Giving What You Get

Giving What You Get
Upon seeing Essence and Anastasia, Gregory raced to them. “I almost made a stupid mistake!” he groaned.

“Okay. Tell us what this almost mistake was, and we’ll decide if it’s stupid,” Essence responded.

Nodding, Gregory reached into his pocket and pulle Zd out a velvet box. Her eyes shot up to his, “Woah…”

“I know! I don’t even understand it, okay!? I just feel”—he waved his hands dramatically over his chest—“all up in here!” Anastasia smirked at him, and he glared. “Don’t you laugh at me. Damn my stupid heart!”

She folded her lips. “I would never laugh at you. I think you should ask.” She looked at Essence, who nodded in agreement.

“What?” he said, shocked.

“Yeah, I mean, you two have been paired for a long time. You may not be imprinted, but I remember all the times Rafael tried to help you in the past.”

Gregory thought about the days when Rafael would see him passed out on the street, and how every time he’d made sure that he’d gotten home. The way he brought him meals, and though he refused to be with him—especially after their failed date—he showed Gregory more decency than he was given in return.

“He’s going to say no,” Gregory murmured under his breath.

“Won’t know unless you ask, Greg. Plus, it’s not like you haven’t been hiding that thing in your dresser for years now,” Essence said, sneering.

“How did you know that?!”

She waved him off. “Oh please. All you talked about was Rafael. Don’t take a rocket scientist to know that forever was on your mind. Plus, I may have seen it that one time I was steal—borrowing a pair of socks.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. “Now, all I’m saying is it’s been years. We all know if it’s a yes, Rafael is going to go above and beyond for the wedding, which means most likely a long engagement—you get where I’m going with this?”

Gregory’s face paled. “I’ll be waiting forever.”

The two women laughed, but quickly stopped when they saw Rafael approaching.

Giving them a hug, he looked nervously at Gregory. “H-hey I was wondering”—he rubbed the back of his neck—“what I’m trying to say is that I have something I want to—”

“I have something I want to ask you!” Gregory blurted, making Rafael jump. He looked to Essence and Anastasia, mortified that he’d scared him. “Sorry,” he said, bashfully.

“It’s okay,” Rafael replied, twisting his lips, “Yours seems more important than mine, so you go first.”

His nerves in overdrive, Gregory felt his heart palpitate. He heard his wolf growl.

“Ask!”

It pushed him forward, causing him to stumble and bump into Rafael. His hand crashed against Rafael’s chest, and he panicked when he saw him look down. “I—” His words stopped as Rafael took the box from his hand and opened it. Seeing the wedding band, Rafael cocked his head back and laughed. His eyes teared, and Gregory snatched the box back. “You don’t have to laugh at me,” he said, hurt.

Rafael waved his hands. Pulling a velvet box from his own pocket, he opened it, showing the same band. “Not sure how that happened, but apparently we think alike in more ways than one. I was planning to ask you today; you just beat me to it,” he said, grinning.

“Oh my God!” Essence belted, and she and Anastasia laughed uncontrollably. Rafael and Gregory shortly joined them, before embracing one another. Sharing a kiss, each slipped the engagement bands on the other’s finger and Essence’s smile widened seeing the pure love and happiness on their faces.



Kano stalked back and forth in the courtyard, replaying his conversation with Cayden. Every time he tried to think of the great brotherly advice he’d given, he found it clouded by stupidity. “Asshole,” he grumbled under his breath.

“Daddy, that’s not nice!” Kanon said as she and Essence approached. She tapped Essence. “Mommy, tell daddy that’s not nice.”

Essence let out a smirk. “Yeah, daddy, that’s not nice.” His mouth dropped, and she laughed. “So easy.” He glared at her, and she laughed again. “I’m just teasing. You do have to put money in her piggy bank though.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “I had to put quite a few coins in for the minor incident from the other day.”

Kano chuckled. “How big is this piggy bank of hers because with your mouth…” Essence returned his glare, and he laughed harder. He turned to Kanon. “So every time I use a bad word, I’m to pay you?” She nodded, and he shook his head. “A true hustle if I’ve ever heard one.” He pulled a fifty from his wallet and handed it to her. “Here. With the way your mother vexes me, you’ll certainly have enough in a week to purchase your own island,” he teased.

“Why you—” Essence said and shifted into her wolf. He shifted in response, and the two circled one another. Playfully, she charged at him, and the two tumbled around the courtyard. Pulling away from him, she hip bumped Kanon and grinned. “I’m calling in a ringer!” she shouted.

