Chapter 1
Calum
December
Istared out across the desert at the setting sun.
In the far distance, I could make out the pyramids, and I should be in my element.
But I missed my brother and his little mate.
But what it really was, I missed my family.
I sat down, wondering how long I was going to run from myself.
I wanted a mate, but unlike Benjamin or Pierre, I couldn’t protect my mate like they could.
I was a fox shifter, an alpha at that, but I didn’t have any type of magical powers.
Not that I needed them. But if I had them, I… Dallas, might still be alive.
I heard noise behind me, and after a quick glance, I saw my crew were finally unwinding for the night.
I didn’t blame them. It wasn’t exactly hot during the daytime in December, but the sun could still be relentless, and it easily took the energy right out of you.
I knew I couldn’t stay away for long. Eventually, one of them would come and drag me over to where they were all passing around snacks and sharing stories of their time visiting family recently.
They’d ask about my own visit, and I just didn’t feel like sharing this time.
How could I? I was the only paranormal in the group, and they would never understand that my brother had recently “married” and welcomed twins so quickly after.
Things didn’t happen that fast, normally, and not only was I not allowed to disclose our kind to humans, but it honestly wasn’t my story to share.
I was fairly private, and I was certainly protective of Benjamin and Eli’s relationship and their adorable twins.
I smiled at the thought of my nephews. I pulled out my phone and opened the folder I had of them. They were growing like crazy and had gotten so big since I’d seen them last. I would love to go back to Montana, but I had commitments here.
Pierre was just as antisocial as always, but with Benjamin and our parents all settled in Montana, I had thought long and hard about possibly settling down closer to them.
There were certainly digs that were through the universities that I could most likely get in on with my credentials, but I wasn’t too stubborn to admit that I’d run away when I found myself longing for what my brother had.
I didn’t want Eli. No, I liked him just fine, but he was my brother’s One, and I had no desires toward him. But I found myself once again dreaming about finding my own mate and starting a family.
“Dr. Ward, are you going to join us?”
I looked over my shoulder at Lauren. She was new to the crew this time around, and she’d made it very clear early on that she was interested.
I had to hide my smirks and eye rolls every time she made obvious advances toward me.
I didn’t get involved with those on my crew, and in all honesty, she had all of the wrong parts.
Like my brothers and my father, I was gay.
Most paranormals were bisexual leaning, but I fell strictly into the gay category.
“I’m not up for it tonight,” I told her. She plopped down next to me, entirely too close, and my body stiffened. My fox didn’t like that she was beside us—she certainly wasn’t our mate.
“Oh, they’re cute. Who are they?” she asked, reaching for my phone. I tightened my grip and turned the screen off.
“I’m turning in for the night. Enjoy your evening, Miss Summers.” I stood easily and immediately started off toward my own tent. It certainly wasn’t my favorite, but it was only for a week before we’d be heading back into Cairo and back to the hotel.
I glanced at the others as I walked by, waving to them but not stopping. I wasn’t normally so distant with my crew, but my last visit with my family had really caused me to reflect on what I had in life and what I wanted. Now that I was here, I was realizing this wasn’t what I wanted.
It was just after seven in the evening locally, and that meant it was just after ten in the morning in Montana.
That improved my mood a bit as I made my way to my tent.
I unzipped it, quickly stepping in and rezipping it.
I knew I would be in for several hours, so I went ahead and secured the lock on the zipper.
Not that it would keep someone with a knife out.
But it kept others from entering through the door, and that’s what I wanted at the moment.
I sat and took off my boots, placing them by the opening before I walked across the space and sat on my sleeping cot.
It wasn’t the most comfortable bed, but I had the advantage of when it became too uncomfortable, I could shift and curl up in my fox form.
That’s where the lock on the inside of the zipper came in handy.
It gave me enough time to shift if someone came snooping around my place.
