Full Boar

Chapter 7: A Spicy Order at a Werewolf Bar

The one disappointing part of Philly, Mason decided after seeing Adrianna's car pass three times, was the lack of parking.

He knew it was her car after she stuck her head out the window the first time she passed him and let him know she didn't see any parking. The second time she offered an apologetic look to him, but didn't open the window. The third time she ignored him.

Mason didn't move from where he leaned. He just waited. Eventually, Adrianna walked up to him, Leslie in tow. "So," she said, pulling a strand of her brown hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear, "what did you need me to do?"

"You're gonna be my ticket in here," Mason said. "And when you get in, I want you to shut up and only talk to me or the waitress."

"And why? You worried I'd embarrass myself?" Adrianna asked.

Mason sighed. Great. Willfulness was not what he needed right now. "No. I'm worried that you'd show that you're green. That you're newly Wary. For the folk in there, that makes you a fresh target."

"What do you mean, fresh target?" Adrianna asked.

"Remember what I said about Sires and Scions? Alpha werewolves and stuff?" Mason asked. "There are other ways of establishing similar control over someone, and a lot of these werewolves aren't nearly as nice as I am."

"You, nice?" Adrianna laughed at that. "You're dragging me out here so you can chase down who knows what, and—"

"I bought you breakfast," Mason said, "and I explained the way the world really works. I didn't turn you to make you part of my personal harem. I didn't show you my power by beating you to a pulp with it, just for fun."

"That happens?" Adrianna paused. "Doesn't seem like terribly wolf-like."

Mason sighed. "The curse doesn't make you act like a wolf. It amplifies the more bestial aspects of your human nature... libido, violence, rage, territorial instincts—" Adrianna glanced aside, "Oh, I see. You've already gotten a taste of that," he said. Adrianna shook her head. "Thoughts, then? Yeah, thats the beastly side of you."

"Fine, so what do I do?" Adrianna asked.

"We go in, we order some fries and maybe a beer or two, and I try to talk to someone."

Adrianna paused. "If the beastly aspects of our personality are... enhanced, what if he gets aggressive?"

"Then you duck under the table and I beat the answers out of him. If that doesn't happen, that's why I have Vince and Leslie standing by. If Vince hears anything, he'll come charging in. Isn't that right, Vince?"

"Right on, boss!" Vince didn't even turn around from where he stood, leaning on the wall like some stereotypical 80's heartthrob bad boy, with Leslie next to him. For all intents and purposes, they looked like a normal couple. Nobody would have guessed she nearly killed him on their first date.

"Hey, Vince? Focus for me." Vince gave him a thumbs-up without looking. "If I get torn up in there and you don't hear it because you're busy making out with your girlfriend, guess who's visiting the kappa parolees? Not me."

That got Vince to turn around, though it earned Mason a glare. "Good. Adrianna, follow me."

He led her down the stairs. The bouncer, still leaning against the wall himself, arched an eyebrow. "She one of us? Better show."

"Show?" Adrianna asked.

"Just watch." Mason sighed, rolled his neck, and let the beast show its ugly face. Again his skin itched, again he could feel his muscles and bones shifting as his face changed, again he could feel his arms crawl as thick fur forced its way through the thickening skin. The weirdest feeling was the tusks, shifting his jaw, adding weight, pushing back his lips.