A few years later..."Alvin!" I called out, intentionally making my voice sound spooky. "Where are you, little boy? Come to this witch. I have candy."Alvin giggled from under the table, and for a moment, I circled around it playfully. Then, in a decisive moment, I lunged at him. I grabbed him in a hug, and then—Found myself grabbing a grown man—Orion.Oops."Ha! Mommy caught the wrong person!" Alvin giggled beside Orion.I tucked my hair behind my ear, laughing sheepishly. "Sorry," I said."No problem," Orion replied cheerfully. But as I tried to pull my hands away, he pulled me closer, and for a moment, we wrestled. "Got you, witch!" he declared, while Alvin joined in, throwing a blanket over us both.For a moment, I was frozen, captivated by how handsome Orion’s smile was as he trapped me in his arms. The blanket wrapped around us, making everything hazy—except for that smile.Could I—The sound of the door opening made us both lift the blanket and look up. Julian, Orion's third a
Azalea's POV.I am Bloody Mary. Tonight, oh yes. And I’m going to surprise my beloved son in his room, which has been transformed into a small maze of cloth and spooky decorations. My body ached after playing the piano for two straight hours at the wedding, but when it came to entertaining my son, I always found energy.“Get ready,” Julian said, and I quickly hid inside a wardrobe with a mirror. “Alvin’s still in the hall, but he’s about to head to his room.”“Okay, good,” I whispered into my phone.“Alright. He’s on the stairs now, heading up.”“Perfect.”I held my breath, cramped inside the wardrobe, as I heard footsteps approaching. I braced myself to leap out.And when the sound was right outside, I lunged forward and—“Jesus!” I exclaimed, startled to find myself leaping at Orion. Surprised, he pushed me back into the wardrobe before we both chuckled.“Oh my, you scared me,” Orion said. “Nice makeu
Azalea's POVThe events of last night unraveled like a series of blurred, mesmerizing scenes—so strange and captivating that they felt like a dream."Mommy! Mommy!" Alvin woke me up, climbing on top of me and shaking my body. I struggled to fully awaken."Oh, honey," I mumbled, squinting against the sunlight streaming through the window. I raised my hand to shield my eyes, blinking away the brightness."Mommy, let's have breakfast!" Alvin insisted again, his energy boundless. I forced myself to sit up, groaning slightly as I did. That’s when I noticed Orion standing at the doorway, smirking. His amused expression immediately made me self-conscious, and I quickly adjusted my disheveled nightgown."Wow, I thought you’d never get up," he chuckled lightly. "Come on. There’s lava cake waiting.""Um, I’m on a diet," I replied, trying not to sound overly self-conscious. Orion’s grin only widened, teasingly."It’s not for you—it
Azalea's POVEvery full moon night, something strange happens. I don't know exactly what happened last night. But as I washed my hair in the sink this morning, I could vividly recall my dream last night, when I "wolfed-out" and ran through the streets of Brooklyn. The moonlight illuminated my path, made everything enveloped in silver light, and I was completely happy.I haven't been that happy in a long time.The thing is, I'm not a wolf. I'm an ordinary human... right? And werewolves don't exist... right?Okay, please don't think I'm crazy. But I woke up in a very strange condition this morning. There was dried mud in my hair, as well as on the tips of my toenails and fingernails. And I was... erm, naked.I hope I didn't leave the apartment naked last night.I sighed and closed my eyes.Aaaaah, embarrassing.After finishing rinsing my hair and drying it with a towel, I went downstairs to the kitchen. My apartment mate, Jay Oliver, was busy fixing the coffee machine. He is a tall, dar
The next day and for the next few months, Ikaros Alexandrovich often came to our apartment. He had some complicated business with Jay, and it seemed they were struggling with a big project. While he was in the apartment, he didn't speak to me. Sometimes I felt his gaze towards me was insulting. I felt that he secretly mocked my style of dressing, it made my heart ache and upset at the same time.Oh my, I should've just acted casual. It was just a hook-up. Every university student has done it at least once! But still, my heart felt hurt. I can't explain it to you, but since that day, I couldn't forget that man. And since he touched me, my body always craves him again and again. Sometimes I go to sleep, close my eyes, and his face is the one that appears in my mind. As a result, I started hating myself. Damn.And after two months of heartache, I decided that I needed some peace. So I went to the bar and came home late at night. In a heavily drunken state, I leaned against the hallway wa
Today, the wind was blowing hastily in Midtown Manhattan. As I hurriedly zipped up my jacket to cover the tight t-shirt clinging to my chest, I quickened my pace towards the pharmacy. The sky looked gray above me, and it felt like rain was about to pour down. Sure enough, a few seconds after I thought so, drops of rain fell from the sky. By the time I arrived at the pharmacy, I was already soaking wet and shivering. "Anti-nausea medicine, please," I said to the pharmacist. "And... um, medicine for headaches, also appetite syrup for adult." The appetite syrup felt important. Maybe because this morning I found myself unable to eat the eggs and bacon. Even though bacon is my favorite food. Damn, it is rare I could eat bacon. The pharmacist, a young woman with her hair perfectly coiled like a ballerina's, looked at me. "May I know what's ails you?" "Uh," I thought for a moment and shook my head. "I don't know. Maybe just tired from too much classes." Or too much alcohol, yeah.
