Werewolf Rage Book #2 in the Taming The Wolf Series (4 page)

“Come on.
I better get you out of this moon light before I lose my head and decide not to let you out of my arms tonight,” he said, making her want to snuggle closer.

“You’re right. Every time you and I end up together in the moonlight, it makes it ten times harder to let go.
Why is that?” she asked curiously as Cyrus walked with her toward the back porch.

Cyrus looked over his shoulder at the moon and pulled her hand to his mouth as he grazed his lips across her knuckles.
“Because you’re in your element when you’re surrounded by moonlight and the scent of flowers. The moon is calling you out into the night to play.”

Ava walked through the door and into the warm bright house and looked longingly over her shoulder at the moon.
There would be time to play in the moonlight another day.

The next week flew by, her days filled with meetings and her new job waitressing at the pub.
Yvonne, her cousin and her new husband Big Red had left on their honeymoon to Ireland. They’d be gone for a few weeks and so she had volunteered to cover for her while she was gone. It was only temporary and it was fun. Ava was surprised at first to find out that she was a natural at waitressing. When she’d trained to be a gymnast, it took a lot of balance, muscle control and the ability to smile no matter what. Who knew the same principles would apply to waitressing? She hadn’t dropped a glass or bottle yet and the tip money was pouring in. Cyrus hated the idea of her waitressing, but her Uncle Kurt, Yvonne’s dad was scary, huge and mean. He made sure every man there was polite and kept his hands to himself. That and having Harry Paskell for a father went a far way to make sure she was left alone and treated well.

She finished taking an order
and skipped back into the kitchen to tell her uncle. She yelled out the order for nachos and then turned around to find herself being enveloped by two strong, warm familiar arms.

“Why can’t I get any service here?
Hmm?” Cyrus said, leaning down to kiss her cheek before letting her go.

Ava laughed and pushed him away playfully.
“Your booth awaits you. You should try the soup today. Kurt is a genius. Tomato Bisque.
Mmmm
,” she said, walking with him to the back of the pub.

Cyrus grinned as he slid into the back booth and leaned back to look up at her.
“Sold. You’re having fun aren’t you? You’re actually getting a kick out of this.”

Ava shrugged and tried to hide her smile.
“Kurt wants to keep me on even after Yvonne comes back. He says business is up and everyone seems happy with my service,” she said proudly.

Cyrus’s smile slipped and his eyes turned cold as he scanned the full tables. The majority of the customers were men. “Oh really,” he said dryly.

Ava smiled and nodded and then frowned, putting her hands on her hips. “Oh Cyrus.
Please
. I can handle myself and my uncle happens to be a pretty scary werewolf if you haven’t noticed. I’m just as safe here as I would be at home. Now, what would you like with your soup?” she asked, her eyes twinkling at him.

Cyrus sighed and ordered just as Tobias and Harry walked in, heading straight for them.

“Hi sweetie. Can you get me a burger, fries and a Coke?” Harry said, kissing Ava on her cheek and sitting down opposite Cyrus.

Tobias patted Ava on the shoulder.
“Ava honey, I would kill for a steak sandwich, a side of fries and a chocolate milkshake.”

She took down their orders and hurried back.
Two orders were up and so she was kept running for the next fifteen minutes. When their food was ready, she brought it out to them all on one tray. Not even one bobble. She grinned as she served the food up, smiling as her father clapped.

“I think you’ve found your calling Ava,” Harry said with a chuckle.
“Tell Kurt you need a break. Come sit down with us while we eat.”

Ava nodded and ran back to the kitchens, letting Kurt know she was taking a break.
He came out from the back and walked the tables, taking the opportunity to talk to his customers and refill drinks.

She scooted in next to Cyrus.
“What do you think?” she asked pointing to the soup she’d brought him.

Cyrus lifted a spoonful of the soup to his mouth and nodded his head.
“It’s delicious. Grab a spoon and share with me.”

Ava shrugged but took a sip of his drink.
“I’m not that hungry. Kurt’s been making me try everything. So what are you guys up to today? Anything exciting going on?” she asked, glancing at her father and Tobias.

