Chapter 20: Can't Hold Water

Two weeks Later

Standing on the platform in Rafael’s shop, Cayden fiddled with Kano’s suit jacket for the hundredth time before sighing. “Whelp, it’s official. Either Hercules loaned you his arms, or you must stop working out until after my wedding.” Scoffing, Kano squeezed Cayden’s arm and then smirked. Cayden seethed, “I am not puny!” Seeing Kano nod got under his skin and he sneered. “At least I don’t have to take my claiming frustrations out on the dumbbells. I’d be a heavyweight too if I had to do everything in my power to keep from biting Stasia.”

Kano gasped and then cut his eyes low. Reaching out, his suit jacket ripped when he punched Cayden in the arm. Cayden glared. “Keep your hands to yourself and stop ruining your wedding tux, dammit! Rafael is already pissed about the last two you ruined!” he shouted. They both froze, hearing a loud scream from the back.

Eyes gold, Rafael stormed into the fitting room and shouted at Kano, “I know damn motherfucking well you didn’t mess up another jacket! I know you didn’t because you know how much other stuff I have to do for this wedding, and you wouldn’t be that much of a dick. I just know you wouldn’t hurt me like that. I know you would not destroy all that is me and you that way.”

Quickly hiding his arm behind his back, Kano shook his head feverishly. He was less concerned about getting in trouble, and more about disappointing his friend. Still, he couldn’t help it; Cayden had been pissing him off for the last couple of days. Ragging on him constantly about not marking Essence, especially after finding out from Anastasia how badly she wanted him to.

Sighing, he presented his arm, and waited for Rafael to fuss, but he just twisted his face, and looked at the tormented alpha. “Kano, does destroying your clothes have anything to do with you not marking Essence? Because she cried after her fourth bridesmaid dress try on because she didn’t think any of them would make you carry her into the woods and big bad wolf her,” he said. Kano’s eyes widened, and they shot from him to his brother.

Cayden rolled his. “I told you she’s been freaking out about it, and the more I think about it, I can see her point.”Kano cocked his head back in disbelief, then pulled out the note that he’d been carrying since the day it arrived at the castle. Handing it to Cayden, he pointed hard at the words, and Cayden nodded in understanding. “No, no, I get it. I just meant it’s clear she wants to stay and be with you. She knows about what happened to you, about who you really are, and she almost annihilated Emon for you. I’m starting to think we’re not giving her as much credit as we should in being able to take care of herself.” Cayden let out a smirk. “After all, she already has a nickname in town.”

Kano arched his brow and Rafael laughed and pointed his finger in the air. “The Silent Alpha’s Vixen,” he said. “Mainly because of what happened at the square and the um… schoolyard incident.”

Kano groaned loudly, remembering when he had to carry off a screaming Essence last week for the second time. They’d been on a date to get ice cream and ran into a little girl who had been crying with a bruised knee. As with anyone who met her, it didn’t take long for Essence to get the child to open up about what happened. Upon finding out some high schoolers were behind the attack on the little wolf they came to know as Caitlyn, Essence asked for the school address and told her to head back to school, all the while assuring her, she’d meet her on the school grounds after.

Perhaps after the moment in the square, Kano should have known there was always a calm before the storm. They’d spent the rest of their day laughing, kissing, and holding hands, until Essence asked him to accompany her into a store. There, to his confusion, he’d watched her purchase a school uniform in her size. She put it on, pulled her hair into a ponytail, and kissed him on the cheek before skipping away. It only took two phone calls from Cayden for him to gather that Essence had gone to the school grounds pretending to be Caitlyn’s older sister. Arriving just in time to stop a slaughter, Kano threw her over his shoulder as she screamed out loud,

“Mess with my little sister again and see what happens! I’m coming to your house to beat you, your mama, you grandmama, even great grandma won’t be spared! I’mma beat every ass that needs it! Keeping fucking with my little sister if you want to! I will wrap this pleated skirt around your motherfucking—”

Pulling Kano from his memories, Cayden patted him on the shoulder. “You know, technically, she had a point. Those high schoolers are at least twice Essence’s human age. Not to mention, they’ve apparently given up on bullying anyone, and now bring Caitlyn ice cream every week for her and her older manic sister,” he said, chuckling.

Kano shook his head at Cayden and whispered, “I want her to be safe. I want it to be perfect.”

“What? Perfect? Ohhhh…” Scrunching up his face, he sized Kano up. “That has to be the corniest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s just positively adorable.” He gasped. “By God, Rafael, do you think he could possibly… love her?” Hearing Rafael snicker got under Kano’s skin so badly, he punched Cayden again. Holding his bruised arm, Cayden growled. “Stop hitting me. I’m trying to give you brotherly advice, so listen!”

Taking off the now beyond destroyed jacket, Kano handed it to Rafael bashfully. He put on his best apologetic look that eventually made Rafael give him a playful smile. “So annoyingly awesome,” Rafael chided before walking to the back. Stepping down from the platform, Kano tried his best to ignore Cayden, who was hot on his trail.

“You can’t ignore me. We’re going to talk about this,” Cayden said. Kano scoffed, finally stopping when Cayden grabbed his shoulders and made him look at him. “Big brother,” Cayden said, his serious expression calming Kano. “You need to talk to her. Tell all of why you don’t want to turn her yet because six months is coming to a close, and she’s already told you she wants to stay with you. Do you really want to give her time to change her mind?” Kano paced back and forth in thought before hugging Cayden, who smiled. “Good for you, Kano,” he said, releasing him.

As Kano turned the corner of the shop, he collided with Gregory, accidentally knocking him to the ground. Quickly standing, Gregory stared at him with wide eyes. Patting the shocked man, Kano briefly gave him an apologetic look before darting out of the shop.

Gregory stood, completely floored. Brother… Kano… he couldn’t be… he… oh my God… he’s been alive this entire time. He looked around in utter confusion before backing out of the door.

“My, my, don’t you look flabbergasted,” Emon said behind him as he waited for Gregory to turn around. Seeing Gregory’s pale face, he tilted his head. “You look like you have a secret, and we both know that you want to tell it. You couldn’t hold water to save your life, so spit it out.”

Gregory patted his chest, the words bubbling in his throat. Looking from right to left, he beckoned for Emon to come closer. With a giddy look on his face, he squealed, “You will never believe what I just found out.”