I opened my laptop, and while it booted up, I moved to the floor and placed a pillow behind me to lean against. You would think that as someone well into their third century and getting close to knocking on their fourth I’d be past living like this.
I reached for the lamp and turned it on, wondering how long the battery would last this evening.
I didn’t really need it to see in the dark, but I didn’t care for staring at the laptop screen in the dark.
Immediately, I opened my email and clicked Compose to send today’s notes back to the museum. They were funding this dig, and although I preferred to work for universities, I was suddenly rethinking my life choices.
I was in Egypt, one of my absolute favorite places of all time. The history was vast, and the architecture, as well as the artifacts, was fascinating. What the ancient Egyptians were able to accomplish for their time was truly beyond others. Not all, but some.
But I was living in a tent. Sure, I could stand up in the center of it.
But it was about ten feet by ten feet, and in the center, it was six and a half feet tall.
On the sides, it was only five feet. But living here was certainly roughing it.
I’d spent close to a month in Montana with my family, and it had been nice.
No, it was more than nice. It had been…I stared off into space, trying to think of the best word to describe my last visit.
Not really nice, although it had been that.
But it was more. It was…familiar? Not really.
I’d not been to Montana before. But yet, when I was there, it felt like…
well, home. Despite the fact that Pierre hadn’t been there, it still felt like home. Wasn’t that ironic?
Not really in the mood to make notes at the moment, I saved the draft and found what I was looking for in my inbox. It was an email from Dad. It never failed, actually. He was always so good about sending me an email shortly after Father went to work.
Calum,
We miss you. There. I’ve said it. Yes, I know it won’t persuade you to move closer to us, and that hasn’t ever been a requirement. Your last visit seems so long ago now. You left shortly after the twins were born, and that was ten months ago.
You should see them. They’re crawling everywhere, and Benjamin and Eli have their hands full with those two. Eli has really come out of his shell more since he gave birth. Every day, he becomes more comfortable around others.
Don’t feel I’m putting pressure on you. I’m not.
But the university south of here in Missoula has an anthropology department.
I realize it’s not your exact field, but you know archeology is a subfield of anthropology and you could possibly consider it?
They are hiring, and although it’s not incredibly close, it’s closer.
If you should want to maybe move closer to us.
I chuckled at that. I loved my fathers. Both of them equally.
Dad wouldn’t flat-out say hey, move closer because we really miss you and enjoyed having you here when you visited last winter, but he would hint all day until he was blue in the face.
I went back to the email to see what else he had to say.
Maybe think about it? No pressure though.
I’m not even willing to try to suggest Pierre move closer.
He won’t even respond to emails, let alone answer any of our calls.
I would have to send your father after him, and honestly, we would all be miserable if he came here and was his usual grumpy self.
Not that I don’t love him. I do. I love all three of you. But you know what I mean.
Maybe think about the university? If you’re looking for a change? You seemed quite melancholy toward the end of your last visit. We would love to see you more, but we understand you are doing what your heart desires.
The council is growing, and Benjamin has started going out on more assignments. He was in Europe recently. There will be a smaller branch set up in Europe somewhere. They are still deciding the location as of now.
Your father has thought about requesting to transfer there. It would break my heart to leave Spencer and Maverick, but I go where your father goes, and he’s thinking about trying to be more centrally located among the three of you. Not that it matters. He can travel with a thought.
I suppose I’ve talked your ear off by now. I miss you. I understand you are almost three centuries old, but I still miss you. You’ve always followed your heart, and that’s all we ever wanted for any of you.
When you get the time and are back to civilization, give me a call if you can. It helps to hear your voice. Your father says to tell you hello, and he will always help with travel if you wish.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Love,
Dad
I couldn’t help but smile. Dad had attached a video that I couldn’t get to open or play, but the pictures he sent were small enough that they came through.
Spencer and Maverick were certainly getting big.
They were crawling around on the floor, it looked like, and I wondered just how soon it would be before they were walking.