Chased

“I hate the smell of Weres,” my brother, Thomas, cursed as he waved a hand in front of his nose. I glanced up from the road to glare at him. We had just entered Glenwood Springs and he was already complaining. 

“Get used to it,” I snapped, already feeling agitated. “We’ll be here for a while.” Moving into the same town as my father didn’t exactly tickle me pink. But, the bastard’s age was finally catching up to him and he couldn’t exterminate an entire pack on his own. 

Thus, it fell on us. Thomas was evidently moving in with our parents to make sure they were safer from any danger. I was on my own, moving into a cozy one bedroom on the opposite side of town. 

I dropped Thomas off outside our parents townhouse, driving away before my mother could come out and before he could get his other foot out of my door. He threw out his legs, slamming a steel toed boot into my read bumper while I ignored the grin on his face. 

I pushed a booted foot to the gas petal, driving the 45 minutes it took to get to my condo. The moon had just risen, illuminating the walk was and stair with an eerie translucent glow. Checking the watch stepped to my wrist, I sighed. 

Lugging my bags up the steep stairs to condo 13 of the small complex. The main room was large and looked even more roomy with only minimal furniture spread across the room. There was an L-shaped couch and a TV cabinet and at the end of the couch that didn’t bend off sat a glass and metal end table. 

Walking to the kitchen to set down the little food I bought, I grinned at the platinum , non-fingerprint, appliances. Easy to clean blood off of, not that Weres were stupid enough to come in, but there were always the exceptions. The extremely stupid ones. 

Bending to grab a beer from my fridge, I headed for the bedroom. The bed was made up, a black down duvet darkening the white-walled room. A safe the size of a high school locker sat in one corner, towering almost to the ceiling. 

 I grabbed some clothes from my drawers -tight jeans and a halter/midriff top- before opening the safe. It had been used so much that most of the numbers were rubbed off but I didn’t need them. I could open it without even looking, I had used its contents so much. 

Changing into the fresh set of clothes, I pulled on some black healed boot and concealed two throwing knives from the safe in each boot. Hooking two more on my waist before strapping a Walther RedStorm to my thigh. Throwing on a long, black coat I was ready to go hunting. 

The club that I had pulled up to was pounding with horrible music and swaying bodies. Parking the car in a spot far enough away to not attract attention, and close enough for an escape. I walked to the club, ignoring the stared from drunkards and whistles. 

The club was packed, ages that ranged from 16 and 17 to late 40’s. There was a mix of smells: sweating bodies, flowery perfumes and the woodsy smell of Weres. 

The bar was open, leaving several spot available as a fast paced song came over sound system. I could hear the growl as I intentionally sat down next to a Were. He sent me a look, wary of whether I would attack or not. 

The same edginess applied to me, but I had to trust that he wouldn’t start a fight with so many people around. 

A women walked over to him, human obviously, and grinded her hips against him. He grinned, flashing his canines at me before walking away with her into the swaying crowds. 

I shook my head, checking my watch and spinning in the bar stool.   

“So, you’re the new hunter in town?” a deep voice growled from next to me. I glanced over, snarling at the Were who sneered back at me. 

“Problem with it.” I paused, turning my head to fully look at him. “Before you answer-” I pulled back the side of my coat, revealing the gun strapped to my thigh- “might want to use that tiny brain of yours.” 

“Keep in mind, I’m faster than you huntress.”  

I stared up at him, a scowl present on my lips. He was tall, towering over me by a good foot. His arms were large, made up of sinewy, corded muscles. As for the rest of his large, masculine body. It screamed power and exuded authority. Even so, I knew he only held the position of second, the beta male. 

“Keep in mind, I have a gun.” I replied, snapping at him before sipping from my drink. The rum burned my throat, but I didn’t mind. It took away the edge of annoyance the Were was bringing me.