Elsie “You know I heard you guys going at it from my compartment again last night?” Shirley took a puff of her cigarette and blew it at me. I knew the mischief that lingered in those eyes of hers. “Think of it as payback for every time I have found you and Carl making whoopie all over the train.” I rolled my eyes at her before I let out a giggle. “You know I don’t mind. If anything, it’s kind of ginchy to know that we are both getting railed at the same time.” As soon as the words left Shirley’s mouth, a group of women and their children walked by. The mothers hurried to cover their children’s ears and shoot dirty looks at Shirley as they herded the kids away. “You would think that they would realize those bra

Oliver   The train rumbled down the tracks, horn blasting before the hiss of the brakes filled the air. The cars lurched forward as we came to a stop. The smell of smoke permeated the station, declaring our arrival as if anyone who was deaf or blind didn’t know we had arrived.   I peeked out behind the flimsy aged curtain, examining the stop. I had never been to Baton Rouge, much less Louisiana in general. It was a different world compared to where I grew up.    “You coming, kid?” Shirley asked as she came up behind me, causing me to jump.   “Shit, you scared the piss out of me.” I hissed as I stumbled away from the train car door to face her. Her long black hair was loose curls, and her makeup accentuated her

Elsie The words that had been so painful and heavy on my heart these past years felt lighter than they ever had as I told Everett about my past, how I lost Clyde and ran from my Alpha, how Shirley had found me and had taken me under her wing, how I became the star act in the circus. I told him everything, well, everything except about Oliver. I could feel Oliver’s eyes boring into the back of my head as he walked behind Everett and me. Wolves surrounded us from Everett’s pack. I expected Oliver to be scared or even hesitant, but instead, I felt like he just became more attentive to me. Cicadas buzzed around us, I used to find their buzzing annoying, but now it felt right. They were the most enthralling music I had ever heard, and I wanted to remember this moment

OliverNelson dropped me off on the edge of town closest to Cirque du Lune’s setup but far enough away where no one would catch a whiff of his scent. As I went to slam the door shut behind me, Nelson cleared his throat.“Yeah?” I ducked my head down as I looked back into the car at him.“If I were you, kid, I would get the hell away from those rogues; the sooner, the better.” Nelson’s voice was gruff; the way he talked about the circus and the rogues was like someone had squeezed lemon juice in a cut in my mouth.“Isn’t your future Luna one of those rogues?” I glared at that sad excuse of a man. “Have a nice evening Nelson.”I slammed the car door and started towards the soft glow on the lights, beaconing me home to the circus. I was tense until I heard the roar of the automobile rumble away. Only when I was sure he was gone did the tension in my body leave.No matter how long I wa

OliverI looked at Birdie in disbelief. This dame ran so hot and cold; it was a miracle when I could actually figure out what she was thinking. This time was not one of those times; when I searched her for any indication of what was happening inside her head, Birdie’s eyes gave nothing away.Just because Elsie had left the circus and left me didn’t mean I would throw her away. Elsie would always hold a piece of my heart in her hands, and besides my own attachment to her, I had made a promise to look after her. I would keep my promise to Milton.“It doesn’t matter if she has a mate, Birdie. Whether or not you like it, Elsie will always be one of us, even if she isn’t here.” I scowled at Birdie before chasing after Carl and Shirley.“I did it for you!” I heard Birdie call after me, but I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of me turning around to acknowledge her. Besides, I didn’t even know if I bel