It's November once again.
But it's still pandemic. And for some reason, I still have so much to do!
That doesn't mean I'm giving up on NaNoWriMo this year.
NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month is an annual celebration of writing a novel. The goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. I have set myself a realistic goal. I know that try as I might, I can't reach 50,000 words with what I'm doing. So, I'm putting a small Short Story goal of 15,000 words. My aim is to write 3,000-5,000 words a week. Hoping during the Christmas break to edit or expand.'
So, since it's day 1, here is my progress.
This is a working title. Might change it.
Big Bad Wolf Meets Big Beautiful Woman
A BBW Girl Paranormal Romance
Chapter 1
Wolves were terribly superstitious.
That was an understatement.
No. Really. Gus was a perfect example.
Argus Urbane, also known as Gus, was addicted to horoscopes. He kept looking at
the newspaper and reading the daily horoscope. Every Friday, he had a special
reading with Mad Mariah, the resident fortune-teller. As long as it didn’t
interfere with work, Markus allowed it.
Markus was the Pack’s Alpha. He founded
and held the pack for over a century. Last year, the Alpha found his mate and
they lived happily ever after. Then, Markus’s best friend Caleb got married
the other month. A lot of his packmates were married so it wasn’t anything
special yet Gus was longing for something… anything. Any type of relationship.
He’s had flings and girlfriends but they never lasted.
“How’s the Dungeon going?” Markus
called him over to his office to talk business.
Markus Simeon, apart from being an
independent Werewolf Pack, was also a business pack. It means they weren’t
bound by land but by the business. The Pack under him also worked for his businesses.
Markus owed a chain of resorts and casinos called Wolves. In it was a
playground for both humans and supernaturals. It also had a luxury hotel called
The Simeon.
Argus was tasked to create The Dungeon.
The Dungeon was an exclusive club for supernaturals. It was located in Basement
4 of The Simeon. Gus was head of construction and maintenance for all of
Markus’ properties.
Markus was a very hands-on guy. He opens
his own resort and personally sees to every aspect from design to build. He
even designs each room by himself. Markus studied interior design this decade
so he was well qualified. Gus’ specialty was building things. He went and built
anything and everything Markus wanted. As a member of Markus’ inner circle, he
could practically read Markus’ mind. Unfortunately, it went both ways.
“The Dungeon’s construction is
complete. We’re just testing our twenty-four-seven backup generators and
revolving stages,” Gus answered.
“Good, then what’s keeping you
occupied?”
“Nothing.”
Markus looked at him, still that cold,
expressionless face that told Gus he said something stupid. “Nothing. The
Dungeon is holding auditions tonight and hiring of staff tomorrow. Everything
is going according to schedule.”
“Gus, we’re four months behind
schedule,” his alpha pointed out.
“Markus, this lockdown isn’t doing
anyone any favors. We’ve just about to get a handle on things. Its hard to get
labor and performers because of this pandemic,” Gus pointed out.
“There are supernaturals that we can
hire. Why aren’t you hiring them?”
Gus huffed in frustration. You think I
didn’t do that? They are all scared. Ever since they saw how even the higher forms of being could contract the virus, they have gone underground, hiding from the
world. It’s like back in the middle ages!”
“We’ve never reached the middle ages,”
Markus pointed out.
“I’ve read the books. The point is,
labor of any kind is hard to come by. Also, our profits have halved so there
wasn’t any allotment than the ones already budgeted for my department.” Once a bustling
resort, it was a veritable ghost town. Only vampires were out and about because
they were immune. Witches, Shifters, Elves, and even Werewolves were being
cautious.
“We’ve been disinfecting with bleach
and benedictions every evening.” Markus wanted all bases covered. He also
wanted to protect pack and family who were living in the resort.
“Yeah, you’re going to have to bark at
Marketing. My job is construction. I’m trying to be on schedule here,” Gus
huffed. He’s been doing that lately.
Well, as much in schedule as
after-COVID as they can get. The lockdown pushed back all their plans month
later than schedule. Here they were, back in business or trying to be back in
business.
“Gus, you’ve spent most of quarantine
practically building the Dungeon by yourself.”
“As previously stated, labor problems. I
needed it to be complete. Besides, I’m bored. What else was there to do during the lockdown. At least, I didn’t contract anything.” Yeah, he spent three months
holed up in basement 4 hauling cement, tiling things, grouting tiles, polishing
marble. It was a feat a Werewolf can do especially if he was bored.
“You are in need of a mate.”
Gus frowned. “You are changing the
subject.”
Markus shrugged. “Well, we’re done
talking about construction. As your alpha, I’m sensing your need of a mate.”
“You make it sound like it’s easy to
find them. I’ve had girlfriends before. None of them stayed.” Gus wasn’t the
easiest of Werewolves to live with. But no girl can really tell because he
never lives with any girlfriend. He stayed with Markus, following where he
went.
“It’s easier now than back then.”
Markus was half a century older than Gus. Caleb was a full century older that
Markus. Facebook only came in the last decade and supernaturals came out just
about at the same time. It was easier to communicate now more than ever but that
didn’t stop Gus from feeling the isolation.
“Join SuperTindr.”
Gus made a face. “That dating app crap?
No thank you.”
“How, pray tell, will you find a mate?”
