“Untamed”

Part One

By

Rose Marie Wolf

The bar was crowded tonight. Mallory Buller watched the swarms of people from her seat in the far corner. Mary Sue, stood with a group of men near the karaoke stage. She laughed raucously at their jokes, jokes that Mallory assumed weren’t very funny. Her cousin never showed much of a sense of humor. Her cousin was drunk.

Mallory could do nothing but sigh. When Mary Sue made up her mind about something, there was not persuading her otherwise. She watched her cousin’s blonde hair bob back and forth as she swung her head to the beat coming from the karaoke machine.

“That girl is making a damn fool of herself,” Tony slid into the seat next to Mallory. She rested her chin on her hands and nodded a bit.

“Yep.”

“I brought you a drink.” Tony set the glass down in front of her, but Mallory didn’t look down at it. She could smell what it was. Strong whiskey and cola. She wrinkled her nose. It wasn’t her favorite.

“Thanks, Tone, but I’m not thirsty. Not for that anyway.” She smiled politely and glanced over at him. He didn’t seem to be offended. He nodded his head in a knowing way.

“No problem. Someone out here will drink it.” He took a swig from his beer bottle and leaned back in his chair. His dark eyes followed Mary Sue as she took the stage. Someone handed her a microphone and her voice grew louder as it came over the speakers.

“Okay, okay, I’ll sing something.” She laughed and pushed hair from her eyes. Her face was red in splotches. “I don’t know the words.”

“They’ll be on the screen.” Someone shouted. Mary laughed again. Mallory rolled her eyes.

“She’s lucky her father isn’t here.”

“I’m lucky her father isn’t here.” Tony said with a sharp laugh. “I’m the one that brought her here.”

“It’s my fault. I should’ve told you she can get a little crazy.” Mallory told him. She leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I should’ve guessed. She seems like the type.” He took a drink from his bottle as I stared at him.

“What do you mean ‘she seems like the type’?”

“Well, don’t take any offense to it, but she’s a bit loose…”

Mallory laughed. “Why would I take offense to that? It’s almost common knowledge.” They laughed together, but Tony’s eyes were apologetic.

“Still…her father would be pissed to know I let her behave this way.”

“Yeah, I know.” She sighed once again and watched her. She was singly terribly. Her words were slurred and the lyrics were punctuated with loud fits of laughter. The men around her hollered and whooped. “He would be pissed to know we brought her here too. Not many of our kind come here.”

“Why not?”

“Something to do with the vampire population,” She waved her hand vaguely. “I don’t know. There are a lot of them around here.”

“But we don’t have any problems with the vampires, not for a long time.” Tony watched her with a careful gaze. Mallory was sure to avoid his stare. She watched Mary swing her hips to and fro with the beat of the song. She looked elsewhere.

“No, not for a long time, but Dean still worries.” She finally answered.

“He has no reason to worry. It’s not like there’s a war going on.”

“No, but he’s afraid one might happen.” Mallory scanned the bar quickly. She took in the sights and the smells. She could smell the strong human scent and the musky werewolf scent that emanated from Tony, Mary, and herself.

“Can we drop the topic?” She added before Tony had a chance to speak. She lowered her voice. “We’re the only ones of our kind here.” Tony nodded in understanding.

“Guess tonight was pretty bust.” Tony drained his bottle and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. He looked at Mallory with his brown eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Hey, at least it wasn’t a date or anything. Then it would’ve been really bad.” Mallory shrugged. Mary’s poor attempt at a song were over and she was stumbling from the stage. “One of us had better go and collect her.”

“I’ll do it,” Tony said as he stood up. “Might have to fight off a couple of badasses. They look pretty tough.”

“Oh, Tone, you’re too sweet,” She grinned at him. “Protecting a poor helpless girl like me from the male population.”

“You know it.” He winked and walked toward the stage. Mallory leaned back in her seat and let out a deep breath. She wondered to herself about the vampires. They were said to live in this area, but she had not stumbled upon any yet. She wasn’t afraid to. After all, there was no hostility from most of them anymore, but Dean’s fears became everyone’s fears. He was the alpha male of their pack and it was his duty to take care of everyone, especially his mate and children. Mary Sue didn’t heed her father’s warnings very often. She had suggested this bar, right in the middle of “vampire territory”. Her father would’ve never let her come here and if he knew…

As she sat there musing on this, the door behind her opened and a fresh were-scent filtered in. She quickly turned her head. Carter Douglas sauntered his way in. His blue-green eyes gleamed brightly in the dimly lit room and a typical smirk was plastered on his face. Mallory sucked in a breath and turned her head away.

