Ch 1: The Alpha With So Much To Hide

[--Kaiser Volkov--]

It was twelve midnight, the kind of hour when most people are nestled comfortably in their beds, lost in the embrace of sleep. The world outside is quiet, with only the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant hum of a passing car to remind you that life continues, even in the dead of night. Normal people would be doing something sensible, like resting, and recharging for the day ahead. Too bad I’ve never been one of those people.

I woke abruptly, the familiar feeling of unease settling in my chest, the kind that told me something was not right. My arm felt heavy, weighed down by something warm and unfamiliar. As I blinked the sleep from my eyes, the irritation set in almost immediately. I wasn’t alone in my bed. That realization hit me like a cold splash of water, and I tensed, instinctively pulling my arm out from under the weight that pinned it down.

Sitting up, I scanned the room, my gaze landing on the unmistakable figure of a girl, half-covered in my sheets. She had brown hair that spilled over the pillow, her face partially obscured by the dim light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, I just stared at her, trying to piece together how she had ended up here. Did I bring someone home last night? The thought was aggravating, not because of her presence but because of the blank spots in my memory, from too much alcohol. At least I had remembered not to bring her to my actual bedroom. I could never seem to recall these things, no matter how hard I tried. It was like my mind intentionally erased the details, leaving only vague impressions behind. I sometimes remember how the sex was, but then I block it out and move on.

Sighing, I reached over and nudged her awake. It took a couple of gentle prods before she stirred, her eyes fluttering open in a groggy haze. She looked up at me, confusion clouding her expression as if she couldn’t quite place where she was. I didn't waste time on pleasantries. “You need to leave,” I told her, my voice flat, devoid of any warmth.

Her eyes widened in shock, clearly taken aback by the bluntness of my words. For a second, she just stared at me, her brain likely trying to catch up with the situation. She glanced at the clock on the bedside table, confirming the late hour, then back at me, as if hoping she’d misunderstood.

“Leave,” I repeated, firmer this time as I got out of the bed. The sheets fell away, and I stretched, shaking off the remnants of sleep. I wasn’t trying to be cruel, but I’ve never been the type to share my bed. No, that seems wrong. I don't share a bed period. It wasn’t personal; it was just a rule I lived by. My bed was my space, and waking up next to someone else always put me on edge, even if my human side had been content to fall asleep afterward. My wolf, on the other hand, would never allow it. The damn beast was territorial to a fault, protective, and I could already feel it pacing restlessly inside me, irritated by the breach of its personal space.

And the familiar promise of danger this type of closeness brought.

It wasn’t hard to piece together what had happened. I’d left the party around ten, which meant we’d probably had our fun by eleven. That left only about an hour between then and now, meaning I’d only just drifted off when the discomfort became too much to bear. She must have fallen asleep shortly after, and in my exhaustion, I’d let her stay, if only for a brief moment of rest. But that moment was over now.

The girl, finally grasping the reality of the situation, seemed surprised and offended. She nodded slowly, pushing the covers back and sitting up. I could see the mix of emotions in her eyes—disappointment, confusion, maybe even a hint of anger—but she didn’t argue. Instead, she gathered her things in silence, her movements slow, almost deliberate, as if she was trying to prolong the inevitable.

I watched her for a moment, my irritation ebbing into something closer to indifference. I wasn’t heartless, but I wasn’t about to pretend this meant more than it did.

This is a bit odd, I should introduce myself while this girl struggles to put her clothes on and insults me. I’m Kaiser Volkov. The last name is completely fake. I’m not from a family called Volkov... no we don’t speak about my real family. I turned twenty-seven yesterday, which is a big step for me. I’ve been running this pack for seven whole years since the former alpha was caught selling young wolves to vampires for their blood to be drained out completely.

A huge scandal. It ruined his family’s name and the pack needed someone to step up. So I told them to let me run the pack for a year, and if nothing changed I’d step down and let the people select another person.

Well seven years later I’m the most viewed, most talked about alpha in the four regions. The four regions are the biggest wolf packs in the world and the smaller ones that reside in it. There are the Moonshines, The viperthorns, The SilerBacks, and the Domeros.

The Viperthorns weren’t even on that list until I took over. At the end of every year, every pack gets a chance to challenge the four regions for a chance to replace them. You win, and they demote the former pack. Being a part of the four regions- not the smaller packs underneath them- means you’re a premium pack and you collect a monthly f*e from every pack in your side of the region. I ran the east side, and I trained my pack members to take down the former east side pack ruler.

The Demarco pack. They got demoted and have never been able to get back up. But the other three? They have never lost, and I won’t even attempt to challenge them.

But that’s been my life ever since. My pack is rich, we keep our heads strong, our gates locked, and our people well protected and nothing can ruin that for me. Why I have a fake last name? A drinking problem? And the mind of a war criminal is nobody’s business.

I glanced at the girl preparing to storm out. She stopped in front of me. “Give me another chance. I can do better. I promise I don’t want people to find out I fucked up. And your cock was so good.”

Yeah, I need a drink. “No thanks, sweetheart. I’m not feeling it. But I will walk you to the door and kiss you goodnight.”

I pressed a hand against her back and urged her to the hallway and then down the curved stairs until we were standing at the front door.

“But I can-”

“Goodnight.” as soon as she was out, I closed the door in her face.

Ah, now time for a drink. I walked into the kitchen and went straight for the cabinet where i keep my drinks. My phone went off, drawing my attention away from the sweet bliss and numbness of a bottle of peach vodka. The flavor is ..... just like regular vodka.

I pulled my cell out expecting to see one of the girls that usually bother me this time of the night but instead, my beta’s name flashed on the screen.

“William, are you down to fuck?”

He coughs. “What?”

“Why else would you be calling me at a whore’s hour?”

“Some people think of this as the witch’s hour but of course, you’ve made that sexual.” I snicker. “Sir, we’ve got a problem and I think you might want to come down to Saint Gabriel’s Hospital.”

“A hospital? Really Will? I got tested after the crazy priest girl tried to curse me with syphilis.”

He sighs. “Okay, we’ll come back to that when I’m not trying to keep a pregnant woman from bleeding to death. And before you say you always use two condoms to be safe, I know. She isn’t from this pack. She’s got bruises, a black eyes, she going into labor, and she collapsed outside the pack gate calling for you. Although maybe she mistook you for someone else because she called you Kaiser Darkwood.”

My blood turned to ice, and the bottle I’d been holding slipped from my grasp. Darkwood.

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

I hung up and turned to the sink where I vomited.

Don’t worry little Kai, I’ll never hurt you. You’re going to feel a slight pinch. That’s all. You can trust me.... we’re family.

I threw up even more. This can’t be happening. Whoever this woman is, I need her to go back to the depths of hell where she crawled out from. I will not be dragged back... I won’t let them!