His lips were full, but not feminine, his eyes brown, so brown they almost looked black. His skin had a nice olive tint to it, so he did not appear inhuman, although he definitely was.
“Jack, they attacked me,” she said as her voice went up an octave.
He smiled and waved her over to him and she complied as she had no choice. Jack was obviously pack leader and she had to obey. He spoke quietly to her as she crossed her arms on her chest and then looked back at Gunner and the rest of them. She rolled her eyes and was gone in a flash, appearing like a blurred black shadow. Jack then turned to face Gunner and looked him over.
“I guess this cannot be good news if you are seeking my help, Hellhound.”
“You would think that we would have more in common, Wolf,” Gunner said as Jack grinned and rubbed his chin.
“It is true we must be related somewhere down the line, but I have yet to figure that out, seeing that you have killed some of my kind.”
Finna stepped forward. “We have only killed those who tried to kill us.”
“Like Moxy?” he asked as his eyes went to her and Gunner interrupted.
“We would have never harmed her. We simply needed to get your attention and it seems the youngest ones in the pack like this nonsense,” Gunner said as he pointed around him at the Mall.
“I would have to agree. I hate the Mall.”
Gunner smiled. “Well then we do have something in common.”
“Okay, speak,” Jack said.
****
Gunner, Finna, Tercia and Ari all stood at the front of a warehouse and looked up.
“This is not good,” Ari whispered as they continued to look up and heard a howling from the rooftop.
“We need to make alliances and the only way we can is to reach out in peace.”
Ari laughed. “This coming from Marcus Brutus, himself.”
They all laughed and Gunner shook his head.
“I am not here for war, I am here for help.”
“Like it was your idea.” Finna said as Gunner shot her a look. She shrugged her shoulders.
They all stepped back as they heard lock after lock being undone and then the doors opened up as a smell of dog rolled out of the building.
“Oh.” Finna said as she covered her nose.
“Come on.” Gunner said as he walked in and looked at Moxy, she held the door with a look of disgust on her face. She obviously hated them and he could not blame her. As the count would go they had slain at least 1100 wolves over time, many more vampires had fallen, but they had killed her kind just the same. It was not without provocation, wolves that go rogue have no pack and no pack leader. They kill without mercy and have no loyalty to anything, but the hunt and kill. Although the hunt, kill and survive mantra could be appreciated, it still did not take away from the fact that they killed humans, and that was not allowed.
“Welcome.” Jack said as they all stopped and looked up to see him on the second level, this place looked like an old abandoned theatre with a huge red curtain still hanging over a stage and rows of seating that sloped upward. Jack was in the balcony overlooking everything and Gunner turned to Tercia.
“If by chance this goes south, kill everything that moves and get Finna and Ari out of here. Do not worry about me.”
“Like you could.” Moxy said as she laughed behind them and Gunner sighed and turned to her.
“It is rude to eavesdrop.”
“It is even ruder to talk about fucking murdering my family.”
“Now no one is going to murder anyone.” Jack said as he appeared in a flash in front of all of them. Gunner sighed and looked at him.
“I do not blame you for being protective. I am very protective of my people too, so on this we agree,” Jack said.
Gunner nodded as Jack started to walk away and they all followed him.
****
Dorin stepped up to the tree and stared at the plump fruit on the branches. It housed apples of plenty, each one even tempting to him. He smelled their sweetness and then looked back at Lucifer.
“Fucking eat the apple already.”
Dorin shook his head and turned back to him.
“So what is this about?” he asked him and Lucifer smiled and walked up to the tree. He placed his hand to its side and then leaned in, pressing his ear against it and could hear