"Kai you need to shut up!" I whined as Kai pranced around the room with my new dresses.
"Oh look at me, I'm Sophia, look at my new pretty dress, look at my new pretty hair, everyone just look at me being all pretty" Kai twirled around the room holding my dress to his body and fake flipping his hair.
"Stop!" I whined and rushed up to grab my dress out of his hands.
Stacey and I went shopping yesterday and got our hair done. All I did was add a little bit of highlights and cut off a couple of inches and Kai is acting like I got plastic surgery.
"That's it, I'm not wearing it!" I placed the beautiful red silk dress back on my bed and picked up the black midi dress.
"No, wear the red one!" Kai picked the silk dress back up and held it out towards me.
"It's too much, I just want to blend into the background!" I turned towards the wardrobe in my room and put the black dress on a hanger and the red dress in its bag.
"Soph, you could never blend into the background so you may as well just stand out as much as you can." He leant against the doorframe and shrugged "you'll never be able to outshine me so don't worry about it!" He added with a huge chuckle.
I rolled my eyes but chuckled along with him.
"Oh you are a humble one Mr. Storm" I pushed his shoulder as I left my room and made my way down to the living area.
Catherines birthday was three days away and I was so busy trying to finish her gift. I'd hardly left the house since going shopping with Stacey.
While out shopping I had remembered Catherine talking about a blanket she wanted from a local crafts shop. They unfortunately had none left in stock and wouldn't be receiving another load for a couple of weeks. I didn't really know what else she would like as we haven't had a lot of time together so I just decided that I was going to make her one.
It was so hard finding enough wool in the size we needed but here I was, using my arms to knit a chunky wool blanket.
"I still can't believe you are making my mother a present." Kai chuckled as he sat on the couch behind me.
"Well I didnt know what size she was in rings and I dont know what type of jewellery she likes or what perfume she wears so I just thought that she would like a hand made gift, is it a bad idea though should I stop?!" I rambled on nervously as Kai continued to laugh at me.
"Soph, calm down, she will love it." He said quickly, trying to calm my nerves.
"I just meant that you didn't have to get her anything but I'm sure she will love it!" He chuckled but was soon silent as he gazed to the door.
"I should probably head off..." He rose from his chair slowly with a small sigh.
"Why? I thought you had the day off from..." My sentence was cut off as a waft of Calebs scent filled my nose.
"Oh, that's why." I rolled my eyes.
Caleb was still a little jealous of the amount of time Kai and I spend together.
"It's easier if I just go before he gets all cranky and protective over you." Kai rolled his eyes too at his little brothers confusing behaviour.
I walked Kai to the door and just after he opened it and before he could step through, I pulled him into a tight hug. Knowing that Caleb was at the bottom of the stairs and could see.
"Oh goddess your cheeky" Kai chuckled into my ear.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I acted innocent as we let go of each other and he made his way down the steps.
"Hey little bro, hows things?" He question playfully. I could tell Kai had a huge smirk on his face by the stern look Caleb shot his way.
I leant against the doorframe and crossed my arms as Caleb walked up the steps.
He abruptly stopped as he got to the top and rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Hi Sophia" he greeted with a small smile.
"Hello Caleb" I replied stoically.
"I was wondering if we could talk about... well about everything." Caleb looked at me with pleading eyes as he straightened himself up slightly.
I took a large breath in.
I knew this day was coming and I'm actually glad its finally happening.
"I'd love to." I replied with little emotion as I turned back into the house and took my seat back on the floor, working on Catherines present.
I knew Caleb was following by the sound of the door closing and his footsteps getting louder.
He walked into the room and I could feel his confused stare.
"What are you making?" He asked with raised brows.
"A birthday present for your mother." I didn't look at him as I replied and kept knitting away.
He didn't reply and I didn't look up to see his reaction.
I watched his feet move to the other side of the room and talk a seat in one of the chairs.
After a few minutes of silence, I sighed heavily and stopped what I was doing to look up to him.
Caleb was fixated on the floor as his played with his bottom lip with his fingers.
"So," I patted my thighs as I placed the almost finished blanket to the side ad took a seat on the couch behind me "what did you want to talk about exactly?" I asked quietly, taking in a nervous breath.
I watched him physically wince at the sound of my voice.
"I thought I knew where to begin but I'm just lost for words..." He sat forward. Head in his hands and rocking back and forth slightly.
"I'm just so sorry Sophia..." I sat there silently, "I cant believe how utterly blinded I was. I treated you so horribly. My actions are going to haunt me for the rest of my life, I am so ashamed." Calebs voice broke and as he finished his sentence he looked up at me with bloodshot eyes.
He had tears streaming down his cheeks and he sobbed quietly.
"Did you feel anything when we first met?" I asked softly, scared for the answer to be a no.
"I felt like my heart tripled in size and you literally took my breath away. I just wanted to hold you and claim you and kiss you!" He explained while throwing his head back into the couch as he wiped away his tears.
"You didn't act that way..." I whispered, partially to myself but I knew he would hear.
"I know, I am a f*cking d*ckhead." He looked down at me tears still pooling in his eyes.
"I should have ran to you and scooped you up but as soon as that b*tch touched my arm something just came over me and I was filled with rage... I cant even explain how it felt, my wolf was howling for you but my brain was just fighting against him and it was making me furious!" He was shaking his head in frustration.
