“Turn it up.”
— Hades
It takes one night dancing in love…
And the music spilled through the car like sunlight through glass.
The road—narrow, warm—
stretching forward lazily,
like it already knew where we were going.
Forest on both sides.
Alive. Breathing.
Sunlight playing through the branches,
like someone up there scattering gold.
And we started singing.
Me.
The devil.
Hades.
It takes one night…
Our voices blended—
loud, uneven,
laughing between the lines.
The car was flying through the light,
through the smell of heated pine,
through a summer that felt like it had paused just for us.
Mda, mda, la di da…
We’re dancing in love…
Clap—
— I’m da da da… to da…
Another clap—
— Ummma… we dancing in love…
No words.
Just the feeling.

The Maserati was already pushing 210.
Sunlight hit the windshield,
the forest flickering on both sides—
green flashes, shadows, light, shadows again.
I had a fresh juice in hand,
that ridiculous, overwhelming happiness inside,
that “everything’s good just because I’m alive” kind of feeling.
Mda, mda, la di da…
We’re dancing in love…
Up ahead—an old Ford.
— “God, that thing’s a rolling tin can,” Hades shouted over the music.
— “Yeah,” I took a sip.
— “Careful, baby—” Hades glanced at the speedometer. 230.
I started singing even louder.
It takes one night…
Then—
The sun hit.
Sharp. Blinding.
For a split second—nothing.
— “Damn—!”
I threw a hand up to my eyes.
The Maserati twitched,
the wheel slipped,
the other car jerked—
One second.
Impact.
Hard.
Dull.
A tree—out of nowhere.
— “AAAH!”
My body slammed forward,
the belt dug in,
the airbag exploded into my face.
— “Damn it!”
Silence.
Then ringing.
A thin, nasty whine drilling straight into my head.
I clenched my teeth.
The anger hit instantly—
— “What an idiot…
Damn… what a stupid bastard.”
Warm blood ran down my brow,
then into my eye.
I jerked my arms. Legs.
Fingers. Elbows. Knees.
All there.
— “Cough,” — Hades.
I coughed. Once. Again.
— “Good. Lungs are intact.”
My head was buzzing,
like someone shoved a transformer inside it.
I could barely hear anything—
just that ringing.
Then—
noise. Movement outside.
Someone ran up.
The door was yanked open.
— “Miss, are you okay?”
— “Is he stupid? We slammed into a pole,” Hades muttered, annoyed.
I blinked, trying to focus.
God… stay with me.
The world was drifting.
Light breaking into pieces.
— “Miss… you’re bleeding…”
— “Yeah, I see that, genius!”
The guy flinched.
— “I’m sorry… miss… I’m so sorry…”
— “To hell with you! Why the hell are you behind the wheel if you can’t drive?!”
He was almost stuttering:
— “Miss… I’m sorry… there was… a squirrel on the road…”
I froze.
— “A squirrel?”
Pause.
I slowly turned my head toward him,
blood on my face,
that impact still humming in my skull.
— “You serious?”
— “Just a second, miss…”
He rushed off and came back with something wrapped in cloth.
— “Look… the squirrel… she’s really small… I think she’s unconscious…”
Hades twisted his face:
— “Tell him she’s not sleeping. And Santa isn’t real either.”
I swallowed.
Carefully unfolded the towel.
— “Damn…”
— “Hey…”
That sharp ringing hit again,
like a needle through a nerve.
And suddenly—
everything softened.
The baby squirrel was tiny.
Weightless.
Warm.
Eyes shut.
Little paws that had no idea what this world even is.
I exhaled.
— “God…”
I stepped out of the car.
And reality slammed back in.
My Maserati—
wrecked.
The hood crushed, glass shattered,
all that beauty, that predatory shine—
broken, twisted, dead.
— “AAAAA!”
It hit me all at once.
— “You damn idiot! That’s my Alpha, and you— you— you—”
The words broke apart.
