Chapter 12 Evan
EVAN
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been keeping up with pack duties and going over to Caleb’s pack to help out where necessary, but now that they’re more settled, and Cole’s old pack is beginning to warm to Caleb, my duties there are becoming less and less by the day.
To my surprise, I barely saw Caleb when I visited again after the daisy chain incident.
He was always busy, which was a bonus, but he showed his face where he could.
That doesn’t stop my wolf from crying out for him at night when I sleep alone, and in the day when I see everyone in their happy couples.
Later that afternoon, Jaxon gathers his closest members around his private kitchen. “We’re heading over to Caleb’s pack tonight,” he declares.
I blow out a breath. I can’t catch a break.
“Zara and Felix decided to get us all together and thank us for our hospitality for welcoming them into the district,” he says clearly.
My hand runs down my face. There’s no getting out of this one.
When we head over to Caleb’s pack house, a part of me wants to know what really happened regarding Cole, but at the same time, that means knowing more about him, and I don’t wish to know anything about the man.
Zara ushers us through the gates and the front door, beaming from ear to ear with her curly hair half-up, half-down. She’s a natural beauty, and Felix is one lucky man.
If I were into girls, Zara would be the type of person I’d want to be with because of how caring and bright she is, but I’m not into girls, which means I’m stuck with a grumpy, beautiful Alpha instead.
The second we step through the door, I’m flooded with the lingering scent of Caleb. It’s inevitable, given he lives here and he’s my mate, so my senses are heightened around him, but it never gets easier.
We greet everyone, and I subconsciously keep an eye out for Caleb, who is yet to make an appearance. I despise myself and him for having this stupid hold over me.
The modern interior of the house counteracts the feel of the older style from the outside, and how creepy it looks. Something straight out of a horror movie. My eyes flicker over the pieces of art dotted along the halls, from abstract paintings to sculptures to photography.
As we move into their kitchen, Zara runs around to make sure everyone is okay. I settle beside Ava at the kitchen counter as she talks to Felix, but I remain silent.
“So, Jaxon mentioned you captured the hunters,” Ava pitches in.
Felix takes a sip of his drink. “About time. They’ve been hiding within the district for weeks; their scents were more earthy than human. I wonder how they got away with it for so damn long. We can’t let anything like that happen again.”
“Well, good thing they’re gone, and we learnt from our mistakes.”
“Agreed.”
“Where’s Caleb?” Ava asks casually.
He runs a hand over his head with a strained expression. “His father made an unexpected visit. He didn’t want anyone coming over today, but Zara convinced him. We wanted to show everyone there’s nothing to fear.”
Ava nods at his words and quickly gives me a side eye.
Their conversation continues, and I listen silently. My mind wanders to Caleb, and I can’t snap out of it. What’s the deal with his father?
No. Stop it.
I almost slap myself.
After a few moments, I excuse myself to get some air and to escape the gasoline scent filling my lungs. As I exit the kitchen, I pause in my tracks at the sound of footsteps.
Caleb walks towards the door beside a man as tall and large as Caleb himself.
It must be his father; they look alike. My eyes almost fly out of my skull at the sight of him.
He looks like a Viking—a big, scary Viking.
His eyes are dark as midnight, and he has a long brown beard and arms the size of an elephant's.
My blood turns cold, and my skin chills over.
Neither of them notice me as I tuck myself behind the outside pillar and crouch down with my eyes slightly peeking between the gaps.
Caleb’s father glances through the kitchen window, and I pray he doesn’t see me as he steps forward. I hold my breath and imagine I’m invisible.
I glance at Caleb. I can’t read the expression on his face, but if I can pick apart anything, he doesn’t look happy.
His father scoffs at him. “It’s been weeks, and you’ve done nothing productive,” he murmurs harshly.
Caleb continues to look away from him as he speaks.
“Look at me when I’m talking to you, son,” he growls.
Caleb reluctantly looks up at his father, and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him look vulnerable. Fragile almost.
“If Kyle were still here, he would never have a pack looking like this. This is pathetic.” He grits his teeth. “Where’s the authority? They’re having a damn party, and you’re allowing it?”
Caleb’s jaw clenches as he looks at him under hooded eyes. His fists tighten beside him. “You have no idea what you’re talking about,” he grinds out.
His laugh turns sour. “Your brother would be turning in his grave. You’re a pathetic excuse of a son if this is what you think would make me proud. I gave you everything. I doubled your pack, and this is how you allow them to act. You need to lose that softness, boy. It’ll get you nowhere.”
“I never asked you to give me another pack,” Caleb hisses through his teeth. “We were doing just fine alone.”
I blink. He didn’t want to combine his pack? My head pounds.
A deep sadness washes over my body, goosebumps prickling my skin. The feeling is intense and sudden, leaving me confused about where it’s coming from. Caleb’s chest heaves, and his eyes glass over.
That’s when it clicks. These are Caleb’s emotions.
My mouth falls open in surprise, and the way they float through my body. The only person who can break him down is his dad. The only person who can make him feel worthless is his own flesh and blood.
Join the club. I subtly scratch the back of my neck.
Nausea creeps through me, and I have the sudden urge to comfort him, maybe because I can relate and see myself in him.
“You’ll be hearing from me soon,” his father grumbles before turning away. “I can’t have my son making a mockery out of our name. We’re Vellas, and this is nothing short of pathetic. You’re not their friend, Caleb—you’re their leader. Start acting like it.”
His words hit me like a tonne of bricks. Pain filters through my body, and I almost wince.
Caleb’s hurt continues to leave me numb. I watch him as he slips by me and heads inside. I give it a minute before following him and dashing to find the bathroom for some space.
