“So you’re saying his bear didn’t want her?”
“I’m saying Caleb always assumed his wolf was his stronger animal, but it wasn’t true. My mom…she’s a bear shifter, but she was always so happy we’d all been born wolves. Caleb wasn’t. He always showed a stronger side, a more dominant, territorial side. Mom and dad didn’t like that and encouraged him to suppress it. It isn’t ‘normal’ to have two animals, they’d say, and eventually, Caleb would only wolf shift. By the time we were grown, that’s the only shifting he did.”
“That sounds so awful. It wasn’t his fault he was born that way, and besides, it’s cool.” I yelled, incensed for him and so sad. My lips trembled just thinking of tiny Caleb being taught to hate a part of himself.
“Stop crying! Jesus. It wasn’t the worst thing. Caleb grew up stronger, and he did fate to Joyce. He was happy.”
“Gee, thanks. I just love hearing this.” I snarled.
“My point being, it had to happen. That wolf of his was too controlled, too…cold. The perfect match for that icicle he called a mate.”
“Trey, no offense, but your pep talks suck. If you’re trying to make me feel better—”
“I’m trying to make you understand—”
He started to say something but was cut off when there was a knock at the door, and someone just walked in without waiting. I gasped now, my eyes growing wide when I saw my mother walk in beside an older woman who looked so much like Trey. I felt my heart sink.
“Fuck.” Trey grumbled, growling when my mother immediately launched into her reasons for being here.
Which was, surprising. Not pleasant, but surprising.
“She’s not going home with you to mate someone she doesn’t know.” Trey roared once mama got done speaking, his fury making me flinch while mama huffed.
When they started yelling, completely ignoring me, I rolled my eyes and wondered if I shouldn’t just accept it. I could mate someone from my pack and leave this place where all I’d received was pain and rejection. He could be nice.
Or old with hairy balls.
“Oh, shut it. You’re being negative.” I hissed.
Maybe, maybe not. Do you really want to just leave and give up on Caleb?
“The man doesn’t want me. You saw his thoughts. He’s horrified.” I reminded her, a thick lump forming in my throat again when I thought about it.
It hurt to feel those things, but it hurt even more when he slammed his mind shut and looked at me with so much horror and disgust. I mean, I didn’t mean to connect with him! Do you think I want to go into that crazy head of his?
Girl, chill out. You’re moving too fast and overthinking everything. Just give yourself a minute to think, and don’t do anything you can’t come back from.
I huffed, agreeing with her, which was surprising because she was usually nuts and irrational.
“Okay. But I’m not mating Trey. I would never hurt him or Caleb that way.” I told myself, happy with that decision because it was the right one.
“…old man with disgusting balls. She’s already fated!” I heard Trey roar before the door burst open and hit the wall with a bang that made everyone scream and jump.
I gaped when I saw Caleb strode back in and growled, and I was still gaping when he spotted me and walked my way, ignoring his mother when she tried to stop him. Gulping, I thought I would faint when he grabbed me and pulled me closer, but then his mouth settled over mine…
I wouldn’t call it a kiss. It was too raw and brutal and over too fast, but by the time Caleb pulled back and glared down at me, I was breathless. And rapt when I saw his eyes. Golden. Both eyes were golden and glowing so brightly that it was a shock to me when he suddenly tipped my head to the right and bit me on the shoulder.
It hurt. Oh, Jesus, did it hurt because he wasn’t even a little gentle. But the pleasure that followed his teeth as they sank into me was so stark; I shuddered through a moan and felt my body turn to marshmallow.
“Caleb—”
“Mine!” he roared after drawing his head back, his eyes murderous when he whipped around to glare at Trey. “Mine.”
Chapter 23 Caleb
“…
hole,” Ren muttered, stabbing her fork into her scrambled eggs while I glowered at her and ate my breakfast.