The Half-Wolf's Choice

*Alice* “I’ll close up tonight, Jade,” I said to my boss, the purple-haired owner of the pub. “You go do what you need to do.” “Are you sure, Alice?” Jade looked at me with concern but she was flustered, having spent the last fifteen minutes on a heated phone call with her ex concerning their young daughter. “I’m sure. It’s quiet tonight anyway so I won’t have much trouble clearing this lot out,” I gestured to the handful of semi-buzzed patrons. “You’re a life-saver, Alice. If I could afford to give you a raise I would.” “I know, I know.” I happily accepted her hug and watched as she left the small establishment. Jade had become more than just an employer to me over these last few months, she had become my anchor and friend. Sure the pay was dismal and I put in more effort than any other employee would, but I had seen the finances of this place and Jade was paying me the utmost that she could. “Alright gents!” I yelled at the top of my voice, “”It’s closing time so clear out!” There were a few disappointed groans but no hassles. The patrons greeted me as they filed out. “Night, Alice.” “Be safe, girl.” “See yeh tomorrow.” Once the place was empty I packed away the glasses, stacked the chairs, cleared the register and placed the cash in Jade’s safe before locking her office. I gave the area one more check to be certain that everything was in its proper place. Never in my Life had I ever thought I’d ever be working full-time at a pub to make ends meet. But here I was and I had to make the best of it by doing my best, and even a little bit more. I shivered when I stepped outside. My fingers froze quickly and caused me to fumble with the keys. All I could think about was getting home as quickly as possible and running a nice hot bath for myself. “Alice,” said a deep and familiar voice behind me. My blood ran cold in my veins which had nothing to do with the chill in the air. I turned around to see the face of the man who had snuck up on me, and my blood swiftly thawed and began to boil. I reached into my pocket and gripped my fingers around the tiny can of pepper spray. “What are you doing here, Richard?” I said through gritted teeth, my heart pounded anxiously in my chest. Richard smiled in the way that used to make butterflies flutter in my belly, but now the sight of his curved lips only made me want to wretch. “Can’t a man travel hundreds of miles to see his dearly beloved wife? Oh how I’ve missed your pretty face, Alice.” He advanced to embrace me but I quickly stepped back. I bumped into the wall and held out my pepper spray. He halted his advancement. “Not one step closer, Richard. And I’m not your wife, not anymore. Not after what you did!” Richard’s slimy smile faded and was replaced with a scowl. He looked haggard and sickly, and seemed to have picked up weight since I last saw him five months prior. Seeing as he had no more money it was a mystery how he achieved that. His features that once were so handsome and earned him popularity in highschool and college had all but disappeared. “Come on, Alice. Put the damn spray down and let's act like adults. I never signed those f*****g papers which means you’re still my wife.” He took a cautious step forward. “And as my wife your place is with me back in Chicago. So we’re going to go pack up your s**t and leave this back alley dump these idiots here call a town.” I could almost laugh if I wasn't so pissed. “You’ve got some nerve to demand anything from me especially after you ruined my company, cheated on me with multiple women, and gambled away my entire fortune!” I fumed, my finger itching to fire the pepper spray and watch him reel on the floor in agony. “The only reason I am in Marlow is because of you, because I have nothing left and need a fresh start away from you. Did you know that the only thing I had left after your escapade was a one bedroom apartment; which I then had to sell after loan sharks came knocking on my door looking for you? So sign the papers and leave me alone!” “Come on, babe! You know I would never have loaned money from them if I knew they would try to harm you…and the company…I honestly was just trying to make it more successful. Those idiots on the board were holding you back-” I couldn’t listen anymore. I couldn’t stand any more of his f*****g excuses. I turned to leave when he grabbed my arm tightly, I winced under the pressure. I spun my other arm around to pepper spray his eyes but he caught my wrist and squeezed hard. “Richard, let go of me!” He snarled. “I traveled all this way for you, so you can show some damn appreciationYou’re coming with me whether you -” “What’s going on here?” Both Richard and I spun around to see a man walking towards us. He was tall, skin a light tan, eyes the