[--Kaiser Volkov--]When I awoke a few hours later, I kind of hoped last night had been nothing but a bad dream. It wasn’t. Esmarie was in my bed reading a book on how to raise alpha twins. I felt a bit sad for her. She’d taken care of me through the night, and likely her twins as well. I also feel sweaty and gross, and I cried in front of her. Geezus, what am i a loser?Crying in front of her, freaking out over medication... I am not insane... or at least I wasn’t until I snapped. Just like Jacob said, I’m spiraling.I turned to lay on my back.“Oh you’re up, how are you feeling?”“Like crap. What happened to the AC?”“It went off in the middle of the night. I think the power is out in the whole house. I brought the twins up.” she pointed to the side of the room closest to her and I saw the twin alphas drooling in their crib.“The power line must have tripped off. Someone will turn it back on in three hours. I can get the backup generator working.”“Okay, do you need me to-”“No, it’
[--Esmarie Cruz--]I won’t blame Kaiser for anything besides his obvious fear of getting better. It isn’t really a fear from what I can see; it seems like he just doesn’t believe he can get better. Being diagnosed as schizophrenic at the young age of nine must have been terrifying. What kind of friend was I at that time, that I didn’t notice my best friend was suffering—that he felt he couldn’t share with me?“You’re not crazy, but Kaiser, ignoring your problems is a terrible tactic. You’re doing yourself a lot of harm. I believed you, you know?”His hooded gaze shifts. “What?”“I believed you. When you were crying, I started to think that my being here caused your walls to crack. Then I realized even more that this isn’t on me, Kaiser. You don’t want help.”“Come with me.” He tugs me, and I’m prepared to argue that he’s being a jackass, but he doesn’t give me a chance. I’m taken to his office, and my mind immediately goes to the yellow package I saw yesterday when I was cleaning his
[--Esmarie Cruz--]The wailing of two infants slices through the quiet of the early morning, pulling me abruptly from my drifting thoughts. Beside me, Kaiser stiffens, his gaze turning sharply toward the door of his office. Without exchanging a word, we both rush our and head to his bedroom, instincts pushing us forward. When we reach them, I see that the twins—small, fragile, and loud—are indeed fine, though they’re red-faced and flailing, letting out cries as if their world has tipped off its axis.I have this urge to tell myself it’s unlike my children to cry without reason, to reassure myself that something must have set them off, but I know better. They’re babies—barely two months old. Expecting them to stay calm and content at all times is idiotic, no matter how perfect they seem in their brief, peaceful moments of sleep. I haven’t kept exact count of the days, but I do know that every one of them feels fleeting, a small and precious chapter gone in an instant. I’m afraid they’l
[--Kaiser Volkov--]“Yes, the meeting is still on. I can fly in tomorrow evening.”The man on the screen smiles. “I can’t believe I’m saying this but can we have the meeting virtually? You must understand that my people are slightly frightened to have a werewolf on our turf. As you know, the issues with the former four regions alphas have caused us alot of problems. I am happy to see a new face, and your reaching out makes things alot better. But I discussed it, my people aren’t comfortable.”“I understand but, can I say? Meeting you in person would have dispelled all disbelief. I’m okay having the meeting virtually, but it’s not going to work for me. To form a bond, there must be equal trust. I was willing to come to you alone, but if you don’t trust me that’s fine. Maybe we can reschedule.”The vampire on the screen stares at me for a moment, before nodding. I ended the call and then rubbed my hands over my face. I reached into the drawer of my next to get some painkillers as my hea
[--Esmarie Cruz--]There’s a saying that sometimes life hands you a gift wrapped in shadows. You don’t know if what you’re holding is a blessing or something darker—you just have to feel your way forward, hoping for light but preparing for anything. This saying applies best to my discovery of Kaiser’s feelings for me. Martha and I had an awkward picnic after that.Then she took me back home, where I texted Kaiser. I now regret doing that because he hadn’t returned to the house since then. It’s currently twelve midnight, and I haven’t been able to think about anything else but him.He was in love with me. Is he still in love with me? And I finally understood something that hadn’t clicked into place. Kaiser had told Martha some of his past. She was judgment-free, so he could open up to her. That can explain why he told her about me and the kiss, but he told Jacob, too. and he doesn't trust that man.He wouldn’t have done that had he not... maybe I’m thinking too much into this but goodn
[--Esmarie Cruz--]I stayed quiet as my brain worked through his words and this new revelation. He’s in love with me... how have I gone most of my life not knowing it? He hid it well, but it suddenly explains why I was shocked when he left the next day.“Say something, your silence is far worse.”“The next morning, I came to your room. I was feeling bashful because I couldn’t sleep and I wanted to ask you about that kiss. What it meant, and why you’d run. But you were gone. Kaiser, we’ve been over this I know... but that really sucked.” I brought my hands up, folded them into fists, and pressed them against my eyes.It isn’t entirely shocking... this crush thing now that I think deeply about it... okay, it still is. But I had a chance to find out the next day after Kaiser kissed me, but he was just gone. When I’d gone to tell his father, the man freaked out and the whole house was a ruckus as they searched for Kaiser. That’s when it became my fault.Barry told them I’d kissed Kaiser a
[--Kaiser Volkov--]The shower became my sanctuary, the water cascading down in a steady rhythm, warm and soothing as it enveloped me, washing away not only the grime of the day but a sliver of the turmoil tangled in my mind. I closed my eyes, letting the droplets hit my shoulders and trail down my body, feeling every sensation as though I could cleanse the thoughts clinging to my mind. For a moment, the world was muffled, softened by the steady rush of water, and I breathed in the steam-heavy air, feeling it settle something deep inside me, even if only temporarily.Esmarie. The name alone twisted something raw and aching in my chest. She knows. She knows about the fated mate bond, that thread that pulled me toward her, even if it wasn't one she felt herself—or at least, not enough to keep her bound. She bypassed it, sidestepping the weight and wonder of it all as though it were just another fleeting thing, not the kind of connection most of us would give anything to find. She mentio
[--Kaiser Volkov--]Dinner was nice. We ate quietly, I tasted the vodka right away. It was nice. It did make me crave a bottle, but the meal was delicious so I quickly let go of that thought. I wonder how long that’ll last before I fall back into my pattern of having a million vices. I stole glances at her while I ate. There were many things to take in. Her sleep-deprived eyes, her smile that seemed genuine. And how she could no longer meet my eyes.I should apologize for making her uncomfortable with my feelings, but I feel like bringing it up again would freak her out. How can I go back to living in denial when she knows the truth? With nothing to hide, I feel naked... well there are things to hide. Like her mother’s disappearance. I rubbed my forehead as I ate dinner.Once I finished, I thanked her and offered to do the dishes so she could go get some sleep. I expected her to take the chance, the open opportunity I was giving her to leave this awkward situation but it seemed Esmari
[--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.