Calvin’s POV
Sleep eluded me.
I had spent the entire night staring at the ceiling, my mind caught in a relentless loop of thoughts that refused to quiet. Every time I closed my eyes, I found myself right back where it all began-standing in that room, staring at Kamrynn, feeling the mate bond settle into place like a noose around my throat.
It should have been impossible. It was impossible.
And yet, there she was.
My mate.
The mother of my children.
My victim.
I let out a slow, shaky breath, pinching the bridge of my nose as the first rays of sunlight bled through the curtains. The warmth did nothing to ease the cold dread pressing against my ribs.
Last night had been one of the wildest, most chaotic nights of my life.
First, I had found Kamrynn in the Blue Bell Pack-a place I never expected her to be. Then, I had learned the truth about the twins. My twins. The two lives I never even knew existed. And as if that wasn’t enough of a shock, the mate bond had wrapped around my soul with a vice grip, tying us together in a way that neither of us had seen coming.
But that wasn’t the worst of it.
No.
The worst part was the growing, terrifying possibility that Sherelle was still alive.
The thought had gnawed at me all night, refusing to let go. I had tried to push it aside, tried to dismiss it as paranoia, but the more I turned it over in my mind, the more sense it made.
Sherelle hadn’t just died. She had disappeared.
Her body had been mutilated, barely recognizable, but what if…
What if it wasn’t her?
If I voiced this theory to another man, they would likely scoff and call it wishful thinking. They would say she had simply faked her death and run off with the guard, and perhaps that was the most logical answer.
But I hoped that wasn’t the case.
Because if it was-if Sherelle had truly run away, willingly-then everything I had done to Kamrynn…
Every crime.
Every sin.
Every atrocity.
Had been for nothing.
The weight of it settled on my chest like lead, suffocating, inescapable. I closed my eyes, inhaling sharply before forcing myself to sit up. Lying here wouldn’t change anything.
I needed answers.
And I wouldn’t find them in this room.
Dragging myself out of bed, I made my way to the bathroom. The moment I stepped inside, a sickening weight settled deep in my gut.
I was leaving today.
Orion had made that clear. He had given me until morning to leave the Blue Bell Pack with my head held high. After that, I had no doubt he would toss me out like the unwanted presence I had become.
I turned the faucet, letting the water run as steam began to fill the room.
I hated leaving.
I hated leaving Kamrynn.
Hated leaving my children.
But I didn’t have a choice.
Even if Orion wasn’t forcing me to leave, I needed to go.
I had to see the witch.
The truth had been hidden for too long, and I could no longer afford to ignore it.
Still…
I wasn’t ready to walk away just yet.
I needed to see Kamrynn.
One last time.
I needed to tell her what I had discovered, needed her to know where I was going and why.
And maybe-just maybe-she would come with me.
The thought was foolish, but it latched onto me like a parasite.
I stepped under the water, letting the heat burn away the chill that had settled into my bones. My muscles ached with exhaustion, my mind still buzzing with too many thoughts, but I forced myself to focus.
There was no room for hesitation.
By the time I stepped out of the shower, my decision was made.
I dried off quickly, pulling on a fresh set of clothes. As I ran a towel through my damp hair, my gaze flickered to the mirror.
I looked… different.
Not physically-my sharp features and viridescent eyes were the same as they had always been-but there was something else.
Something weary.
Something haunted.
And yet, something inside me still stirred.
For the first time in years, I cared about how I looked in front of her.
Kamrynn was my mate.
Even if she despised me.
Even if she wanted nothing to do with me.
There was a primal urge to make myself presentable-to be desirable in her eyes, even when I knew she would never look at me that way again.
A low chuckle rumbled in the back of my mind.
“Is that really all it is?” Fenrir asked, amusement laced in his voice.
I ignored him, straightening my collar before turning toward the door.
I had wasted enough time.
It was time to find Kamrynn.
I left my room, my footsteps echoing down the quiet hallway. The Blue Bell Palace was different this morning-calmer, less crowded. It was the kind of morning where everything felt still, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
But my mind was anything but still.
I needed to see Kamrynn one last time.
I spotted a maid dusting a nearby table and approached her.
“Where can I find Kamrynn?” I asked, keeping my voice level.
The maid hesitated for only a moment before answering. “She’s with the Luna in the living room, Alpha.”
Relief flooded through me. At least she wasn’t hiding.
“Take me to her,” I said.
The maid nodded quickly and led the way down the hall, stopping in front of a large set of double doors. She didn’t linger, bowing slightly before disappearing down another corridor.
I took a breath, steadying myself. Then, without hesitation, I pushed the doors open.