The second I shut myself inside, I splash cold water on my face and stare at myself in the reflection. My eyes are dilated and skin flushed—and not in a good way.
After gathering myself and my thoughts, I exit the bathroom and head down the hall. My feet come to a halt outside one of the bedrooms. I inhale a big breath, and I’m filled with my mate’s scent.
I glance at the door, and my fingers start to twitch. The smell is so overwhelming, I can’t stop myself when I press my hand to the door handle and step inside.
I’m faced with Caleb’s bedroom. It’s a little messy, but well organised.
A black king-sized bed in the middle of the room with dark bedding.
A wooden desk covered with paper and pencils.
My eyes slowly float over the pieces of art.
There’s a detailed drawing of a brown wolf sitting on top, and I’m immediately stunned by his talent.
My fingers brush over the paper to reveal another drawing of the moon beneath. I don’t know how long I stare at them, but I can’t look away. They’re breathtaking.
I step away from his desk and move closer to his bed, where a black hoodie lies on the sheets. I reach for it gingerly and roll the material of the sleeve between my fingers. Then I bring it up to my nose and take in a deep breath.
His scent surrounds me, and I invite it. There’s not a single logical thought in my brain right now. But when everything relaxes inside me, I realise what I’m doing.
I open my eyes and drop the sleeve as it dawns on me how bizarre and creepy this is. I quickly turn towards the wall and stare up at the framed painting above me.
One half is of a woman, the other a brown wolf. The details are mind-blowing.
“What the hell are you doing in here?”
I jolt and back away into the wall.
Caleb shuts the door behind him and heads straight towards me. I try to formulate a sentence, but nothing comes out of my mouth.
“I’m talking to you,” he spits harshly.
“Nothing.” I shake my head. “I’m sorry, I just…I just—”
Caleb’s stone-cold eyes pin me to my place.
“I-I was curious about the paintings and the drawings,” I admit.
He doesn’t move an inch.
“I saw the art around the house, and then I saw these in your room.” I gesture to his desk as I continue to blabber on, desperately trying to get myself out of this situation. “I was intrigued.”
Caleb’s chest heaves as he watches me.
“You’re very talented,” I blurt because it’s true, and I’m trying to save my ass. “You could be a professional.”
He lowers his eyes to the floor and rubs his forehead with his fingers. No one says anything for a while, and I silently swallow.
“You heard my conversation with my father,” he states, his voice dangerously low.
The back of my neck begins to sweat.
“Don’t even think about lying to me. I know you were right there.”
“Yes,” I whisper. “I did.”
Caleb scoffs and swipes a hand over his jaw.
“I know what it’s like,” I say without thinking.
His forehead creases. “Know what?”
“Having a close family member treat you like that.”
Caleb’s eyes snap to mine before my back is slammed into the wall as he towers over me. “You know nothing about me. You know nothing about my relationship with my father.”
His chest heaves against mine as my insides start pulsating.
“Of course I don’t,” I admit with a tremble. “But he doesn’t know everything either.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your pack is clearly warming to you, and you’ve gained their respect faster than I expected. I know I don’t know your father, but from the way he talks, people like him have a completely different perspective on life. Just like someone I knew.”
Caleb’s breathing echoes in my ears as he watches me carefully. I don’t know why I’m still talking, why I’m trying to defend him when all he’s done is dismiss me like I’m nothing, but I don’t want to feel his emotions like I did before.
My pain hurts, but his pain is excruciating.
His eyes slowly turn back to green, and he lowers his forehead onto mine. Butterflies erupt in my stomach as he places his palm on the wall, beside my head. The words start falling from me then.
“I know manipulators and gaslighters, and what it’s like to feel helpless, but you’re not helpless with your pack.
I’ve started to realise they’d do absolutely anything for you, and regardless of what’s happened between us, it’s good to see you have some kind of positive effect on them. That means something—”
Caleb grabs my jaw, and I tilt my head upwards an inch to meet his eyes. My head spins. I have no idea what’s happening, but it’s knocked the breath out of my lungs. He holds my gaze as we share the same air.
All I can hear is the crash of my blood in my ears as I stare back at Caleb’s glowing eyes. He’s shaking, his fingers still curled around my jaw tightly, holding me in place.
The moment his gaze flicks down to my lips, and back to my eyes, I almost lose it. It’s the closest we’ve been, and despite my head screaming at me to move away, my heart bleeds for more. Tears brim in my eyes at the way his scent holds me prisoner, and I’m utterly weak for him.
“Maybe we aren’t too different from each other,” I eventually whisper. “Just because we have bad blood relatives, doesn’t mean we’re the same. We don’t have to be the same.”
It’s something I’ve been trying to convince myself of.
Caleb’s jaw ticks as he exhales a sharp breath through his nose, and flicks his gaze between mine rapidly. I’m sure I see something behind them start to soften. I remain frozen as his eyes dip down to my mouth once more as if he’s conflicted, and the action and possibility leaves me trembling.
The second he drags his eyes back to mine, the darkness in them returns, and whatever I saw a second ago is now gone.
“We are nothing alike,” he grunts with a blazing gaze.
I shudder at the coldness of his voice and how I thought he might understand. What did I expect? I’m as stupid as they come.
“Don’t dare come up here again. Do you understand me?”
My throat aches as I try to hold in my emotions. There’s not a shadow of remorse in his expression. All I see is fury, and my wolf howls in agony.
After he releases my jaw, I’m still pressed up against the wall.
“Get out,” he heaves. When I don’t move, his nostrils flare. “Now.”
I scurry out of his bedroom like a clumsy kid on rollerblades with a rattling heart and deep rejection flooding my veins.