Darcingtowne Wolves: The Misfits (Book 1)

Chapter Twelve: Shoe Fetish

It was only after they made it to the tree line that the Misfits realized they were being followed.

Penny had paused, and was leaning against a tree as she finally pulled off her remaining heel, grumbling about how her weird limping gate had ruined an otherwise perfect dramatic exit.

“I thought the stuttering gate made it even more dramatic, actually.” said a somewhat familiar voice from off to her right.

The Misfits all looked up, and were startled to see the Peacock Man smiling warmly at them.

“Homegirl, you are the hottest thing to hit this city since the meteorite that made the lake in the middle of the prom. Can I get your autograph? Or better yet, will you let me interview you?” Peacock Man said, his smile growing wide.

Penny laughed, and shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m trying to keep a low profile. I’ve got to live here for at least four more years, and I don’t want to stir up any more trouble than I already have.”

Peacock Man’s smile faltered a little, but he bucked up quickly. “I’m Vidal Montero, and I write for the Promenade Collegiate Interloper. If you ever change your mind, please look me up. I promise, I’m not just a gossipmonger.”

“So you are a gossipmonger, but sometimes you write other stuff?” Sebastian said, snorting a little. The wiry beta folded his arms over his chest, giving the reporter a deeply skeptical look.

“Yes, exactly.” Vidal said, turning his charming smile on to the Beta, who was momentarily taken aback by the straightforward response.

“Look, writing gossipy bullshit brings in the readers. Readers, and a rather scant grant, barely keep the paper afloat.” Vidal shrugged a little. “But, anyone can write about what happened at tonight’s Rut Party. A real reporter would ignore that, and go for the real scoop - an interview with the first Alpha Female to join the Darcingtowne Alliance in ...probably fifty years.” Vidal said, his ingratiating charm fading away so that they could see the passion behind the persona. “...And I am a real reporter. I won’t f**k you around trying to write some pansy puff piece.”

“No. No interviews.” Penny said firmly. Then, after taking in a breath, and because she knew that having friends outside the pack was probably a good idea, she said in a softer tone, “But, if I ever do change my mind you’ll be my first choice.”

“Fair enough.” Vidal said, his easy smile returning. 

Penny held out a hand to Vidal, “I’m Penelope. I can’t say it’s been a pleasure to crash this party with you, but...well, I kinda like the cut of your jib. Those rhinestones, man, it’s a good look on you.”

Vidal barked a laugh, and took Penelope’s hand in his own. His handshake was firm and confident. “You lot are the most interesting people I’ve ever crashed one of these shindigs with. I look forward to bumping into you again in, hopefully, less awkward circumstances.”

After shaking hands with tetchy Sebastian, uneasy Ryan, and finally a shy Carrie, Vidal gave the Misfits a little wave and strolled off into the trees in the opposite direction that they were heading.

The run back to the Misfits packhouse was a quiet one. Carrie didn’t even shift; she rode on Ryan’s back. Penny was surprised that Carrie didn’t crack a joke about them finally making the beast with two backs, but that was a testament to how torn up the poor girl was. Their somber, contemplative mood continued once they got inside and shifted back into their human forms.

“I think we need to unpack whatever the hell that was.” Ryan said as he pulled his shirt on over his head, his quiet voice sounding loud in the large hollow space of the grand foyer.

“Unpack? Tch. You sound like my shrink.” Bastian grunted, hopping a little as he yanked his pants up. “I thought you wanted to be a baby doctor?”

“Pediatrician.” Ryan replied smoothly. “You’re thinking OB/GYN.”

“Whatever, smart Hulk.” Sebastian muttered, rolling his eyes.

“I...I’m so sorry guys. It’s all my fault.” Carrie said, sitting on the edge of the staircase, her shoulders shaking a little as she tried to suppress the tears that were streaming down her face. “I ruined everything with my s-s-stupid flirting.”

“Heeeey…” Penelope said, rushing to Carrie’s slide now that she’d thrown a shirt and panties on. She folded her arms around her friend’s tiny frame, drawing her into a gentle hug. “You didn’t ruin anything, Carebear.”

“I...I shouldn’t have teased them, and...and I should have just let them take me instead of calling for help. What if they try to come after you, Penny? You...you tried to throw down with the future King! I could have gotten us all killed!” Carrie was nearly wailing now, and the boys glanced at each other worriedly. 

She was being dramatic, but there was more than a little truth in her words. Attacking the future King of the alliance probably was a capital offense. Ignorance wasn’t a particularly strong defense.

