It was just another slow day at the local pizzeria. Danielle was working behind the counter, her shoulder and her tattoo were hidden by her employee uniform. The strong smell of tomato sauce, melted cheese, and freshly baked bread wafted out of the kitchen behind her. There was only one family in the shop, and the pizza they had ordered was in the process of being made.<br/><br/>With a sigh, she thought,<span style="font-style: italic">Man, I need a smoke.</span>It was a habit she picked up when she was taught that not all fairy tales are just children's stories. Dani turned toward the kitchen and announced, "I'm going on break!" Without waiting for any kind of reply or acknowledgment, Dani walked outside and pulled the small box of cigarettes from her jeans pocket along with a lighter. As she lit one up, she looked around at her home town. It felt rather strange to be back.<br/><br/>Nostalgia threatened to overwhelm her senses as memories came flooding back to her. The high school she went to, her and her friends passing notes during class, the first kiss she shared with, her now ex-boyfriend, Cody.<span style="font-style: italic">Things were so much easier back then,</span>she thought, as she flicked some ash off of her cancer stick. Dani brought it back to her lips and took a long drag off of it. She breathed out the smoke as it calmed her nerves.<br/><br/>Before it was half gone, a car pulled into the driveway of the pizzeria. Dani cursed, dropped the lit cigarette, and crushed it under her boot. "What a waste," she grumbled, as she turned to go back inside behind the cash register. It was good that it was slow enough though, because they were a little low on staff. One person called off sick, and a second had some kind of family emergency. In the back of her mind, Danielle was hoping that they wouldn't get any calls for delivery.<br/><br/>~~~~~~<br/><br/>Alyssa stood at her place behind and to the left of William, her pack leader. She was the Beta female, and she grinned at the prospect of having fun even in this small town. Alyssa listened to William long enough to hear his orders of where to meet up. As soon as the last word had left his mouth, she joined a few male members of the pack who also enjoyed alcohol and a good time almost as much as she did. Together, they headed to the local bar, which was a small establishment without as many people as Alyssa was used to, but she knew she could still have a good time.<br/><br/>Alyssa was the first of the group to enter, and she allowed the strong smell of alcohol to fill her nose. Only a few months ago, when she had turned 21, the smell would have been enough to knock her on her ass, but she was already used to it.<br/><br/>Eyes moved on her, not only because she wasn't a local, but because of the medieval way she was dressed, wearing a rather revealing corset top that allowed little to be left to the imagination. Ignoring the stares, she strode directly up to the bar and took a seat on one of the stools next to man that reeked of beer who looked to be in his forties. Despite herself, Alyssa grimaced.<br/><br/>"What would you have, little lady?" the bartender asked.<br/><br/>She ignored the comment, knowing full well that he had no idea what she really was. "Start me off with a White Russian."<br/><br/>"Yes, ma'am," the bartender replied, and went to mixing her drink.