Mac nodded and moved into the outer hall to make his call to Karn. Part of him wished he wasn’t leaving so he could orchestrate the changes about to take place, but it would leave Pietro without any backup and he couldn’t bring himself to do that. He had to trust Karn was up to the job of keeping things in hand until he returned.
Kallum smiled sheepishly at Caleb and Rhianna. He knew he’d thrown them a massive curveball and was relieved they were taking it so well. They were so closely tied to the pack that everyone considered them pack mates even though they weren’t under their Alpha’s command. They were like a second set of parents to all the Vârcolac as well as the Alphas’ children.
“Oh come here,” Rhianna laughed softly holding out her arms. She hugged him tightly, so proud of the man he’d grown into. Caleb squeezed his shoulder in reassurance too.
“We’ve learned to roll with the punches, Kal,” he smiled. “You use what tactics work for however long they do and then you adapt as required. Rafe might be a bit put out that you’ve been concealing things and I dare say your parents will have a few things to say on the topic, but you have our backing if you need it.”
“That’s good to know, but I’m sure we’ll be able to handle things,” Kallum answered with a grin. “Our parents don’t usually stay angry too long, except for Dad. And Rafe is pretty cool once he gets over his initial annoyance.”
Mac returned, glancing at his watch as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. “Karn knows you’ll be around at some point today,” he told Kallum. “You do what he tells you at all times. The only exception to that rule is if it comes to Lily’s safety. I can’t argue with the fact that there may be instances when you’ll know better than we do how to protect her. Karn knows to accede to you in that event but don’t push your luck with it. Only in a dire emergency, Kallum.”
The warning was implicit in his voice, his expression hard as he pinned the younger man with his steely gaze. Kallum Romanov screamed Alpha to everyone around him. How he managed to submit to all the other Alpha personalities around him was a clear indication of just how strong a male he was. Somehow Kallum could keep his need to be king of the castle in check, something most other Alphas failed miserably at.
Kallum nodded his agreement, fighting to keep a smile from his face as his respect for Mac went up a notch and laughter bubbled up inside him.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve let yourself in for, Lila?” he whispered to his sister privately. “How the hell could you choose a mate so like Dad? That’s bordering on being slightly creepy.”
He felt his sister utter a startled gasp, shock rippling through his mind before pleasure flowed down their bond.
“You approve,” she smiled softly, her mental tone overjoyed. “He is impressive isn’t he, Kal? Where are you? How did you meet him? Is he angry that you know about him?”
“I’ll answer all your questions later, sister mine. I need to go now. I just wanted to check in and make sure you were okay and let you know that I’d met Mac. Behave with Karn!”
He cut off their mind link before she could ask any more questions. He wanted to surprise her later on when he made it to the compound. Their conversation had taken scant seconds but he’d already missed Mac’s next words to Annie and Caleb.
He was telling them he had to leave to make his flight to Europe and Kallum concentrated on the others as they said quick goodbyes. He smiled at Mac and silently nodded his head. The fierce protectiveness in the vampire’s eyes was unmistakable. Though no words were said he knew Mac was silently commanding him to keep Lily safe.
As Mac left the house, Kallum was suddenly anxious to go find his sister.
“Oh, go on,” Annie laughed seeing his expression. “Lily will not suddenly go to pieces because Mac’s left the country, but you’re not going to believe that until you see her with your own eyes. You know that was a really pretty speech you gave about everyone else underestimated the Vârcolac. I think part of you underestimates your sister too, Kal.”
He blushed slightly at the mild rebuke, reluctantly conceding her point. But he’d been protecting Lily all his life and it was a hard habit to break, even though he now knew she’d been slipping out of the compound for years and living a second, clandestine life none of them knew about.
Caleb hugged Kallum goodbye and then turned to his mate with a raised eyebrow as the younger man closed the front door behind him on the way out.
“Caleb.”
“Don’t you ‘Caleb’ me, Annie,” he growled softly, his tone a mix of irritation and amusement at the uncertain expression on her exquisite face. “Haven’t you learned by now that keeping secrets from your mate is not the done thing?”
She bit the inside of her mouth and tried to look innocent. It was so clearly an attempt to divert him that he burst out laughing at her transparency. His hand snaked out and he pulled her hard against his body, dipping his head so he could inhale the sweet fragrance of her skin and slide his tongue against the side of her neck.
“You know I have to punish you,” he growled softly, feeling a shiver run through her body as she melted against him. Husky laughter greeted his words as she rubbed against his aching body which was alive with need for her in an instant.