Callie’s POV
I spent the week thinking about what Draco said. Because of the bond that I felt between us, I felt so empty and lonely when he wasn’t around. I was hiding in Dad’s library when I heard him speaking to someone softly. Normally I wouldn’t dream of ease dropping, but when I heard my name, I decided to stick around.
“We got there too late. He was dead by the time we found him and the bodies of the hunters. The boy fought well Draco, but he lost too much blood to survive.”
“He was fighting to protect his pack, you and Callie. He loved her greatly. Anyone could see it.” I heard my dad sigh softly and I held my breath. “I don’t know how I’m going to tell her. They had grown close in the small amount of time they knew each other. But every time I go to tell her that he’s not coming back and his last words, I freeze up.”
“Would you like me to tell her Matthias? I have a feeling she’s not going to accept our bond, so it might be easier if it came from me.”
“Thanks, but no thanks Draco. This is something I must tell her myself. And don’t give up so easily. Callie always took her sweet time thinking things over. You’ll have your answer before you leave Saturday.” They fell silent and I thought they were finished talking. I went to leave when Draco spoke up.
“How did Ryan’s father take the news of his death?”
“Like any father would…” I couldn’t hear anything else. Ryan was dead. And they didn’t tell me. Forgetting that they were within hearing range, I dropped the book in my hand and bolted out of the room. I flew out of the house with no destination in mind.
I knew Draco would feel my emotions but at that moment, I forgot everything. I finally collapsed under a willow tree and pulled my knees tightly against my chest. I buried my head in my arms and let the tears fall. An hour slipped by and I had cried myself out. Draco and my father were calling me through our links, but I ignored them. I wanted to be alone.
Suddenly, I felt someone beside me and I knew that it was Draco. He didn’t speak, but just pulled me into his lap and held me tightly. Draco started to slowly rub my back while he hummed a sweet yet sad tune almost too soft for me to hear. I found my eyes starting to droop as I laid my head on his chest.
Draco’s POV
I knew that Callie was close, but I couldn’t tell where exactly. As Matthias was talking, I thought I saw a shadow pass over the library window, but when I looked again, it was gone. Suddenly, wave after wave of hurt, sadness and disappointment hit me. I knew that it was from Callie.
Looking my friend in the eye, I spoke. “She knows Matthias. She knows.” He paled and headed for her room. I went to follow him when I saw a book lying in the hallway. Picking it up, I noticed that the library door stood open. Guilt hit me. That shadow had been Callie, I was sure of it.
I tried again and again calling through our bond, but she didn’t answer. As I walked out of the house I let my senses explore around me. Closing my eyes, I let them guide me. It took a while for me to find her and when I did; my heart broke at the sight of her.
Within seconds I was beside her, lifting her gently and setting her in my lap. I didn’t say a word as I held her. As much as it killed me that the boy’s death hurt my mate, my beautiful Callie, all I could do was comfort her. For an hour I held her, humming a lullaby that my own mother used to sing to me when I was but a small boy.
It didn’t take long before she was asleep. In a blink of an eye, I was on my feet and moving towards the house. Matthias stumbled upon us, worry etched into his face. When he saw that I held Callie in my arms, I could see his body sag in relief. “Is…Is she alright?”
“She’s just asleep Matthias.” He fell in step with me as we walked up the stairs. “How did she find out about Ryan?”
“She was in the library and over heard us speaking. She’s been through so much Matthias; I hate to see her hurting.” He sighed softly and laid his hand on my shoulder. “She’s a strong one Draco. She’ll be alright; she just needs a little time.”
Matthias’s POV
I sat beside my daughter’s bed and watched her sleep. Draco was on his way to his hotel to make sure everything was packed. He left tomorrow and I knew that he was just waiting on Callie’s decision. I gently picked her hand up and held it between both of mine.
“Callie sweetheart,” I whisper softly, “Whatever you decide, I’ll stand behind you. You’re my daughter, my world and I would do anything in my power to take away the pain you’re going through now. But trust me when I say that it’ll get easier to bare as the days pass. You’ll always have the memories of him, and one day you’ll be able to look back without feeling the pain that comes with them.”
