Business as Usual...Or Not {Open}

[Ashling Lawerence]

I just need you to show me now,
If there was ever really any way out.
I've been ticking like a time bomb,
Every move I made was wrong.
I hope it's not too late.
Save me, cause I still believe,
There's something in me,(Worth saving)
Save me, from this disease,
That's feeding on the better part of me.

At first glance, it was just an ordinary night of business at the Wolf's Den. Waitresses bustled around delivering drinks and the dancers worked their sets for the normal crowd of business men and wealthy clientele. It seemed like everything was exactly what it seemed and no trouble was brewing. And that just went to prove that appearances could be deceiving.

At the bar, a beautiful blond ordered a drink and tossed it back without a though. Having just exited the dressing room after managing to get through her last set of the night, Ashling in need of some relief. The loud music and noise was rattling her nerves and she prayed that the whiskey would help take the edge off. Her skin felt to tight on her bones and she was finding it hard to coop with all the stimuli in the club.... Never mind the assholes who thought that just cause a woman danced, that made her available for groping. That thought alone made a growl crawl up the back of her throat and she was hard pressed not to lash out at something or someone. Something that would never have happened before.

God. It was so hard to act normal.

Turning to gaze out over the club, Ashling contemplated just how much her life had changed in so little time. Until a couple weeks ago, she had been a normal woman with a semi normal life if she discounted the fact that she worked for a shape shifter and was squire to another clan.

In one night, a brutal, vicious attack had changed all that.

Now, she had a monster lurking under the surface and she was terrified of the changes it had made in her. Tonight was her first night back at the club since the attack but it was all she could do to function. She'd already had her first full shift on the full moon and Caleb had stayed with her through it all but she felt like a stranger in her own body. She desperately wanted some normalcy to her life and she'd hoped getting back to work would allow her some peace.

Now, she was very afraid it had been the wrong decision. The beast within was on edge and she felt as if she were a time bomb waiting to explode.

Sighing, Ash ordered another whiskey and downed it too. She saw the bartender send her a questioning look because she never drank while on duty but she ignored it. It wasn't like everyone didn't already know what had happened and what she now was. A little alcohol wasn't going to affect her the same way it would a human now, was it?

Closing her eyes for a moment, the dancer so lost in her thoughts that the approach of someone at her side and the first come on line didn't even register. Having chosen a darkened corner of the bar to sit, she'd hoped to escape the notice of others until she was ready to deal with them but evidently... that was not to be. The touch of a hand on her ass had her eyes flying open and the emerald depths blazing in anger. Without even acknowledging the drink offer or the mans conjoling manner, Ash let out a snarl.

"Get your fucking hands off of me.... NOW!"

To drunk to hed the warning in her tone, the man pressed forward until his larger size hovered over her and leared down her shirt as he continued to make an ass of himself.

"Come on, baby.... Let me buy you a drink... Surely you worked up a thirst up there." he wheedled, letting his hand wander.

Suddenly, the beast lurched forward and snatched control from Ashlings rational mind. Before she knew what she was doing, she had the idiot by his throat and had tossed him ten feet across the room. Gathering herself to leap after him, the blond only knew she wanted the assholes blood.

[cal]

Your love is mine for the taking
My love is just waiting
To turn your tears to roses

I will be the one that's gonna hold you
I will be the one that you run to
My love is a burning, consuming fire

No, you'll never be alone
When darkness comes I'll light the night with stars
Hear my whispers in the dark
No, you'll never be alone
When darkness comes you know I'm never far
Hear the whispers in the dark
Whispers in the dark


So things were starting go back to its normal pace. Or as normal as it could be to a bat shit crazy badass werewolf whose girl had been cursed the same as him not too long before.

Caleb had wished that she’d stayed back at the cabin with him a while longer before returning, but she was too stubborn for her own good. That was part of why he liked her, he never cared for a submissive woman, but for a woman that could kick just as hard as he could and Ash was obviously in that category. In no way he wanted her to stay back longer because he believed she was weak, quite the contrary, but he knew very well the beast that lurked inside both of them and that anything could set it off in a murderous rage.

It had taken him more than a little while to figure out how to live like this without being a murderous sob, but he had succeeded.

But Ash wouldn’t be alone, he would be with her every step of it and wouldn’t leave her side until he was satisfied she was alright even if she wanted to rip his head for it if she’d fall into a murderous rage.

And that could very well happen before long.

From the first floor of the den from where he overlooked the club, all it took was a second off distraction with a stupid frat boy not knowing when to stop drinking and falling on his ass, that he only saw the moron grabbing Ash downstairs just a second before he was sent flying.

Without enough time to push his way through the crowd that separated the distance between Ash and the poor idiot that was making an ass of himself, Caleb leaped on the edge and landed swiftly on the floor below with practiced ease.

When he raised his head, the bouncer was standing into the direct path that would lead Ash to the jerk.

Releasing a growl of himself, Caleb stared straight into her eyes and showed no sign of fear.
“You don’t want to do that Ash!”

