Werewolves of Chicago: Howard: The Underdog

by Faleena Hopkins

  “Totally!”

  I laugh, tickling him. “I’m kidding. I can tell it was.”

  “Oh!” he chuckles, grabbling my hands and moving them to wrap around his torso. I lie on his chest as he explains, “And they live together for multiple reasons. They help people, these guys. They right wrongs that are going on in our society. Sometimes personal troubles like when they discover domestic abuse, sometimes huge problems that affect all of Chicago like the Russian Mafia and what I told you about. I guess I need to stop saying they,” he mutters, thinking to himself. Meeting my eyes, he says with confidence, “We do what the police can’t.”

  “Like…”

  “Like act outside the law. We scare the shit out of the bad guys and bring justice faster than the system can.”

  “Do you kill people?”

  “Sometimes.”

  “Is that what you did with Tahl?”

  From his change in expression, just bringing up my assailant’s name angers him. “No, we sent him back to his family to deal with.”

  “I wish you’d killed him.”

  “I thought I had,” he mutters, remembering. “But it’s better that I didn’t…there are laws. We don’t kill our own kind, unless there are certain extreme circumstances. And while I could have, there would have been talk considering I didn’t know then what I know now. And I would have had to wait until after he’d succeeded, and that was never going to happen.” His teeth grit together and he blinks toward the window.

  I rise up saying quietly, “I’m sorry I’m prying. It’s just all so fascinating to me.”

  He reaches out and caresses my breast, “I don’t mind. Ask me anything you want. And, yes, to answer your earlier question, I did want to be a doctor when I realized I was interested in science. She didn’t force that on me. I have a knack for it.”

  “A coroner, though? Is that what you wanted to be?”

  He pulls me to him and kisses me, saying in a lower volume, “Being a ‘monster’ makes you numb to the gross aspects of the job. Gore doesn’t faze me. I’m interested in figuring out what happened. Let me get you that blanket.” He jumps up and walks over to the couch where we left it. I’ve been studying him and can’t find anything I don’t like. His body is amazing, but his personality is even better because it’s so disarming how kind he is, and so intelligent, too.

  Grabbing the blanket, he whips it around his arm like a cinnamon roll with his hand at the center. Grinning with his gorgeous cock swaying, he strolls back to me. I glance to my forgotten cup of tea and pick it up in an effort to hide my awe. “Funny that they have chamomile here.”

  “Yeah, right? Not sure whose it is.” Tucking the soft blanket around me, he smiles. “Better?”

  I nod. “But I have to go home soon. My roommate is definitely wondering where I am.”

  “You have a roommate?”

  “Lynnie. She’s my best friend actually.”

  His head swings toward the door and his body tenses. “They’re back.”

  Surprised, because the door is still locked and everything seems quiet to me, I wait. “You can hear them?”

  He goes for his jeans. He’s moving fast. Scooping up my dress, he tosses it to me and then runs for the windows, pulling open the curtains. Dawn explodes into the darkly lit space and War is mumbling, “Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck…”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  He struggles with the panes like they’ve never been opened before. They finally give under the pressure. Cool, early morning air drifts in through golden-blue light.

  I ask, “Are you okay?” pulling on my dress.

  “Hurry up, Alisa! Put it on.” His urgent stare jumps toward the front door as a key is turned in the lock.

  I get it into place just before Xavier and Draik stroll in, look from War to me, then back again. They stop walking abruptly, look back at me, eyes wide. Draik grins and Xavier frowns. Blondie jumps in the air and whoops.

  “Atta boy, War!!!” he laughs, heading for the kitchen with take-out bags. “Fuckin’ hell, I didn’t see that coming! That’s what I’m talkin’ aBOUT!”

  Now it’s my turn to blush. “I really have to get going,” I mutter, searching for my shoes.

  “They’re right here.” War rushes forward, and we exchange a look. “I don’t have my car with me. Xavier, can I borrow your car?”

  “No.”

  We both look over at his abrupt and harsh reply to find him walking toward us. “Draik’ll take her home. We have to talk.”

  I don’t like the sound of that at all. “I want War to drive me.”

