SIW Adam & Bronwille: Teaser Ch 06

Adam strolled through the streets late at night. He had visited the local Alpha earlier today and explained his presence. Alpha Ramirez understood his position and need for revenge and had offered him any assistance he would need. He hoped it wouldn't have to come to that but it was nice to know he was covered if the need arose. Looking around, he tried to search for any indication something wasn't as it was supposed to be.

So far, this evening proved to be very lame without much happening besides the local drunks setting up camp in the deserted alleys, making their "comfortable" beds from cardboard boxes. The corners of the streets were graced with what appeared to be young girls, but on closer inspection, were older women heavily clad in make-up, selling their bodies to whomever could afford them.

He felt sad seeing how these females had to lower themselves to this standard to make ends meet. He was convinced the majority of them had one or more kids tucked away at home and others were trying to earn extra cash towards their college funds. One or two approached him as they saw him sauntering their way, but a simple shake of his head stopped them in their tracks. However, he didn't mind the appreciative glances they threw his way, as they pumped up his ego.

As he walked past them, he tried to sniff the air and when he passed dark alleys, he tried to scan them without being obvious about it. Checking his watch, he saw it was nearing eleven pm and decided to make his way over to a club downtown. When he had called his contacts some days ago to ask about details, he was told that the main place where this particular gang operated from was a dance club called "The Dark Pit". It usually just got called "The Pit" by the locals.

From what his source had told him, the police had tried to raid the place time and again. Not once could they find anything that they could use in court that would shut them down and put away some of the high rollers of that particular gang. His source at the police department had given him some sealed files and he had gone over them this afternoon trying to get a glimpse of how they operated.

The file had contained a list of all the dead girls. You couldn't really name them women yet. Looking at their dates of birth, most were barely of legal age. His wolf shuddered in response to Adam reading all these facts. The poor girls were all found in the same state of undress, clothes ripped apart, covering nothing of their frail bodies. As he arrived at the last name on the list he had a lot of trouble reigning in his wolf. Only after reasoning with him that they would get their revenge, did he back down and let Adam have full control again.

It hadn't taken him long to find out who the cop was that had talked to Bronwille at the hospital. With a bit of searching on the net he had found a tiny article stating a woman, who desired to stay anonymous, had been found on the steps of the local hospital. She had been badly beaten up and it was visibly obvious she had endured some severe abuse. It was at the end of that article that they named the officer in charge of this investigation.

A bit of more searching told him Bronwille never pressed charges and had simply disappeared. Remembering her story and how detailed it was, he could only take an educated guess at what happened once she was discharged from the hospital. Another search showed him at which station this officer worked. Luckily for him a distant relative had worked in the same station and a quick call made it possible for him to get his hands on the file that now lay scattered over his hotel bed.

He knew he could have asked for a room at the local pack's grounds, but he preferred the solitude of staying at the hotel. He wasn't really alone and yet he was.

A bit of walking and more inspections later he arrived at the club. The entrance was buzzing, loads of young people waiting in line to get inside. It was clear on some faces you had to be real pretty or very handsome to get an invitation. The envy on some faces was just creepy. Not wanting any special treatment he just went and stood in line. Some of the girls started checking him out, but he ignored them.

A tap on his shoulder made him turn around. He had to look down to make eye contact with the little weasel like person he had spotted guarding the entrance. His tiny fingers were almost constantly tapping away on an I-Pad2 while his eyes were scanning the waiting crowed.

"You seem to be up for a good night, my lad," the little weasel said in an even more ear shattering voice.

Adam raised a brow questionably.

"Well, do you want to get inside or do you prefer waiting here outside until it's your turn," the weasel checked his watch, "in about two hours?"

"If you say it like that, by all means, lead the way," Adam replied. He had to push down the urge to just give that little man a push.

"Then follow me, my lad," the little man continued as he kept tapping away on his tablet.

The two guards, who more resembled tree trunks than humans, stepped aside and opened the double doors, letting the little weasel and himself inside. Once inside he got bombarded with loud music and a wide variety of scents. Some were familiar, others he didn't recognize, but luckily most of them were just human.

The little weasel who had led him inside had disappeared without a trace and left him to his devices. A thing he didn't mind at all, it allowed him to make a sweep of the club, making it seem he was checking out the female population. Often he felt hands gliding over his arms, trying to stop him or turn him, but he evaded all of them. He wasn't interested in them, he only wanted one and she wasn't here right now.

