THE HALFLING

Jessica stared at the empty wine glass, her slender fingers repeatedly tapping on the wooden table as she remained oblivious to the noises around her.

"More wine, Madam?"

The thick French accent of the waiter startled Jessica from her thoughts, she jumped in her seat and snapped her head in his direction. He was a young boy with short black hair and a straight nose. The pity in his chocolate brown eyes didn't go unnoticed by Jessica even though he was giving her a professional smile.

"Yes, please." Raising her glass to him, Jessica watched as he poured her a glass of the 1990 Chateau Cheval Blanc vintage wine.

"Thank you." She tried to smile at him in appreciation but it appeared more like a grimace.

"Do you want me to get you anything else?"

"No, I'm good. I'm not hungry." She didn't try to smile this time, it was obviously pointless.

Still smiling at her, he nodded and left; while holding the half finished bottle, to go attend to other customers.

With her eyes still fixed on his retreating figure, Jessica watched as he disappeared in the throng of people and absentmindedly took a sip of her wine. It was a delicious wine; one of her favorites even, but her thoughts were too preoccupied at the moment that it lacked its taste in her mouth.

Her grey eyes shifted to the empty seat opposite hers. With an audible breath, Jessica grabbed her phone off the table, searching for a number she knew all too well, and for probably the tenth time that evening, dialed it and as expected, went straight to voicemail.

Again.

Jessica threw her phone across the table, huffing in frustration and irritation.

Jessica was supposed to meet Jacob for dinner by 7pm, but she had been waiting for more than two hours now and he still wasn't there.

Now tapping on her glass instead, Jessica could hear the piercing sound of metal against glass which drew her attention to it. Looking at her hand she stared at the engagement ring on her finger. It was a cheap ring but it held so much value to her because Jacob gave it to her on their three years anniversary two months ago. She was so happy then and people used to say they make a perfect couple.

However, everything changed ever since Jacob returned from his business trip about a week ago. He didn't treat her the same way again; he was barely even present, and the few times he was, he ignored her and acted like they were total strangers. That was why Jessica had invited him to dinner to talk yet he had stood her up. He hadn't even bothered to call her and explain or at least, pick her calls. The thought of him seeing someone else had been gnawing at the corner of her mind but she had tried to ignore it, but now, she couldn't help but feel like she was losing him.

The ring suddenly felt heavy on her finger but her heart felt heavier with feelings of depression, sadness and distress. She felt tired so she decided to just go home. She finished her wine in one gulp and took her purse to pay for her wine, not forgetting to leave a tip for the waiter, before leaving the De La Croix Restaurant and into the busy night life of New Orleans.

A sigh left her lips, forming a foggy trail on the night air as her shoulder length red hair fluttered in the wind. She shivered then rubbed her arms to get some much needed heat. It was mid spring but the nights were still cold and she forgot to bring a jacket. Not to mention her knee length red dress wasn't helping as it was also handless.

She briskly walked towards her car across the street; an ash Porsche 911, her black stilettos clicking all the way. She fumbled for her keys, muttering curses under her breath.

"Jessy!"

A voice yelled, its suddenness making her stop in her track. Snapping her head behind to search for the owner of the voice, she saw a man jogging toward her. He was really tall; maybe 6'3, with brown hair, a crooked nose and green eyes reflecting a golden hue. You could tell he works out a lot due to his muscular arms and tan skin giving him a domineering aura.

Jacob.

A scowl made its way on Jessica's face as she glared daggers on the man now standing in front of her. "You bastard, I waited all this time for you; for more than 2 hours, and it's only now you come to see me?!"

"I got caught up with something". He replied, shrugging nonchalantly.

That just made Jessica furious. You could probably see the steam coming out from her ears.

"You were busy? You were busy, that's all you have to say? No apologies, no explanations, not even a phone call. Nothing." Pointing towards the restaurant, "I sat in there all alone waiting for you, looking like some fool, yet here you are telling me 'you got caught up'. How do you expect it makes me feel, hmm?"

Jessica was panting now after her mini rant. She saw a hint of something in his eyes, but he had already broken eye contact before she could decipher what it was.

