CALIFF
“I’m just connecting the dots. I mean, come on. Didn’t ever cross your mind the possibility?”
“That’s fucking absurd.” I gritted my teeth in enraged. I couldn’t believe Shadow, of all people, was accusing Calder of being a murderous rogue. What was his angle? Why was he killing random people? Culling the herd?
“I’m not accusing him,” she said, defending herself. I couldn’t even believe I was still listening to this. “He may not know what’s going on with his wolf, but there’s a possibility that he’s-”
“It’s impossible, Shadow. Are you even hearing yourself right now?”
“I know we all have blind spots when it comes to our family, blood, our pack, but we should take into consideration that he could be sick. The same week he came to visit you, the sheriff found a dead body and then the mercenary. Sean Nest was found just a few miles from us and from his residence. Is that a coincidence? Am I the only one seeing this?” She made an awful kind of sense, but there was no way Clader was sick, or he would do such a thing as murdering humans.
“Stop. He’s not sick, and he’s a college teacher, for fuck’s sake, Shadow. Stop this stupid notion over him.”
She huffed out a small laugh- a mockery laugh, but her sharp gaze never left mine. “The sheriff may not be able to prove he’s the killer because nobody would believe that we exist, but I will, Califf before he kills another human, or worse, one of our kind or our pack member.”
“What are you gonna do, Shadow?” I glared at her, challenging her authority. She may be my wife, my Luna, but I was still the Alpha, and she still answered to me.
She grabbed the tissue with the hair in it. “This. I will prove to you that I’m right. After all, he shares your DNA.”
“You won’t do such a thing,” I said. My voice was stern as I was quick to grab it from her. “He’s still my brother.”
She shook her head in disbelief. Anger and annoyance flustered all over her face. “I can’t believe you’re defending him. Let me remind you one thing, Alpha. Your priority is this pack. If anything happens because of this rogue, you will be held accountable. You may have the hair, but I will prove to you that I am right. You are just too blind to see the truth in front of you. And if any of our pack members get hurt, I will take this rogue down whether you stand my way.” She turned on her heels and walked out the door, leaving me stunned in my office.
Then she came back, pointing at me. “I know what you did in his apartment. You doubted he was your brother and took something to probe your suspicion is right. But you know what, I can do something too.”
“What is it that you are planning?” I asked when she fished out her phone and dialed someone. “Shadow, don’t do this.” I was already stepping towards her when she stopped me until someone answered from the other end.
“Hello?”
Fuck. My blood boiled in my veins. She just called my brother and put it on the speaker.
“Hey. It’s Shadow. I shared contact with Califf. So, I was thinking.” She did this with her sweet and Luna voice. “We have a friend who invited us to a party this Saturday, and I couldn’t think of anyone but you. I want you to meet our friend, Grady Matisse, and his Beta, Everlee. Please, join me and Califf?”
“What does Califf have to say about this?” There was a hesitation and surprise in his tone.
“He’s shy to ask you, but we share a bond, so he can’t deny or lie to me. Will you come with us, please? We’ll pick you up at, let’s say, 7:30?”
“Okay. I’m free on Saturday, anyway.”
I squeezed my eyes shut inwardly and groaned, and if I interrupted, I would only look like the bad guy here.
“Yay. See you soon, Calder.”
“See you both soon. Tell my bro- Tell Califf I say hi.”
“Oh, your brother’s listening.”
“See you on Saturday, Calder.” I was forced to talk, or I would end up the rudest. “Put on your best tux.”
“Got it. Thanks.”
As soon as the call ended, I faced Shadow. I felt like I wasn’t 100% healed. I was still vulnerable. I didn’t entirely trust myself and my emotions when it came to an argument, and this was what I was avoiding, but she was provoking and testing me.
She narrowed her eyes as I tightened my hand around her arm. “You can’t accept the fact right now, but if I prove you wrong, you will apologize to me, Alpha.” She made sure to emphasize the word alpha.
