Chapter 95
Chapter 95
29 Friend
Carter POV
“Where the hell could they be”, Oliver asks me. Its been two days since Sarah told us she saw me walking into the woods with Calliope. “Oliver, we will find them. I’m sure that ba**ard Mateo had something to do with this. We can’t put everyone at risk and attack his pack. We are strong but not as strong as an entire pack.” “Where is the Nightfire pack to help us? Aren’t they our allies? They are supposed to help us in time of need. I am not just going to sit here and wait while that ba**ard hurts my best friend.” “Yes, you are. Getting yourself killed is not going to help Jasminee and Calliope. Lily will be here soon and we will get them back.” “I still don’t understand what happened to the damn protection spell.” Before I can answer, Lily does. “Unfortunately, Clara’s death took a toll on me and it caused the spell to weaken. My guilt at not being able to save her had weakened my spirit. My powers suffered, which weakened the spell.” My heart breaks to hear Lily speak of her pain and loss. She is one of the strongest people I know. It doesn’t matter how powerful a person is if destiny has other ideas. She shouldn’t blame herself, but I’m sure that is easier to say than do. I can’t imagine losing Abigale. I shake away those thoughts, not wanting to think about her ever being gone from me or Sarah.
I watch as Lily rubs the palm of her hand. “I can’t feel Calliope.” Oliver growls and is on the verge of shifting. “Calm down now” I say and he manages to get himself under control. “That just means that she isn’t connected to her wolf right now. I’m sure the ba**ard gave her something to suppress her wolf” Lily says. She places her hand on Oliver’s shoulder. “I will do everything I can to bring Jasmine and Calliope back safely. I need something of hers so I can perform the location spell. I’m sure that Mateo has them, but we need to be sure”, Lily says. Oliver rushes from the room and returns a few minutes later with a rope bracelet that I’ve seen Calliope wear. “I gave this to her”, Oliver says. I say a
prayer to that goddess that he won’t hurt her or Jasmine, but I don’t think we have much time before he does.
Calliope POV
“Aurora now would be a really great time for you to be here with me.” She still doesn’t answer and I prepare myself to fight him. He steps toward me but stops. He crosses his arms over his chest and smiles. “Do you really think I would fight you after the last time you handed me my a** when we sparred?” “I don’t know what you are playing at Benson, but I will never mate you. I will only bear my mate’s mark. I will die before I let you touch me. You can have this pack for all I care, but it will not be with me by your side.” “I have no doubt of that, Calliope. Whoever your mate is will be a very lucky wolf to have such a strong, loyal mate. I have no intentions of forcing myself or my mark on you. I only went along with your father’s rambling about me being Alpha so that I could help you and the Luna escape.” I stand but I’m not sure if I can trust him. He takes a vial out of his pocket and pours it into a glass. “I won’t drink anything from you or that ba**ard.” “I need him to think that you drank it, Calliope. When he comes back to check on us, I need you to pretend that you are being compliant with my orders.” “How do I know I can trust you? That this isn’t just a way to gain my trust so you can betray me.”
“It’s like you said earlier. I can’t follow a monster and that’s exactly what Mateo has become. When I walked into that bedroom and saw your mother lying helpless on the floor, it was all I could do to control my wolf. I am strong, but your father’s wolf is still an Alpha. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to protect you and the Luna.” “You can trust him, Calliope. He is being honest with you”, Aurora says. I can feel tears prick my eyes when I hear my wolf for the first time since Mateo brought us here. “Calliope, I swear to you” he starts to say, and I cut him off. “These are tears of happiness, not fear. Aurora just spoke to me. I know you’re telling the truth.” He nods and picks up the cup with the liquid in it. He goes into the bathroom and comes back with an empty cup. A small amount of blue residue remains as proof. It feels like forever before a knock sounds on the door. Benson turns to me and I nod. He walks over and opens the door. My father walks in with a smug look on his face. He looks around
the room until his eyes focus on the cup sitting on the night stand next to me. “Good evening, Calliope”, my father says. “Good evening, Alpha”, I respond, keeping my eyes cast down. “Come here Calliope”, Benson says very coldly. I stand without hesitation and walk until I’m next to him.
He wraps his arm around my waist and I try not to stiffen when he buries his nose in the crook of my neck. “Keep your breathing even. Remember he is helping us” Aurora says. “It is good to see you finally know your place, Cali” my father says. “You will be a better Luna, than your mother ever was.” Benson squeezes my side, trying to keep me from saying all the things I want to say to this piece of sh*t. He pulls back and addresses my father. “Alpha, now that my future Luna is in the right headspace, I would like to take her to my room to complete our mating and marking.” He looks between us and I keep my eyes cast down. “Of course, but it needs to be done before that potion wears off. She will be bound to you, but that doesn’t mean she won’t fight. Simone will be back in the next few days to wipe her memory and suppress her wolf.” He hands Benson another vial. “Only give her the wolfsbane if you absolutely have to. I don’t want her dead. I want her in her place. That is far worse torture for a woman like her.” He laughs before he turns to leave the room. “Alpha, I will have Johnson take my patrol for tonight. If you need me, please link me.” “I should be fine, you just focus on the task at hand.”
