Episode 19
1187 Words
Caleb's POV
I snapped the file shut and glared at Frost across from me.
Thirteen of our warriors were killed by rogues. Thirteen. The biggest loss Silvercrest has ever taken.
That night raid should never have happened. The scouts reported at least two rogue ambush teams, but Frost insisted it was just a bluff and ordered a forced advance anyway. Did she not use her brain at all before making that call?
"Don't be mad, baby," she said casually, staring at her nails she'd just had done. "People die in war. I'll try to make it fewer next time, okay?"
She was sitting in the chair across my desk, then slowly stretched her leg out and brushed it along my calf. "This time, I'll make it up to you… with my body. Deal?" She winked naughtily.
I used to enjoy her playful, sexy side. But right now all I felt was chaos in my chest. Those were real people. Our people. How could she talk about them like that?
"Frost." I stood up, stepped away from her leg, and tossed the file back onto the desk. "Go write a full after-action report."
"Baby… writing reports is so hard," she pouted, blinking at me. "Can't Logan do it for me?"
"Give it to me by the end of this week," I said flatly. "Or I'll bring Clara back."
Her cute expression vanished instantly. Her eyes went wide with a kind of anger I'd never seen before.
"What did you say? That position is mine!" Her voice went sharp.
"But I'm the Alpha who decides whether it's yours." I said, ending it there.
She went silent. I rubbed my aching temple.
Frost had always acted smart, always acted like she cared about me. But I never knew she could be this stupid and this cold. She talked about our warriors' lives like she was deciding what to eat for lunch. Clara would never do that. Clara loved every person under her command. She even remembered their birthdays.
I let out a sigh to push Clara out of my mind just as Logan knocked and walked in. "Luna and Lora went to the Silvercrest border."
The border?
I looked up. Some pack members lived out there for the quiet, but it was far from the packhouse. And way closer to the Alpha King's territory.
"No wonder Luna didn't make you breakfast anymore," Frost laughed, covering her mouth. "Guess she's got a new date."
I frowned. "Send me the address. I'm heading there now. And find out what she's doing out there."
I stood up to leave, but Frost blocked my way. "Why do you start to care what she's doing? I'm your lover."
"And she is my Luna." I stated, "Emilia went to class, and Ethan needed someone to accompany him. You stay here. Take care of Ethan and finish your report."
"I can bring Ethan and my laptop with me." Before I could stop her, she ran out the door.
***
Clara's POV
It was the weekend. With Lora's help, I moved my things into the new place.
There wasn't much, but when I finally had time to sit down, I saw a bunch of missed calls from Caleb.
Strange. Shouldn't he be with Frost right now? Why was he suddenly in such a hurry to find me? I stared at my phone but didn't call back. There was nothing left to say between us.
After I finished unpacking, I said goodbye to Lora and headed home. But at the entrance of the neighborhood, I saw the black Bentley parked on the side of the road.
My heart sank.
And standing beside it—Caleb, Frost, and… Ethan.
Frost was holding Ethan's hand, smiling like she was enjoying this way too much. My breathing tightened. I walked straight past them without looking.
Caleb stormed over and stopped in front of me.
"Clara, what are you doing here?" He looked irritated, restless.
"Why are you questioning me like that?" I shot back.
He took a deep breath and showed me his phone. A photo of a house transfer contract. The buyer was me. And the seller was… Xavier?
I froze. Lora had handled the deal for me, but why was Xavier the seller?
Caleb stared at me, and I knew I couldn't avoid it anymore. I took a breath. "I didn't know it's Alpha King's house. I bought it because it's quiet here. I thought I could use it as a place to rest sometimes."
"Save your lies." He grabbed my wrist, staring straight into my eyes. "What is your relationship with him?"
"We don't have any relationship," I said. Frost and Ethan were standing right there. Wasn't this the perfect family he wanted? So why did he suddenly care about me now?
"Then why hide it?"
"I didn't hide it. I just didn't tell you. And I didn't think I needed to." I turned to face him. "Do I need your permission to own something now?"
His gaze sharpened. "So that's it? You're trying to buy your freedom with money?"
"I don't need to buy it. I'm your Luna. Your wife. Your warrior. But I'm also my own person."
The moment I finished, Frost sucked in a dramatic breath. "Oh my Goddess, Luna. How can you talk to the Alpha like that? He barely comes home, and now he finally came to see you on the weekend. How could you say that to him?"
I looked at her. "Yeah. And why doesn't he come home much? Who's been taking up all his time?"
Frost froze for a second, then grabbed my hand in panic. "Luna… there's nothing between me and the Alpha. You should trust him."
"I do trust him. Thanks for the reminder. Now can I leave?" I pulled my hand back coldly and turned to go.
She suddenly cried out and fell to the side.
Caleb rushed to catch her, holding her in his arms. "Are you hurt?" And she curled into him weakly, eyes full of tears. "I'm fine, Alpha. Please don't blame Luna."
Same old act. I was so tired of watching it. I didn't stop my steps until Ethan ran in front of me and spread his arms to block me.
"You pushed Frost! You should apologize to her!" He glared at me like I was his enemy. "You said before that when you're wrong, you should say sorry!"
"Yes, I did," I said calmly. "But I wasn't wrong. I didn't push Frost."
He hesitated for a second, then shouted, "Would Frost really throw herself on the ground just to frame you? Only someone as sneaky as you would do something like that!"
I didn't answer right away. I just looked at him, my own son.
And he continued, "If you don't apologize, I'll never talk to you again! I'll hate you!"
Great. My own son was threatening me. Just like his dad.
I closed my eyes for a second and finally made up my mind.
I looked at his smug little face.
"Then hate me," I said quietly. "I won't apologize to her."
- Writer
