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Ch 44: The Line Between Desire and Friendship
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 45: A Lesson To Be Learned
[--Esmarie Cruz--]Why did I listen to Kaiser? For the rest of my life, I might be muttering those words, shaking my head in disbelief at my own stupidity. Kaiser is a special breed, and he spends every single second of his life making sure the rest of the world knows it. He thrives on chaos, he swims in it like it’s his natural habitat. There’s never a dull moment with him—though that’s not always a good thing. He has this aura of authority as if the rules don't apply to him, and somehow, when you're around him, you start believing that they don’t apply to you either.This time though... okay, I didn’t follow his instructions to the letter, but in my defense, it felt weird. “Take it slow,” he said. Fine, I heard him. But goddamn it, I got curious. Anyone would have, right? The remote was shaped like a bunny, for crying out loud! It was cute, all soft and innocent-looking. It made these adorable little beeps when you turned up the vibration. I mean, who wouldn't be curious? It was sma
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 46: Meeting The Doctor pt 1
[--Esmarie Cruz--]Kaiser sleeps through to the next morning, which is shocking. But I’m feeling productive the next day, blame that on whatever you want to blame it on. Pleasure or the fact that last night I deliriously considered Kaiser to be my vice.I shudder at the thought, but I’m going to blame it on the cold. This morning the twins are well fed and listening to a cute ten-hour video about the best kiddy songs invented. They play each song, so yay me. But I’m not sitting there in the living room with them.I decided to show more progress by taking a walk around the compound. The large gates are interesting. I don’t have to worry about what’s on the outside. Martha should be coming over this afternoon so we can bake together. I’d also like to go to the beach.Or a lake. Those are the types of places Kaiser and I used to meet. God, there’s so much room in my head now that I have hopes and dreams and I’m not trying to focus on simply surviving. This is life!A honking sound drags
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 47: Meeting The Doctor pt 2
[--Kaiser Volkov--]Why is this evil man here?I rub my head again, trying to chase away the dull ache despite the aspirin I already took. The tension sits there, refusing to ease. “Kaiser, why is the woman you’re fated to, and desperately in love with, living with you?”Damn. I shouldn’t have told him that part. Five years of therapy, and he’s managed to work his way through my defenses, pulling things out bit by bit. He’s a good therapist, I’ll give him that, but I never planned on opening up about this. Hell, I don’t want to share these issues with anyone.“She needs a place to stay. My family ruined her life. She has twins... what did you expect me to do?”He hums, as if satisfied with my explanation, but I can see the wheels turning in his head. I hate that. “Was she married?”I finally look up from my hands, giving him a stare sharp enough to cut through the silence. “I guess. Forced.”“But legally binding, right? So, if your family were to find her, would they even let her get d
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 48: A Broken Mind
[--Esmarie Cruz--]Doctor Jacob heads down the stairs, his feet dragging like lead, and I catch a glimpse of him from the kitchen. He looks beyond exhausted, worn out by the weight of whatever news he’s carrying. The lines on his face are deeper than usual, his shoulders slumped like the world is pressing down on him. I stop stirring the pot on the stove and step toward him before he can make it to the door. Something is wrong, and my gut is twisting into knots.“How’s Kaiser?” I ask, my voice barely hiding the worry.Jacob lets out a deep sigh, the kind that says more than words ever could. His hand lifts to rub the back of his neck, as if trying to work out a kink that’s been there far too long. “Just my advice,” he starts, his tone careful, deliberate, “but what exactly has Kai told you about his past?”I swallow hard. “Nothing, really. I mean, I know enough. He was suffering when we were younger, facing abuse while we were friends. I could see it. His family... well, the way they
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 49: A Mirror To Her Face
[--Esmarie Cruz--]After Kaiser took his meds, I noticed a change immediately. He seemed to slip into a docile, almost hollow version of himself as if the medication had dulled every sharp edge of his being. I couldn't help but assume the second medication—whatever it was—had something to do with depression. God knows, Kaiser needed it. Hell, we all probably did at this point.I helped him to his feet, guiding him down the hall to his bedroom. His movements were sluggish, almost mechanical like he was following my lead without being fully present. When I tucked him into bed, he didn’t drift off immediately. His eyes, empty and distant, shifted between me and the ceiling above. It was unnerving, to see him so vacant. Kaiser was always intense, even when he wasn’t talking, there was always this storm brewing behind his gaze. But now? Now he was just…gone.Fuck, meds scare me. Everything scares me.Eventually, his breathing evened out, and he fell asleep. I stood there for a moment longe
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 50: Helping Him Through The Night
[--Esmarie Cruz--]Martha lingered in the kitchen with me, her hands moving with the easy grace of someone who had done this a thousand times, and yet there was something undeniably warm about her presence. She chopped, stirred, and mixed with calm precision, her eyes occasionally darting up to meet mine, offering a small, encouraging smile. The kitchen filled with the comforting aromas of spices, garlic, and simmering herbs, each scent like a balm, bringing a sense of grounding that I so desperately needed. I tried to focus on the task, on slicing vegetables and stirring the broth just right, letting the familiar rhythm of cooking distract me, if only for a moment.As we worked, the conversation was light, almost aimless. Martha told me a story about her sister’s garden, about the lavender and rosemary she had planted, and how they flourished under her care. I smiled, trying to picture it—the delicate rows of purple blossoms, the strong scent of herbs wafting in the air. For a short
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 51: Darkness That Controls Him
[--Kaiser Volkov--]I’m drowning in darkness, held in its vice-like grip, a weight pressing in from all sides. The air is thick and heavy, each breath a struggle that brings only more despair instead of relief. It’s as though I’m caught in some endless, inky void, with shadows clawing at me, pulling me deeper, binding me tighter. I can hear voices, distant and distorted, like whispers floating through the fog, just beyond reach. I try to make out their words, but they slip away like sand through my fingers, leaving only fragments—broken, mocking echoes that tear through my mind.My head pulses with a dull ache, a rhythm that matches the frantic beating of my heart, which pounds hard enough that I can feel it reverberating through every cell, every nerve. It’s a familiar pain, an old hurt I thought I’d buried, one I thought I’d left far behind. But here it is again, rising up from the depths like some vengeful ghost, and I can’t escape it. I was doing better. I’d convinced myself I was
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 52: I Am (Not) Okay
[--Kaiser Volkov--]Esmarie is in my bed.My mind stumbles over that fact as I feel her body pressed against mine, soft and warm, her breath steady and peaceful. Her head is tucked into my chest, her hair brushing my neck. I’m not used to this—not used to waking up with someone like this. Someone in my bedroom. I keep it as a safe space for myself, and myself alone. It’s too close, too intimate, and my heart pounds faster in my chest, betraying me. I don’t even remember falling asleep, much less how we ended up here like this. My arms are wrapped around her, holding her tightly as if my subconscious has been craving this closeness. But why? Why are we here, together, like this?I try to shake her gently, just enough to startle her awake. I need her to wake up because if she wakes up, then maybe this strange sense of comfort I’m feeling will break. Maybe reality will snap back into place. But she only mumbles something incoherent and shifts, snuggling deeper into my chest, her fingers
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Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 89: One Last Chance
[--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
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 88: Under The Blue Moon pt 2
[--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
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 87: Under The Blue Moon pt 1
[--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
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 86: Day Two Of The Festival
[--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
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 85: Suffocating Emotions pt 3
[--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
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 84: Suffocating Emotions pt 2
[--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
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 83: Suffocating Emotions pt 1
[--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
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 82: Pains Of The Past
[--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
Runaway To My Alpha Brother-In-Law Ch 81: Living A Dangerous Life pt 2
[--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
