The Werewolf Whisperer (The Werewolf Whisperer Series Book 1)

by Camilla Ochlan

  "Please. I want you to have it." Lefty stepped behind Xochi and placed the jacket over her shoulders. He slowly walked around her as if he were a CO inspecting his troops, tugging at the shoulders to adjust the fit. "There. It looks better on you anyway."

  Xochitl pulled the jacket tighter and glanced down at the slanted name patch affixed above the front pocket — Delgado. Overwhelmed, she reached for Lefty and hugged him tight. "Thanks for watching over Miguel," she whispered. "Vaya con Dios, kid." Then she kissed him on the cheek.

  Lefty remained quiet, and Xochi pulled away to look at him. His face had turned bright pink. She shook her head and chuckled. "Pendejo. Go on, get out of here."

  She watched as Lefty walked up the driveway toward the cabin. He never looked back, but Xochitl knew how he felt.

  We're family now. And you never say goodbye to family.

  Xochi blinked back her tears.

  "Well, baby girl, this is it." Vern placed her gear on top of El Gallo's trunk.

  Xochitl tossed Vern the rooster key chain. She knew, as she leaned against the car and watched her uncle inspect the contents of the trunk, he was making sure she had all the necessary safety items a girl traveling by herself would need.

  First-Aid Kit. Check. Spare tire. Check. Flares. Check. Knives. Check. Oh, and shotgun. Check.

  Xochitl giggled to herself.

  "What?" Vern asked and tossed the keys back to her.

  "Nothing. You're just such a dad sometimes." She opened the driver side door.

  "Xoch?" Vern asked. "How well do you know Officer Lucy Lowell?"

  "Why?" Xochitl asked defensively. "Does this have to do with your phone call?"

  "Look. I don't know what Ames wants. But he's asking about her."

  "Well, I was just her CI," Xochi replied. "That's it." She felt bad keeping Vern in the dark about Lowell. But she couldn't risk the information getting back to Ames. She needed to find a way to help Miguel. And she knew, somehow, Lucy was the key.

  "Just watch your six, okay." Vern wrapped Xochitl in his arms and kissed her on her forehead. "Take care, baby girl."

  "I will." Xochi squeezed Vern tight. "I love you."

  She slipped in behind El Gallo's wheel, and Vern shut the door. She rolled down her window.

  "No matter what, I'm not going to stop trying to help Miguel. You know that right?"

  "I know. And so does he." Vern knocked on the roof of the car. "Now go on."

  Xochitl turned the rooster key chain over, and El Gallo revved to life. She waved to Vern one last time and pulled out onto the road. In her rearview mirror, she saw Vern standing in the driveway. Then, he was out of sight.

  Folsom, here I come.

  Chapter 31

  "The person you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please leave your name and number after the beep."

  Beep

  "Pick up your fucking phone! We have a major problem up here. I'm up to my ass in Ferals and that fucking Appalachian mongrel just showed the fuck up. You need to get up here. Right the fuck now!"

  El Gallo slowly made the right turn off Vineland and into the graveled parking lot of the North Hollywood warehouse row. The crunch of dirt and sand beneath the car's wheels made Xochitl's hair stand on end. The memory of having been stuffed in the trunk of Tuti's car and choking on exhaust fumes flooded back. She'd hoped she would have been over the feeling by now. But there it was — nausea.

  Her eyes fixed on the steel grey building ahead — her tomb, or so she'd thought two years ago. The tension in the car was thick, almost tangible. Xochi stole a quick glance at Lucy. She stared straight ahead, knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel too tight. The only thing that seemed to tether the two women to the present was Kai's constant bouncing in the back seat. The boy had grown more hyper as they approached the warehouse.

  Lucy pulled the car into a space at the farthest end of the jammed parking lot. "Busy for a late afternoon."

  "Hmm." Xochitl pulled off Lefty's jacket and tossed it past Kai's head. She took a deep breath and scooted out of the Toronado.

  Kai leapt over the backseat, practically shoving Xochitl into the car parked next to them. He zoomed down the aisle before Lucy shouted, "Kai, stop! Wait!"

  The teen Were whined but stayed glued to his spot, still bouncing with anticipation.

  "Come." Lucy grabbed Kai's arm and led him toward the warehouse.

  Every muscle in Xochi's body revolted against entering the building. She forced her legs to move.

  "Huh," Xochitl grunted.

  "What?" Lucy glanced at her.

