Erik The moment I stepped into the hotel room I had to get out of there. For whatever reason lilies seem to be a standard flower used by hotels and it instantly reminded me of the funeral. It was my mother’s favorite flower, which meant that anyone who knew her brought lilies and the heap of flowers that rested on her burial place in the cometary was pile with them. I should have asked for a no flower service and had everyone donate to Cancer research or something. When you’re a son you don’t think of these things, well, I never did. I thought my mother would live forever. She was always there for me in the past, death was out of character for her, it snuck up on her, jumped out of nowhere and hit her with a motorcycle while crossing the street. I had to get out of there. I took a quick shower and almost felt human again after a nine-hour flight with Jack Daniels for company. He’ll be back in a few minutes sweating out of my pores.
Harley The bell rings as I open the door of the cafe. It was the first thing I had installed when I bought the building to open shop. That little vintage bell just makes me smile every damn time. There’s a line of people waiting for their morning hit of caffeine, but I quickly find Mikayla sitting at our usual table and set the box down in front of her. My older sister does not look amused. She’s been especially moody recently. It must be the hormones, but you won’t find me saying that out loud any time soon. “Finally.” She mutters. “Oh relax, I’m not that late.” I make my way behind the counter and stuff 10 dollars into my swear jar before grabbing some forks. Every Saturday we use whatever’s in my jar to buy drinks at our favorite bar. It’s usually enough to buy all six of us two rounds each. What can I say, I’m an advocate for all words. All but one. Mikayla notices my deposit. “What ha
Harley I double check our weekly order list against our stock. Vanessa and Sam are busy with lunch while Marco trudges in with another load of dishes to wash. Not that Marco, the other Marco. They came in a set, where one goes the other follows. I met them while going through Montegranaro on my way to the east coast of Italy. Their fathers were and still are to this day rival shoemakers. When they had no interest in following their father’s footsteps they decided to somehow get out of there and I was more than happy to assist in their escape. They upgraded their mopeds to motorbikes, and we made our way through Italy together. When I opened the café here, I made sure to import and sponsor them both. They say they owe their new life to me, but little do they know I owe my life to them. I was in such a dark place at times I’d be riding on a coastal road and on more than one occasion thought about how easy it would be just to drive off this or that cliff.
Erik “Just wait for me, Okay?” Jack pleads. I nod and he disappears through the door back into the courtyard. I lean against the fence and wait in the alleyway for him to return. It was her again. Why did it have to be her? I wanted to devour her without delay, like some animal. It’s the first time I felt anything other than sorrow, or anger since my mother’s funeral. Simply put, it scares me. The way she stirs me up scares me. I love and despise what she’s doing to me at the se time. I hate losing control, but one look from Harley and I’m coming apart at the seams. I had to leave just to hide my arousal. That hasn’t happened since I was a kid, now twice in one day? As a young boy some days all it took was a warm breeze flowing up my shorts and I’d have to go to the bathroom for a few minutes. Jack comes out and sighs, putting his hands in his pockets. “One-week paid trial. But you need to chill out man.” “I know.
Harley Erik looks out of place in the kitchen. It’s not a small space but his presence makes it feel smaller. He’s undoubtedly a dominant person. I watch Marco give him a rundown of his role and all the exciting things dishwashing entails, like clearing tables and using the industrial dishwasher. “We only serve breakfast and lunch; they are the busiest times. We close at 3:30 and are closed on Sundays. Sometimes you will need to help Vanessa and Sam preparing food, but rarely, and only if they will ask. Any questions?” Erik shakes his head. After retreating into my office for a few hours of thrilling paperwork I emerge in search of food, and a much-needed coffee to see Erik at the sink, rinsing down plates before putting them into the dishwasher tray. Damn, I could watch him be domestic all day. Vanessa grabs my arm and pulls me into a corner. “I can’t work like this. I’m drawing a line.” “Work like what? What’s wrong? What
Erik When I make it to the front of the café Marco watches me sit at one of the vacant tables as I wait for Harley. I don’t know what it is about this particular Marco but he’s suspicious of me. The other one accepted me almost immediately, but this one’s been giving me funny looks all morning. He gives me the impression I’m invading his turf. It was his hand on Harley’s waist in that photo I saw this morning. Maybe they have a romantic history? Harley comes from the kitchen carrying a bag of coffee beans. When Marco sees her, he goes to take the bag from her and starts talking to her in rapid Italian. It irks me to see how comfortable she is with him. She laughs and throws back some banter his way. I know I’m not the most approachable looking person. It’s not just my height, I have this permanent glare fixed to my face that I can’t seem to shake. Not that I want to. It’s not up to me to have to change the way my face looks just so other peopl
Harley That suit, that fucking suit. I swear a well-cut suit does to me what lingerie does to men. John sees me in the kitchen, strides through the café and plants his lips onto mine ignoring everything and everyone around us. “Hey beautiful.” “John, what are you doing here?” John hands me a rose and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me in. “It’s finally over, all the bullshit, all the long hours. I got the promotion. I was hoping you’d join me in a little celebration.” I’ve known John for about amonth now, but we’ve only had a handful of dates. Since a new position was made available at his firm, he’s been working his ass off to get it. I’m not sure where this is heading, and I’m not sure where I want it to go, but I start to feel a small knot form in my stomach. Something’s not right. This is wrong. He’s wrong. I practically have to force the words out. “Oh wow, that’s great. Sure, where do you want to go?”
