Never Cry Werewolf Ch. 01

The base sounds vibrated against the walls echoing in the small bedroom. Mariana rolled in her sleep just having lain down after running around all morning. The music was ear-splitting and pounding, yanking Mariana from her deep satisfying slumber.

"Please not now," she grumbled.

Ever since getting her new job as a barmaid at Dragon Slayer, the new bar in what was considered the slums of Manchester, and taking up the extra class on Auto-Mechanics so she could work on her old dilapidated 1971 Volkswagen Beetle. The only time Mariana had to sleep was in the afternoons, between her morning classes and her night shift at the bar. It didn't help that the new manager was a total ass demanding absolute perfection and nothing less. While she could respect that, his leers at her whenever she bent over wasn't helping matters much. Mariana turned reaching for her soft feathered pillow and pulling it over her head, but it didn't seem like things were going in her favor that day because the music was turned up until her actual walls were shaking.

She knew that some guy was supposed to be moving into the empty apartment next door but she didn't think so soon, and by the sounds of cursing and things moving around in the hallway she could guess that the guy was still moving in. As one would expect, he made sure that his stereo was the first thing to be unpacked, Mariana grumbled to herself. She slowly dragged out of bed and the warmth of the duvet letting the cool air in her apartment hit her bare legs and arms. She cursed her landlord as she felt the cold not long after hearing another string of curses.

"Shit...! Fuck...! What the hell are you doing?"

The man's annoyed voice in other cases would have had made Mariana laugh but in this case she needed her sleep and the voice doing the cursing was deep and smooth sending tingles that she didn't want to be feeling down her spine and goose bumps on her arms that had nothing to do with the cold apartment.

She shook the feeling away and dragged herself to the bathroom looking in the mirror. Her hair which usually was long and down her back in soft curls was laying all over her head in some kind of misshapen puff. Her hazel eyes squinted as she turned on the bright light; she stretched her long legs until she was standing on tippy toes her dark mocha skin showing the flex of her ankles and legs. Once finishing her usual morning stretching Mariana looked at the clock hanging over the towels in her bathroom. Its only 3p.m I could still be friggin' sleeping, she thought with a frown. Great I already have to deal with that ass at work now I have to deal with the one here at home! She pulled her hair up in a ponytail with her brush wincing as they ran through some naps, after dealing with the puff Mariana brushed her teeth quickly deciding to run down and take care of some business she had been saving to do on the weekend. She walked into her room pulling on a pair of pink sweats and a matching hoodie; she quickly pulled on some socks and her white Nikes grabbing her keys and purse heading out the door.

As she got closer to the door the music seemed to resonate to her body and she actually recognized the song Sweet Child of Mine by Guns N' Roses. Well at least he has good taste in music, Mariana opened the door and almost fell over as a guy came up the steps with two boxes, obviously he couldn't see as he pushed her over with one. But before she could fall a set of strong fingers gripped her wrist and easily pulled her up straight, Mariana felt a shock of electricity shoot up her arm from the touch, straight to parts that hadn't been activated in quite some time she felt like melting in that grip, and as her eyes rose to see the brawny muscular arm connected to the strong grip she almost swooned.

There on his forearm was one of the sexiest tattoos she had ever seen, it was a black dragon that wrapped and moved around his muscled arm. "You should watch were your going."

Before Mariana could acknowledge his discourtesy she acknowledged that this was that sexy voice she heard earlier that made her spine tingle.

She looked up to his face almost in a daze and almost gasped. He's a friggin' Greek god, she thought excitedly, sure he's a little darker and moodier. He had a powerful jaw line that lead to high defined cheek bones and slanted eyes that were a deep hard blue his hair was black and a little on the long side needing a cut but it gave him that bad boy edge that made girls turn weak in the knees. A light sprinkling of the same black hair covered his chin and above his full lips that Mariana just wanted to lean over a suck. I'm in trouble was the only thought that could cross her mind as she stared up in his deep eyes. Mariana's staring was interrupted as he abruptly let her wrist go and snapped his fingers in front of her face the cool air touching were his warm fingers had been

"Hey little girl, you in there?" Mariana blinked out of her daze at his impudent words.