  "I don't remember bougainvillea." Xochi pointed to a vine of red flowers growing up the left side of the building. "Or a glass front door."

  "Yeah, flowers were here before," Lucy said, her voice sounding distant. "Door's new. We kicked down the old one. Miguel must have replaced it," she added in what sounded like an afterthought.

  Lucy pulled open the glass door and waited for Xochitl.

  Xochitl took another deep breath and entered into a whole new world.

  Gone was the wide-open space of the warehouse. In its place stood a false wall, spanning three-quarters the length of the room, separating lobby from main interior. The words L & M Gym Los Lobos Luchadores had been spray-painted across it in black and red graffiti lettering.

  Felix's signature script. Guess the kid's still around.

  The face of a giant black wolf with glowing amber eyes, the likeness of Miguel, was painted underneath. Both beautiful and dangerous, the mural depicted her brother perfectly.

  At the far end of the lobby, a black leather sofa, two metal chairs and a round glass coffee table with magazines displayed on top made up the seating area.

  "Tickets are twenty each," a husky male voice said.

  The two women turned their attention to the reception counter. Behind it stood a hulk of a man, at least six foot five with a tattooed bald head. He wore a tight black workout shirt with the same wolf face outlined in red.

  Kai lunged at the reception desk so fast the hulking man nearly flung himself into the back wall.

  "Whoa!" The man threw his hands up to his chest.

  "Kai," Lucy hissed. "Back."

  Kai took a step back but continued his playful lunge attack, feigning aggressiveness like Xochitl had seen Tau and Thandi do before they began to wrestle. The thought of her puppies made her heart ache a little.

  She shook off the feeling and approached the desk.

  "I'm just here to see Miguel," Xochitl stated matter-of-factly and headed to the gym entrance at the end of the false wall. She didn't get too far. The hulking receptionist caught her by the arm. Kai growled deep in his throat.

  "What the fu—" Xochi spun out of Hulk Man's grip, grabbed his wrist and twisted. He sucked in a quick breath.

  "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Lucy stepped in and patted Xochitl's shoulder, stopping the lock before she cranked too hard. Xochi let go. The oversized receptionist blew out the breath he'd been holding.

  "My friends don't like to be touched." Lucy nodded to Xochitl and Kai.

  Hulk Man rubbed his wrist. His brow furrowed, and he looked from Lucy to Xochitl, his gaze falling on her La Güera tattoo. She could practically see a light bulb switch on over his head.

  "Oh, my gosh!" Hulk Man lisped and clapped enthusiastically. "You're her. Them! This is so exciting!"

  Okay. Not what I expected.

  Lucy muffled a chuckle.

  Kai, back to his good-natured self, bounced around the room.

  "I'm Reggie." Reggie put out his hand. "It's an honor to meet La Güera!"

  "Uh, thanks." Xochitl shook Reggie's hand. "So, we're good then, Reggie?"

  "Oh, sure. Go right on back." Reggie dug out his cell phone.

  "Sorry about that." Xochi nodded to Reggie's wrist.

  "Nah!" He waved off her apology.

  "La Güera and The Werewolf Whisperer here. Marcus's gonna kick himself for calling in sick," Reggie muttered excitedly to him
self as Xochitl and her friends walked into the gym.

  The warehouse main interior was as Xochitl remembered — expansive. Concrete floors, metal walls, and on the left, a steel framed double door.

  Miguel came through that door. Chained like a dog.

  "Little brother's been busy," Lucy said.

  "Yeah." Xochitl stared at a giant cube-shaped cage centered in the middle of the thousand square foot room. The cage had two entrances opposite each other and a thick taut square mat for a floor. Rowdy spectators of varying ethnicities and species packed the perimeter of the cage on all four sides, screaming and shouting and exchanging money back and forth as they made their fighter picks.

  Miguel — still in human form — sat in his corner, across the cube from another Werebeast, while Lefty toweled him off and barked instructions.

  Two stunning beauties wearing red bikinis walked the perimeter of the cage. They looked identical with long white blond hair that grazed their tanned skin, except one girl was human and the other Feral with wolf-like ears, sharp claw-like hands and a shiny white blond tail. As the twins glided around the fighters, they held large cards with a 2 painted on them high in the air.

  "Are those the Cruz sisters?" Xochitl elbowed Lucy.

  "I don't know," Lucy said. "Don't follow entertainment much."

