Unknown POV
I laid on the grass underneath the night sky, listening to the faint song of a nearby cricket. I twirled a lock of my hair around my finger as I scanned the cloudy sky, searching for constellations.
Was that blood on the moon? It couldn’t be. Blood on the moon was a bad omen. My momma had always said that blood on the moon meant that blood would be spilled. Nothing was going to happen tonight; that was just an old wolves’ tale.
Clyde should be coming home soon; nothing would be out of the ordinary. It would be a perfectly normal night. Goddess, how I wished he would hurry up.
Clyde should have been home already. Of course, the Alpha needed him late tonight of all nights. It was a year ago today Clyde and I found each other. I just wanted to spend the evening with my mate.
Mind linking Clyde wasn’t an option; Alpha Delbert hated when people mind linked in his presence. He was so paranoid. He thought the world was out to get him or something.
Believe me, I wanted nothing to do with him. He gave me the willies. He was only my Alpha because of Clyde. I wish we had stayed with my pack, but you know that’s not proper.
I shook my head and sighed as I rolled over to my belly. I didn’t really care if I wrinkled my dress at this point. I had looked perfect an hour ago; it was his own fault if I wasn’t as pretty as a picture anymore.
A rustle coming from the bushes caused me to sit up abruptly. “Who’s there?” I call out, demanding an answer.
Clyde stumbled out of the brush; blood was dripping down from his hairline. I clambered to my feet and rushed to his side.
“Doll, we got to go. We got to make tracks.” Clyde heavily breathed out; his body was trembling.
“What? Why? What happened to you, honey?” I helped him cross the lawn to the back door leading into the kitchen.
“Alpha Delbert happened to me.” My feet halted, and I looked up at him. I searched his face for any sign of a joke. “We got to go.”
“Why do we have to go?” I didn’t understand why we were running.
“I tried to free that slave girl the Alpha picked up last month.” Clyde ransacked our kitchen, dumping food into a sack.
“Clyde, we talked about that!” I gasped as I followed him into the bedroom. “We were going to keep our noses down! It was safer that way.”
“I know, doll. I tried, but how could I turn away from her. She looked so scared.” Clyde opened our chest of drawers and threw in some random clothes.
I knew what he meant. Every time I saw that poor child, my heart was torn in two. No one deserved a life like that.
“Come on then. You said we go to make tracks.” I reached down and grabbed the shotgun from underneath our bed. I dumped the box of ammo inside my dress’s pocket. Clyde gave me a halfhearted smile.
The only sound coming from our little house was our footsteps. We crept back out the kitchen door to disappear into the night.
“Well, well, well,” a voice boomed from across the backyard. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I knew who that was, even if he was hidden in the shadows. That was Alpha Delbert.
“Oh, Alpha, it’s nice to see you,” the words were barely able to be formed. My mouth was so dry like all moisture evaporated. Fear took over my body in the form of cold sweat.
“Hmmm, really? Nice?” Alpha Delbert’s eyes glowed red in the darkness, followed by the smoldering crimson of a cigarette. “This ain’t a social call, dame.”
“Alpha, this has nothing to do with her.” Clyde stepped in front of me, blocking me from the Alpha.
“You know that’s not how this works, Clyde. I trusted you, and you betrayed me.” Alpha Delbert stepped out of the trees; he was a massive man. Alpha Delbert’s oil-slicked hair glinted in the moonlight. He took a long drag of the cigarette in his mouth before he spoke again. “You know I have always been an eye for an eye kind of man. You let my property go, so I will have to take yours.”
My heart was running a mile per minute. I clutched the back of Clyde’s shirt in one hand while I clung to the shotgun with the other.
“That’s not going to happen, Alpha,” Clyde growled. The next thing I knew, Clyde had shoved me towards the woods. “Run, doll!”
I hugged the shotgun as I ran. I refused to look back. The gnashing of teeth and growling faded with every stride. Thorns reached out and grabbed at my dress.
Tears streamed down my cheek as I prayed to the Moon Goddess to save my mate. My prayers would go unanswered; pain took over my soul. I fell to my knees, grasping my hand over my heart. He was gone; Clyde was dead.
I let the tears pour down my face as I scrambled to my feet. Clyde died protecting me; I wasn’t going to let his death be in vain. I ran for what seemed forever, but as soon as I made it to the cliff line, I heard the growl come from behind me.
I turned around and stared into the demon’s eyes; blood was smeared across his muzzle. Alpha Delbert stalked me slowly. I walked backward until my heel felt the edge of the ground.
***Come on, let’s go home. I won’t hurt you.*** Alpha Delbert’s voice assaulted my mind.
“Malarky!” I spat out as I cocked the shotgun with trembling hands and aimed it at Alpha Delbert.
***Drop the gun, dame.*** An angry fire burned in his eyes as he tried to use his Alpha tone on me. Unfortunately for him, it didn’t work because he was nothing to me but a murderer.
“Over my dead body! Kiss off!” I didn’t even blink as I wrapped my finger around the trigger. A deafening boom violently exploded from the barrel of the shotgun. Shattered bone fragments and blood spilled from Alpha Delbert’s shoulder.
I didn’t know if he was still alive or not, but I wasn’t going to take my chances. I took another step backward off of the cliff. Air hissed past my ears as I screwed my eyes shut, bracing for impact.
