Sold to the Highest Bidder

1. Getting closer

It wasn't easy to be a mountain lion in wolves' territory, but it was a necessary evil.  I needed the protection that being so close to their territory afforded, no one of my kind would think of looking for me here, or so I thought.

When the wolves entered the dinner, everyone got silent.  Even the humans could feel the power emanating from them.  It wasn't that strange that they came here, it was the only dinner in the area, and it was on the way to their territory.  Patrols often stopped here for a bite, and most visitors were met here before being allowed to visit them. 

They sat in my section, and I got nervous like every time they did so, is not that they had been even rude to me, it was that our natures crashed when we were nearby, my animal side didn't feel happy with so many strong predators so close by.  Wolves are pack animals, but my kind actually enjoys a little more solitude.  I was about to ask one of the other waitresses to cover for me when I heard one of them said in a low tone, enough that most humans wouldn't be able to hear it.

"Here, kitty, kitty," he called, and without other options, I moved to where they were waiting for me.

"Hello, my name is Penelope and I will be your server today.  What can I get you?" I asked, a little nervous.

"First, we would appreciate if you could answer a few questions for us," one of them said, his presence felt heavy and I knew he was a strong one.  "My name is Dagger, I'm kind of curious," he kept going, not waiting to see if I would be willing to answer his questions, because it was clear I would have no choice but to do it.  "What is a cat like you doing in our territory?"

"I'm here working..." I started.

"See, we have two theories," he cut me off, "my friend here thinks you are spying on us," I felt like a bucket of cold water had fallen over me, even breathing became hard.  If those wolves believed I was a threat, then my life was in danger, "but I think that you are in danger and that you are hiding here," he kept going, and he was so close to the truth that I was surprised.

"Which one is it?" another one asked.

"Well, I cut ties with my kind, and moved here, where I thought they wouldn't look for me," I confessed, knowing that lying wouldn't help me with them. 

"It was good thinking, but we have smelled several of your kind around the territory during our patrols," Dagger said.  "As you well know, we can't get involved in whatever problem you have, therefore offering protections is out of the question.  All we can do is warn you what is going on."

I felt faint, and I would have fallen to the floor if not for one of them catching me in time and helping me to a chair. 

"I guess is worse than we thought?" one of them said, but all I could think about was them closing in on me. 

"I have to go," I said, trying to get up, but not fully in control of my own body just yet.

"Look," Dagger called.  "I know I just said we couldn't get involved, but, what are you going to do?"

"I just have to go, far from here," I said, already going over everything I had to do.

"We can take you to the closest bus station," he offered, "that's the most we can do."

I wanted to refuse, but if they were already sniffing around, then I needed any help I could get.  I had so much to do, I needed to go by my room and get my things, then get away as soon as I could.  "Could you?  I need to go for my things..."

"I guess you have time, one of us will stay back and drive you to pick up your things and then out of here," Dagger said.

"Thank you," I said.  "Umm, I can get your order?"

They laughed at me, but I didn't feel offended.  Once I got their orders and gave them to the cook, I went to talk to Magda my boss.

"What did those mutts wanted with you?" she asked angrily, knowing they had bothered me, but not knowing all the story.

"They are actually helping me, well, I got bad news from home, they offered to take me to the bus station.  I'm sorry is so short notice, and I can finish my shift, but I need to leave the city."

"Are you sure it's because of family and not those men driving you away?"

"It's definitely because of family.  Please, you know they are scary, but actually decent people."

"I guess you're right, it's not their fault they are so damn big and intimidating, even for us simple humans and our simple instincts.  I've heard that even their own kind fear our neighbors.  Well, I'm sad to know you have to leave, but you will be coming back, right?"  I felt bad for never letting her know that I was also a shifter.  It was not a secret, but also not someone that everyone knew.  Most people believed our kind was easy to spot, that the ones who could turn into animals were easy to spot because of their animal traits, but it wasn't like that.  Most of us were just like regular humans, nothing special. 

"I really don't know if or when I will come back," I was definitely not coming back, if they had found me there, then it was no longer safe, but I couldn't tell her that, so another lie would have to do. 

"Well, you know you are welcome here any time," she smiled at me.  "Let me give you what I owe you for this week, I guess you will need it," and that's what I would miss so much about the place, the support and love I got from the people there, they were caring and supporting, and I owed them a lot.  I had stupidly believed I could stay there and make a home, but it was clear my people would never stop looking for me.  And there was no way I would willingly go back to them.

"I really appreciate it," I couldn't help it, I hugged her, and she hugged me back.  I had to fight back tears or she would know that I was really in a tight spot and wouldn't let me leave.  She would want to protect me, even if that was not possible.  I would only put her in danger if I allowed her to know the danger I was in.

"Be safe girl, and remember, my door is open to you if you decide to come back.  If you really need to leave, I can cover your shift."

"No, I can stay for a while longer, at least until they finish their meals, they offered me a ride."

"As you wish.  You will be missed."

Once again, I had to bite back my tears, and go finish my work, I owed them that much.  By then the wolves' orders were done, so I gathered the plates and took them to their table.  The intensity of their eyes on me was making me nervous, but I tried my best to keep working, trying to decide if I should let the other waitresses know that I would be going.  I hated goodbyes, and I knew I would break down if I started.  Before I was ready, the wolves finished their meals and I went to pick up their plates.

"I will wait for you and take you to the bus station," one of them said as the others prepared to leave.

"I just have to go and grab my stuff, then we can go," I said, going to see Magda before going to change out of my uniform.  Magda gave me my paycheck, and I could tell it was more than I was owed.  Again, I felt moved by her generosity, but all I could do was smile and thanks her for her help. 

When I got out the wolf waiting for me was the only one, the others were gone.

"Lead the way," he said, and I gave him directions to my place.

"Have you seen my kind?  Or you only suspect they are close?" I asked, fearing what the answer would be.

"We have smelled them, at least four individuals working together.  They have been getting closer and closer to our territory, but we have smelled them on the town too.  I think the only reason they haven't been to the dinner is that people assume is part of our territory, since we do most of our business there."

"It's not?" I ask.

"Not officially, but we do pay them some rent so they will be always ready to receive our people and for them to let us know if something suspicious happens around them.  Most of the time we don't really need it, but it's good to have backups."

"That's my place," I said, pointing to an old house.  I was renting a room in the basement.

"Alright," he said, parking the car. 

I went to my place and opened the door, not expecting him to follow me.  "It's only going to be a moment," I said.

"Yeah, I just want to make sure everything is okay.  I'm responsible for you until I take you to the bus station."

That surprised me, in a good way.  I never thought that the wolves would act like that, they had shown to be more supporting than my family, but then again, they were group oriented, but respected the individuals, my kind was everyone for their own.