The Black Wolf

The Black Wolf

Living in a small town everyone knows everyone and every detail of their life.

So how can you keep a secret without anyone ever knowing the truth.

A secret that can twist the whole fabric of your reality.

Glory has been able to overcome any struggle or obstacles in her life since a young child. With her cousin Candy by her side, the two can accomplish anything.

Even moving across the country to start a new business in the very secluded small town of Tree Howler.

She's always been a woman on a mission. Who never needed a man for anything.

Until the day a random encounter forces her to decide between what she wants more: her independence or a fated love?

This is her story. The story of The Black Wolf.

Episode 1- Just A Small Town Girl

"Gloria wake up" is whispered in my ear and I try hard to ignore it.

"Gloria wake that ass up!" my cousin is now not so sweet sounding. Her amplified voice only causing me to sink deeper into my pillow. Allowing myself one more last bit of comfort before a busy night of having to corral the drunken shenanigans of the people of my small town.

The town might be small but the people's personalities surely aren't. Especially when they get a taste of my signature drink on their tongues. A mixture of tequila, lime, orange juice, a dab of whiskey, and a splash of Everclear. All mixed and blended perfectly with ice, watermelon, and strawberry fruits. Designed to mask the strong taste of the hard liquors, but not the effect it has on you. I call it ... wait for it... The Wild Wolf.

See this town was built upon an area that was once inhabited by wolves. The legend has it that after slavery ended and black people were technically free, a group of maybe 10 families decided that they would venture into the wilderness and settle there.

After years of being forced to obey every command given to them, they wanted to be completely free and away from the society that felt it was right to enslave them.

They figured the best way to do this would be to find a secluded place, far from everyday civilization. There they could be free to form there own way of life and existence. Far away from the domineering eyes, mouth, and ears of those who had oppressed them.

Sounds like a well thought out plan huh?

Well, as the group made there way further into the wilderness, they soon realized that they were not the first to have this bright idea.

With the promise of freedom so close they could finally touch it, they never really thought about the dangers ahead and the creatures who had already made there homes there. The Wolves.

When the group found the prefect place to build there new life, they begin to settle it. This included clearing the land and using it to build their new homes.

Not realizing that they were destroying the natural homes of the Wolves.

The story goes that when they had finished settling the land, a lone Black Wolf first appeared. He seemed to not really take much notice of the people there. Although you can imagine the fear they felt. They say he had the air of aloofness and power that usually comes from something that knows it is much stronger and deadlier than you.

He never bothered the people, but he never left either. They soon grew comfortable with his presence. Actually feeling a sense of security from having such a potentially deadly ally.

But as the weeks passed, one Wolf turned into ten. Ten wolves, ten families. It was clear that the first Wolf was there leader who had come forth first to make sure it was safe for the rest.

The wolves were friendly enough and seemed to really take to the new people who had taken over their territory.

Soon the wolves and the families were living and occupying the same space as if it was normal!

So normal that the people decided to name the town Tree Howler in honor of there new companions.

But here is were the story becomes anything but normal and the tall tale begins. Legend has it that the wolves begin to talk to the people. What first started as just a howl, became words.

Of course the people were first shocked and frightened by there new friends remarkable abilities. But being that they trusted the wolves and all lived like family, they got over it and continued living the peaceful existence that they had always wanted.

And really what other choice did they really have at that point. Not one of them were willing to retreat from their newfound freedom and happiness. To them living with these predators was better than returning to a world that devalued them as humans.

Crazy story right? There's more to it. But for now let's get back to me.

My name is Glory and and I now live in Tree Howler present day. Me and my cousin Candy own and operate the towns sole watering hole and source of debauchery. Basically we own a bar! Which sometimes seems like a more of a fight club/ hook up spot/ therapist couch when that Wild Wolf hits the system.

Oh and I love it! I couldn't dream of doing anything more fun and fulfilling than providing a place where people can come and let their hair down after a long day of work.

I didn't grow up here though. I'm originally from the city. But when my cousin inherited some land here from some long lost unknown distant relative, we jumped at the opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

Life where I'm from is hard quite honestly. There's not much opportunities for someone like me. Where I'm from your either gang related, 16 and pregnant, on a crime spree pushing over old ladies for their purses, or dead by 21. And those who survive are left working dead end jobs just so their families can eat and have a roof over their heads. The only ones who make it out are the smart kids who get scholarships to colleges far away and trust me they never look back.

