Medicinal

Medicinal
Essence leaned her head against the window of the limo. Watching the people gawk at the international flags as they drove through the city, she rolled her eyes. “Couldn’t come in anything more discreet, like a punch buggy?” she asked sarcastically.

Kano could feel the anger and sadness coming from her direction. His wolf grunted against his chest.

“Fix it… I don’t like her feeling that way…”

Nodding, Kano faced her. “That would have proven problematic for a few reasons,” he replied to her dismissively. “I’d like to say it’s because the flag gives me diplomatic immunity, but the truth is I’ve grown to become a bit of a snob like Cayden.” He showed his Cartier watch. “I have only two wrists, but for the life of me, I can’t stop buying these. I’ve even gained this rule that my socks must match the expensive nature of my watch!” Laughter filled the limo as he pretended to be in distress, and Essence tried her hardest to not engage. He turned up the volume on Kanon’s earphones and then let out a smirk. “Besides, I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to fit into a Volkswagen beetle. As you used to remark quite often, I am quite huge.”

Essence’s mouth dropped, and she looked from him to Gregory, who sank in his seat, and pretended to be occupied with his phone. Face flushed, she cut her eyes at the amusement on Kano’s face. She leaned in. “And as huge as you are, if I remember correctly, it was a small buggy that accommodated your size like a champ, while effortlessly giving you the ride of your life to your favorite destination.”

“Oh, shit!” Gregory shouted, covering his mouth. He gave Kano an apologetic look. “Sorry Alpha, but that was a good one.”

Seeing Essence let out a smile, Kano shook his head and muttered, “Fucking hell” under his breath.

As the limo pulled up to a large brick house, Essence clasped her hands in front of her. “Kano?”

“Hm?”

“The ladies you’re about to meet are rogues.” His eyes tinged gold, and she shook her head. “Don’t. You may have finessed some shit for me, but we both know I’m technically one too, and since I’m assuming you all thought Greg was dead, he technically is as well.” She whispered, “Which means Kanon is as well.”

Kano steamed at her. “That’s what happens when you leave and denounce your pack. All links are lost.” His face hardened. “Though I suspect you knew that when you made the official declaration.”

Her eyes saddened for a moment before she pulled herself together. “Be respectful to these women, please…without them, I would be dead.” She paused, then twisted her lips. “Let me rephrase that to something actually important to you. Without them and Greg, there would be no Kanon.” Saying nothing else, she hastened from the car, taking Kanon with her.
As Kano started to leave, Gregory stopped him. “Alpha?” he said, fidgeting with his fingers. “I wish not to overstep, but I would hate myself if I didn’t say something.”

Kano nodded and folded his arms to his chest. “I’m listening.”

“Can you lay off Luna? I know you’re mad at her, but she really can’t take the added stress. It’s not good for her.”

Kano sat pensively, thinking about what his daughter had said only hours earlier. He leaned into Gregory.

“What is it you aren’t telling me?”

“Hurry up! I’m hungry, and Kanon’s tired, s-h-i-t!” Essence shouted, pouting. Quickly, Gregory darted from the limo to avoid Kano’s question.



Brenda rapped loudly as she went to answer the knock she heard at the door. “Ass naked in the kitchen, whipping up the best batch to give the fiends for the green—” Seeing Kanon, she stopped and called back into the house, “Wrap it up downstairs, ladies, baby K is here!”

“And Alpha Kano,” Essence said slowly.

Eyes wide, Brenda darted and began to frantically clean up. Adjusting the Healthy Living magazines on the coffee table, she quickly lit one of her favorite holiday scented candles. “Are you crazy?! You don’t bring no alpha to the trap house! Fuck is he doing here, anyway?! I thought he lived far away or some shit!” she said, turning on the home shopping network.

Essence grimaced. “Yeah, that’s a story for a time when I’m not already pissed off, but relax. I told him I wanted him to meet you both. You’ve taken such good care of me, Kanon, and Gregory. I think it’s time we take care of you.”

