[--Esmarie Cruz--]We lingered on the rooftop a while longer, letting the quiet of the night sink in, a silence that seemed to speak louder than any conversation we might’ve had. Kaiser leaned back, eyes drifting over the stars, and then, breaking the stillness, he turned to me and asked, “What do you want to do with your life?”The question hung in the air, simple yet profound, as I stared up at the half-moon and the countless stars scattered across the sky. I hadn’t really thought about it in a long time. Sure, I was raising my twins and doing my best to keep everything together day by day. But dreams? Ambitions? I wasn’t sure I had any left, at least not in the way people usually talked about them. I mean, here I was, approaching thirty, with two little ones counting on me. Was there even space in my life for something like a dream? And if there was, what would it look like?I felt the weight of my thoughts pressing down as I considered his question. College had never been a path I
[--Kaiser Volkov--]I woke up feeling a weight pressing down on me, a dull heaviness I knew too well. Three hours of sleep didn’t cut it, especially not today, with so much riding on the hours ahead. My limbs felt sluggish as I dragged myself out of bed, mind still foggy, but I pushed forward, heading to the bathroom to splash some cold water on my face in the hope it would shock me into alertness.My plans involve the pack and Esmarie. She won’t know what hit her.I barely made it to the bathroom door when my phone buzzed on the nightstand. Who could be calling this early? It was Martha, the number flashing on the screen, and I felt a pang of surprise. She rarely reached out in the morning unless it was truly important, but I’d always made it clear that I was here for her whenever she needed me, no matter the time or the reason. As a mother figure to me, Martha often took on more than she needed to, quietly bearing burdens and rarely asking for help.She wasn’t just like that towards
[--Esmarie Cruz--]There’s something surprisingly grounding about sleeping on the floor, though I can’t really put into words what exactly makes it good. It’s probably not the ache in my back or the stiffness in my neck, both of which feel like they’re screaming. Honestly, my body is in hell. Every joint is telling me this was a terrible idea. I’m far from comfortable. But there’s something almost… honest about being here on the floor, a certain clarity that you can’t get when you’re cushioned by mattresses or layers of blankets.Still, clarity doesn’t make it any easier when I hear this persistent, irritating sound in the distance—like an incessant mosquito buzzing in my ear. It’s a voice, actually, calling my name in a way that’s somehow both grating and familiar. As I force my eyes open, I see exactly who I expected: Kaiser. Of course, it’s him. Who else would be so annoyingly chipper and persistent this early in the morning? Okay, perhaps not him seeing as he’s the grumpiest man I
[--Esmarie Cruz--]After throwing up, I couldn’t focus. I needed a moment to catch my breath. Kaiser could die due to the rejection, and he hadn’t said anything. Was that why the doctor tried to stop me? Isn’t that such an asshole move from him?I needed to find time to call him out on this. I won’t be quiet. I just can’t be quiet about this. Once I got myself together, I turned back to Martha. Unsure of what to say, I just got to helping her prepare for the meals.We spent four hours cooking before Kaiser returned to take us to the site where the festival would be heard. The entire pack seemed empty during the drive, and my children were wide awake and giddy. Like they couldn’t be happier. It made me feel something so sweet. True love exists between me and my twins. Martha sat at the front with Kaiser. She was singing a song that played on the radio, and Elijah was trying to copy her.But since he didn’t know words, he just babbled off-key and made us all laugh. Eloise was content gi
[--Esmarie Cruz--]Sam stared at me for what felt like hours before her eyes shifted to the stroller where my children were. I snapped my fingers immediately.“Don’t look at them.”She raised her eyebrow at me. “Where is Martha?”“Call her and find out.”Her lips twitched. “I’m not here to be mean. I nearly got kicked from this pack, and I don’t want any beef with Kaiser’s girl.”My heart thumped, and my omega filled me with something close to pride. Which was ridiculous. I’m Kaiser’s nothing. There’s no reason to be proud here. “I’m sorry to hear that, but I also don’t want problems. I just don’t have a good reason to trust you.”She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. The girl was still pretty. Blonde hair short, and messy. Her blue jean shorts were unbuttoned so you could see hints of her black underwear, her white t-shirt was tied at the front and her cowgirl boots seemed to finish the whole look. It was interesting to see the way she dressed.When I wore something it eit
[--Kaiser Volkov--]Being a pack leader isn’t just a title—it’s a never-ending responsibility, especially when I’m constantly moving, juggling tasks, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. Right now, the Blue Moon Festival preparations are in full swing, and the weight of the event falls squarely on my shoulders. Today is officially the first day, also known as "Preparations Day," the day when our open meadow transforms into the most stunning festival area anyone in the surrounding packs has ever seen.It’s a massive undertaking, one that requires precision, coordination, and a lot of patience. Every inch of the meadow is covered in decorations, stalls, and lights. The air is already buzzing with excitement as pack members hustle about, their laughter and chatter blending with the sounds of hammering, drilling, and the occasional bark of orders.I pride myself on being a hands-on leader, so I’ve been helping wherever I can. One moment, I’m stringing up lanterns between trees; the next
[--Esmarie Cruz--]The first day of the festival went by smoothly, even better than I’d anticipated. The morning had been a whirlwind of activity as I helped set up, juggling tasks and tending to my children. Despite the chaos, there was something grounding about the festival's rhythm, the way it brought everyone together. By the time the evening arrived, I was exhausted but content. Watching Kaiser take the stage for his closing speech, I saw something rare, to me at least,—a deep respect in the eyes of his pack members, a kind of admiration that felt earned. His words were met with thunderous applause and genuine affection, and for a moment, I allowed myself to feel proud of him.I expected us to leave for home right after the speech, eager to put the day behind us, but Kaiser had other plans. With a quiet command, he instructed Martha to take me to her house for the night. The idea surprised me, but I didn’t argue; it was unlike him to deviate from routine.And I haven’t been to he
[--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
[--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.