Compassion

Chance

Second chance. She thought parking her car at the cafe. She wanted to grab some donuts and some of Betty's homemade ice cream before heading back to her home. Walking in, she saw that is was a slow day and quickly gave her order before looking around. She jumped when she saw John sitting at a table with an older man and walked slightly closer recognizing the man as Billy. Billy was an intimidating looking man but she knew him as a sweetheart. They became acquainted after she treated his wife but unfortunately her condition got the most of her and she helped him through his grief. He would talk for hours in a drunken stupor about the beauty of immortality and slowed aging. He would quote a book that she took the time to read called Tuck Everlasting which questioned the merits of immortality and he would constantly disagree saying immortality was a gift. Slower aging was what he considered a gift too and he would discuss the new werewolf sensations from historic myths and those were the topics she tried to steer him from. Stepping a little closer with her back turned she tried to tune into the conversation. She was close enough to hear but far enough to still remain discreet. She knew Johnny would not be around if he was not doing an investigation and knew that he would be aware of her presence.

"We were given a tip and told that the men were dangerous and notorious for raping women and killing children."

"When did this happen? Like when were the men last seen?"

"This was some time ago. And well I do not remember when exactly, but we took the highest precautions."

Athena listened but her order was called before she could even begin to connect the thoughts. Not wanting to be caught listening she collected her food and left. Still at the table and aware of her absence, John continued to ask question. "Do you know who contacted you?"

"No an elderly man who remained anonymous. He warned us of grave danger so we prepared for it. He even hinted at the men being a special one so we got our special weaponry in case they tried anything." He laughed slapping his rotund belly. "Boy I tell ya, been awhile since we've pulled those bad boys out."

"What did you mean by special?"

"Ya know... Em dogs. They change into dem animals and howl, and live very long times." He said almost dreamily.

He forced his eyes to widen when inside all he felt was mounting anger. "You mean werewolves?!"

Billy looked around and quickly shushed him. "Not so loud. And yes them. The man, he sounded like a hunter on the next town over and told us they were coming."

"He used the words werewolves?"

"Well it was explicitly implied."

"So you took it upon yourself to kill those men?"

This gave the man pause. "We did not kill or harm them, we just made sure they knew they were not welcome around these parts. Wait a minute. What's it to ya?"

He had to think about it and knew the men would get around to asking about it. He could not reveal that he was an agent for the Wolf Council. He was not exactly an Alpha but he was not a normal wolf either. That goes to say he did not live any longer or heal any faster than the average wolf, he just had a responsibility for his entire race. The Council commissioned him and a few other wolves who were expendable and unafraid of death to work to protect the secret of their race by eliminating threats to it in form of humans, hunters, or wolves seeking to expose them all for monetary gain. He was as humans would refer to as a "police officer" but he functioned more as an executioner for those found guilty or deemed a danger to their race. "The three men have gone missing and I was hired by--" he coughed. "their family. They were last known to be traveling here from their country on business and their disappearance has a few eyebrows raising and tongues wagging." He grimaced because he had done his research on the man in front of him and knew what he was capable of and his theory began to consolidate in his mind.