[--Esmarie cruz--]That night, I couldn't sleep. No matter how hard I tried, my body refused to relax, as if every muscle was on high alert, anticipating something bad. The room was quiet, save for the gentle rhythm of the twins’ breathing, but it did nothing to calm me. I could feel a strange heaviness settling over me, something that crawled beneath my skin and made it impossible to shut my eyes for more than a few seconds at a time. My mind kept racing, playing back everything I’d seen, everything I’d felt. The man at the gate, the skull mask, the eerie silence after Kaiser had assured me there was no one there. Was I losing it? Was it just paranoia? Or had something—or someone—really been out there, watching us, waiting for the right moment to strike?I know I’m not in the right state, fuck after the hell I’ve faced over the past nine years. I’m a bit... twitchy... maybe.The thought made my stomach churn. I glanced over at the twins, their tiny bodies nestled safely in their crib
[--Esmarie Cruz--]“What are you doing up?” Kaiser inquired.“I need a drink.”He lifts his eyebrow up even higher. “You’re not allowed to drink again, you can’t handle it.”“I’m having nightmares. I need a vice.”I strutted up to him, and shoved him away from the table. I grabbed the bottle of what he had been drinking, and chugged a good amount down. “God, that burns.”He tried to grab it from me, and I moved it away. His arms landed on either side of the counter, caging me in place. His breath fans my face, and I run my tongue over my lips. His eyes drop to it, following the movement and making my heart beat faster. Why is he watching my mouth?“You’re scared, I know. But drinking as a vice can get... crazy. Me, I can’t go a day without drinking. I drank two bottles of beer before coming back home. I cannot live without alcohol. I mean it. I drink every chance I get. You don’t want that to be your vice. I also smoke, and i fuck alot to forget the fucking mess that happens up there.
[--Esmarie cruz--]The low, rhythmic hum of music filled the dimly lit room, swirling through the air like an intoxicating mist. It was slow, the kind of melody that gently beckoned you to sway, even if you didn’t want to. But I did, I wanted to move. He knew that—he always did. He was the one who played it, after all. The volume was just low enough so that we wouldn’t wake the twins but loud enough to pull me under its hypnotic spell.Kaiser leaned back, relaxed, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as his fingers ghosted over the speaker, adjusting the volume just right. Then, he turned to me with a mischievous glint in his eyes, one that always spelled trouble.“Dance, my little spider,” he murmured, voice deep and teasing.I cringed inwardly at the nickname. I still hate it—little spider—a pet name he won’t drop. But tonight, I was too distracted to protest. The sultry beat of the song had already begun to seep into my veins, making me want to move.Before I could stop
[--Kaiser Volkov--]I woke up with a headache and a hard cock. Which sucks really. There’s also a weight on my shoulder and the sounds of babies crying. So this is already a shitty morning. I move a little bit to check on what’s pressing down on me so I can go check on the twins. Why isn’t Esmarie waking up to do that?She usually doesn’t sleep through their cries- FUCK ME, MARTHA IS GOING TO KILL ME.I glance at the patch of black curly hair, splayed out across my chest. Oh god, I’m such a bad person. I shouldn’t have let my drunken brain run rampant. I don’t know what came over me. This is what happens when I drink and I haven’t had sex in a while.Fuck me! She looked so good in her pajamas, that she needed a vice, and I suggested sex. What is wrong with me? That isn’t even the worst part. That part would be making out with her, groping her hot skin, listening to her moan then... what the hell happened after that?!!We’re not even on the couch anymore. Why do I always do stupid thin
[--Kaiser Volkov--]I called Martha from my truck, the engine idling quietly in the early morning light. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm golden hue over the town, but all I could think about was the weight of the decisions I had made the night before. The phone rang only once before she answered, her voice bright and familiar, cutting through the haze of my thoughts.“Hey, Kaiser. You’re calling me this early, so I can only guess that you did something wrong,” she said, her tone teasing but with an underlying current of concern.I hesitated, a lump forming in my throat as I contemplated how to respond. “Can I come over?” I asked, hoping she could hear the urgency in my voice.“Yes, of course! Come to the bakery. I just started on a pie. Shepherd’s pie—your favorite,” Martha replied, her cheerfulness radiating through the line.Her mention of the pie stirred a flicker of warmth within me, but it was quickly overshadowed by a sense of dread. “Did you know I’d do somet
[--Esmarie Cruz--]“Kaiser,” I moan softly, my voice almost a whisper as I remember the warmth of his lips against mine. Our mouths move together in a rhythm that feels so natural, fitting like the most perfect puzzle pieces coming together. His hands fly to my ass, clutching tight, pulling me closer as if he can’t get enough of me. I can feel the heat radiating from his body, mingling with the warmth of my own, and every nerve ending in me is alive, electric.But then, just as quickly as it started, our mouths tear from each other, breathless and gasping. He moves to my neck, planting soft kisses along my collarbone, and I gasp, overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment. It felt like a scene from a romance movie, the kind that makes your heart race and your cheeks flush.Suddenly, I’m jolted back to reality, my fingers clutching the edge of the sink as I drag myself out of that memory. Last night was a fucking disaster. Okay, not in the literal sense—there were no broken dishes or a
