2) Ebenezer Mj

The ghostly echo of a man’s mournful scream jolted Mj awake as the thumping sound of bass surrounded the inside of the SUV she had fallen asleep in, “do you even sleep in a bed anymore, or do you just wait until we are on the road?” The melody of Jay’s voice cut through the pounding in Mj’s head and without opening her eyes, she swung the back of her hand until it landed on its intended target. The muffled echo of her brother’s painful cursing roused Mj from her tortured sleep with a smile that didn't seem to brighten her eyes.  Moxie nudged Mj, and she realized she was lying on his shoulder. “Bad dreams little sister?” he asked under his breath and Mj grinned another sad half-hearted grin before she sat up and smoothed out her mussed hair. “Just something I ate coming back to haunt me,” she lied, and Moxie opened his door, jumping out before he waved his hand for her to follow. “Whatever you say scrooge, now get your merry Christmas ass out of the truck, we got work to do, remember?”  Mj slid her body to the end of the seat and as Moxie leaned in with his palm out she jabbed her foot, toes first, into his chest. Moxie answered by grabbing her ankle and yanking her the rest of the way out.  

Mj grunted and reached out. Wrapping her arms around Moxie’s neck, she pulled, leading the two of them to tumble away from the SUV and onto the street. As the pair tussled, Jay, Ace and Ed rounded their side of the vehicle and Ace whistled, causing them to separate immediately. “Stop fucking around before you draw more awareness to us,” the hiss in Ace’s voice had Mj and Moxie both standing at attention, “sorry commander,” they barked in unison and then began to elbow and jab each other while Ace settled with the valet Ed had managed to start an argument with.  “For fuck’ sake, Ed, did I not just get done explaining to Mj and the mud puppy back there that we need to keep a low profile...you are the oldest of all of us, and you started a fight with the kid who parks cars at a club?” Ed growled at Ace, “watch it, kid... I used to park cars too, little fucker had no manners...in my day we had pride for our job.” Ace just wiped his hand down the front of his face while he mumbled to himself.

Jay tossed a small bag to Mj as they walked toward the club entrance. “Sam said these will do the trick, you should change in the bathroom, and we will split up from there, Moxie and I will be at your six at all times little sister and Ed is gonna sit east of your four o’clock, the commander will intervene as the jealous may... boyfriend if things get hairy.”  Mj looked up at Jay and smiled as best she could, “you don't have to avoid the word mate like I’m gonna spontaneously combust, Jay... Jesus it’s been almost a year give me a little credit,” and she ran off toward the mouth of the club, leaving the others behind. 

“Are you certain she is ready for this commander... I’m not so sure she won't do something stupid,” Jay said as he watched Mj disappear behind the sea of people moving back and forth. Ace put his hand on Jay’s shoulder and grunted, “don't worry so much I trained her myself little brother... she is fearless, and the wolf is with her, even if that stupid asshole isn’t man enough to--” Ace was cut off when Ed shoved him not so playfully, “don't speak on what the assassin has and has not done... we don’t know what his motivation was, but we know him... Dante was an honorable man.” Moxie’s tasteless grunt cut Ed off this time, “yea WAS Eddy boy... past tense, now as the commander said... let’s work, she is counting on us.” The three males fell into line and entered the club, half searching for Mj and half in search of any threat that might loom in the dark of the technicolor cave. 

Mj stood in front of the communal mirror of the women’s bathroom with her mouth open in disbelief, she wanted to strangle Sam and hide underneath the floor all at the same time, her outfit was composed of a breathable jersey style dress that had strategic stress rips up and down the small sleeves as well as down the front exposing more cleavage than Mj was even aware she had. Deciding to be as brave as possible, Mj turned her body to glance at her rear and felt her stomach churn in discomfort. The entire back was exposed, causing Mj’s light colored skin to pop in contrast to the black clothing. Sam had included a minuscule black evening bag, but when Mj looked inside, she smirked at the almost heart-wrenching sight of two small gold blades.  Mj slowly reached into the bag and ran her fingers over the cold smooth metal, she could feel the wolf inside her trying to pacify her aching heart, she took a deep breath and wiped a stray tear from her cheek before closing the bag and plunging the small gifts back into the dark hoping the memory of the man who gave them to her would soon fade into the darkness with them.

