Chapter 4-Meet Joe

Roe pulled the car into a spot among the other cars in the lot. She got out of the car and walked over to Joe, who was standing under the light by the back door to the bar. He was a few inches taller than Roe's 5'4, and was a stocky, muscular man with short brown hair and brown eyes. "Hey Joe, got any info for me?"

"Roe, just what the hell have you gotten yourself involved in?"

"What do you mean?" Roe asked, confused.

"You really have no idea who you picked up, do you?"

"I know their names, that Adrian is a very powerful vampire, and Shane is totally unaware of what all is going on in the world. He seems to know almost nothing about the other supernatural creatures." She shook her head despairingly.

Joe sighed. "I didn't call anyone about them being here cuz I'm not sure exactly who can be trusted at the moment. So, I'll just tell you what I know about them, and we'll go from there. Alpha Girouard of the Woodbridge Pack called me a few days ago, and told me that they'd been having people go missing, just like we have. Shane, as you call him, is Alpha Girouard's son. He's been out looking for his mate for the past 6 months, and they're not the best about interspecies cooperation. That's probably why he's a bit out of touch with everything, and what's been going on at home."

"I guess that makes sense." Roe said thoughtfully. "So he's in line to be Alpha? They should at least educate the Alphas about other creatures."

"Yes he is, and yes they should. Anyway, this was his last attempt at finding his mate. He was on his way home to his pack to find a girl to settle down with."

"Yeah." Roe said a bit sadly. I wish more people would find their true mates, but it just doesn't happen these days. If their mate isn't the same species that they are, they usually aren't found. There's little to no interspecies cooperation, but if I get my way, there will be. I don't want to be tied to one species of supernatural creature like almost everyone else in my family, and only be concerned with the well-being of the witches, or whatever my husband winds up being. "He said they were chasing him through the neutral zone, and he thought they were from the Oakland Pack. He didn't really tell me anything else."

"Hmm, I'll call Alpha Girouard and tell him about it, so he can watch for anything suspicious."

"Okay."

"The vampire, Adrian, is definitely powerful as you said. He's the vampire equivalent to our Alpha to be for the Istrati Coven in Romania. He will be their next coven leader, and he'd been in town meeting with some local vamps, he'd already checked in with me since he'd been crossing our pack lands. I'm not sure why he was here, though."

"I wonder if the vampires are having issues with disappearances like the werewolves are?" Roe asked thoughtfully.

"That's a good question. Why don't you ask him. Do you think he'll tell you?"

"I think Adrian will tell me once I tell him about our issues. Shane I'm not so sure about."

"Okay, try your best. I think this is one situation that we all need to be on the same page. I'll contact his coven leader, Dimitri Draghicescu, and I'll let him and Alpha Girouard know that they're talking to you."

Roe nodded. "Is there anything else I need to know about? I'd like to get going as soon as possible. I've had a hard time keeping them both in the car with me. Shane's been very impatient, not wanting to hang around a witch or vampire any longer than he has to. He just wanted me to drop him off on the outskirts of your land." Roe said with a huff.

"Does he not know who you are?" Joe asked incredulously.

"Neither of them do. I haven't told either one of them who I am, past my human name, so they have no reason to suspect who I really am."

"Why haven't you told them? It probably would've made getting them to agree to stick with you much easier." Joe asked sounding dumbfounded.

"Yeah, but then the millions of questions they would've asked me would've made it harder in the long run to get them here. We had to stop to get rid of a couple of tails in town before we got over here."

"You had tails, on my pack lands?" Joe asked outraged.

"Yeah, two separate cars, three to four people each. I overheard them saying that they thought I was a human under the control of the vampire, and they called him that 'the vampire' but they didn't name him or Shane directly. I'm not sure they knew who they were trying to catch. They were also talking about someone they called the 'Major', and how he wouldn't want them to come back until they'd found us."

"The Major, huh."

"Yeah, I'm wondering if it's some military thing, or if it has to do with the PBI. Of course, it may also be some guy on a power trip." Roe said with a laugh.

"I don't know, but that's worth looking into. I know I can get some information from a friend that works for the PBI, but the Paranormal Bureau of Investigations is usually a bit neater about apprehending people than this. It seems a bit sloppy for them. Also, I can't figure out why they'd be chasing these two, they're not rogues or anything like that, as far as I know."

"I don't think these guys would be on the PBI's most wanted list, either. I don't see anyone on their list asking for permission to be on your land."

"Yeah, that's part of why I don't think it's them. I'll ask my friend about it, though. As for the military thing, I'm not sure if I can find anything out." Joe said thoughtfully. "I'll see if my contact in the PBI can get me any information on them."

"Great, thanks Joe."

"You're welcome, Roe. If I hear anything I'll send you a message."

"Yeah, that'd probably be best, especially if it's something sensitive."

"Roe, I know you probably don't want to hear it," Joe started hesitantly, "but have you thought anymore about my offer?"

"Joe, you know I love you like a second father, but I'm just not ready to settle down yet. Especially with someone I don't love."

