Georgia’s POVWe got home that day, Leah had stepped out first, her arms full of groceries as the estate maid help her carry the rest while I and Ruth carried the babies. Inside, Leah busied herself immediately. She had always been like that in the last few days I have been here. She set the bags on the counter and began unpacking. I watched her as I held Nathaniel closer, his tiny sleepy head nuzzled into the crook of my neck.The evening settled into routine. Ruth finished tidying up the front room and went to prepare Nathaniel’s things for bed while I took him to the nursery. Leah stayed in the kitchen, chopping vegetables as she prepared dinner as I walked inside the room. Suddenly, Leah’s phone began to ring.I called out, “Leah, your phone’s ringing!”She didn’t hear me. Or perhaps she was too caught up in the clatter of pans and the bubbling on the stove to register my voice.“Leah!” I tried again, louder this time.Still nothing.With Nathaniel still in my arms, I glanced tow
Karl’s POV I found Kael standing by the stone balcony, overlooking the misty expanse of our kingdom. His arms were folded, posture rigid, I knew he had sensed me long before I spoke, there was no sneaking up on my brother.“I’ll be leaving for the werewolf kingdom by nightfall,” I said, my voice steady despite the hesitation in my chest. “I’ve been away for too long. My lover waits for me.”Kael’s gaze didn’t falter from the horizon, but his silence spoke volumes. He was weighing my words, the way he always did. At length, he turned to me, eyes narrowed just slightly. “You’re set on this?”“You know I am.”A tight nod. Approval, or at least reluctant acceptance.Then, with a breath that carried more weight than I expected, he added, “Good. But please watch over Georgia.”The name alone pulled a thread of concern through me. “Georgia?”“Yes.” His eyes sharpened. “I need you to keep your eyes on her. Protect her.”There was no hesitation in my answer. “Of course. Always.”“I mean it.”
Karl’s POVThe moment my boots touched the soil of the werewolf kingdom, a satisfied ensation crawled up my spine, happy sensation. Despite the long journey, my pulse quickened. Because every step forward was a step closer to Leah.Her name alone was enough to anchor me through storms. And now I was here, in her kingdom, no longer a phantom lover drifting between borders and phone calls. We would be in the same space, breathing the same air. I found my way to the hotel easily enough.Inside, the reception area felt cozy and warm. A young woman at the desk straightened as I approached, her eyes taking quick stock of me before softening into a polite smile.“Good evening,” I greeted, voice roughened by the travel but steady. “I have a reservation. Under my name.”She typed briskly, fingers fluttering across the keys like wings. “Yes,” she confirmed a moment later, sliding a small brass key across the polished counter. “Top floor, room twenty-one. Welcome to Mooncrest Hotel. We hope yo
Karl’s POV“How about we take a quick shower?” I suggested. She smiled and nodded and then I got up and pulled her up slightly. She took off my boxers and singlet while she wasn’t wearing a bra or panties. Then, I watched her walk into the bathroom.She’s now standing in front of the bathroom mirror. I stood behind her, my arms wrapped around her from behind. Her eyes found mine in the mirror and she slightly turned around and swallowed my nipples. Her fingertips grazed my waist, featherlight, and it was ridiculous how fast my breath caught from something so simple. I turned to face her, leaning against the wall.“Leah,” I murmured, my voice filled with pleasure. “You should know what you’re doing to me right now.”She tilted her head, a small, knowing smile playing at her lips. “Maybe I do,” she said, stepping closer until the distance between us was nonexistent, our skin was rubbing each other’s. “Maybe that’s why I followed you here.”Her hands slid up my chest, slow and searching
Karl’s POV Steam from the running water curled in lazy spirals around us. The warmth of the water drummed gently on my shoulders, trailing rivulets down my skin as my eyes were passionately shut as I felt every inch of her tongue movement.Her palm, slick with water and now the subtle trace of soap, were placed around my member. My back pressed against the cool tiles. I watched her face, her lips parted just slightly in focus. Her eyes then flicked up to meet mine, her lips liting up with smile as she caught my reaction.Her hand movements were slow at first, almost playful, my breath caught in my throat when she tightened her grip just slightly, a subtle pressure that sent a tremor through my legs. I bit down a groan, my hands bracing against the slick tiles behind me.She smiled then. God, that smile and I felt it all unraveling inside me.The water continued to pour over us.When I finally shuddered and came undone under her hand, I exhaled a rough breath, my body tensing and then
Georgia’s POVI barely had the energy to lift my head from the couch when I heard the front door creak open. The twins were finally napping. Then I heard her unmistakable voice, humming some tune outside. That was Leah’s voice. Then I heard my name.“Georgia!” she called. I smiled, already sensing the whirlwind of excitement she carried with her. “In here,” I answered, pulling the throw blanket tighter around my legs as I tried to sit up straighter.She walked in, her hair still a bit tousled, cheeks flushed with that telltale glow. The moment our eyes met, she gave me a grin so wide it could have split her face in two, then she flopped beside me on the couch like she was boneless.“God,” she sighed dramatically, “I need to tell you everything, Georgia.”I smiled softly.She started immediately, not wasting a single second. “Georgia, I swear to you, it was magical. I’ve never felt anything like it,” she gushed, her eyes sparkling as she fanned herself with her hand like she was still
