Calvin’s POV
I took a deep breath, knowing that it was time to tell them everything.
“There’s a lot you don’t know,” I began, my voice steady but laced with emotion. “When I disappeared… it wasn’t by choice. Sherelle tricked me.”
“Sherelle?” Orion repeated, frowning deeply.
I nodded. “She sent a message to me saying that Calvin had hurt her and he was after her, she made it seem like she was in desperate need of my help. And as foolish as I’d been back then, I rushed in without telling anyone. The only thing on my mind was the fear of losing her- my only family again. She kidnapped me, wiped my memories and implanted false ones before giving me over to someone as a breeder. But it wasn’t enough for her, she wanted to erase my existence so badly that she placed a hex on Blue Bell so no one would remember me or the twins.”
Rmonica gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Oh my word…”
“I was held captive for over a month,” I continued. “I didn’t even know who I was. It’s terrifying having to remember it, separated from my children, from the people I care about and isolated with no memories. She blamed me for everything that went wrong in her life and wanted to destroy me.”
Orion’s jaw clenched, his eyes dark with anger. “That woman was pure evil.”
“She was,” I agreed softly. “But she’s gone now. Lorien- who was formerly her partner in crime but became friends with me by a twist of fate, really helped me. Together we ended her reign of terror.”
“You mean… she’s dead?” Rmonica asked, her eyes wide.
I nodded. “Yes. She won’t be able to hurt anyone ever again.”
“Good. A befitting ending for such a despicable person.” Orion added.
For a moment, there was silence as they processed everything I’d just said. Then, to my surprise, Rmonica pulled me into another hug.
“I’m just so glad you’re okay,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “We were so scared, Kamrynn.”
“I’m okay now, everything’s fine.” I assured her, blinking back tears.
When we finally pulled apart, Orion placed a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve been through so much,” he said quietly. “But you’re strong, Kamrynn. Stronger than anyone I know.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, touched by his words.
Orion’s gaze shifted to Calvin, and his expression hardened slightly. “And what about you?” he asked. “Are you going to make sure she never goes through anything like that again?”
Calvin straightened, meeting Orion’s gaze head-on. “Yes, sir. I swear on my life-I’ll protect Kamrynn and our children with everything I have.”
There was a tense moment of silence before Orion gave a curt nod. “Good.”
Despite the lingering tension, Orion and Rmonica officially welcomed us-and the rest of the Obsidian entourage-to Blue Bell.
While Lorien, Lysaa, and the others were shown to their rooms by the maids, Calvin and I stayed behind with Orion and Rmonica.
We made our way to the grand living room, where the four of us sat down on the plush sofas. The room was just as I remembered-elegant and cozy, with large windows that let in the afternoon light.
Calvin was unusually quiet, and I could tell he was nervous. He hadn’t had a real conversation with Orion and Rmonica since… well, since everything fell apart.
Finally, he took a deep breath and spoke.
“I want to apologize,” he said, his voice sincere. “I know that what I did to Kamrynn was unforgivable. I was cruel, and I hurt her in ways I can’t even begin to atone for. But I’ve changed. I’m not the same person I was back then.”
Rmonica and Orion listened silently, their expressions unreadable.
“I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness,” Calvin continued. “But I want you to know that I’m doing everything I can to be a better man. A better mate. And a better father.”
He paused, his gaze dropping to his hands. “Thank you for taking care of Kamrynn and the twins when I couldn’t. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
The room was quiet for a long moment, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
Then, to my relief, Rmonica smiled.
“All we’ve ever wanted is for Kamrynn to be happy, she’s like a daughter to us.” She said softly. “If she believes you’ve changed, then that’s enough for us.”
Orion nodded in agreement. “We’ll give you a second chance, Calvin. But don’t mess it up.”
“I won’t, I swear it.” Calvin promised.
With the tension finally easing, Orion invited Calvin to his office so they could discuss Alpha matters-specifically, how Blue Bell could help Obsidian with supplies while we recovered from the curse’s effects.
Calvin gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before following Orion out of the room.
As they left, Amara appeared and offered to take the twins to their former room so they could settle into the cradle there. I handed the carriers over to her, grateful for the help.
Once the twins were taken care of, Rmonica, Lysaa, Thalia, and I settled in for some girl talk.
With the men off discussing Alpha business and the twins sleeping soundly in their room, it was just us girls left in the grand living room. It felt strangely nostalgic, like the old days when we’d sit around chatting about everything and nothing.
Rmonica leaned back against the sofa, rubbing her baby bump absentmindedly. She was positively glowing, though I could tell from the way she occasionally winced that the pregnancy hadn’t been without its challenges.
“How are you feeling?” I asked gently.
Rmonica sighed and gave me a tired smile. “Honestly? Exhausted. The nausea finally stopped but I’m not out of the thick of it till he’s born apparently. This baby kicks like he’s trying out for the Pack’s next football team.”
We all chuckled at that.
“Still,” Rmonica added, her expression softening, “I wouldn’t trade it for anything. After everything we’ve been through, I’m just so grateful to have this chance. To be a mother.”
I reached out and squeezed her hand. “You’re going to be an amazing mom.”
She smiled at me, her eyes glistening with emotion.
“I can’t wait to meet your little one,” Lysaa said, her voice warm. “Do you have any names picked out yet?”
Rmonica nodded. “We’ve got a few in mind, but we haven’t decided on the final one yet. We’re waiting to meet him first.”
Thalia, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly cleared her throat. “Speaking of babies…”
We all turned to look at her, and to my surprise, she looked… nervous.
“What is it?” I asked, sensing there was something on her mind.
Thalia bit her lip, then took a deep breath. “Well… Kyven and I have some news. We’re expecting.”
There was a beat of silence before the room erupted in excited squeals and congratulations.
“Oh my Goddess, Thalia!” I exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug. “That’s amazing! Congratulations!”
Rmonica clapped her hands together, her face lighting up with joy. “Another Blue Bell baby on the way! This is the best news!”
Lysaa smiled in Thalia’s direction. “Congratulations. I’m so happy for you.”
Thalia blushed, looking both elated and a little overwhelmed by all the attention. “Thanks, everyone. We just found out recently, and we wanted to wait until the right moment to share the news.”
“Well, I’m glad you told us now,” I said, grinning. “This calls for a celebration.”
“We’ll have to throw you a baby shower,” Rmonica added, already making plans in her head. “It’ll be so much fun!”
Thalia laughed. “I’d love that.”
As the excitement died down a bit, I found myself leaning back against the sofa, watching my friends with a smile.
Rmonica, Thalia, Lysaa… they’d all been through so much, just like me. And yet, here we were-laughing, supporting each other, and looking forward to the future.
They were only better days ahead.