Sometimes We Love The People Who Hurt Us

Chapter 1: Apéritif

The tapping of footsteps pulled me out of my reverie as I raised my head, eyes scanning the room with a small frown at the small group of people standing across the room around the metal table. And the corpse that lay on that same table.

It had been two weeks since I had been approached and asked to help the FBI, joining the team as a special agent. Temporary badge for a mentally unstable man. At least I was now willing to handle a gun, which had got me kicked out as a homicide detective. Two weeks of many unusual murders. As a result, we were now on the lookout for what tattlecrimes.com had nicknamed "The Lycan Ripper".

What a coincidence that the human killer we were after was being investigated by Lycans themselves, one of the top werewolf packs, made up of part of the city's FBI. Being socially inadequate at being in packs, even preferring the company of dogs over my own kind and humans, resulted in me being labeled "the runt". With an empathy disorder to boot, which made me able to experience what a killer felt and thought whilst they committed their crime. Resulting in my fame on tattlecrimes.com with Lara Chorostecki's article 'It takes one to know one'.

Glancing to the doorway as Jack Crawford moved inside, I watched the other Lycan's immediately dip their heads in a sign of respect to the pack's Alpha. Jack soon moved towards them to discuss what had happened with our most recent victim. It was the same killer; silver had been placed over the eyes and it was presumed the killer had attacked his victim with a silver knife as well, though we couldn't be completely sure since the victim was human, safe from the effects silver had on actual werewolves.

Soon, I watched as Jack made his way around the table and over to my current position, the Alpha inside him narrowing his eyes when I didn't dip my head. Advantages of being an outsider: I wasn't always willing to display submission, at least not at first. Adjusting my glasses, I stayed leaning again the wall, though my head soon dipped down slightly, gaze averted in a minor show of acknowledgement of the Alpha's presence, despite not being in his pack. Not in any of the city's pack to be exact. It was dangerous not to be, as most Lycans would consider rogues as a threat or as free game if they were an omega, like me.

But I guess being a runt helped in its own way, keeping me safe most of the times. People viewed me as an unsuitable mate, and I was usually ignored. Which suited me just fine. I was happy to just be with my little family of stray dogs.

Jack paused to watch me for a couple of seconds, jaw clenching before one hand had raised to scratch at his chin as he spoke. "It seems like the killer, or another copycat, has shown up in Sydney, Australia. I don't have anyone else to spare, except Campbell...and you. I've bought the tickets for the flight in two hours time, with permits for you both to carry your gun, though they have asked that they remain in a bag, which you can take on board with you if you wish or put it in with your luggage....Of course if you're available to go?"

A small sigh escaped my lips as I watched him with a quirk of my brow, head soon tilting to one side in a questioning manner. "Can I say no even if I'm available?"

He grinned slightly, revealing the small gap between his two front teeth. "No." Just as I expected him to say.

Biting on my lip with a small pause of thought, I contemplated whether he would accept a 'no thanks', but eventually I gave a small nod after a moment. "Okay....On one exception.."

The Alpha gave a small nod, his expression showing a slight flash of curiosity as he waited for me to proceed with my request before looking to me in confusion at my words.

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Despite my hesitation to go on the flight, especially with such a short notice, I soon found myself saying a goodbye to Winston and then watched as he was loaded onto the aircraft into the pet section of the hold. Jack had grudgingly bought the pet ticket to allow him on as well and promised to feed the rest of my dogs that had to stay behind, though I suspected that he'd delegate it to another member of his pack.