Kierra

Picking my glass back up, I gulp the rest of it down, then head for a refill. It's a wonder I'm not one of those who just drinks it from the carton itself; would save so much time, but I'm not the only one who drinks it.

"Good a reason as any I guess. Not sure if he leaves a way to contact him, you’d have to ask around and I’m sure doing so will get you noticed by someone he has out."

Hmm, that's very true. Could try that, see if I can lure him out. Pretty sure since he's a civil servant working with money, there's a record of him online somewhere.

"Very good point, thank you. Is it just humans looking for him or are supernaturals doing so as well?"

Really don't want to be known to the animal community as one who will 'kill first, ask questions later', but I will do what I have to. Ah well, guess we'll see what happens.

"Just humans as far as I know. Supernaturals and humans are looking for you though. A call went out by the Gray Alpha wanting to know anything. You've got everyone in quite a tizzy."

I scoff, finishing off the rest of the juice in the carton. Going back to the fridge and looking inside it, I see all sorts of 'healthy' stuff. Bastion has struck again. The kid loves those V8 drinks that taste like ass. There's also something green and thick in a bottle that's had the label ripped off, so don't know what the hell it is. Pulling it out, I shut the fridge and go to the counter, holding it up.

"Uh, someone mind telling me what this is? Toxic sludge does not go in the fridge."

I'd try smelling it, but that just has bad idea written all over it.

"And not my fault. Hell, for the first few weeks I was just trying to keep to myself... For the most part."

Last part was more said under my breath, but he heard it. Bastion comes over, I’m somehow not surprised. I lift an eyebrow and set the bottle down.

"I'm all for you being creative, but science experiments do not go in the fridge."

He gives me a droll look. Don't get me wrong here, I love my green veggies, just not when they're mush or liquified.

"It's not bad. It's a fruit and vegetable smoothie, the label was ripped off on purpose so you could see what it is this time and not try chugging it."

I scowl at him. That only happened one time. That whole event was just horrible. Let's see what you do when a gorgeous naked man appears in the middle of your house. Would boggle anyone's brain.

"That wasn't my fault, can blame the Dogdeer for that one. And smoothies are supposed to be edible, this in no way looks eatable let alone healthy."

I push it away with fingertips that have returned to normal, nose scrunched up. He rolls his eyes and puts it back into the fridge, rummages around for a second, then pulls out a bottle of orange juice.

Making a pleased sound, I take it. It’s set on the counter, glass rinsed out, then I reach out to ruffle his hair before he goes back to the living room. When going past Xavier, the maned wolf holds out his fist, Bastion raises his and they bump fists together. Both grinning fools. Bunch of comedians around here.

"Sorry Nathan, go on."

Could hear him in the background chuckling the whole time. Glad I can be so amusing.

"Wait, you said the Gray Alpha? Alpha of a wolf group I'm guessing? He's the one named Gabriel, I assume? Kid I met at the store mentioned him. Poor thing about wet his pants, but figured he would have passed on the word by now."

"I would assume he did since efforts to look became more serious instead of being half-hearted. Many thought that the word of a Silver Wolf going around was a prank."

"If only it was..."

Can almost hear his confusion, but I don't go into any more detail or reasons. I look over to Asher, who's looking at me. Can't read his eyes, and he's blocking me from slipping into his head.

I frown, but look down and away, playing with the juice bottle.

"Okay, so big bad wolves are hunting. What about the humans, why are they looking? Don't think I've had much human interaction since becoming a Were."

Honestly, I have. Two are dead and two are ones I worked with, but I left there. The only other I can think of would be Mom. Oh, and Bastion. Almost don't consider him human though. Isn't that weird?

Actually, as it turns out, most of those that have been around me for years, whether friends or just friendly hellos in stores...weren't human at all. Should probably get a hold of Tristan and make sure he's still human. Know he's not a Vamp, I've seen him out during the day. Well...not recently...

Before this all happened, he and I had hung out, he'd called and was upset that he and his fiance split. Before that, we didn't see each other often, but he does go out, I'm sure of it. That would just leave animal. Ava and Ryder are Shifters, grew up with her and went to school with him, and had no clue. Feel like my judge of character has been failing me for years.

Granted it's not like it would point out and say 'Not Human', but still. Always counted on the vibes I'd read from people.