Georgia’s POVThe next day, Leah came rushing into the sitting room, her eyes filled with that kind of excitement that’s hard to contain. “He’s coming today!” she declared. “Karl’s finally coming.”I couldn’t help but smile at her joy, even if my chest tightened just a little from the nervousness of seeing Karl. But I pushed it aside, determined to enjoy this happy moment with her.“That’s good news,” I said, setting down my morning cup of tea. “Let’s make it special.”Ruth, who had been bouncing little Nathaniel on her hip while Natalie played with her wooden blocks on the carpet, nodded at us. “I’ll keep the twins busy,” she offered with a soft smile. “You two can handle the kitchen. Make something nice.”Leah’s eyes shone brighter. “Come on,” she urged, grabbing my hand with a playful tug.We moved to the kitchen. “You know,” she said, glancing at me as she kneaded dough with her hands, “Karl loves sweet bread. He always tells me how much he misses it..”“Then we’ll make the best
Karl’s POV After the call with Leah,I stood by the window of the hotel room, the thin curtains doing a poor job of keeping the sunlight at bay. My reflection in the glass mirror stared back at me with hollow eyes. I saw the man I’d become.“She will remember,” I said under my breath, barely a whisper. My throat felt like sandpaper. “Goddamn it, she will remember.”My hands tightened into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms like I needed the pain to anchor me. Georgia’s face haunted me with an intensity that no drink, no distance, no lie could ever wash away. I saw it in flashes, like lightning in the dark. And worse, far worse I knew she remembered him too Kael so showing up wasn’t really a good idea to avoid chaos. No matter how many times I tried to bury the thought, it clawed its way back to the surface. I knew Kael had entrusted Georgia’s safety to me but I still hadn’t gotten the courage. She remembers everything we made her forget. No amount of sedatives, no fal
Georgia’s POVMinutes later, Leah stepped out from the towering door of the Lycan god chamber as she approached. My heart leapt into my throat, and I hurried toward her, grasping her arm gently.“How did it go? What did he say?” I asked breathlessly, scanning her face for any sign of good news.Leah exhaled slowly, her lips curving into a thoughtful smile. “I spoke to the Lycan god.”My eyes widened. “You did? You actually spoke to him?”“Well… not face-to-face,” she clarified, brushing a strand of her chestnut hair behind her ear. “I only heard his voice. I couldn’t see him. It was like… like he was everywhere and nowhere all at once. His voice echoed deeper than thunder.”“And?” I pressed, my curiosity burning.“He complimented my scent,” she said softly, almost in disbelief. “And he wants me to resume the caregiver position starting tomorrow.”A burst of joy surged through me, and I grabbed her hands. “Leah, that’s amazing!”She beamed, clearly excited. But as her news settled into
Georgia’s POV We made our way back to that restaurant, the one tucked into the quiet edge of the quiet street. It was the same place we’d visited the previous day. We reached, asking after the man we’d met yesterday. But when we approached the receptionist at the counter this time, we asked after that man but the receptionist said he didn’t know any such man.Leah sighed beside me, a long, frustrated sound. “He has to be around here,” she muttered, brushing her frizzy hair behind her ear. “I knew this wasn’t going to be a good idea.”I was about to agree when the restaurant door creaked open, and a man stepped in, that same man. Same leather coat. Same unreadable expression. He walked in as if he hadn’t ignored our existence twenty-four hours ago.Leah gasped softly. I didn’t wait. I rose so quickly that my chair nearly tipped backward and hurried toward him. She was right. Maybe the moon goddess hadn’t forsaken us yet.“Sir!” I called, not caring if I sounded desperate. “Please, ju
Georgia’sPOVThe wind was picking up now, brushing cold into our fingers against our faces as Leah and I turned from the street and began to return back to the portable hotel we were staying in.Leah didn’t speak for a while. Her arms were folded tightly, and I could see the thoughts swirling in her mind just from the furrow in her brow. I knew her well enough to recognize when she was chewing on something she didn’t quite know how to say.“I don’t want to get my hopes up,” she said at last, breaking the silence. Her voice was low, almost cautious. “We’ve had enough disappointments lately.”I glanced at her. “I know. But what if this isn’t just another dead end? What if this is the start of something better? There’s no harm in trying.”She let out a small breath, something between a sigh. “You always find a reason to hope, don’t you?”“Someone has to,” I murmured.We reached as we stepped in and closed the door behind us, locking it out. Leah kicked off her shoes and dropped onto the
