Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
KAI
A fter Valeria hastily left my office, I sat on a nearby chair, thinking about what had just happened. I didn't want to break our kiss but had to because our breath grew shallow. Her pine scent enveloped me, momentarily freeing me from the burdens of my life, my struggles, and the bitterness I held toward this world. I wanted to talk to her, to kiss her again, I didn't want to be near her.
When I talk to people I always try to understand their perspective and get inside their minds. I was trying to get into her mind during that awkward silence her gaze fixated on my neck. A gasp escaped her lips and she turned to face me. I felt confused, unsure of whether she was afraid of my wounds or wanted to ask about the kiss. More importantly, I couldn't tell if she liked the kiss or not. Based on the way she pushed me and stormed out it seemed like she hadn’t been ready for what happened.
I stood up and walked over to my bar and poured a whiskey. I had an epiphany about why the fuck the foyer was extraordinarily bright yesterday. I slammed the bottle on the table and swallowed the whole glass and slammed the glass down as well. I ran my hand through my hair and rubbed my face to understand what the hell was happening to me. After thirty years why the hell are the fates playing games with me? It has been so long since I accepted spending my life without a mate and if Valeria is my mate why the fuck didn’t we didn't meet when I fell into this world. I didn't even know how old she was. The entire time she was sitting in front of me I was pretending to read her resume, but in reality, I was trying to barge into her mind and also fighting the signs of my eternal soulmate.
I quickly reached for her resume, wow, she's only 22 years old. It's bizarre to think about how we could have crossed paths considering that she was born eight years after I arrived here. I stood there, perplexed, even after she left my office. I couldn't help but feel her lingering presence. Why did it seem like she was still nearby? Why was her scent still so fresh? I was taken aback when my extension started to ring and I answered it, only to find Valeria on the other end.
“Mr. Parker, in ten minutes you have a board meeting.” Her tone was firm.
I felt a slight smile on my face and I sighed, “You are still here.”
Valeria cleared her throat. “Yes, Mr. Parker actually Miss Rachel is explaining the job to me. Also, board members started to gather in a meeting room. Do you want me to remind you after ten minutes or…”
I cut her off as a smile spread on my face. “No, I will be there,” and she dropped the line.
I settled into my chair as a sense of satisfaction washed over me and every puzzle piece fell perfectly into place. Now I finally understood why the fucking foyer was so bright yesterday. It turns out that the fate keepers were sending me signs about my eternal soulmate. Unfortunately, I was too preoccupied with my curse to notice. But now I can smell her scent and feel her presence. It's not just in my mind - she actually stayed.
After exactly ten minutes my extension started ringing and Rachel's name appeared on the screen. I got up from my desk and headed immediately to the meeting room. As I made my way to the meeting room, I couldn't help but steal a glance at Valeria. I couldn't resist the urge to try and understand what was going on in her mind, but again my attempts only met with disappointment. I was completely clueless throughout the meeting. I was lost in my own thoughts barely registering the agenda because I was so focused on what Valeria was saying to Rachel by using my sharp werewolf ears. As the meeting concluded I promptly exited the room. On my way back to my office I was pondering whether she felt the same magnetic attraction or if it was just me. As I walked past her table I couldn't help but notice that Valeria's gaze was fixed on me. It seemed as though she could see right through me, into the depths of my bruised and frightened soul. I got nervous and started stretching my sleeves down and my collar up to make sure my scars remained hidden. As soon as our gaze met, I couldn't help but remember the unfortunate curse that plagued my life. Hastily, I averted my eyes and hurriedly made my way back to my office. I had to restrain myself as I couldn't bear the thought of being responsible for the loss of another innocent life.
I paced back and forth in my office tightly clutching a glass of whiskey. Perhaps it was simply our infatuation, as I find it perplexing that I am able to perceive the thoughts of others, yet struggle to figure out my own eternal soulmate’s thoughts. Perhaps there's some sort of glitch in the workings of fate or the signs of the moon goddess. After a long and exhausting day, I was finally ready to escape from this chaotic and absurd connection. I could hear my wolf growling, a clear sign that he was uneasy with the growing distance between Valeria and myself. I could feel the powerful presence of my wolf within me, its paws itching to break free as it lunged toward her. However, I have complete control over my wolf, so I managed to suppress him and call Penny. Perhaps having sex would provide some relief from this overwhelming sense of despair.
