Bob has already been activating his plan to take down Kadeem that he told his secretary about. Bob sits the recliner chair in his hotel room. He got exactly what he wanted from Susan, information about Kadeem’s weakness. Bob takes another sip of his drink and chuckles. Susan has no idea what he’s been up to. Bob leans his head back against his recliner and shuts his eyes. He goes through his memories of all the havoc he has created in Kadeem’s pack.Bob recently met Dylan and Anders, brothers who want power and control of the pack. They are willing to do anything to get it. For years, they have been the leaders of the Red Blood gang that harasses the pack. Bob went to them at their usual hangout, a small diner on the outskirts of the city. Bob declared himself the leader at that time. He also agreed to pay Dylan and Anders for every action they take against the pack. So far, Bob has paid Dylan and Anders $500,000 to graffiti walls
he next day Kadeem sits at his office in his home. He shakes his head back and forth trying to make his thoughts of Ardal disappear so he can focus on work. Being hypnotized by Matteo is working. His memory is coming back. Jumping in water with Ardal is also working. Kadeem thinks back to the refreshing feeling of being in the water. His body is weightless. The waves in the water move him around. As the waves wash over his body, waves of memories enter his mind.Kadeem lays his head down on his desk, and he lets his mind drift to thoughts of Ardal in her sexy swimming suit. Ardal always wears a pink string bikini that shows off her perky breast and tight ass. Kadeem has often thought if he pulled on the string, her top would fall and expose her firm breasts. Kadeem moans in yearning. He just wants to squeeze her breasts and massage them gently, feeling her soft warmness in his hand. As she moves closer to him, he wishes she would pull down his swimming trunks, since his hard
KadeemKadeem gasped as water flooded his mouth and nose. His arms windmilled through the churning water, searching for anything to grab onto.But there was nothing. Only the deep end of the pool, stretching endlessly below him.Panic seized his chest, squeezing the breath from his lungs. His heart hammered against his ribcage as if trying to break free.Through the haze of terror, a single thought surfaced: I'm going to drown.After everything he'd survived, this was how it would end. Not in some epic battle, not while protecting his pack, but in a stupid accident in his own gym.He struggled to stay afloat, kicking his legs frantically. Then a flash of copper red fur and bright green eyes filled his mind. Ardal.A surge of adrenaline shot through his veins, and with it came a rush of memories. Running through moonlit forests together as children. The first time he'd kissed her, nervous and fumbling, as teenagers. Their wedding day, when she'd walked down the aisle in a cloud of lace
Ardal The sterile white walls of Dr. Jack Rayburn's office do little to calm my nerves. I sit beside Erbao, clutching his small hand in my own, as the doctor reviews the latest test results.With five six year-olds - four of them boys- we seem to go from one accident or disaster to the next, and Dr. Rayburn knows my quints very well at this point. I’m still touched by Kadeem rescuing poor Milo today. That was one disaster averted, but here we are now.This time, it’s for Erbao, who hasn’t been looking well the last couple of days. I called this afternoon to get him in for a quicker appointment, and Dr. Rayburn squeezed him in immediately."His kidney function has declined another ten percent." Dr. Rayburn's normally cheerful tone is grim. "If we don't act soon, renal failure is a very real possibility."My stomach twists into knots. I glance a
ArdalI stared at the mirror as I fussed with my hair, smoothed my black cocktail dress and checked my teeth for stray lipstick, trying to ignore the knot of nerves in my stomach.This is my first date since Kadeem. I want everything to be perfect.A knock rattles the door, and five pairs of feet pound down the hall. The door bursts open—my quintuplets tumble into the room, a tangle of chatter and questions."Is that what you're wearing,” asks Silas, eyeing my dress.I smile. "You don’t like it?""You never wear dresses, Mommy," says Lottie. “Tonight’s the kind of thing you have to get a little dressed up for,” I say. Lottie’s not wrong. I pulled this dress out from the very back of my closet.Erbao tugs at the fabric. “We’ve all talked about it. We want
Kadeem Kadeem's fingers drummed on the worn wooden table, each tap echoing his wolf nature that seemed to pulse through his veins like a restless storm. As he and Mateo sat in "The Howling Moon" – a popular werewolf bar – the atmosphere buzzed with primal energy, making it difficult for Kadeem to focus on anything but the growing strength of his inner wolf. Since his memories had flooded back a few days ago, he had also been experiencing a full resurgence of his wolf. Scents and sensations bombarded him, dragging him under a tide of recollection. Flashes of memory assaulted him. The combination of the two was akin to an emotional atomic bomb. He’d been avoiding Ardal at the gym, shuffling off quickly after training appointments, and shutting himself in his office. Mateo had been pleased when Kadeem told him about the recovered memories. The memories after his car accident still felt tangle