This... is a joke, right? There's no way I'm pregnant. And from the shocked look on Ikaros' face, I knew he was thinking the same thing as me.As soon as the doctor left, he grabbed both of my arms and glared at me angrily."With whom have you been sleeping for the past two months, Azalea?" he asked, enraged. "Who is the father of this child!?"His grip on my arms was painful. "Back off," I growled. Hurt. How dare he ask me such a thing!? Did he think I was some cheap slut? "That's none of your business at all."Damn it. I'm pregnant, and last night I drank alcohol? I've hurt a creature that hasn't even taken shape yet."Who is the father of that child, Azalea?"God knows the child in my womb is Ikaros' child. But I won't admit it. Let that man with his snobbish fiancée! Let me take care of myself!I tried to get off the stretcher, but he held onto my arm. "You won't be going anywhere until you answer my question," he growled. "Who else have you been sleeping with besides me!?"And th
When morning came, light seeped in through the window, falling perfectly on Ikaros's shoulders and chest, making his beautiful skin glisten. In moments like those, I could see the scars on his body, crossing his chest and shoulders, as well as some moles that looked like constellations. His jeans clung so low on his waist that it felt like I could see parts I'd seen before, but seeing them again would catch my heart unprepared. There was a tattoo on his ribcage, only the tip of that tattoo that I could see because the rest was covered by his hand. Carefully, I tried to move his hand away. But as soon as I touched Ikaros's back of the hand, it suddenly turned to grip mine, pulling me forcefully against his chest, while his other hand instinctively grabbed the vase of flowers on the nightstand—ready to smash it against my head. I screamed loudly. "Aaaaa!" "Damn it!" he cursed, angry, while letting go of me. I retreated and slid off the bed, then moved away as far as I could until my
Azalea's POVThe events of last night unraveled like a series of blurred, mesmerizing scenes—so strange and captivating that they felt like a dream."Mommy! Mommy!" Alvin woke me up, climbing on top of me and shaking my body. I struggled to fully awaken."Oh, honey," I mumbled, squinting against the sunlight streaming through the window. I raised my hand to shield my eyes, blinking away the brightness."Mommy, let's have breakfast!" Alvin insisted again, his energy boundless. I forced myself to sit up, groaning slightly as I did. That’s when I noticed Orion standing at the doorway, smirking. His amused expression immediately made me self-conscious, and I quickly adjusted my disheveled nightgown."Wow, I thought you’d never get up," he chuckled lightly. "Come on. There’s lava cake waiting.""Um, I’m on a diet," I replied, trying not to sound overly self-conscious. Orion’s grin only widened, teasingly."It’s not for you—it
Azalea's POV.I am Bloody Mary. Tonight, oh yes. And I’m going to surprise my beloved son in his room, which has been transformed into a small maze of cloth and spooky decorations. My body ached after playing the piano for two straight hours at the wedding, but when it came to entertaining my son, I always found energy.“Get ready,” Julian said, and I quickly hid inside a wardrobe with a mirror. “Alvin’s still in the hall, but he’s about to head to his room.”“Okay, good,” I whispered into my phone.“Alright. He’s on the stairs now, heading up.”“Perfect.”I held my breath, cramped inside the wardrobe, as I heard footsteps approaching. I braced myself to leap out.And when the sound was right outside, I lunged forward and—“Jesus!” I exclaimed, startled to find myself leaping at Orion. Surprised, he pushed me back into the wardrobe before we both chuckled.“Oh my, you scared me,” Orion said. “Nice makeu
A few years later..."Alvin!" I called out, intentionally making my voice sound spooky. "Where are you, little boy? Come to this witch. I have candy."Alvin giggled from under the table, and for a moment, I circled around it playfully. Then, in a decisive moment, I lunged at him. I grabbed him in a hug, and then—Found myself grabbing a grown man—Orion.Oops."Ha! Mommy caught the wrong person!" Alvin giggled beside Orion.I tucked my hair behind my ear, laughing sheepishly. "Sorry," I said."No problem," Orion replied cheerfully. But as I tried to pull my hands away, he pulled me closer, and for a moment, we wrestled. "Got you, witch!" he declared, while Alvin joined in, throwing a blanket over us both.For a moment, I was frozen, captivated by how handsome Orion’s smile was as he trapped me in his arms. The blanket wrapped around us, making everything hazy—except for that smile.Could I—The sound of the door opening made us both lift the blanket and look up. Julian, Orion's third a
Azalea’s POVNew York! And Juilliard! Finally, I will be back to campus. My family wouldn’t be too disappointed in me if I resumed my studies, would they? That’s what I was thinking as Orion Evans drove his car at a steady speed on the highway. He played a popular song with a simple, cheerful tune, its rhythm and melody arranged in such a way that I immediately knew it was a song about hopeful optimism. Inspiration struck, and I felt my fingers tremble, eager to play a real piano again.For a moment, I tapped impatiently on the dashboard. A melody was playing in my mind, demanding to be written down before it vanished.“We have a piano at home,” Orion suddenly said, and I turned to him for a second. “It’s a classical piano. A family heirloom. But it’s still in great condition. Maybe you’d like to play it.”“Are you serious?” I asked, shocked and thrilled. “I haven’t played a real piano in—I don’t know—months!? Of course, I’d love to play your piano!” I exclaimed, laughing.“Consider i
