CALIFF
“Baby, can we talk?”
She shut me out completely.
After that fight, she wouldn’t even look at me. She showed up one minute for the after-party to show her support to her mate, then went to see her grandfather. That was twenty-four hours ago.
She slid up the window shield of the private jet to ignore me. She had been successful so far. Zarah and Aira gave us time to talk while Zack and Lyon grabbed a drink at the back.
“Baby, please. It’s been a day. Just talk to me, yell at me, curse me, hurt me. Just let it out, but I need you.”
Her head turned to me in slow motion with eyes filled with rage, glowing. “Yell at you, hurt you? That’s not enough, asshole! Do you know what you did to me when you went to fight? You killed me over and over again! I thought my mate would die there, so hurting you wouldn’t be enough of what you put me through. What the fuck were you thinking?” At least she was talking to me. I took all her anger. I would be fine, but shutting me out? It fucking hurt.
“You were dreaming of bringing us together, uniting us in alliances. And we need your father’s pack of Lycans. Whether we like it or not, he is powerful, and we need someone like him.”
“I don’t give a fuck about that asshole. He broke Dad’s heart. He molested my mother. I couldn’t stomach standing next to him, but you, risking your lives for an alliance, was straight stupidity, Califf. Now stop talking to me. You are just like Sebastien. You both are assholes!”
“I’m sorry. Forgive me.” I tried reaching out for her hand, but she quickly withdrew it.
“Your sorry doesn’t make up for what you did. I would never forgive you for what you did. You’re lucky you’re still alive. A miracle you’re still alive.”
“Baby, please?”
“We have a lot on our plate right now, and you add another to the long list. So don’t talk to me.”
“I can’t, baby. I want-”
“What?” With eyes protruding, she jabbed her finger right into my face. “Your wolf needs me? Well, too bad. You should have thought about it first before going into a fight with a Lycan because my wolf needed you at that time, but you were there playing hero.”
“I knew you wouldn’t allow me-”
“So you chose to do it your way anyway. And you and your wolf are both stubborn sons of bitches. Suck it up because you won’t get what you want from today. Fuck you, Califf.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and stood up. “I swear to Goddess, if you follow me again, I will jump off this jet.”
“Shadow, what the fuck?” I growled. My chest ached. Why did she have to say something like that? It fucking hurt me and my wolf.
“Screw you and my father. Maybe you two should mate. You both are perfect, arrogant, controlling, selfish, and have nothing to lose.”
Fuck.
I had to leave her alone, at least until we landed.
***
“What are you doing?” I watched her pack her clothes into her suitcase. Her actions scared me. She was a Lycan with much more self-control than myself. So she could stay away from me, and she and her wolf would be okay.
“I’m staying at Zarah for a while.” She zipped her suitcase, and I followed her to the bathroom.
“What about the pack, your duty here? What about me, baby?”
“I will be here from morning to afternoon to do my duty.”
“What do you want me to do, baby? I can’t live like this. You and I, in separate places, are tearing me apart. How can I protect you?”
“I can protect myself. Zarah can protect me. You have lived long enough to stand on your own. You can still do it.”
“I need my mate, Shadow.”
Her eyes narrowed. “For one second, I thought you cared, but when you fought another dickhead, I realized you don’t need me because if you did, you wouldn’t have risked your life like that without telling. You don’t need me, Califf. You sacrificed my feelings for you, our bond. Where do I stand in all of this? I don’t know. You don’t understand-”
“I do, baby.” I held her hand. “I do.”
“You don’t.” She shook her head. She had so much hurt and pain in her chest and eyes, and she didn’t even try hiding it. “You don’t know what it’s like losing your loved ones. I do. And I couldn’t be the reason for losing you. Your pack needs you. You can’t sacrifice yourself for me. And you have nothing to prove. You have been more than enough for me, Califf. You can’t be that man. Sebastien wants nothing but power. He’s consumed with greed. I don’t want to be with someone I despise.”
When she picked up her suitcase and walked towards the door, I finally felt what losing felt like. I finally understood what she meant, what she’d been through. And it fucking hurt like I just ripped my heart out while watching someone rip her heart out of her chest, and I was helpless to do anything.
With the unbearable pain in my chest, I found myself above the cliff, my wolf howling in agonizing pain.
“Are you okay?”
I shifted and grabbed the clothes Duke had brought for me. “No. I would never be okay.”
“What you did was risky and stupid.”
“You’re the one to say when you fought a wolf larger than you just to show off that size doesn’t matter while Kindra was watching.”
“I wasn’t showing off. I did that because he wanted to claim Kindra.”
I snorted. “He was messing with you. He knew you’re Kindra’s mate.”
“Whatever.”
I sat on the rock, trying to reach her thoughts, but she was in the witch’s house. “Fuck. I couldn’t get through. Zarah’s house is shielded.”
“I would do the same if I knew how to put a shield. I will do it around the compound.”
“Zarah won’t risk the trust of The West Coven.”
“But your Italy trip was successful.”
“Yeah. Sebastien will send the agreement. I will have it anytime soon.”
“Is it worth it? Our Luna is not around?”
“Not even the slightest, but Shadow will understand why I did what I did, and she will come back.”
“We should go back to the compound.”
I sighed. “The pack house will just remind me of her.”
“Where do you propose to stay, Alpha?”
“Never mind. I will call Zarah to create a portal for me.” I followed Duke down the cliff, ready to head back to the compound.
“Give Luna the time she needs. Call her tomorrow. Maybe her anger will subside by that time.”
“I doubt that. You don’t know Shadow when she’s upset.”
“Then you shouldn’t have upset her. Send her some flowers or chocolates. That’s what humans always do when their girlfriends or partners are angry.”
I looked at him. “Look at you. You might as well be the best Beta than your father.”
Duke snorted. “Shadow has been the biggest thing that happens to our pack. She’s the big asset we have. In a short time, she has helped a lot without noticing it. Don’t make her mad anymore, Cal. You better pop some pups, you know, than make her angry.”
“Not until the threat is over and our house is built.”
“Wait. You’re leaving the pack house?”
“My office was still there. You can occupy the top floor and make some cubs yourself.”
“We talked about it, but Kindra isn’t ready yet. And I’m not in a hurry to have kids. We’re happy. That’s all that matters right now.”
“I’m happy for you, man.”
“Where have you been?” Kindra met us in the parking lot.
“Hey, babe.” Duke kissed her on the lips. I had to look away as I felt the jealousy twisting inside my chest. “I followed Cal went for a run.”
“Huh. I just received a text from Shadow inviting me to a clubbing tonight.”
I glared at Kindra. “What the fuck? She’s going to a nightclub?”
“Yeah. Ask her.” Kindra literally rolled her eyes at me.
Duke cleared his throat.
“Wait. What’s wrong?” She bounced her gaze between me and Duke. “What did I miss?”
“Luna is with Zarah right now. She’s probably making a portal for you to join them.”
“Then join us. Wait.” She turned to me. “Why is she there and you’re here, Cal? That’s first.”
I let go of a shuddering breath. “She hasn’t been away for a day, and she’s already planning for payback.”
“You two have a fight, and it’s your fault, right, Cal? Is it about the trip or the fight?”
I growled. “Those two can’t keep their mouths shut, can they?”
Kindra snorted. “Not a chance. They are the best local news in the compound, and their report is 99% accurate.”
“Great.”
“What’s your plan, Cal?” Duke asked.
“Kindra, stay until they take you. You, Duke, inform Tor to take over Lyon’s duty tonight. And tell Zack and Lyon to get ready. We’re going to the city.”