Kano tilted his head in confusion as Kanon shifted. Sliding her little paws across the ground, her ears perked up, and she charged at her father, laughing. Bumping into him, Kano’s eyes widened, and he fell on his side dramatically. Yowling in pretend pain, he covered his snout with his leg. “My own child!” he yelled.

“Give up?!” Kanon said, giving him a toothy grin as she returned to her mother’s side.

“Indeed! I’m no match for the two of you. I know when I’m defeated.” His eyes gleamed as he watched her and Essence jump up and down, dancing.

“Yay! We’re spoiled, and we got our way!” they sang, making him laugh.



That Night

“So, Ani called it; Cayden is totally not speaking to me,” Essence said as she entered Kano’s room.

He shook his head. “You know he’s dramatic.”

“Yup. He said, and I quote, ‘you have dishonored me.’ Then he made me promise that he’s allowed to get Bugaboo her own pony.”

Kano rose. “You told him no, right?” he asked. Seeing her rub the back of her neck, he blew steam from his nose.

“Kano, she’s just a—”

“He’s always trying to show me up. I’m waking up extra early tomorrow to make sure I buy her two ponies and her own stable.” Essence doubled over laughing, and he realized how petty he sounded. His face reddened. “Sorry, I never knew this level of jealousy could exist.”

Nodding in understanding, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “I get it, but if it makes you feel better, she asked to spend the entire day with you tomorrow.”

He gave her a bright smile. “Really?”

“Mhm. She made it clear I’m not even allowed to go.” She backed away and reached into her bag. “By the way, these are yours.” Kano took the papers, and his breath caught. They were pictures drawn by Kanon with her age written on top by Essence. There were ones with her and Gregory, ones with her and Essence, ones with Brenda and Ericka, and some with animals. Leaning over, Essence realized her mistake. “Sorry, I gave you the wrong ones,” she said. Taking them from him, she handed him a bigger pile.

Kano covered his mouth, seeing that Kanon had drawn him. Different colors and sizes, each picture showed what she’d imagined they looked like together as she grew up. He handed the pictures back to Essence, sat down on the bed, and covered his face. “I’m having a hard time, Belle. A really hard time,” he whispered.

Her bottom lip trembled, and she pulled the drawings to her chest. “I-I’m sorry. I swear I didn’t intend to keep her from you. I made a mistake, and I know I was wrong for what I did... I’m really sorry, Adam.”

He raised his head. “That’s not what’s bothering me. I know in my heart you would never do something like that to me without a reason. I knew it the moment I saw the pictures on your fridge, and how quickly Kanon took to me when we first met. What’s bothering me is that I didn’t know you were pregnant. I didn’t know you were sick, or that you needed me. I’m having such a hard time with that because you’re my mate and I couldn’t— I didn’t— pay enough attention.

“I think back, and I remember so vividly those last few days, and how all the signs were there. I should have picked up that your wolf was in protective mode. There should have never been a moment when you had to face that kind of choice you did without me. I’m not taking anything away from how strong you are to have done what you did, but I’d be a liar if I said it doesn’t hurt that you even had to do that when I should have paid enough attention to see how much you truly needed me.”

Essence grabbed onto him and ran her fingers through his hair. Feeling him still, she murmured, “I’m learning that we can’t change what happened.” Moving his arms, she pulled herself into his lap. “But I know you will take care of Kanon. I know you’ll protect her and love her like she needs to be. She already adores you so much.” She caressed his face. “So do I.” He pulled her close, and she whispered, knowing he wouldn’t understand what she meant, “You’re the only song that makes the idea of whistling desirable… more than desirable.”

Kano raised his head after hearing her words. His pale eyes looked at her with so much emotion, she almost backed away. Clashing his lips against hers, she felt her wolf come alive. He pulled away from her and made her stand. Confusion found her face until she saw him pull the mattress from the bed. She grabbed the comforter and pillows, and they made their way to the balcony. Setting up everything, they laid comfortably under the stars. She listened to the bustle of the people walking on the streets.

“So much has changed in a great way,” she said, and he laid on his side, facing her.

“A lot has also stayed the same in a great way.” Her face flushed, and he leaned into her and kissed her deeply. “I love you,” he said, his eyes tinging gold.

“I love you, too,” she replied as hers turned blue.
Kano captured her lips again, and then gently held onto her throat. Moving her head to the side, he kissed the mark behind her ear. She shivered against him, and he repeated the action. Pulling him to her, she held his face between her hands. Saying nothing, the two stared at one another, and then he grabbed her hands and kissed her fingers. Removing her shirt and bottoms, he felt her still for a moment before placing her hand over her scar.

