Chapter 5: In The Mix

Walking down the staircase, hand in hand, I could feel everyone's eyes on Rebecca and I. Quickly scanning the crowd, I could see a few familiar faces.

Most of them I couldn't put names to, but one in particular, a lion, caught my attention.

He was in the far back of the room, but his bulk loomed over all those around him. Unlike everyone else, he wasn't wearing a formal white tie getup, but rather the same suit I'd seen him in back on the Diamond Dice.

English still managed to look better dressed than everyone else.

He was steadfastly keeping his head turned away from me while everyone else openly stared, but I could still see the glint of his eyes as he glanced my way.

I tried to make a beeline towards him, but I'd no sooner set a single claw on the floor than a flood of people began to swirl around me.

I'm not normally one to suffer from claustrophobia, but this was enough to leave me gasping for breath in seconds.

The people only parted when a raccoon in a suit that left even mine looking like trash stepped forward.

The crowd parted around him like waves. It wasn't that he pushed them back, but they just seemed to move from before him like magic.

"My dear friends," His voice had that same stereotypical east coast accent that the man at the door had carried, "Tommy and Rebecca, I'm so glad that you could make it." He took a hand that I hadn't even realized I'd offered.

"Thanks, uh..."

"How impolite, I haven't even introduced myself!" The crowd around him laughed as though he'd made a joke. "We have so many new friends here today that sometimes I get ahead of myself." He smiled, showing off a set of perfect, white teeth. "It's just that I've heard so much about you, Tommy, that it practically feels like we've already met. I'm Allen West. Your host for the evening."

"Thanks." I wasn't sure what to say. "I, uh, hadn't realized that I'd made that much news." The crowd around us laughed again.

West didn't even seem to notice my words, he'd already shifted his focus to Rebecca.

"My dear, I most certain we haven't met." He lifted her hands elegantly to his lips. Rebecca just blushed. "There is no question that I would remember you." I could only just keep my teeth covered as I felt a growl build.

I snaked my arm back around Rebecca's back, pulling her close to me.

"Yes, well, it's good to have met you, Mr. West..." I began pulling away.

"Nonsense, nonsense, you must join me." His grin flashed again. I had a feeling the cost of his dental work alone could buy me a whole block of V-town. "You're the mayor. Please, be my guest of honour."

He swept his hand out and an opening appeared through the people gathered around us. It let to a table tucked neatly against the far wall. I noticed that the table was about as far away as possible, and our path lead us past almost everyone in the room.

"Come, you must join me." He was behind us now, gently pushing forward. One of his arms was over my shoulder and the other over Rebecca's. I could only just hold myself in check at the thought of him touching her.

I felt like a piece of meat, being paraded around by West in front of his guests.

From the corner of my eye I could just see English, standing head and shoulders over the crowd, he was watching us intently now. His golden eyes were cold.

We were at the table soon after, and West clapped his hands for 'refreshments'. One sniff of the drinks that were set before us and I lost any appetite I may have had for his offerings.

The raccoon watched me closely from over the rim of his own glass as he took a sip. I noticed that Rebecca took a polite taste of hers.

"Tommy, my friend, you insult me. Won't you at least try your drink? It's the finest scotch I have, almost as old as the Cataclysm itself."

"Thank you," I pushed the glass away from me ever so slightly, "I know I must be performing a major social gaff here, but I really don't drink."

He levelled a steady gaze at me, watching closely. I noticed that all the people we had passed by to get to the table had conveniently stepped back, though none so far that their cocked ears couldn't make out every single word.

"Why would that be, Tommy?" West's voice was smooth. "Everyone drinks. It's a sign of civility."

I pushed the glass further away. "Sorry, Mr. West..."

He held a hand up, "Please, please, Tommy, call me Allen."

"Sorry, Allen," I shrugged, "I really can't. It's, well," I was stretching for an excuse. I didn't just want to say 'I don't trust you enough to get drunk here'. "It's my regeneration. It causes a bad reaction with the alcohol." That was just short of a lie. I could drink just fine -- though I didn't care much for it -- the problem was that my regeneration would clear away the buzz in seconds, leaving me with nothing more than the hangover.

"Ah. I'm so sorry, Tommy. My sources have failed me, I hadn't heard that."

I didn't like the sound of him having 'sources' about me.

I tried to steer the conversation into something a little safer.

"You'll have to excuse me, Mr. West, but I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage." I let one of my lips raise in a half grin, "You seem to know all about me when I know nothing of you other than your name."