The second I stepped inside, Rmonica’s gaze snapped to me like a predator catching the scent of an intruder.
Her entire posture shifted-her shoulders squaring, her chin lifting, her dominance pressing against mine.
She was not pleased to see me.
“We were courteous enough to keep you until morning,” she said coldly, her expression set in a dangerous calm. “But it seems honor isn’t one of your strong suits.”
She took a step forward, her sharp eyes locking onto mine. “Would you prefer to be kicked out, Alpha? Because I have no problem carrying out the order.”
Her words were clipped, but I could hear the threat in them loud and clear.
I clenched my jaw, instinct roaring at me to push back against the challenge. But I forced it down.
Fighting her wouldn’t get me what I wanted.
So instead, I exhaled slowly and reined in my dominance, keeping my voice calm.
“I’ll leave,” I said. “But not before I speak to Kamrynn one last time.”
Rmonica’s nostrils flared. “No.”
Her refusal was instant. Firm. Final.
Of course she wouldn’t make this easy.
I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could get another word out, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
“It’s fine,” Kamrynn said.
Both Rmonica and I turned toward her.
She met my gaze briefly before looking at Rmonica. “I’ll speak with him,” she said, her voice neutral, unreadable. “But only for a few minutes.”
Rmonica’s brows pulled together, clear disapproval flashing across her face. “Kamrynn-”
“I said it’s fine,” Kamrynn repeated, firmer this time.
There was a long, tense pause.
Then, Rmonica exhaled sharply, reluctantly giving in. But not without a warning.
She turned back to me, her expression cold. “If you so much as breathe the wrong way-”
“I know,” I said, cutting her off before she could finish.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t argue further. Instead, she turned back to Kamrynn.
“If you need anything, call me,” she said, her voice softer now.
Kamrynn nodded.
Rmonica shot me one last glare before finally leaving the room, closing the doors behind her.
Now, it was just the two of us.
Kamrynn didn’t move toward me.
Instead, she turned on her heel and walked over to the window, crossing her arms.
She didn’t even look at me when she spoke.
“Say what you need to say,” she said flatly. “And be quick about it.”
I swallowed, stepping closer.
“I think Sherelle might still be alive.”
Her entire body stiffened.
The air in the room shifted, darkening with something heavy and sharp.
For a moment, she didn’t say anything.
Then, slowly, she turned to face me.
Her expression had changed.
There was something there-something raw, something dangerous.
When she spoke, her voice was tight with anger.
“That’s not possible,” she said. “I saw her body, Calvin. I saw my sister’s mutilated corpse with my own eyes.”
Her breathing was uneven now, her arms tightening around herself as if trying to hold something in.
“I still see it,” she whispered. “Every time I close my eyes, I see it. I hear it. I feel it.”
The pain in her voice made my chest tighten.
But I couldn’t back down now.
“There’s only one way to be sure,” I said carefully.
Kamrynn shook her head. “Don’t do this.”
“I have to,” I said. “I need to find out the truth.”
I took a step closer, holding her gaze.
“Come with me.”
Her expression twisted into stunned disbelief.
“What?”
“I’m going to see a witch-one who can tell us the truth about what really happened that day,” I said. “I want you to come with me.”
Kamrynn blinked at me, then let out a short, humorless laugh.
“You’re insane,” she said.
“I’m serious,” I said firmly. “We can find out together.”
She shook her head, stepping back. “I don’t trust you.”
Her words shouldn’t have hurt.
But they did.
“I know,” I admitted.
She exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples before looking up at me again.
“Even if I did trust you,” she said, “I can’t leave my babies to go on some wild goose chase with you.”
“Then bring them along.”
Her eyes flashed with frustration. “They’re too young to travel long distances, Calvin.”
I clenched my jaw. “Kamrynn-”
“No,” she said firmly. “I’m not going with you.”
A flicker of something sharp passed through her eyes before she took a step closer, lowering her voice.
“For all I know,” she whispered, “this is just another one of your schemes.”
My heart dropped.
“Another way to kidnap me and drag me back to the Obsidian Pack.”
I flinched.
Because I deserved that.
I had earned that distrust.
I swallowed, my hands clenching at my sides. “Kamrynn, I-”
She cut me off with a raised hand.
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” she repeated.
I stood there, silent, my chest tightening.
Then, she took a slow breath, her expression unreadable.
“I’ll do my best to lift the curse,” she said.
Her voice was softer now.
More reluctant.
“But after that…”
Her gaze lifted, her eyes locking onto mine.
“I never want to see you again.”
I felt something inside me fracture.
Before I could respond, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there-
Alone.
Again.