For Whom He Fights

by NaiKa Storm

  Kurt didn’t like the way Michael was staring at Andronaisa. He gave him a slight kick and then ran off. He hoped Michael would follow. The two ran together for a bit longer until Michael took off in the opposite direction. Kurt assumed it was back to where he was staying. He didn’t care as he made his way back home. The first thing he did when he entered the house was check on his mother. He smiled to see her sleeping so soundly, curled up in the middle of the bed. Giving her snout a quick kiss, he went to take a shower before starting on breakfast. Today’s breakfast was going to be simple and healthy. According to her doctors, his mother needed to eat healthier. So breakfast comprised broccoli, mushroom and cheddar cheese omelettes, bacon, and toast. By the time Kurt finished all that and got started on the coffee, it was turning seven and he heard his mom’s soft patter as she came down the hallway into the kitchen.

  “Morning Ma,” Kurt turned to grin at her and handed her a cup.

  “Morning Kurt. Thank you.”

  His mother sat down, sipping on her coffee and eyeing the food in front of her. “Where’s the meat?”

  “You have bacon, Ma.”

  “No sausage? Maybe we should get Mr. Marks-”

  “We have plenty of sausage, ma,” Kurt cut her off. “But I’m not giving you bacon and sausage in the same meal. That’s too much cholesterol and we don’t want to offset another heart attack.”

  Kurt laughed when she grumbled before taking a bite. “Well, at least you cooked it the way I like.”

  Kurt laughed again and kissed her cheek, “I always do.”

  “So what’s the plan for today?”

  Kurt shrugged, “Nothing really. I’m taking a day to just de-stress.”

  “De-stress? Did something happen last night?”

  “No. I just wanted to take the day and just relax after hanging out with George and Andronaisa. I also don’t want to have to think about this case.”

  “Andronaisa? Who’s that?” His mother blinked.

  Kurt sighed, “Ma, I told you about her. She’s the friend of George’s cousin who moved here from San Diego. I offered her to come with us last night to make up to her for nearly killing her.”

  “I see. Is she pretty?”

  “Ma!”

  “What, I’m just asking!”

  Kurt sighed, “Yes, Ma, she’s pretty.”

  Kurt’s mother grinned, “Maybe you should invite her and George over for dinner.”

  “Why so you can torment me? I know what you’re trying to do, ma.”

  She gave her son an innocent look. “I’m not trying to do anything. I just think it would be nice to invite George and her friend over. The girl needs some friends, I’m sure. And possibly a home cooked meal.”

  “Ma! George cooks! And from what George tells me, she can too.”

  Kurt sighed when he saw his mother’s stern look. “Fine. I’ll invite them.”

  She clapped her hands, “Wonderful.”

  Kurt shook his head, as he could see his mother already preparing the dinner meal. What on earth did he get himself into? His mother was going to take one look at Andronaisa and declare her his mate. Not that Kurt wasn’t attracted to her, but he didn’t think she was his mate. And something told him she wasn’t really ready for a relationship. Kurt chomped on a piece of bacon before putting his head on the table. This was going to be a nightmare.

  “HOW COME YOU NEVER told me that wolves were around here?” Andronaisa asked George over breakfast.

  George blinked. “I don’t know. I mean, I guess I didn’t think of it. How do you know we have wolves?”

  “I saw a couple this morning. I was standing on the porch and a couple of them ran past the house.”

  “That’s odd. They mostly run along the trail so they don’t get seen by humans.”

  “How many are there?”

  George shrugged. “I don’t know. I never really checked.”

  “Wow. That makes me wonder if there were any wolves back home. I mean San Diego is such a big city that if there were you would never know it.”

  Andronaisa thought about last night and how she saw Kurt’s eyes and assumed it was a trick of the light. Maybe it wasn’t a trick, and Kurt was actually a wolf. However, if that was possible, wouldn’t that make him a werewolf? Not an actual wolf? Was she attracted to a werewolf? Could that be possible? Was that what Kurt and George were hiding? That Kurt was a werewolf?

