Page 56 of Fighting Furry

She crinkled her nose again. “Why would I shit you? Alpha is a player and he's disgusting, but I thought you'd like to meet him. Just don't touch him, if any werewolf is capable of catching an STD, it's him.” She shuddered.

I hadn't officially met Alpha, but I was sure I'd rather not spend more time with him than necessary. Even so, if anyone had useful information, it would be him. “Okay, then,” I said. “I'll go shower.”

***

“Is this a joke?” I asked. Lucinda had driven us down the mountain to a town in the valley, Aspens Whiten, that wasn't much bigger than Mule Creek, though it did have paved streets and a chain supermarket. Lucinda had parked in front of a large brick building that looked more like an upscale frat house than a residential home. Mostly because of the keg on the front walk and the bras hanging from a large oak in the front yard.

“Unfortunately, no,” she said. “This is Alpha's home. He and ten other members of the pack live here. My ex lives across the street with the rest of the pack.” I turned and looked across the street to see a ramshackle duplex with peeling paint and a broken front window.

“Wow,” I said. “I can't imagine why they'd want to leave all this behind.”

She scowled. “They'd destroy our pack town. It'd be idiotic for us to hand over Mule Creek to them just because they can't keep their dicks in their pants or avoid the vampires.”

She got out of the car and started up the walk to the brick house. I followed, careful to pick my way along the sidewalk and not step in the piles of…I really didn't want to think about what it might be.

Lucinda knocked on the door. We waited about three minutes before Lucinda lost patience and pounded the door with both fists until Alpha finally pulled the door open. Lucinda plastered on a smile, straightened her maxi dress, and pushed back her shoulders. Alpha was shirt-less, his round beer belly on full display. Up close he looked even less healthy. “Can I help you?” he asked, his confusion obvious.

Lucinda sighed heavily. “I'm Lucinda. Marley set up a double date for you, him, me, and Julie Jacobs.”

She stepped to the side and gave me a small push forward. I stuck out my hand, not really wanting to touch the man, but knowing I ought to make a good impression. He took my hand, but he didn't shake it, he caressed it with his thumb as he looked me over, leering. “I bet you fuck like a freight train.”

I jerked my hand from his and stuck it in my pocket to stop myself from punching him in the nose. Not because he didn't deserve to be punched but because I didn't want to get anywhere near his blood. “Touch me again and I'll break every one of your fingers.” Fuck making a good impression.

He grinned like I'd complimented him. He stepped aside and gestured for us to come in. “Welcome to the pack house,” he said. “Marley is around here somewhere.” He leered at Lucinda. “He got lucky last night, and I think she's still here. Try not to take it personally.”

Lucinda rolled her eyes, but managed not to tell Alpha to go fuck himself. I was impressed. “Why don't you put on some clothes and we'll wait for both of you in your office?”

He hesitated, his eyes narrowed. “You know, I never could get a straight answer out of Marley about why you wanted this double date. He was so excited about meeting Julie Jacobs, I don't think he asked. I'm not as blinded by fame as he is.”

“Right,” Lucinda said. “I was going to wait until we were all together, but I might as well tell you now. The truth is, I'm unhappy with Axel as pack leader. He's nowhere near as much fun as you are and you can't expect Julie Jacobs, a world-renowned fighter, to want to stay in a pack with a bunch of pacifists.”

He watched her lips while she spoke. Not like he was lusting after her, but like he was having trouble understanding the words coming out of her mouth. By the time she was finished, though, he seemed to have gotten it. His chest was puffed out and his smile was wide. “Axel isn't as much fun as us? That's what I've been saying since day one. I don't know why anyone stays in his boring-ass pack.”

Lucinda widened her eyes and actually smiled. “So true. You've got a way of hitting the truth right on the head.”

“I'll just go get dressed and rustle up Marley. You two can wait in my office.”

As soon as he was out of earshot, Lucinda shuddered. “You should wash your hands, like now.”

She pointed out a door just down the hall.

I washed my hands, turning the water up as hot as I could stand it. I was drying them when Lucinda screeched at me to hurry my ass up. I ran out of the bathroom to see her racing for the front door, a long, carved stick in her hand. I sprinted after her, but Alpha barreled into me and knocked me to the ground. “You aren't going anywhere,” he said, his breath reeking of stale beer.

“Get off me,” I said, using my alpha voice.

His eyes widened, but he rolled off me and stood. I sprang to my feet and stared him down. “Get on your knees.”

He did so. “What the fuck are you?” he asked.

“Don't move and don't try to follow us.”

“I am so going to kick your ass when I find you,” he said. “You're going to regret this.”

He shouted some more stuff, but I didn't hear it because I was already out the door and racing for the car. Lucinda had the engine running. I grabbed the door handle and leapt in as she pulled away from the curb.

“What the hell is going on?”

Lucinda's smile threatened to crack her cheeks and she was practically bouncing in her seat. “I got the spirit stick back. They are such a bunch of idiots, they had it displayed in Alpha's office for everyone to see.”

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