[--Kaiser Volkov--]The night started off well, and it ended roughly. It’s quiet in the tent. We called it in after two movies. The silence and tension were annoying to me. I’ve never been ashamed of my habits. I’ve been fine with what I do. I don’t really care about what people think. As long as they don’t know about my past, Sam went too far. It made Esmarie uncomfortable.I sighed. I can’t sleep. The sleeping back next to me moves, and I turn my head to one side to see Esmarie as she rolls over to look at me.“It’s weird right?”“Yeah.”“There are others like her?”I chuckle. “No, the others will pour a drink in my face, or warn you to stay away.”She raises her eyebrow in surprise. “I figured you were good in bed, maybe I was wrong.”I coughed. “It’s not about my bed skills- which by the way are amazing. They want commitment, or to fuck again and I don’t do either of those things.”She sat up quickly. “You don’t sleep with the same person twice.”“Yeah, at least not sober. But whe
[--Esmarie Cruz--]Camping was nice. Due to that, I felt more motivated to step out. Obviously, I went nowhere but the backyard but I could do it without Kaiser. It felt nice to walk around his house without fear in my throat. Making me feel like I can’t achieve anything. Fear is a strong killer, it’s the kind of pill that you can almost never recover from.But.... I got to learn certain things. So two days later when Martha invited me to join her at her bakery I actually said yes. Kaiser has been busy, I’m guessing he’s either working or trying to avoid me because I asked him to teach me about the pleasures of the body.Ugh, what an awkward night that was. I remember feeling his skin, scratchy, and torn. I never noticed how Kaiser wore more and more clothes with each passing year. The abuse was happening right under the noses of everyone. Well with how I was treated I know the pack doesn’t pay any attention.But that is not the topic for today. My focus is on trying to make sure I ke
[--Esmarie Cruz--]She ate really slowly and my eyes kept moving towards her form because it was strange. Then Martha came out with more pastries and we arranged them in their respective places. She told me she needed some more ingredients, she was out of eggs and flour. So I was asked to hold down the bakery while she drove to the nearest supermarket to get those things.The moment she left, something went crashing to the ground.“Server, come clean this shit up.” Aren't we too old for bullying? What is wrong with this girl?I glanced over the counter to see the mess, the good scones that someone nicer could have eaten, on the floor with the plate it had been on. I grabbed the broom, and dustpan then headed towards her table. Crouching, I swept the pieces of food and ceramics onto the dustpan.“Ouch!” I hissed as something dropped on my head. It turned out to be the cup of coffee but my mounds of hair prevented it from breaking on my head. The warm liquid pours over my face, and the
[--Kaiser Volkov--]Will doesn’t need me to overlook the gates, the men building the compound don’t need me breathing down their necks. So when Martha calls to tell me that her next-door neighbor needs someone to drive her to the hospital and asks if I can help her buy some eggs and flour since she can’t do it anymore, I obviously say yes.It’s also a chance to check on Esmarie who is working at the bakery for the first time. I buy the items, and head to the bakery. I hopped out, deciding to step in and see if I could get Esmarie to help me with the eggs because I had a lot of eggs. Instead, I find her passed out on the floor in vomit with no one in sight. I panic immediately but what gets to me the most is the sound of her twins crying.I had to make a choice so I grabbed her, taking her to Martha’s office which has a bathroom. The twins are set up in a nice crib there, they’re the first thing you see when you walk in. I took Esmarie to the bathroom, to wash her face and help her wak
[--Esmarie Cruz--]So we can all agree that yesterday was a heaping disaster. And I refuse to step foot out of this house ever again. Kaiser is acting weird, like a prowler. He seems to be everywhere, and he seems to suddenly be interested in my entire life. It’s weird. I swear he smells funny too. Sure, it’s only been one day, and even when I explained everything to him he looked so calm but I could smell the strong pheromones he was giving off. Like a deadly man.A man hungry for blood. It’s like another side of him was revealed. I think, and I know this might shock some people, but Kaiser might be mentally unstable. I finally got why he didn’t want me here. This careful playboy facade he has built is crumbling. And I take no blame. It’s not my fault he was friends with a psycho.Is that how people in love act? Fuck, I really hope that never turns out to be me. Mentally, I need to be hospitalized. Physically, I need to be restrained. Spiritually, I need to be prayed for. I don’t eve
[--Esmarie Cruz--]“Do you remember those old cliche stories of vampires hating werewolves and werewolves hating vampires?”I nod, giving him my whole attention.“yeah well, it was a cliche at the four regions until Elias’s family became the top dogs. They may appear like they only run their region but they’re liars. They make rules for the rest of us and expect us to follow them blindly.”Huh, that explains why he says I don’t know Elias. But the man was kind enough to help me, and I have to appreciate that.“A couple of years ago, before we were born, vampires were allowed to visit the regions. I mean we’re the one part of this big blue earth that contains most of our wolf population. We’re massive, different breeds of werewolves all in these parts. And surrounding us are more wolf packs so naturally vampires want to explore and visit. The first group to visit were almost royals, wealthy, affluent, and valuable to the world of the bloodsuckers. Elias’s family doesn’t like blood suck
