Volchok

The clock had struck past 6 in the morning, and the sun was yet to rise, but Selah had no luck finding sleep. Her eyes were burdened with dark bags, a common occurrence for her. She gazed out of the windowsill, yearning to witness that fleeting moment just before the sun graced the sky. The chirping of birds began to fill the air, and suddenly, she succumbed to the fatigue, and her eyes closed. In the darkness and silence, Selah knew this respite would be short-lived. The abrupt ringing of her alarm shattered the stillness. She groggily walked over to her bedside table and silenced the alarm, a sound she detested. With a sense of resignation, she headed towards the bathroom, turning left to face her reflection in the mirror.

Her dark hair cascaded smoothly down to her chest without a single wave, and her face, though flawless, bore the signs of exhaustion. Today was an important day for her, and she needed to be at her best. Nightmares were not an option. She turned on the cold water, waiting a moment before stepping into the shower. The icy water hit her like an electric shock, a sensation she despised but considered necessary to combat her weariness. Wrapping herself in a towel after the shower, she had already chosen the perfect dress for the day – a knee-length, royal blue turtleneck that accentuated her ivory skin and black hair. Completing the ensemble were black wedges and a necklace with a wolf pendant, a constant companion she never took off.

After getting ready, she left her apartment and began her drive to work. The journey to Lux, her workplace, took about an hour, which often led her to spend nights at the office. However, yesterday, her employer, Kelly, had urged her to go home and rest. But Kelly didn’t fully grasp Selah’s inability to function properly without adequate sleep. By the time she arrived, it was already 8 am. She parked in her usual spot and made her way to the main entrance, a route she rarely took to avoid attention, but today, she had no choice due to her tardiness. Walking through the seemingly endless hallway, she quickened her pace until she reached Kelly’s office.

She knocked twice, and Kelly instantly opened the door as if she had been standing there, eagerly awaiting someone’s arrival. “Goodness, Selah, out of all days, you chose today to be late,” Kelly chided while letting Selah in. “The agenda for the meeting is on the desk,” she added, engrossed in a file. “The Russians will be here any minute, and I want you to impress them like no one ever has before,” she stated in her typical nonchalant manner, as if this were a routine task. But today, Selah lacked her usual confidence. She knew she needed rest.

“I’ll head to the conference room and review the agenda,” Selah replied, picking up the documents and making her way to the door. However, before she could leave, Kelly called her name. Selah halted, praying Kelly wouldn’t ask the one question she dreaded. “I hope you managed to get some sleep today?” Kelly inquired. Selah forced a smile and nodded before walking out.

Alone in the conference room, Selah took her seat and began reviewing the agenda. Suddenly, her vision blurred, and she felt herself losing balance. She quickly placed a hand on her forehead to prevent her head from hitting the table, closing her eyes tightly, hoping to regain composure before the arrival of the Russians.

Alexander's POV

“Alexander”. “Alexander!” The voice rang out again, but still, there was no response. Irritated, I turned my face to the left and glared at the man shouting at me. Timothy, my father’s trusted right-hand man, had always cared for me deeply and taught me the ways of my father. Despite his age, he remained bold and courageous, his guts never failing to amaze me. With his silver hair, one might mistake him for a grandfather, but he had no family of his own. He treated my father like a brother and me like a son, dedicating his life to us. I often wondered who he was before he became intertwined with our family.

“They’re desperate for this deal,” Timothy asserted with conviction.

“No, Timothy,” I chuckled, correcting him, “they’re desperate to work with us. We just have to see if they’re worth it.”

Timothy was wise, but he struggled to comprehend Americans like me. He had lived amongst Russians his whole life, never truly interacting with Americans. Lux aimed to establish a community center on our Russian lands as a symbol of peace. The project, named “Volchok,” literally meaning “little wolf,” was intended to provide care for Russian orphaned children. Surprisingly, it was being run by a woman named Selah. No last name. What puzzled me was why they chose our family, one of the most feared in Russia, and why they opted for one of the most dangerous locations in the country. It seemed clear they sought our protection, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to their intentions. Why go through all the trouble? What are they hoping to achieve? Obviously, it won’t be easy to get all these answers in a meeting. So I shall dig until I know for sure what these Americans truly want and I know just how to get these answers.

As we approached the gates of Lux, a uniformed man walked toward our car. Timothy rolled down the window, and the man’s eyes shifted between the two of us in the backseat and the five cars following us. “They’re all with you?” he asked. “Yes,” Timothy confirmed. The man stepped back, whispering into an earpiece I assumed he wore before signaling for us to proceed. The cars behind us held our personal protocol officers and my brothers, Kiril and Mikhail. We arrived at the entrance, where five ladies stood to greet me. Stepping out of the car with Timothy, I approached them. One blonde woman with a warm smile extended her hand. “Kelly Williams,” she introduced herself. “Alexandr Dima,” I replied. “Shall we?” she gestured, leading us inside. My brothers Kiril and Mikhail followed behind me and Timothy. I glanced back at them; Kiril wore his usual mischievous grin, always eager to charm American women, while Mikhail emanated warmth and kindness. A smile played on my lips, knowing that the three of us together were an imposing presence. We paused outside the conference room, where Lux’s board members stood to greet us. I shook hands with each of them, repeating my name to ensure it was etched in their minds. As I took my designated seat, I noticed a woman seated opposite me, her head tilted slightly downwards, and her jet-black hair obscuring her face. She appeared to be asleep, even amidst the presence of some of Russia’s most dangerous men. I glimpsed her name tag - Selah. So this was the sleeping beauty responsible for the project. So fragile, I thought, feeling a hint of disdain for the Americans’ audacity. They seemed to believe they could conquer the world with their polished hands without even chipping a nail. Interrupting Kelly mid-sentence, I inquired, “So, who will be handling this project?” “Selah,” she replied, pointing toward the drowsy woman in front of me.