Faith with Wolves

Faith

I got a job. I don’t need the money but I figured it would help me socialize with others. Being stuck in the royal palace for eighteen years I’ve only ever really dealt with vampires, most of them are staff. I’ve also met all the leaders of the royal council but still, I don’t have many friends my age, only Iris and Ruby.

Aunt Kandy agreed to hire me. I didn’t even have to fill out an application or get interviewed. I just asked if I could work at O'Dells and she said yes. Tonight is going to be my first night of work. We don’t have uniforms so I’m trying to pick out a cute first-day outfit.

I hold out the pink dress for Iris to see. “What do you think of this one?” I ask and she shakes her head.

“Too formal you’re a bartender, not a secretary.” She replies and I agree and hang the dress back up.

I go through about ten more outfits before I decide on a simple outfit of black leggings and a white crop top hoodie. It’s getting colder outside since it’s fall time and since I’m partially human so weather does affect me thanks, Mom.

Iris does my hair for me putting it in a messy bun with a few strands falling along my face. I keep my makeup looking natural and put on some lip gloss. Checking myself out in the mirror I see I look perfect.

I look over my shoulder at Iris. “Thanks for helping me. You won’t be bored without me will you?” I asked Iris earlier if she wanted a job too but she said she doesn’t need one.

She smiles softly at me. “Nope. I’m going to finish unpacking and do some cleaning.”

I walk away from the mirror and grab my phone and purse. I called my parents earlier and told them I got a job. Mom was happy for me but Dad just kept warning me about creepy drunk guys and the horrors of going out alone at night. I think he forgets I’m one of the horrors people are afraid of at night. I literally attack humans sucking their blood.

After I say goodbye to Iris I leave the house and get in my truck. I drive thirty minutes into town and park in the back employee parking lot. Aunt Kandy’s car, Ruby’s, and a few other cars are here.

I get out, lock my truck, and head into the back door. The door leads straight into the kitchen where I see Benny the chef, Louis another cook, and Aaron the dishwasher. They’ve worked here for years so I know them.

“Hey, guys. How’s it going?” I greet them. They all smile and take turns responding.

“Going to be a good night,” Benny answers.

“Long time no see Faith!” Louis waves at me.

“Hi, Faith!” Aaron waves at me with his glove-covered hands.

I wave back at them and leave out the other kitchen door that leads into the bar. It’s still early so the place is mostly empty. It’s open all day but only the real drunks come in during the day, you know like my mom used to do.

She told me she got wasted here a lot during the day when she was between missions. Part of me wishes I was already born so I could have gone with her. Mom doesn’t go on her regular hunts anymore because she’s always helping Dad run the vampire kingdom. Which sucks because she was so badass according to all the stories I've heard from her and others. She's my hero I want to be just like her.

Ruby has her back to me wiping down glasses but Aunt Kandy walks up to me with a large box in her hand. “I’m so happy you’re here sweetie. But I’m not going to go easy on you.”

I nod. “I expect no special treatment. I’m just a regular worker, not your favorite niece.” I grin and flutter my eyelashes.

Ruby turns towards us. “You’re going to regret that. She works us like slaves.” She complains and I struggle to hold in my laugh.

Aunt Kandy scoffs. “Hey, I’m not that bad. Now get to work!” She demands and walks into the kitchen. The door swings closed behind her and I let my laugh out.

“Ha! Tonight is going to be easy.”

Tonight has not been easy. I thought bartending would be easy. Nope, I have no idea how to make any of the drinks people order. Why can't they order straight alcohol? I can do that easily.

My clothes are covered in beer, I've broken several glasses and creepy humans keep flirting with me. I broke one guy's hand. He whined and ran away. Aunt Kandy put me on kitchen duty for a while after that but I kept burning food since I have no idea how to cook so I got kicked out of the kitchen.

The night is slowly coming to an end and most of the bar has cleared out except a drunk couple in the corner, a regular named Barney who's eighty, and two housewives who are extremely drunk and keep singing along to the jukebox.

I wipe down shot glasses and Ruby elbows me. "What do you think they'll sing next?" she asks and I hum thinking of an answer.

"Either Friends In Low Places or Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy," I answer and Big & Rich's song immediately starts up.

Ruby looks amazed. "How did you guess that? There's like a hundred songs on the jukebox."