Unmoving, he stayed there before her as she was ready to leap. If she had to take out her aggression on anyone, Caleb preferred it would be him. Heck, he’d let her rip his guts if that was what took for her to calm down. He would recover in time, the man wouldn’t and he knew Ash wouldn’t be able to live with the guys death in his conscience.

That didn’t mean that he didn’t thrust his elbow back, knocking the guy out cold for daring to touch her.

[Ashling Lawerence]

I've been looking for my next mistake,
In every other little chance I take.
I've left my mark, everywhere I've been.
I think it's time for me to come back down,
I think it's time for me to stand my ground.
I don't know where I should begin.
I hope it's not too late.

Poised on the brink of losing herself to the monster, Ashling almost didn't recognize herself in the beast. Brutal need for violence and blood raced through her veins and anger roared in her mind. The creature within wanted to rip the man's throat out for manhandling her but the saner part tried to talk it down. After all, this wasn't anything new.. Wasn't anything that hadn't happened a million times before. If she managed to keep working here.. It certainly wouldn't be the last either.

At the moment... That was a big IF.

Thank god she hadn't shifted. There definitely wouldn't have been any going back from that encounter. Even Derek wouldn't have been that tolerant.

Vaguely, Ash became aware of someone placing themselves between her and the now fearful human. The fear she smelled rolling from the human teased her senses but it was Caleb's voice that anchored her to reality. It was his eyes that gradually drew her's from the cowering idiot and chained the beast back to its wall. The backwards lash of his elbow and the subsequent fall of the whimpering fool lead to a subtle relaxing of her stance.

For a moment, the two were's stood there staring at each other as Ash got herself under control. Already, other members of the club were moving among the crowd messing with memories and the buzz of music continued.

"Oh... trust me... I did want to do it..... But I'm glad that you stopped me." she whispered hoarsely, realizing how close she'd been to the edge.

Closing her eyes for a long moment, the pretty dancer took in a ragged breath and then straightened her shoulders. When her blue gaze opened, they were filled with self disgust and hopelessness.

"I don't know if I can do this, Caleb...... If I can almost lose it that easily....."

Running a hand through her long blond hair, the female looked out over the club. What had once seemed like home.. Now seemed completely foreign and out of her element.

"I think I'm going to call it a night..... I need..... I don't know what I need but its not this...."

[cal]

I'm awake, I'm alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life

(Here, right now)
Right here, right now
Stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake, and I'm alive


Caleb gazed deeply into Ashling eyes, he could see the beast growling beneath its blue depths, ready to cut through her skin and claim her mind. But he didn’t flinch or stand back even a millimeter, she knew the woman better than that. She was strong as she was sweet. She could control the monster, only she could…he could only help her to a point, but she was the only one that could place it on a cage.

And if she didn’t…well, she’d just stand there and let her take out her aggression on him instead the poor idiot he had just knocked down. He would survive, the moron wouldn’t. It would hurt like hell, sure, but Caleb would heal.

And he stood her as she held back and managed to tamper down the anger inside her as he knew she would. But it was obvious that it had taken its toll on her and let her shaken.

“But you didn’t Ash,” he whispered back, stepping closer to her and gently brushing a long lock of golden hair behind her ear. “That thing inside you that is growling and rattling against its cage, it isn’t all that you are. I know what you are, you are a beautiful woman,” he added placing his hand on her cheek, “you have silky white skin, the most kissable lips I ever known,” he brushed his thumb lightly against her bottom lip, “and a scent that drives me wild.”

Placing an arm around her waist, he guided him towards the back exit and signaled another one of the bouncers to take charge for a while. Stopping only for a moment on the stock behind the bar to catch a full bottle of whiskey.

“Come on Ash, you want to go to my place, kill this bottle and just relax? Either that or join me for a furry run in the outdoors, that always helped me relax.”

[Ashling Lawerence]

Feel so hot for honey out of all the girls up in this club
This one got me whipped, just off one look, yep I fell in love
This one something special, this one just like dynamite,
out of sight
Fell in love with honey like my, oh my
Honey looking wonderful; fly, so fly
Honey like a supermodel; my, oh my
Baby how you do that, make a grown man cry?
Ooh (oooh) baby, you got it alll
Sexy from her head to the toes
And I want it all, it all, it all


Well. For distractions, that one certainly was a ten!

As Caleb moved in close and she felt the touch of his hand, Ash felt her need for violence turn to something much more primitive. The animal inside hungered and it didn't care what it was that it got as long as some kind of action happened soon.

Inhaling a sharp breath as his finger tips trailed over her lips, the blond meet the other were's gaze and knew he read that fire in her own sapphire depths. Before she knew it, he was slipping an arm around her waist and heading back for the bar where he grabbed up a bottle of whiskey and then herded her out the back door. It was all done so slick that no one even thought about questioning them and she had to let out a little chuckle as they reach his bike.

"Uh... well, actually... How about we drive out to the pass and watch the moon set from there? I'm not really feeling like being inside at the moment but a bike ride up the hill sounds nice.... We can share this bottle there and then let nature decide?"

Casting him a wicked look over her shoulder, Ash moved to the bike and swung a slender leg over the top before sliding back to leave room for him up front.