Honestly me and my cousin could have been those kids. But we didn't see any use in going to college. We were always independent and wanted to have our own.

Growing up it was just me, her and my Mama. My Daddy died when I was about 2. Mama told me when I was old enough to understand, that he was a hardworking man who would do anything to make sure we were happy and taken care of.

In fact, he worked so hard that it killed him literally. Mama says that one day after working an 18 hour shift over the weekend, he came in and tiredly hugged her and kissed her forehead. Telling her he loved her.

She says he picked me up and held me smiling. Exhausted, but happy to hold his only child in his arms and to see the love of his life. She says his eyes would light up whenever he would come home to his little family.

And as usual, before eating or laying down to rest, he would make sure to gather all the trash and take it to the dumpster. He said that it was man's work and wouldn't let Mama get her delicate hands dirty.

After about 20 minutes of him not returning from his no more than usually 5 minute task, Mama became worried. She called out to him from the window but received no answer. She picked me up and carried me to the door, intending to go check on him.

When she opened the door she was met with my Father sprawled out on the concrete stairs, trash still in hand. The doctors say his heart just gave out on him after years of overexhausting himself just to make a living!

But my father was always thinking of us and and his responsibilities to take care of us. Unknown to my mother he had taken out a medium life insurance before he died. It was enough for us to bury him, move to a little less raggedy part of town, and for Mama to pay for cosmetology classes.

That's where she met Candy's mother, Tricey. See me and Candy are not blood related cousins. But we share a bond thicker than blood if you ask us.

Mama and Aunty Tricey didn't start out as friends. They happened to be paired up together in class on the day they were practicing using the hot comb.

Now I don't know if you are aware, but these two words together are enough to make any black girl cringe. They are not called that figuratively. It is an actual comb you that you literally get hot as hell in order to straighten the kinks and coils of natural hair.

Well Mama was a novice to say the least. And Aunty Tricey ended up more burnt on the scalp than combed. She was heated. Pun intended.

Aunt Tricey was one of those hard girls from around the way and was ready fight right there. Mama, being the compassionate solution focused person she was, eventually calmed Aunt Tricey down with sincere apologies and an offer for lunch on her. It took a promise of an whole weeks worth of lunches for Tricey to finally agree.

So that week Mama treated me, Tricey, and little Candy to a different eatery each day. The two quickly became fast friends as they munched and gossiped about the other ladies at the school. Candy and I, both being only two years old, were in our own little worlds. Perched in our high chairs, making a mess of our food.

Whenever Mama talks about that week it is bittersweet. She fondly remembers her friend and the time we all spent together getting to know each other.

Sadly, halfway through the school year, Candy's mom was dead from the abusive hands of her on and off again lousy ass excuse for a babies father. Leaving Candy with no family and no where to go but to foster care. But my mother wasn't going to allow that. She arranged for Candy to live with us. And we have been inseparable ever since.

Don't get sad on me over there. Life doesn't always deal you the best hand, but you play it for all its worth. And that's how me and Candy lived. We were able to avoid all the pitfalls of inner city life by clinging to one another. And always remembering the sacrifices that were made for us.

But we also looked at our parents deaths as a driving force to never have to be in their predicament. We looked to my Mama for inspiration. After finishing beauty school, she took the last of the savings from the insurance policy and opened her own salon. Following her example we decided a long time ago that we didn't want to work for anyone. Or be under any man's control.

We've always been little entrepreneurs. We created our on little babysitting/ daycare in Mama's shop. Catering to the ladies who came with there kids. Providing our time and coloring books, for a nice fee of course. We segued that into an actual legitimate business from middle school to high school. We also found us a nice plug to sell us clothes, jewelry, hair, perfumes, shoes. Hell, whatever you needed we could get it. For a nice fee of course.

We expanded our babysitting business and began hiring girls from all over the city, taking clients from all over the city as well. We balanced our businesses and our side hustled, all while maintaining 4.0 GPAs, I must add. We graduated top of our class. Candy number 1 and me number 2. And I'm ok with that. I like to see the next b***h succeed.

We were so happy and proud. And you should have seen the look on my mother's face when we walked across the stage. All we could do was cry. Tears of happiness, but also tears for our loved ones who weren't there to witness how we had overcame the struggle.

Or so we thought we had.