Kadeem“Awoooo!”Kadeem and Mateo spilled out onto the sidewalk half-drunk. Okay, more than half-drunk. “Did you see the look on his face,” Mateo said, slurring on the ‘s’ sounds and stumbling past a group of women entering the bar. “I’ve never seen a vampire turn that color before.” Kadeem grabbed Mateo by the shoulder to keep him from colliding with the women. One, with purple hair and a silver nose ring, shot a look of loathing and disgust at Mateo. Mateo took no notice. The man was Teflon to the disdain of others. “How does the undead get flushed,” Mateo asked, completely oblivious to how close he was coming to trampling another crowd of passing strangers on the sidewalk. “He went as red as a cherry tomato!” Irritated, Kadeem helped Mateo weave through the other group of Weres. “How the hell would I know?” “Maybe he had just eaten,” Mateo said, shrugging Kadeem off of him - as though Kadeem was the annoying one. Kadeem rolled his eyes and clenched his jaw. He already need
ArdalI awake with a start, the sunlight streaming in through the window and casting an ethereal glow over the room. As my eyes adjust to the light, I quickly remember where I am. Jack lays beside me, his chest rising and falling rhythmically in slumber.I can feel the warmth radiating from his body, and it sends a shiver down my spine. The sheets are soft against her skin, yet they do little to soothe the tempest of emotions brewing within me.'Last night was... wow,' I whisper to myself, memories of our passionate encounter flooding my mind like a tidal wave.I remember the way his body felt pressed to mine, starting a fire within me that I hadn't felt in years. Our bodies had melded together as one, and the things he'd said to me – the sweet nothings and fierce declarations – had sent my heart racing like a wild stallion galloping across the plains."Jack, you make me feel alive," I’d gasped between breaths, our b
Shitty, shit, shit!Kadeem quietly gauges my reaction.“Kadeem,” I begin, not wanting to hurt him, but panicky all the same, “Could we just - pretend you didn’t give me this?” It comes out in the vein of an anxious Western villain. Walk away slowly, and no one gets hurt.“Suit yourself.” He goes back to working on his computer. “But you might like what you see in there,” he adds.I run my fingers over the soft, velvety surface of the box. My voice comes out high-pitched as I try to change the subject. “Are you getting nervous about your surgery?”“No.”“Really?”“It doesn’t ruffle my feathers,” Kadeem mumbles, half-distracted. He pauses. “Erbao’s surgery on the other hand…”My stomach knots at the thought of it. “Me too. But for both of you.”“It’ll all be worth it,” he says, looking up to smile.Seeing Erbao healthy will be worth it. Thank the Goddess Kadeem was a match for his kidney transplant.“Something did ruffle your feathers once,” I say, “Maybe something medical.”“Impossible
Outside of Kadeem's health club, his security guard, Nora, is aggressively confronting someone. As expected.She shoots me her usual scowl when I pass by, but I don't acknowledge it, and simply yank the door open to go inside. I told Kadeem to fire her, but he doesn’t listen.I’m not giving up, though.I head over to the check-in area where my main rival, Rory, is lazily answering a phone call. A pile of white gym towels on the counter behind him is waiting to be folded.My left arm is braced across my chest in a sling and cast, but I make sure to lean my good arm casually on the counter like I own the place. Because, let’s face it, I pretty much do."I'm here to see Kadeem," I announce, adding a sarcastic, "Is that alright with you?"Rory gives me an icy glare before turning his attention back to his call. I drum my fingers on the counter and flash him an innocent smile before walking away."Yes, sir," he mumbles into the phone, before whispering a snide, "If he wants you around.""H
Orange and yellow leaves dot the sidewalk outside of the pack headquarters where I huddle with the kids as we prepare for our next move. Despite the chill in the air, beads of sweat are dripping down the back of my neck.Thanks to Jack’s magic and a shit ton of luck, we left Sasha, Gabe, and the rest of our captors unconscious and tied up in Kadeem’s cabin. Jack stayed behind to help Riley before setting out to slay his mother. Talk about an Electra complex.I take a moment to catch my breath when the sounds of a growing commotion come from the Council building. Without warning, Erbao bolts off, charging up the concrete steps, his eyes blazing with determination.“HEY!” I belt out. Bob could have dozens of henchmen stationed inside. Worse, he could have already seized control of Red Moon.Erbao ignores me and his siblings rush after him. My heart is a race car, but my legs are still Jello from wolfsbane. All I can do is stumble after them as they burst through the doors of the crowded
The pack headquarters was in an ordinary brick building, tucked away right in the heart of the city. The activity was minimal, except for nights when the council met - usually on the full moon. Even then, it was never bustling. It was a seat of immense power, but it looked an awful lot like a local Elk’s Club.Today was different.Pack members, raw with emotion, gathered like storm clouds at the downtown HQ. As dawn broke, Council Elders fought to maintain control of the room, elbow-to-elbow with Weres demanding answers.The vampire attack had come without warning, had been brutal and swift. The enemy was fueled with a devastating strength, leaving many injuries and fatalities.Amidst all of the chaos, one question loomed over them all: Where was their Alpha?It was into this pressure cooker that Kadeem allowed himself to be dragged in by Bob.The room erupted at the sight of him. Even the stoic Council gasped in shock. Bob was barreling in Kadeem with a ruthless force - leather boots
