Winston fumed as he waited in line for his popcorn. Yeah, Destroyer didn’t need to worry about his work mate, Brad getting in the way when it came to wooing his other work mate, Hayley. Nope, Brad took one look at Avery and boom - he was smitten and hanging on her every word.
Hayley hadn’t exactly been pleased to meet Avery, but Destroyer seemed to think that bringing Avery had been intentional and thought Winston was some kind of genius. Nope, definitely not a genius. More like an idiot carped his beast.
Avery had excused herself to the bathroom. Brad – the six-foot-three, ripped leopard shifter - was waiting outside for her.
Damnit! He should have known…
“Hey.”
Avery appeared at his elbow, and his wolf whined excitedly.
Winston looked around, but there was no sign of Brad.
“Where’s Brad?” he asked suspiciously.
Was she about to tell him that the two of them were going to skip the movie and go on a date?
She shrugged unconcernedly. “Probably still hanging around outside the bathroom. There’s another exit that’s supposed to only be for employees, but you’d be amazed at the places you can go if you have an SEA badge.”
“Ah…”
“No offense, but I wasn’t exactly enjoying Brad’s company. I mean, we came here to watch the movie. But he just spent five minutes lecturing me on how boring it was going to be and how much he loves The Expendables trilogy.”
“Oh, I actually like those movies, too,” said Winston a little sheepishly. His wolf snarled at him to shut up, but he needn’t have worried…
“Well, me too,” admitted Avery, “but I love The Princess Bride, and he was kind of boring. He also said Lego was just for kids, and he completely lost my attention at that point.” She gave him an almost shy look. “What do you think of Lego?”
He thought about lying, but then quickly thought better of it. “I love my Lego Millennium Falcon.”
Avery beamed. “Good.”
The queue started moving. “Can I get you anything?” he offered.
She looked delighted by his offer, but still said, “You don’t have to do that.”
“Nah, I have a special card for this movie theatre – I pay so much per month and get discounts on tickets and a discount on snacks…”
Okay, now his offer was less kind, though Avery didn’t really see it that way.
“You do? You must tell me how to get one. But since you’re offering I’ll take a cherry soda, and how about we split some popcorn?”
His mouth went dry as he imagined holding a tub of popcorn on his lap while Avery’s hand dove in and…
“Sounds good,” he gulped.
In a slightly squeaky voice, he placed his order, and he was duly given two sodas and a large popcorn, and incorrect change.
“Uh, I gave you a twenty,” said Winston. “This is the change for a ten.”
The cashier humphed. “No you didn’t, I don’t make mistakes like that.”
“Well, I’m afraid you have this time,” said Winston, trying to sound both friendly and forceful.
“Sir, you’re holding up the line,” he said in a bored voice.
“Hey!” snapped Avery.
The cashier flinched at her tone, and his eyes widened as he found himself under the scrutinizing glare of over six-feet (in heels) of bristling lioness. Her lovely eyes flickered to gold, and she growled. She looked downright menacing.
“The man said he gave you a twenty, so he gave you a twenty. Do we have a problem here?”
“No, no, no,” stammered the man. With fumbling hands, he grabbed the extra ten and pushed it at Winston.
“Thank you,” said Avery, as nice as pie.
“What a douche,” she muttered as they walked away.
“Yeah,” he agreed faintly.
Was it him or was that… incredibly hot?! Gave both him and his beast shivers. Man, she really was something.
*
Avery tapped on the van window, hopped in and passed Moose a coffee. He nodded his thanks. So far, so boring.
Avery stifled a yawn. She had planned on a nap before her surveillance shift was due to start, but watching The Princess Bride had been too tempting. Plus, it meant she could spend some time with Winston. They both knew every single line in the movie. It seriously pissed off Brad – who had finally caught up with them in the theatre – but she loved it that they both said the lines at the same time as the actors.
“Anything happening?”
The huge male shrugged. “Not really.”
They both paused as Alfie – Murphy’s goon and an enormous elephant shifter – exited the trailer, hurrying in a way that they had never seen before from this particular shifter. Something was wrong; something was happening.
“Maybe he should be followed,” rumbled Moose.
“Yeah, can you stay here?”
“Sure, you want me to call back up?”
Avery shook her head. “He might just be going to the gym.”
“He doesn’t look like the gym sort,” scoffed Moose.
“Then he might be going to get pizza; I’ll see if it leads anywhere and I’ll let you know.”
Moose reluctantly nodded, and she took off after the elephant.
*
Wolfman searched for the van in vain. Yep, after a surprisingly wonderful night out with Avery (as Winston), he was now searching for a way to impress Avery (as Wolfman). It was a little strange that the two sides of him were both spending time with her now, but as long as he didn’t screw up and blurt out something he shouldn’t know – as he had already almost done in the comic book store, he’d be golden.
The van didn’t seem to be active that evening. But he noticed something strange – there were fewer homeless people on the streets.
Wolfman knew one of the regular care workers who frequently came around trying to place people in shelters. His name was Joe. He had regularly tried to persuade Bert and Jones to try and find better shelter – all to no avail, but he appreciated that Wolfman tried to help them. Joe confided that no one really felt safe on the streets anymore. There were rumors going around about a van that came and picked people up with offers of shelter and food for the night, and then they were never seen again.
People who hadn’t wanted Joe’s help were now a little keener to take it. Maybe that was for the best, but it didn’t help Wolfman catch and stop whoever was doing this.
He perked up on seeing a young boy acting suspiciously; he was hanging around an ATM. Couldn’t have been more than ten-years-old. He remembered the other boy he had caught trying to pick that guy’s pocket.
Hmmm.
His phone rang, and on seeing his mom’s name on the caller ID, he decided it was best to answer. Otherwise, she would just call and call until he did answer. Her record was fifty-six calls in one night. He didn’t want to give her an opportunity to break that.
“Mom, what is it?” he snapped.
“Don’t speak to your mother that way,” she chided.
His wolf groaned. “Mom, I’m a little busy.”
“With what?”
“Mom!”
She clucked her tongue. “I just wanted to let you know that Tara is still here.”
“She is?”
“Yes! And it would be nice if you could come home and say hi.”
“It would?”
“Yes!” she growled.
“Uh, tell her I said hi.”
“But, Winnie…”
“Gotta go. Love you. Bye.”
The young boy was trying to take something from a woman’s purse.
*
Avery followed Alfie for half an hour before she realized they were just going around in circles. Her lion growled in frustration. He had to know she was behind him.
She was going to call the tactical team leader, Lake and ask him to send someone else to follow him when abruptly, Alfie pulled into a parking space and got out his car.
Yeesh, for someone so huge, he sure could move when he wanted. She quickly followed suit and ran after him, trying not to make it too obvious that she was behind him. But honestly, as she ran down alley after alley, she was starting to think she had lost him.
Right up until she ran smack dab into a solid wall of muscle - which then proceeded to slap her in her face. Dazedly, Avery staggered backward, her vision blurring. But even if she couldn’t see, she could sense her attacker moving towards her.
Her lioness howled protectively, and her claws flexed as she lashed out, swinging wildly. She caught flesh, heard a grunt and then smelled the coppery scent of blood.
Footsteps echoed away from her. She bent over, holding onto her shaking legs, breathing in and out as the world slowly came back into focus.
Crap.