Chapter 5 A Wolf In New York

• Chapter 5
• A wolf in New York
• It was awful how Lisa had approached Allyson, accusing her of having gotten her job by being her boss’s mistress. The accusation felt absurd—she and her boss had never even left the office together. Thankfully, Peter Fletcher had been amazing in putting Lisa in her place. Still, Allyson couldn’t shake the unease. She wasn’t sure what had prompted her promotion, and the closer she got to finding out, the more anxious she felt. After all, many people at the firm had likely been waiting for a promotion for a long time, and that knowledge bothered her.
• As Allyson worked, she could feel Peter Fletcher’s watchful gaze on her. It was like a sixth sense that made her glance at him occasionally, though he disguised it well. She finished preparing the Denver contract and sent it to his email for review.
• “Very good, Mitchell… it’s good,” he said after looking it over.
• His words encouraged her to be better, and his appreciation for her work left her feeling on cloud nine. But what really unsettled her was the devouring look in his eyes whenever he looked at her. Sometimes, she was almost certain he was the same man she had seen at Venus, though she couldn’t prove it. Pushing that thought aside, she tried to focus on her work.
• The day passed quickly, and it was time for her second job. Before leaving, she called her father to remind him to check his glucose levels so she could go to work without worrying. She needed the extra money.
• “Mr. Fletcher,” she said, glancing at her watch. “Am I cleared to leave?”
• He raised his head, studying her for several moments before checking his own watch.
• “Of course, Mitchell, you’re free.”
• “Thank you, sir,” she replied.
• He gave her a half-smile, and she quickly left, putting on her jacket as she went.
• When she arrived at the nightclub, she immediately noticed the same car parked at the entrance. It had been there before, but she decided not to dwell on it. The hustle and bustle of the night contrasted sharply with the structured corporate world of her day job. Still, the thought of the mysterious car lingered in her mind, leaving her uneasy.
• Later, as her shift ended, she spotted the same vehicle parked nearby. Curiosity and apprehension battled within her as she walked toward it. Just then, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, the metallic glint of a knife catching the dim streetlight.
• “Your money and your cell phone, now!” the mugger demanded, his voice cold and menacing.
• Fear gripped Allyson, but she tried to stay calm as she handed over her belongings, her hands trembling. “Here, please, don’t hurt me.”
• The man stepped closer, the knife gleaming dangerously. “That’s not all. Where’s the rest?”
• Her breathing quickened. “I’ve got nothing else, really!” she insisted, her voice faltering.
• “Don’t lie to me!” he barked, raising the knife slightly.
• “It’s the truth, I swear!” Allyson’s voice trembled as she tried to appear convincing.
• Then, something extraordinary happened. A massive black figure emerged from the shadows. A wolf, larger than any she had ever seen. It positioned itself between her and the assailant, its eyes glowing with a ferocious intensity. The sheer size and presence of the animal were overwhelming.
• A wolf? In New York City? Allyson’s mind raced. Had it escaped from a zoo? Its fur glistened in the moonlight, almost ethereal. It was terrifyingly beautiful. But as her heart pounded, another fear struck her: would this enormous creature turn on her next?
• She closed her eyes tightly, hoping the scene was a hallucination. When she opened them again, the wolf was still there, its sharp growl directed at the mugger. It was clear who the beast was intimidating.
• The mugger stepped back, his eyes wide with fear. “What the hell is that?! A fucking wolf?”
• The wolf growled again, deeper this time, its presence commanding and protective.
• “I… I’m leaving!” the man stammered, stumbling backward before fleeing into the darkness.
• Allyson stood frozen, watching him disappear. Her gaze turned to the wolf, a mix of admiration and fear swirling within her. What was this creature? And why had it protected her?
• With her heart still racing, she hailed a cab and headed home, her thoughts a chaotic jumble. A wolf in the middle of New York, appearing just in time to save her from a mugger? It couldn’t be a coincidence.
• Tears welled in her eyes as the events of the night overwhelmed her.
• “Are you all right, miss?” the taxi driver asked, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
• “Yes, I’m fine,” she said, her voice trembling. She was far from fine.
• She wanted to call her best friend, Margot, but the thought of explaining what had happened felt impossible. Saved by a wolf? It sounded insane.
• Once home, she managed to dial Margot’s number, her hands still shaking.
• “Hi, friend. What’s up?” Margot answered cheerfully.
• “Margot, I can’t go home right now. Something crazy has happened to me,” Allyson said, her voice unsteady.
• “What happened to you, Allyson?”
• “I saw a wolf!”
• “A wolf? What do you mean, a wolf?”
• “A huge black wolf outside the nightclub! I’m still shaking!”
• Margot’s voice grew alarmed. “A wolf on the loose? We need to call the police!”
• “No!” Allyson protested.
• “What do you mean, no?”
• She couldn’t explain that the wolf had protected her from a mugging. Margot would think she was delusional.
• “Never mind. I’m fine now,” she said, trying to sound calm.
• “Are you sure? Maybe all that work and studying are getting to you.”
• “No, I’m not sure,” Allyson admitted. “I think I’m losing it. I’ll go check on my dad.”
• Later, at home, Allyson checked in on her father, who was watching the news.
• “Anything new, Dad?” she asked, sipping water from the fridge.
• “Just politics and sports,” he said, turning to look at her. “You look shaken.”
• “I almost got mugged,” she replied casually. “How’s your blood sugar? Have you eaten?”
• “Mugged? What do you mean, Allyson?”
• “It’s fine, Dad. I got away,” she said, brushing it off.
• She made a sandwich for both of them, then retreated to her room. Searching the internet for news about wolves in the city yielded no results. Whatever had happened, it was unlike anything she had ever experienced. That wolf—it had felt… magical.
• But maybe she was just losing her mind. Shaking her head, Allyson decided to get some sleep. Tomorrow, she would face another day at the office, dealing with different kinds of humans.