Mj bit her lip when she looked down at the heels Sam had packed for her. She knew they were some of Sam’s favorites because the heels detached and had small blades on the end of them. The problem with them was that they were at least a six-inch plunging heel and the actual structure of the shoe was nothing more than thin sleek black patent leather straps.  Mj stared at herself in the mirror and took several deep breaths. Standing up straight she realized there was no place to hide a weapon and then smiled as she dug the small blades out of her bag and began tangling them into her hair.  After securing her hair with the not so ornate set of daggers, Mj reached for the door only to be shoved back by a stampede of gaggling women.  Mj could tell by their mixed scent that they were either wolves or maybe even a few Omegas, and she smoothed her palms down her sides as a few of the girls eyed her.  “You ok in here honey,” one woman asked and Mj gave a sweet smile in return, “yea I’m ok...it’s just, this is my first time since,” Mj cut herself off and hung her head hoping they would take the bait. Just as she was about to give up she felt the soothing of several hands on her back, “we are all with you little sister.... tell us what has you upset, a mate perhaps?”  

Mj wanted to scoff in the woman's’ face, but the small annoying voice of the Commander kept her mind focused on the task at hand, “yes... he marked me and then left for another... stronger wolf,” Mj let images of Dante’s smiling face flash through her mind and as Theron whimpered through her, she began to sniffle and wipe at her eyes. The cluster of she-wolves all mewled and fused over the upset Mj, giving her words of encouragement, “that’s right sweetheart, you are beautiful and can get another mate... this club is, in fact, owned by a wolf and there have been many times others have found mates in this very business.” Mj faked a look of hopefulness. “thank you... I think I might try to find someone else... I’m an Omega, so this is all pretty new for me still.” The entire crowd gasped in shock and a few of them began to murmur when the woman who seemed to be their voice of reason hushed them all, “sweet girl...that makes you indeed more desirable...do you know that Alpha’s prefer Omega’s?” The woman began to pet Mj’s cheek the way one might check a prize horse, and even though Mj wanted to rip her fingers off, she simply turned her face into the woman’s hand and purred slightly.  “Tell you what,” the older woman chirped, “you go on out there and have some fun and if you don't meet anyone suitable, then I will introduce you to my son...how does that sound?”  Mj worried her bottom lip and nodded ever so slightly, taking the bait, the older woman shook her head. “Don't worry my dear, my boy is trustworthy as am I... he is the one who owns this club, we live to serve the greater good for all wolves.” Mj smiled a wide, genuine smile. “If what this woman was saying was true, then she had found the honey pot and needed to drag it back to the den,” she thought. Mj gave a quick wave and hurried into the mouth of the club, searching for any sign of Jay or Moxie.

With no immediate luck, Mj began to fold herself into the crowd of sweaty gyrating dancers. She asked Theron to keep her heart beat steady no matter what happened tonight, and he had quietly agreed, but made himself as quiet in her mind as he could. Soon Mj felt the familiar tickle of a telekinetic l**k, soon followed by her brother’s voice. “Dance, stick in the mud,” were the only words that came through and Mj pumped back an abrupt “fuck you” before she closed her eyes and started to sway her frame to the rhythm. As she moved, she noticed that the more she swayed her hips, the more it seemed to attract attention. A large male approached and began to run the length of his hands around Mj’s rib cage, so she raised her arms above her head and continued to ungulate her body. The enormous male growled at a few other men that tried to approach Mj, and she took a sharp glance around, noticing Ed eyeing her from his seat at a table, and she couldn’t see Moxie or Ace, but she could feel their presence. The broad, muscular man she was dancing with enclosed Mj in his arms and pulled her body flush with his. “You smell sweet... I wonder if you taste as good as you smell, little Omega.” Mj had to swallow the bile in her throat and flash him a seductive smile, “I don't think you are supposed to talk to girls, you just met like that.”

Mj spun herself in a twisted circle to place a little room between her and this man's’ large wandering hands, Mj watched as the man glanced toward the bar, and she grabbed his thick clammy fingers, “spin me?” she asked playfully and as the giant oaf spun her she observed as the bartender kept his eyes locked on the pair as he whispered with another patron.  

As the beat of the music changed, Mj swayed toward the outside of the dance circle and just as she had hoped, her dance partner followed her, “you look thirsty sweet thing, let me buy you a drink.” Mj opened her mouth to accept, but before she could speak, she found a large arm wrapped around her waist as she was pulled toward the bar. Mj sat on a stool and glanced off the side. Noticing Moxie’s tangled mass of short, dirty blonde dreadlocks dart around the crowded bar, she relaxed slightly.  