He smiled again, teeth almost blinding me. "Yes, I'd forgotten that you are so new to this world." He laughed. "I tend to keep away from those below us. Not to put too fine a point on it, Tommy, but I'm the richest person in all of V-town."

Well, that explained the smile.

"I'm not much of one to flaunt it, Tommy," He continued, "What's the saying? If you've got it than there's no need to show it? Yes, that's the one. I own shares in a huge number of the most successful companies in the city, Tommy. I have a feeling we'll be working very closely together." I got another look at that smile. "The last administration was so jaded, so difficult. You're fresh and new. I'm sure we'll get along wonderfully."

He snapped his fingers and the glass in front of me was replaced with water. Then a heartbeat later West was gone.

It took me a moment to simply catch my breath. I sipped on my new drink. Gods, I must be more nervous than I thought, the water burnt as it went down.

"Rebecca," I looked over at her. She was still snuggled up beside me, right where she should be, "I hope that made more sense to you than it did to me."

She shook her head and whispered in my ear, "I'd heard of Allen West, lots of the richest men on the Dice used to talk about him, but I've never met him before. He wasn't the type to gamble."

She didn't get another word out before a shadow fell across the table. Looking up, a pair of bulls stood before us.

"Hiya, Mr. Mayor. Beatrix and I are up from the south side, we're a couple of your biggest supporters..."

There was no clock nearby, and I quickly lost track of time. It seemed that everyone wanted a chance to come by the table to speak, shake my hand, and get a promise that I'd meet with them and discuss some government contracts.

Everyone from Beatrix and Earl who ran one of the biggest farms in the area, to Clint Brown who ran Brown's meat packing. Gods, I shook so many hands that my wrist was getting sore.

I couldn't even remember when Rebecca had slipped away. It had been wearing on her even worse than I, and I'd quietly whispered in her ear that she might not need to come straight back after making a trip to the ladies room.

I didn't even look up as the next group sat down. It was all I could do to take another sip of water. I'd worked my way through half a dozen glasses by now.

"Good evening, Mr. Taggert."

Huh?

Looking up, I met the grey eyes of Sayer. The dog was dressed head to claw in a perfect white uniform that mirrored Jon's. Speaking of Jon, the other dog was seated next to him. The shepherd had a slight smile to his lips.

I just shook my head.

"Sayer." I couldn't help but giggle. "The first friendly face I've seen all night. Don't tell me the two of you are here to try and weezle some cash and contracts out of me too."

The old dog laughed. It was an odd sound coming from such a worn and weathered body. "No, Mr. Taggert. We've just stopped in to see how you're holding up. I've thrown you to the sharks, and I want to make sure they leave me something to put back to work tomorrow."

I stretched my neck. Ye gods but I had a migraine. That and it felt like the lights in here were about three times too bright.

"I'll be fine, Sayer. But thanks for stopping by." I waved my hand, "You better get going or the next person in line will start getting uppity."

The dog didn't move.

"There was one small request I would like to make of you, Mr. Taggert."

Oh gods, here it comes.

"And what would that be?" I lowered my head to my hands.

The dog leaned forward, lowering his voice, "The assault from a few days ago," He paused for a moment to make sure I was paying attention, "We've been doing our best to keep it quiet, does no one any good to know that the mayor is in danger, but word has gotten out that it was a hunter who attacked you."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, so what do you want me to do about it?"

The Great Dane looked nervously from side to side before continuing. "With the, ahem, restrictions you've placed on his interrogation, we've yet to extract any useful information from him. This wouldn't be a problem, except for the fact we've received formal request from the hunters to have him transferred to their custody."

"From the hunters?" This didn't make sense. He was speaking about the hunters as if they were another country, not just a loose group of people who worked out in the woods.

"Yes, Sir." Jon cut in, "There are a number of old laws from shortly after the Cataclysm that grant the hunters rights in areas where their own are involved. As this was a case of one hunter attacking another, they believe they have jurisdiction."

"But I was the one who was attacked... oh, yeah. I guess there right."

Sayer was speaking again, his voice even softer now. "The request came directly from the hunter's alpha. As this appears to be a... personal matter, I decided it best to leave it in your hands." He paused for a moment to look me straight in the eye. I had trouble focusing on his face. "We do not want to relinquish him, Mr. Taggert. I'm old enough to know what happens to a hunter who attacks one of their own." His face pulled into a painful expression. "You may think what we have done in the past revolting, and it has been, but we have done nothing compared to what the hunters do to themselves."