"Oh...uh sorry." She cursed herself for getting so flustered.

"You sure, I didn't think that Bale hit you that hard." Mariana finally registered how rude he had been talking to her.

"No he didn't I was just a little surprised by how rude you are." She replied quickly in a sarcastic voice trying to save face.

He laughed and the sound was even better than his voice if that were possible. He leaned in a little too close to her causing her to step back quickly.

"You sure you weren't just checking me out." Her shock registered clearly on her face and he stepped back laughing that incredible laugh again.

"Hey Achilleo leave my new neighbor alone or I won't have any friends in this godforsaken place." A guy she presumed to be Bale stepped out of the apartment; he was almost a match to Achilleo except more soft and kind where Achilleo was hard and rough.

He had green eyes and hair so blond it could pass for white, he smiled brightly and her breath caught at the sight, but for some reason she couldn't help but think how Achilleo would look if he was to smile at her like that instead of the mean laugh he gave her.

The blond god reached his hand out "Hey! I'm Bale, and this less handsome and rude guy here is Achilleo." She smiled at Bale and offered him her hand he brought it to his lips, which were full but not as full as Achilleo's.

"And you must be my gorgeous new neighbor." Achilleo snorted and Mariana turned to glare at him.

"Can we hurry up and finish loading your crap I do have things to do."

Bale just smiled and nodded "Yea, but not before I ask this beauty out to dinner tonight."

He kept his eyes on her, grinning. Mariana would have blushed if she were a shade lighter "I would love to, but I have to work tonight, sorry."

The frown on his face was genuine and he nodded "Well, maybe another time then?" He said.

The hope in his voice made her giggle "Sure."

She could feel Achilleo eyes on her and it made her nervous and truthfully a little hot she bit her lip and pulled her hand from Bale's suddenly feeling embarrassed for holding his hand in front of Achilleo. She couldn't help but wander why, it wasn't like he was her man.

"You ready now?" Achilleo grumbled his voice coming off bored and annoyed.

"Yea, yea," Bale said "I will see you another time then...."

Mariana smiled again "Mariana, my name's Mariana."

"Beautiful." Is all Bale says as he walked to his door locking it, he and Achilleo start to head down the steps "The beautiful Mariana." He said, the same smile on his face.

Mariana giggled at Bales silliness but couldn't stop her thoughts and eyes from running back to Achilleo as his strong legs carried him down the steps, the simple jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers looking amazing on his well formed body. She looked down at her watch and realized that her chores had to be put on hold, it was already time for her to head to work.. She hurriedly walked back into her apartment her thoughts still on Achilleo and piercing blue eyes.

*******

Achilleo was pissed, which wasn't much of a surprise since he was him, but today he was a little more pissed than usual. First his stupid cousin decides at the last minute that he can't move into his apartment by himself than that idiot Justice, decides to challenge him for his alpha slot. Today was just not the day for Achilleo; he sat behind his desk running through papers that his assistant Malcolm just laid on his desk.

"Meeting, meeting, bills..." He paused at one letter in a stiff envelope with no writing on it he swiftly let one of his nails grow and swiped in across the envelop cleanly cutting the top.

He pulled the letter out and read it over quickly, than again in shock. The letter was from the Council Of The Mystical and Supernatural, and just like his father, grandfather and those before him, that letter was a request for him to find a mate and soon. Except when it comes to them. There is no such thing as a request, it was more like an order. Achilleo ran his hands through his hair. Just more reason for Achilleo to be in a crappy mood. The council's job was to make sure that all stayed in order in the supernatural world that included the rogues causing issues, to who the alphas of certain packs mate with and when. Achilleo's thoughts suddenly turned to long brown limbs, a soft ample bosom and an even softer looking round ass. His mouth got watery at the idea of taking a bite out of that ass, sucking on those soft breasts that he bet had dark large nipples. His manhood jumped up quickly straining against his jeans as thoughts of bending that ass over crossed his mind wrapping his hand around those soft looking long curls, looking into those hazel eyes as he pounded into her.

"Marianna." Her name escaped his lips before he knew what he was saying, and the door was suddenly banged open.

"Hey cuz, I got more papers for you from Malcolm." Achilleo sent his cousin a baleful glare and adjusted himself in his seat to hide his arousal.