“You’re talking about going legit, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. We’re going back to Blood Moon with him, and I want you and Eri to come. Who knows? You might even meet your mate there.”

Brenda rolled her eyes. “Boo bitch, boo. I was married for six years, been there, done that,” she said.

“With someone who wasn’t your mate. Maybe it will be a different experience.”

Cutting her eyes, she finally nodded. “Fine, but it depends on what Ericka says, she’s in charge after all.” Seeing Kano arrive up the steps with Gregory, she nodded her head in approval. “Alright Essence! You know I got a knack for this. I just know he used to be petting the hell out of that kitty.” Essence punched her in the arm, and she coughed. “My bad. Um, hello potential alpha dude—shit, I don’t know—fuck I wasn’t prepared for an interview, Essence! I’m all sweaty and shit, and I don’t even have on my good wig!” Backing up, she bumped into a ginger long-haired woman.

“Kano, this is beautiful, funny, loving… potentially volatile, all-around insane, Brenda.” Essence said, seeing the confusion on Kano’s face. She pointed to the other woman. “This is Ericka. She’s well… she’s—”

“I’m a medicine woman,” Ericka interjected. She shook Kano’s hand. “Nice to meet you, red wolf. You certainly are the force your luna said you were.”

“Nice to meet you as well,” he replied, unsure of what to say. There was something about the two wolves in front of him that made him extremely uncomfortable. It was as if they could see his very soul and could read his every thought.

Ericka smirked. “We make many people feel that way.”

“What way?”

“Like we can read the hell out of them and they’re right!” Brenda said, snapping her fingers. She turned to Ericka. “If he wants us, can we go? Please! Please! I like him, and we love Essence… can we go?!”

Ericka tilted her head. “Well, what’s it to be? I know the moment you heard we were rogues your irritability peaked as much as your curiosity. Now that you’ve met us, do you think we’d fit in at Blood Moon, Alpha Kano?”

“Absolutely not, but that’s why I’d like you to consider joining,” he said, smirking.

Seeing the three shake hands, Essence felt her heart leap, knowing she would need all the support she could get for her return.



As everyone slept on the plane, Essence pulled her legs to her chest. Smelling Kano’s scent, she turned. “I thought you would have been sleeping.”

He shook his head. “No, I want to keep an eye on you to make sure you don’t escape.”

She could see the slight gleam in his eyes. “You do sleep heavy,” she said, giving him a small smile.

“And I continue to, even after five years.” They both sat in silence, then Kano looked at her. “I was way out of line for what I said to you. No matter how I feel about things, using your pain against you was low, and it will never happen again.”
Essence nodded. “Thank you. I don’t want to fight with you.” She looked out of the window. “Especially knowing I still have to face Ani, Cayden, Rafael, Fontaine, Stephan, so many others that I’ve hurt.”

Leaning in, Kano grabbed her hands. “That’s what’s so strange about this. I thought I’d uncover a cold beast when I arrived at that apartment and yet”—he rubbed her knuckles under his thumbs—“I find you are still the same you.”

She pulled her hands back. “And yet I’m different in so many ways. Not that it matters to you, you’ve made that clear.”

“What I said earlier—”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Then I’m at a loss,” he said, looking at her in confusion. Seeing her face turn into a scowl, he backed away. “Maybe we should just sleep.”

“Yes, maybe we should.”

As Kano left to retreat to his section of the jet, Essence covered her mouth with her hands. She pulled out the return to sender letter she’d been carrying since it arrived almost five years ago. Opening it, she read it.

Do not contact me or anyone in the royal family anymore. Your lies of treachery in Blood Moon are without warrant and lack grounds for further investigation, provided your initial reason for leaving…. As for your illness and the potential of an heir, you can…

She quickly closed the letter and balled it tightly in her hands. Eyes blue, she sobbed silently as she listened to her daughter snore like the cutest baby bear.