[--Esmarie Cruz--]The rest of my day went fine. And when Martha arrived in a pickup with Kaiser in the front seat, I felt my heart drop into my stomach. Time for that walk. It's time to be brave. Martha had a bright smile on her face as she walked through the door.“Hello, my lovely girl. How are you this morning?”I was able to forget my issues for a second. I beamed at her, giving her a hug. “Hi, I’m so happy you’re here. I hope it’s not too much trouble to watch the twins tonight.”Martha chuckles and brushes me off like I’ve said something silly. “Go get your bag, I don’t mind having the kids for the entire night.”She moved past me and confusion sat in my stomach. I stopped Kaiser from entering the house.“What is Martha talking about?”“We’re camping in the park tonight.”“No no no, I cannot leave them.”Kaiser’s gaze softened. “Trust me. I have done nothing that earns that trust but I am begging you to trust me with this. I won’t hurt you. I promise. Just spend the night under
[--Esmarie Cruz--]There’s a certain beauty to camping that I never quite understood. I always thought of camping as this uncomfortable, messy affair where people willingly threw themselves into the wilderness, far from the comforts of home. The idea of sleeping in a tent, with only thin fabric separating me from the unknown creatures lurking in the dark, seemed more like a nightmare than a peaceful retreat. I had never once considered doing it myself. The outdoors held no appeal for me—no cozy bed, no electricity, no running water, no security. Just the vast openness of nature and all its unpredictability where someone can stalk, chase, hunt, and kill you without anyone knowing a damn thing.That’s why, when Kaiser mentioned we’d be camping, I felt a pang of anxiety clawing at my chest. I tried not to show it because I trusted him and didn’t want to ruin his excitement, but inside, I was already mentally preparing for the worst. What if it rained? What if the tent didn’t hold up? Wha
[--Kaiser Volkov--]I'm not entirely sure when Esmarie and I rounded off our conversation and made our way back into the house, but we did. It felt like one of those surreal moments where the world fades into the background, and for once, everything just clicks. I couldn’t stop replaying her words in my head, letting them wash over me like a balm to wounds I didn’t even realize were still open. The thought of being allowed to have a relationship with her—being given that chance—made something in my chest tighten in a way I wasn’t used to.It was all part of my grand scheme to seduce her, and it worked out well.Tch. Part of me wanted to punch the air, another part wanted to groan because I could practically hear my wolf laughing at me. There wasn’t some master plan to seduce her. I hadn’t been sitting around with a blueprint labeled Operation Win Esmarie’s Heart—but here I was, somehow making progress despite myself. Despite the universe actively choosing to expose all of my darkest
[--Esmarie Cruz--]After the festivities of the evening, watching the vibrant fireworks and basking under the serene glow of the blue moon, Kaiser drove us back home. The ride was a quiet one, the kind of silence that feels natural after a long and eventful day. I felt a sense of peace, mixed with exhaustion and a tinge of happiness. The twins were snug in their car seats, their soft breaths barely audible but enough to remind me of their comforting presence. Kaiser seemed at ease as he drove, his usual stern features softened by what I could only describe as contentment.There wasn’t much to say between us, and the silence stretched comfortably. I found myself lost in the hum of the car’s engine, my thoughts wandering back to the festival. The glow of the moon, the music, the laughter of the crowd—all of it replayed in my mind like a pleasant daydream. Every now and then, I would glance at Kaiser, trying to decipher his thoughts, but his focus remained on the road, his expression unr
[--Esmarie Cruz--]I sat at Martha's booth, working alongside her and spending the majority of the day helping to feed people. It wasn’t something I had expected to enjoy, but as the hours went by, I found myself actually looking forward to it. The rhythm of chopping, stirring, and serving felt comforting in a way I hadn't anticipated. The people who stopped by were all so kind, and their smiles after tasting the food made it all the more rewarding. Each compliment was like a small victory, and by the time the afternoon began to fade, I was proud of what we had accomplished. The booth was buzzing with energy, the air filled with the mingling scents of freshly cooked dishes. But underneath the pleasant hum of conversation and laughter, there was an underlying current of nervous excitement in me. The twilight ceremony was only a few hours away.I was both nervous and excited. It was my first time experiencing the twilight ceremony. The anticipation, the magic of it all, stirred somethin
