A Wolf's Kiss

EPISODE 5: THE STORM WHISPERS

“Conri!” A voice called out from behind him, and he turned around to see his father, Alcide, striding towards him. Alcide Black was a formidable figure, his imposing stature accentuated by thick muscles and a network of scars that mapped his violent history. His small eyes, usually the color of aged cognac, held an inhumane intensity when shifted to their unnatural crimson hue.

“Father.” Conri nodded in greeting.

His father stopped beside him, following his son’s gaze out to the lake. “It’s good to be back, isn’t it? It holds a lot of memories, some better than others.”

Conri hummed in agreement, though his mind was preoccupied with other thoughts. The storm was almost here, and there were things that needed to be done before it hit. “The pack is settled in—we will go after the invaders tomorrow morning,” he said in a steady voice. “But first we need to get the mansion ready for the storm. It’s going to be a bad one.”

Alcide nodded, his expression serious. “Aye, the wind’s picking up something fierce. We’ve been gone too long—this place needs us now.”

Though they had their skyscraper building for Black Box Inc. in Aurora Bay, the mansion was more than just their home—it was the headquarters of their company, nestled within the reinforced walls of the mansion.

“The branch here has been running on autopilot,” Conri said frustratedly. “It’s time to get back on track. There’s been too much laziness while we were away.”

His father grunted in agreement. “We need to make sure everything’s in order. The humans can’t suspect a thing.”

Conri nodded his head. “Now that we’re back, I’d also be focusing on my firm—the construction is almost done. Blackwatch Protection Inc. would soon dominate the market.”

Alcide stared at his son—pride flashed in his eyes. “Aye, that’s the Black Way!" I’m proud of you, son.”

“Thank you—I’m ready for it. You prepared me for this.” Conri responded, meeting his father’s gaze—his eyes hardened with determination.

“Let’s get inside,” Alcide said, clapping a hand on his son’s shoulder.

They walked back toward the mansion, the snow crunching beneath their boots.

Father and son stepped through the heavy wooden doors and into the warmth of the mansion. The interior was just as he remembered, grand and imposing, with high ceilings with dark wood. paneling and stone fireplaces that crackled as if welcoming them. The pack members who had returned with them scattered throughout the mansion, settling in and preparing for the storm.

They were already gathered in the main hall, discussing the logistics of their move and the state of their businesses. Conri greeted them with a nod before taking his seat beside his father.

“Alcide, we’ve got reports coming in from California,” one of the clan members said, handing him a tablet. “Everything’s stable, but there has been some increase in activity around our properties.”

Alcide frowned, scanning the report, he said, “Keep a close watch on it. We can’t afford any slip-ups, not right now.”

The man nodded before leaving to retire to his temporary room in the house. It seemed like their move to Silverlake was already leaving them vulnerable in California. They would need to be vigilant so all their businesses remained secure.

The night wore on and the storm intensified. Conri stood by one of the large windows, watching the snow fall with a glass of whiskey in his hand.

***

The windows of the small, cozy cabin rattled. Cold air seeped through the walls, announcing the storm was going to start at any time. The television murmured in the background and relayed warnings of the blizzard, urging everyone in Crowbolt to stay indoors. The fire cracked in the fireplace, keeping them as warm as it could.

Dove stood at the kitchen sink, her hand busy scrubbing the dinner dishes. Her mind was far from what she was doing as she stared out at the dark sky, thinking about paying the school fees of the twins and her line manager at work, who was giving her a hard time. She wanted to take a breather, just a day to herself, and go to the public sauna on Blueberry Street for some relaxation, but it wasn’t a luxury she could afford with hardly any time on her hands.

In the living room, Ashley and Ashton were sprawled on the thick rug, they were working on their homework, their favorite toys around them being ignored. Usually, the duo were full of energy, but tonight they were restless, and Dove could tell. She was still monitoring their condition, they didn’t have the cold, but their temperature was hot. She let them sit in front of the fireplace to keep them warm and safe from the biting cold.

They had been unusually quiet during dinner, and now they were not playing dangerously with their toys. It was like they were waiting for something.

Suddenly, a gust of wind rattled the window, and the lights flickered, casting eerie shadows across the room. Ashley and Ashton froze, and their twilight eyes widened, reflecting the glow of the fire.

“Mommy, it’s so windy,” Ashton complained, his voice barely above a whisper, but Dove heard him.

“It’s just the storm, sweetie,” Dove replied, trying to keep the worry out of her voice that the twins were ill and she couldn’t get them to the hospital to get them checked. She prayed they didn’t start to feel worse before the storm passed. She shook it off and redirected her focus to drying the last plate.

Before Dove could put away the last plate, she heard the twins again.

“Mommy, mommy, look!” they called out in unison, this time their voices were filled with fear. She turned around, and the plate slipped from her grasp, crashing to the floor with a shattering sound that echoed in the room. Her heart jolted as she saw them standing in the middle of the living room, their small bodies trembling.