Chapter 32.2 – Werewolves in the company – part 3

Aniya got up and approached the man. She bent a little to sniff his head, and wondered, “For a moment, your question sounded kind of suspicious, but you smell like a Werewolf. You can’t tell that all of us have a similar smell?”

“Well, I know everyone has… How do I say this… like a familiar smell? But until today, I never knew there were more people like me! I thought I was the only one cursed with this! It helps a lot in my line of work because I am stronger than my colleagues, and I can smell people inside a burning building, but… My parents never knew about anyone in our family that was like me!”

Aniya placed her hand over the man’s shoulder and comforted him, “You are not alone, my friend, and this is not a curse. It may seem like it because you faint during a change and you lose control of your body, but the moment you recover your senses and you find yourself in full control of your beastly body, it’s amazing. It takes a while for you to get used to move, or accept that you are like that, but the moment you run for the first time in the woods, feeling the night breeze on your snout and the fresh soil under your paws, you will think that it’s the best feeling in the world. As a Werewolf in full control, you will see, smell, and hear better, even in complete darkness. You just need to be careful, because you are also faster and stronger, and even a push to a normal Human can be deadly to him.”

“That I already know. I was once able to take a fireproof door off the hinges, and those doors are heavy. There were people trapped in the corridor behind that door, and I didn’t even think if someone would see me.”

Aniya tapped his back with a smile and returned to her seat. She looked around and said, “It is better if none of you say a thing about what we spoke about here to anyone. Your name appeared on that list the Hunters have because someone told them about you. I also hope that even after you control your beast bodies and you learn how to change whenever you can, you keep that secret. We may need some time to disclose to the general public that Werewolves are living among them. If the people knew about us before we were ready, the Hunters would definitely get a lot of supporters that will demand all the Werewolves to be killed.”

One woman who remained silent the entire meeting timidly raised her hand, and she then asked, “Will we ever be able to tell anyone besides our closest family? Because only my parents and my husband know, I never said a thing to my uncles or cousins. I am not even sure if one of them is a Werewolf like me, or if I am the only one.”

Aniya made a pained face as she answered, “I am not sure when we can tell everyone. It depends on how things turn out. I found out recently that there are more packs of Werewolves in other countries, and while some of them live in hiding, afraid of the Hunters, others fight the Hunters openly, and the Hunters don’t mess with them. Maybe one day, all Werewolves can unite their efforts against our common enemy. In the meantime, you now know that you are not alone. There are more Werewolves just like you. As a side note, if you ever find someone that has the same smell we have, you can be sure that person is also a Werewolf.”

Aniya looked at the big group at the table, waiting for more questions. She then invited them to follow Anna on a visit to the company, and the ones that wished to work for her company could also talk with her and start the recruiting process. They all got up and followed Anna, after thanking her for her help with the wolf’s bane and her explanation.

All except Meredith Sellas and the MMA fighter. Those two remained seated, looking at Lisa and Aniya, who asked them with a puzzled face, “Why are you two here? You don’t want to visit my company and check what job you can get?”

Meredith shrugged, “My father kind of said to be near you, so… Besides, I am not sure if there is a job for me. I am not the most amicable person to have in a company with a lot of people around.”

“As for me, I think I should stay here to keep a watch over these two, just in case they wake up. Besides, I was offered a job as a part-time security guard. I guess this falls under my responsibility.”

Aniya nodded. “I don’t see a problem with that, as long as you go hide inside one of the empty offices on this floor when the Hunters arrive to get them. I don’t want anyone to see you. It will lead to some questions that I wish to avoid.”

Lisa made a slight frown when she noticed the guy smiling at her. “You are wasting your time with me. I am already taken.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I am not interested in you. I just think you are funny. Miss Meredith here is more my type, with the way she boils so easily.”

Meredith Sellas jolted. “You think I am your type? You have weird taste, Mister!”

He turned to face the surprised young woman, and he couldn’t stop staring at her, while Meredith was staring back. His voice came out more shaken than he wanted. “I… hope you also feel it... b-because if you don’t, I am making a fool of myself!”

“I… am not sure what you mean… but I feel kind of weird. What is this?”

Lisa clapped her hands, almost jumping in excitement. “Oh, I know this! It’s called the bond. It means you were born for each other! I have that with Davis, Aniya with Nick, and Anna with Frank! It’s the greatest feeling ever! It’s as if until now you felt something was missing, but you were never sure what!”

“I am… Robert Isles… My friends call me Robby…”

“Robby… I am Mere… I mean, Meredith! Yeah, Meredith!”