Benson takes my hand, leading me down to the second floor. Now that he is Beta, it’s his floor. I’m grateful when the guard doesn’t follow us. As soon as we are safe inside, I start to pace. A hundred thoughts are racing through my mind. Every time I think he can’t do anything worse, he proves me wrong. A hand on my forearm tries to soothe me. “Calliope, I’m so sorry. I knew he was an a**hole but most Alphas are. I never expected that he would hurt his own mate and daughter.” “I am not his daughter. He is just a sperm donor. He has never treated me like I was important to him and now I realize why. No one but Mateo is important in his world and he will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. He loves no one. He is going to die a slow and painful death if I have anything to say about it.” Before I can say anymore, Benson pulls me into a hug. I don’t know why, but I don’t pull away. I know it is an act of friendship and nothing more. I let go of all the hurt and anger as he rubs circles on my back. When I finally compose myself, I pull back. “Thank you for helping me.” He nods and I smile. “If you
ever tell any of the warriors that I cried like a baby I will kick your a** just like I did last time.” We both burst out laughing.
A knock on the door makes me freeze. Benson walks over like he’s expecting someone. Madison, the omega from the other night, comes in with a tray of food. She doesn’t make eye contact with me and I can feel the anxiety rolling off her. I watch Benson pick up a drink off the tray and pour some of the wolfsbane in. “What are you doing?” “I’m giving your father a dose of his own medicine.” “Madison, after you give this to the Alpha, I want food taken down to the Luna.” “Yes, Beta” she says and turns to leave. “Madison” I say and she stops walking. “My mother isn’t angry about what happened. I promise you that neither of us hold it against you.” She turns back to me with tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Alpha” she says before she leaves. It’s odd for her to call me that. The pack has never referred to me as anything but Calliope. “She can feel your aura. You are an Alpha even if your father is too stupid to see it”, Benson says, like he is reading my thoughts. “Soon we will all be free of Mateo.”
Hudson POV
As soon as I arrive at the pack, I remember why I hate dealing with wolves. Rules, that is all they care about. The guard leads me to Grant’s office and Tyson is already growling. He hates being inside stuffy places. This office definitely qualifies. “Calm down, we won’t be here long.” “Good, I don’t trust this wolf.” “Neither do I, but you know we don’t have to trust him to take his money.” Tyson snickers and moves to the back of my mind. “So, what is this job exactly Grant.” He explains that he needs me to track down his Luna and her son. “What are your intentions when I find them?” “I’m confused why the hell you care about that information. You’re a tracker and that’s what I need from you.” “I was clear on the rules, Grant. I don’t take jobs unless I know all the details.” “Alpha Grant” he corrects me. “I am not a wolf and you are not my Alpha. In my world, respect is earned not given.” He growls low and I chuckle. “You called me here so either answer my questions or I can move on to another job.” He throws a folder at me and I take it. I start to shuffle through the papers. Pictures of a beautiful woman and a man that resembles her are on top.Content provided by NôvelDrama.Org.
I look back up at Grant and he sighs before he tells me exactly why he wants them brought back. Tyson growls in my mind hearing him speak of his deceit with his mate. Werebears usually go through their whole life without a mate because we are solitary creatures. I can’t imagine betraying a person that you have chosen to spend your life with. “You haven’t answered my question about what you intend to do with them when I find them.” “I intend to have my Luna and turn Cayden over to a warlock named Octavius.” I laugh “you actually think your Luna is going to take you back after all you have done. After you take her son from her.” “You don’t need to worry about my love life. Are you taking the job or not, Hudson?” I give a low growl before I nod. “Wire half of the money to my account now and I will expect the rest when I complete the job.” He picks his phone up off the desk and I get the ding that the money is deposited. I take the folder leaving his office without another word. Tyson is restless and I need to shift to calm him down.
Calliope POV
Aurora is pacing in my mind. She is as eager as I am to deal with Mateo. “The wolfsbane should be working by now. Are you ready?” “I am more than ready.” I stand and follow Benson upstairs toward my father’s office. He opens the door without warning and my father is sitting at the desk with a smug look of satisfaction on his face. Fear grips my heart when I see Madison lying motionless on the floor and my mother crying as she holds her. “Next time, don’t use a weak omega in a plan against an Alpha.”