Mercenary Wolf

Ch 13 next morning

I woke up and just laid there for a second doing a self-check. Hangover? Not yet, still buzzing a bit. The slight headache promised a doozy later though. I sat up, gingerly.

I should take a couple aspirin for the headache probably. That made me remember that I had given Eddie my keys. Where was Eddie? For that matter, where was everyone? It was quiet, too quiet. I dared to actually open my eyes and look around finally.

Two guys were sleeping on the other couch. The basement door was open. A few of my guys were standing there looking down the stairs.

I had to grin when I saw the three bottles still on the floor next to me. I'm surprised Eddie didn't take the one that was mostly full. Then again, I had acted, well, last night hugging the bottle and yelling at them was not my proudest moment.

One of the guys noticed me sitting up. He attempted a normal smile.

"Hey Mac, they showed up little bit ago, most of the guys are watching them work out."

Smart of him to talk softly. I nodded to him, my mouth suddenly dry.

Last time they had worked out, they had asked for privacy and when they were done I had wondered how they had cut themselves. Now I knew how. Fang and claw. And I had to go down there. I didn't want to go down there. I grabbed that third bottle but didn't open it. Not yet I told myself.

My guys were down there. The ones that stayed up top didn't seem concerned. What had he said when he left? They were gonna wrestle? My grip on the bottle tightened. I could do this. I headed over to the basement. The guys got out of my way. All the way down they scooted over so I could stumble down.

I sat on one of the bottom steps and watched. I wanted a sip. My breathing got a bit heavier, but I kept the bottle closed. All I could think is I would need it later when my brain came out of its current stupor. I could think, but I was really trying not to right now.

I focused on just the skills I saw. The kid seemed the better wrestler, but the dad was good too. They started listing muscles. Wise, I thought, kid fights with science and strategy.

It took a minute, but suddenly my brain got to connecting dots without me. I suddenly had an image of muscles rippling under skin. For a moment I knew that terror that had my ass on the steps last night. Not in front of my guys I begged silently. I can't, it's too soon.

Suddenly the dad straightened up.

"Mac, how about having a round with me, see if I can put what this young pup has been going on about to actual use against somebody."

I thought about running, just for a second. Then I thought about Jimbo. I had to have the courage to face that world, and it started by facing this... my brain stopped working.

I just lumbered over. Eddie tried to take my bottle from me but I moved it away from him and kept walking. I set the bottle on the edge of the mat and climbed in the ring.

The kid got out and left me facing the dad. I'd rather face the kid. I know I blinked a few times.

He's just a man, I told myself. He didn't want me to say anything to my guys. He ain't gonna... he's just a man. I could fight a man, and for the first time in a long time I wasn't afraid of my fists.

He came at me and I stood my ground. I was damn proud of myself for that! I could face... him. I could face him. I swung. It was a clumsy move and I knew it. He slid out of the way. He came in and practically invited me to grapple him. It wasn't the best hold, but I was fighting... sort of.

He looked at me, gave me an encouraging nod. I think he knew how hard this was for me and was giving me this opportunity to work it out, to realize he really was just a man. A man who grew fur and claws and red... I shut my brain down and focused on the fight. Been to long since I really tried against someone. Been too scared of myself to really try.

I got an elbow in my gut and a leg around mine getting me off balance. He gave me this little grin that told me he wasn't going to keep holding back. He released. I focused in.

The kid was calling out moves for his dad, more muscle groupings actually, and I began to get a sense of what they were doing. The kid called out feet to his dad. I expected a kick but was pretty sure I saw really thick curling toenails.

The guy gives me this little grin reminiscent of a snout wrinkling up.

I took a deep breath. I was not gonna let my fear of werewolves stop me from helping Jimbo! There, I said it! And got knocked down again as the price for my distraction.

We exchanged a few good holds. I let him get one where I was able to send my elbow into his midriff. I know I hit, but he moved as well and once again I found myself on my back.

I finally managed to get him in a good solid hold. He wasn't getting out of this one! I mentally counted. 

The kid called out, and I could feel how the dad's body was changing angles in a way humans weren't supposed to be able to move. The result threw me off balance just a smidgen, enough for him to take advantage of it.

I tried to twist with him, using my weight against him. He still managed to cut loose. Once the hold was broke, he stood there with his back to the guys. He rotated his shoulder with a growl. I swear I could hear muscles popping before he turned around.

"Enough. I'm going to have to work on that one." He rotated his shoulder again. "That's going to be sore for a bit."

He came down off the mat, leaving me standing up there. He went over to his kid.

I wasn't done. Why did he leave? I don't give a shit that he was sore! I needed to know that I could face and really fight a werewolf. I was just getting started!

The father and son exchanged a few comments.

Apparently the fighting was done for now. And it occurred to me that I had fought a werewolf. Me. I had held, punched... well, tried to punch, grappled with that... me. I had done that. And I hadn't felt the need to puke. Progress! I moved to get out of the ring and reclaim my bottle.

"Got any of your Aunt's salve?" The dad asked.

"Yeah, in my saddlebags," the kid answered him, then turned quickly toward me. "Uh-uh, nope!"

He grabbed my bottle before I could get my hands on it.

"I have something better."

If looks could kill, I woulda glared the kid to death.