LILA’S P. O. V.
I have been waiting all day to see my brother and Eli. I missed my family so much. Callum has brought me books to read again. He keeps pointing at me every time in the story there is a good mom. Never the evil stepmother, so I guess that is a good thing. At least Callum thinks of me as a good person. I don’t like that he keeps calling me his mom. I can’t be his mom. As much as sometimes I wish I could be. I can’t stay here. I have to go home. I am not the girl for Mateo. I try to relate this to Callum but he isn’t buying that. He is determined that Mateo and I are his parents.
I like his company. I keep him close, he only leaves when he needs to get more books. Ash has been bringing us food. He keeps pestering me to eat. Like now, “Luna you need to eat.”
“I am not your Luna. I have been eating. I am not a cow. I don’t need to eat non-stop.” I protest.
He doesn’t relent. “Luna, the doctor said you need to eat so that you can heal properly.”
“Damn it Ash, stop calling me that. I have been eating damn it.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “Luna, don’t get so worked up. You might open your wounds back up. Now settle down and eat your food.”
“If I eat the food will you stop calling me Luna.”
“Not for a while, no.” He sets a tray by the bed. “But I will stop pestering you to eat. So a little give and take Luna.”
“You call me that when my brother gets here and you are going to start a war.” I ground my teeth. I really need him to stop calling me that.
He smiles. “Don’t worry Luna, I know my limits. Right now I hope that you will hear it enough that you will accept your duty to this pack. You are our Luna, regardless of what you are telling yourself.”
“I am telling myself the truth. I am not Mateo’s mate. I don’t know what makes him think that I am his mate, but he is wrong. Callum is wrong. You are wrong.” Callum gives me a silly smile. “No, I am not in denial.” I give Callum a look that I have seen my mom give my brothers several times. The one that says do not argue with me or you are going to regret it.
Ash chuckles. “You are answering a boy who can’t talk. How sane do you think you are being at the moment?” He picks up some of the extra books laying around. “Face it Luna, you are home. We all get it, it is time for you to get it.”
“You are all going to see on my birthday when I wake up and I don’t feel any different. There will be no Mate words running through my head.” I shake my head emphasizing what I am saying.
Ash chuckles. “We shall see who is proven wrong on Wednesday. What a day and a half away? I can’t wait.” He gives fake shivers. “I am coming back shortly to make sure that you ate Luna. If not then I have to call the doc back and he will make you eat. In your veins.” He uses an ominous voice at the last part. “Enjoy Luna.”
I look at Callum. “You want to eat it?” He smiles but shakes his head no. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” I don’t know why but Ash can’t cook. He at least just made a sandwich this time. It’s not that his food is really bad, it is just really bland. It leaves a lot to be desired.
To get Ash to shut up I ate half of the sandwich. Cuddling with Callum again. I am pretty content when my bedroom door bursts open. Eli is the first one in, practically running to my side. Followed by Jace. They each take a side of the bed. They want to cuddle in, Jace gets there but Callum is in Eli’s way and he isn’t moving. He even kind of glares at Eli. “Is the little guy going to let me in?”
I picked up Callum and put him on my lap. He doesn’t like it, but he accepts it. He continues to glare at Eli. It seems he knows he is not my brother. Eli comes up on the bed with me too. My bed has never been this filled in my life. Jace starts with the questions. “How are you feeling? Are they feeding you well? Can you walk yet?”
I put my hand up. “Slow down Jace. I was hurt, not dead. I am feeling ok. Still a little dizzy when I stand. They are feeding me well, not always the best tasting food, but it is food.”
I hear a laugh from the door. Turning I see Mateo at the door. “I forgot to tell Ash to get you a cook for the day. He isn’t the best at it. I will go make you something. I assure you it will be better than what Ash has made. Do you want to join me, Callum?” The boy shakes his head. He isn’t going anywhere. “Alright but you behave yourself with our guests.” He leaves us. Why do I miss him as soon as he turns away? Wait, no I don’t. Push that thought away Lila.
Callum buries his head in my chest. There is a twinge of pain, but I can bear it. “How are you really feeling?” Eli asks as he brushes the hair out of my face.
“Guy’s I’m doing fine really. How about I ask the questions for a minute. How is your new mate?” I look to Eli.
He rubs the back of his neck. “Not too happy at the moment. She wasn’t happy that I left her to go see you. She knows how much you mean to me and she wasn’t happy that I didn’t even offer for her to come. It’s not that I didn’t want her to come, I just didn’t want to push it. He said one person and we already were sending two. I couldn’t add my mate too. I think she might be a little jealous of you. I told her that we are only friends, but we have history. I still love you, just not the same as I love her.”
I nod along with his story. “Same here. I love you but I’m not in love with you. If that makes sense?” Callum gets up and runs out of the room.