I couldn't help but feel bad for him. I definitely haven't forgiven him but I do pity his situation.
He is as much of a victim as I am.
"What did you say to your dad that day, when you took him aside?" I asked, looking him straight in the eye.
I am assuming it wasn't good by the way he flinched slightly.
"It's ok, you can tell me." I adjusted my position as crossed my legs.
Caleb hesitated a moment before answering my question.
"I pulled him aside and told him that your family wasn't to be trusted because I felt as if you were tricking me." Caleb looked at me with sad eyes, obviously regretting having said that.
I sent him a glare as soon as my family was mentioned.
"And how do you feel about my family now?" I snapped harshly.
"I swear to you that I don't feel that way anymore, I haven't for a long time and I made that very clear to my father." He answered leaning onto his knees again and looking me directly in the eyes.
I squinted at him for a moment but I let it go because I wanted to believe him.
We both just sat there for a moment, not knowing what else to say to each other.
"I really am sorry Sophia," He broke the silence as we connected eyes again "That period of time when you were gone and I was growing sick and savage, I craved for you and I needed you and it scared me." He stood from his chair and walked over to sit beside me, facing me slightly.
"I acted so selfishly when you finally came to help me, you were being so selfless and I took you for granted. I cant even blame the fact that I was still being drip fed that stupid potion because I was dumb enough to keep taking it even though Ruby and I hadn't had sex since I had met you." I grimaced slightly, remembering the fact that Ruby told him the potion was going to help them conceive.
"I have watched you suffer because of my actions and I am so incredibly disgusted in myself for causing you any grief." He added as he placed him hand on my knee.
A warm and tingly sensation formed at his touch and we botched looked down at the spot our skin was touching.
"What is this all about?! What are you wanting to gain from telling me all of this?!" I rose from the couch, my frustration rising with it.
Caleb looked at me with worry.
"I'm just thought you would want to talk about all of this stuff." He answered standing up with me.
"I do want to talk to you, I've been wanting to talk to you like this for the past 5 months!" I snapped loudly.
"I want to talk about what you want from this point on! I want to talk about whether or not I can go home to my family! I want to talk about if we want to stay mated or not! I want to talk about..." I was cut off.
"You don't want to stay mated to me?!" Caleb looked at me with terrified eyes as he grab both of my arms to stop me from pacing.
I swallowed harshly as I looked into his terrified and tearful eyes.
Feeling my own fill with hot tears.
"I don't know..." I looked tot he floor as showed of what I was saying.
I had always wanted a mate, it was a huge dream of mine but I just didn't know if we could work past everything that has happened.
"Sophia... oh goddess I've really f*cked this up haven't I!" It's now Caleb's turn to pace the room a little.
He was cursing to himself as he pulled on his hair and rubbed his face.
"What did you expect Caleb... we haven't even had a friendship in the last five months of knowing each other! You hated me for four of them!" I snapped, a tear falling down my cheek.
I hate being an angry cryer.
I furiously wiped away the lone tear and sat back down on the couch, placing my head in my hands.
"I have never hated you Sophia..." Caleb moved to stand in front of me.
I looked up at him with an irritated glare.
"I know I have treated you like I did but I swear to the moon goddess that I have never hated you." Caleb slowly dropped to his knees, between my legs.
I must have still been looking at him like I didn't believe him because he slowly raised a hand to my cheek and made me look at him dead in the eyes.
"I promise." He searched my eyes and looked at me with so much emotion that tears fell from my eyes.
Caleb and I searched each other's eyes and sat in silence.
He was still sat between my legs and holding my face softly, looking me intensely in my eyes.
His grey eyes have always been so beautiful to me. I couldn't help but watch the storm that was brewing in them as he stared at me.
I watched as his eyes flicked down to my lips for a brief moment and then back to searching my eyes.
I felt a slight pull to him but this was all moving to fast.
I softly pulled away from his hold and shook my head slightly.
"This is all a little to much for me right now Caleb... can we just take a step back." I asked softly, closing my eyes and looking down at my hands.
"Yes, of course, I'm sorry" Caleb quickly rose to his feet and literally took a step back.
I giggled softly watching him try his hardest to please me.
"Sophia... I know that you aren't very happy here, I know that you miss your family and I know that we don't have the best relationship at the moment... but do you think... I know I'm being so selfish in asking this of you but, could you please just give me a chance to show you who I really am before we decide if we are going to reject the bond?" Caleb was staring at me with so much worry it made my heart hurt.
I sighed heavily.
"I just feel like we are wasting time Caleb... I have been here for almost four months now and we still don't even know how to talk to each other without shouting or crying!" I could feel more tears threatening to fall and I groaned in annoyance.
"Please Sophia... I haven't shown you the real me yet and I just want to treat you the way you deserve before we make any decisions about our future." Caleb was practically begging.
"If you hurt me again... I'm done!" I warned sternly.
I couldn't help but let out a small squeal as Caleb picked me up in a hug and twirled me around.
"Thank you! I promise I wont hurt you again!" He chuckled as he continued to twirl me around.
"Ok, Caleb... but..." he slowly put me back on my feet "I really think we need to take this slow, ok?" I asked, hoping he would understand.
"I understand, thank you... I really appreciate this Sophia." He replied back with a heartwarming smile.
"Please don't make me regret this."