Anger surged up like a wave—sharp, hot, shaking.
— “AA—!”
— “Breathe. Breathe, Nazokat,” Hades said calmly.
I inhaled.
Again.
Forced it.
The first wave passed.
I looked at the guy.
Then at the baby squirrel.
A deep breath.
— “Were you trying to avoid it?”
— “Yeah…”
— “I see.”
Pause.
— “I’m Nazokat.”
— “I’m Nate…”
— “Hey.”
I instinctively squeezed his hand—
too hard.
I’ll never get used to this. In my whole life I’ve only met one girl named Nazokat, and even she was named after me.
— “What an honor,” — Hades muttered dryly.
— “Shut up.”
— “Sorry… do you have a second name?”
Hades added lazily:
— “Preferably one that doesn’t echo your ex.”
— “Yeah… Colin.”
— “Sounds like crap,” — Hades said flatly.
I bit my lip, holding back a smile.
— “It’s a great name.”
Pause.
— “Um… Nate…”
I shook my head.
— “I mean, Colin. You don’t mind?”
I raised an eyebrow.
He blinked, still shaken, but a bit calmer now:
— “No…”
— “Good.”
— “So… Nate—”
— “Damn it,” I muttered.
Colin lowered his eyes and smiled.
It looked like he found my temper amusing.
— “You think this is funny?!”
— “A little, miss.”
I pressed my lips together—
but still, a traitorous laugh slipped out.
The air softened.
Less sharp.
It eased the tension.
— “Alright…”
I straightened up, pulling myself together.
— “First of all, I’m sorry for how I acted.
That’s not just a car.
That’s my best friend.
Alpha.”
He smirked
and nodded toward his old Ford:
— “Same here, miss.”
— “He means that tin can,” Hades cut in, dry and biting.
I smiled—
and instantly felt awkward.
I’m in ridiculously expensive clothes.
My Maserati is wrecked.
And I’m on my way to an estate with 107 bedrooms…
Damn.
— “Oh sure, we earned it,” Hades drawled with mock approval.
— “Yeah…”
I adjusted my skirt, like that could somehow restore control.
— “So… what about the squirrel?”
— “Her name is Mindy.”
— “Excuse me?”
— “Mindy. That’s what I called her.”
I grimaced.
— “That’s a terrible name…”
— “He could’ve gone with Ruby,” Hades snorted.
— “Exactly.”
We bumped fists.
I exhaled.
— “Fine. Mindy it is.”
I looked down at the tiny bundle in the towel.
She still wasn’t moving.
Too quiet.
Too small.
— “What do we do?”
Colin grew serious.
— “She needs a hospital, miss.”
— “And we’re involved how?” Hades said dryly.
And then, from somewhere else in my head, Mushu cut in, sharp and mocking:
— “And who’s paying for the Maserati, huh?”
I closed my eyes for a second.
A deep breath.
I opened my eyes.
— “Alright.”
— “What are we driving?”
— “The tin can,” — Hades and Mushu said in unison, already cracking up.
I rolled my eyes.
Nazokat, Nate… again… and Mindy.
— “Pfft… what a crew…” Hades was choking on his own laughter.
— “Hey, darling, at least take those diamonds off,” — Jafar drawled, — “or Mr. ‘I’m not your ex Nate’ might call Greenpeace and report us for robbing Mother Nature of her shiny little rocks.”
I swallowed.
And carefully took off my jewelry.
Nate, meanwhile, opened the door of his old Ford.
The interior smelled like dust, sun, and something real.
He started the engine—
and turned on the music.
— “Look at that, the tin can even plays music,” Hades scoffed.
I held back a smile as I got into the seat.
— “Miss?”
— “Mm?”
He turned to me carefully:
— “Would you mind holding Mindy?”
— “She’s dead. Just tell him the truth,” Hades said dryly.
— “Shut up.”
— “Of course.”
I carefully took the baby squirrel.