  “Andy? You seemed to space out there for a second. Are you okay?”

  Andronaisa nodded. “Yeah. Just thinking that’s all.”

  “You know, they won’t hurt you. They pretty much steer clear of us humans.”

  Andronaisa nodded her head. “Yeah.”

  George was about to speak when there was a knock on the door. Frowning, she stood to answer it.

  “I’m looking for an And-roy-nah-see-uh Davis?”

  Andronaisa rolled her eyes as she stood and walked to the door. “That’s me. Can I help you?”

  The guy handed me a box, “Delivery for you.”

  Delivery? Who the heck would send her something? Andronaisa thanked the man and then walked away, staring at the slim box. There wasn’t anything fancy about the box, just plain white, and there was no return address or anything.

  “Who could’ve sent you something?” George asked, standing next to her.

  “I don’t know. The only ones that know where I live are you and Stephane. Well, and Kurt, obviously. But...” Andronaisa frowned, still staring at the box.

  “Well, open it! Maybe Kurt sent you something to apologize for his behavior last night.”

  Andronaisa snorted. She doubted it. But she opened the box, anyway. And nearly jumped out of her skin. She tossed the box on the floor. Inside was a single rose, but it was dead. And covered with maggots. Or some kind of bug. Like those dead roses scorned lovers give to their exes in movies? Andronaisa gasped and covered her mouth.

  George didn’t say anything, just picked up the card that was inside the box and read it out loud. “Andronaisa, I hope this flower finds you in good health. Haha. Hope it didn’t scare you too much. Consider yourself warned, darling. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will stop me from getting you back. You thought you were getting away? Guess again. I know where you live and believe me when I tell you that, I know your every move even before you make it. You are not getting away that easily. Love Michael.”

  Andronaisa covered her face as the tears fell. This couldn’t be happening. She came here to get away from him. And now... George walked over and put her arms around her. “It’s going to be okay, Andy. We’ll figure this out.”

  Andronaisa looked at George and shook her head. “No. It's not okay. How did he know the exact address to send that too? And yesterday, when I bumped into Kurt? He had just called me. How did he get my number? I had it changed before I came here, so only you and Stephane know my number.”

  George nodded. “I don’t know, Andy. I really don’t, but I promise you, we will figure it out and do our best to protect you.”

  Andronaisa looked at her. “How do I know it wasn’t you?”

  She scoffed, “What? Are you serious?”

  “The only people that know about my phone and where I live are you and Stephane.”

  “And you think we had something to do with it? Unbelievable.” George snorted.

  Andronaisa twisted her hands. “I’m just trying to understand, George. I’m scared and I don’t know what to do.”

  “Andy, I get it, believe me I do, but let me tell you, I wouldn’t betray your trust and give your whereabouts to a madman like your ex.”

  Andronaisa nodded, “I’m sorry.”

  George smiled. “It's okay. I totally understand, but please, trust me. I know I'm a fairly new person and friend to you, but I would never hurt you or sell you out to your ex."

  “I know. I know. I’m sorry,” Andronaisa said again.

  "Don't be, you're used to living life in fear and not knowing who you can trust. Believe me, I underst
and."

  George went to pick up the box, inspecting it with a gloved hand. “Well, I would say we can fingerprint this box, but that wouldn’t do us any good. Not only would we just find you and the delivery guy’s fingerprints, we already know who we’re after. I think what concerns me is that you can’t have dead flowers ordered and delivered. So he must’ve packaged them himself.” she tossed the box in the trash.

  "Okay, but where'd he get it from?" Andronaisa wondered.

  "He could've gotten it from anywhere. Where he got it isn't important. It's the message he's sending you."

  “Which basically is him saying he’s coming to get me,” Andronaisa said.

  George nodded. “I think it's more than that. He’s saying that he’s already here and nothing you do will stop him from making you his again. He doesn’t plan on leaving without you.”

  Andronaisa sighed as she sat on the couch and pulled her knees up to her chest. “I should’ve just stayed.”

