Sakura
It was raining like a tropical storm outside. Lightning sizzled, loud thunder roared and the torrents of rain hitting the roof of the house was so loud, I couldn't hear the television. I wiped my hands on my apron and switched the channel to the news and waited for the weather forecaster to go on. Strange. She didn't mention anything about the rain tonight. Lightning flickered again like a light of a camera and thunder followed it, making the whole house vibrate. A moment ago, the full moon was shining, glistening so beautifully. Then, all of sudden, dark clouds appeared, covering the moon and releasing an angry burst of rain. Oh, well, the weather was always unpredictable.I was washing the dishes while Winston, my husband, went around the house making sure the windows were all shut tight. The wind was howling outside. He didn't want the rain water to stain our hardwood floors.Winston and I have been married for quite some time. I'm a first generation Japanese-Filipino while my husband is Bristish. We met in California when Winston became an exchange student at the University I was attending. After we met, we became inseparable and after we graduated, we decided to get married and start a family of our own.Winston grew up in the rural areas of Anglia and wanted a quiet place to live where we could enjoy skiing, nature hikes, and sightseeing when we felt like it. As for me, I enjoyed the noise, traffic, hustle and pollution of the city. So, we decided to meet in the middle. We decided to move to Whitefish, Montana.My mother, being Filipino, didn't like the idea of me moving to another state. She had no problem if I moved an hour away just as long as it was still inside the boundary of the great state of California. She understood a married couple's cleaving and leaving, she just couldn't understand why we had to move over a thousand miles away to a state where I didn't have any friends. When we said our goodbyes, I gave her a hug and told her that was the beauty of moving, you get the opportunity to meet new people and hopefully make new friends. She told me I would be back in six months or maybe a year, since I was still basking in wedded bliss. Well, that was five years ago, and up to this day, my mom still thinks I will be coming home even if I have proven her wrong.Five years of just the two of us...I threw the dish towel on the countertop. JUST THE TWO OF US! I looked down at my flat stomach and leaned on the countertop, trying to shake off the feelings of emptiness. The only thing missing was a baby. My mother had given birth to four of us, my sister has three of her own. My brothers had one each. I was the only one left who didn't have kids. My family thought we were waiting for the right time before we decide to become pregnant. I just didn't have the heart to tell them I couldn't have kids.Winston and I have repeatedly tried to conceive but it never happened. We did everything everyone suggested. Keep your legs up for five minutes after sex, stop drinking, take your basal body temperature so you know when you're fertile, eat more seafood, take your vitamins... But nothing. NOTHING!My bestfriend told me the easiest way to conceive was to see a doctor. So one day, I decided to get a fertility check-up by the local doctor. After the results of the series of tests came out, the doctor called me to come see her. I sat in the middle of her office like I was being shot at repeatedly. First bullet..."Mrs. Wright, you are diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS." Second bullet..."I can put you on fertility medication for the meantime so we can induce ovulation and see if you can conceive." Third bullet... "If all fails, we can try IVF." I tried fertility medication for a year. It didn't work. I discussed the IVF procedure to Winston and he told me, "If it is God's will, He'll give us a baby. For now, Sakura, let's just be happy and content with what we have."Aaaahhhh! I wanted to scream my frustration. So many women out there getting pregnant without even trying, leaving their babies or either having them aborted and here I am willing to offer my life to another human being, but will never be given the opportunity of the gift of life. This was one of life's little ironies and I didn't like it, not one bit.I sighed looking out the window. I saw a pair of car lights from the distance. Seemed the car was parked out in front of our yard. The lights of the car suddenly turned off."Winston," I called. "Honey, there's a car parked in front of our yard.""You sure?" Winston asked, peering through the window. "I can't see a damn thing outside. It's so dark.""Yes. I just saw the lights turn off. Maybe it's the neighbors. They might need some help."Winston went to the closet and took out his rifle. "I'll go check it out. I hear the dogs barking. If that were Chris, they wouldn't be growling like