The Full Moon Speakeasy

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: More to Come

The sound of Noah’s hand colliding with Diego’s face echoed in her mind. Luci knew that it was only a taste, a fraction, of the violence that went on within the pack. If Noah was willing to strike someone just for saying something rude, there was no telling what exactly went on with their crime dealings and other interactions. She knew it shouldn’t have taken that to push her into being completely overwhelmed, but she was. There were tears brimming her eyes and she didn’t want to cry in front of him. 

“I think I need some time,” she breathed and moved to walk around him.

He gently caught her arm but Luci didn’t look at him. Out of the corner of her eye, though, she saw him shuffle and rub his face. “Alright, alright. Can I at least walk you home?” When she finally glanced his way, only to give a look of uncertainty, he let go of her arm and raised his hand defensively. “I won’t talk. I just want to make sure you get home safely.”

Her mind flashed with all the paintings depicting violence and the warnings he had told her before. Even though Lucille wanted to be alone to think things over and really sort through all the things she had learned the past couple of days, she knew that walking home alone could be a death sentence. Sighing, she nodded slowly. “Alright. As long as you don’t talk. I need to think.”

“Understandable,” he whispered. 

In silence, they moved together down the stairs. They took a moment to put on their coats and hats again before stepping outside. Taking a deep breath, she walked with him down the street. Night was already threatening to fall any minute. Maybe she would call it an early night when she got home and retire to bed right away. Though, with the way her mind was right then, Luci knew she wouldn’t sleep. Not for a long while. 

How was it that she had gotten herself into such a mess? Just a few days ago, all she had cared about was finding Thelma and see for herself that Thelma was okay before going back to life as she knew it. Life in New Borough had been all the excitement she thought she could have. Living on her own with her best friend, working a job to make her own money, being able to explore such a large and lively city as much as she wanted… And just like that, in the span of a single chance meeting, she was swept up in a mob boss. Not just a mob boss, but a werewolf mob boss. 

Then again, how chance was their meeting really, when it had been his club she walked into? She was always going to meet him because she was always going to get fed up with Thelma and go find her. Lucille was starting to feel the full meaning of fated mates. It was something much larger than herself. No matter the decision her mind tried to tinker with changing to change it to where they wouldn’t have met, Lucille simply couldn’t make it happen. After her mother passed, and Thelma suggested moving, her fate was sealed. It had been the fresh start she needed. And coming here, it would have always ended up with them meeting one another. 

It was all such a disaster and she was absolutely caught up in it. She could be up for days trying to sort out all that she had learned the last couple of days and she still would be at a loss for words except the following: no matter what the end result was, she was going to try with Noah. There wasn’t an option for not trying, not when she felt so utterly magnetized to him. 

As she already started working through the whole werewolf thing, Noah took hold of her arm with a grip tight enough to make her stop in her tracks. Looking up to him with a creased brow did nothing, his vision fixed forward. She followed his gaze to see a group of four men blocking the sidewalk. 

“Hiya, Walsh,” one of them called. “You sure you’re supposed to be in this part of town?”

“I can be wherever I want,” Noah bit. 

“I don’t think you can,” the man retorted with a smirk. “You see, we’ve taken up this block and the next couple.”

“You sure about that?” Noah questioned, his tone more of a warning than a question. As though he was challenging the man.

The men all together parted their jackets, showing silver pistols tucked into their belts. “Are you sure you want to have this conversation all alone?”

Noah muttered something under his breath and then addressed the men. “I’ll be seeing you fellas around, alright?” 

“Can’t wait for it, Dog.”

Noah then turned around, pulling Luci with them. She only watched his expression, noticing his struggle to maintain composure. It was a short battle, admittedly. He looked annoyed, but no one would be able to tell he had just been threatened. “Who were they?” Luci asked quietly. 

“They are called the Silver Line. They are werewolf hunters. Cheeky name to refer to silver bullets and that there is a ‘silver lining’ to their gang. That they get rid of us,” he explained when they turned the corner. “I’m sorry, Reve. I don’t think you’re getting back to your apartment. Not tonight. It’s too dangerous.”

Lucille hated she was a little weak at him calling her by the nickname he had given her once again. Especially right after finding out it was looking unlikely she could return home. If she couldn’t then, when would she? Would she ever? Something in the pit of her stomach told her not to count on it.