Caleb’s POV
“Wakey wakey. I made us breakfast.” I heard Ashley’s voice from a distance in my sleep.
She shook me gently and I opened my eyes. She had on my T-shirt and a smile on her face. There was something scary about her demeanor and I jerked away from her involuntarily.
“Why do you keep doing that?” She asked me, her voice sounding hurt and sad.
“I’m sorry. I am just waking up. It was a reflex.” I lied, it was obvious she had seen right through me as she scoffed and sauntered off.
“Shit. Ash, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pull away like that.” I apologized and jumped off the bed to catch her before she left the room. To be honest, I could not stomach one more fight with her.
“You have been treating me like a stranger ever since The fox was found at the palace. I have said a million times that I am not responsible for it, but you can’t just seem to believe me.” She sulked and pushed my hands off her shoulder.
“Baby, I’m sorry. A lot has been on my mind, you know how I feel about you, and would do absolutely anything to see you happy.” I cajoled and rained kisses on her neck. She resisted a bit more before succumbing, and soon we were both laughing.
“Now, what did my favorite girl in the world make for Papa for breakfast? I hope it’s a plate of herself” I teased and smacked her butt. She looked at me shocked every time I did that even though it was often.
“I made bacon, scrambled eggs, and garlic bread.” She answered and I smiled.
Garlic bread has been out of my diet for almost six years. I last had it with my mom before my mission with the late king of the pack. Seeing Ashley make it for me for breakfast was quite touching, and my eyes watered.
“Sounds absolutely yummy, Ash. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. How about I take you shopping later before driving you down to the institute?” I said, trying to make up for recoiling from her earlier.
“Are you trying to bribe me, Caleb?” She asked, her tone betraying the stern face she was carrying.
“Don’t consider it to be a bribe. Just a nice man taking his gorgeous mate out.” I said and moved to the bathroom.
“Well, in that case, I can ask for whatever I want right?” She said, looking at me intently, almost like she wasn’t talking about the shopping anymore.
“Where are you going with this, young lady?” I asked her playfully.
“Well, my twenty-first birthday is coming up. I was thinking of having a private dinner with my brother, Wilson.” She said calmly, explaining like I didn’t know who her brother was.
This was a very tricky one, considering everything happening in the palace now, it would be hard to approach Rolan for clearance to take Ashley there.
The king has also been upset with Pandora for private reasons, even though Griffin had hinted that it was a result of the Queen’s stubbornness.
Stubbornness was a trait that I admired in every woman, in a world that was so vile and unfair to women, each one of them needed a stubborn mind. Pandora was the queen and I have noticed that she is quite strong-headed when it comes to doing exactly what she wants, no matter what any other person says.
“That will be a little challenging, Ash. Don’t you want something else? You know your brother still has at least eighteen months there. I’m sure he will be here for your next birthday.” I explained, trying to get her to see the reasons.
We were still the top suspects in the fox case, if not for the intervention of the queen, well, there’s no telling what decision his duty might have forced the king to make. It was already obvious that he would do his job when he arrested me.
Something was still unclear to me about what had happened. How had the perpetrator gotten access to the surveillance room, and why was it empty?
Ashley was the one who suggested we try out something adventurous by going to have sexual intercourse in the surveillance room. She had mentioned passing there earlier and seeing the room empty, which was true because, by the time we got into the room, there was no one there.
Not even a soul had interrupted our hour’s long lovemaking, that I was too ashamed to include in my statement.
“So you can’t do it? I know he will be out in eighteen months before I ask you. Why is everything challenging for you to do for me? Don’t you care about me? I thought mates were supposed to love each other more than anything else in the world?” She yelled at me and stormed off angrily.
I did not hold her back this time around, explaining to her would only worsen things, so I was going to try my best to convince her otherwise. Asking for such a favor now, might leave a bad taste in Alpha Rolan’s mouth.
There was no need to go down for breakfast anymore and even the fond memory of it I had was now muddled with the mess that came with this morning. I sauntered off to the shower and took a quick bath. I brushed my teeth and while I was coming down, I heard hushed voices.
Shocked to hear that another person was in the house, I tiptoed to the guest room and I saw something that made my legs weak, my heart heavy. I wiped my eyes multiple times to be sure that I was seeing correctly.
“Mom please, you have to go. Caleb is in the shower now, and he must not see you here. I can’t handle all of that right now. I contacted the man you asked me to, and he somehow got you out. I am done with this, mom. You are not fine. You need help” I heard Ashley say.
I pushed open the door and my mouth fell open.
“I was right not to have trusted you,” I said, just as a gunshot rang out and I felt warm liquid trickling down my chest.