  “Well he’s not driving my car because if he leaves with you, he won’t come back. It’s not going to happen. You can Uber it or have Draik drive. I want to talk to Howa…to War…alone.”

  It’s so final I can’t argue. There is no way I’m Ubering it home after all that’s happened. No fucking way at all. “Alright fine.”

  Ferocity takes over War’s features. “Draik’s not driving Alisa anywhere.”

  Glancing to Xavier, I wait for what’s going to happen.

  They glare at each other in an Old West standoff. No one’s blinking. Draik’s off to the side, very interested. Finally Xavier crosses his arms. “Howard. You don’t trust your packmate?”

  War’s glare transforms. “Of course I do! I uh…yeah, okay. Let’s talk.” He turns and takes my hands. “I’m going to grab your purse so you can put my number in your phone.”

  It sounds ludicrous to do something so mundane. “Okay.” As soon as our numbers are exchanged and saved, he pulls me to him and kisses me in front of his friends. For just me, he says, “You are amazing.”

  My surprised smile turns to a grin and I touch his nose to mine and nod, telling him with my eyes that he is, too. Draik goes to the kitchen, brings the take-out bags to the coffee table and tells Xavier, “You’ll need this to distract him with.”

  He follows me out, and as we head for the stairs, I ask, “Can we use the elevator?” adding as Blondie looks over with raised eyebrows. “My knees.”

  “Oh, right. Sure.”

  As soon as we’re out of the building, the sweet comfort I felt when Howard kissed me is replaced by a growing terror that I will never see him again.

  I think I might be falling in love. Fuck.

  26

  Howard

  As soon as the heavy door closes behind them, I walk to it ready to chase after her. Xavier stops me with a strict, “NO.”

  I snarl, “Don’t order me around,” spinning to face him.

  “I’m telling your wolf. You, come and talk.” He jerks his chin to the couch.

  Sitting on the leather chair across from me he opens a bag from Sabatino’s and brings out incredible-smelling lasagna. I breathe it in and my stomach growls. He cocks an eyebrow at me before revealing garlic bread dripping with butter, plus a container of extra marinara sauce.

  “I think I’m in love with you right now,” I mutter, reaching for the fork he hands me.

  “He’s back. And no longer able to wear white at a wedding.”

  I go beet red and grin, diving into the layers of meat, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and homemade pasta. “I’m not going to talk about it,” I inform him with my mouth full.

  He tears off some gooey bread for himself and leans back, scooping up extra butter left behind on the foil. “So?”

  I shake my head still chewing. “I’m not telling.”

  “Did you hurt her?”

  The next forkful freezes in front of my mouth. “NO!”

  He blinks toward the table and tosses the bread on it like he’s no longer hungry. “You’re lucky.”

  “What are you saying?” I throw the fork into the container and set them both down. He gets up and walks to the kitchen without answering me so I call after him, “Xavier, why would say that?”

  “I don’t know how to tell you this, kid.” With his back to me he picks up Jameson Irish Whiskey. It’s like the th
ing is as heavy as a cadaver. He pours a glass. Just one, which is fine by me. I don’t need a drink. Just an answer.

  “Why would I hurt her? I’d never hurt her!”

  Troubled, he ambles back. “You wouldn’t. But he could.”

  He points to my chest, where the eternal flame resides and where my wolf is at attention now that Alisa-in-danger is the subject. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s the opposite of what you think.”

  “Howard, she’s not like other girls.”

  “I know!” I stand up so we’re on even ground. “She’s my mate. Why would I hurt the female destined to be at my side? That makes no sense.”

  Xavier is speechless. He blinks a few times and cocks his head. “You know?”

  “Of course I know! I mean, I didn’t at first, but then I figured it out when…Well, that’s between Alisa and me, but yeah. That’s why I acted out of control. I love her! She’s mine!”

  Xavier blinks a few more times. He’s literally silenced by my reaction. He stares at his glass for a long while before he tips it back and downs it all. Laying it on the floor, completely skipping the coffee table next to us, he moves to get around me, and plops onto the couch with a grunt. “Howard, you’re so different from us.”