After the call, I instructed Alex to head over to the Vineyard. Upon my arrival, I noticed Penny already seated and patiently awaiting my presence. I walked over to my spot, shut my eyes, and attempted to center my thoughts on Penny and the electrifying rush of sex with her. Normally, I whisper, but today I leaned in close and growled into her ear, "Run."
I eagerly anticipated the surge of excitement coursing through me as I listened to the rhythmic click-clack of her heels on the floor. However, to my disappointment, that rush never came. Additionally, my wolf was causing me considerable difficulty in maintaining focus. As I reached the point where I started running after my prey, I didn't feel any thrill or excitement. When I parted her coat and threw it on the floor, once again my wolf growled and attempted to come out. I had to be more cautious since Penny is human. Instead of restraining her hands I screamed in frustration and promptly exited the warehouse. I instructed Alex to drive me to the manor.
Eli was sitting on the lawn and Anna was walking across it. I didn't look at them and hurried inside. As expected Eli followed me and asked, “What happened to my cranky pants brother?”
I turned around swiftly, “I am warning you, Eli, not today.”
Eli raised his hands, “Whoa, I had no intention of starting anything, but I am concerned.”
I pointed at him, “I can take care of myself.”
Eli walked over to me and put down my finger with his, “What the fuck is riling you up, Kai? Why are you so restless and in so much pain?”
I sighed, “You would just make fun of me, so fuck off. I am not sharing with you.”
Eli made a tight line with his lips. "I promise I'll get you out of this mess first, and then make fun of you for the rest of our lives.”
I stepped back, “Forget it.”
Eli ran and blocked my way, “You know I can barge into your mind and read what is bothering you, but I’d rather hear it from you.”
I tucked my hands into my pockets, “I found my eternal soulmate.”
Elie immediately responded, “Stop right there and let me get a whiskey for both of us and then we’ll talk.”
We headed to the bar and Eli poured whiskey for both of us and handed me the glass. “Now, tell me about it.”
I gulped, “Fate is playing games with me, the girl I found, my eternal soulmate, is actually a wolf and I can’t read her mind for some mysterious reason, and she Raachel’sreplacement .”
Eli asked, “Is she one of your list girls?”
I gulped again, “No, I had never seen her before. In fact, I bumped into her yesterday and found myself attracted to her, but I was in a rush due to the full moon and failed to notice anything. Today when she entered my office I instantly got what fate was telling me yesterday.”
Eli asked, “Did she know who you are?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I have no idea. I can’t read her mind, but I felt like she saw through my soul and she gasped when her eyes landed on my wounds.”
Eli looked at me, “How could she possibly see your wounds?”
I swallowed the rest of the whiskey. “We kind of kissed each other.”
Eli opened his mouth but I pointed at him carrying the glass in my hand. “You gave me your word about not making fun of anything.”
Eli swallowed whatever he was about to say and sighed, “How are you planning to tell her about the soulmate thingy?”
I slammed my glass on the bar counter. "Are you out of your mind?"
Eli’s shoulders shot up. “Why? Is she human? Because it shouldn’t be a problem; Anna was also human.”
I shook my head. “She’s a wolf, but have you forgotten the list of girls that died on my account? I can't take Valeria's life, and now that I know she is my soulmate… You know that if our soulmate dies, you know how deadly we become, and no one could control the calamity in Eldaria, so how do you think anyone can stop me from bringing an apocalypse to this frail Earth?"
Eli held his hand over my shoulders. “Kai, one thing I am going to tell you is if you are planning to stay away from her or deny that she is your soulmate you are making a huge mistake. I have been through this eternal soulmate dilemma and trust me, it's not in our control. You’ll find ways to take her in your arms or you’ll find excuses to get into her arms.”
I shook my head, “I can't be with her even if I want to be for so many reasons.”
“Name a few.”
I looked into his eyes. "First, I'm cursed. Second, I can't read her mind. I mean, what differentiates me from the rest of the successful businessmen in the state?" Before Eli responded, I continued, “My mind-reading ability and I can't talk with anyone without knowing what's in the mind of the other person. So how could you possibly think I can be with her when she is guarding her mind so well?"
Eli stood up, “You don’t need to read your soulmate’s mind because the bond tells you everything.”
I clenched my jaw. “I don't want to make that fucking bond.”
Eli crossed his arms over his chest. “So how are you going to handle the situation?”