"Coming?" she asked. "Or do I have to drive this thing myself?"

As she waited for him to join her, Ash reached back and pulled her long blond hair up in a messy pony tail. With her waist length locks, leaving it down would have been a mess for both of them and it was so much easier when it was up.

[cal]

In touch with the ground
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Scent and a sound. I'm lost and I'm found
And I'm hungry like the wolf.
Strut on a line it's discord and rhyme
I howl and I whine I'm after you
Mouth is alive all running inside
And I'm hungry like the wolf

His eyes searched Ash’s and Caleb could see what lurked in their depths and a smile appeared on his lips. He could tell she was feeling restless, something that he could understand since every time he laid eyes upon her, he felt the wolf within stir for her. There was a certain connection, a bond they shared, and it had something akin to animalistic instinct.

“That sounds like a good idea. I’ve always been a fan of nature after all.”

So yeah, the whiskey bottle in his hands wasn’t exactly natural stuff, but he did love the blonde by his side in her birthday suit…can’t get more natural than that.

Returning her look, Caleb walked up to the bike and secured the bottle safely for later before sliding in front of her and starting the engine. Once he felt her arms wrap around his waist, he grinned. It felt…right. The beast inside them both was restless, but his was at ease when next to her. He always had a thing for the ass kicking ladies, and Ash certainly fir in that category.

The ride with her was short, but the wolf enjoyed it. The wind carried her scent that lingered a little around the turns.

When they stopped, Caleb waited for her to unlace her arms and jumped off, taking her hand in one hand and the bottle in another.

“I’ve got a full bottle, clear skies and a sexy girl. Let’s drink, howl to the moon and see where nature leads.”

[Ashling Lawerence]

So, honey let me love you down
There’s so many ways to love ya
Baby I can break it down
There’s so many ways to love ya
Got me like, ooh my gosh I’m soo in love I found you finally,
You make me want to say…
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh my gosh

A prospect of a cool evenings breeze and the hum of an engine. It was enough to settle the wolf inside down and relax the rigid curve of Ash's spine.


As Caleb slide on the bike, she wrapped her arms around his waist and allowed her body to rest against his. Before she knew it, they were soaring through traffic heading out to someplace that they both would be able to enjoy a bit more than a packed club with a bunch of drunk idiots.

Soon enough they reached the little knoll over looking the city and the male was jumping off the bike and offering her a hand. Taking it, Ash dismounted and allowed him to pull her away from the motorcycle and towards a patch of green grass. By the grace of god, it was a pleasant night and the nightlife around them chirped and skittered through the trees nearby.

Plopping down in the grass, the petite dancer tugged her companion down with her and relaxed against him as they gazed out over the city of New Orleans. From here, it seemed so distant. As if the whole world were just a bad dream. She could stay in this place forever.

"Wow... It never fails to amaze me..... From this vantage point.. Problems seem so.... small.. if you know what I mean? Nature is so much simplier in its natural form."

Tilting her head back, she glanced over her shoulder at the were and smirked.

"HEY! You going ot share that whiskey or hog it all for yourself? Not getting stinggy on me now are you? Cause if you are... I might have to rethink this whole relationship thing we've got going on...." she teased before suddenly frowning. "Which begs the question... We haven't really talked about it.... This is a relationship right? Your not just feeling sorry for me are you?"

[cal]

Morning comes slow today
Memories push through from yesterday
Where will I be tomorrow
What do I have to show
From my life
Stay
I need you here for a new day to break
Stay


There was a smile in him when she tugged him down along with him, her form snuggling against his in a perfect fit as if she had been made for him. Inhaling deep, he allowed her scent to assault his senses and the wolf in him howled both protectively and with desire.

Easing one arm around her, Caleb kept her close for a moment as he gazed at the lights bellow. She was right, the world seemed so peaceful from that perspective, things looked so simple. But then again he had everything he wanted right there at the reach of his fingertips. The woman that stirred the beast in him and a full bottle on his hand.

Making short work of removing the lid of the bottle, he pulled a couple of long hard pulls feeling that familiar burn go down his throat. Her words however made his stop amidst the pull and frown as he pushed the bottle away from his lips.

Placing the bottle down on the floor, he brought his fingers onto her chin, softly pulling her head up so she was staring at him when he spoke.

“Ash, if I felt sorry for you I’d be giving you a pat in the back and telling you everything was alright before sending you on your way home. I wouldn’t drag you to my bed, kiss those delicious lips,” he leaned his head down and as if to prove his point placed a kiss on her mouth. When he pulled back, he licked his lips, feeling the intoxicating taste of her mixed with a little of the whiskey still in them. It was good, too damn good. He imagined if he poured the whole bottle on her skin and licked it, that would too taste so great.

Getting the bottle again, he offered it to her. She would trust his words? He wasn’t the most romantic guy around, no, he was too direct to be the romantic kind. But he was true, he wanted her, body and soul. It had nothing to do with her change, he wanted her now as much as he had before. Had done so since the first time he had laid eyes on her and felt her scent in the air.

Wrapping both arms around her, he held her tight.
“Do I have to show you how much you stir the animal inside me?”