Harry shared a look with Tobias before taking a sip of his Coke.
“Picture the founding fathers writing the Constitution. It’s complicated. There’s way too many egos in the room and I’m about to kill Angus Waterman. He’s an older one. Very traditional and very against changing anything.”

Ava stole one of her father’s fries.
“Sorry Dad, but I have full confidence in your ability to get what you want. Besides with Tobias and Cyrus on your side, he won’t have any choice but to compromise. Right?”

Tobias snorted and put his sandwich down, wiping his mouth with his large napkin.
“Honey, Angus needs to be shot. That’s the only way we’re going to make any headway.”

Ava frowned.
“So after you come up with your constitution, we’re all going to vote on judges right? Patricia told me that you’ve decided on seven. Dad you’ll be one. You too Tobias. What about you Cyrus?”

Cyrus leaned back and grabbed her hand.
“Harry, my dad and Angus will be the head judges, but we’ll be voting on the other four. If I’m voted in I’ll do my duty.”

Ava licked her lips and sat forward as she thought of something.
“You need a few women judges. I want in,” she said her eyes lighting up. “You need a woman who has lived out in real society who knows what it should be like. I can help these women and make sure men are doing their part at the same time.”

Tobias’s eyebrows rose up as he grinned at Cyrus and Harry.
“She does have a point. If we’re serious about making everything fair, they need representation.”

Harry nodded his head as he munched on a fry.
“I love it. We’ll have elections hopefully in a month or so. Anyone who wants a seat on the council should go for it.”

She turned and looked at Cyrus who was frowning.
“If you and I are on the council together, we’re going to butt heads. We’re not always going to agree. It could cause problems Ava,” he said softly.

Ava crinkled her nose, totally deflated by Cyrus’s reaction.
“We have the same goals here Cyrus. I’m here in this town to help you and my father change it for the better. What’s to fight about?” she asked.

“
Lover’s quarrel
?”

Ava’s head whipped up and she found herself staring up into Cole’s light green, piercing eyes.
Perry was standing next to him, smiling at her father.

“Oh no.
Nothing like that,” she mumbled and looked away. Holding Cyrus’s hand, she could feel him automatically stiffen and sit up straighter. She glanced at her father but he was smiling warmly.

“Join us for lunch,” he said motioning for Ava and Tobias to scoot over.

Ava did as she was told, swallowing nervously as Cole sat on the hard leather bench right next to her.
He was so large that his thigh and hip were right next to hers. She glanced at Cyrus but he was still glaring at her father for issuing the invitation in the first place.

Cole leaned down and whispered in her ear.
“What’s good?”

She took one of the folded menus on the table and handed it to him.
“The soup is good,” she said politely.

He glanced at her with a crooked grin and shook his head.
“You have got to be kidding me. I’m feeling like a steak, a large baked potato with the works and a whole cheesecake,” he said leaning over and looking at Cyrus’s empty soup bowl. He smirked and shook his head.

Ava glared at Cole but she did notice that Cyrus looked like he was still starving to death.
“Cole, will you let me up? My break is over. I’ll be back in a minute to take your orders. Cyrus, if you’re done with your soup, I’ll bring you the
rest
of your lunch,” she said with as much dignity as she could muster as she stood up.

Cyrus smiled in relief and pulled her down by her hand so he could kiss her briefly on the lips.
“Love you baby. You’re the best,” he said with such feeling that she laughed.

She turned to scoot out of the booth, but Cole was still there and she ended up pushing against Cole, her body coming into close contact with his.
He grinned up at her unrepentantly as he slowly slid out of the booth.

“Sorry Ava.
Here you go sweetheart,” he said, taking her hand and helping her out.

Ava gritted her teeth, but kept her smile in place.
“Thanks,” she bit out and moved past him. She glanced back at the table, and wasn’t surprised to see Cyrus looking murderous and her father asking to switch places with Tobias. She felt a real smile stretch her mouth at the hopeful smile on her father’s face. She’d put up with Cole if she had to, if it meant her father could find happiness and love. And by Perry’s shy smile and glowing eyes, that was a real possibility. Of course if things worked out between her father and Perry that would mean Cole would be her uncle. Her eyes widened in horror and she glanced at Cole to see him grinning at her as if he could read her mind.