  “No. Stephane was right about you getting out.” George said as she sat next to her, “Michael would kill you. No matter what, you can’t go back to him.”

  “How do we stop him?”

  “I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out. I promise,” George answered as her phone rang.

  Andronaisa went into her room and pulled out her laptop. She should look into the stuff she needed to work on starting her own business, but she started searching up other things. Werewolves. She was determined to find out if Kurt was a werewolf.

  “Andy?”

  Andronaisa slammed the laptop shut and looked up. “Yeah?”

  George raised an eyebrow. “That, um, was Kurt. He told me to ask if you wanted to come over for dinner. His mom is inviting us. But you don’t have to.”

  “No, I would like to. Tonight?”

  George nodded. “Yeah. Are you sure?”

  Andronaisa raised an eyebrow. “Do you not want me to go?”

  George shook her head. “No, it's not that. It’s just that after what just happened...”

  “Thanks George, but I’m fine. I would like to have dinner with Kurt and his mom.”

  George nodded, “Okay. I’ll text him,” she said before walking out of Andronaisa’s room.

  Andronaisa waited until she left before opening her laptop again and reading. Her eyes went wide, and it made her wonder if George was also a werewolf. She pulled out her phone and texted Stephane.

  Andronaisa [sent 10:00:15]: Hey Stephane. I know it's pretty early and you’re either asleep or at work. Just call me or text me when you can. I found something interesting. And I need to share it with you.

  Chapter Ten

  Kurt was sitting in front of his laptop and instead of doing stuff for work, he was researching about werewolf mates. He knew that not all of what he found online would be a hundred percent correct, but he needed to get an idea, at least instead of asking his mom or the alpha like he originally planned. He just didn’t want them thinking he had already found his mate. So that was what he was doing when his phone went off with a text from George.

  George [sent 10:30:23]: We're both coming. I tried to tell Andy she didn't have to, but she was determined. So I hope you and your mom are on your A game. I know there's no more full moon to worry about, but still...

  Kurt chuckled and shook his head before replying.

  Kurt [sent 10:30:27]: Don't worry George everything will be fine. Ma will be on her best behavior. I'll make sure of it.

  George [sent 10:30:30]: That's not what I'm talking about and you know it. Kurt, Andy's digging. Really digging.

  Kurt stood from his desk and flopped on his bed like he was a teenager talking to his best friend instead of a grown man talking to his partner.

  Kurt [sent 10:30:34]: What do you mean?"

  George [sent 10:30:36]: Last night she must’ve noticed your eyes changing on more than one occasion and then this morning she saw two wolves run past the house. When I came into her bedroom, I saw her computer open and it looked like she was looking up werewolves. I know that it could’ve been any of your pack running past the house, but the eye changes Kurt...

  Kurt [sent 10:30:37]: It's not like I mean them too! It just... happens when I'm around her. I can't explain it.

  George [sent 10:30:38]: It's called sexual attraction Kurt

  Kurt [sent 10:30:40]: No George, it's... different. There's this... pull that I've never felt before. And I've been attracted to other girls, but I never felt like this.

  George [sent 10:30:40]: hm...

  Before Kurt could type a reply, his mother called and asked for his help.

  Kurt [sent 10:30:45]: I gotta go. Gotta help Ma. I'll see you guys later.

  WHILE KURT WAS BUSY helping his mother prepare for George and Andronaisa’s visit tonight, Andronaisa was busy doing her own research, in between trying to decide what to wear for tonight and working on her business stuff. She had always told Stephane she wanted to start her own interior design business, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do it. It seemed like a lot more work was involved than she realized.

  “Okay, Andy, I think I have found the perfect outfit for tonight,” George said, coming into her room. “It's not too slutty, but it shows him that you’re interested in him.”

  Andronaisa shook her head. “George, I kissed him last night. I’m pretty sure he knows I’m interested.”

  “Well, good, but now we want him to know you want him. You’re not just interested in him.”

  Andronaisa laughed. “Right, and that’s what this outfit is going to do?”

