Chapter 20 - Kaleb
I woke the next morning feeling energized.
Maybe it was the fact that I slept like a baby, or maybe it was because I got to fuck Nora in the parking lot three times.
I could still see the way her face shifted into bliss when she came apart.
How hard her walls tightened around my cock.
How she seemed drunk on me. I could still hear her begging me to do it again.
I walked down the stairs and made my coffee. Charlie was sunbathing in the kitchen, asleep. I couldn’t help but smirk, growing to like the dog.
“Morning, Charlie.” He hardly acknowledged me, just opening his eyes enough to take me in before closing them.
I started the coffee maker and was pouring myself a cup when I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Charlie instantly jumped up as Nora made her way into the kitchen. I raised an eyebrow at him. “Seriously?”
“What?” Nora asked as she bent down, rubbing his face.
“He clearly has favorites.”
She laughed. “I did bring him back from the shelter, and I watched after him for months before you even met him.”
I handed her a cup and watched her fingers wrap around the mug as she took it. She seemed calmer today, even relaxed. I wondered if things might be okay between us.
We seemed to be on uneven territory. One moment, we would get along, and suddenly, the next, she refused to look at me. I knew it was because of our fake dating. I didn’t think about how messy it would get.
“I have to get to a meeting.” I grabbed my to-go mug, pouring my coffee in. “I’ll be home for dinner. Do you want to go somewhere?”
“We could stay in,” she offered. “I can make a roast with some potatoes.”
“That sounds nice,” I said. I knew that this was fake, but it felt so real. Us being together felt right, and it scared me a little.
I changed and headed to city hall. Brandon was in his office, shredding paper, when I arrived. “I’m here,” I announced.
Brandon laughed. “Do you want a gold star like a child?”
“How about a raise?”
Brandon rolled his eyes as he took his seat. “Asher and Westley are still on lookout, so it’s just going to be us.”
I took a seat, glancing at the map he had already displayed. I took in the town he marked and wondered if he had been in contact with their Alpha. The Alpha had been clear that they didn’t need help, yet we took in their scared animals.
“The Alpha hasn’t reached out,” Brandon said, always seeming to know what I was thinking. “I tried offering help, but he refused. Doesn’t want to do a meeting either.”
“He’s an idiot,” I grumbled, shaking my head. “His pack is going to crumble because he won’t accept help. He knows what’s out there, and he’s just refusing to accept it.”
Brandon nodded in agreement. “I agree with that, but it’s not our pack. If he doesn’t want help, I can’t change anything.”
I shook my head. “We already lost one town. We don’t need to lose more.
” I thought of the people who died in the first town, and the massacre it was.
And the second town was no better. People were alive, but buildings were destroyed.
People were crying over the loss of their homes and businesses. And their Alpha refused help.
“We need to come together rather than become divided.”
Brandon nodded. “I agree, but my father didn’t exactly throw his arms out offering people help. We have discussed how this couldn’t possibly go. Alphas aren’t always raised to accept hand-outs.”
I knew that. We had discussed this many times. Brandon was trying hard to form better alliances with the surrounding packs, and some were open while others weren’t. We all knew it was understandable, considering the huge help his father offered.
“But you’re not your father. Surely, they should see that by now. You’ve been in this role for months.”
“That’s not long enough,” Brandon said with a shrug. “These things take time.”
“Time we don’t have,” I sighed and rubbed at my face. “Before we decide to go out again, can we discuss whether or not Nora should join us?”
Brandon’s eyebrows went up. “Why?”
“Because she could have gotten hurt.”
Brandon leaned back in his chair, staring at me for a moment without saying anything. He crossed his arms. “Why don’t you care so much?”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
Brandon shrugged. “I just wonder why you care so much when your relationship isn’t real.”
I stiffened, knowing instantly that my sister had told him. I frowned. “How long have you known?”
“The moment your sister found out. Do you honestly think your sister keeps anything from me?”
I groaned and ran a hand through my hair. “It’s not like that. I swear.”
“So you’re saying there are at least some feelings, and my Beta isn’t a complete ass?”
“I care about her, Brandon. Just because the relationship is fake doesn’t mean I don’t care about her feelings.”
“That’s bullshit and not how I want my beta behaving!” Brandon snapped, his hand slamming down onto the table. “What the hell were you thinking!”
I gripped my chair. “Says the man that knocked my sister up and left her alone for years!”
We both fell quiet. Brandon seemed to relax slightly. “Why? Why are you doing this?”
“We both have reasons. I’m getting my father off my back, and she’s keeping a guy that’s interested in her away. We are both getting something out of this.”
“You know how important she is to your sister, and you know damn well what will happen if things go south.”
“You’re going to beat my ass?”
Brandon shook his head. “You would be lucky if I got to you before your sister did.”
That, though, scared me a little. Jade had been practicing more with her magic every day, and she was becoming someone you didn’t want to cross. I saw just how powerful she was.
“I don’t plan to hurt her, Brandon. I want things to end amicably between us.” A part of wondering if I wanted it to end at all, though.
“I don’t think that’s exactly going to happen.”
“And why not?”
“Because you slept with her!”
I threw my arms up. “Just how much information is my sister sharing with you? Did she give you details?”
“You honestly think your sister keeps shit from me?”
I should have known she wouldn’t, not after keeping this child a secret.
“No one even knows about it. Once things are settled, we will part ways. No one will even know it’s fake.”
“That’s not the problem!”