“I know you saw it already and read about it, and it looks a lot better now because of Ericka, but—”

He gently grabbed her hands and pulled them up. “You don’t have to explain. I’m so grateful that Gregory did what was needed, and that you trusted him to do so. It’s just one more thing I love about you.” Kissing her again, he moved to her neck, and then Kano unclasped the front of her bra. Releasing her breasts, he tilted his head. “Well, hello again you two,” he schmoozed. “That was an evil trick you played on me before.”

Essence laughed loudly. “Stop talking to my breasts, Adam.”

“What? They said hello first. I wish not to be impolite.” Kissing her body again, he took one of her nipples into his mouth. Teasing it gently between his teeth, he felt her arch against him. Giving the other the same attention, Kano ran his tongue down her stomach, making sure to gently kiss the horizontal cut etched on her skin at the bottom. Essence gripped onto the mattress the moment his tongue landed between her legs. Yanking her to him, he drew intense circles against her clit. She jerked, and he held her steady, enjoying the way her moans filled the air. Grabbing onto his hair, she screamed his name as she climaxed against his tongue. She sat up and scowled at him, and he wiped his beard. “Why am I being glared at?” he asked, smirking.

“You know why.”

He shook his head in amusement as his eyes returned to their normal color. “No clue. I thought the screaming meant you were having a grand time,” he said.

She cut her eyes at him. “Where did you learn it?” When he laughed loudly, she cut her eyes smaller.

“Where? And you better say your wolf and porn.”

“Yes, my wolf, and I do not watch porn!” he huffed, flustered. Not wanting to lie, he rolled his eyes. “Much anymore as of late.”

“What?!” Essence shouted before laughing uncontrollably. “You watched—”

He covered her mouth. “Don’t start with me. Five years is a long time, especially after finally being allowed into candy land after a century.” He grumbled. “You know, it really is your fault. I was doing perfectly fine until you brought your heathen ways and corrupted me all those years ago.”

“You weren’t complaining about the corruption.”

He made a dirty face. “Well, it’s hard to complain when you’re drowning in extremely wet pussy.”

“Stop!” she yelled, her face flushed.

He laughed loudly. “Again, also your fault for leaving me alone with Cayden. I’ve become rather vulgar.” Easily removing his own clothes, he positioned himself between her legs. “Now that I’ve answered your rather accusatory question, can we—”

Essence pulled him down to her, and he slipped his tongue in her mouth. His eyes turned gold again as he put his head in the crook of her neck. Feeling his erect manhood against her, she closed her eyes. Gripping onto his back, she let out a gasp when he entered her. Kano’s breath harshened as he felt the snug fit. He started to tease her about it, but the word “Fuck” fell from his lips instead. Waiting for her to adjust to him, he slowly started to thrust.

Matching his tempo, Essence widened her legs, and she heard him curse again. Pushing against his chest, she quickly straddled him. Rolling her hips into him, Kano grabbed onto her and thrusted hard inside. He sat up, running his firm hand against her neck, making her look upward. Essence dug her nails into his back and her eyes burned bright blue. Eyes locked with the stars above them, she climaxed over and over until he finally released.

Exhausted, the two collapsed back onto the bed, and Kano pulled her into his arms. Placing the covers over them, he shortly heard a light snore. He brought her left hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers, her words still playing through his mind.

‘You’re the only song that makes the idea of whistling desirable… more than desirable.’

He felt his heart quicken at the realization that he never truly asked her to marry him, and she never truly accepted.

I have to fix this. He thought as he looked at the stars, not knowing that Essence’s own thoughts had penetrated her once peaceful sleep.

He didn’t know that what had ingrained itself in her mind was the fact that even after everything, they’d fallen back into their little bubble. A bubble that the world once came and popped, forcing her to physically leave and take his heart with her. She couldn’t help but fear what would happen when the bubble popped again. When he became alpha, and he married her out of duty as he said. When the man who slammed the ring in her hand demanding she marry him returned, replacing the one who currently held her. The day she’d walk down the aisle to the empty shell that remained of the man who’d emotionally left, taking her heart with him.

Her favorite song—the only one worth whistling—had slammed a ring in her hand that was now nowhere to be found. A ring that he made a demand with, when the Kano that was holding her would have asked. She knew he would hold her prisoner, while her Kano would have been a lifetime of freedom. She was certain he would soon emerge again, and her Kano would disappear as she once had.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, still asleep, unknowingly grabbing his attention. His eyes shifted from the stars, and he heard her lightly sob in her sleep. He started to wake her until he heard her murmur something that broke his heart. She clung to him so tightly, he could see her knuckles whiten as she said the four words again. “Please, don’t leave me.”