She hurried back to the kitchen and picked up a plate of Roast beef and mashed potatoes for Cyrus.
She brought it out, laughed at Cyrus’s groan of appreciation, took Perry and Cole’s orders and then ran herself ragged for the next two hours. Kurt’s evening waitress came in to relieve her and she pulled off her apron and stretched, before Kurt came and gave her a quick hug and kiss.

“Ava, you did great today.
See ya tomorrow,” he said and headed back to the kitchens.

She called out a few goodbyes to people at the bar and then pushed through the door and into the sun light.
It felt so good to get outside and breathe in the fresh clean mountain air and feel the sunlight on her skin. Kurt only had her scheduled a few days a week, which she was grateful for. She was enjoying herself and making some cash, but she enjoyed being outside too much to want the job permanently. Besides, she had political plans. She wanted a spot on the council as one of the women judges this town needed.

She tightened her pony tail and set out into a jog. She knew Cyrus would be in a meeting with her dad and Tobias for at least another hour.
That would give her time to stop by the park. A few of the older kids and younger teenagers had taken to meeting her there in the afternoons for free gymnastics lessons. Besides being with Cyrus, it was her favorite thing to do. She glanced down at her white t-shirt and black shorts and shrugged. It wasn’t what she’d normally work out in, but it didn’t matter.

She ran lightly through the park and headed for the north corner right in front of Cyrus’s house.
There was already a group of five girls in varying ages and three boys. She grinned at the kids and knew her old coach would give his right arm to have even one of these kids on his team. Werewolves were strong, limber and they never tired. Injuries never slowed them down and they learned quickly. She was in heaven. She was already working up the nerve to ask her father to build a real gym in Paskell. Their family owned the lumber mill and they could afford it. She’d take it out of her inheritance if she had too but the kids in this town needed a place they could go to have fun and exercise and learn. She couldn’t wait to see what a few of the kids could do on the bars or a balance beam.

“Hey guys!” she called out, smiling and waving as the small crowd surrounded her, all talking at once.

She held up her hands for quiet and shook her head.
“First things first. Has everyone stretched?”

An hour later as she spotted a fourteen year old boy with light brown hair and freckles as he did a back hand spring for the first time, she felt a moment of joy.
The boy landed it perfectly and pumped his fist in the air, shouting triumphantly.

“Did you see that!” he demanded of all the kids.

Ava laughed and gave him a high five. “Keep practicing Elijah and you’ll be amazing,” she promised, walking toward a few girls who were getting ready to leave for dinner.

“Ava, will you show us that routine you did last week? I want to learn how to do that last part,” Emily, a twelve year old girl with long brown hair and incredible potential, asked.

Ava groaned tiredly. “Guys, I’ve been working on my feet at the pub for hours. I’m tired and I need a shower. How about next time?” she asked, holding her hands to her ears as everyone booed and shouted.

Ava laughed and gave up.
“Fine! But if I fall on my face and break my neck you will all be to blame,” she said dourly.

They just laughed at her.
Ava sighed and turned around to see the long expanse of green soft grass and smiled. She was tired, true, but flying through the air was something she’d never get tired of.

She limbered up for a few minutes, stretching out her muscles before she jumped into a sprint.
Half way down the green stretch she flew into the air, tucking her body tight as she twisted and turned, landing on her feet firmly. She held her arms up the in the traditional posture of a gymnast and turned around to the clapping, shouting and one very loud wolf whistle. She jogged back to her group, smiling and gave everyone high fives. She turned to the last person and found herself slapping Cole’s hand.

“That was beautiful,” he said with feeling, his eyes gleaming down at her.
“It was physical poetry. Art,” he breathed, stepping closer to her.

Ava stepped back and shook her head.
“It’s called gymnastics. Haven’t you ever watched the Summer Olympics?” she asked, as the kids around them became silent.