Before I could reply Eli pointed his finger at me, “Aa, Aa if you think going on a sex spree will resolve the issue so once again big mistake.”
I stood up sharply, “I warned you to never barge into my mind! Ever!”
Eli chuckled, “I smelled your ridiculous arousal. I don’t need to read your mind to see that.,” he pointed at my crotch.
I rapidly turned around. “I am outta this discussion you asshole.” Eli kept laughing but I felt a bit oKai-ish after talking to my ass of a brother.
I fell on my bed thinking about Valeria. I had to find a way to keep her out of my mind. I couldn’t afford to distract myself from continuing my search back to Eldaria. I needed to reunite with Mom, Dad, and my sister Aria. My mind took me down memory lane. the day Eli, Aria, and I ran out of the thick forest for the first time.
The land there is completely different from this Earth. A place where dreams intertwine with reality and different kingdoms lie beneath hues of purple sky. Eldarria has two moons and each moon is exactly the size of Earth’s sun. Their silvery light casts an ethereal glow over the diverse landscapes below. Every tenth day a remarkable phenomenon occurs: a bright sun emerges from beyond the horizon, illuminating Eldaria for about two hours before falling back into darkness. In those brief moments, the world is bathed in a golden radiance creating a spectacle that enchants even the most jaded of souls.
Because of the dense forest, our kingdom, the canine, is known as Eldaria's darkest kingdom. We don't live in packs, we live under the rule of one royal family. Our universe comprises felines, Avians, Ursidae, reptiles, kitsune, and dragon kingdoms. The Dragons are the most powerful and distant beings. It is many years away from the canine kingdom. No one likes witches in our world because of their shenanigans, but we do give them a place to live. Of course, it’s not as big as all the kingdoms but it’s enough for several covens to live in it.
Fate keepers reside in the mountains. They are also known as Highlanders. Nobody is allowed to go there. They keep our fates secret. To avoid interfering with fate, fate keepers do not talk. They use their own sign language. I never met one, but I had heard about them from my dad, who had heard about them from his dad, and so on throughout the generations.
I am the royal family's eldest son and the crown prince, but I had never attended the council meeting that was held once a year. A year in Eldaria is equivalent to three years on Earth. Canines in Eldaria do not get along well with other shapeshifters. We were considered the rudest beings which is why my father never attended any council meetings. We didn't need anyone. We live our whole lives in our canine forms, not as a rule, but we just didn’t see any reason to transform into our human form. Before arriving on Earth I had transformed into a human only two or three times just to see what I would look like. We didn’t need words to communicate either. We would growl and read each other minds and, sometimes, if we wanted to mess around we would put fake thoughts in the other’s mind and laugh the whole time.
It was usually the tenth day of the month that Eli, Aria, and I would make plans to witness the bright sunlight. We would sneak out and venture to the light side of the forest without telling anyone. When we came back we saw Mom, Dad, and half of the forest still asleep and the rest of the canines looking at us with murder-y eyes.
Zamorra, the powerful dark witch, I thought was a myth, but there she was sitting on my dad’s royal seat, and the possessed canines bowing before her. Her eyes landed on us and I decided to run rather than stand there and become her pawn. I clutched Aria and threw Eli on my back and started to run. I dodged her eternal sleep spell attacks. Lashing out in anger she cursed me to turn into a demonic, vicious wolf every full moon. I kept running and I came out of my dark kingdom for the first time. I realized that the silver moon’s glow against the purple sky actually emanated shiny sparks. I didn't know where to turn so I started running towards the mountain. I thought the fate keepers might help me.
I thought Zamorra would have to give up chasing me once I escaped the forest, but to my disappointment, she remained relentless in her pursuit. She continued to chase me beyond the confines of the forest. As I looked on, a fate keeper tossed me a key and opened a portal in my path. Eli caught the key, but he immediately lost his balance and dropped it. Aria happened to catch the falling key by some miracle. I had a brief moment of joy and soon Aria lost her grip on my legs and tumbled to the ground. It was at that precise moment that Eli and I leaped into the portal.
I was curious as to Zamorra's motives for attacking our kingdom and what her plans were once she was in power. It's unsettling to think about what she might do next. After all this time, I still have no answers to these questions. Eli and I found ourselves trapped on this Earth because Aria had fallen with the key back in Eldaria. Eli and I resigned ourselves to remaining here forever. I'm afraid going back is impossible without a key.