"What Ikaros did to me has left deep scars. But Vancouver also didn't make me feel safe.Pregnant, unmarried, broke, and dropped out of college. I have disappointed myself and my family.*****Afterward, days passed by agonizingly slow yet somehow fast.I spent all day cooped up in my room. Luckily, my room already had a bathroom, so whenever I needed to pee, I didn't have to leave the room.We didn't have a piano at home, just a kalimba, and it didn't satisfy me. I think I was severely depressed because playing the piano no longer brought me joy.When midnight came, I would sneak out of my room to eat whatever was in the kitchen, then return to my room. I still couldn't bear to face my family, and likewise, they couldn't either.Honestly, I was disappointed with my family's reaction. My heart hurt when they no longer cared whether I had eaten or if I was okay in my room. But eventually, I stopped caring too, to the point of numbness.I was in my room when I heard my neighbor's words
They talked for a long time. And when Ikaros finally reappeared, the man stared at me coldly as he touched my arm."I need to talk to you right now," he whispered in my ear. His tone was short and harsh, making me uneasy.I thought I should explain my meeting with the man at Juilliard immediately a couple of days ago"Okay. I also need to tell you something," I said. But before I could finish, he ran off, leaving us to another empty room, and I quickly ran after him as fast as I could in the beautiful white high heels and the low-cut bridal dress with a three-meter-long skirt.And as we entered the room, he slammed the door shut, startling me with the loud bang."What game is this you're playing, Azalea?" he asked roughly."What game?" I asked, not understanding."Fine, keep pretend you don't know until your damn kid is born, and then we'll do a DNA test and find out he's not mine," Ikaros said, and I was stunned by his
The Wedding day arrived. The event was held at a small church on the edge of Manhattan, and it was attended by a multitude of people.As I peeked through a small gap in the door, I cursed Ikaros under my breath."Are you ready, dear?" my father asked, and I almost jumped out of my skin in surprise. "I—I—didn't know."I bit my lip. I thought this would be easy, but it turned out not to be.Soon, witnessed by my parents, my sister, and Jay, as well as a hundred unfamiliar faces who were Ikaros' close friends (how did he have so many close friends!?)—I became Mrs. Alexandrovich. We were bound to each other, I was his, and he was mine. It was both thrilling and terrifying."Ikaros never said there would be this many witnesses," I whispered to my father, and he raised an eyebrow for a moment. My father was a quiet, stoic man with small round glasses who worked hard at the store every day. He didn't understand music or sentimental things, but one day he bought me a kalimba—a thumb piano tha
The next day..."Can you lift your arm?" asked the bridal dressmaker softly as I stood nervously, letting her measure me. I raised my arm, then allowed her to wrap the measuring tape around my arm. Meanwhile, Ikaros sat with Jay and Rose on the couch near us, chatting about various things but mostly related to their work. The three of them shared the same interests in digital business, computer programs, crypto, and the network thing, something I would never understand forever.Of course, marrying a businessman like Ikaros was never on my bucket list. Yes, I had fallen in love with him, maybe I still do. But that love was accompanied by great hatred as well, so I wasn't sure which one was greater between those feelings. But what mattered was which one was more important: I need to love him."Have you chosen flowers for the wedding yet?" the bridal dressmaker asked again, and I shook my head."Do you have a favorite flower?" the woman asked."I like forget-me-nots. Would that be good f
"No! Of course I'm not pregnant, Rose," I exclaimed, panicked. In the reflection of the gleaming counter-height table, my flushed face looked back at me. Okay, damn it, who was I even trying to fool? Rose sighed in frustration. "And what about your education? Will you still continue your studies after getting married?" she asked me again. "Of course," I replied. "Marriage won't make me stop studying, right?" "It won't matter if you and Ikaros don't have plans to have a baby in the first few years," Jay said. But we were going to have a baby, and that thought momentarily panicked me. "What makes me confuse is," Rose said again, and this time her face truly looked furious, "why are you getting married if you don't plan on having a baby? You could just date!" And at that moment, when my sister and Jay were both glaring at me accusingly, I felt my chest tighten along with the urge to move away from both of them. "I..." I started, hesitating. "I—" "Azalea is pregnant, that's