Georgia’s POVLater that evening, we made our way to a nearby restaurant. Inside, we found a quiet table near the back, away from the few other customers. A waitress with a faint scar on her brow brought us grilled venison, warm bread, and soup so rich in respect to our order.We ate, occasionally exchanging looks. I knew Leah had been worried lately, especially after our visit stirred Karl’s discontent. As we finished our meal, wiping our mouths with the thin cloth napkins, I caught a voice, low, urgent, and slightly distressed, coming from just around the corner near the bar. A man in a suit whom I assumed to be a manager or someone else, had a tired look in his eyes. He was on the phone.“Please… I just need more time.” He said but the other voice from the phone replied.“The Lycan god expects them by the full moon,” the caller said, voice sounding worried. “Two female attendants. They must be loyal, quiet, and respectful. Their duty is to care for him. No mistakes this time, I s
Georgia’s POVIt had been a string of exhausting days. I could barely remember how many times I had refreshed the application page. Leah sat beside me, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her shirt.“My application went through,” she whispered, half-afraid the screen would change if she spoke too loud.I managed a small smile for her. “That’s great,” I said.“Mine had been rejected again.” I added.I kept trying hour after hour, submitting, refreshing, re-entering details as if maybe, just maybe, it would change its mind. But no. Same response. Visa Application denied.Leah was silent for a while, watching me with furrowed brows. Then, as the clock ticked past eleven at night, she perked up as if an idea had sparked.“Wait,” she said, eyes brightening. “What if you try at midnight? I have heard of midnights magic.”I blinked at her, tired. “Midnight?”“Yeah. I read somewhere that sometimes the system refreshes at odd hours. Midnight sounds like… I don’t know, magic time?”I almo
Georgia’s POVMorning light filtered through the curtains, I woke up early. I hadn’t set my eyes on Leah. I wondered if she was out and how come I didn’t know about it. I waited a little longer, hoping I’d hear her footsteps, but nothing came. A faint worry started to bloom inside of me. I pushed it down, told myself not to overthink, but still, my feet carried me toward her room.I knocked lightly at first. No answer.“Leah?” I called softly, my knuckles tapping the door again.Still no response.My heart thudded unevenly as I slowly pushed the door open, there she was, curled up on the edge of her bed, her knees hugged tight to her chest, tears streaking her cheeks. She tried to turn her face away the moment she noticed me, but it was too late. I’d already seen her tearing up.“Leah,” I said, stepping fully inside, my voice filled with concern, “hey, what’s wrong?”She sniffled and shook her head quickly, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand. “It’s fine,” she whispered, her
Karl’s POVThe night had been electric even before we made it to the hotel. My pulse still hadn’t settled, and I could feel the raw edge of adrenaline under my skin. The strippers were draped around me, their words slurred and sultry in the quiet of the night. Every brush of their hands against my arms, every sway of their hips when they stepped closer, sent a rush straight through me. I couldn’t help but smirk. For once, I wasn’t watching life from the sidelines. I was in it, neck-deep, and loving every damn second.As we pushed through the glass doors of the hotel, the warmth inside welcomed us. The lobby was dimly lit, with soft jazz humming through hidden speakers. Plush armchairs and polished floors gave it an air of understated luxury, but all my attention was on the strippers.We approached the reception desk, and I caught the receptionist, a young guy, maybe a year or two younger than me do a double take. His eyes flicked from me to the women at my side, and I saw it clear.
Georgia’s POV“Okay,” I said, pulling my apron. She gave me a weak smile, barely a curve of her lips. I frowned, leaning in a little. “What happened?”Leah let out this small breath, like she’d been holding it in all day. She shook her head, but then her eyes softened and she confessed, “Karl. I’m still feeling sad about everything.” She trailed off and sat on the couch and iFollowed behind, her gaze falling to the table. “I really wanted him to meet you and the twins.” There was a pause between us. I felt it, like this quiet ache in my chest, not for me, but for her. She didn’t deserve that. Not the disappointment, not the excuses, not the hollow feeling she was clearly carrying.“Leah,” I said gently, but she just shrugged like she didn’t want to talk about it anymore.“You deserve better.” I said.“Don’t,” she whispered. “If you tell me I deserve better, I might actually cry.”That hurt. It actually hurt to hear her say that, because she did deserve better, and she knew it but r
Karl’s POV After the call with Leah,I stood by the window of the hotel room, the thin curtains doing a poor job of keeping the sunlight at bay. My reflection in the glass mirror stared back at me with hollow eyes. I saw the man I’d become.“She will remember,” I said under my breath, barely a whisper. My throat felt like sandpaper. “Goddamn it, she will remember.”My hands tightened into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms like I needed the pain to anchor me. Georgia’s face haunted me with an intensity that no drink, no distance, no lie could ever wash away. I saw it in flashes, like lightning in the dark. And worse, far worse I knew she remembered him too Kael so showing up wasn’t really a good idea to avoid chaos. No matter how many times I tried to bury the thought, it clawed its way back to the surface. I knew Kael had entrusted Georgia’s safety to me but I still hadn’t gotten the courage. She remembers everything we made her forget. No amount of sedatives, no fal