that. Heard over the news, there's been a number of break-ins in our area. Better safe than sorry." Winston checked the barrel of the gun to make sure it was loaded and headed to the front door to see who was parked in front of our house.I heard him open the door and then he yelled, "Hey you!"All of a sudden, I heard the car screech away without even turning the headlights on. I frantically wiped my hands and headed to the door when Winston called me. "Sakura come here quick. It's a baby." A baby?With a look of confusion, I peeked from behind him and saw a baby carrier and a baby bag on our doorstep.I walked up to the carrier and found a beautiful baby lying in it. I picked up the carrier and brought the baby inside away from the rain. I gently placed the carrier on our dining table and unwrapped the blanket to check the baby's gender. The baby was a girl! A beautiful baby girl!She had golden blonde hair and sunkissed skin. Her cheeks were pink and she had a beautiful necklace with a moon shaped pendant on her. She started to stir from her sleep so, I gently picked her up and started rocking her."There's a bottle here in the baby bag, Sakura," Winston said, while handing me the milk bottle. I brought the bottle to her lips and she immediately started sucking. She was obviously hungry.The rain abruptly stopped and the moonlight shone through the window of the dining room. It was strange. The light shone on her. The baby opened her eyes a bit and I saw she had amber colored eyes. So rare, so beautiful. My baby was so beautiful."Winston, we have a baby." Winston looked at me like I was insane, but I knew in my heart God had granted me my one wish, to be a mother.I looked down at her as she glowed beneath the moonlight...I will protect you, I promise, Kiaria.Good fortune will follow you always.MagnusI was pacing up and down in my study thinking of what I could do so the Council of Wolves would retract the bounty they had so generously offered in exchange for me.Now that Celeste is dead, I could do whatever I want without any obstacles in my way. Although, I'm still ticked off I wasn't able to find that damn ring of hers. The Moon Goddess never plays fair especially for a big bad wolf like me.The Council of Wolves were starting to be a real pain in the neck. They had announced they were offering a bounty for my head, whether I be dead or alive. I mean, why would they care if I sell drugs or smuggle stuff? It's not like I'm doing it to the wolves."Magnus, kidnapping Omegas and making them sex slaves isn't something the Council of Elders would willfully condone. Why don't we just focus on humans? The Omegas are still our brethren," Lilith said, after she read the sheet of paper the Council Elders had put up at the gates of territories of all the wolf packs in the country. S
High Elder I had my chauffeur drive me near the estate of the Rogue Legion where I got out to walk the rest of the way. It was a far walk to the gates of the territory, but I did not want my driver to be accosted by the rogues while I conducted business.I patiently waited at the gate for Magnus where a number of rogues were snarling at me, but because I was the High Elder, they could not attack knowing it would mean their deaths. It was a good fifteen minutes before Magnus himself came out of his mansion to greet me, his harem of dark witches not far behind him."High Elder Alfred Evans, what a nice surprise! I would invite you in, but I know you will decline so we can just talk out here in the open instead. I do commend you for your bravery. Coming here unaccompanied." Magnus shook his head. "I could kill you right where you stand." Magnus chuckled, obviously delighted in the fact I had stooped down to the level of a messenger."Enough of the threats, Magnus. We all know you can not
(Present Day)Later tonight when the Harvest Moon starts to rise will be my 18th birthday. Currently I am a freshman at a university here in Montana near home, although I had wanted to enroll elsewhere. My mother didn't allow me to go to school outside the state saying she preferred family close by. As always, she would say it was the Filipino in her. I tried to argue the fact that she actually left her family in California, but she went technical and justified her decision to keep me home by asserting the fact that she lived at home when she was in college. Then, she threw in "technology" into the debate and pointed out I have a grandmother who is on standby through video call 24/7. So, now when my mother asks me where my grandmother is, I tell her she's in my pocket which usually earns me a dirty look from her. It's true anyway. My smartphone is always in my pocket.It was chaos in our house. My mother was going to throw a Harvest Moon Thanksgiving party for my dad tonight. Actually