They weren't all as lucky as Markus and Caleb who just bumped into their mates.
Some people found it hard. People saw them as a pillar of strength and skill
but deep down, they were shy and vulnerable creatures.
“I’ll ask Mad Mariah.” the eighty-four
year-old lady was his go-to for any question.
“Speaking of Mariah, she’s having a
party this afternoon at the Cavern. It’s her retirement party.”
Gus was shocked. “Retirement? She’s not
that old!”
“Heh! Humans age faster. She’s
been wanting to retire since the last decade. Tomorrow, she’s leaving for a
cruise.”
“What? Who’s taking over her
store?”
His alpha shrugged his shoulders. “Her
lease is already up. The store is now open for a new tenant.”
Gus started to hyperventilate. Mad
Mariah was not just a tenant but the resident fortune-teller. She entertained
people at a special backroom where she reads their palms or cards.
A soft knock followed by a hulking
goliath of a man came in. “Oh, whoa! Should I call for a medic?”
“Caleb shut the door and maybe you
should catch Gus when he keels over,” Markus told his best friend. “Mad Mariah
is leaving,” he explained.
“Oh. Gus, are you okay?” He asked the
Werewolf who was desperately trying to catch his breath.
“Do… I… Look… ho-khaaay?”
Caleb, the hulking bulk of a vampire,
came behind him and shoved his head down. “Breathe between your knees. I’ll see
if I can get a paper bag for you to breathe in.”
“Or barf in,” Markus quipped.
No other person could shove Gus like
Caleb or Markus. Markus was a big man with dark brown hair and deep green eyes.
He was a half-a head taller than Gus. Caleb was an odd vampire. He was
all-muscles and as big as Markus, strange for a vampire. Most vampires were
tall and lithe but Caleb was not. He was tall but all-muscles like Markus. Black
hair and black eyes were from his vampire heritage but his love for the outdoors
and gardening came from his human mother. Now the vampy was arranging flowers
all over the resort. The vampire was smitten by his new wife.
Gus had to admit, Stella, Caleb’s wife,
was adorable. She was big and beautiful but she didn’t know it. Her family was
mean to her. They didn’t know what treasure she was. She and Caleb grew some
herbs for the resort at the rooftop garden and in her little plot of land. Markus
even made some changes to the menu to accommodate more fresh food at the resort.
He had to admit, his kind of girl was
around Stella’s size. Gus didn’t like petite wilting flowers who only ate salad
and water. Werewolves loved to eat and they liked taking care of their mates.
“Don’t worry, Gus. The world’s not
ending just because of Mariah’s leaving tomorrow. You can still Skype her.”
Caleb’s words were not comforting. The woman can’t read palm through Skype.
“Two weeks’ notice,” he muttered.
Markus sighed. “She actually gave me a
two-months’ notice but she asked that I not tell you. She thinks you’ll get
emotional about it.”
“What?”
“She’s proving her point. You’re
getting emotional,” the alpha pointed out.
“Am not!”
Markus threw him a box of tissue which
he caught easy enough. “Then why are your eyes all red and teary?”
Gus blew into the tissue. “Germs!” He
meant to say allergies but germs seemed to pop into his head. To stop
embarrassing himself further, the teary-eyed Werewolf stomped out of the office
and went to find Mad Mariah. He needed to see her; ask why she wouldn’t tell
her best customer of her leaving. Didn’t they form something stronger than just
a client-Werewolf relationship? Gus was always the first to greet her, send
flowers on her birthday and send a car package when she got a cold. He found
her just as her party was starting. Her friends were around her, giving her
gifts and passing the champagne around.
Mariah, a seventy-four year-old woman,
was not an aging old crone. She was spry, had a spring in her step and loved to
color her hair in crazy colors. She was rumored to have a dance instructor of a
boyfriend forty years her junior. Although, some accused her of bewitching the
poor bloke. Gus knew she did no such thing. Mariah was wholly human. She had
very little witch blood.
She looked up to see the hulking
Werewolf standing at the entrance of The Cavern. Markus threw a special party
for her. Although she had only been in The Shops at Wolves for a year, she was
considered a pioneer. She also attracted a lot of people to come to Wolves
during the first few months. It was only proper to give her a sendoff.
“Argus Urbane, are those tears?”
Gus wiped his eyes on his sleeves. “No,
just allergies.”
“I hope you’re not allergic to
champagne. Come on over,” she called to him.
“Are you leaving already? You’re the
most important lady in my life this year,” he sniffled.
Mariah laughed. “You mean you just want
me to keep reading your cards every week.”
“That and more.”
Champagne and cakes were passed along.
Werewolves and most Shifters were constantly eating because they burned
calories much faster than humans. Little finger sandwiches in tall trays were
also passed along the table.
“Don’t worry, boy. I’m sending my niece
to read cards every week. I’ve arranged it with Markus. She’ll set up a tent in
the gallery and take up most of my clients.” She pushed and frowned. “Be nice
to her, Argus, I’m sensing your fangs around this girl,” Mariah warned.
“I’ll make sure she’s welcomed
properly. But Mariah, she won’t have your touch,” he teased.
Mariah kissed his cheek. “Nobody is
like me, Gus. That’s why I’m me. My last forecast for you. When you are looking
for something, you won’t find it. So, don’t bother. It will find you in the
right time.”
