’m glad to hear things are better. You deserve happiness.”

“I’m a sucker for period pieces.” Keira laughed, knowing that this truly showed how old she was. She enjoyed historical dramas and PBS and British shows. Perhaps she really was an old lady. “But I also have workplace comedies on my queue. And horror movies. Honestly, I like a lot of things. Netflix and Hulu and Amazon all have gotten me addicted.” She never had really been that into watching TV before. But settling into this town and the development of streaming services like that had made her very domestic. “Yes. I have Zach and Wilder. My pack and I have each other’s backs.” She knew the rest of them were always going to be there for each other. “Thank you. How are things with you?” Keira asked. Kenz seemed angry and rough - in some ways she reminded her of Wilder. But she truly felt for Malraux pack and their loss. 

KEIRA‌:

Keira was already stressed and on edge because of this meeting. It was not helping her mood to have someone snap at her because she was trying to go somewhere as well. The werewolf was usually one who held the most patience in the whole pack. But this was certainly testing her patience. “Trust me, I can get there quicker on my bike than hunting down a cab and trying to get there that way.” She huffed out in frustration. 

There was no more to be said. Vic’s only intention had been to make the girl aware of how she was in the way for most people; she’d never wanted to inspire such an elaborate conversation. “Trust? Not so much,” she said. “One of your boxes is askew. Have a good one.”

It wasamusing how easily people slipped into the loop of arguing. There were manythings Vic could and wanted to say, about how the road was starting to clog,about how the weather was brewing ominously above. There was a good chance thewoman would get where she needed to be on time, but you never knew… Victoria also didn’t care. She cared aboutgetting on with where she needed to be. “Don’t be an inconvenience then andlose the boxes. Wouldn’t exactly speed up rush hour, now would it?”

Keira was already stressed and on edge because of this meeting. It was not helping her mood to have someone snap at her because she was trying to go somewhere as well. The werewolf was usually one who held the most patience in the whole pack. But this was certainly testing her patience. “Trust me, I can get there quicker on my bike than hunting down a cab and trying to get there that way.” She huffed out in frustration. 

Luciano nodded along to what she said. He really should find a river or creek to try and clean his face up. Brows furrowing he chuckled and shook his head with a shrug. “I guess it depends. I think so. He made fun of my english and how I talk.” The wolf bit. Trying his hardest to bite back a growl low in his throat. “I hate that. I am trying my best, English is very hard.” Luciano chuckled. He grinned when she accepted his offer and happily took the bag. Being so close to her he could smell she was like him. If he had a tail it would have been wagging. “Ah thank you so much.” He hummed. Following behind her till they made it to her house. 

It would not do well to have a lone werewolf wander about town with a bloody and bruised face. Though it came from perfectly innocent circumstances of just a normal fight, she knew that it would not do well for others to see. Not after the deaths. “He did?” Keira asked with furrowed brows. People could be so dense sometimes. “You know there’s a saying I’ve heard before. It’s that people who speak with an accent are people who speak one more language than you do.” They had an accent because they were natively another language speaker. It showed intelligence to learn a whole new language and then try to speak it. “He deserved that punch.” Keira easily handed over the bag. It had not been a hard task, but she was happy he came with her so easily. “My name is Keira by the way. What’s yours?” They arrived at her house and she unlocked the door to usher him in. 

Narrowsidewalk, a busy road; there were many reasons why Victoria couldn’t just walk around. “I’mapparently the only one wanting to arrive on time. You’re lucky I didn’t walkover you,” she smiled politely. There was no time for pleasantries; there wasnever time for pleasantries. She looked the other woman up and down, studied theboxes and her motorcycle and questioned her choice of transport. “You ought tohire a taxi,” she supplied helpfully without making an attempt of any kind tohelp with the boxes.

This brewery was certainly not panning out the way Keira had hoped for and she was starting to think that maybe she should just walk away, they seemed unprofessional and mismanaged. But their beer was so fucking good. Securing the boxes to the back of her bike was a hard task, yet she persisted. “Yeah, of course. You are the only one in the whole world who wants to get somewhere on time.” She was feeling her annoyance grow. “I can get there faster myself. A taxi would take too long.”

Kenz nodded, “Its best to keep busy these days.” She said as she put up the chairs at the table she has just wiped down. She smiled at Keira’s comments knowing they were meant well. “I don’t date.” She stated simply, “As for Netflix I’m happy to let it wait.” Kenz’s shoulders slumped at the question of how things were. “It’s dark times.” Her mind started to wander to her past. “They seem to follow me.” She said under her breath as sadness, both old and new, churned in her mind. “There’s nothing to be done about it and yet… it doesn’t feel like its over.” She spoke half to Keira this time. “How are things with you?” She asked in response.

Keira knew very little about Kenz. However, she did know she was part of the Malraux pack and that spoke for something. They were struggling, with the loss of Nala, but it had set all werewolves on edge. If an alpha could be killed and in such a gruesome way, then none of them were safe. “I have to say that is one of my more favorite inventions.” Keira tried to keep up with the changing world though she was much older than a normal human would be. Wilder, chose to cling to the past and she had to drag him kicking and screaming into the 21st century. A shadow seemed to pass over them both as they thought of how tense things were with the town now. The threat of the Original killing those until he got what he wanted plus an unknown killer who seemed to have similar tactics of fear. “These are dark times.” While Keira didn’t know much about Kenz it was not hard to see that she was burdened and carrying quite a heavy past. But, Keira would not pry. When she was ready, she would tell Keira. “Things are better.” Zach and Wilder were less worried about her now that her leg was healing and the discovery of the body no longer bothered her. 