Sayer abruptly moved to stand up, Jon instantly at his side. "I'll leave it in your hands, Mr. Taggert."

A dozen more people passed through the chairs across from me before the torrent slowly began to let up. I'd worked my way through another two glasses of water by then. Gods but my throat must be dry, the water felt like fire as it went down. Every time I drained a glass another one would appear as if by magic.

Forcing myself up from the table, I waved a hand at the next person in line. I got a bit of a disgusted look from them for making them wait, but my bladder was filled to overflowing.

The building must have been specially designed for parties just like these, there were a half dozen commercial style washrooms spread about. It took me a few moments to find a quiet one.

Gah, one more thing I hate about having to wear a suit -- the fly. Humans must have a better time at this, but I've got fur down there. It took me a half dozen tries to get zipped back up without getting caught.

I took a moment to splash some water in my face at the sink. Gods but did I look half dead. I looked even worse than I felt. My eyes were bloodshot and a vein was standing out in my nose. I just wasn't cut out for this political garbage.

I heard the door to the washroom slam behind me. A moment later a grey shape appeared in the mirror.

"Hello, Son."

"Gah!" I nearly leapt right out of my suit. Falling back to the floor, I had to grip the sink just to avoid landing on my tail.

"Dad, what are you doing here?"

I couldn't remember my father ever looking like this. He was completely nude, as per normal for him, but his fur was brushed out and cleaned until it glowed. He looked nearly regal. Even the walking stick he clutched at his side was immaculate.

"You didn't think you were the only one invited to this little get together, did you, Son?" His lips rose in a slight smile. He took a step forward and the grin evaporated. "Gods, Tommy, you look like hell." He brought a hand up to brush my face. Any other man and I would have pulled away, but my father brushed at the fur of my mussel without a thought. "What have you been drinking?"

"Nothing, Dad. It's been water all night. You know I don't drink." I gently pushed him back.

All I got was a "hurmph." In response.

"Is Mom here? What's going on?" I had to lean against the counter to keep my balance.

He nodded. "We just arrived, and don't plan on staying long. We had to come or risk a whole out incident. One does not ignore an invitation from Allen West with impunity. And..." He paused for a moment, eyeing me critically, "I heard a rumour that Sayer and Oaks had already spoken to you tonight."

I bowed my head slightly, not sure why I was ashamed that they had gotten to me first.

"Then you know what I want." His voice was hard.

I looked up at him. He'd once again changed from being my father to being the alpha.

"Dad," It felt wrong to call him that when he looked like this, "It's a police matter. I told them they couldn't torture the man. Can you promise me the same?"

His gaze fell upon me like a ton of bricks, cold blue eyes seemingly unblinking.

"One of my hunters attacked you, Tommy. They attacked you. My son. My own flesh and blood. I won't provide any comfort for someone who has done that. We will find out who did this, and we will make them pay."

"I won't give him to you, Dad." I had to look down, I couldn't meet his eyes. "I won't give him to you if you're going to kill him. We're not animals..." I was struggling for breath now, as if his presence alone was smothering me, "We're not beasts. I won't let you kill him."

"What?" His voice was nothing more than a whisper, but it filled the room around us like he'd screamed at the top of his lungs. "Do not disobey me, Tommy." His hand shot out, wrapping around my mussel and forcing my eyes up to meet his. I couldn't look away. "You are my son. More than that," His voice fell to a growl that left my legs trembling, "You are a hunter. I am your alpha, and you will do as I command you."

Oh gods. I wanted to be anywhere but here. Lost in the mountains, falling off a cliff, even bleeding to death in the ocean. I wanted to be anywhere but here.

I'd never seen my father like this. Never. Not when I was growing up, not even when he'd been screaming at people in the cabin. This was beyond all that.

The only thing that kept him from ripping out my throat right now was the fact I was his son. I was a hunter, and I'd disobeyed a direct order. That was the same as challenging him.

"You are the alpha." I tried to look down, to wrap my tail around my legs, to do anything to show submission, "But whether I want it or not I'm the mayor now. I have to protect the people of this city. That cat tried to kill me, but I can't allow him to die in retaliation. That... that would make me no better." I could barely speak as his claws cut into my face. I could feel the blood as it began to drip, running down his arm.

His hands fell from my face a moment later as he turned his back to me. "Be grateful for who you are, my son. That's the only thing keeping you alive." In an instant he turned, claws outstretched. They tore bloody gashes down the side of my cheek.

