Ethan
I was still buzzing when I awoke the next morning.
Of course, it helped that Calder was right there, his arm draped over my waist as he pulled me tight against him.
He was still sleeping, but even asleep he was keen to keep me close, to make me know I was his.
Had it been any other guy I might’ve been a bit worried about his possessiveness.
But there was something about Calder that made it different.
He didn’t claim me out of anger or pride, he claimed me because he wanted me, because I meant something to him and he didn’t want to let me go.
I shifted slightly, savoring the warmth of his body against mine, the steady rhythm of his breathing against my neck.
In the soft morning light filtering through his curtains, everything felt peaceful, perfect even.
For the first time in years, I wasn't thinking about monsters or missing hearts or the creature that had haunted my nightmares since childhood.
I was just thinking about how right this felt, how safe I was in Calder's arms.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand, jolting me from my contentment. I reached for it carefully, trying not to wake Calder, and saw my mother's name on the screen.
Mom: Good morning, honey! Just checking in. How's the new job going? And Portland? I know it's been a while since we talked properly.
Guilt twisted in my stomach. I'd been so caught up in everything with Calder and the attacks that I'd barely responded to her texts over the past week. She'd been nothing but supportive when I'd moved across the country, even though I knew she worried about me being so far from home.
I glanced back at Calder's sleeping form, his dark hair tousled against the pillow, his face relaxed in a way I rarely saw when he was awake.
How could I even begin to explain any of this to her?
The job was going well, but everything else...
the creature from my past returning, the human heart left outside my apartment, falling for a man who was clearly hiding dangerous secrets.
Me: Job's great! Portland is... interesting. Lots of character.
Mom: That's wonderful! Are you making friends? Meeting people?
I bit my lip, thinking of Jake's warnings, of Calder's mysterious early morning meetings and evasive answers.
Me: A few people, yeah. There's this guy...
I paused, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. What was I supposed to say? That I'd fallen hard for someone I'd known less than two weeks? That he made me feel things I'd never felt before, but also scared me with how intense everything was between us? I continued to type.
Me: His name is Calder. He's... he's really something, Mom.
Mom: Oh honey, that's exciting! Tell me about him. What's he like?
I smiled despite myself, thinking of Calder's protective instincts, the way he'd held me last night, the vulnerability he'd shown me.
Me: He's strong, protective. Makes me feel safe. But he's also kind of mysterious. There's a lot about him I don't know yet.
Mom: Well, that can be part of the fun of getting to know someone new. As long as he treats you well.
Me: He does
As I typed, I realized how true it was. Despite all my doubts and Jake's warnings, Calder had never made me feel anything but cherished. Even his possessiveness came from a place of caring, not control.
Mom: I'm so happy for you, sweetheart. So when do I get to meet this special boy?
As I read the message, my stomach dropped. The last thing I wanted was my mother coming to Portland when there was clearly a monster on the loose, especially one that knew where I lived and how to find me.
Me: Maybe in a few months? I want to make sure things are settled here first.
Mom: Of course, no rush. But I have to admit, I've been thinking about planning a little trip out there soon anyway. I've never been to Maine, and I'd love to see where you're living now. Maybe next month?
My heart rate spiked, and I must have tensed because Calder stirred behind me, his arm tightening around my waist.
"Everything okay, pup?" His voice was rough with sleep, sending shivers down my spine despite my growing anxiety.
I turned slightly in his arms, meeting those warm brown eyes that were already more alert than they should be for someone who'd just woken up. "Just my mom checking in."
His expression softened. "That's nice. You haven't talked about her much."
"She wants to visit," I said, watching his face carefully. "Soon."
Something flickered across his features, too quick to interpret, but his thumb began tracing soothing circles on my hip. "What did you tell her?"
"That I needed time to get settled first." I set my phone aside without responding to her last message. "Calder, I can't have her come here. Not with everything that's happening."
"Hey." He shifted so we were facing each other fully, his free hand coming up to cup my cheek. "We'll figure it out. Maybe by the time she gets here, this whole thing will be resolved."
"And if it's not?"
His jaw tightened slightly. "Then we'll find another way to keep her safe. I won't let anything happen to your family, Ethan. I promise."
The fierce certainty in his voice should have been reassuring, but it only added to the growing list of questions I had about him. How could he make such promises? What exactly was he capable of?
"You keep saying things like that," I said softly. "Like you have some kind of power over this situation. But you're just one person, Calder. What if this thing is stronger than you think?"
His eyes flashed with that strange golden light again, and for a moment I could have sworn I saw something wild and untamed looking back at me. Then he blinked and it was gone.