Oliver“Oliver Graham, get your keister moving! The boss will be in any minute!”I groaned as I rolled off of my bed in the back of the workshop. Sleep had glued my eyes shut during the night. I aggressively rubbed at my lids, just trying to be able to pry them open.My name is Oliver Graham. The year is 1934, and I turned twenty-two a few months ago. I didn’t think there was anything too special about me.When I was a child, I never thought I would be sleeping in the back of a carpenter’s workshop. Covered in a constant layer of dust and living off of the scraps I could afford. I never thought I would be orphaned by twelve, either. Sometimes life is just a bitch.I had done a little bit of everything in the past decade. When my parents first died, I worked as a field hand for a neighbor, but that didn’t last long. I worked in a bakery, mechanic shop, a dinner, a hotel, a mine, a manufacturing plant, and a few other jo
Oliver"Have a good night, Oliver," Richard called over his shoulder as he opened the front door. He had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth as he tipped his hat to me. Richard smoked like a fiend at work; his wife didn't like him to smoke at their home. She said that the cigarettes stunk up their house."Night, boss," I called after him as the door swung shut, wafting one last puff of smoke into the workshop. I made my way through the machinery and tables, enjoying the quiet. I plopped down on my bed, letting my eyes lids close. It wasn't busy or even a demanding day, but I was exhausted. I was perpetually shot. Finally, I heard the rumble of Richard's truck leaving the shop.I pried my body up to rummage through my small chest. This wooden box housed my only belong
Oliver The icy realization of leaving the key to the shop down at the river was devastating. It slowly trickled down my spine before manifesting into a nauseating pit in my stomach. I couldn’t bring myself to go back and retrieve the key. The light of day had dwindled away hours ago, and with whatever was down there, it wasn’t a risk I was willing to take. I loitered outside the workshop until the streets became bare; no noise but the faint hoot of a barn owl somewhere out in the distance. The rest of the town had drifted off into a peaceful slumber. Thank goodness our town was relatively quiet, and no one stayed up late. As I had waited, I had figured out what my plan was going to be. I wasn’t going back to the river, that was for sure, but I couldn’t sleep outside on the street. I knew that the Millers had gotten a new shipment of hay for their horses last weekend. Without another thought, I made my way to their property and waited until the last li
Oliver"Hurry up!" Chester's voice assaulted me as I hastily fumbled with the buttons on my shirt.After I admitted to Chester that I slept in the Miller's barn, he graciously allowed me to follow him home like a lost dog to use his shower.I couldn't tell you the last time I even was in a residential bathroom, let alone a shower. I had forgotten how solid a shower actually felt. I just wanted to let the water rain down on me for hours. I hated to admit I had lost track of time; until Chester banged on the door, pulling me out of my haze."Hold on!" I called through the door as I patted down my damp curls."The rest of the town
OliverA loud clunk followed by a distinctive hum echoed through the tent before six vibrant spotlights fell on the center ring. There he was. Jules was dressed in white britches, knee-high black books, a crimson tailcoat, and a black top hat. His blonde hair was slicked back in his typical hairstyle.Of course, he was the ring leader! Why didn't I think of that before? Why else would a random Frenchman be in town?"Mesdames et Messieurs! I proudly present my wolves!" Jules's voice bounced off of the tent, his last statement catching everyone off guard.Whispers engulfed the audience. "Wolves?" "What does he mean?" "Are we in danger, mommy?"Before I made out any other words, the sound of paws hitting the ground radiated from beside me. I instinctively gulped and scooted closer to the older couple I was sitting beside."It's okay, son." The old man leaned over his wife and tried to comfort me. "I have been to many of a circus, and they alway
OliverThe crowds slowly started to disperse, but I stayed planted in my seat. Time seemed to speed up as I stared at the center ring. It felt like only seconds went by before I realized I was alone in the tent. It was just me and the magic that lingered in the air of the show that I had witnessed.I sighed as I stretched out my joints. I was about to stand up when someone appeared beside me, Jules. He leaned up against the bench I sat on and followed my eyes to the ring."So what did you think of my little show, Mr. Graham?" Sweat clung to Jules's forehead as he pulled out a handkerchief and tried to dab it away."It was a gasser! It's a good thing you are leaving tomorrow,
OliverIt was as if time slowed on its axis as she turned around. The star's light twinkled in her eyes blue eyes, turning them into pools of constellations. Her hair caught the moonlight, making her look like a mythical creature...or maybe even an angel."Jules, honey, you know I like my quiet time after the show." Elsie's voice wasn't like anything I had ever heard before. There was a strength in her tone but, at the same time, something soft."I know; I am sorry." Jules tucked his chin down and looked at the train car. He was like a puppy being scolded; I almost felt bad for the guy. "This is my new friend Oliver Graham. He seemed so mesmerized by your act. I thought he would like to meet you."
OliverMy feet were like lead as I dragged myself away from the train car. I didn't want to leave.Something inside of me wanted to stay with her. I couldn't put my finger on it, but there was something unusual about her. Elsie had said that Jules could seem almost magical, but in my opinion, she was the magical one.I kicked at a pebble as I slowly started to head away from the Circus grounds. It rolled across the dirt path. I would get to see her in the morning, so why was I acting this way. She did say that tomorrow morning was it, though when those words left her lips, I felt part of my heart fracture."Oliver! Where are you going?" There was that french accent again; how did Jules always seem to know where I was? If he kept it up, I would probably think he was tracking me or something.I turned around and scratched the back of my head sheepishly. I was supposed to stay with Elsie until he came back, and instead, I left. He was pr