A Howling Good New Year’s Eve

by Maureen O. Betita

Congratulations to Linda Henderson, winner of Maureen's awesome giveaways!

Happy New Year to all and I hope the main gift buying/receiving day of the year was a merry one for you. Now, be careful about how many resolutions you make for tomorrow, because they can weigh you down and after two months of celebrating, I’m sure we’re all weighed down quite enough!( My credit card is hurting let alone my pants pinching!)

The wonderful Caribbean I created for The Kraken’s World isn’t big on the traditional holidays. Their calendar isn’t particular about when to celebrate, well…anything. Every day one escapes the hangman’s noose is a day to celebrate for a pirate! And for those who make a living off a pirate’s treasure hunting those days count big!

They have a few big blowouts every year on Tortuga. There is the Winter Ball, where every frippery and trinket in sight comes out to shine and shimmer. And I’m thinking about adding a Summer Ball to the books as I go along. But for New Years? What to do with that?

Well, it occurred to me that a lonely werewolf, having enjoyed the Winter Ball and left that merriment behind, might wander his forest (yes, my Tortuga has a forest) and look up to a night sky full of stars and think about…sex. What better way to ring in the New Year?

***

I gave my coat a good shake and stretched, digging my front claws into the loam of the forest floor. I yawned so broadly my jaw cracked. Ah, that felt good! After leaving the Winter Ball ten days ago, alone again, I’d headed for the forest and shifted. The moon was full and nothing allayed my sense of frustration like a week with the pack.

It was time to head into Tortuga and hope the Cursed Quill was still in port. I’d bet Captain Jezebel hadn’t set sail yet, the hangover from a proper Winter Ball could easily last a week for a majority of the crew. I seldom drank to excess, but I’d seen the rest enjoying themselves. In fact, I bet the ball continued on for a few days. I doubt any missed the friendly sailor who acted intermediary with the werewolf pack.

Working on a ship full of lusty women officers certainly had its advantages. I looked forward to rejoining the crew. Might I find myself invited into the sweet bosun’s cabin? Janey had a sense of humor that made rolling in the sheets a joyous romp. Or the Gunner, Felicia…her cabin always smelled of vanilla. Helping out Cookie when not polishing the guns left her with a fragrance to satisfy every sweet tooth I held.

I’d seen Quartermaster Tink leave the ball with a new man and from the fire in her eyes, I was sure he’d be sailing with us. I hoped he was good with knots, Tink did love tying a man up…

I shifted and grabbed my breeches from the tree limb where I’d left them, shoved my arms through the shirt, strapped on my pistol and turned to the city. As I neared the borders of the shifter forest, a fresh breeze brought a new scent to my nose.

“Roses?” I muttered. “And lilac?”

Not the usual fragrances for this part of the island. Then I heard the laughter. Humans seldom ventured into the forest. We weren’t inclined to do them violence, but there wasn’t any reason for humans to wander this way. They knew the forest was our territory. And the laughter? Women! Two women!

Now and then, human women came seeking dark adventures in the forest. If these women were looking for company…well, I think the ships can wait one more day. And if they did sail without me? They’d be back and I’d climb aboard then.

I circled around to their flank and watched them. They’d built a small fire and sat beside it, sharing a bottle. I’d heard of two new flowers joining Blessings House of Pleasure. The gleam off matching bracelets let me know they worked the premier whore house of Tortuga. No shame in making an honest living and having fun while doing it! Or taking a walk in the forest to play with the wolves.

Or one wolf in particular. I slipped my shirt off and set my weapons aside. Lifting my face to the stars, I softly howled. The women shrieked in pretend fear. My nose knew it for pretend. They were ripe and ready. I growled and slipped my breeches off. Still fresh from the energy of the full moon, it was easy to shift and stroll into the firelight.

“Oh, damn. It’s just a wolf!” the red-haired one complained.

I took a step closer and lowered my head, inhaled loudly.

The blond giggled. “Well, he’s a fine looking wolf. What do you think a shifter looks like, Rosie? A man with a tail?”

I sat and looked them over a moment, then tilted my head and licked my lips.

“Ooooh! You see that tongue. What that could do! But I want a man, even if he’s got a tail!” Rosie held out the bottle. “Come on, if yer a man, join us. If not, go chase a deer.”

I stood and turned as to leave and the Lilac scented blond sighed.

Letting out a fierce growl I spun and ran at them, shifting at the last moment. Their shrieks turned quickly from worry to appreciation. I knew my attributes were impressive. And even shifted, my tongue was able to satisfy their lusty appetites.

It was late the next afternoon before I sauntered into port. And the Quill sat, waiting for me.

***

You’ll see more of the werewolf sailor in The Kraken’s Mirror. He’s a favorite character of mine. I do like my vampire king also. And the magic woman who lives in the swamp where the zombies dwell. And of course, my kraken, who acts the cupid with my main characters.

What do you think of paranormal characters as side characters in a novel? For in the kraken’s Tortuga, nothing is really strange or unusual. As my lead character, Emily, discovers!

One lucky commenter can look forward to a bit of kraken sparkle, a Starbucks card and some bits from my treasure chest!

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