"They heard the wolves were looking for a 'pale' wolf. Apparently, one had been seen with a boy. That is what caught this man’s attention and brought him to the animals to seek answers. Least I would figure that's how it happened. No one was even sure of the gender they were supposed to be looking for."

Makes sense. Not only had I been seen by hidden eyes, but I also missed a camera or two when fleeing Rockford. Those images were hidden immediately, but even with them, gender couldn't be distinguished. Can't go by size when in Were form; all are huge. I kept low and had Bastion in my arms so body shape couldn't really be seen either. Also had Asher with me, so my scent was mixed with his, the boy’s, and lots of blood that I'd been covered in.

There’d been that vagrant, but he and a group of others who know about the supernaturals ditched town shortly after. Too many asking and looking for someone, even beating the homeless. I ran across him again when leaving Wisconsin, many of those with him weren't very happy with me. Not much I could have done about that though, not like I had asked for any of this.

"I'd heard that in the beginning there were many homeless who had been beaten for information. Do you know who would have been the ones to do that?"

"More than likely the humans. Most of us don't bother the street urchins, mostly because they do see so much and could become very dangerous if riled. Think a lot of them are also protected by the WereRats."

Uhh, what? That stops me for a second. Rats? Were...Rats. Well then. I don't mind normal rats, but trying to picture a WereRat just hurts my brain.

"WereRats? There are WereRats in Rockford?"

"WereRats are everywhere, just like actual rats."

Can hear in his tone that he thinks me another girly to be scared of rodents. I can honestly say there isn't a single animal yet that has given me the heebee-jeebees. Not counting deep-sea monsters - those are fish. Not counting those giant ancient bug looking things either. Those are bugs.

Furry, scaled, feathered, and combinations therein do not frighten me. There.

"I don't mind rats, sir, it just came as a surprise. Need to tell me right now though if there are any Were-insects. If there are WereJunebugs, I am so moving the fuck out of here and going to Alaska."

I get amused looks from all the males, so I just scrunch my nose at them. Even Nathan is getting a laugh at my expense. Not funny. Junebugs are hellbugs.

Next to earwigs, centipedes, and millipedes. Fuck. That. Nothing needs more than eight freakin' legs for one, and earwigs are just eww. Wait a second, caterpillars have more than eight legs I think, but they I don't mind, they're adorable.

Mkay, let me rephrase something here; anything with more than eight legs, aside from 'pillars, and bugs with no legs. All are out. No sir, I'm good.

"There are no supernatural insects that I am aware of. Can't say about Australia though, They have bugs that are bigger than a man’s head."

Yea, think I'd have issues with a bug that big too.

"Well if they have them there, they can stay there. No reason to come up north whatsoever."

Hmm, could you imagine a WereSpider? I'd imagine those being 'driders' though, a cast of dark elves. Think I'm really delving into fantasy right there. Probably a good thing that they stay fantasy. Oh, oh, wait. A WereSpider with arachnophobia. Wouldn't that just be a kick to the gonads from nature’s humor.

"Mkay, so WereRats in the city that protect the homeless. Not all though, when fleeing through the area that night, I met a man who'd made his home under one of the bridges. Seen him again later in Wisconsin, he and a group had fled the city."

Have a feeling he's nodding.

I can hear many things dude, but your brains rattling in your head over a phone line does not qualify.

"Something to this scale, it would be too noticeable if humans started disappearing left and right from being abusive towards those no one cares for. I'm sure many have been dealt with, just not enough to ease the minds of those living on the streets."

Makes sense. One of the boys yawning seems to set off a chain reaction through everyone, even me. Still need to talk to the fox who's still sitting sideways at the kitchen table, taking in his surroundings.

"True. Alright Nathan, thank you for the info. This old marm needs to get her flock to bed."

Snorts sound from the living room even as the bobcat chuckles. Exchanging goodbyes, I end the call.

"Have I mentioned I hate talking on the phone? My mind wanders too much to hold a good conversation. Don't know how many times I had to keep myself from drifting off."

"Yeah, that was obvious."

Maned wolf is going to get my foot up his ass one of these days. Just for good measure. Setting my phone down, I go to the other side of the island counter and pull myself up. Just now dawns on me all the blades are gone again. Looking from the counter up to Xavier, he tosses his head towards my bedroom. Ah. Feel like a bit of an airhead for not noticing sooner. Least the army man had the presence of mind to put them up.