  Xochitl rolled her eyes but knew the women were the Cruz sisters. Pre-Wereflu, Alondra and Andresa Cruz had been moderately successful Colombian swimsuit models working out of L.A. Post-Wereflu was a different story. Now stuck in California, the identical twins, one an Afflicted and the other not, had emerged as the most sought after models in the world. Their fame skyrocketed as they graced the online pages of Vogue, Elle and Maxim's Were Edition.

  "What the hell are they doing here?" Xochitl wondered out loud.

  Lucy yawned.

  The bell rang, and Miguel, fast and nimble off his corner, used the cage as an extension of himself, hanging like a bat from the ceiling before pouncing on the back of the much larger tan colored Were.

  "He's impressive," Lucy said.

  "Yeah, not bad for a little pendejo," Xochitl grumbled.

  Damn. He's good.

  Moving their way through the crowd, they passed two vatos aggressively thrashing their arms about and shouting profanities at the cage. The crowd roared. Kai looked like he was about to jump out of his skin.

  "Kai, with me!" Lucy clicked her tongue and pulled the boy to her.

  Kai hung his head and shuffled to Lucy.

  Maybe bringing the kid was a bad idea. Oh well, too late now.

  They weaved through the throng of spectators — whispers of "La Güera" and "Is that The Werewolf Whisperer?" buzzing around the arena. By the time they'd reached the edge of the metal cube, the place had gone silent. Only Miguel, his opponent and their coaches, who continued shouting instructions, seemed unaware of their presence.

  "Well, we sure do know how to make an entrance," Xochitl mumbled.

  "Get your hooks into him, Miguel!" Lefty shouted.

  Miguel clinched his legs around the gigantic Werebeast, hooking his arm under the Beast's chin.

  "That's it!" Lefty cupped his mouth. "Now squeeze, kid! SQUEEEEEZE!"

  Xochitl sidled up to Lefty and nudged him with her shoulder. "¿Qué pasa, ese?"

  Lefty jumped. "Shit."

  "Told you I was coming." Xochitl stared at her brother as he struggled to keep his hold on the Werebeast.

  "Seen enough?" Lucy asked.

  Miguel's rear naked choke had begun to take its desired effect on the Beast. Xochi's brother glanced to his corner and spotted her — his confusion altering into irritation.

  "You mind?" Xochitl asked her friend.

  "Nope," Lucy replied.

  "No. Wait," Lefty pleaded.

  Xochitl put her hand up for Lucy to wait.

  "Is this a big match?" Xochi asked.

  "Well, no," Lefty replied. "But it's how we make money."

  "Well, then..." She nodded the go ahead to Lucy.

  Lucy bounded up the steps to cage side and yelled at Miguel, "OFF!"

  Immediately Miguel let go of the Werebeast and backed away. With lightning speed, the Beast ran up the opposite side of the cage, jumped to the ceiling and behind Miguel. Xochi's brother only had a second to turn around before the Beast's massive claw swiped at Miguel's head, knocking him to the mat.

  "Ooh, that's got to hurt." Xochi winced.

  The crowd suddenly came to life with boos and hisses.

  "Thanks, Xoch." Lefty pushed past Xochitl.

  "What the fuck!" Glued to his spot, Miguel pounded his fist on the mat. "That's a foul, Ref!" he shouted to a stocky fellow dressed in black, standing at the opposite side of the cage.

  The referee waved off Miguel's complaint. The okay given to commence fighting, Miguel's opponent crouched low ready to pounce.

  "Uh, Lucy?" Xochi pointed to the Werebeast.

  "STAY!" Lucy raised her hand at the Beast and entered the arena. Xochitl followed.

  The Beast sat on his haunches, tilted his head and whined.

  Kai scurried up the corner of the cubed enclosure, flipped upside down and hung by his legs, swinging back and forth like a monkey.

  Great. The kid's got his own personal jungle gym.

  Lefty stood in the center of the ring. The spectators hooted and hollered, throwing their plastic cups at the cage.

  "Please folks." Lefty raised his arm up. "We're going to have a temporary time out."

  More boos roared from the crowd until Lucy and Xochitl walked to the center of the ring. Once again, a hush fell over the warehouse.

  Miguel arched his head backward and gave Xochitl a crooked smile.

  "Hey, Sis."

  Xochi's heart melted.

  I've waited two years to see that smile again.

  "You mind?" Lefty hissed at Xochitl. "You're fucking with our business."

  "Let him up," she said to Lucy. "But not that one." Xochitl nodded to the tan Beast whining by his angry coach.