Kenz was wiping down the bar helping to clean up, and organizing all of the stock which had been used this night so it was ready for tomorrow. “It was real slow but it’s not too bad.” She shrugged casually moving around the bar to begin wiping down all of the tables. “It’s not a problem. I have no where else to be.” Kenz liked Keira although they avoided difficult issues and especially politics within the wolf community. “I like it here anyway. The regulars are good people. Not too nosy either.” 

Keira smiled at Kenz as she wiped down the bar. “Well, I still appreciate it. I know it was a slow one tonight.” There had been a few regulars here tonight - in fact they made up most of the customers tonight. “Yes, I like the regulars here too.” Keira had lived here for over twelve years now, but she had come to appreciate the residents of this town. They were good people at their core. “Didn’t have a hot date or a lot on your Netflix queue?” Keira questioned while the corners of her lips quirked up. She took a clipboard and started to go over what they had left in stock while Kenz wiped down the tables. “How are things?” The death of Nala still felt fresh to the werewolves in the community.

In aperfect world the sun would always shine and the people would step out of her goddamn way when she was in a hurry. Victoria wasn’t a very patient person. Forsomeone who was gifted with immortality, everything was best to happenyesterday, thank you! “Excuse me,” she said not so much to apologize but tomake the other person aware of what an inconvenience they were. “Do you mind, Ihave somewhere to be.”

Keira was running late. Damn these meetings she was setting up with new distributers. But she needed new beer and drinks int he bar and to get fresh blood she had to reach out. This one brewery was driving her up the wall though with their sudden changes in times of meetings. She was struggling to shoot them an email to let them know she was on her way with the boxes she was struggling to put on her motorcycle when she heard the impatient voice. “Then walk around.” Keira’s voice was short and sharp. “You aren’t the only person who had places to be.” 

“Dannazione…” Damn. He swore to himself. Sighing he put the pack of smokes in his pocket. He’d find, or steal, another one later. Brows coming together he gently touched his face and sighed again. That would hurt more tomorrow while it quickly healed. “Ah I picked a fight,” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I do not like when people say eh stupid things to me.” Luciano explained. Looking at the over flowing bags in her arms he gestured to them with his icy eyes. “Do you want help? I can help carry.” 

Keira didn’t recognize the language, but she could take a guess at what language had slipped past his bruised lips. Though, she knew it was a curse word or something similar. “Sorry, it’s a habit I’m trying to kick.” Keira couldn’t tear hazel orbs away from the marks on his face though. “You should get that cleaned up.” There was already enough blood shed without adding to it by having him stroll through town. “No one does. But, did he have it coming?” She asked and wondered briefly what the other person looked like. A human in a fight with a werewolf would be an unfair fight. The bags were not heavy, especially to a wolf like Keira. But, she welcomed the help. With quick fingers, she handed one over. “Thank you, I really appreciate that. When we get back to my place I can help you clean that up.” A nod towards the wounds followed. 

Keira locked the door as she made the last call for a goodnight to the couple heading out into the night. A night in the middle of the week was of course a slow one. Which was why she closed early at 11 pm during the week. There was a slight growing chill in the night air that promised the coming fall. Yet, the warm weather persisted. Keira turned to walk back to the bar which Kenz was currently behind. “That was a slow night.” She sighed and ran a hand over her face while elbows leaned into the polished wood of the bar. “Thanks for sticking around. I could have handled it myself, but I appreciate the company.”

“Glad to hear it- not that I don’t love seeing your sunshiny face around here, it’s just that I’m usually seeing people at their worst if they come through those doors.” Lusa said with a small shrug of her shoulders. “And ‘long day’ doesn’t even begin to cover it. I mean… what time is it? Is it Wednesday already? I ended up covering someone else’s shift, so time is a concept that’s completely flown from my brain.”

“Now, that’s a change to hear that someone enjoys seeing my face.” She grinned and teased. Keira usually avoided hospitals. They were mostly crawling with human doctors and she had a foul distaste for them personally since she might only pose as a science experiment to them. But, she did need help for this silver infection. “How long have you been working?” Keira asked, concern blossoming on her delicate features. 

“Being sexually harassed can be very shocking. I’m hurt that you’re doubting my pain. Whatever happened to pack solidarity and believing the victim, huh? Though I think I’m supposed to call myself a survivor instead. So many rules.” Snorting, he leaned back to check out said ass. “I don’t see any delicate flowers, but I will choose to believe you, because I’m a good friend. Unlike some people I could name.” He petted her hair and rested his chin on the top of her head for a moment. He could be serious and comforting, for at least a few minutes. “How dare you, I’m not fat, I’m Rubenesque. There you go, fat-shaming me.” Once he had her in his arms, he pretended, while the humans were around them, that it wasn’t easy, and strolled away from the scene, ignoring anyone who tried to stop him. Once they were past the crowd, he stopped pretending to struggle and carried her with one arm so he could check his phone to tell Zach they’d left. “I have never once been Nurse Nightingale. I wouldn’t know how to start. The closest I could get is Nurse Ratchet.”

“If you really ever had been sexually assaulted, this would be a completely different conversation. The only thing that is a victim here is your ego for not having every female in town fall over you.” She teased him, though her energy wasn’t really with it. It was hard to fully feel up to it when the metallic scent of blood still clung to the inside of her nose and her mind felt like it was filled with fog. “Are you checking out my ass, Wilder Crane?” She asked while her lips curled upwards. She enjoyed it when he ceased his talking for one moment and held her close. Fluttering her eyes shut, she enjoyed their closeness and his warmth before his strong arms picked her up. “Chubby then.” She giggled softly, feeling like she was a tad bit drunk. Though, that was hardly the case in this instance. Perhaps this was the shock everyone was saying she was suffering from. “Tell Zach to come see us when he’s done.” Keira requested when she noticed him texting Zach. “For once you are right, you would do Nurse Ratchet proud.”