“And if you’re wrong?” I glared back, making sure she got the message.
“I will apologize and leave you alone with your brother.” She jerked her arm from my grip.
“No. I will punish you and make sure you won’t go beyond my orders again.”
She scoffed. “Haven’t you done enough?”
My mate was dangerously beautiful, but her response dissatisfied me. “No. I was barely scratching the surface, Shadow. You haven’t seen me when I’m mad. You’re maybe my Luna, but I’m still your Alpha, and you answer to me. No one. No one else.”
“Well, screw you, Alpha.”
“What the fuck did you say?” I gripped her jaw, dragging her forward and pushing her against the door. My eyes narrowed as I listened to the unsteady thumping of my heartbeat. My wolf growled inside me, ready to take over. I felt like I was losing control again. All I could feel was anger surging like molten lava flowing in my veins.
She didn’t even freak out or drop her gaze. She was resilient enough to prove me wrong. As her nose flared, she said through gritted teeth, “What are you going to do to me? Lock me up because you can’t accept the fact that it is slowly becoming clear to you now?”
“Does he look like sick to you?” My voice became deadly soft. I leaned closer, all clenched jaw and burning eyes, making sure I was clear with my warning. Our noses touched as I slipped my hand behind her head, pulling her hair back so she could see who had the authority here.
But it was Shadow we were talking about. The more I showed her who was the Alpha, the more she defied me. She never bowed down to anyone, even to me or her father. She never even flinched or cowered. I shouldn’t even be surprised. I was stunned and admired her courage and iron will.
She was a strong woman, a strong Lycan, and a royal. Of course, she was more powerful than me, and as much as it amazed me, it also pissed me off.
“We’ll see.” The sound of teeth grinding and growling erupted from her. If I kept my hands on her any longer, we would end up destroying this entire office.
“Don’t pull that act again, or you will regret it, Shadow. I’m still your alpha. Remember that.” I let go of her chin and hair but did not break eye contact. “Get out of my office.” I kicked her out because I didn’t want to hurt her.
“Ooh. Now, who thinks so highly of himself?” she said sarcastically. “You don’t have to kick me out. I’m willingly getting out of your hair, Alpha.” I didn’t miss the emphasis on alpha and the anger and disgust in her voice.
But it was better that way than questioning my authority and my opinion about Calder. I took deep breaths once she was gone and burned the piece of evidence. I may not know Calder well, but he was still my blood.”
My phone rang. Just right on time, my contact from the lab just called me.
“You have the result?”
“Yes. Should I send it to your email right now?”
“Yes. But first, tell me.”
“You share 25% of his DNA.”
“25% percent. Meaning?”
“He’s your brother.”
I let out a shuddering breath as I sat back in my chair. “Thank you. Please, send me a copy.”
“No problem. The amount you sent is too much, Alpha.”
“Consider it a bonus.”
“Thanks. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” I hung up the call.
They said blood was thicker than water. In my case, it was. I would protect him with my life, just like anyone else in my family and my pack. No one could touch him now that he’d proven to be my brother. No one would harm him. I would not let that happen.
I got out of my office and went up to my room. I planned on telling Shadow to stop what she was doing, but I knew no one could stop her from doing it once she put her mind to it.
“Shadow?”
I tried our link. I would be surprised if she talked to me.
“Zack?”
“Alpha,” he answered to our pack link.
“Is Shadow with you?”
“No. I thought she’s with you.”
“No. Let me know if you see her.”
“I will, Alpha.”
I grabbed my phone and called her, but she didn’t pick up.
CALIFF: Where are you? Call me back.
I received a message, but it came from Zarah.
ZARAH: You called, and she’s pissed at you.
CALIFF: Is she with you? Tell her to call me. I have something important to tell her.
ZARAH: She asked me to portal her to her father. She’s in Italy, shopping with Sebastien.
Fuck.