[--Esmarie Cruz--]Kaiser had perfected the art of suspense in a way that was almost maddening. It wasn’t in his nature to rush, and tonight he seemed to take particular pleasure in delaying whatever conversation or confrontation awaited us. Instead of addressing the elephant in the room—the box of inappropriate things that still sat innocuously nearby—he opted to spend his time with the twins. Waking them gently from their slumber, he slipped into a new persona altogether: one of a doting, playful caretaker. His gruff demeanor softened as he cradled them in his arms, his voice a low, soothing hum as he began to tease and interact with them in a way I had never quite seen before.It was mesmerizing.For two whole hours, I sat back, silently observing from the sidelines as Kaiser dedicated himself entirely to them. He tickled their small feet, eliciting high-pitched giggles that filled the room like music. He bounced them in his arms, playing an improvised game of hide and seek around
[--Kaiser Volkov--]Her passing out wasn’t something I anticipated, but I didn’t panic. Nor did I rush to catch her. The carpet beneath her was thick and cushioned, and a bean bag had conveniently broken her fall, cradling her unconscious body with its softness. For a moment, I stood there, merely observing the stillness of her form, the way her body had gone slack, her limbs limp like a puppet with its strings cut. There was a serenity in the scene that felt almost out of place as if she had chosen this exact moment to surrender to the world.I rolled my eyes, not out of indifference, but more out of a quiet amusement at the unpredictability of it all. This was far from what I had imagined would happen. Still, I wasn’t overly concerned. After all, fainting wasn’t exactly life-threatening, and I knew she’d come to her senses soon enough. With a sigh, I redirected my attention to the task at hand. There was a box of items meant for her training, a collection of objects she could use to
[--Kaiser Volkov--]The website was set up as a front to buy cupcakes, but they didn’t hide anything. The moment you scroll through the first page, you can immediately find a tag asking if you want information about me. There’s a place to leave reviews. I didn’t leave one; I know a good hacker. Unfortunately, that person happens to be Sam. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to talk to her again.I chucked that conversation up to tomorrow and brought my attention back to Elias. I rubbed my face, my head pounded. What else can I say to him? I want to hit him, over and over again, until there’s nothing left of him but a pile of pulp on the floor.“Get comfortable, boys. You’ll be sleeping here throughout the night.” I gave them my best smile before waving goodbye and leaving the room. They were still tied to the chairs, so this would be an uncomfortable night for them.With nothing else to do, I went up the stairs to my office. As expected, esmarie was wide awake. I should have asked her some
[--Kaiser Volkov--]I was pissed, I don’t think I can even explain what being pissed means. Someone is dying tonight. No, no, that is the wrong mentality. I pulled on the spare clothes Will had brought on and told him to go with Jackson to the hospital. That man did a good job defending the pack, so it is me... and some of the wolves who drove Elias and his men here.I had to count to sixteen to remind myself that violence is never the first option. Yup, that’s as far as my mind can go. I headed into the room where they were being held. I know Will is not happy with how bruised Jackson was but he looks alot better than these fuckers. I actually felt like I was about to laugh.“Give us some alone time, boys. Go back to your wives. Enjoy the rest of the precious festival. Then vet the whole place and everyone. I’m gonna find out how they got in here even if it means I murder a Domeros.”Elias cut me a glare but I wasn’t fazed by that stupid attempt to threaten me. The alphas didn’t argu
[--Esmarie Cruz--]I kept myself firmly between the two massive wolves, feeling the weight of their power pressing against the air. The energy crackled, sharp and threatening, like the moments before a storm unleashes.“Elias,” I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline racing through me, “you’re breaking the rules. You don’t step into another alpha’s territory without permission. So, here’s the deal—I need you to tell your men to stand down, right now, before Kaiser humiliates you by making you the newest bitch on the block.”Elias’s wolf froze, his molten gaze locked on me, calculating. The sharpness of his fangs glinted in the moonlight as his lips twitched into something between a snarl and a grin. It was clear he was considering my words, and weighing his options, but he was taking too long.The sound of approaching paws thundered through the clearing as more wolves arrived, their growls low and steady. The festival, after all, had drawn in more wolves than this territory had