She was so light.
Almost weightless.
She fit right into my palms—
like the whole world had shrunk into this tiny warm thing.
I cupped her gently,
instinctively protecting her.
— “Hold on, little one… you’ll be okay…”
— “Hold on, sweetheart…”
Outside—the road, the sun, the forest.
Somewhere behind us—my wrecked Maserati.
Damn.
I wiped my tears.
Alpha is my best friend.
I hope he’ll be okay.
Music.
Air.
And a tiny life still deciding—
to stay… or to go.
I leaned closer.
— “Hold on, Mindy…
just hold on… please…”
Hospital.
I pace in circles.
Step. Another step.
The tiles under my feet are cold.
— “Damn… I hope they save her…”
— “Yeah. Then we roast her and eat her. Nice little soup,” — Hades drawled lazily.
— “Shut up.”
— “Oh please, don’t act like a saint.”
— “Back off, I said!”
I stopped abruptly and exhaled.
On the bench—Nate.
He sits hunched over.
His leg bouncing like something inside him is trying to break out.
— “God, he’s about to start crying. Someone get him a sedative,” Hades scoffed.
— “Damn, you’re cruel… shut up.”
I walk over and crouch in front of him.
— “Colin… how are you?”
He sniffed—
and suddenly, without warning,
threw his arms around me.
— “Oh, that’s just perfect,” Hades muttered dryly.
I froze for a second.
Swallowed.
Deep breath.
Alright.
No way around it… I’ll have to comfort him.
I carefully placed one hand on his back.
Then the other.
Stroked gently.
Again.
He was shaking.
Actually shaking.
And I kept stroking him…
and stroking…
And then it hit me—
how did he even end up here?
In our area.
In that forest.
On that road.
While Nate quietly cried into my shoulder,
I leaned back slightly
and took a closer look.
And something…
something about him didn’t sit right.
— “What do you think?” Hades drawled lazily.
I narrowed my eyes.
Clothes.
His hands—not office-soft. But not simple either.
The way he carries himself—confused, maybe…
but not weak.
Hm.
— “I think… he’s either rich himself or comes from money. He’s not that simple.”
— “Keep an eye on him,” — my mind said.
I nodded.
And ran my hand over his back again.
But now… more carefully.
Nate.
Damn it.
— Ahem… Colin…
How did you end up… uh… on that road?
He sniffed and pulled back a little.
I swallowed.
God… are all Nates this good-looking?
Green eyes, red from tears.
And then—
the spirits knocked me off balance.
My aunt—
pressing me to the ground—
I started choking—
…That’s Nate’s childhood.
I swallowed.
Damn…
Did he have a normal family?
Feels like the father’s a bit off.
Can be controlling, pushy sometimes.
But overall… it seems like he had a decent childhood.
— “Alright… anything else?”
— “Protect him.”
— “What?”
— “Me?!”
— “Hey, back off, I’m tired. I don’t want to fix anyone! No, no, no—this love thing is exhausting.”
— “Nobody asked you.”
— “Oh, to hell with you!”
— “Watch yourself, girl.”
I raised my hand and flipped them off.
— “Go to hell, all of you, got it?”
The spirits smirked.
— “You first.”
I shook my head.
No.
Whatever happens, Nazokat—
do not fall in love.
We’re done with that.
These men bring more trouble than they’re worth.
— “Yeah,” — Hades lazily picked at his nails.
I grimaced.
— “Get lost.”
Colin came back.
I blinked.
God… I didn’t even notice he’d left.
— “Yeah, you were busy… you know… with your little madness,” Hades drawled.
— “You’re a bit nuts, aren’t you?”
— “Get lost!”
Nate came back with coffee.
I pretended to be grateful.
— “Dog crap would’ve been more appealing,” Hades muttered.
I bit my lip.
Nate started—
— “I grew up around here.”
— “Around here? Damn, we’re not in Maine. What is he, a novel character?” — Hades snorted.