Jace laughs after the little boy. “Where is he off to in a hurry?”
“Probably to get another book. He has had me reading to him all day.” I sigh, “I would say it is tiresome but he is a great kid. I really like being around him. I am going to be sad to leave him behind.”
I burrow into the pillows more. “So, tell me what is going on at home.”
Jace sighs. “Well, your dad has been hitting on mom non stop since you disappeared. He says she comforts him. It’s causing problems with mom and dad. Uncle Jay had to step in and stop a fight the other day. They were both really worried about you but you know your dad still loves mom. All this has been the hardest on him I think.”
“I’m sorry, I should have watched my drink a little better. I don’t know who took me but I do know that is how they drugged me.”
“Your friends were pretty worried too. They thought that it was their fault that you were taken. Mom hasn’t been sleeping. Dad is more on edge than usual. Mom can’t leave his side. We were all a little surprised that Mateo didn’t kill you, he is rumored to kill all trespassers.”
“Well, I am not the only one that he hasn’t killed. He didn’t kill Callum either. Maybe what people think is wrong.” I point out. Sure I don’t want him to be my mate, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t think he is a good guy.
Eli adds his input. “We were worried about you too. Andrew felt like it was his own sister that was missing. Mom and dad were really upset too. Not sleeping much either. I know your other brothers were on edge too. They will all be glad to see you home.” He kisses my forehead.
Callum comes running back into the room. He doesn’t have a book but a picture. I haven’t seen this one before. When he hands it to me I am a little shocked that he would bring this to me now. It is a picture of Mateo and I kissing. I try to hide it from the guys in bed with me but they aren’t buying it.
Jace takes the picture from my hand and stands so he can inspect it without me taking it back. “What is this? It looks like daddy isn’t the only one that wants you to stay. It seems the boy has picked you out for his daddy.”
I cock my head at him and keep my stern voice. “Jace, knock it off, leave the boy alone. He likes me, it’s nothing to be mean about. You don’t need to pick on him.”
“I am not picking on him. He is trying to hook up my sister to his daddy. I think it is cute in a little way, but I am not happy about it.” Callum runs out of the room again.
“Now look what you did? You upset him. It is a harmless picture. Why did you have to say that in front of him? You are such a jerk sometimes.” I scold and try to stand from the bed. I get a little dizzy and have to catch myself.
“Damn it Lila I didn’t mean to make the kid upset.” He tosses the picture and tries to catch me. “Get back in bed.”
“I have to find him. He is upset.” I point after Callum.
Mateo is standing in the door though. “What’s going on? She isn’t supposed to be out of bed unless she has to go to the bathroom. Why does it look like she is upset?”
“She is upset.” I say. I hate when people talk about me like I’m not even there. “Mateo, can you find Callum and bring him back here?”
He sets down the tray he was carrying. “I’ll be right back, not sure if he will be ready to come back, but I will talk to him. He isn’t used to company, most people don’t understand him.” He leaves the room with a hint of anger around him.
I turn on Jace, “Don’t you dare say another mean word to that boy. I swear I will make you regret the day you were born if you do.”
“Lila, please sit down, you are starting to sound like mom.”
“So, what? Callum didn’t do anything to you. He is a really sweet boy. You were being cruel.”
“I’m sorry ok. Mateo’s story doesn’t add up. I’m on edge. I just want you home.”
“I think I need to be alone right now.” I glare at him. He’s right I am starting to sound like mom. I feel like I’m defending my pup.
He sighs but nods. “I’ll be back in a little while.” Jace leaves the room. Eli takes his place.
“I’m not leaving until you are back in that bed.” I get back in bed if only to get him to leave too. Since when do they bother me to have them around? I guess since they started poking at Callum.
Once I was in the bed, Eli covered me up. He leans in and kisses my forehead again. “I am glad we found you safe.” His voice is low so that only I can hear it. I just nod and rest my head on the pillows.
Eli leaves too. Now I am alone. I like it that way at the moment. I need to think.
I feel Callum crawling back into the bed. “He was a bit upset. I think he is more upset that you are leaving.” Mateo moved the try closer. “I know how he feels.”
“I don’t belong here Mateo.”
“Says who. I think you belong here. So does Callum. On Wednesday you will see you are meant to be here too.”
“Thank you for helping me out while I am unable to move.”
He looks at me a little sad. “I don’t want you to leave.” He leans over on the bed. “I am holding my tongue the best that I can, but you are my mate, my Luna. I won’t be able to live without you.” He lightly kisses my lips. I don’t cringe or pull away. Part of me knows that he is right, but I don’t want to accept it. “Rest my Luna.” He kisses me one more time and leaves the room. Callum doesn’t leave my side again.