Erik I don’t understand the feeling that consumes me when I watched her get into that car. I needed to hit something. Repetitively. Preferably that John guy. Boxing has always been my release. Training and sparring are okay, but I only feel sated after a real match. In Norway I usually fight once a month, now it feels like my ever-filling cup is spilling over with whatever this torrent of emotion is. I’m sitting in what was Jack’s old room, now my room. It’s simple but stylish. The furniture is all mid-century modern with colorful prints on the wall. I spent most of my afternoon unpacking and organizing my clothes. I’m still not convinced living here is a great idea, but I have the freedom to leave whenever I want, and go back to my life in Oslo. I sit on the bed and take out my phone. There must be a boxing gym somewhere in this city where someone can point me to a match. I find one nearby, Harry’s Gym. No website, just a number and address.
Rue’s POVI bent down so I could be on par with the little girl, she was beautiful, I have never seen a little girl as delicate as she is, and she turned out to be this Man’s daughter. I didn’t even know he had a daughter, does it also mean he has a mate? Oh, that would be quite hard to believe. I thought to myself, who would be able to put up with someone like him? Someone who only thinks about himself and is rude and unbecoming like him.At least he is kind to his daughter, and that’s beautiful to watch. But then seeing her come to me was unexpected, she has the same beautiful eyes as her father but her hair looks a little bit different, probably better.“Hi, My name is Rue” I replied her“That’s pretty. Rue what? What’s your surname?”“Oh darling, I don’t have a surname”“But why? Everyone has a surname” And she is smart too. Her beautiful tiny voice was almost like a song to my ears, from all the children I have ever had to b
Kaizen ’s POVI have always known that mating with a she-wolf means you have to bond with them thoroughly, you have to submit your loyalty to them, you have to trust them, and sometimes put their needs above yours.At least, that was how it was with Tonia... I didn’t need to question the rules, I loved her. So giving her my loyalty and my care was never something to debate about.But this thing with Rue is not something I planned for, it’s not something I thought would be dropped on me without my permission.But if I have to do this for myself, my position, and Aleria, then I will. But bonding with her at the time does not necessarily mean trusting her or loving her.I will give her my protection. That should be significantly more than she bargains for. She will have shelter and my protection, and that should be all.It’s just the way it should be done, not the way I want this done.“The carriage is ready. We have to mov
Kaizen’s POVYes, the memory won’t leave and I am not prepared for it. I felt it was better to be on the road back to the pack than stay another minute in the same room with the little beast.Her innocent look never ceases to surprise me, and the frightening resemblance between Tonia and her is something I have to watch out for.“Give the girl a break Kai, she is not the reason why we are in this mess. We will find whoever killed Tonia and I will make him or her pay” Of course Marcel had followed me inside... I am sure he is also hurting as much as I do, Tonia was his only sister. It is the way he handles the loss, I am yet to learn.“It’s been six years already, Marcel! It’s been six years and I’m yet to catch the bastard! I only know him by his scent and nothing more. And to think I have not perceived that scent again drives me crazy! It’s been six years and all I have is a scent! A scent that might not exist” I was frustrated, I would go back t
Kaizen’s POV“What do you mean by that?” I saw the uneasiness in her eyes before she even got the words out.“Have you forgotten our pact?”“What pack are you talking about? I do not remember making any pact with you” she said pouting her round rose pink lips, she is killing me with her innocence. Or should I call it naivety?“Oh, so you are going to pretend that it never happened?” I looked over at Marcel munching down his food, deliberately removing himself from the conversation.“Master, what do you say about someone who doesn’t keep their word?” I saw him look away from his food and met my gaze, with his brows asking a silent question.’She agrees to be my slave if I saved her from a very unfortunate incident, she is about to act like she doesn’t remember” mind communicating with him.‘Oh’ I think he got the memo“The person tends to be very dishonorable and should not be taken seriously” He answered, making