Bale dropped the papers on his desk and sat in the seat across from it "So, what do you think?" Achilleo looked at Bale under his papers.

"What the hell are you talking about now?"

His cousin grinned, "Mariana was hot wasn't she. I mean man, did you see that ass. Oh, what I wouldn't give..."

Achilleo interrupted him with a hard dry laugh "You think you would have a chance with her?" Achilleo knew his words stemmed more from jealousy than anything, he saw the way Mariana looked at him. "You can't keep your dick in your trousers for longer than 5 minutes I don't think that's the kind of girl you can have one of your one night stands with."

Bale put on his typical fake pout "Is that really how you think of me cousin" Achilleo sent him a level look and Bale laughed "Yeah I guess you're right...but it's about time I settle down don't you think, the sexy Mariana could be just the girl for me."

Achilleo scoffed "Yea sure, you know it's illegal to mate with humans."

Bale just smirked "Now cousin when have I ever been one to the follow rules?" Achilleo couldn't help but smile at his cousin.

"Yea but if you broke the rules don't forget cousin or not you would have to face my consequences." Bale stood up walking out of the room.

"Yea, yea, I hear you. Don't worry, I won't do anything stupid." Achilleo shook his head and looked down at his paper trying hard, yet failing all attempts to get thoughts of a certain brown skinned beauty out of his mind.

*******

Mariana walked to her car gradually her eyes drooping, she was tired, incredibly tired. Her boss had decided last week that she should work another shift plus close the bar at night, and unless she wanted to be trekking around New Hampshire for a new job she better suck it up and put a smiley face on. Well maybe he didn't say that way exactly but that was precisely how it came off to Mariana. She slumped against her car door and looked up at the night sky, it was way to late and she knew at this rate she would be sleeping all day and working all night. She rummaged through her purse for the keys her bleary eyes making her it hard for her to focus what she was doing. That night she was practically throwing drinks together ready to get her shift over with, while she usually loved working there and hanging with the other employees tonight was too much for her. She needed to find a new job and soon, Mariana finally comes across her keys and she opens her door sliding into the seat of her Beetle. She lays her head on the steering wheel breathing deeply, giving herself a little pep talk.

"Okay Mariana you can do this, just put the key into the little hole press the gas pedal and it's a what, 20 minute ride tops."

She can't help but giggle at how silly she sounds; she sits up and starts her car pulling out of the deserted parking lot slowly rubbing her dazed eyes. She drives down the road gingerly, but couldn't help but think it would be just her luck if she ran over something. Thankfully no one else seems to be on the road as Mariana slogs slowly down the winding turns. She comes to a stop sign and sees a small ruffle in the trees on the dark road. At first she pushed it off as sleepiness but the ruffle turns into a small shape and then gets larger as it gets closer to her car. Mariana peers through squinted eyes rubbing them to try and clear her sleepy eyes. It was a wolf, or at least it looked like one, fear strikes her as she see's definite features of a wolf, she's seen them enough living in New Hampshire, but they usually run away, not walk up to her yellow Beetle, and they were never that big. She wasn't sure whether to honk her horn at it or keep driving.

Mariana gently presses on her gas moving as slowly as she can, the wolf doesn't move but trains its golden eyes on her as she gets closer, she sees that it is much larger than any normal wolf and its golden eyes turn a sharp icy blue under her high beams. She quickly turns them off getting a weird feeling of Déjà vu, the wolf is a shiny sleek silver color with long streaks of ebony. It was beautiful, Marianna stares in wonder but its beauty doesn't stop the fear from creeping up her spine as she finally passes it. She quickly drives the rest of the way home, the mystifying wolf in her mind until she falls asleep, dead to the world