[--Esmarie Cruz--]The next morning, I woke up nestled in Kaiser’s arms. The sensation was disorienting—unfamiliar yet oddly comforting. My first instinct was to pull away, but a part of me hesitated, feeling a strange sense of safety I hadn’t expected. The light filtered through the curtains, bathing the room in soft hues, and I could feel his slow, steady breathing as he stirred awake beside me. His eyes fluttered open, meeting mine briefly before we both groaned in unison. It wasn’t irritation or frustration; it was more of an unspoken agreement to set aside whatever had happened the night before. Without exchanging a single word, we moved apart, a mutual understanding that today would start fresh as if yesterday’s events were a story meant to be rewritten.I slipped out of the blanket- not sure where it came from, the chill of the morning air hitting my skin, and began to stretch the stiffness from my body. Kaiser rolled onto his back, running a hand through his tousled hair, befo
[--Kaiser Volkov--]After Esmarie sobbed into my arms, her body trembling as if her emotions had drained every ounce of strength she had left, I let her stay there, holding her tightly. My shirt was damp from her tears, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to let go, not yet. She needed this moment, and, truth be told, so did I. There’s something about seeing someone you care about break down in front of you that makes you want to fight the entire world to make it right.She said some words to me, but it didn’t really feel like we were speaking about it. She had been focused on me rather than what I had revealed. God, I consider my luck turning. If not, there’s no reason for her to be in my arms instead of across the street screaming bloody murder at me.Once her breathing evened out and her sobs softened, I hesitated before speaking. I knew what I had to say would only add to the storm swirling in her mind, but I couldn’t keep it from her. Not now. Not when I was trying so damn hard to p
[--Esmarie Cruz--]I dropped to my knees, the weight of everything hitting me all at once. My legs buckled beneath me as if they couldn't support the burden of the truth Kaiser had just revealed. I clutched at his arms, fingers trembling as they gripped the fabric of his shirt. My chest heaved with ragged breaths, and I fought to keep the overwhelming emotions from spilling out all at once."I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. The words cracked as they left his lips, soft and almost hesitant. He didn’t move to embrace me right away, though I could feel the tension in his arms. His restraint was deliberate, his way of giving me the space I might need to process this. It was so him, but not him at the same time. Sometimes careful careful, sometimes he thinks of me first. And yet, his quietness only made it harder. It made me feel annoyed at myself for not being more pissed off at him.What is this weakness of an emotion?I shook as waves of emotion rolled through me—a
[--Esmarie Cruz--]I didn’t think it was possible for things in my life to go from bad to worse. I honestly didn’t think that was possible.There are a million things I expected to hear from Kaiser in my lifetime, but none of them were the words that just came out of his mouth. My breath caught, and before I knew it, tears streamed down my face, silent but unrelenting. Throughout my years with the Darkwood family, I’d been told that my mother had abandoned me. That she’d disappeared because she wanted nothing to do with me. Barry made sure I believed that. He’d drilled it into my mind that she was cruel and only loved herself and money, that she’d walked away without looking back.While most of that was true, turns out that he’s not just a sadistic bastard but he’s a lying bitch who had always wanted to keep me trapped.Now, hearing the truth—that Kaiser was the one who killed her because they made him do it—it shattered me. Completely. My chest ached, and I could barely see through m
[--Kaiser Volkov--]I drove to Martha's house late in the night, almost midnight, exhaustion clinging to me like a second skin. My bones ached from the day's relentless grind, and my mind was teetering between shutting down and spiraling out of control. As I pulled into the driveway, I spotted the faint glow of the living room lights through the curtains. It didn’t surprise me to find Esmarie awake, sitting on the floor with her twins, who were transfixed by whatever cartoon Martha had queued up on the TV. Their big, drooling smiles and bubbling laughter were a stark contrast to how drained I felt. It was oddly comforting—just for a moment, anyway.Martha’s house always smelled the same: a blend of lavender air freshener and whatever was baking in her oven earlier that day. Which might have been nothing since she cooked at my house. Her place always smells like there’s a new meal in the oven waiting to be brought out.Tonight, it smelled faintly of cinnamon. I stood in the doorway, wat
[--Kaiser Volkov--]I met up with the assassin I’d hired after sending Esmarie home with Martha. The meeting was held in a secluded alley just outside the pack, the kind of place where shadows seemed to linger a little longer and the air always smelled faintly of damp concrete and regret. The man, tall and broad-shouldered, wore a plain black jacket and a hood that obscured most of his face. Not that it mattered—we didn’t need formalities, not in this line of work.When he approached, he didn’t say a word, and neither did I. We both understood the weight of unspoken agreements. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a thick envelope, holding it out with a steady hand. I nodded as I took it from him, a brief acknowledgment passing between us. No gratitude, no farewells. Just business. He turned on his heel and disappeared down the darkened alley, his steps quiet but deliberate.Wolves like him kill for cash—efficient, detached, and dangerous. He wasn’t the type to do favors, but our