Moonshine's sign was simple and understated in a simple dark blue font on an off-white background. The building's windowless brick facade was uninviting with its collection of peeling club and concert posters. There was an abandoned feel to it that Jack had been too jittery to notice the two times he'd been there.

"You sure they're open?" Tara asked, pointing to a sign taped to the door.

Jack looked at the sign. He remembered seeing something taped up the last time he was there with Kieran, but he hadn't bothered to read it. It claimed the inside was under renovation. There was no date, and it looked like it had been posted a while ago. "Uh, maybe?"

Tara looked from Jack to the door and gave it an experimental tug. It opened easily, and she froze, eyes wide as she breathed in deeply.

"You okay?" Jack looked past her, but found nothing that stood out as different in the short hall that led deeper inside.

"I'm good," she tightly replied. "Lotsa smells I ain't used to. Maybe we shouldn't do this?"

"Will you get used to it if we just hang out here for a bit?"

Tara shook her head. "No, it's like I'm gonna fucking kick someone's ass if they look at you funny."

"Like a territorial thing?"

"Do I look like I know?" she bit out.

Jack shrank back as Tara looked away, mumbling an apology. "Uh, just… Here, lemme just check something. I'll be right back." He pulled out his body spray and spritzed it around his neck.

She nodded stiffly and gestured to the hall. "Okay, fine. Don't be long."

Jack cautiously entered the bar and looked around. The construction workers from his first visit were at a booth in the front corner. None of the other patrons really stood out. He went up to the bar and waited until the bartender noticed him.

"Afternoon. What can I getcha?"

"Uh… Nothing yet," Jack said, his eyes roaming over the bottles lining the backsplash. Now was not the time to start his journey through the bar's catalog of drinks. "Just a quick question. My friend's outside, and…" He ran his hand up and down his bag's strap as he tried to come up with how to phrase his question.

"Don't think we banned any leeches recently," the bartender said as he leaned on his elbows. He grinned as his eyes flicked over the room. "Even if it'd be funny."

"No, um… Different friend. She's been recently… I'm sorry. I don't know how everything works." Jack lowered his voice and stared at the bar counter. He had to remind himself that he was in a not-so-human-friendly bar. "She's a werewolf now? 'Cuz that's a thing?"

"That is a thing that happens," the bartender said with a nod as he straightened, giving Jack an expectant look.

"No, I mean…" Jack shook his head and softly sighed. "Sorry. She just thinks she's gonna be overprotective of me in here. I just thought I'd, uh, open the door to a, uh, wider community? For her? Since neither of us really know anything."

The bartender gave Jack a once over then looked to the entrance. "And no one's told your friend shit? Got a reason for that?" he asked, his annoyance loud and clear.

"Uh… Why?" Did Jack just doom Tara to being hunted down? Was ditching a pack she'd never met a punishable offense? Was it more about her being a victim of an asshole? He should have just let things be.

"Pack mentality. Or something. I dunno, I ain't a wolf," the bartender said with a shrug. He looked past Jack and waved. "Mandy!"

Jack's original happy thoughts about the waitress were dashed across a wolf-shaped rock. He looked over miserably as she came up to the counter with a welcoming smile. Was the only reason she was so friendly to him before because he smelled good? Would he rather she be nice because she expected a tip? Non-humans were proving to be too confusing.

"Sunshine's back! I don't like that look." Mandy's smile dropped, and she tilted her head with a sad little frown.

"Wolf shit. Your problem," the bartender said before quickly backing off, his hands raised.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Jack ducked his head and stared at the floor. "Sorry."

"No worries. Ditch the leech for a wolf?" she asked with a wide grin.

He looked back up. "I'm kinda getting offended on his behalf for the leech thing." Even though he'd said it himself, but that was mostly about Augie. His phone pinged with a text, and he pulled it out.

what is taking SO LONG?!?!

"So my friend's a werewolf now, and she didn't ask for it," he said quickly. He swallowed as Mandy's eyes narrowed. "Please don't lock her up."

What looked like anger switched to confusion. "What?"

"She's doing fine? She's happy enough? She's just worried she'll start a bar fight." As soon as he said it, the world seemed to right itself. If anything, Tara came off as more careful, actually hesitant to walk into a situation where she might have to defend Jack's honor against the perceived thugs of the world. "But that's actually kinda normal when it comes to me, now that I'm thinking about it."