Robert gave a slight smile. “Mere is a cute nickname. Do you mind if I call you that? “

“I… guess not… Robby.”

Aniya muffled her laughter. “Pfft! An angry woman who annoyed me so much and a scary MMA fighter acting so lovey-dovey! That’s so cute!”

While the new couple was turning bright red and smiling awkwardly, Lisa slapped Aniya’s head. “Who are you to talk, dumbass? When you are near Nick, you are worse than they are! Last time I felt like puking just by listening to your talk!”

Aniya grabbed her phone as she was smiling, and when she pressed the icon on the screen and waited, she heard two zaps. Robert shrugged at her, holding the taser that Anna left on the table. “They moved. Better not to let them awake, right?”

Aniya raised one finger for them to be quiet and said, “Father? One question. Whom do I call for the Hunters to send someone to take with them two Werewolves from that weird group? I caught them in my company. They came for a job interview. Yes, I am sure. I sent their photos to my friend, and he said he met them yesterday. Really? And can you make sure they don’t attract too much attention? I see… Hunters sure are well organized! Okay, I will wait here then, to keep them knocked out. We are on the top floor, in the big meeting room. Sure, thanks.”

Aniya dialled another number and asked, “Hi Anna. Can you tell someone to go get my laptop and the pile of papers that for sure you have for me to see from my desk? And coffee for us, if you please. Some cookies would be nice, yes. No, everything is calm, but the Hunters will arrive shortly disguised as paramedics because of an emergency in this meeting room. Just keep your group away from their path. Tell the security guys to let them pass and to warn me the moment they arrive. Yes, I will wait here. No, they didn’t leave. They are here with me, making sure the two weirdos don’t wake up. Okay, if you need anything, I will be here.”

Aniya explained to Lisa’s puzzled look. “My father told me the Hunters will arrive in thirty minutes, more or less. They will come in an ambulance disguised as paramedics. It seems they are used to these kinds of things. Someone will bring coffee and cookies for us, and I have some work to do while I wait for the Hunters to arrive.”

Lisa nodded and glanced at the knocked out couple over the table and smiled when she saw Meredith and Robert happily chatting.
Aniya grabbed her phone to check her messages and felt a squeeze in her heart when she overheard the happy couple talking about themselves because it reminded her that Nick could be in trouble and she couldn’t do anything. She could only trust Davis to help him if something unexpected happened, and she didn’t like the idea of being so far away to help.
Then, Aniya’s phone vibrated with a message from Davis. A set of coordinates and some indications of the way to get there that she immediately sent back to her father, for him to warn the Hunters that everything was in motion.
…

Aniya was peacefully reading a file when there was a knock on the door. Lisa opened it, and four big and muscular paramedics entered, carrying two stretchers. One of them made a slight nod to Aniya. “We came as soon as possible. Are you sure these are the ones?”

“No, I am not sure. I just called you because you are so beautiful that I couldn’t bear another second without seeing you.”

“That was a stupid answer, Miss. I was being serious.”

Aniya rolled her eyes. “Dumb questions deserve stupid answers. Do you mind taking them from my table and leaving? Preferably without alarming my staff in the building? And quick, if you please! I have work to do and I can’t be here all day babysitting them.”

While the other three paramedics were using a syringe to inject a sleeping drug into the two knocked out, the man frowned at Aniya. “For a recruit, you sure are full of yourself. No one told you to respect fellow Hunters?”

“Yeah, those three in the High Council tried that approach yesterday, and I rubbed the floor with them. Why are you still here? Do you want a kiss, or what? Take those two with you and be careful because if they wake up, they will turn into Werewolves.”

The four paramedics jolted, and the one near Aniya spoke, still doubting Aniya’s words, “What… you mean by that? No Werewolf can change without a full moon!”

“Yes, keep saying that to yourself until you believe it, but don’t cry when they wake up and eat your head. Now leave and don’t let the door hit your butt on your way out.”

As they were carrying the two prisoners on the stretchers, Aniya returned to the files, paying no more attention to the group.

When the elevator doors closed and took them down, Lisa asked, “Now what? Do you have more work to do, or can we go meet the others that are with Anna?”

“Go call those two love birds hidden in the office, and let’s go search for Anna. It is better if you knock on the door, just in case they are… knowing each other.”

Lisa muffled laughter and walked down the corridor after winking. Aniya bit her lower lip and mumbled when her friend was already knocking at the door where Meredith and Robert were, “I hope you are alright, Nick… I am not sure if I can do this without you...”