The Full Moon Speakeasy

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Other Side of the Coin

“What is going on here?” 

Both women turned their attention to the source of the voice. Luci was immediately annoyed at the sight of Emil before her. Defiantly, she crossed her arms. “Don’t you know not to approach this table without permission?” she asked. It felt weird for her to use Noah’s position against others, but she had been promised privacy. She hadn’t given it a second thought when it was Thelma, but she didn’t feel like putting up with Emil or his strange attitude. 

“Watch your mouth,” he hissed. “Who do you think you are?”

Her eyes narrowed at him. “Who do you think you are?” 

Thelma stood from the booth and placed a hand on Emil’s chest, and he visibly settled. “Easy,” she breathed. “It’s alright. She’s… she’s Noah’s mate.”

Emil’s eyes widened and darted between the two of them before landing on Luci. “You’re kidding me.”

“Afraid not,” Thelma sighed. “So you know she has enough on her plate without having to deal with you, bub. And gives you plenty of reasons not to have such an attitude with her.” 

The words were laced with warning, Lucille knowing that she was warning him not about Lucille, but Noah if he found out the way Emil was talking to his mate. Emil cleared his throat and shuffled a bit before looking to Luci. “Forgive me. I have a bit of a temper problem… Thelm is the only one who can calm me down sometimes.”

The way they looked between one another then, so full of love and understanding, it dawned on Lucille. Thelma and Emil are fated mates too. 

Before she could say anything, another familiar face emerged. Noah took in the scene from a distance before approaching with caution. “Are they bothering you?” he asked. 

Luci shook her head. “No, they are fine.”

“We were just leaving,” Emil stated, taking Thelma by the hip. “Excuse us.”

Thelma turned and shot Lucille an apologetic look before disappearing with Emil. Her eyes landed back on Noah. He looked ashamed, his eyes struggling to remain on her. “Would you still like space?” he asked meekly. 

She scooted the other way and patted the seat next to her. “It’s alright. I think I’ve had enough space for right now.”

With a small smile appearing on his lips, the Lupo sat down next to her. In an instant, the bartender brought him over a scotch on the rocks, and Luci another French seventy-five. He swirled the amber liquid around and studied her face. “I know you have a lot to think about right now and much to consider, despite our connection. All I ask of you is before you make a call, would you let me show you the positive side to this life? The fun you can have, the freedoms you get… We can make pretend the other things don’t exist… for right now. They are things we can discuss and figure out later. Things that should come after you get to see both sides of this particular coin. How does that sound?” 

Lucille nibbled on her lip and studied his face. There was such worry in his face and while she didn’t know him very well, something in her gut told her that it wasn’t a look a man like him would wear all that often. He feared that he was losing her already and was doing all he could to keep her around, to convince her that being with him wouldn’t be all drama and gloom. Her heart gave way at the sight, admittedly. She was hopeful the day would come that Thelma had mentioned, that things would just snap into place and she would understand and no longer care to doubt or question. “That sounds just fine,” she remarked and leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

He smiled a little and nodded. Lifting his glass, he clanked theirs together and said, “Salute.”

“Santé,” she replied. They took long sips of their drinks before Noah stood and took her hand in his. 

“First thing is first, we need to get you feeling the part,” he announced and then motioned to Thelma. The couple hurried back over, looking curious and cautious. “Take Lucille upstairs and help her pick out a dress.”

“Yes, Lupo,” Thelma replied. The two friends linked arms and headed to the other side of the room. 

“Where exactly are we going?” Luci asked. 

“To Emil’s room,” she explained. “Well, I guess I stay there most days now, don’t I? Anyway, I have some dresses I’m sure will fit you too.”

“Is there something wrong with the way I’m dressed?” Luci muttered, looking down to her blue dress. 

“Not all. I’m sure he’s just wanting you to feel a bit of the glamor that comes with being in the pack,” Thelma beamed to her. 

They walked down a dark hallway which led to an iron staircase. Heading up to the second floor, they walked down that hall until they reached a door that Thelma pushed open. The apartment was way bigger than she was expecting for being in that building! It had to be the size of at least three of their apartments. The furniture was all lavish, dark, and well coordinated. Thelma kept Luci’s hand in hers and tugged her along to the bedroom. Opening a closet door, Luci was gobsmacked. 

“There are more dresses here than I can count,” Luci gasped. “And not to mention shoes.”

“I know,” she grinned. “Emil treats me well. All of these I picked myself, well except a few he surprised me with. But there are a few I know will look amazing on you and not be too long.”

Thelma rifled through the dresses before pulling down one that was done in black fabric, with gold, blue, and green beading to make out a gorgeous peacock shape where the tail feathers were the beads that hung down from the hem of the dress. “Oh, I can’t wear that! It’s too nice. What if I spill something on it?” 

“Then they will replace it,” Thelma grinned. “Come on, try it on.”

Then, in a sort of frenzy, Lucille was given a makeover. When she stepped in front of the full length mirror next to the closet, she almost didn’t recognize herself. Dark lips, rouged cheeks, eyeliner, a decorated headband with a feather that matched the dress, and gold heels with straps. 

“You look like a true flapper girl,” Thelma grinned. “How do you feel?” 

Luci studied herself. She felt odd, not quite herself… and yet an elevated version of herself all at the same time. “Fabulous,” she breathed. 

“Good. Let’s get back downstairs.”