ArdalJust like that, our goodbye is cut. I slump against the couch, head in my hands."I'm sorry," Jack says.I lift my head to shoot him a fiery glare.The first rays of sun are lighting the windows. Around us, the quintuplets are Energizer bunnies- getting cranky, maybe, but still going. I'm scraping by on their fumes and my emotional torment.Guilt is splashed across Jack's face.What am I actually seeing?I scrutinize him, hard. The emotion looks utterly real. For a second I am so disgusted, it renders me speechless."You’re pathological," I spit out.He flinches at my words. I picture myself wolfing out and tearing him to bits.Well, it’s a split between that, and throwing myself into his arms to melt into him. Inexplicably, my confusing feelings for him will not die. It only makes me hate him- and myself- more. My hands ball into fists and I battle the urge to scream.Sasha pockets her phone. Next to Jack, Lottie and Milo fight over the box of cookies."Sit tight for now," Sash
The stage is set.I've got to hand it to Bob, he's built a well-oiled network of evil and orchestrated his plan perfectly.Kadeem will be taken in front of the Council elders. He'll be blamed for everything from Susan's death to the vampire attack. Bob will get to play the hero and declare himself the rightful Alpha. Kadeem will be killed.It's everything Bob hoped for.His henchmen arrive in the darkness to haul off me, Jack, and Riley. Jack is coming to, Riley's still holding on, and I'm less noodle-like, but I fake incapacity, forcing one of them to lift me from the ground and half-carry me, supporting my weight.My last glimpse of Kadeem is as weighty as you would imagine. There's no fear in his eyes, though. I'm starting to feel hints of my inner wolf again and the emotional link between us. What I pick up from him is exactly what he's projecting outwards: calm.It sets me off. Where's the anger?! The steely determination?! The whirling thoughts as he plans a way out of things?!
Kadeem's eyes flash like lightning.The wind picks up, stirring the night air and whipping up a swirl of leaves. On the ground nearby, Susan's tresses blow gently across her face, still staring lifelessly into the darkness ahead."Guess you've got it all figured out," Kadeem says quietly, almost eerily calm. His gaze shifts to Riley, who's lying unconscious on a bed of leaves. "But you forgot her.""Collateral damage," Bob shrugs. "I was planning on having her killed anyway. No way I can trust her."A low growl rumbles from Kadeem's throat. "No deal, then."Bob laughs. "If you think you have any kind of leverage over me, you're sadly mistaken. I've got more than enough to ensure your compliance, including your sweetie over there." He gestures lazily in my direction as he approaches Riley, still hovering somewhere between life and death."I'll give her a warrior's end," he says, staring down at her. "The Council will believe she died trying to stop you, trying to protect the pack."Nex
Kadeem glares at Bob. “Cooperate?" he spats. "You should know me better than that."Kadeem is on the ground, his weight supported by a tree. Exhaustion is etched into his sweat-covered face and the blood from his shoulder has seeped into the fabric of his shirt, staining it bright red.Nearby, Jack's sole focus is on the medical emergency in front of him. He's been working quickly to keep Kadeem's beta alive, turning her onto her side, holding pressure against her stab wound and checking her pulse.Increasingly drowsy, the sound of Bob chuckling in response to Kadeem is faint in my ears. Susan yanks me by my wrists and begins to drag me along the damp ground, limping as she goes. Before my eyes grow too heavy, I glimpse the deep bites around her right shin and calf."If you hurt her-"I'm too weak to take advantage of her injury and I don't resist. I simply wonder what the point is. Why expend her energy to put more distance between me and the others?In this current state of affairs,
Riley spoke in a low, urgent whisper. "One wrong move and you're dead, got it?"Rayburn's voice rose as he responded fiercely, "Perhaps at some point you'll realize I haven't done anything wrong and I'm not going-"Kadeem whipped around to interrupt him with an icy growl. They were on the brink of reaching Ardal, and Riley had made a dangerous gamble by freeing Rayburn.Kadeem could only hope it wouldn't backfire on them.He knew Riley well enough to guess her thought process. Intimidation was part of the game, and Kadeem showing up with his distracted beta tagging after him while she juggled a captive was no good. Riley wanted it made clear that Kadeem had back-up, and she needed to give herself the chance to fight by his side when it boiled down to it.But Kadeem also knew the reality of their situation. Now, there was nothing to prevent Rayburn from using the spell that had knocked them unconscious in the woods, killing them, or worse: going after Ardal or the kids. What were the o