"I'm sorry." He apologized in a low voice while looking at anything but her, his posture slake. At least he looked guilty.

That eased her anger a little but she was still mad at him and didn't wish to continue talking to him.

"Whatever." She said while unlocking her car.

"Jessy, wait!" Jacob gripped her arm, successfully stopping her from leaving.

"I need to talk to you."

"So now you want to talk?", Jessica retorted, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm tired, we'll talk later." She shook her head in a dismissive manner.

"Please." He pleaded, still not letting go. Jessica sighed in frustration and annoyance but seeing he wouldn't let her go she decided it was better to hear whatever he had to say.

"Fine. What is it?" Her voice filled with annoyance asked.

"Not here." He shook his head, then gestured towards a small lane "Follow me."

Without another word, Jessica followed him, albeit unwillingly. She wasn't sure where they were going though, the silence between them making her uneasy.

Jessica trained her eyes on him and for the first time that evening really looked at him. His shirt and jeans had a mixture of dirt and blood stains on them. His nose was further crooked than normal, and his face was swollen a little, especially around the eyes and cheeks... overall, he looked like shit.

"What happened to you?" She asked, curious.

"Just got into a fight, no big deal." He replied, waving it off.

"Of course." She whispered sarcastically, rolling her eyes in annoyance.

Trust Jacob to always get into a fight. It was one of the reasons she hated him when they first met four years ago. They never seemed to agree on anything, but after he helped her one drunken night, she began to see him in a new light. They became close and eventually, started dating. But what made her fall in love with him was that he loved her for her, not because of her name. As the sole heir to Sinclair Industries-the biggest company in the city-she didn't have many genuine friends who actually cared about her. Only those that wish to be near her simply because of her family's influence; but not Jacob. He never cared about her family's wealth and all. He showed her what it means to love and be loved. The memories brought a smile to her face which was wiped off the next minute when Jacob finally broke the long uncomfortable silence.

"In here."

Jessica glanced around her and frowned. They were in a dimly lit neighborhood in front of a building that used to be owned by a company but was shut down a year ago for fraudulent practices. Now it was just abandoned.

"Why are we here?" She asked, furrowing her brows in suspicion.

Jacob turned, looked her in the eyes and said in a serious tone, "Because I need to show you something important." That made her furrow her brows even more but she was also intrigued.

They went through a hole in the fence and quickly made their way to the building.

"Do you believe in the supernatural?"

Jacob's question took Jessica by surprise. "Wh...what do you mean?" She asked in blank confusion. "I mean vampires, witches, werewolves, stuff like that... Do you believe they exist?."

"Is this a joke?" Jessica couldn't help but laugh but the serious look on Jacob's face shut her up immediately.

"Um... No, I don't. If they did exist, the world would've known by now. There's no way they could have remained hidden for hundreds of years without being discovered by now with all the technological advancements. It's just not possible." Was Jessica's reply, rolling her eyes at the absurd question.

"Why do you ask, anyway?" She questioned him, coming to a stop a few paces behind him. They were now in the parking lot which was secluded from the road. No one could see them here.

Jacob turned to face her, "Because they exist, all of them." Again, Jessica wanted to laugh but instead she placed her palms on her waist and tapped her feet impatiently, while giving Jacob as much serious look as she can muster. "Really? Prove it." He just nodded then proceeded to taking off his clothes.

Jessica watched wide eyed and open mouthed as Jacob, with a sickening crack, shifted into a huge wolf about 5'8 in height, 2 inches taller than her. It had black fur with patches of red and white on the tip of its ears and underbelly. Its golden eyes stared at her expectantly but Jessica was too shocked to move. It began to slowly walk towards her, his head bowed to show he was no danger to her. Its movement snapped Jessica out from her state of shock, she jerked backwards in fright.

"This isn't real, it's all a dream. It isn't real." Jessica repeated like a mantra, shaking her head and walking back and forth.

"Jessy... Jessy... Jessica!"

Jessica stopped pacing before turning to glare at him. He had already shifted back and dressed; when, she wasn't aware. "So, what are you, really? Hmm? What are you?! Who have I been dating for the past three years?!" It was a stupid question and she knew it but she needed to be sure.

