Leo’s hand traced to the curvature of his lover’s stomach, as a small imprint followed his touch. He had always been fascinated with this, but really…he was stalling.
Michelle was watching him, waiting wistfully. Prayerfully. She was running out of options. Leo planned to take their child and raise it without her…
Michelle was a prostitute.
She had asked him for funds. He agreed and gave her half. She stashed it, only spending what she earned helping her sisters clean. Michelle knew it was only a matter of time before she became immaterial to Leo.
When he suddenly stood to dress, she frowned. He had no one at home, except his top ranked wolves. This always angered her – why do this? Why keep playing games?
Her mind was screaming out at Leo, but she knew an argument would threaten her livelihood. He had a title…she was a common whore.
There were other things here to discuss. He went missing for days at a time when the moon would be full. She knew she couldn’t press him for answers, but the rumors tying to his absences were that he was a wolf. How could he so calmly live among this town, with everyone possibly knowing what he was?
“I heard something,” she said suddenly, “a fearsome rumor.”
Leo stopped pulling his boots up, looking to the side, then affixing his dark curls out of his face. Tonight wasn’t a good night for this.
Michelle was trying to keep him here, he would be endangering her.
That’s when he realized he ought to just say it, perhaps he can escape afterwards.
“Whatever you’ve heard is true…”
Michelle cocked her head to the side and glared at the back of Leo’s curls. She knew him well enough to know he enjoyed being right. Then she was saddened, he really wasn’t interested in staying the night.
“I am a ravenous, demonic, cursed beast. That lurks the night, killing innocents and having my way with whomever I capture…” he admitted, and in a deep tone, “then I drudge back home, sleep it off and wait for the full moon for next month.”
“And I am with your child…” Michelle brought up, “how will that affect me?”
Who cares…Leo thought. He didn’t have to say it, she could feel that.
“Why so heartless?” She sobbed.
Leo hated when she cried. She hardly ever did, and it came at times she had truly been wounded. The man agreed to pay a physician to see that she could abort the child, but he never came through. Feeling stuck, Leo steered clear of her…never visiting his “second home.” Never coming to the brothel.
Then one day, he just couldn’t stay away. Of course, his family noticed. And unfortunately, there were protocols that had to be followed.
So Leo kept her tucked away in another flat he purchased, and Michelle was miserable here, at least away from the public eye.
Leo checked his pocket watch now, growing more irritated by the minute. He was waiting for something. This wasn’t the first time Michelle pleaded with him.
He shook a little, standing now while reaching for his jacket. The jacket he’d rip out of. Michelle felt heat radiating off of him, as he palmed the back of his neck.
When she went to touch his shoulder, he quickly grabbed her hand, almost crushing it. They made eye contact, Michelle seeing his teeth had grown out, and his eyes were bloodshot. Leo, afraid he’d hurt her, pushed her back onto the bed. Then bolted out of the room, to the front passageway.
One of her sisters shrieked at the sight of him, as his appearance became even more obscene and mortifying. Michelle caught a glimpse of his heel leaving the door, and helped her sister close and bolt it.
Leo ran behind the housing, into the woods now with his flesh tearing, his form bearing through. At least, he made it deep enough, and he couldn’t hold it in any longer. He howled wildly at the full moon, then continued to run through the woods, hoping to come across a nearby town.
For miles, though, he ran. Panting, growing hungry and angrier…until the trees cut off and he stumbled upon a bumbling city square. A woman screamed as others began clearing out, running to close enough businesses and homes for safety. Most of the men grabbed for their swords and guns, hoping their weapons were enough.
Leo slashed the guts from one man, bit the head from another, and grabbed the torso of a third, swinging and slamming the young man into a fountain. Their pistols popped off now, pelting off of his skin, not making entry. Their swords did no better, and it wasn’t until the pinging pain of a silver baton struck him on his left leg, that he realized he may not be able to withstand that.
He howled loudly, with blood covered paws, standing now at nearly seven feet. He growled, surrounded by the men in the town he hadn’t killed, when he felt the sting from silver again. It weakened him…removed his floor from his strength. Leo staggered, realizing there would be no feasting tonight. Another hit followed, as he retreated into the woods, this time looking for a place to hide.
There was no cover, except an old hollowed out tree he passed. The men were now behind him, following with lanterns, guns, dogs and that silver rod. A sliver was stuck in the back of his left leg, and Leo felt himself turning back. He stooped into the tree for protection now, now trying to remove the silver, hoping he wouldn’t be found.
He could hear dogs howling, he could smell the lanterns burning. Leo was wishing he weren’t the cause of all of this. He looked up into the hollow dead tree, deciding to climb and hide himself, when an atrociously loud howl came from the right. The once bold men were screaming like girls, in the darkness of the woods.
It was the crunching of bones, the pleading for help, the whimpering of the dogs where Leo found himself on the verge of tears. He had lodged himself into the hollow stump, oh what a place to be.
Then it was quiet. Leo smelled the blood spilled, seeping into the soil now. Lanterns burning without their master.
He scooted down, hoping he wouldn’t be attacked, when he came across a naked man, standing near a blaze, and staring over his desecration.
“If it hadn’t been for that metal rod, I would have made it into town. But a piece is lodged into my side,” the man said, trying to pluck it out.
He turned, hoping to judge the shock on Leo’s face. He had just been saved by the least favorite Cervantez.
Mateo.
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The Heiress JCS 