I bit my lip again to keep from laughing.
— “I see…”
— “My father… he taught me everything.”
— “And your mom?”
And I immediately caught myself.
— “Damn, I’m sorry, that’s none of my business.”
I flushed hard, embarrassed by my own tactlessness.
— “No manners. Idiot,” Hades muttered.
Nate looked at me.
— “You’re… very sweet.”
— “Yeah, when she’s not acting like an idiot,” Hades added dryly.
I cleared my throat.
— “So… your father.”
— “Yeah. My father taught me everything.”
He laughed.
But then—
he kept laughing.
And somehow I caught it too, smiling without even realizing.
— “What are you laughing at? You know this story or something?” Hades snapped.
I grimaced.
— “Oh, shut up. People do that. It’s contagious.”
— “Heh… look at her… a little off…” Hades mocked.
I kicked him—he went flying.
Nate continued:
— “He never managed to make me love hunting. I always felt too sorry for animals.”
— “I see…”
— “And my mom… she died when I was really little. I was four… well, almost. I turned four a week later.”
He sniffed.
— “Great. A walking problem. Why do we never get normal men?” Hades muttered.
— “If I knew…”
I gently touched his knee.
— “Colin… I’m really sorry.”
And immediately pulled my hand back.
— “Sorry.”
He caught my hand.
— “It’s okay. Thank you.”
I swallowed.
Just as I was about to pull away—
the doctor came out.
Nate instantly tightened his grip on my hand.
— “Why is he clinging like that?” Hades scoffed.
— “No idea.”
Thank God we’re wearing gloves—otherwise this would be too much.
Too many touches.
Ugh.
Even my spirits cringed. I cringed.
Damn, this is too much.
Touch is too much.
The doctor—some big red-haired guy with a wide, almost Irish smile.
— “Did you understand anything he said?” Hades asked.
— “Nope.”
— “Only an Irishman understands an Irishman,” Hades replied.
— “Exactly.”
We bumped fists.
The doctor walked off.
I put on a face like: so… what do we have here?
Nate looked at me—
and burst out laughing.
— “You didn’t understand him, did you?”
— “What? I— I understood everything. He said the squirrel will live. That’s what matters.”
His face changed.
— “Oh no, is he about to cry again?” Hades threw his hands up.
— “Funny how out of all names it had to be Nate. Usually it’s Caleb who cries,” — Mushu chimed in.
Hades and Mushu high-fived and collapsed laughing.
— “Colin, I’m sorry…”
— “Yeah… Mindy… she’s…”
He shook his head.
I swallowed.
— “Damn… I’m sorry…”
And suddenly—
he lit up.
— “I was kidding. She’s fine.”
He let go of my hand—
and immediately pulled me into a tight hug.
So tight I thought I’d die from it.
— “She’s alive, can you believe it?!”
He was almost jumping with joy.
I widened my eyes.
— “Hey, hold on— oh… great, we got footage,” Hades and Mushu burst out laughing, mimicking me.
I froze—stiff, wide-eyed, like an idiot.
— “Look at her eyes!”
— “What an idiot…”
— “You two— I’ll kill you!”
But Nate grabbed me again and started spinning me like we were dancing.
That was too much.
— “Okay… since Mindy’s fine, I’ll go.”
I turned immediately,
walked fast—
and then almost ran.
4:15 PM.
The doorbell rang.
Then again.
— “Damn… will someone open the door already?”
— “Jonathan?
Sebastian?”
The door opened.
Finally.
— “You’re a bit grumpy today,” — Hades muttered.
— “Yeah… it’s all because of Caleb— I mean, Colin.”
— “Ooooh, nice slip,” Hades smirked.
— “Shu—”
— “Miss.”
Sebastian cleared his throat.
— “Oh—” I straightened immediately, pulling myself away from the sewing.
— “You have a visitor. Mr. Nate.”
— “Pff—”
I spat my tea out.