Without bothering to inquire, Mj’s giant dance partner ordered two drinks for them and started chatting with the bartender. He snagged Mj’s hand and started to run his thumb over the back of her knuckles when she felt something soft and familiar brush over her shoulder. Turning her head, Mj caught sight of Ace as he winked at her and then scooped her up into his arms. “What the hell do you think you 're doing,” he spat and began to growl.  Mj opened her mouth to ask him what he was doing when Ace tucked Mj under his arm and pulled her face so close to his she thought he might kiss her, “this is called acting sweetheart,” Ace dipped his head low over the top of Mj’s and as his lips closed in on hers she felt the small pressure of fingertips over her lips before Ace pressed his mouth to her now covered one. Mj sucked in a breath through her nose and wrapped her arms around Ace’s neck, and he spread his fingers, so she could speak, “real smooth commander, I met the owner’s mother, and she wants to introduce me to her son.” Ace chuckled and pressed his other hand into her back, dipping her body, “good work little sister... get ready.” Ace jerked Mj upright just as a thundering growl broke loose behind her.

Mj turned around to see her dance partner seething with blood dripping down his arm and shards of broken glass stuck in his palm. “ACT,” the word shot through Mj’s mind and she shot her brother a quick thank you before grabbing for the large man’s bloodied hand, “oh no! Your hand,” she squealed and bent over the top of the bar, exposing the bottom curve of her buttocks, “excuse me, umm bartender sir... can I have some ice and a towel.” Mj wanted to slap herself, but she also knew that nothing was more enticing to a predator than a weak-looking female.  As the bartender handed her, the ice wrapped in a towel Mj reached out and grasped the bloody fist, cupping it close to her chest while she began to dab it. “I need a shot of vodka,” Mj said, glancing up at the owner of the palm she held with big doe eyes. “Me too,” he chuckled and motioned for the barkeep, who promptly poured two shots and slid them up the bar top.

Ace stepped forward as two men strode forward, placing themselves between Ace and Mj, “allow me to pay for the drinks, I was not aware our little sister had become fond of such a powerful wolf.” The obvious security did not budge, but Mj watched the gigantic wolf’s muscles relax as she gingerly cleaned the blood and glass from his hand. The bartender laughed cynically under his breath as he slid more drinks up the counter. “An Alpha does not pay for drinks in his establishment... pup.” Mj sucked in a breath and squeezed the hand she held a little tighter, “you're an Alpha?” she squeaked and was more than pleasantly pleased when her immature, naïve act paid off as the man in front of her puffed out his chest like a bird and grinned down at her, “that’s right little pet, you hold the hand of a true Alpha... I am a warrior among my people.” Mj wanted to gag and laugh in his face, she could hear Theron growling in the back of her mind at the false claim this wolf made. “He is barely a wolf, his power is weak, the truest thing about him is the blood in your hand.”  Mj had to block out the next part of Theron’s rant, he was not exactly being helpful, and she knew she needed to focus.

“Did he say you own this club?” Mj asked, trying to keep the facade of interested dimwit at the forefront of her personality, Mj was glad when he more or less ignored Ace, “that’s right little Omega, I am the boss man around here, stick to my side and I could make your life very comfortable.” Just as he was about to pull her into his lap one of the muscle heads standing between her and Ace pushed her to the side slightly, “boss are you sure she didn’t plan this with that twat mate of hers” the man thumbed in Ace’s direction and Mj instantly cringed “gross” she replied with a little more conviction than she meant to and as all eyes fell on her, she blushed and twirled a stray bit of hair between her fingers, “he’s my new pack brother not my mate... he is just annoying and always following me around.” The club owner and his henchman exchanged a few looks and Mj thought they might be speaking through the telekinetic l**k, but Theron had confirmed he was not the wolf he claimed he was, and a sudden thought popped into Mj’s brain, “Alpha” she cooed, softly stroking the fingers she still cradled and as the club owner’s attention snapped toward her Mj could hear the unmistakable groan of male arousal, and she mentally gave herself a hard pat on the back before she placed his hand back in his lap and did something that shocked even Ace. Mj swallowed her pride and knelt down in front of the club owner until she was on her knees and craned her neck to look at his face. “Please Alpha, don’t make me leave with him... he’s not my mate, I promise.” The club owner cocked his head to the side and crossed his arms over his chest, “I am sorry, pet...my best tracker seems to think you are not being honest with me, so I have to say goodnight, they will see you out.” As Mj was hoisted to her feet, she reached up and planted her palms flat on his chest. “You truly are a powerful Alpha, it is true I have not been completely forthcoming with you... but it’s not my fault.” Mj licked her lips and pressed her body against his. “Please Alpha, let me prove myself to you.”

