Werewolves: First Sight

            I studied Jason pacing around the room, trying my best to leash my growing anger. I could only listen to this same rant so many times before my grasp on tranquility wavered.
            “I just don’t understand why I have to run tonight!” He whined pathetically. “Doc said every two weeks. TWO. It’s only been one.”
            I growled lowly in the back of my throat to cut off any further complaints. “We’ve been over this Jason, you run when the pack runs. For mercy’s sake, you’re second in command of this pack! Act like it!”
            “And it doesn’t matter that I don’t want to be second in command? I want a normal life, Ares, not one that includes running around on four legs whenever you decide that I need to.”
            “You are Mom’s only other son, her only other child. You have no choice in the matter. With Dad dead, you are second until I have a grown son or I’m no longer the Alpha of this pack. Understand?”
            His shoulders slumped in defeat. “I just hate feeling out of control. It’s like I have a demon sharing my body, and I lose a little more each time it takes control.”
            My eyes melted into a lighter gold. Here was the root of the problem, the same, unchanged issue that haunted my brother. “You’ll lose a lot more if you don’t run when you’re supposed to.
            He met my eyes and for a split second I could feel the terror in his eyes’ golden depths, but he quickly steeled his expression. “I know.”
            “I have a compromise.” I offered.
            He raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
            “You run tomorrow night with the pack, and I’ll go with you to one of those bars you’re always trying to drag me to.”
            The last of the pain chipped away. “Night clubs, Ares, not bars. And thank God because Evan is no fun to go with at all. He constantly complains about missing Abby.”
            “They’re newly mated, you shouldn't make him go at all. I’m surprised that Abby even let you get away with it.”
            “I pulled pack rank.”
            “Not while she was in the kitchen?” I cringed. Abby was a twenty-four year old mother to everyone, but she was not someone I ticked off in her own territory.
            “Around all those knives? No.” He shook his head emphatically. “I made Evan tell her.”
            “Remind me to give him a raise for putting up with you.”
            “He won’t let you.”
            “He will if I don’t ask.”

            The run went well despite Jason’s protests. He even seemed to have some fun. Usually I had to nip at his furry little heels until he took off hunting something. It was the next night, however. Which meant that it was time for my end of the deal. Something that I was sure would not be as enjoyable.
            “Ready?” Jason asked, eying my sweats. Night club or not, I was in no mood to look nice.
            “Yep.”
            He shook his head and led me out to his VW van. It amazed me that he would even consider going clubbing in the monstrosity.
            “Where are we going?”
            “A place called T.M.I.”
            “Too much information?” I asked. “Charming.”
            “The Most Inclusive.” He grinned. “Bad pun, I know, but the girls there are smoking.”
            “Right.” Color me excited.
            It took a half an hour to reach the night club from the country where the pack resided. Technically this was our base city, but as there wasn’t anywhere to run in the city, we lived out west of it. It just amazed me that Jason had the resilience to drive to these clubs almost every night.
            We pulled into an overly crowded parking lot. Jason then led me to an unimpressive building with a long line.
            “Maybe we should go somewhere else. I agreed to come, not wait in a line all night.”
            “Relax, Jess knows me.”
            “Who’s Jess?”
            “She’s the bouncer.”
            “She?”
            “She’s a vamp. The owners only know that she’s stronger than she looks. She claims that she was a boxer. She won’t cause any problems. She lives here, which means she can’t afford to feed here.”
            “Hey there Jason.” She cooed as we reached her.
            “Hey Jess.” He smiled at her.
            “Who is your friend?” She eyed me hungrily.
            “Jess, this is my brother, Ares. Ares, meet Jess.”
            Her eyes widened, and she studied both of us. “Good genes. Very good.” Thankfully she then stepped aside and let us in. I was about to punch her. No one would blame me; she’s a vampire.
            Jason sauntered over to a table, seeing no other option or an escape, I followed. Shortly after, he informed me that he was going to get a beer.
            “Want anything?”
            “Water.”
            “Fine, but that means you’re driving home and I’m getting smashed.”
            I watched him go to the bar, because it was that or watch girl on girl dancing, which by the way, is only hot if the girls dancing are, and they weren’t. So, I was watching when one of the bartenders, a beautiful woman, walked up to him to get his drink order. Something about her was captivating, though I couldn’t say just what.
            I spent the entire night watching her, even after Jason got back to the table. So when he declared that he needed another beer, I went to get it for him. I walked up to the bar, expecting to introduce myself, and maybe even flirt a little, but she only humored me long enough to get my drink. The other woman at the bar flirted with me some while I was waiting, but she didn’t mean any of it, and I wasn’t interested. I did make sure to get a good scent of the girl I was interested in. Something that was not perhaps good, because it led me to the decision to track her the next day. A dangerous decision, but I had to talk to her.