The Full Moon Speakeasy

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Context

The conversation died with that statement, Noah wanting to give Luci time to process before he explained any further. There was so much to explain and talk about, but he knew he had already overwhelmed her. The very act of going through the nature of a relationship between human and werewolf is enough on its own, she didn’t yet need to worry about rival gangs that were both creature and human alike. 

Eventually, Lonnie shows up with his suit. Noah gets the door himself, only opening it enough to look at him and take the suit. Lonnie stared him down, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I don’t,” Noah admitted. “But I’m figuring it out.”

He could tell that Lonnie had something he wanted to say, but was choosing not to. With a single nod, he pivoted and left. Noah shut the door and headed to the bathroom, quickly changing. There was a time in his life that it had been a big deal for him to destroy his clothes in transitions, but not anymore. He usually tried to take care of not doing such a thing, but at times there was no choice. After all, he couldn’t imagine how intimidating and alarming it would have been for Luci for him to walk in and start disrobing. Then again, that likely would have been the least notable thing once he shifted into his wolf form. 

Leaving the bathroom, he found that she too had changed from her work clothes, now dawning a long-sleeve, muted teal dress with a black hem, and stockings. She was pulling on a sweater as Noah slowly approached. “Would you like to go with me somewhere?” 

“Where?” she asked, her arms folding. 

She seemed to hesitate at the request, but he didn’t get the impression that she didn’t want to be around him. It was something else, maybe Imelda’s warning or his own about traveling in and out of their territory alone. “I’d like to show you my other house.” 

Slowly, Luci nodded and then turned to grab her handbag and coat. Together, they moved out of the building. As they passed the third floor, there was a woman with curlers staring us down, and Noah glared right back. He didn’t know what her problem was, but he knew he didn’t care. There wasn’t any reason for her to look at them like that. 

“Have you eaten today?” Noah asked her as they moved out onto the street. She shook her head. “We’ll get a pizza on the way.”

“You sure you’re not Italian?” she asked. 

He snickered and shrugged. “Growing up with Italians, the food rubs off on you. I don’t know if you’ve had Irish food but… It’s not much to write home about.” 

“Fair enough,” she smiled, though it quickly faded. 

“What is it?” 

She nibbled her lip and peered at him out of the corner of her eye before shrugging and continuing on. “I’m still thinking about… everything. But, I can’t help but wonder about your family and you, growing up. How did you feel growing up with the Italian pack if, what I’m assuming, they killed the Irish wolves?” 

He sighed and his mouth twitched, sniffing as well. “It wasn’t easy and maybe still, at times, it still is. But, it’s all about what you learn being in the pack. That it wasn’t personal and understanding that they took me in out of genuine kindness. I was the only kid in the pack at the time. The Irish had been dwindling for a long, long time. But they still held a certain amount of power with politicians and such. So… It made since for their pack. And they were kind enough to let me into it. Granted, doesn’t mean that I still don’t struggle with it time to time, especially when they try and argue with me or something. But I get it.” 

He watched as she shook her head. “I don’t think I can wrap my head around calling a bunch of killers kind. Especially if it had been my parents they murdered.”

Noah’s heart seized at the first comment, knowing that one day she was bound to see the seedy underbelly of their operation for herself. One where the laws of man didn’t apply and people were seen as absolutely expendable. It was for another day. However, the context kept him on track with the conversation. “It’s complicated, but it’s one of those things that once it clicks, it clicks. And I’ve made a bit of a family for myself in the pack. Lonnie, Malakai and his family, and others. I miss my family, and I hold some resentment about it. But, I know I would have never had the life I’m living right now. Which might seem bad to say. I’m a person who believes in making the most out of what you have. I can’t go back and time and change their actions.”

“That’s pretty big of you,” she breathed. 

He shrugged modestly. They stopped in a pizzeria once they were in his territory. Taking the box, they headed down the blocks toward his house. It was the Alpha House, the residence reserved for every leader during their reign. It held a good deal of history that would help him explain things to her. There would be art, records, and novels to help her understand. Beside, he preferred to talk about such things in his own neighborhood. He wasn't sure who would be listening in or watching them while in that part of town. It was best to be safe than sorry.

Luci squeezed to his side and he peered down at her. “There’s someone watching us,” she whispered. 

Noah peered up to see Diego glaring at them from across the street. Imelda’s brother.