I sat there for hours, keeping watch as she slept. As I stood to leave, she whimpered. She flinched and then muttered something. I lean closer to see if I could hear what she was saying. “Thane…Thane, I’m sorry. This was the best way.”
I held my breath as she started to toss and turn. “You were meant to be mine Thane.” She mutters again, a look of sorrow filled her face that it broke my heart. “But you chose Rose. You didn’t wait for me.”
And that’s when I understood what she was talking about. Thane was the mate that nearly caused her death. Gritting my teeth, I stride from her room with one thought on my mind: making Thane pay for his mistake. I went to my room and opened a link with the Moon Goddess. Werewolves were her children. As such, each of us could link when her whenever we wished, though she didn’t always answer.
Goddess, are you there? I asked as I took a seat in my chair. I didn’t know when she would answer so I got comfortable. I’m here Matthias. What can I do for you?
I need your help. My daughter’s ex-mate…
Thane Hayes, yes I know him.
I need your help in making him pay. He marked another.
Rose. She said softly. I’ve been watching them since Callie came home Matthias.
What of Rose’s true mate Goddess? Is he dead?
He’s a human, so it won’t hit him for a few more days. Though he did feel it when Rose marked Thane. He thought he was having a heart attack. What would you like to do Matthias? I closed my eyes to think.
Death would be too easy for them. Thane, Rose and anyone else responsible for this should lose any title they hold, and their wolves.
I agree. And it shall be done Matthias. This hasn’t happened in so many years, that I thought it never would. But the time has come for a change. And then she was gone.
Thane’s POV
My father, Rose and I were in my office. We were supposed to be talking about the addition to the pack house, but I wasn’t paying much attention. Ever since I marked Rose, my life has been so messed up.
Suddenly silence filled the room and I looked up. Standing before us was a beautiful woman. Just by looking at her I knew who she was, and it scared me. She looked at all three of us and you could see she was upset and angry. “Alpha Hayes.” She speaks, looking right at my father. “It pains me to have to do this, but I must. For what the three of you have done shouldn’t go unpunished. I strip the title of alpha from each of you.
“Thane, Rose, and William, from this day forward you will have no wolf. Rose, you will bare Thane one child, a son. I suggest you raise him well for when he turns 21, he shall be alpha. But, if he follows in his father’s steps and marks another who isn’t his true mate, this entire pack will suffer along with him.”
With that said, she disappeared. For my stupidity and caving into my father’s constant pressuring, not only did I kill Callie, but now it cost me my wolf and my Alpha position. I vowed that my son would wait for his mate. I wouldn’t let the same misfortune befall him if I could prevent it.
Dale’s POV
(Rose’s True Mate)
(Human)
For the past week, I have been going out of my mind. There has been a constant stabbing pain in my heart and I thought I was having a heart attack. My friends rushed me to the hospital. The doctors ran multiple tests, but found nothing wrong with. I knew that it confused them as much as it did me.
With each passing day, I found myself growing weaker and weaker. And today was no exception. I had to force myself out of bed. Stumbling to the kitchen, I knew somehow that I didn’t have much longer to live. Don’t ask me how I knew, I just did.
“Dale.” A soft, womanly voice called to me and I slowly turned around. She stepped closer to me and smiled. I knew I should be afraid. I mean, my apartment is seven stories up and the door is dead bolted shut. There was no way this woman should be standing before me, but here she was.
“I’m not here to harm you Dale. I’m a friend.” She smiles sadly at me and for some reason it felt as if she pitied me. “The pain you’ve been filling over the past week was due to your soul mate being marked by another. I’m here to fix the mess they created.”
She placed a hand on my chest above my heart and I felt a warm feeling surge through me. I felt energetic and better than I have in a long time. “You have a very long and happy life ahead of you Dale. It won’t be long now before you meet the love of your life. Her name is Ellen. Ellen Lafayette.” Then before I could blink, she was gone. What in the blue blazes just happened?