“He let us go, Carrie. If he wanted to have us charged, he would have called a hunter to apprehend us.” Penny said, using her soothing tone as she brushed her long fingers through her friend’s auburn curls. “It’ll be ok. This is a huge city, we’ll go on about our lives and in a few days she’ll forget all about us.”

Carrie sniffled, and Penelope ignored the snot that was leaking all over her shirt.

“Listen to our Alpha, Carebear. She’s right.” Ryan said, sitting down on Carrie’s other side. His deep bassy voice was much more soothing than Penny’s.

“Yeah. It’s not like they have any idea who we are. We’re just a buncha nobodies to that jerkface.” Sebastian said, though he didn’t seem pleased by that admission. Penny suspected that, even knowing what they now know, running away from that fight rubbed Bastian the wrong way, like a wet hand smeared backward through his fur.

After a little bit more soothing, Carrie finally stopped crying.

“Can, uhm, can I sleep with you tonight Penny?” Carrie asked as Penny helped her back up to her feet.

“Sure. Why don’t we all have a sleepover in the Alpha suite? You guys haven’t even seen it yet.” Penelope suggested.

Tobias was sitting in his bed, contemplating the point black heel he had in his lap, when a soft knock tapped three times against his door in a familiar pattern. He looked up, slightly startled from his pondering, as the door creaked open by a mere inch.

“Toby…? Are you decent? C-can I come in?” Princess Francesca’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“Of course you can come in, Chessa. You know you don’t have to ask every time.” Toby said, smiling warmly as the little Princess walked on her tiptoes into his space, shutting the door softly behind her.

Chessa really did look very much like his mate; or maybe, his mate looked like her? They were probably around the same age, with silvery blonde hair and blue-violet eyes. Chessa was curvier, shorter by several few inches, and her eyes were larger and wider set - almost protuberant, like a child. They could have easily passed for sisters.

Tobias didn’t realize that just seeing Chessa would make his chest ache again for his mate, and wondered when the pull would finally fade. He couldn’t afford to be distracted, especially when he was guarding Francesca. She was about to start University, which he had delayed so they could attend together, and he needed to be vigilant. Just getting her family to agree to let her continue her education had been a struggle; they only acquiesced when he pointed out that it would make her more appealing as a potential mate and Luna. Toby didn’t want to know what would happen if Francesca got hurt on campus. They’d probably lock her in a tower until they found her a suitable match, and then she’d get shipped off to her new pack with no recourse. It didn’t matter that the mansion had no towers; her father would build one to purpose. King Renholm was old school like that.

“Tobias, can you please tell me what happened at the Rut Party tonight? Brent has been rampaging all over the Alpha floor. Any time I try to talk to him, he just tells me to go to sleep...but how am I supposed to sleep when he’s clawing the walls?” Francesca said, sitting heavily next to Tobias with a frustrated expression marring her sweet face. Then, she blinked a few times as she saw the shoe he was holding in his lap. “Do you have a shoe fetish that I don’t know about?”

“Wha-? Oh good Goddess. No, Chessa, I do not have a shoe fetish.” at least, he didn’t have a shoe fetish until this shoe ended up being the only thing he had to remind him of his mate. He was not about to admit that he’d sniffed the shoe...more than once. “It’s a clue.”

“A clue?” Francesca said, suppressing a smile. “Did some Cinderella sweep into the party and leave only a shoe behind for you to find her with?”

He knew that she’d been taking a shot in the dark, but she’d hit the nail so squarely on the head that Tobias couldn’t help but sputter stupidly. “Er, w-well..”

“No way! Seriously?!” Chessa’s eyes went wide as she looked at the shoe, then back up at Tobias. “Who does the shoe belong to? A girlfriend...wait, a mate? Did you find your mate, Tobias?!”

Chessa’s face lit up, and she squealed excitedly, making a wild grab for the shoe - which he refused to let go of. They got into a tug of war, as the little Princess had a surprisingly strong grip.

“Chessa, stop! It’s not what you’re thinking.” Tobias said, his voice coming out in an uncharacteristic whine. They were stretching the shoe between them, and he was irrationally upset that it was getting damaged by their rough handling. It was all he had of his mystery mate, and even if he wasn’t planning to track his mate down the shoe was precious to him.

“Your face says it all, Toby, you can’t lie to me!” Francesca cried, her face now split into a grin so wide that he thought her teeth might blind him. “What was she like? Tell me everything.”

Toby finally released the shoe, not wanting it to get any more scuffed up than it already was. His shoulders slumped a little as he eyed the eager Princess from the corner of his eye. He knew what she would say if he told her he was planning to reject his mate, and it wouldn’t be pretty. Francesca was a true romantic, and believed wholeheartedly in fate and the mate bond.

Tobias took a deep breath, and finally started, “Well, you see…”