Hounded

White Mountains near Greer. Did you want to come along? « Occasionally the Pack would let Oberon and me run with them, and it was always a good time. The only touchy part was my status within the group, because werewolves are obsessed with status. Magnusson didn’t like to have me along, because technically he’d have to be submissive to me—if I gave a damn about such things—and alphas aren’t comfortable showing any kind of submission in front of their packs. I couldn’t blame him, of course, so we worked out a compromise where I was a » friend « of the Pack, a guest on equal footing with every member, essentially outside their hierarchy, and that kept everyone’s hackles from rising. But it also meant that Hauk, not Magnusson, had to be my lawyer. As a second, he was already submissive and did not have to worry about debasing himself by serving my legal needs.
    » I would love to, but it falls around Samhain, and I have some of my own rituals to attend to, « I said. » I thank you for the offer, though. «
    » My pleasure. « He extended a hand across the table to me. I shook it and he said, » I’ll take care of this bill and let Leif know you want to see him when he wakes for the night. You call me if you need anything else. And stay away from that redheaded bartender. I don’t know what she is besides trouble. «
    » That’s like asking a bee to stay away from flowers. « I grinned back at him. » Thanks, Hal. Give my regards to the Pack. Come on, Oberon. « We both rose and headed for the door. Granuaile waved at me and smiled.
    » Come back soon and see me, Atticus, « she called.
    » I will, « I promised.
    › You don’t even know if she really likes you, ‹ Oberon said as we exited and I unlocked my bike. › She could be doing her customer-service routine and stringing you along in hopes of a big tip the next time you come in. With dogs you just go up and smell their asses and you know where you stand. It’s so much easier. Why can’t humans do that? ‹
    Perhaps if we had a better sense of smell, we would , I said. Nature clearly favored your kind in that regard .
    When I returned to the store and told Perry he could take off for lunch, Emily the witch was already there waiting for me, drinking a cup of chamomile tea Perry had made for her. He wasn’t skilled behind the tea station, but he could boil some water and pour it on top of pre-made sachets as long as I labeled them carefully.
    » Back so soon? « I said. » You must be eager to begin. «
    » True enough, « she said. She stood from the table and minced over to me in her affected Barbie-doll stride. She waved a check at me before placing it in my hand and saying snarkily, » Here’s your danger pay, though there’s nothing dangerous about making some tea. I never figured Druids would be so avaricious. «
    I took it from her hand and made a show of examining it carefully, because I knew it would annoy her. She’d deliberately tried to provoke me, and one cannot sass me with impunity. I saw her face flush and knew she wanted to say something about my dilatory manner, but she wisely kept her mouth shut and contained herself to huffing.
    Eventually I said, » This appears to be in order. I will begin your treatment because your coven has done right by me in the past, but if this fails to clear the bank, then of course that will be a breach of contract. « Now, that was just unnecessary—even insulting—for me to say, but she was such a snot I felt she deserved it.
    » Fine, « she ground out, and I smiled and went behind my counter to begin brewing her tea. I worked in silence for a while. We were the only people in the store, and neither of us was in the mood to make small talk. Oberon picked up on it.
    › Genghis Khan would never put up with so much attitude, ‹ he said.
    You speak the truth, my friend. But I’m as guilty as she is. We are not being very nice to each other .
    › So I gathered. But why not? Isn’t she the sort of female you normally find attractive? ‹
    If that was really what she looked like, sure , I said. But in reality she’s probably pushing ninety or so, and besides, I don’t trust witches .
    › You think she’s going to try something? Should I move behind her? ‹
    No, she knows you’re here. She can see through the camouflage. But I think she’s hiding something from me, and I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop .
    › When did she drop the first shoe? I missed it. ‹
    Never mind.