  George was holding a knee-length black sleeveless dress with sequins on it. It was one of the outfits that Andronaisa allowed George to get for her.

  “Girl, this is enough to have him bust a nut right in front of his mother,” George laughed.

  “George! I don’t need him or want him to ‘bust a nut’ in front of his mother or anyone!” Andronaisa giggled.

  “Just put it on. Trust me, you won’t regret it.”

  Andronaisa grabbed the dress as George tossed it to her and sighed. “Fine.”

  LATER THAT EVENING, Kurt straightened his shirt while looking in the mirror. It wasn't technically a date, nevertheless, he wanted to look presentable. George may have seen him at his worst, but Andronaisa hadn’t, and he wanted to make a good impression on her. Especially after the way he treated her last night. He walked into the kitchen and his mouth watered as he inhaled the scents of his mother’s cooking. Kurt loved it when his mother cooked. And cooked big meals like this. All the spices that wafted from the food was enough to make your mouth water. And she never told what spices she used. Occasionally Kurt had been able to guess some of them. This was because she used a lot of the same ones, depending on what she cooked. And she would always say there was a special ingredient, but it was just to throw people, especially Kurt, off.

  He kissed her on the cheek, “Smells good, Ma.”

  “Of course it smells good. What you expect? Me to cook bad food?” she asked, speaking in that funny accent of hers.

  Kurt rolled his eyes. “Really Ma? I hope you aren’t going to be talking like that all evening. And remember, while George knows we’re werewolves, Andronaisa doesn’t.”

  His mother nodded, giving him a smile. “Of course, darling. I’ll be on my best behavior. You want to impress her.”

  “Ma, she’s a friend of George’s. And I would like her to be mine too. There’s nothing about trying to impress her. I just don’t want her to think we’re crazy people over here in Cheshire.”

  “Where is she from?”

  “San Diego.”

  “Wow. That’s a long way.”

  Kurt nodded and was about to say more when there was a knock on the door. Smiling, he went and answered it. “Hey ladies, come on in.” He moved to the side to allow them to enter the house.

  “Hey Kurt,” George greeted.

  “Hi,” Andronaisa blushed as she looked at Kurt. “What smells so good?”

/>   “Ah, that would be my mom’s signature pot roast.” He gestured to take their coats and when Andronaisa removed her coat revealing her outfit, Kurt’s mouth went dry and he had to keep himself calm to prevent an eye shift or worse, himself from pouncing on her.

  George giggled. Kurt cleared his throat as he went to hang up their coats.

  “Andronaisa, would you like a tour? George has been here plenty of times so she doesn’t need one,” Kurt smiled.

  Andronaisa blushed again. “Sure. I’d like that, if you don’t mind.”

  Kurt offered her his arm, and with a small smile, Andronaisa took it. George snickered behind them, but otherwise didn’t say anything. Kurt walked Andronaisa around, giving her the grand tour of his house which started with the living room and ended with the kitchen.

  “And here is the kitchen where you see my mom, Rosalie, cooking her absolutely delicious, and most famous pot roast.”

  “It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Williams.”

  Rosalie smiled, “Please, call me Rosa. You must be Andronaisa. I must say, that’s a unique name.”

  Andronaisa smiled. “Yes. My mom prided herself on unique names. That’s why I usually tell people to just call me Andy, mainly because most people can’t say my name right. And I don’t enjoy hearing them butcher it. But Kurt refuses to call me Andy.”

  “Kurt has always been so proper. That’s just how he’s always been. Never one to cut corners. You like pot roast, dear?”

  Andronaisa nodded. “Yes ma’am. I haven’t had it for a long time though. It was a favorite dish of my mom’s, especially around the holidays.”

  “Seems like your mom has good taste. Does she know you’re out here?”

  “My mom passed away a few years ago.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry dear.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Well, dinner’s not quite done yet so why don’t you all just go watch some television or something and I’ll call you.”

  “Thanks, Ma,” Kurt responded before leading Andronaisa back into the living room.

  “Your mom is really nice.” Andronaisa smiled as she took a seat next to George.