"You're not trying to hold out for your mate are you?" Joe scoffed. "I didn't think witches had mates."

"No, witches don't usually have mates. But there's no reason I should settle for a loveless union, Joe. I'm not looking for a mate, I'm looking for love. Why shouldn't I have love, Joe?"

"Roe, I understand, but you've got to think about what's going on right now. With all of the disappearances we've had recently, you need the protection of a pack, even if it's not mine."

"What if I don't want a werewolf? What if I want a vampire or a witch or something? What then?"

"At least you'll have more protection." Joe said grumpily.

I know, no matter what I decide, he will always be there for me. "Joe, I know that you're just concerned for me, and I'll think about it, okay?"

"Okay, Roe. You know I love you like a daughter, and I don't want to see you hurt."

"I know Joe, and I really will think about it." She promised.

"All right, Roe."

"Thanks, Joe. Anything else you think I should know about these guys?"

"Behave, Roe. I know your mouth sometimes runs away without your brain, but they're both used to being respected. You'll get a lot further if you're nice to them."

"Yeah, my mom says pretty much the same thing," Roe said smiling. "you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."

"She's right Roe, and these guys are no exception."

"I have been nice, so far. Right now, Adrian's intrigued by me, and wants to know what I'm hiding. Shane is just super impatient. Hopefully when I tell him who I am, he'll calm down and listen."

"I hope so, but there's no telling. From what I've heard, he's a bit of a hot head too." Joe said, smirking at Roe.

Roe smiled at him. "Yeah, yeah, very funny. We'd better get going if we're going to get anything accomplished tonight."

"Okay, hon. Here" Joe said handing her a set of keys "It's the black Tahoe by the exit."

"Thanks, Joe."

"No problem, Roe.  Be careful.  I'm going to text you as soon as I get more info for you.  Let me know when you get it, and if you come up with anything else I need to know.  Also, text me when y'all get done talking, so I know you're okay."

"Wow, Joe, you sound like you don't trust them." Roe said teasingly. Paranoid much there, Joe?

"You're right, Roe, I don't trust them."  Joe said solemnly. "I don't really trust anyone outside my pack where you're concerned."

I wish everyone was more concerned about me as a person, than as an asset.  Though I know Joe really cares about me, unlike most people.   "Thanks, Joe.  I'll be sure to reply to all your messages, just in case, even if it's a really short reply."

"I'd appreciate it."

"And if I don't reply in a timely manner, feel free to send the cavalry, since we'll still be on pack lands."

"You know I will."  Joe replied with a smile.

"I know." Roe said smiling back at him.  "All right, we've really got to go now.  Bye Joe." She hugged him, then turned and walked back to her car.

Opening the door, she said "Come on y'all let's get going."

"Why can't I just get a ride home from here?" Shane asked as he got out of the car. "Why do we need to go with you?"

"For one thing, Joe's going to call your Alpha and tell him where you are, and that you're with me. For another thing, if I need to, I can get Joe to make it a major issue between his pack and yours if you don't cooperate with me. At least until I've explained what I know to you. Come on."

"Why are you so gung ho about sharing information with us?" Shane asked as he started slowly following her towards the new car.

"Even though your pack isn't all about sharing, my line of witches actually tries to help everyone as much as long as they can."

"Hmph."

"What do you mean, 'as long as they can'?" Adrian asked, having followed them across the parking lot.

"Get in, and I'll explain a little more on the way to the roach spot."

"All right."

"Are you going to make us sit in the back seat again?" Shane asked snappily.

"No, well, you are, as the younger of the two of y'all. And before you ask anything else, I'm driving cuz I know where we're going, and you don't."

"But-"

"Mr. Girouard, just get in the car." Adrian said sternly. "The quicker you stop arguing, the quicker we can all get on with our lives. You're the one who's making this take longer than it should."

"I'm going," Roe said opening her car door. "Either get in the car, or don't. Just know that if you choose to stay here, Joe will probably put you under arrest until your Alpha can come get you, and I don't know what he would do to you when he found out you had turned down a chance to go to a motel with me." With that, Roe smiled at him, got in the car and shut the door. I hope he just gets in the car, and doesn't give me any more issues until we can get our conversation started. I don't see that happening, but I can hope.

"I would advise you to get in the car. I don't know what she's hiding, but if she usually receives the kind of respect we've seen so far, it would behoove us to listen to her." Adrian said, getting into the passenger seat of the car, next to Roe.

After a few minutes, Roe started the car, and Shane grudgingly got into the car and said "Fine, I'll listen to what you have to say, but after that, I'm out of here."

"That's fine. After we talk, there won't be any need for you to stick around." Roe said as she drove out of the lot and down the road towards the roach spot. "And please, let's be quiet to avoid any arguing on the way there. I will explain what I know when we get there."

"Fine." Shane grumped.

"If you insist." Adrian said icily.

"Please?" Roe asked pleadingly, looking at Adrian. Please understand that I'm asking this because of Shane, not you. I just don't want to listen to him gripe the whole way there.

Adrian looked at her, and gave a sharp nod.

"Thank you." She said, relieved.