Adam started to get the feeling he was being watched. Turning around 360° he didn’t notice anything or anyone that was focusing on him. He just couldn't drop that feeling and he moved to the sides, wanting to inspect the darker corners. He wasn't able to sense vampires but seeing as he had picked up the scent of a few other shifters like him, he was sure there must be a few here hiding in the dark.

The first few spots he passed all appeared normal. The next however had a vampire who was in a tight embrace with a young woman. The feint metallic smell alerted him the vampire in question was feeding. He couldn't help but stop and watch; he was curious at what the vamp would do once he was fed.

The vamp looked up and saw Adam watching him feed, his pupils dilated slightly as he registered that Adam was a wolf. His surprise was quickly gone and as the vamp locked eyes with Adam, he had the nerve to wink knowingly and continued with his meal. At this, Adam tilted his head and waited, he really wanted to know how this would end for the human.

Not much later, the vamp straightened himself after licking the tiny wounds and making them disappear. He looked at the female for a few stern seconds and then she turned with a glazed but satisfied look in her eyes and mingled with the rest of the crowed again. It seemed to Adam that the vamp had fed but stopped well in advance so as not to hurt or alarm the human that something had happened to her.

He turned back to the vampire, who was staring back at him with a curious look on his face.

"You know wolf, if you want food you'll have to go catch a pig in the basement. This floor is only for those needing blood and bit of a good time," the vampire informed him with a voice so sweet it was actually not befitting a creature like him.

"Then it's a good thing I'm not here to feed, but to mingle," Adam replied, "maybe I just want a bit of a good time."

"Just watch out for a tall blond she-wolf, she'll eat you alive. It's not often a were comes here. She might set her claws in you and not want to let you go for a while," the vamp teased.

His insides were preparing for a roller coaster. He just couldn't stomach the idea of touching another female, not even a female wolf. However this little bit of information did spike his interest. "Does the she-wolf have a name? So I know who to avoid. If I wanted a she-wolf I could have stayed home with the pack and picked out any bitch there. I need a bit more than that." He had a hard time keeping his emotions at bay. He hadn't thought his journey would start out like this, but every little opportunity to find something he had to take and use to his advantage.

"Let me think, ooh right, think her name was Dolores. Can't say I didn't warn you. Think twice before crossing her. She's the boss' newest pet and so far she has gotten everything her little greedy heart desired."

"Thanks for the heads up. I'm Adam by the way," he introduced himself, extending his hand towards the vampire.

The other waited a few seconds and just when it would turn embarrassing, he took the extended hand in his own and shook it firmly. "I'm Chasey. I'm the resident vamp."

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Anxiously Bronwille paced back and forth in front of the tavern. Checking her watch once more she could officially say that Mia was late. She could only imagine what had caused her tardiness and she wished she could be in the same position. She was just about to start another stretch of pacing as she saw Mia rounding the corner and hastily walking up to her.

"Sorry I'm late," Mia excused herself.

"No you're not sorry, but I can take an educated guess why you are late," Bronwille replied in good nature as she hugged her friend, looped her arm in hers and started dragging her towards the tavern.

They took a seat in the back and both grabbed a menu. Mia scrounged up her nose at most things that were listed. It seems that after a few weeks of having an easy pregnancy the little quirky phase was starting. Half of the items on there made her stomach turn and only one or two things looked appealing to her taste buds.

As she looked up at Bronwille she told her she could pick anything she wanted for breakfast "But please don't take anything with eggs!"

The same waitress from before came up to their table and jotted down their order and returned immediately with two cups of coffee before disappearing behind the counter and taking care of the rest of their order. Bronwille fidgeted with the menu and Mia couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer.

"So tell me, why here of all places? When I brought you here you freaked at first. So spill"

"I had a little eye opener and well what time is good to do anything than doing it right away? Think I needed a bit of support so I would actually come and not chicken out," Bronwille explained.

"So you want to give Adam a chance to win your heart?"

Bronwille blushed at those words. Deep down she knew Adam already had won a major part of it. He had succeeded in breaking down a lot of the walls she had built around her and not just around her heart.

"Think it might be more me letting him in. I'm still in doubt but some harsh words woke me up and made me realize that despite everything, I deserve a shot at happiness too, don't I?"

