Mercenary Wolf

Ch 16 the club

I called Eddie over as the black wolf slipped on his shoes.

"Set the kid up at the club for his date, I wanna see what he does."

Eddie moved off. I know he wouldn't understand my sudden obsession with the kid. I felt something for the stupid Little Wolf. I don't know why, or maybe I did. I think I was in love with his mother.

Sounds weird, right? I ain't talkin' a sex kinda love. I mean I felt at peace when I thought about her. I loved the sound of her voice. I appreciated what I saw in her son that I knew came from her.

Maybe I was living vicariously, but where once I depended on Jimbo to keep me dry, now I didn't want to disappoint her. That was at least part of what fueled my determination to dump that third bottle.

How could you not love someone who could give that kinda love to the black wolf, killer that he was. Kinda meant maybe someone out there, eventually, might find it in them to actually love the killer that was me. Not if I stayed a total screwup though!

So ya, I loved a dead woman because she gave me hope. Live with it, I planned to!

Some small part of me was wondering about how healthy it all was, mental-like. Not like I could talk to a shrink about getting friendly with werewolves to fight other werewolves that had screwed up my werewolf friend. But I know if she'd still been alive I coulda talked to her. She woulda understood my confusion about it all. She coulda explained some stuff my brain didn't wanna connect. She had found it within her to accept and choose that life.

Eddie came back to tell me it was done, kid would be at the club tonight. I was actually looking forward to cleaning up and getting outta the house. No more passing out on the kitchen floor, which reminded me...

"Ed, wait up," I said. He and I watched the two werewolves ride away on the kid's bike. "I wanna thank you for watching out for me. Means a lot. I couldn't have kept it all together as good as I have without your skinny little ass being the bedrock around here."

"That's because I'm more pragmatic than your in-our-face leadership. Glad you got your ass together. We need you," he said before handing me my keys back and sauntering off.

"Be at the club tonight!" I yelled after him.

I felt good. No buzz, no hangover, kinda cleansed. If that's what sobbing the shit out of your system does for a man, might not be so bad to do it now and again. Probably better than letting it all build up and slowly poison myself to death.

It felt good to clean up too. Most times it was a quick shower and done. I took the time to do an afternoon shave as well. Been a long time since I primped myself. Trimmed up the nose hairs, cut the toenails and everything. Didn't do it for anyone other than me.

Got my jeans outta my closet in the clinic and grabbed one of the club's security uniform tee shirt. As I headed out I took a good look around the place. I might bring some of the guys in to really scrub it top to bottom. Getting in the truck I realized I couldn't even remember the last time I'd cleaned the inside of the truck. Over two years at least. I used to give a shit.

I did again. Felt good.

I patrolled the outer hall waiting for the kid to show. I knew he had arrived when the bouncer at the door started arguing with someone. I came up behind the bouncer and yanked him out of the way.

"Get your ass in here," I said to Little Wolf, growling at the bouncer to move out of their way. I led him and his girl down the short corridor that buffered the entrance from the club proper. From here you could here the muffled bass of music further in.

"Mahina, this is Mac. Mac, Mahina," Little Wolf said, trying to make introductions.

"Charmed," I growled, stalking down the corridor.

"Should I ask?"

No, he shouldn't. I was a little embarrassed. I don't think I ever really took a girl out like he was doing. What the hell do I say to the chick? I opened the doors at the end of the corridor in relief. We were assaulted by noise and lights.

I led them straight to a hall off to the side. The bouncer guarding the entrance moved quickly out of my way. I moved aside the curtain that marked our private VIP room. It was Jimbo who decided on the black curtain with a fist on it. It was similar to our crew sign on the street too.

I followed them into the small room. There was a curved couch on one end that had a narrow shelf behind it to hold drinks. There was a booth on the other end to hold real food.

"Not a word," was all I growled at the kid.  I turned toward the chick.

"There are restrooms that are easier to get to off the VIP corridor. This guy gives you any problem, just let me know."

I was grinning as I left. They were out dancing when I came back in. The servers set down what I had ordered for the kids. I covered all the bases. They had a tray of various appetizers, a chilled bottle of wine, and a bucket with a few beers and a couple of bottles of water.

It was my covert operation tonight to watch the kid. Every now and again I noticed I was breathing using really deep breaths, usually when I thought to myself that I was letting a frigging werewolf loose in my establishment.. on purpose!

I worked at calming myself down by remembering the stories. I watched the kid dance. He was focused on his girl, not on the drink. He was courteous with her. He was enjoying himself. It didn't even look like he was in truth a werewolf. Until he stuck his muzzle in her neck. Damn I tensed up wanting to go rescue her, but it was real obvious she didn't wanna be rescued.

I knew I was being stupid, but I wanted to push him. I headed over to the DJ, giving him instructions. I couldn't help grinning as the DJ made the announcement about letting the wild side out and hearing the guys howl.

The kid shot daggers at me but moved to the edge of the VIP area. Lots of guys were howling it up. That Little Wolf waited until they were mostly done before he let loose that long, loud, commanding true howl, showing the crowd how it's done.

There was complete silence on the floor by the time he had finished his howl. He took his girl to the center of the dance floor, leaving her in the open middle while he went over to the DJ.

The crowd was showing him some respect, parting before him. The DJ was nodding to whatever he said. The way he moved back to his girl, I could see the glide of the wolf in his steps.

He glanced at the DJ, grinned at me. I wondered what he was improvising here. He turned back to his girl. It was his mother I saw in his slight grin as he put his finger to his lips in a shhh.

The first note was a long lone flute note, it undulated down into a fast melody. Drums pounded a beat. He danced alone in the center of the floor at first. His arms were out, his feet moving quickly in a staccato rhythm, his spins worked with the melody.

I jumped when I heard the howls. I should have expected it. The howls were part of the music, dancing with the flute, the drums pounding behind them. It was different than the usual, and the crowd ate it up.

The tension left me as I watched him laugh with his girl. I knew without a doubt his mom would be proud of him.