IoThe sun was starting to set when I arrived at the large home of the Wrights. Winston Wright, proud owner of The Wright Savings Bank, had invited me to his home for his wife's Harvest Moon Thanksgiving party. I decided it was the least I could do since Winston had just invested a large amount of money into my business.Winston Wright was a savvy investor. He earned his first several millions by investing in upcoming tech companies which are currently worth billions. He bought some foreclosed property around the ski slopes in the mountain and turned it into one of the best ski resorts here in Whitefish, Montana. Finally, he inherited a chain of banks from a very wealthy old friend, who named him his heir, for his friend had no children of his own. Winston Wright has doubled even tripled the bank's revenue since he took over. He is very successful and one lucky man. He has never lost money from an investment. I met Winston Wright at one of my family's fundraisers. He had tracked my fa
He looked like a modern day Adonis. The setting sun behind him casted an ethereal glow on his very tall form which made him look like a Greek God. He was beautiful, there was no other word to describe him. He had dark hair cut neat and short, chiseled features, full lips, a nice nose and clear blue eyes. When he took off his shirt, I had to look away. He was very proud of his physique, but why wouldn't he? His broad shoulders were wide, his chest muscles bulging and his stomach flat and taut. And his arms...his biceps protruded from his arms and were hard to the touch. When I touched his arm, his muscles tensed beneath my touch, extremely sensitive. I apparently affected him as much as he was affecting me.He called me his mate the same time the voice in my head said it. It was strange. I didn't know what it meant even if this man assumed I did. The voice in my head screamed for me to kiss him. I didn't even know how to talk to him let alone kiss him. I have never once kissed a boy le
IoShe looked at me thinking I was joking, but I was dead serious. I wanted to taste those beautiful lips of hers. She stared at me for a few moments, weighing her options."Okay, but on the cheek." What was I to her? Her father? "Ah, no. On the lips. Like any normal couple," I reasoned."We aren't a normal couple. I've only known you for what? An hour? And you want me to kiss you?"She wrinkled her nose in distaste. "And if I don't kiss you, what will you do?" She raised an eyebrow, challenging me. My Luna thinks she can outsmart me."Well, I'll be coming with you...inside your room." I had to make it a tough decision for her or she wouldn't budge."I-I-I haven't kissed anyone before." She suddenly turns around and starts climbing the stairs again. "What I mean to say is, I haven't kissed a boy on the lips ever. But, I have had a boy come in my room before. Many times before. So, I guess you can come with." She motions to me to follow her. Damn, I thought I could trick her into kissin
Kiaria"That's my Auntie Yumi, Io. Aunt Yumi, please don't embarrass me. He's a guest." When my father said his name a while ago, it took me a second to process who he was. Io Hemming, the playboy millionaire. Every week his new girlfriend would be the face of the tabloid newspapers. I should know. My mom has a subscription of a tabloid paper for their crossword puzzle in the back. She leaves her paper on the countertop every morning which I read while I drink my morning cup of coffee. You had to wonder what did all these women see in Io Hemming anyway. Well, now that he's infront of me looking at me like I'm the love of his life, I know why these women would fall for him. He was handsome, smooth, rich and the look in his eyes could make any woman feel special."I heard he's your boyfriend from your mom. When your grandmother hears about this, she'll scold you," my Aunt Yumi warns me."Aunt Yumi, you guys know I'm a pretty good judge of character. Io, tell my aunt who I am to you. Go o
IoI was now accepted by the family, however with certain conditions. I was even given their approval to stay at the guesthouse for the time being. Tomorrow, I will contact a realtor and purchase a house in the neighborhood if not, land. I can always buy a tiny house and move in. At least I wouldn't be encroaching on the Wright's hospitality and I could at least have some freedom to move around since I was staying on my property.Kiaria wanted me to court her so, court I will. I had Marcus pick up some of my things at the hotel to bring here while I spend some time talking to Kiaria at their cozy backyard patio. She was allowed to drink some sangria while I had a glass of scotch. We sat down looking at the full moon and talking about anything we could think of."So, what do you do for a living, Io Hemming, aside from hogging the front page of the tabloids?" Kiaria's eyes were sparkling with her laughter. She did know me although not the way I wanted her to know me."I'm a businessman