I shrug and don't tell her I could hear the women from here discussing it beforehand. "I noticed most of the songs they picked are men-related." I lean over and wink at her. "Or maybe I'm just that lucky."

She laughs loudly and hits me with the red rag she's using. "You're so full of it Faith! You probably heard them you liar." I laugh along with Ruby and we watch the women sing using their beer bottles as microphones and making a fool of themselves.

Aunt Kandy shows up standing between us. "I knew my ears were ringing for a good reason. I'm going to kick the stragglers out. You two are good to go for the night. I'll see you on Wednesday." She says and walks away leaving me and Ruby alone again.

Ruby nudges me. "So any plans for tonight? We can go to the club again?" she tries to persuade me but I'm just not in the mood to party again, especially if the wolves are there again.

"Nah I'm going to get a quick drink then go home."

She raises an eyebrow confused. "A drink but we're already at a- ohh you mean a drink drink, like blood." She whispers the last part and I nod.

Being a vampire and partly human is confusing. I drink blood but I also need food to survive. It was hard as a child to adapt but as I've gotten older I've learned to deal with it. A cheeseburger with a blood shake is a go-to meal for me.

"Yup, got to keep my strength up plus you don't want to see me when I'm hangry." I fake growl and Ruby backs away holding her hands up to surrender.

"Oh no I'm so scared, Don't bite me please." She begs and I lunge for her but she runs from behind the bar into the sitting area. I chase her around for about five minutes. Both of us laugh and fake growl at each other. We continue this until Aunt Kandy hears and makes us leave for the night calling us immature children.

After I leave O'dells I travel into the woods. I saw a sign for a campsite and figured I'd feed off some sleeping camper or maybe a bear. I've never been in this part of town before but part of me leaving home is exploring new areas.

My scent is masked in case I run into any other supernatural creatures or hunters. I know all about hunter traps thanks to my mom so I know what to look out for. There aren't very many hunters anymore so I doubt I see any but still, it's better to be safe.

Eventually, I hear people and stop. I've been hopping from tree to tree and I'm pretty high up on the branches blending into the shadows like my dad taught me so no one can see me.

When they get closer I recognize the smell of werewolves. I've never drunk their blood before and don't plan to. Still, I'm curious about what they're doing out here. They get closer and I focus in on their conversation.

"I hate walking the border at night, it's so boring." One complains.

"True but it's better than missing training. Those she-wolves clothes get more revealing every day so it's worth it." Another male wolf says.

I'm shocked and disgusted. Shocked because I accidentally crossed into a werewolf pack territory and disgusted by how they talk about women. We should be able to train in whatever clothes we want without being ogled.

The first one scoffs. "Please all those women are just there to see the alpha. They all want to be his Luna since he hasn't found his mate yet. We don't have a chance."

Mates? like soulmates? Mom told me everyone has their own destined mate or beloved out there. Dad and mom found each other and she said she hopes one day I find my other half. I've never really been interested in finding him before but maybe he's out there looking for me. If he is I have to find him.

"Please Caleb isn't interested in any of those girls. He's been celibate for a year. He's waiting for his mate." The second one says like he doesn't agree with it.

They keep talking but for some weird reason, the name Caleb sticks with me. I whisper it and like how it sounds rolling off my tongue, Caleb. I wonder what their alpha looks like if all the women want him. He must be really handsome just like that wolf with dark hair and blue eyes. I start to daydream about him and his arm muscles when I hear rustling beneath me.

"You smell that?" One of the wolves asks and I'm torn away from my lustful thoughts.

"Nah I don't smell anything man." The other one answers and they look all around the forest as if something is going to pop out.

"Exactly I can't even smell the trees or grass in this area! Someone's been here. We need to alert Caleb now." The wolf says and I finally recognize his voice. It's Dallas the asshole werewolf. I can't let him see me he'll want a fight and I don't want to kill him.

I hold my breath as they pass me and search the surrounding area. As soon as their far enough away I start running back toward town. I can't believe I almost got caught. I should have paid more attention to where I was going. I need to go home and check Mom's maps of the area so I can see where their territory ends and begins. I can't end up here again.

I have no idea what Dallas or the alpha would do if I were caught. Surely they would kill me and a war would happen when my parents found out. Nobody messes with Faith Wilder and lives.