Chapter 2

"Have you seen her?" Zero crosses his arms and leans his back against one of my lifeguard's awning posts.

"The new human guest?" I ask, my gaze fixed on the guests playing in the incoming waves.

The sun is setting on the horizon, and the resort is bathed in warm, golden light.

I know who he's referring to. It's all anyone has been talking about today—the arrival of our first human guest. Rey. The idea was to open the resort to humans and make it more appealing to them, in hope to attract more guests. While we have plenty of monster guests to keep us busy, Svea wants to tap into the human market, in hopes that the more adventurous humans will enjoy our unique fully monster staffed resort.

But still, it's a shift that brings uncertainty.

I can't deny that the change is intriguing, and also unnerving. The Starlight Resort has always been a haven for monsters, a place where we can unwind and mingle without the prying eyes of the human world. But now, with humans arriving, everything seems to be shifting.

I just hope her plan works—the last thing I want is problems caused by misunderstandings.

"Yeah, her," he starts, eyeing me with a probing gaze. "What do you think of Svea's plan?"

I chew thoughtfully on the inside of my cheek. Zero and I have always been close, more like brothers than just coworkers. So, I don't shy away from sharing my thoughts.

"I don't really know how I feel about it," I admit, my tentacles shifting in a slow, rhythmic pattern. It's a soothing motion that's always been a source of comfort for me. "The idea of finding a fated mate amongst the guests… it's not something I've ever considered for myself. I know it's a common occurrence—with monsters from all parts of the world coming here for a vacation and meeting for the first time—but the idea that the reason why some of us haven't found ours is because they're human is a crazy concept, even for me."

"Don't you hope to find your fated mate?" Zero prods, furrowing his brow. "What if this is your chance in finding her?"

I sigh softly. "I pray to the Moon Goddess every night," I admit, hating the incomplete void that I yearn to have filled one day. "But you know how female Kraken are, and the vastness of the ocean dwarfs the expanse of land. How am I supposed to find my fated one when I'm bound to my duties here?"

It's a reality that weighs heavy upon me, knowing that the chances of encountering my fated mate amidst the ocean's vastness are slim—especially when female Kraken tend to hunt as tangles when it's not mating season, leaving males behind to raise the young.

A flicker of understanding crosses Zero's eyes, and his orcish features etched with empathy. He knows the struggles I face as a Kraken lifeguard, bound to the shore where most Kraken seldom venture. The irony is not lost on me—while I protect others, my own chances of finding my fated mate diminish.

He leans closer, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Is that why you've put all your focus on your job?"

I nod, a hint of determination lighting up my eyes. "I want to make this resort the best it can be. If by some miracle, fate brings my fated mate to these shores, I want to be ready. I want to be deserving of them."

The dedication to my duty becomes intertwined with my hope for love, and I am resolved to make the most of my circumstances.

Not just a mate, but the destined gift from the Moon Goddess for me to worship until she takes me, returning my soul to her.

My job as a lifeguard has always taken precedence over personal matters. I've seen too many lives lost to the sea, and I'd do anything in my power to prevent more.

If it isn't my destiny to have someone by my side, at least I'll know that I changed others' lives by rescuing quests and keeping others safe from the water's embrace.

A smile tugs at Zero's lips, understanding and support gleaming in his gaze. "That's a noble goal, my friend," he says, his voice brimming with encouragement. "I understand you don't want to get your hopes up and risk having your heart broken. But what about the business aspect of it? How does that factor into your thoughts?"

Now, that's a point I can't argue. The resort does need the business. We're known amongst monster communities, but the human world is vast, untapped. A new market for us.

"Job security is what matters to me," I tell him honestly, meeting his gaze once more. "I support it if it brings us more business. I want to keep doing what I love, and that's being a lifeguard. Keeping the guests safe.

"This resort is my home, and if more guests mean job security, then I'm all for it. I'm willing to do whatever to make sure that this place continues to thrive."

"This is my home, too. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help Svea fulfill her dream." Zero's voice rumbles low and earnest, a note of affection lacing his words. "To make Starlight Resort the best, the most desired resort in the world—both human and monster."

His words resonate within me. The Starlight Resort is not just a workplace for us, it's our sanctuary, our haven—if the business fails, then we lose our homes too. I turn to him, my gaze steady. "I've always supported your family, Zero. Because of Svea, I'm doing what I love. Watching over our beachfront, ensuring its safety. There's a joy in seeing our guests relishing in the same place that brings me happiness."

He nods, running a hand through his thick black hair. "I know, and we appreciate it. We all know it's not easy for aquatic monsters like you; job opportunities are rare compared to those who can fly or live on land."

I raise a tentacle in response. "True, but remember, there are jobs underwater that are impossible for others to do, even with special equipment. It's our lot in life, and we've got to accept it and survive."

Zero throws his head back and laughs, the sound echoing in the quiet room. "Yeah, I can't argue with that. We both know Orcs can't swim."

I laugh along, the tension easing from my shoulders. It's true, aquatic monsters face their own set of challenges, but we also have our strengths. We own the deep, the waters that others fear. It is in these depths that we find our place, our purpose.

As I watch the beach from my post, the scene is lively as the sun continues to set on the horizon.

A flock of birdmen splash and frolic in the waters, their joyous laughter carried by the wind. A pair of female Orcs stroll along the shore, their hands entwined, matching bikinis and wraps bringing out the rich green of their skin. A Catman model basks under the sun on his lavish pop-up beach catbed, his sleek striped, white fur appears freshly groomed.

Turning my attention back to Zero, I bring up the topic that's been swirling around my mind. "Have you heard anything about the human guest from Sage?" I ask. I'm certain Zoe wouldn't be able to hold her tongue about her first human visitor.

Zero chuckles as his expression lights up with amusement. "Yeah, I have. I think the entire resort knows about her by now," he answers, kicking himself from the pole and stepping beside me. "Eli said her name is Rey. Said she was as excited as Zoe to be here. He also mentioned she treated him with kindness and respect when he picked her up from the airport and dropped her off at the entrance."

He's not wrong. Zoe's excitement has been infectious, spreading like wildfire among the staff. If I'd spoken to her on a cellphone without any video, I would've thought she was a Fae or a Water Pixie by her bubbly personality when it came to her work.

"I wonder if Zoe's plan works, it'll be interesting to see if the other humans, if and when they come, will be like her," I muse aloud, my gaze drifting back to the ocean. I believe in Zoe's abilities, but the thought of Svea dealing with disappointment gnaws at me.

Zero's nodding as I turn back to him. "Yeah, and it's not like we can fire Zoe if it doesn't work out," he adds, frowning. "Sage would probably leave with her."

I nod at that. Sage, our head gardener, and Zoe are inseparable.

Their story is one that resonates within the walls of this resort, a tale whispered among staff and guests alike. Sage's fated mate, Zoe, it seems, quite literally fell into his lap, an encounter that has become the top gossip story amongst the staff. The simplicity and ease with which they found each other is a stark contrast to my own journey, and it stirs a potent mix of jealousy and longing within me.

If they were forced to leave, the resort would not be the same without either of them.

I turn my gaze back to the beach, my eyes scanning the playful antics of our guests.

"You're right," I say. "Having Zoe here does make things interesting."

And as I watch the joyful chaos of the beach, I feel a surge of hope. Maybe this change won't be so bad.

For Svea, for the resort, for all of us. And, maybe, even for me.