Rue’s POV“Are you sure you want to go with them?” I heard him say from above me, this man that I have only just met! And he is already involved with almost all the embarrassing moments of my life. I wondered if he heard any of the conversations between me and the boys.To answer his question, I nodded my head, and then I shook it. I was not sure what I wanted to do, or what would be the best thing for me.Go with Adam and Luke and believe what they had not told me earlier or I go with a total stranger, someone who might be the end of me if he decides to take me into the midst of his friends who may be rogue hunters, forgetting that he and his current companion had saved my life when I thought all hope was lost.“What exactly do you want to do? You are confusing me. Do you want to go with them or do you want me to continue to stay here?” he said looking confused with the folds between his brows...He looked beautiful as I looked intently
Kaizen’s POVI have heard plenty people say that they feel rather invincible when they feel no one is looking at them when doing something out of ordinary or when they feel they have to do something out of the ordinary, that must be what she has on her mind to think I don’t know what she is doing finding her way to break away from my body and then making her way out of the house with her legs barely touching the ground. I stayed on the bed because of her, I wanted to keep her warm until she was not shaking anymore, I guess now she is strong enough to escape without taking a glance back at the ones who have just saved her from the brink of death.I have always been a light sleeper, apart from it being my wolf’s ability, it is something I have helped myself to learn from before I even became alpha and the ability has helped me in so many ways to even count, I have been saved from near death experiences because of it. And well, now I can also notice when an ungrateful
Rue’s POVI could almost feel that I was in a safe place even before I opened my eyes, it felt safe... Yes...And warm! One of the things I have been lacking in my life for a very long time is warmth. The body engulfed me, making me feel like a big wolf was giving me its warmth and I just wish I had the luxury to lay there forever and forget the very thing that had brought me there.I tried to make sense of what had happened the night before since it was obvious that I am still alive and fleshy and I have not been eaten by fishes or torn by animals because they see me as weak.If any of those didn’t happen, then I am probably in the hands of the rogue hunters, a fate worse than death itself. I paused, But why was I being protected and cuddled by a rogue hunter? It does not make any sense, I should either be tied to a wall or beaten or even tortured to ask whatever it is that I have done that I had become a rogue. I mean that should be what this moment shoul
Kaizen’s POV“Kai, do you think that thing over there beside the lake is a human being or an animal?” My best friend and second in command Marcel, first announced but since It was not in a panic voice I didn’t want to think so much of it, he likes to trick me when we are off duties, but only because of those tricks, the weight of being too professional and the rules that bound my world has not affect our friendship amongst others, although I’m not complaining about any of it, I have had my own share of fun over the years so now I just let the rest fall Into place.We were out here to the cabin because of the rain, it has been crazy and tiring leading the pack through the week and I just wanted to run wild without expecting anyone reminding me of my duties.“Kai! I think she is going to jump!” Now, there was panic in his voice, I stopped removing the remains of my clothes then turned to see what he was looking at and truly a small girl, looking dirty, drenc
Rue ’s POVMy eyes awoke to splashes of rain on my face and dirt around me, I was weak, no doubt, I felt powerless. I took a good look around me, the field was still as empty as I remember it from earlier that evening, the memories of his rejection hit me again but this time I was more aware of it, it didn’t come to me as shocking.I must have passed out for hours because it was beginning to get very dark, but my eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness evolving around me and my environment.To think I was still on the field, wet and dirty, it means I have absolutely no one on my side, no one who cared if I was okay or not. I had at least thought Riley would keep me away from the pouring rain and put me in a shelter, no matter how small, no matter how shattered it would be, and maybe a warm blanket would do, but nothing, I’m still here, drained, dirty and cold.I have no family, no friends, no worthy enemy even. I have heard you can only have enemies