color of rich amber and hair black and wavy. If I was not already in a mode of anxiety I would be now, for I knew exactly who this man was. “I said, what is going on here?” Cayden Veil repeated. His tone was calm but in his eyes lingered the essence of death. “How about none of your f*****g business, asshole!” Richard smugly faced Mr.Veil as though he was back in highschool. “Walk away and you might leave with all your limbs intact.” “Richard, don’t be a f*****g i***t!” I hissed violently. “Don’t you know who that is?” But Veil merely smiled at Richard’s impudence. “Funny,” he murmured, “That’s usually my line. A show of mercy to those who are about to make the biggest mistake of their lives. But the thing is; I have the means to make my threats a reality. Can you say the same?” He stepped closer to Richard, unafraid and unwavering. Richard eyed the man who was shorter than he was, perturbed by his lack of fear of Richard's larger stature. After a moment or two more of scrutiny under the light of the full moon, reality dawned on Richard. For even though this was Marlow, a town tucked away in the region of Mercury Valley, the infamy of Cayden Veil was known far and wide. “Oh, I am so sorry Mr. Veil,” Richard quickly released me, “I didn’t recognize you. It’s really dark out tonight.” I rubbed my wrists which were probably bruised. But I was more concerned if my husband, however shitty he may be, was about to perish at the hands of a notorious crime lord. Ignoring Richard’s fumbling, Veil turned his gaze to me. “Are you alright, ma’am?” I nodded, my voice caught in my throat. Veil turned his gaze back to Richard. “Leave.” Not needing to be told twice, my former childhood sweetheart left as swiftly as he could without running away like a coward. And I could not blame him because I wanted to run away as well. “Thank you,” I managed to say, barely a whisper but I meant it. I looked into his eyes and saw that death no longer lingered there. There was only concern. “I’m just doing my civil duty,” Veil smiled, “Can’t have riff raff assaulting the good people of Marlow.” He gently took my wrist and inspected the bruises Richard left behind. I would have normally pulled away but I couldn’t…I didn’t want to. This man was dangerous, probably killed dozens of people, and yet I wanted him to touch me. Was I simply just attracted to the most violent of men? “Well I thank you anyway, truly. And I’m sorry for inconveniencing you.” “No inconvenience at all. Your name is?” “Alice Fairfox.” Fuck! Why did I tell him my name and my surname? What was wrong with me?” “Fair indeed. You should hurry home quickly, Alice…there has been a string of gang related violence in the area these last few weeks.” “You mean violence related to your gang.” Why the f**k did I just say that! I half expected Veil to erupt in rage but he merely gave a light chuckle. “I like you, Alice Fairfox. Stay safe, alright?” The Crime Lord of Marlow let go of my arm and disappeared down the street, and I was left to wonder when I had gotten such a death wish to speak so abruptly to a man like him. And yet…as I walked home I could not shake my mind off the sensation of his touch. My thoughts lingered with the subtle softness of his voice that at the same time lacked neither confidence nor power. “Get a grip on yourself! It’s like you've learned nothing from being married to Richard!” I hissed into the cold air. Lost in thought about Cayden Veil, I didn’t hear the snarling and growls, and the slashing of claw against flesh as I turned the corner. If I did, I would not have come face to face with the that which would upend my life. Wolves! Huge, colossal wolves the size of pick-up trucks clash into each other. Their jaws snapping at each other’s throats, the claws slicing at whatever piece of flesh they could reach. There could have been no less than twenty of them engaged in a bloody battle in the midst of the abandoned factory district. The two largest of the clashing wolves fought so close to me, I could almost smell their blood and sweat. Run! I NEED TO RUN! My legs were jelly and I crashed to the ground, scraping my knee. GET UP! GET UP NOW! I managed to find my feet and began to hurtle as fast as I could. I was not going to die tonight or any night soon. I had ambition. A goal to rebuild all that I lost. I could not lose my future to wild animals. “AAAGH!” I screamed as pain tore through my flesh. The agony of a thousand needles pierced my leg accompanied the sound of hellish snarls and the smell of bloody breath. I crumple to the ground once more. I screamed when I saw the horrific visage of the wolf with its fangs in my leg. It’s blood red eyes glaring as it ravaged me. Blood red eyes and the full moon. The last things I thought I would ever see.