I yipped, pulling back, fully ready to believe that he was about to pound me into submission. I'd never seen it, but that's what alphas did. That's how they kept order.

For a handful of heartbeats I laid curled up on the floor, expecting to feel my fathers fangs tear into me at any moment...

I heard the popping of his knees as he slowly lowered himself down to the ground. His soft arms curled around me a moment later to pull me to his chest.

My face was still bleeding, but he cradled me in his fur anyway. I could just make out his voice, "I'm so sorry, Son. I'm so sorry."

I wasn't sure how long we laid there, but neither one of us moved until my face had healed. He helped me wash the blooded cheek and suit, but didn't bother with his own fur. I tried to rinse it from him, but he just pushed me away.

"Aggie and I will be leaving now. We've done all we came here to do. We'll be staying at the house tonight and returning to camp tomorrow afternoon."

"Camp, why? Aren't all the hunters back in the city now? I thought the camp was long gone."

He gave me a hard glare. "I have yet to allow the hunters back into the city. The flow of fresh meat has returned, but the hunters remain with me, out in the forest."

He gave me a sharp shove towards the door and a second later I was standing outside the washroom.

It was quickly obvious why we hadn't been disturbed. There were two wolves standing guard outside the door. They were both nude and stood out like chipped claws among the formal wear.

Renald and Amstys.

I wasn't sure how much they knew. I walked past without giving either of them a glance.

Back at the table again, it was like nothing had even happened. The line had grown longer, but other than that it was unchanged.

I sat through another dozen handshaking sessions, but I was pushing them along faster now. I didn't have the patience.

Just about all the people who had come to see me had been in couples. That was why I looked up when only a single person sat down.

Her scent hit me a moment later. The last time I'd smelt her musk had been just before she'd thrown wine in my face.

"Molly?" My jaw nearly dropped open.

"Hello, Tommy."

I'm sure I must have made sounds of some sort, but I doubted that any of them were words. I couldn't seem to force my lips to move.

Molly and I had been a package in collage, a couple of years ago. The pure, snow-white wolf sat across the table from me now, wearing a dress that was in every way a match for what Smith had slid Rebecca into.

She just smiled. Opening her mouth, her voice was huskier than I remembered, deeper, more wild. "It's been a long time, Doggie."

Gods, 'Doggie'. I'd hated that nickname. I'd gotten it the day she'd learned I couldn't hunt. But those days were long behind me now... yet I couldn't get my tongue back in my mouth long enough to correct her.

It felt like I'd only blinked, but she was around the table now, sitting next to me. I could feel her fur rubbing up against my suit as her face slowly came up to caress my neck.

"I heard you were here, Doggie, and I just had to come and see you." She giggled. It was deep and slow. There was no trace of the young girl I'd known. "You're big and powerful now. I just had to come and see you. And you're all alone."

I wanted to say something... anything, but her scent wove around me. It mixed with the migraine I'd had before, growing, swirling into something much more.

Oh gods. My body was reacting to her so close to me. My suit pants were rapidly becoming far too tight.

"Molly." I finally got a word out past my numb lips. It sounded like more of a strangled cough.

She must have taken the single word for something much more, because she began unbuttoning my vest and the shirt underneath it. Right there, in public with people standing in line not ten feet away.

And I swear to the gods that I couldn't move a muscle.

"Ahem." In the blink of an eye Jon was standing before us. Someone shouted at him from the line, telling him to wait his turn. The dog looked down at me, his dark fur a near perfect counterpoint to the spotless white suit. "Sir. It's been a long time since you've last seen your guest for the evening. Rebecca. Would it not be a good idea to go find her?"

Rebecca.

It took everything I had to focus on Rebecca's scent. Her real one, not the fake feline she wore while in disguise.

I still couldn't speak, but I was able to shoot out one of my arms. Molly fell back with a squeek, nearly tumbling off her chair. The same chair that Rebecca had been on not so long ago.

I was disappointed that Jon didn't reach out a hand to steady me as I stumbled to my feet. He'd turned to the line.

"I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen, but they mayor will not be receiving anyone further tonight. You are welcome to request an appointment with his official office."

There was a chorus of moans and a few cat calls, but I was too busy to notice. Molly had me by the tail.

"Doggy, come back here." Her voice was coy as she tightened her grip.