"Sweetie, I'm glad you're finally seeing that. If anyone deserves anything, it is you. You went through hell and back. Just one step at a time, Adam won't disappoint you. Besides if he does act like a jerk, I know a few guys who would gladly make him sing in a lower tone, but I don't think that will be needed. Between you and me, he's been a wreck and an absolute pain in the butt until that day I brought you here. I thought at one point he was redecorating his kitchen, he was making so much noise and scaring off the customers."

"Oh"

"Yup, trust your heart is all I'll say and trust Adam, he won't disappoint or hurt you, ever. I know he's a big man, but he's got a huge heart."

Bronwille blushed at the words of her friend, but they were words that cut deep and also hit the inner wall she had built around herself. Maybe things could work out for her.

Slowly she let the air slip away, not having noticed she had been holding her breath for a short time. "Maybe I can do this Mia, but it will go slow."

Mia got up, walked around the table and pulled her friend in a tight hug, not caring what the other few people present thought of it. "That you are willing to try means more than anything else. As I said, one step at a time and you'll get there and I'm always here if you need me."

"Jeesh, I kinda feel silly now that I have been sequestering myself all this time and now in such a short time span I'm getting on top of things and actually moving on."

"It just takes the right man to come along," Mia said as she sat down again. "But right now, what I want even more is some food, I'm starving!"

Bronwille laughed at the dramatics of her friend and gazed at the menu just to look at something.

Secretly Bronwille hoped Adam would bring it to them again and maybe then she could ask him to join them for a coffee or so.

As they waited for breakfast, the two chit chatted about everything and nothing, mostly ending up talking about baby stuff.

When the waitress returned, Bronwille was disappointed a little. She really had hoped Adam would come out to greet them, especially now it seemed they had made a nice second start. The disappointment must have been clear on her face because the waitress picked up on it.

"I don't want to meddle in things, but if you're hoping to see Adam, he ain't here. He's gone for a few weeks, he didn't say how long exactly. I'm Katie by the way; I've known him since I was a little girl. I normally wouldn't take this liberty but I happen to notice how concerned he was for you the last time you were here. It's a side we rarely, if ever see of him," Katie explained.

Part of this was a relief for Bronwille but on the other hand it put a dumper on her new found self-esteem. He wasn't here, he was gone and he didn't tell her. Gone was her mood as she looked down at her plate, her appetite was gone too.

"Thank you for telling us, Katie," Mia sad picking up the mood change in Bronwille. "When you hear from him, will you let us know? It's rather unlike him just to up and leave and not leave a message behind."

"I'll keep my eyes and ears open. I have no clue where he went or why. I'm just as curious as you. He left early yesterday morning and just left a note on his desk telling us he'd be gone a few weeks, just as I told you before."

"It would be much appreciated. Here's my card, my number is on the back. Don't hesitate to call, even if it's just to inform me about him. Maybe he'll let us know something too in a few days," Mia said, handing over the card.

Katie tucked the tiny piece of paper in her pocket and looked at both of them, noting the pale complexion on the tiny redhead. The news that Adam wasn't here hit her head on and she hoped he wasn't fucking up things with just disappearing on them.

"I promise," Katie said, "from the second I hear anything from or about him, you will know it. He did leave one specific order. If either of you were to come in and have something to eat or drink it was on the house. So enjoy the food."

With those words Katie turned and went back to the bar.

Mia checked Bronwille and she didn't like what she was seeing. She was so pale, she seemed whiter than a clean sheet.

"Sweetie, try to eat something, you need it. Then we'll go to your house and talk about it and I'll call Chris to see if he knows anything. Deal?"

Bronwille looked up at Mia, tears threatening to stain her cheeks.

"Pull it together Bron, get a bite to eat and then we go back to your place."

Taking a few shallow breaths, Bronwille fought back the tears. Mia was right. This wasn't the place to fall apart. She had heard every word Katie had said and in a way Adam wasn't obligated to let her know, but it would have been a nice gesture if he had done that.

Doing as Mia said, she grabbed her fork and started picking in the bowl of fruit. As on autopilot she ate everything, she even ate the croissants. Not a word was said and when both were done eating Mia motioned for Bronwille to get up and follow her.

As they were headed outside, Mia turned and waved at Katie, silently thanking her for keeping them in the loop about Adam.