  I sit next to him and we stare at the wall. “I can’t help that.”

  He exhales. “I don’t want you to. But it’s uh…how can I describe it? I’m not good at these kinds of talks.” Struggling for the words, he finally explains, “I know about women. You don’t. And yet here you are, professing love like it’s the most normal thing that ever happened to you.”

  “Normal? Have you met me?” I laugh. “It’s not normal. I’m just not fighting it.”

  Xavier’s eyes dart over to me. “That’s what I mean. You’re not fighting it. We all fight it.”

  “Why?” I ask, genuinely curious.

  “You’re going to be with only her. Forever.”

  “You just said the happiest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  He stares at me, eyes narrowing. Getting up, he goes to the window, shaking his head as thoughts rattle through him. But he doesn’t say anything else.

  When Draik returns, Xavier announces without ceremony that I know who Alisa McKinley is to me.

  Draik’s reaction is the complete opposite. “Way to go, War.” He grabs me, lifts me up in a bear hug and spins me around while I’m laughing. “Our boy got laid AND found his forever mate!” He slams me down, musses my hair and nearly knocks me over with a shove. “Way to fuckin’ go, man!”

  Grinning over to Xavier, I announce, “Okay, NOW I need that drink. A celebration!”

  Just then we all turn around, ears cocked to the hallway outside.

  “Get a fourth glass!” Draik booms. He jogs over to the door and opens it before the key turns in the lock. I stroll over but can’t help but feel my excitement sobering up.

  Tan and with his thick brown hair sun-streaked from Costa Rica, Curragh strolls into his old home and regards the room. “It smells like sex and pasta in here. Where are the women? Is that garlic bread?” He heads for it, and scarfs down a piece as Xavier goes to get us glasses.

  “There’s only one woman,” Draik tells him, with a double meaning in there. “War found…a girl.”

  Curragh cocks an eyebrow to his friends. They’ve been a pack for a long time. I’m the newbie and he’s still getting used to my being here. His joking manner is directed only at them as he says, “And he fucked her in our home? Were you guys watching?”

  My wolf nearly lunges out of me. Hunching over, I growl, “Careful.”

  His head swings around and seeing me, he drops the bread and faces me. “Did you just tell me careful?”

  Xavier shoves the bottle into his chest to stop him from coming at me. “She’s not just some girl.”

  Curragh’s been a father figure to me even though he’s not at all aware of that. He glances to Xavier and holds there, trying to understand his meaning. His face changes to surprise. “Are you telling me I leave for one week and this guy finds his mate?” He inspects me from where he stands as I try to calm my beast.

  “Don’t talk about her like that,” I grumble.

  Curragh’s eyebrows go up, shocked.

  “Yeah, that’s what we’ve been dealing with. It’s been a joy.” Draik passes the glasses around.

  “It better be a fucking phase,” Curragh mutters.

  “Howard, the only reason you’re still standing,” Xavier smirks, “…is because Curragh was where you are just months ago, acting just as much out of character.” He meets the other wolf’s eyes. “What? You nearly took my head off in that warehouse. Remember?”

  Curragh relaxes. “Does this mean we have another wedding to live through. I can’t do it. I fucking hate those things.”

  “Yeah, you looked miserable at yours,” Draik jokes. Curragh ignores him.

  I throw my free hand up. “Whoa! We’re taking our time. We’re not rushing anything, not that it was bad that you and Detective Monaghan did.”

  “She doesn’t know, does she?” Xavier asks.

  “No, and she doesn’t have to yet. I’m going to move slowly.”

  “Good luck with that,” Curragh mutters.

  “I am! I think what we’ll do is move in together, and that way you don’t have to explain to Curragh that I was going to be your new roommate.”

  “You’re what?” he demands, looking around.

  Draik laughs, “You moved!”

  “Doesn’t matter. You can’t replace me that quickly.”

  “We were trying to save him from doing something he’d regret. The guy—”

  I interrupt, “—I wasn’t handling myself well. They’re training me now that I have these abilities.” I shrug with my old sheepish grin. “You missed a lot.”