“Then what is?” I asked, but he didn’t answer. And then I noticed the way his eyes were staring at me with almost a worry behind them. He was hiding something.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Brandon shifted in his chair but remained silent about my question, which made me suddenly question things. What did he know that I didn’t? Was Nora hiding something?
I got up. “What do you know, Brandon?”
“I know you should talk to Nora.”
“Why don’t you just tell me?”
“Because it’s not for me to tell.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Kaleb, quit asking me stupid questions and go talk to Nora.”
I headed home irritated. What could have possibly changed so much that she would have told the entire grapevine? I mean, there was the possibility of her growing more feelings, and I mean, I had feelings, but it didn’t make sense.
I pulled up to the house and headed inside. I found Nora sitting on the couch with Charlie. They were wrapped up in a blanket while she ate ice cream from the container. She paused, spoon midway to her mouth as I shut the door, turning to her.
She frowned. “Okay, I promise I didn’t ruin my appetite. We can still eat dinner.”
“What are you hiding?” I asked, throwing my jacket aside, and crossed my arms.
Nora had the spoon in her mouth now, looking at me, confused. “What?” she asked, her voice muffled. “Like, am I hiding ice cream? I swear, this was in the freezer for almost a week, and you didn’t touch it. I can share it if you want some.”
“Nora, I’m not talking about the ice cream. I’m talking about what secret Jade and Brandon know that I don’t. What are you hiding?”
She swallowed, nervous as she stuck the spoon back into the ice cream. “I’m not hiding anything.”
“I don’t believe that. Brandon made that very clear.”
“What exactly did he tell you?”
“Nothing, which is the problem.”
She set her ice cream aside. “Kaleb, you’re just overthinking this. There is nothing.
“Nora, I know that’s a lie. What is it?”
She fidgeted with the blanket, avoiding my gaze. She then threw the blanket off, moving Charlie off of her, and got up. She took a deep breath in as she turned to me. “Okay, this was not how I was planning to tell you this, but if you insist, fine.”
She straightened her shoulders and cupped her hands together. “I’m pregnant.”
I felt my eyebrows scrunch together, looking at her, lost. Did she just say she was pregnant?
“What?”
“As I said, this wasn’t how I wanted to tell you. I was going to tell you when we went golfing, but then it just didn’t seem right.”
My eyes widened. We golfed a week ago. She kept this to herself for a week!?
“How long have you been hiding this from me!?”
She frowned, shaking her head. “I wasn’t keeping this from you. I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
“Is that what the dinner for tonight was for? Making me think that this could work!?”
She looked like I slapped her and took a step back. “No, I…” She stumbled for words. “I wasn’t planning to tell you tonight. I…”
“So when were you planning on telling me?”
“I don’t know,” she said, with a sigh. “I don’t know when I was going to tell you.”
I frowned, suddenly seeing the future that would unfold. I didn’t want it. This was exactly what I had been trying to avoid.
“You’re sure you’re pregnant?”
She nodded. “I took several tests. Jade was kind enough to bring them to me.”
And there it was. She told my sister, who told Brandon.
“You told my sister?”
“I need someone who would think straight.”
“Oh yeah, run to the person who hid her child for years.”
“Why are you yelling at me?”
“Because this was not supposed to happen, Nora! We can’t have a kid! I told you that I didn’t want any children.”
“And yet you didn’t wrap it! This is not all on me, Kaleb. It takes two to make a baby.”
“Fuck,” I turned around, storming into the kitchen. I didn’t even know what I was looking for, but I needed something to take the edge off. Nora followed me. “Kaleb, I know that you’re scared about this and that you think you’re like your dad, but this is us. We’re going to be okay.”
“Stop,” I growled, opening the cabinet and finding my scotch. I poured myself a drinking, needing to think about what to do.
Nora looked at me, confused, her eyes flicking between the scotch and me. “Kaleb.”
“We’re not doing this,” I snapped at her. “I was very clear! I told you that I didn’t want kids. I didn’t want this life.”
“And what about now, Kaleb? It’s done.”
I didn’t know. I just knew that this wasn’t supposed to happen. Nora and I were supposed to go our separate ways after this, but now we can’t. It was one thing to fake a relationship, but another to let this happen.
“This was a mistake. I should have never thought this would work.”
I could see tears build up in her eyes. “Is that so?”
I took a swig of my drink. “Yes. All of this was a bad decision.”
I watched her eyes switch, filling with anger now.
She grabbed the bottle and hurled it at the wall.
The glass shattered, and the liquor splattered everywhere.
I heard Charlie skitter across the floor, running away.
Nora grabbed a mug sitting next to the sink and threw it as well.
I stepped back out of the way as I watched her hands curl into fists.
“I should have known you would react this way!”
“You got feelings!”
“I always had them!” she screamed back. “And you did too! You pulled me into bed! Don’t you dare act like this is all on me! You were the one who pulled me in, and now you’re trying to push me away when things didn’t go your way!”
I swallowed, grinding my teeth together hard.
Her arms dropped. “You got what you wanted, Kaleb. You’re just like your father.”
It hit a nerve, and I inhaled slowly, feeling my nostrils flare. I ground my teeth together.
“You want to be alone, fine. I’ll have my stuff out by tomorrow.” She turned, storming away. I could hear her grab her keys, and the front door slammed shut. I looked at the shattered glass and felt my shoulders relax.
I ran a hand over my face, knowing I had reacted wrong. I knew I shouldn’t have yelled. She was right.