“Fuck, not him.” She whispered to herself. There was no use hiding. Carter would be able to catch their scents. What was he doing here?

“Mallory.” He drawled from behind her. “Strange seeing you here. You on a date with someone?”

“Hardly.” She said, tersely. “I’m here with some friends. What brings you here, Carter?”

Without waiting for an invitation, the smug bastard pulled up Tony’s empty chair and sat. “Oh, you know me, Mal.” He swept blond hair from his eyes and surveyed her with a grin. She could smell alcohol already on his breath. “I like to expand my horizons.”

“You’re bar hopping.” Mallory answered. “You’re already half drunk.” She turned her head to the bar. Tony was steering Mary Sue away from the group of guys. His face grew dark when he saw Carter sitting there. He narrowed his eyes. The two were never very close.

“Nah, not even close.” He waved his hand at her. His eyes had just spotted Tony and Mary Sue. The grin spread even wider. “Oh, it’s a family affair is it?”

“Drop it, Carter.” Mallory warned. He ignored her.

“Hey Mary Sue!” He called. Mary Sue, who was having trouble discerning where her feet were, lifted her eyes and spotted him. Her ruddy face suddenly became pale when all the color drained from it. “How about we hit another bar after this one?”

Tony whispered something to Mary. She nodded and they both turned toward another empty table. The grin on Carter’s face fell. Mallory knew he was entering a danger zone.

“Just drop it, Carter. Don’t even worry about it.” It was a known fact that Carter had been after Mary Sue for years. She hated him and wouldn’t give him the time of day. And he was just the type of guy to take advantage of a drunken woman. Mary Sue was going nowhere with this guy. And it enraged him. Mallory knew she would have to intervene. The things she did for her cousin…

“I’ll go with you to another bar, if you want.”

“No, I don’t want you.” He said between clenched teeth.

“Leave her alone, Carter. I’ll go with you some where, anywhere…we can get shit-faced. Whatever you want…”

He glared at her a moment. He stood up from the table and began to walk toward them. Mallory sensed disaster. She grabbed Mary’s blue-jean jacket and followed.

“Mary Sue, you can’t turn me down,” Carter said. Tony stood from his seat and blocked his way to Mary Sue. Bleary-eyed, she watched him. Mallory had Tony’s back.

“Let it go Carter. Mary Sue is with us tonight, not you.”

A grin leered on Carter’s face. He lifted an eyebrow. He ignored him and addressed Mary Sue.

“Venturing into vampire territory? That’s not like you, Mary Sue, to disobey daddy’s orders.”

“Fuck off.” She slurred at him. Carter laughed.

Mallory didn’t like where this was going. Carter had always been an obnoxious jerk, but he was inebriated. He was even more so then. He wasn’t going to give up without a fight, and they all knew it. Tony sighed.

“Carter, you heard her. Leave us alone.”

“No, I’m not.” His attention finally turned to Tony. His eyes became angry and cold. “I want Mary Sue to come with me tonight.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” She said. She motioned for Mallory to come close. When she did, she caught a strong whiff of the alcohol on her breath. “Don’t let him take me out of here. I don’t want to go anywhere with him.”

Mallory sat beside her and nodded. She handed her the jacket and whispered. “Don’t worry, you’re not going anywhere with him.”

“You guys must be very brave, or very stupid.” Carter said. Tony crossed his muscled arms.

“Oh? And what makes you say that?”

“The vampires aren’t happy. Don’t you know that? Or is Dean withholding information from the pack again?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. There isn’t any hostility between vampires and werewolves any more.” Tony said in a lowered voice. “And keep your voice down. You don’t know who may be listening here.”

“Oh fuck that!” Carter said loudly and laughed. Eyes turned toward them. Mallory felt her heart sink. Just what they needed, attention turned to them.

“You wanna bet there isn’t any hostility? A few days ago I met one that was pissed off. I had to kill him.”

“Bullshit, Carter.” Mallory said, “You can’t even kill a flea, and Lord knows you need to.”

“Shut up, mangy bitch.” He spat. He balled his hands into fists and stepped forward.

“That’s enough, Carter.” Tony’s hand shot out and stopped him from coming any closer. Carter pushed him away.

“I wouldn’t be so quick to fight, Tone.” He said the name sarcastically. “There’s a vampire in here right now, and he’s been watching you for a long time.”

“Bullshit.”

“No shit. I caught his scent as soon as I walked in.”

“You’re making that up.” Mary Sue said. She stood and tried to slip her jacket on backwards. Mallory helped her. She couldn’t help but search the crowd. She had never met a vampire before. She didn’t know what to look or smell for. Maybe he was making it up. Carter was a show-off.