  Curragh nods. “How’s that going?”

  “Good! I kicked a door down.”

  Green eyes fire up with amusement. “Ha,” he says, dryly. “Fuck, you’re so young.”

  “This is what I’m saying,” I announce, pointing at my chest. “I’m young. She’s young. We’re just going to enjoy each other and not put any pressure on anything.”

  “He’s afraid she’ll run screaming,” Xavier chuckles. “She’s got blue hair.”

  That seems to explain everything. “Ah.”

  Draik raises his glass. “To Curragh returning home! And…to War!” We all clink and drink.

  But as he lowers his glass, licking his lips, Curragh’s confusion deepens. “Wait…why are we toasting to war?”

  Xavier always enjoys the hell out of how much shit Curragh gives me, so he looks at me and smirks, “You tell him.”

  I mutter, “No way,” setting down the rest of my drink. “This is on Draik.”

  “What’s on Draik? What war?” Curragh demands. “Is Alexander back?”

  Under our breaths we laugh at the secret joke. Telling him my new name? No one wants that task. Draik throws and arm over Curragh’s shoulders. “So…how was the honeymoon?”

  My phone goes off. “I’ll be right back,” I mumble as I see her name on the screen. Walking away for the illusion of privacy, I answer, “Hey! How are you? Everything okay?”

  Her voice is shaky. “Can you come over?”

  Worried, I demand, “Are you okay?!”

  “No. I’m not. Please hurry. And bring your friends.”

  27

  Alisa

  Staring numbly at the grisly scene splayed out before me I call again to her. “LYNNIEEE!!!” Tiptoeing over dripping body parts that are spread out across the floor, I gag at the decapitated head sitting on our couch as though its watching T.V.

  “Dear God.”

  I go into her bedroom dreading what I might find. She’s not in here, but two shoes with feet still in them torn off mid-calf sit next to her bed like empty slippers would.

  Holding vomit back, desperate to find my best friend, I search the bathroom, gasping at the torn arm that wai
ts on the counter, plaid shirt material matted to it, a toothbrush stuck in between the fingers. Who are the sick fucks that did this? Where is she? When they killed Trevor, did they take her and…“LYNNIEEEE!”

  My room is last and for some reason, it is empty of gore. Terrified I slump down onto the carpeted floor by my bed with the taped gauze pulling at my knees as I pull them up to my chest and ball myself up like a small child.

  When War bursts into my apartment I rise up. Deep male voices sound off as they take in the gruesome scene. He shouts for me, “ALISA!”

  “I’m in here!” He appears in my bedroom doorframe before I’ve finished the sentence, rushing over to pull me into his arms.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes…no! I don’t know where Lynnie is!”

  “Lynnie?” He pulls back, searching me, grabbing my face, his eyes wild with relief and anger.

  I cry out, “My best friend!” tears now free to fall.

  Draik calls to us, “We found her!”

  War and I rush out. Xavier, Draik and someone I don’t recognize but immediately know is one of them from his size alone, are all standing in front of her closet. Three heads turn toward me as I run in.

  Rushing over I discover she’s alive, hiding there and shaking. She’s dressed in her normal clothes as though going to class. Her hair is shampooed and her shoes are still on, but her pretty face is streaked with mascara over tomato-red cheeks. Her eyes are worse off. I sweep down to embrace and rock her, whispering, “Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re alright.” She says nothing. Meeting War’s eyes to see what he thinks of this, I ask her, “Lynnie, can you hear me?” She still doesn’t answer.

  Xavier motions to the other two to follow him out. They vanish into our main living space while War kneels down. “Did you see who did this?”

  It’s horrible how the mind works, how you can’t get images out of your head once you’ve seen them. “No! It was all here…when I got home. I didn’t come inside the apartment right away. When Draik dropped me off I went to our roof garden and sat for a little while. I was...” I trail off, not wanting to admit I’d been daydreaming up there about what happened between War and I. And here she was hiding in the closet the whole time! Squeezing Lynnie harder, I whisper to her, “I’m so sorry I didn’t come right in! I didn’t know!”