[--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--]She’s happy. Truly happy, and it shows in every little detail—the brightness of her face, the sparkle in her eyes, the way her laughter seems lighter than usual. It’s like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders, one I’ve seen her carry for far too long. Watching her like this, standing under the wide open sky with the stars beginning to twinkle above, I feel a surge of warmth in my chest. There’s something so pure about seeing someone you care about rediscover a moment of joy, especially when you know what they’ve been through.She’s really beautiful when she smiles. A deep voice says in my head. I shake it off. Sometimes the beast within can speak to you.... unless that’s just me. But I’ve been able to hear my wolf. It’s interesting. He rarely speaks. He translates through his pheromones and more.I finish setting up the tent, making sure it's secure and comfortable. I take extra care with the sleeping bags, tucking them in just right, ensuring the space feels
[--Esmarie Cruz--]“Kaiser!” A female called from across the park. Kaiser and I both looked in that direction and he cursed.“Who is that?” I inquired as I eyed up the girl with dirty blonde colored hair and low jeans hanging onto her hips. A very slim waist, a crop top showing off her stomach piercing, and what seems to be a tattoo leading into her pants. Her eyes are a sharp color, from here I can’t tell what they are. People in the pack only glance at us, their eyes narrow at me with curiosity and suddenly I feel like I’m being judged.I remember that Kaiser sleeps around, do they think I’m one of the many notches on his bedpost?I hope to god that they don’t, but I try to keep my panic at bay. Focusing on one thing at a time. And at the moment, I am focused on the girl as she gets closer. Kaiser finally answered my question.“That is Sam.” the girl who called the house? His hook-up buddy?My lips suddenly tingle as I remember that he’d kissed me on the couch. What has he done with
[--Esmarie Cruz--]Kaiser didn’t return to the festival until four in the afternoon. For hours, I tried to push down the creeping worry that maybe he’d canceled our date without telling me. My phone buzzed earlier with a text saying he would be returning late, but even in those few words, I could sense something was off. He wasn’t the type to be vague or curt, especially with me. Still, I buried my concerns for the moment, focusing on the festival and, more importantly, on keeping Martha entertained. She was having the time of her life.The festival, however, wasn’t just filled with laughter and excitement today; a vigil had been scheduled, and I hadn’t known about it. It cast a bittersweet atmosphere over the event. Groups gathered, lighting candles and singing soft, mournful songs in memory of the wolves who had passed. Their harmonized voices drifted through the air like a gentle breeze, intertwining with the scent of flowers placed lovingly at memorials. It was beautiful in its ow
[--Kaiser Volkov--]“You know, I chose a bar to make you feel comfortable, right?” Elias’s voice carries over the gentle crash of waves and the chatter of people further down the beach. There about six of them far away from us, which gives us a sort of privacy to talk. He’s close enough now that the words are meant only for me.“I don’t drink that much anymore,” I say, watching the horizon instead of him.Elias scoffs, sharp and disbelieving. “Right. You’re going sober now?”A soft chuckle escapes me as I turn my attention to him. “I didn’t say that. I like drinking—I’m not giving it up. I just don’t drink every single day. I need to be sober for my festival.”That catches his attention. His eyes gleam with curiosity as he tilts his head, a practiced look of interest that makes my stomach tighten. “Right. That’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about.”I frown. “You wanted to talk to me about the Blue Moon Festival?”“Yes.” Elias hesitates, his lips pressing together like he
[--Kaiser Volkov--]I parked my car in the closest spot I could find, my mind focused on the promise of the beach. After a brief search, I’d located one just thirty minutes away from Mem. Stepping out of the car, I kicked off my shoes and let the soft, warm sand greet my bare feet. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore filled the air, their rhythmic roar blending with the gentle breeze, creating a calming symphony of nature.I thought about the face of the man I’d seen. Then I blew out a breath, the only thing I had left to tell Valeria is the abuse that happened at home. I think somewhere in my head there’s a quiet voice that reminds me that escaping hadn’t been easy since I was scared. I was trained to kill, trained to use my brain to pick out the best outcome of whatever orders I was given. But mentally I was weakened.Barry is.... a monster. There are criminals, and then there are monsters. My brother is a living example of that. But seeing that face reminds me of the
[--Kaiser Volkov--]I wanted to stop by the festival for something to eat, but after dealing with the corpses and checking on the compound I was building to make some adjustments, I ended up contacting Elias instead. He had asked if we could meet at a bar situated between our packs. It wasn’t close for either of us—our territories are quite far apart—but over the years, we’ve identified a few neutral places to meet when necessary. One of those locations is a small town, though not the same one we’d previously used for drinks. This one was new, unfamiliar.Elias mentioned he’d be coming alone, which struck me as odd. Did he think I’d assume otherwise? Of course, he’d come alone—this wasn’t a summit or a pack meeting. It was just the two of us. He wanted to talk to me, not Scott or Berney, which only deepened my curiosity about the nature of this conversation.On the drive there, my thoughts were interrupted by an unexpected call.“Alpha Kaiser Volkov speaking. State your name and purpo
[--Kaiser Volkov--]I left her at the booth with Martha, as per usual, trusting the familiarity of their arrangement. Esmarie always enjoyed spending time with Martha at the festival, and the kids loved the bright colors and cheerful energy of the place. With the twins settled in and the day off to a smooth start, I excused myself, kissed Esmarie on the cheek- making her face turn red as she hadn’t been expecting me to do that, and made my way to the car. The hum of the festival grew softer as I drove away, heading toward the western gates.The wall came into view before long, towering and formidable against the landscape. Stretching as far as the eye could see, the wall surrounded the entire pack like a protective cocoon, standing as a testament to our resilience and determination to preserve peace. It hadn’t been an easy project. Three years of planning, construction, setbacks, and countless hours of labor had gone into it. But now, looking at its solid structure and the sense of se
[--Kaiser Volkov--]Esmarie woke up a few minutes after I had been silently watching her. The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over her face. Her eyes fluttered open, their deep hazel hue catching the sunlight in a way that made my breath hitch. I couldn’t help but smile as she stirred, her hair slightly tousled from sleep. She noticed me watching and blushed faintly, the kind of blush that warmed her cheeks and made my heart feel light.“Good morning,” I said softly.She returned my smile shyly, brushing strands of hair away from her face. Without a word, she slipped off of me, her movements careful and deliberate as if she didn’t want to disturb the serenity of the morning. Esmarie headed towards the nursery room next to her bedroom to check on her twins, her motherly instinct kicking in before anything else. I lingered for a moment, savoring the tranquility of the moment, then rose to begin my day.One day I would love for her to be sharing my
[--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