Kierra

"Well, speaking of making friends so quickly, one was made earlier today. A new Were who hasn't been around others like herself. From what I gather, she doesn't trust herself right now with the guy who's also living here. Sounded like the abusive type, so figured having muscle of my own might come in handy."

Although thinking about it now, showing this amount of muscle right off the bat could cause just as much of a problem. I really dislike situations that I have no idea how to deal with. Domestic disputes really aren't my thing.

"Not sure how this is going to go, so just a heads up."

He nods as we get out, the dark night enfolding us as we walk up to the building. Green eyes peruse the area. The neighborhood is relatively calm, but by no means quiet.

A couple houses down there's a group of teenagers hanging out on the porch, rowdy with music blaring. Guess hearing any yelling around these parts is a normal thing, so I doubt anyone is aware of just what could be going on inside. Looking up at the building, the two levels house separate units that are distinguished by the stairs on the side leading to the floor above.

Bryanna had said she lives upstairs, while a roomy lives below. The guy that had been yelling. I head toward the steps, the closer I get, the more I can hear the heated words from inside. Sure isn't a calm sounding dude, that's for sure.

Unlike Xavier, Zypher hasn't picked up on my uneasiness at being touched randomly, so his hand at my back while going up the steps has me both startling and glancing at him. His attention is being held by the sounds from within though, so he doesn't notice. Letting it go, I knock at the door.

The entrance really isn't all that large, looking to have been added on at a later point than its original construction date. The shouting male within lowers his voice, but the thread of hardness is still there as he threatens whoever else is in there to keep their mouth shut. A thrill works up my spine, raising the small hairs on my neck and down my back.

I inhale deeply, small popping sounds coming from me as my body arches. Don't like the leading up to of confrontations, but the just before seems to really get my blood going. The air is crisp and smells damp, wafts of recreational smoke also color it.

My nose wrinkles at the smell. Never cared for its scent, and having a supernatural nose hasn't changed my outlook on it. My heart thunders as the door opens, revealing a male all decked out in his gangster finery. Well, probably a wannabe anyway. Possibly.

Standing just under six-foot, drooping jeans, and a snug wife beater. His boxers are dark-colored and clearly visible, but that doesn't seem to be bothering him at all. Thick chains are hanging from his neck with an expensive-looking watch at his wrist.

White boy, but tanned pretty dark with shaggy hair hanging around his face. Seeing him reminds me of a boy I knew back in school, all cute smiles and charm till they get you alone, then they turn into royal jackasses. Hate to assume, but I would wager a bet he never made it to graduation; this guy.

I look up at him as he steps into the doorway, a slow smile curving my face as he looks from me to the man behind me. Hardass seems to settle over him like a second skin as he gives me a cocky look, so I return it with one of my own, of being totally oblivious and harmless.

"Hi, is Bryanna here?"

"Who are you?"

Green eyes blink at him and his tone before my eyebrow raises. My thumbs hook in my pants pockets as I rock on my heels, letting my eyes drift down his frame and back up. When getting back to his face, it's clear he's not amused, so I just smile wider.

"Name's Kierra. Now, where's Bryanna?"

From the corner of my eye, I can see her moving behind him softly, so my eyes automatically go to her. The blossoming bruise on her face and blood touched nose has my eyes flying back to him. My blood starts singing at the prospect of returning that pain, but I wait for his move.

"I don' know a Kierra, get outta here. She's busy and doesn't want any visitors anyway."

He steps back and attempts to slam the door shut, but I stiff arm it, causing it to fly back.

"Bitch, get the fuck outta here!"

My grin turns evil as I step forward, holding the door open. This guy may be built and toned, well cut and fit, but he has nothing on Werewolf strength. Zypher stays at my back, not moving up at all.

That is, until Mr. Brave makes a move to lay a hand on me. The Arctic Werewolf catches the guy’s wrist and squeezes, holding onto him firmly as I duck under the arm and go further inside.

"Bring him inside Zypher, don't need any witnesses to his embarrassment, no matter how entertaining that would be."

The punk, who only looks to be in his mid-twenties, is pushed inside as I go to the worried woman standing against a wall.

"Right prick, that one. How're you?"