I suppose there was one saving grace, her grip had kept me from falling over flat on my face as I'd stood up. I wasn't sure what was wrong with me tonight, but I could barely walk.

"Molly," I had to pause for a moment to collect my thoughts. Just the simple act of breathing brought her scent to me, sending my already clouded mind spinning. "Let go. I have to find Rebecca."

She pouted. It wasn't a becoming expression on a canine face. "Rebecca? Is that the name of your new squeeze? What's she got that I don't?"

It was all I could do to keep myself from lashing out at her.

Tail grasped in both my hands, I pulled as hard as I could. I could hear my fur coming free in her grip, and a moment later I felt fire run up my spine, but by then I was already stumbling away.

I hadn't the slightest where Rebecca might be. This place was huge, and the party must span a dozen rooms. I couldn't find anyone I knew, yet everyone seemed to want to pull me aside and talk.

It didn't take long for my temperature to rise, trapped as I was in this gods awful suit. I spotted a door leading out into the gardens. I fought towards it like a drowning man.

No sooner had I gotten five feet out than my stomach rebelled. I was on my knees now in the dirt, doing my best to toss up my socks. It wasn't that there was even much of anything to toss, really. I hadn't had anything to eat since lunch, but my body refused to stop trying.

It must have been a good ten minutes before I was able to stumble to my feet again with the assistance of a near by tree trunk.

The night was quiet out here. The door back to the party had swung shut and I could hear the wind rustling through the branches. Almost like I was back out in the woods again.

The effect was only magnified when I heard Rebecca's soft voice coming from up ahead.

Pulling myself together as best I could, I walked slowly down a small gravel garden path. The stones didn't even crunch under my paws. I might just be whacked out of my mind, but my stalking instincts didn't seem to be hampered much.

I heard her again, her voice low, to soft to make out any words. She was talking to someone.

A few more steps forward and I could make them out. They were sitting close together, side by side on a bench that overlooked a small artificial pond. For a moment I almost thought there was three people, the bulk of the second person was so great.

Then he moved and there was no doubt. Suit or not, there was no way I could ever mistake English after having spent so many months with the lion.

Why were the two of them out here all alone in a secluded little spot in the garden?

I wanted to say something, wanted to be mad, furious. To yell and scream and work out all the pain, fear, and frustration that this night had brought on.

Instead my hand simply slipped from the tree branch I'd been using to hold myself upright and I fell into the dirt with a thunk.

I could almost see English's ears twitch as I hit the ground a few feet behind him.

"What was that?"

I couldn't see him anymore, my face was covered in wet sod. His heavy footsteps came towards me. I could hear Rebecca's shoes behind him.

"Mate?"

He had his hands around my collar a moment later, pulling me from the dirt as though I were nothing more than a sack of kibble.

"Gods, Mate, what happened to you?" He had me sat up on the bench a moment later. I couldn't even keep myself straight, I would have fallen right back down if he'd removed his paws.

"Tommy?" Rebecca was in front of me now, patting my face and wiping the mud away. "Are you okay? Talk to me."

I opened my mouth to speak, to accuse them of being out here alone, but my tongue couldn't form the words.

They both pulled back as soon as my mouth fell open, English more so.

"Gah, Mate! What have you been up to tonight? You stink like you're one step away from a self embalming."

It took every fibre I had to deny it, even then it came out slurred. "Nothing but water."

He just shook his head. "Right, Mate. Right."

I watched the two of them exchange a glance.

"We can't walk him out the front door like this." Rebecca whispered, "He's supposed to be the mayor. How would that look for him to be carried out of his first formal engagement? Could we just tell people he's sick?"

English shook his head, his mane rustling in the darkness. "Not a chance, Lass. You might not be able to smell it, but his breath stinks like a devil's backside. Anyone within five feet of us would know he's stone drunk. Anyway, Lass, I doubt you could carry him out, and he hasn't seen fit to be around me in a while."

"English," I could hear the strain in her voice, despite a cloud of fog growing on my brain, "I told you that's not--"

The door to the mansion clicked open. There was the sound of footsteps in the gravel.

"Just go." I could feel her soft hand on my forehead, pushing me back, towards the lion. "I'll cover, say he had to run on some business."

She was gone a moment later.

I could feel English's hands encircling my chest as he hefted me into the air like I weighed nothing. I was just glad he was back on my side again.

I think I lost consciousness somewhere around the point that he jumped the ten foot high stone fence that surrounded the property. His landing wasn't as soft as I would have liked.