*******

He couldn't believe that he saw her, Achilleo dashes through the woods his strong powerful animal legs carrying him quickly and easily. More importantly he couldn't believe that he let her see him, his mind mulls over her stunning face set in a mix of marvel and terror. He laughs to himself, or at least the best laugh he can manage out of this form, a harsh snort, that was the usual reaction he got before the guns were pulled out. He had kept his mind occupied for weeks, trying to get Mariana out of his head, and not to mention that damned letter from the council. Of course fate as usual wasn't working in his favor and he got weekly threats, as he liked to call them, from the council, reminding him of his duty. Than to make matter worse it seemed that Mariana had took Bale up on that date, and according to Bale the date was very satisfying, which could mean a number of things coming from him. Now he was not only angry he was aggravated that he was angry, that he was getting caught up in some human girl that he knew zilch about. Yeah she was beautiful, and feisty, intelligent, funny and a little quirky, based on Bales brags about their date. He shook his large wolf head and slowed to a standstill, he needed to get thoughts of her out of his head. He let out another snort of laughter, he knew that was damned near impossible. He wanted her, there was no denying that, but it was something even deeper than the physical want, something he could yet to explain. He tried to tell himself it was no use anyway she was human, but he could do everything else but mate with her.

That was always the flaw in the council's laws, it said no mating with humans but there was nothing about having sex, and man did Achilleo want to. He just needed to get away from her, Bale, and the stupid council. Achilleo knows that's impossible he has a pack to run and getting away just wasn't happening anytime soon. Achilleo starts up his run again speeding up with each thought of Mariana in his mind, under him, moaning his name, as his mate. The thought shocks him, he doesn't know how he could be thinking thoughts so soon. Achilleo battles against his body as he tries to think of all the reasons why he and Marianna won't work out. Besides her being human he has nothing, the connection he feels with her is confusing and Achilleo has never felt this way before.

Of course there have been women prior to meeting Mariana, some he even thought where mate worthy, but it never went farther than there. Bale used to tease him, saying he had commitment issues, and though Achilleo laughed it off it was true. He was scared shitless; he was so used to being closed off and alone he knew if anything was to happen with him and any woman he would have to open up. He just wasn't sure if he was ready for that, so he always ended up ruining every relationship, giving the females in his life reason to want to leave. Achilleo knew, werewolf or man that was just fucked up, but he couldn't stop it, he would never admit it to anyone but, as strong, powerful and intimidating he was, when it came to committing he ran away with his tail between his legs. That made him feel like a coward and that was not a feeling Achilleo was used to, he knew that all of this was coming out now for the reason of Mariana.

*******

Mariana wakes confused, and drained, she remembers locking up the bar driving home, and... the wolf. Her mind runs over her memory of last night, she knows she wasn't drunk and she's sure it wasn't a dream. She shudders as she recalls those icy blue ices, and that intimidating stature. She shakes out a cramp in her foot and stretches her arms over her head; slowly slipping from her warm sheets she goes to the kitchen starting a pot of coffee. Coffee isn't her usual drink but considering the morning she pours herself a copious amount of the stuff. She sips the hot coffee when it's finished, relishing the feeling of the liquid running down her parched throat. Mariana puts the cup in the sink and take a quick shower she had a lot to do today but at the top of the list was look for a job. She wraps a towel around her wet skin after she leaves the warm water sifting through her closet for something to slip on. She pulls out her favorite pair of seven dark jeans and a black v neck sweater; she pulls on a pair of her black knee high boots. Her thoughts go back to Achilleo wandering what he would think if he saw her strutting her stuff in those boots. She quickly berates herself, reminding herself that she just had a date with Bale. Grabbing her keys she rushes out the door ready to get this day over with.

*******

Mariana walks down the streets of the shopping area in her town, it was crowded today so she parked her car on the corner instead of driving slowly through traffic all day. She stands in front of a beautiful old fashion looking building, it looks out of place on the busy modern street, and people rush up and down the sidewalk, pass it, but a good number stop and go inside or just to admire it. Her friend Leann had told her that a restaurant in town was looking for some help and that it had amazing food and was beautiful and sophisticated, much unlike the bar she works at. Salutary Den runs across the top in an expensive looking script the red brick tones of the front has Mariana entranced and she quickly walks inside eager to see the rest. As soon as you walk inside you are in a warm looking room a dark wood covers the walls and floors and black leather furniture covers the spacious room with a booming fireplace in the middle of the room. The fire place is an amazing marble with two large wolves sitting next to each other. People sit in the chairs talking quietly as they are served glasses of wine, the Maitre d' comes a few times escorting people through a large wooden door obviously to the restaurant area.