[--Esmarie Cruz--]I made a split-second decision since none of the options in my head sounded right. I pulled out my cellphone, and quickly took a video of the Elias lookalike while he was still distracted before ducking into the nearest booth. Which turned out to be a photo booth, with a long curtain so thank goodness.I texted Kaiser the picture then I waited for him to call me. After five minutes I peeked out between the curtains. The Elias guy was still there. Looking at everyone. I took a photo before he could turn his head, then I ducked back in. This time I dialed kaiser.He’s a busy guy, I can’t expect him to look at every notification he gets.“I just saw your message. What the fuck is Elias doing in my fucking pack?”“I... don’t know,” I whispered.“I texted Jackson, he’s nearby. He will handle it. Where are you?”“I’m at a photo booth.”“Jackson will get you once Elias has been brought to me. Stay where you are. Don’t move an inch.”“Okay.”Kaiser hung up, leaving me in th
[--Esmarie Cruz--]The next few days of the festival went by quicker than I expected. The end of the first week was exciting, and I even won one of their games. I won two unicorn teddy bears for my children, the amount of freedom I felt being here was enough to silence the the nightmares that normally plagued my mind.And Kaiser, he was different. It was kind of scary how nice and charming he acted towards me. Today was like most days at the festival: lively. In fact, I think the number of people here has tripled. The second week was kicking off with a banger.Martha’s booth was closed today as she wanted to mingle and chat as much as she could with people. I walked around, tried some new food, and finally came across a booth I’d seen on the flyer: Ralph’s fortune-telling booth.I don’t believe in fortune tellers, but this could be fun. I bought a ticket and went in. The aura inside was .... strange if I had to be honest. It felt like I was walking into a whole new world. Someplace th
[--Esmarie Cruz--]After the speech, Kaiser stepped down from the stage, and the crowd around him buzzed with energy. The sun had set hours ago before he arrived, and the festival grounds were lit by warm, glowing lanterns that cast a golden hue over everything. It was the kind of night that felt endless, with laughter still ringing out in the distance and people lingering as if they didn’t want the magic of the evening to end. Kaiser moved through the crowd with ease, stopping to talk with some of the elders who had waited patiently for a moment of his time.I stayed back, watching him from afar. He had a way of commanding attention without demanding it. People naturally gravitated toward him, and he gave each person his undivided attention as if their words were the most important thing in the world. It was...endearing. And maybe a little infuriating. Why did he have to be so him? Ugh.I couldn’t help myself; my eyes followed his every move, like a moth drawn to a flame. The twins s
[--Esmarie Cruz--]The festival today was everything I hoped it would be—fine, entertaining, and so full of life that it made it hard not to feel swept up in the joy of it all. It was a day to forget everything else, to just breathe and soak in the energy of the pack as they celebrated. The music was loud and cheerful, drums beating in sync with the laughter and chatter that echoed through the clearing. The scent of roasted meats, freshly baked bread, and spiced cider hung heavy in the air, mingling with the floral undertones from the petals scattered all over the ground.At one point, someone pulled me into the center of a circle forming on the dance floor, and before I could protest, I found myself swept up in the rhythm of the music. The twins, who were strapped to me in their carriers, giggled and waved their tiny hands in delight. Their laughter was infectious, and soon I was spinning and twirling, letting the music dictate my movements. People cheered and clapped, their voices a
[--Kaiser Volkov--]I laid down on my couch, fully intending to just rest my eyes for a few minutes, but the exhaustion pulled me under faster than I could resist. It wasn’t a restful sleep—more like thirty minutes of uneasy drifting, filled with fleeting images and vague sensations that I couldn’t quite piece together when I stirred awake. My body felt heavy, as if the weight of the day, the festival I needed to make an appearance at later today, the note on my door, and my sleepless night were pressing down on me all at once. For a moment, I just lay there, staring up at the ceiling, listening to the faint hum of the air conditioner and the muffled sounds of people moving around outside.Then my phone buzzed, the vibration cutting through the stillness and dragging me fully back into reality. I groaned softly, fumbling for the phone on the coffee table and squinting at the screen. Doctor Jacobs. The name blinked at me, and for a split second, I debated letting it go to voicemail. Bu
[--Kaiser Volkov--]Elias wouldn’t stop pestering me. Text after text, hour after hour, all asking for the same thing: permission to attend the Blue Moon Festival. The man didn’t just ask—he hounded, pleaded, and occasionally tried to guilt me, then insulted and threatened, as if I owed him anything. But the answer was always the same.No. I didn’t trust him, not with something this important, not with something this sacred. There was a reason I kept him at arm’s length, and his persistence only made him seem all the more suspicious. I could practically feel the tension behind his words, the kind of tension that made you wonder if someone was pushing a hidden agenda. Still, I refused. Firmly. Politely at first, then with less patience. Like telling him to fuck himself in so many words. Even the most cultured terms. Today marked day four of the festival, and if Elias thought I was going to crack, he was sorely mistaken.He couldn’t bully me about other things, so he should know better.