— “Nate?”
— “Sebastian… is that Mr. Nate, or Nate as in… Colin?”
Sebastian coughed, slightly embarrassed.
Colin walked in.
— “Hi.”
— “Oh damn…”
— “Hi.”
— “I wanted to thank you.”
— “Then just sleep with her, she’s been miserable and we’ve been on a dry streak forever,” Hades muttered.
— “Yeah, that’ll fix everything,” — Mushu added dryly.
I bit back a smile.
— “Come in.
There’s nothing to thank me for.”
He got a little flustered and handed me a check—for Alpha.
I flushed.
— “No, it’s fine. I’ll take care of it myself.
Donate it to charity.”
— “Thank you—”
He suddenly pulled me into a hug.
I froze.
— “Again?!”
— “Dear God, has this guy never heard of personal space?” Hades scoffed.
I could barely breathe.
For me, this was a complete invasion.
Too close.
Too much.
Why does he keep doing that?
— “Spray him with mosquito repellent, that should scare him off,” Mushu muttered, waving something around in disgust.
Nate pulled back, embarrassed.
— “I’m really sorry… my father says I take after my mom, she was also—”
— “Does he ever shut up?” Hades groaned.
Colin finished.
I nodded.
— “Um… I see… so, what about Mindy?”
He lit up instantly.
— “Mindy’s doing great. She’ll recover soon—it was just a bruise.”
— “I see…”
And suddenly it got awkward.
I glanced at the clock.
The kids would be back soon—for dinner together.
How do I get rid of him?
— “Yeah, not so easy. He’s about to tell you about his grandma next… we already got the parents,” Hades muttered.
— “Shut up, you’re distracting me.”
— “Colin, I think—”
Too late.
They burst in—a whole crowd—
knocking everything over.
I tried to speak over them:
— “Sorry, this is how we do things here—
the kids—
everything is for them.
They’re the most important thing in life.”
— “Exactly,” Colin smiled wide.
And just like that—he jumped in.
I froze.
Nate was already picking them up one by one,
tossing them into the air,
laughing with them.
Snatching food from their hands, joking—
he shoved almost five tomatoes into his mouth
and tried to talk.
The kids were laughing nonstop.
And I caught myself smiling.
Kids are the most important thing in the world.
I’m glad this guy understands the value of family.
— “Yeah, unlike your ex. That one almost pissed himself from fear,” Hades muttered.
— “Coward,” Hades spat.
— “Coward,” I spat after him.

00:00
I stepped out for a walk.
— “What do you think?” — Hades.
I burst out laughing.
— “You always start the same way.”
— “It’s my signature, baby.”
He pretended to shoot me like a cowboy.
— “Pew pew.”
I smiled.
— “I need to take a closer look at him.”
Hades blinked.
— “Wait… did you walk out naked?”
— “Well… I’m in lingerie.”
He raised an eyebrow.
— “Oh, leave it. You know I hate getting dressed.”
— “So, what about the fisherman?”
I laughed.
— “The fisherman?”
— “Yeah.”
— “Nothing. Back off. I said I’m tired of all this love stuff.”
— “He’s nice. That’s enough.”
— “Caleb was nice at first too.”
I grimaced.
— “Yeah… at first?”
— “First date… and then it all went to hell.”
I took a drag.
— “Exactly.”
— “Ugh.”
— “Whatever, forget them.”
— “I’m hungry.”
— “That’s why you’re getting fat. Eating at night.”
— “What?!”
I spun around in thin heels, in white silk lingerie.
— “I look incredible.”
Hades grimaced.
— “Yeah, sure.”
— “What, jealous piece of—?”
I started dancing, messing around.
— “I can eat whatever I want and still be ultra sexy.”
Everyone went quiet.
— “Damn…”
— “Don’t even start…”
— “Same thing every time.”
— “Sex…”
— “Ugh…”
— “Who should I sleep with…”