"I'm not as helpless as you might think," he said, his voice carrying an edge that made my skin prickle. "And I have friends who can help if needed."
"What kind of friends?"
Before he could answer, my phone buzzed again. It was Mom again.
Mom: You know what, I might just come out there anyway. I’m feeling like a little vacation.
My blood went cold as I read the message. "Shit," I muttered, showing Calder the screen.
His expression darkened as he read, and I felt the muscles in his arm tense against me. "When?"
"She doesn't say." I quickly typed back, trying to keep the panic out of my response.
Me: Mom, maybe wait a few more weeks? I'm still getting my bearings here and work is really demanding right now.
The three dots appeared immediately, showing she was typing. My heart hammered as I waited for her response.
Mom: Nonsense! You work too hard anyway. A surprise visit from your mother is exactly what you need. I'm thinking maybe this weekend? I could drive up Friday and stay through Sunday.
"This weekend," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "She wants to come this weekend."
Calder sat up abruptly, running both hands through his hair. "Fuck. That's... that's not good timing."
"Not good timing?" I turned to stare at him. "Calder, there's a monster leaving human hearts outside my apartment, and you think my mother visiting is just bad timing?"
He was quiet for a long moment, his jaw working as if he was fighting some internal battle. When he finally looked at me, there was something desperate in his eyes.
"Ethan, I need you to trust me on this. Your mother cannot come here right now. It's not safe."
"Then help me convince her not to come," I said, grabbing his arm. "Tell me what I should say."
"Tell her..." He paused, seeming to weigh his words carefully. "Tell her you're seeing someone new and you want to focus on that relationship without family interference for a while."
I blinked. "You want me to use our relationship to keep my mother away?"
"If it works, yes." His voice was firm, but I caught the slight uncertainty in his expression. "She'll understand wanting privacy for a new romance, won't she?"
Before I could answer, my phone rang. Mom's contact photo filled the screen. It was a picture of her smiling in her garden, completely oblivious to the supernatural danger that seemed to follow me everywhere.
"I have to answer," I said, but Calder's hand closed over mine.
"Be careful what you tell her," he warned. "The less she knows about what's really happening here, the safer she'll be."
I nodded and swiped to answer. "Hi, Mom."
"Ethan, sweetheart! I was just so excited about visiting that I couldn't wait to call. I already booked a hotel room!"
"Mom, listen..." I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "This really isn't a good time. I'm... well, I'm seeing someone, and it's still really new and—"
"Oh honey, that's even more reason for me to come! I want to meet this guy! And don’t worry,” she added before I could protest. “I’m not going to monopolize your time.
I know how to entertain myself. But I would like to have dinner with you two just once while I’m up there.
” I could almost hear her gesticulating wildly like she always did. “Then I’ll leave you be, I promise.”
“Mom…” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “It’s just… it’s not—”
“Ethan,” she said softly but firmly. “You’ve been through a lot and this is your first time on your own. After your… hospitalization, I’m a bit worried. Just let your poor mother check in on you for some peace of mind, huh?”
I glanced at Calder knowing there was no way out of this.
“Alright,” I said, trying not to sound as worried as I was. “I’ll see you Friday then.”
"Perfect! I'll see you Friday afternoon. I love you, honey."
"Love you too, Mom," I managed before she hung up.
I set the phone down with trembling hands, staring at the blank screen.
The reality of what was about to happen crashed over me like a cold wave.
My mother, the only family I had left, was coming to Portland.
To a city where a monster had been hunting me, where human hearts were being left as calling cards, where I was falling for a man who kept secrets that could apparently get people killed.
"She's really coming," I said, more to myself than to Calder.
"Yeah," he replied grimly. "She is."
I turned to look at him, seeing the tension in every line of his body. He was staring at the ceiling, his jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle jumping beneath his skin.
"I really wish she wasn’t," I said. "But it’s impossible to change her mind once it’s made up."
Calder's eyes met mine, and for a moment I thought he might finally tell me the truth. Whatever he was hiding, whatever secrets he'd been keeping, I could see him weighing whether to share them.
“I guess we’re gonna need to keep an eye on her then,” he nodded. “So hopefully she likes me…”
It never even dawned on me that Calder would be nervous about something like that. Instinctively I reached out, pulling his forehead against mine.
“She’s going to love you,” I said softly.
He glanced up at me. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because you make me happy,” I replied, shrugging as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “What else could she want?”
Calder smiled, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “Let’s go on another date. Tonight.”
I grinned back. “Anything you say.”