He shot a look at Mary. He still wasn’t giving up. “Last time, Mary. Are you coming with me or not?”

“Fuck no.”

Carter’s normally blue eyes turned yellow for a split second. Mallory sucked in a breath. He started forward again, but Tony shoved him back. It was a bad move.

Carter balled his hand into a fist and drew it back. It connected with the side of Tony’s jaw. The scent of blood was fresh in the air. It dripped from a cut in Tony’s lip. His eyes blazed yellow as he stared at Carter.

Mallory could feel the intensity in the air and she jumped forward quickly to intervene. She grabbed Tony’s trembling arm and pulled him back. She set her jaw and stood between the two.

“That’s enough, Carter. Get out of here.”

Many people in the bar had turned their attention to them and Carter’s face flushed. His eyes darted side to side. He trembled. Mallory knew he wanted nothing more than to just slug Tony again, but he didn’t like all the attention. He backed away, with his hands in the air.

“Alright, okay.” He said. “I’ll go.” His eyes lingered for a long moment on Mary Sue. She shivered.

A moment later, Carter was gone. The three of them let out a collective sigh.

“Well, that was fun…” Mallory said. Tony wiped the blood away with the sleeve of his shirt. “Let me see that…”

“It’s fine, just a nick. Nothing that won’t heal soon.” He forced a smile. Mallory knew he didn’t feel like smiling. “I think it’s time we head out of here.”

“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.” She turned Tony’s head so she could see his profile. “You’re right, it’s not as bad as I thought. You should still get it cleaned up.”

“Yeah, I’ll head to the men’s room.” He looked to Mary Sue. She had a hard time standing on her feet. “You better take her home.”

“I have to hit the ladies room myself.” Mallory said. “Wait here, Mary Sue. I’ll be back. Just sit down for a bit.” Mary could only nod as she sank back into her chair. “I’ll be right back.”

Together, they walked to the back of the bar where the restrooms were located. Mallory sighed and looked over her shoulder. “You think she’ll be alright.”

“Yeah. Carter won’t show his face here again for a while. Just what was he doing here anyway?”

“Couldn’t tell you. He asked me the same question.”

“Fair enough. See you in a bit.” He disappeared into the bathroom. Mallory sighed and disappeared into the one across the hall.

When she emerged a few minutes later, Tony was still busy. She headed back to the table. Mary Sue was gone.

“Shit.” She cursed. She scanned the bar for her but found her nowhere. She was frantic by the time Tony returned.

“Where’s Mary?”

“I don’t know…” Mallory ran a hand through her hair. “Goddamnit.”

“Did she step outside?”

“Maybe, I don’t know.”

“Come on then.” Tony grabbed his jacket and slipped it on. “We’ll find her.”

“I hope so.” Mallory followed him out the door. It was nearly a full moon and the sky was almost clear. It was cool, and Mallory shivered. Her breath came out in fog.

“God, where is she?” They walked along the sidewalk and followed her scent. “I never should’ve—”

“Don’t blame yourself. It’s not your--” He was cut off. Somewhere a woman screamed.

Mallory’s heart jumped and they ran. They followed Mary Sue’s scent, a scent that was soon combined with blood. She didn’t want to see it. She didn’t want to see her cousin dead.

They turned the corner. Mary was slumped against the wall of the alley. She was clutching her bleeding throat. Her eyes were wide and glossy. A figure in dark clothing leaned over her. Mallory caught the scent of something else. It was a softer scent, not as musky as that of the werewolf, but unpleasant combined with blood. Mallory knew it at once to be a vampire.

The moment he heard their footfalls, he stood and turned his stark white face to them. He broke away from her and began to run.

“Hey!” Tony called after him. “Help Mary!” He shoved Mallory forward and gave chase to the vampire. Their footfalls disappeared into another alley.

Mallory, shaking with fear, knelt beside her cousin. Mary’s jean jacket was soaked in blood. Her throat was torn open. Blood was everywhere and it stained the asphalt. Mallory could tell just with one look that she was dead. She didn’t need to check her pulse to know that.

Hot tears burned her eyes and blurred her vision. She lowered her head. She blamed herself for not taking Mary with her. It was all her fault. She hadn’t listened to Dean’s warnings, and now his daughter was dead. This couldn’t be happening.

She held Mary’s bloody hand and focused on the trail of blood leading away from her body. Though the tears blurred her eyes, she could make out the shapes of the smeared red footprints that lead away. Her breath caught in her throat. A wolf’s paw print led away from Mary’s body.

Her head shot up and she immediately she knew. It hadn’t been the vampire at all. It had been one of their own. But who?

“Carter…” She hissed. It had to be.