The club owner wrapped one of his arms around Mj’s waist and dipped his hand low until he had a firm grip on her butt and squeezed one plump cheek hard as he groaned. “You have two minutes, pet.”  Mj glanced at Ace, who was watching her with an intense but blank, emotionless stare. “You see... your bodyguard is right, I know who you are…. But I didn’t know I knew who you were until my brother tried to buy you a drink.” One henchman grabbed Mj’s elbow and began to squeeze it. “You are a lying whore and an Ome--” he was not permitted to finish his insult before the club owner back handed him in the mouth. “Don’t interrupt, I want to hear this.” Mj looked up at the club owner and smiled, “I met your mother in the bathroom, she was... consoling me.” The club owner hummed in understanding and lifted Mj from her feet before setting her on the bar top. “Tell your Alpha why you were so upset little pet,” the club owner ran one of his fingers up and down the top of Mj’s exposed thigh, and it took every ounce of self-control she possessed not to tear off his arm and beat him to death with it, but instead she squirmed a little on the bar top, “I don’t want to,” she pouted, and the club owner chuckled low in his throat before taking the hand he was touching her leg with and drew Mj’s attention to his by lifting her chin gently. 

“Why is that little pet?” he inquired and leaned into his touch a little, trying her best to sell her interest in him. “You will be ashamed of me,” she whispered, and the owner grasped Mj by the knees as he pushed her legs apart. Mj sucked in a silent breath and gripped the bar top as he inserted himself between her parted knees and was now standing with his hips almost rubbing against hers.  

Mj fought the animal urge to tear out his throat, and instead she braced the palms of her hands open on his chest and began to softly stroke his collar bone and chest, she noted that he was fit but for a wolf he was lazy, she could feel far too much cushion between his skin and the muscle underneath.

“I have been marked already,” Mj whispered, and the club owner snapped his fingers, suddenly his two henchmen had Ace by the arms, but the commander never even flinched, he just jerked his head up to look the club owner in the eye. “No, Alpha! Not my brother...it was... someone else.” Instead of acting, Mj let some of her genuine sadness seep through, and it made her almost sick, but over the last year, Ace and the rest of the hunters had trained her to use her strengths as well as her weakness to her advantage. Mj waited for the large wolf to respond, but he surprised her when he knelt to one knee and looked into her down turned eyes. “Little pet tell me your name,” Mj licked her lips and suddenly panicked, she didn’t want to give him her real name, but she didn’t want to screw up and not answer to a fake one. “Marnie,” Mj answered, and the club owner hummed a small chuckle and rose to his feet, “no little pet, your pack name.” Mj smiled sheepishly, and she heard Ace snort behind her. “We mean you no disrespect, we have no established pack, we are more of a group of rogues who found safety in numbers.” The club owner barely paid Ace any attention, but nodded as he held his hands out for Mj.  “Come pet, take my hand,” Mj licked her lips again, this time her uncertainty was not an act, but she swallowed and with trembling fingers she slid her hands into his.

The club owner pulled Mj close again and buried his face into her neck. Mj shivered slightly as his nose brushed over the small scars Dante had left on her, and out of instinct she jerked herself away from the intruding male.

The club owner chuckled again, “did he force himself on you little pet?” His voice was half mocking and the question caught Mj off guard, “NO! I’m a virgin” she spat and then wanted to instantly bite off her own tongue for letting him goad her in to revealing things about her, but to her surprise the admission seemed to entice the club owner even further, and he began to squeeze her hand.  “I’m sorry Alpha, I meant no disrespect,” Mj tried her best to sound demure and innocent.

The club owner brought Mj’s palm up to his mouth and purred as he began to run his tongue and lips over the surface of her knuckles. Mj fought the urge to vomit as he smiled down at her, “please call me Casper, little pet.”  Mj’s eyes shot up to his, and she smiled as wide as possible, “like the friendly ghost?” she squeaked and the air around her erupted in the dull roar of laughter. “Yes pet, I’m your friendly ghost,” Casper pured from behind her hand and Mj bit her lip seductively as the large club owner roamed his eyes over her barely covered body once more.//