  "Okay, come," Lucy said to Miguel, but put her hand up to the other Were. "Stay."

  The Werebeast's coach ground his fist into his palm, clearly desperate to punch Lucy but afraid to make a move on The Werewolf Whisperer or La Güera. Xochitl smiled.

  Lefty helped Miguel to his feet, and the four of them walked to their side of the ring.

  "¡Híjole, Miguel!" Xochitl said through half-gritted teeth. "You're still fighting? After what happened?" She pointed at the arena. "What's Anita think of all this?"

  "Nothing," Miguel growled. "So long as I keep her in the dinero and liquored up."

  Lefty stepped between Xochitl and her brother. "We got to make a living, Xoch."

  "Do not get me started with you." Xochitl pointed her finger at Lefty. "He's your responsibility now, remember?"

  "Hey," Miguel stepped in front of Lefty. "I'm no one's responsibility. Remember?"

  The memory of Miguel hunched over, pleading for Xochitl to leave flashed through her mind.

  "Yeah, I remember," Xochi spat. "But I didn't come to this place..." She felt her throat seize up. "This shit hole...not to tell you that if you keep turning, you might be fucking furry for the rest of your life. ¿Comprendes?"

  "Then I'm fucking furry!" Miguel took an aggressive step toward Xochitl.

  Kai dropped from the cage ceiling into a low crouch by Lucy and growled at Miguel.

  "Up, Kai." Lucy patted the teen's head. "It's okay."

  "I see you got another little mutt to boss around." Miguel pushed past Xochitl. "I got shit to attend to." He stormed out of the cage to another round of boos.

  "Miguel!" Lefty called after his fighter.

  Xochitl started after her brother. Lefty grabbed her arm.

  "Just let him go, Xoch. Don't do this again."

  But Xochitl wasn't finished. She pulled away from Lefty and marched out. Miguel headed for the steel double doors — now marked PRIVATE NO ADMITTANCE.

  "What? You fucking li
ve here now?" She grabbed Miguel, spinning him toward her.

  "What of it?" He pulled away.

  "After Memo?" Hot tears spilled from Xochi's eyes. "After what happened to me?"

  Hurried steps approached from behind. Cheers roared from the crowd. But Xochitl never took her eyes off her brother.

  Miguel's body tensed under her grip, his rage-filled eyes burning a brilliant orange-gold amber.

  "This place is mine. MINE!" He roared. "LEAVE ME ALONE!"

  "Uh, Xoch?" Lefty whispered. "Maybe you should come back later."

  "That sounds like a good idea," Lucy said, tugging at Xochitl's arm.

  "Fine." Xochitl dropped her grip and backed away. "Attend to your 'shit' Miguel. But watch your six, or you'll answer to me." Xochitl stared square in her brother's eyes. "And mijo, you don't want that."

  Miguel's face softened, his rage replaced by sheer pain. Xochitl immediately wished she could take back the implication of her words.

  Too late...again.

  "Let's go." Xochitl looked at Lucy. "Where's Kai?"

  Another roar filled the warehouse, bringing Xochitl and Lucy's attention back to the giant metal cube. At that moment, Kai blindsided the tan Werebeast with a roundhouse kick to the head.

  "You released the Werebeast?" Xochi asked Lucy.

  "I thought we were done." Lucy threw up her hands.

  Working into a frenzy, the blood-thirsty mob shouted, "ground and pound... ground and pound." Kai jumped onto the Beast, tackling him and pummeling him mercilessly.

  "Crap!" Xochitl and Lucy said in unison.

  "Kid's got mad skills!" Lefty sounded awestruck as the referee stopped the fight and raised Kai's arm in the air.

  Kai howled, and the crowd went wild.

  The evening chill nipped at Xochitl, and she wrapped Lefty's military jacket tighter around her. The sweet scent of the pan dulce she'd bought at a nearby Mexican bakery wafted from the bag she carried. She hoped Miguel's favorite pastries would suffice as a peace offering.

  "Sure bringing that's not too pretentious?" Xochitl nodded to the copy of Hounds, and Ferals, and Werebeasts! Oh, My! Lucy had grabbed out of El Gallo's trunk and hastily signed.

  "You always say I need to work on my public relations skills." Lucy walked into the lobby of Miguel's gym.

  Loud metal music blasted from behind the false wall. An unfamiliar male voice yelled, "That's it. A little closer, Lonnie. Get in tighter, Andie."