"I'm a werewolf, Jessy" his voice was low but she heard him clearly as if it was shouted directly into her ears.

Jessica let out a shaky breath and rubbed her face feeling the full weight of the revelation. "A werewolf. I have been dating a werewolf." She muttered silently, mocking her own stupidity. Jessica always knew that something was off about him but couldn't place a finger on it but now she knew. This was the shock of her life and her emotions, presently was all over the place that she couldn't tell how she felt. She didn't know if she could live or be with him anymore. But then, he had been a werewolf before they met and she had even fallen in love with him. She was having conflicting feelings and had no idea what to do.

"Look, Jessy, I'm so so sorry I didn't tell you. I just... I wanted to keep that part of my life behind me and move on. I never wanted to lie to you and I won't. Not anymore, you deserve better. You deserve the truth." He paused then continued in an earnest voice, "There's something else I need to tell you."

"Oh." The way he said it made Jessica quite nervous. What more did he want to say?

"You see, when a werewolf is born, they are like any other human but this changes when they shift into their wolves. They then grow up and reach maturity at the age of eighteen when they are able to find their mates."

Jessica didn't like where this story was going, but she listened anyway. One thing caught her interest though. "Mates? What's that?" Jessica asked, feeling uncomfortable with the word but also curious.

"Mates are your soulmates. They are the ones destined to love you unconditionally, to protect you, even die for you if they have to. They are your second half. What completes you. They're the best thing that could ever happen to a person and are meant to be treasured."

Tears gathered in Jessica's eyes but she forced them not to fall. Jacob had a faraway look in his eyes with a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. She could see that that look wasn't for her but for someone else. It broke her heart how much he cared for this other woman when she was right there.

Jacob, oblivious to Jessica's change in demeanor, continued "For years I searched for her. I thought maybe she was dead or maybe I was cursed or something and I didn't have a mate. I had already given up and moved on, but then, I found her. After eight long years, I finally found her, just last week, in the most unlikely of places. She is gorgeous. I can't even believe she's my mate. Mine. My one and only. I -"

"Enough!" Jessica yelled. The tears were running freely down her cheeks now she couldn't control it anymore. She stared at the man she had loved with all her being with seething rage as her body trembled in anger. The cold long forgotten.

"What do you mean by that? That my love for you is a joke? What of the things we shared, the things we went through together? What of all the promises you made to me, are they worth nothing to you? So because I'm not your destined mate, all of that doesn't matter?"

"Jessy, I'm sorry. I did love you, more than you could know. But my mate needs me. She's -"

"Fuck you, Jacob and all your bullshit. You're just a liar. You and all your kind are just beast." She said cutting him off with each word dripping with venom.

A feral growl slipped out of Jacob's mouth, his golden eyes stared at her coldly. "Don't ever say that again. We're not beast." Jacob's voice didn't sound like him. It was more wild, more untamed, more animal.

Jessica was shaken by the sound but she pretended like it didn't affect her in the slightest. She was Jessica Sinclair, her family own this city. What did she have to fear. Staring into his cold golden eyes, she warned, "Stay away from me. I don't want to see you ever again, if I do, I won't care whether you are human or not I'll rain down hell on you so hard your precious mate won't recognize you." Jacob's narrowed his eyes at the threat but he didn't reply.

Jessica pulled off the ring on her finger and threw it at him like it was corrosive, turned and then headed for the exit.

"One last thing Jessy." Jacob said deterring her attention back to him. "You can't tell anyone, and I mean anyone what happened here. No one can know we exist. If you tell, I'll personally pay you a visit." His voice was low and intimidating with a hint of danger.

A chill went up against her spine but again, she shrugged it off. "Don't worry I won't. If possible, I don't want to remember you exist." She said in a surprisingly calm voice. "Not like anyone would believe me, anyway." She whispered.

Turning away from the man she would ever love, she left, planning to close this chapter of her life for good. But fate wasn't done with her yet. This, she only figured out the following week when she felt sick and went to a hospital only to receive a shocking and life changing news.

She was pregnant.