Mandy nodded in understanding and laughed softly. "Oh, she'll be fine. Take that booth in the back corner," she said as she pointed. "Us wolves are easy-peasy."

"Okay. Thanks." He tapped out his reply to Tara.

all gud

cmon in

Jack watched as Tara warily entered the bar. Her eyes darted about the patrons before finally landing on Jack. "Mandy, the, uh, the waitress says you'll be fine," he said quietly when she stopped in front of him.

"Sure," Tara replied, drawing the word out as she went back to looking around. Her eyes lingered on the bartender.

"She said the booth in the corner over there'll be good." Jack nodded to the back corner and waited for Tara to lead the way. He hoped everything would be okay. It didn't feel like he was leading Tara into a trap, but what would he know? Walking head first into a bad situation was his favorite pastime.

They sat opposite each other with Tara looking out at the rest of the bar. She watched as Mandy approached, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Welcome in. I'm Mandy, and I'll be your server. Can I get any drinks started for you?" Her voice held the typical brightness of a waitress. She set a pair of menus on the table, her smile never leaving even as Tara looked her over with obvious suspicion.

Jack took a menu, but all his attention was on Tara. "Part of me wants a Long Island Iced Tea, and part of me knows better."

"Sure. Same," Tara said, not taking her eyes off Mandy.

"You'll get used to it," Mandy said reassuringly. She gave Tara a solid nod before tilting her head to the side. "Sounds like you got a pretty good handle on things. But I gotta ask… Who bit you?"

"Am I gonna get sent to doggy jail or something for fighting back?" Tara asked, glaring up at Mandy with a raised brow.

Mandy's eyes widened. "Fighting back? Why…? What happened?"

Tara briefly glanced at Jack then at the table in resignation. "I broke his leg. It was self defense." She let out a slow breath and looked back up at Mandy and winced. "Mighta took one of his toes, too…"

A soft growl emanated from Mandy before she broke off with a cough and cleared her throat. "Depending on what happened, he'd be the one going to, uh, jail." She looked over her shoulder, eyes briefly landing on the construction workers. "We generally police our own. So if you're okay with how things turned out, then it's fine. But if you didn't sign up for this… Sorry, hun, but there ain't no cure. It's not like the movies."

Tara visibly relaxed. "Oh. Then it's all good. Shane Williams. Don't think he's gonna come sniffin' around anytime soon."

"Never heard of him." Mandy tore off a page from her notepad and set it on the table. "If you wanna write up a description, I'll send word 'round to warn others. Might not do much, but it'll make setting up shop a hassle." She cleared her throat and lowered her voice. "And if you want to…maybe have him roughed up? Send a little message? I'll be sure to mention it to the right people, but only if you feel it's necessary."

"The right people, huh? Think my message was pretty straight forward. Am I s'posed to sign up for a pack or something?" Tara asked as she pulled the slip of paper closer. "He made it sound like I needed that. Or I'd go crazy or something? But I feel fine."

"They all say that, if you catch my drift," Mandy said dryly.

Tara nodded with a laugh. "That's what I was thinking," she said as she grabbed up a menu. "So, yeah. Drinks! Thanks! Long Islands all around. I'm paying. He doesn't get a say."

Jack glared at Tara. He wasn't broke. He bit at his lip as he kept himself from pulling out his wallet to double check. Instead, he pulled out his phone.

"Comin' right up. Charlie makes a mean Iced Tea," Mandy said, nodding to the bartender. "Stick with one for now, trust me."

Tara looked over to the bar, a small grin forming. "Is Charlie single?"

"You don't want a piece of that."

"Yeah, I've had bad taste lately." Tara leaned back with a sigh. "Damn fucking shame."

"Don't I know it," Mandy agreed before heading to the bar.

Tara fished around for a pen and began jotting down Shane's description. She looked up at Jack when she finished. "You coming to New Year's? Sam's mom's making her punch."

Jack wanted in on that punch. Slushy, fizzy, and all boozed up to perfection. "I'll think about it. But I don't think Sam likes Kieran. Still."

"Yeah, he'll like him even less when his mom falls in love!"

Sam wouldn't have to worry about it since Jack wasn't planning on going. No punch, but no awkward politeness. Maybe he could just ask for the recipe and have a whole bowl to himself and get drunk with Kieran.

image [https://i.imgur.com/eZY0YUq.png]