I don't really give her a chance to respond before reaching out to touch her cheek. Fingertips lightly slipping over the darkened skin. She's already darker-complected from being mixed with something darker.

Hourglass shape with long and curly dark brunette hair, my guess would be African. With the quick supernatural healing, the bruise is well on its way to healing already. The small amount of blood at her nose looks to have been wiped at hurriedly recently.

"Hey, it's okay."

Her brown eyes go from the man to me, her worried look having calmed once I touched her.

"Get the fuck outta my house!"

I scowl as I turn and look at the rude ass male.

"Shut up and sit down. Be glad he's the one watching over you and not me. If it were, you'd have mirrored injuries right now and more than likely a few extra."

The stream of curses coming from him is broken off when Zypher cuffs him a good one. The movement is easy and fluid as if he's done it many times before. Wouldn't doubt it actually, working as a bouncer an all. And having a younger brother.

Turning my back on the whining wannabe, I look back to Bryanna with a smile.

"That's Zypher. He looks pretty nifty, doesn't he?"

Her nose flares as she inhales, eyes flicking around before coming back to me. Reaching out to her arm, I touch her lightly.

"Hey, it's okay. Did you still want to leave? You're welcome to come with us."

Here I go again. Opening my home to someone I just met and being totally open about it. Think becoming a magical animal has messed up my brain.

Her voice is low when she responds, almost choking out the words.

"I shouldn't have called. He'll kick me out for sure. I'm not from this area, I don't know where else to go. I don't have enough saved up, not with his constant changing of the rent. You should go."

Giving a soft smile, I shake my head. Her eyes plead with me before flicking back up to the others then back. She turns and heads for an open doorway, so I follow after her.

Her bedroom is small, things tossed about and spread around the single mattress. A step up from a homeless shelter, but not by much. The WereLioness walks around and picks things up while I watch, before too long she even speaks up in a low whisper.

"You'd think I'd have learned my damn lesson by now, but yet here I am. All over again..."

A small sob escapes her, hands shaking before starting to wring them. I wait. After a few more minutes of walking around, she sits down, quiet tears running down her face.

"I'm from Byron, I've only been here for a few weeks. I ran from my home after an accident."

Her eyes flick up at me, so I give her an encouraging look, moving to sit next to her.

"No one knew I'd been turned into something else, I was able to keep it hidden, hiding away for days at a time and avoiding family and friends. Even from my boyfriend. Staying away from him had made him so angry..."

I touch her arm, letting her know she doesn't have to continue; all the signs of an abusive relationship obvious. Another sob escapes her before speaking again, looking at me with terrified eyes.

"I was able to deal with him before, but after becoming a monster, I snapped. I...I killed him. It was an accident, I didn't mean to, it just happened."

Her rushed words start blending together, so I reach forward and touch fingertips to her cheek. Brown eyes dart up to my face before dropping immediately.

"It's okay Bryanna. If you ask me, he got what he deserved. You can't blame yourself for just protecting what you weren't able to before. Are the police looking for you?"

Long hair is tousled around her as she shakes her head.

"No, not that I know of. His death had been ruled an animal attack. I stuck around for a while, but I couldn't stay there."

Nodding, I hide a sigh of relief. Harboring another 'fugitive' would be really tricky, and I don't think I'm up for that kind of suspicion right now. The kills I've made are all wrapped up in the supernatural community, and therefore mostly hidden from the public.

Come to think of it, the killing itself doesn't bother me anywhere near as much as it probably should, but now isn't the time to dwell on moral fibers. Right now I have to focus on the woman next to me and get her where she's safe. Looking around once more, I stand and offer her a hand up.

"Pack up some stuff, anything important to you that you don't want him messing with. After we leave, he seems to be the type to throw anything of yours out."

She looks at me with wide eyes, uncertainty plain on her face. Splaying my hands in front of me, I give a shrug.

"If you wish to leave at a later time, you're more than welcome to. Staying here is not a good idea if you've lashed out before. Coming back with me, you'll be surrounded by others just like you, and all will understand your reasoning for what you did. There, we can help protect you and help you understand more about what you are. I myself am still learning."

I give her a confident smile. With all the animals within my home, she's bound to pick up something, that's how I've done some of it. Much of it's a 'learn as you go', but even that's easier to do when you have someone near who knows what's going on.