To love and to hate

caleb

Chapter three

Caleb

Darren Carlton! Rowan's arch enemy!

What the f**k was he doing here? The fact that Darren arrived at Full Moon Fury pack at the same time as this boy meant something I couldn't decipher. Or, was this only a coincidence? No, I couldn't accept that.

But wasn't it all a coincidence that I moved back home at the same time as these kids? Except one of them has been stalking me? Who would it be? And why?

The door opened and the Rowan boy, or whatever he was, waltzed in with another kid following behind. He seemed happy as he moved to his wardrobe.

“Good morning, alpha,” the other greeted, studying the room.

“Who are you?” I asked calmly but firmly, focusing my eyes on the boy. I thought there was something about him that pissed me off at the sight of him.

“Leo Devine.” He answered, shifting on his feet nervously.

“I don't know what you are but stay out.” I commanded, closing my eyes and not standing from my bed.

“He's my friend,” Rowan cut in sharply leaving me with no choice but to rouse from my bed.

“Stay out of this, he shouldn't be here.” I told him, looking at the boy who shifted uncomfortably again.

“You do not have the right to tell me who visits me or not.”

“Are you still there?” I hissed, my eyes burning an intensity that was transmitted from my heart.

The boy scrammed out of the room like a little rat. He had a cold smell, I couldn't explain what it was nor why I wasn't comfortable with him. He seemed innocent, but there was something off about him. Then again, wasn't something odd about everyone these days?

“Leo! Wait!” Rowan chased after the boy and for a minute, there was silence in the room.

The sun was just rising that day after a cloudy morning. The sudden illumination should've filled my heart with warmth, but there was nothing from it.

I sat back on my bed, eyes on the ceiling, and my mind reeling with thoughts. There was so much in my head, I thought palming it. My dad called that morning to inform me about the marriage arrangement. There was Rowan's lookalike, I had to find Rowan's twin sister, and then there was the spy Lisa Cleopas, whom I met yesterday, and her father. Was I overthinking everything?

“I'm only twenty-three,” I whispered, exhaling sharply. I've never been cold, but I shivered that afternoon

To add to my troubles, the wind whipped in with so much force that I was forced to break away from my thoughts. Rowan was standing before me, with quite an expression.

“What is wrong with you?” I snarled, glaring at the boy before me.

“I don't remember giving you the right to bully my friends.” He spat, his face distorting with anger.

I leaned forward, studying the lines of anger creasing his young face. He looked so much like Rowan. How could he not be him? “If your friend says I bullied him…”

“He didn't say it, I saw it!” he interrupted bravely.

“If he feels I bullied him, doesn't that tell you the kind of coward you move around with? Shouldn't you be more careful in choosing your friends since you too look like you can't take a blow?” I asked, running my eyes over his effeminate structure.

“Who said I couldn't take a blow?” Rowan asked squarely, standing akimbo.

“Can you?” I asked, with a surprised sm

“What do you think you are?”

“Can you?” I quizzed again, standing up from my bed.

“What is he trying to prove?” Rowan sighed, his anger gradually dissipating.

“I asked a question,” I whispered softly, trudging towards him. He took a step backwards, then another and another, darting his eyes around in fear, until his back was perched against the wall. He was stuck.

“What's wrong, pumpkin? Not so tough now?” I asked, a wicked grin on my face, as I hovered over him like a hawk.

There was a look on his face, one I recognised because I'd seen it a number of times. That look of fear. I'd bullied a lot of boys, but none filled me with so much joy like seeing the vicious Rowan's lookalike slowly cowering just like the real dude did that night before exploding. It felt like a replay of the past, but I wished Rowan could watch it.

I placed my hands on his neck, and tilted his face sideways, pretending I was going to tear him to shreds. The lad swallowed and I smiled triumphantly. I'd found a pawn. Suddenly, I wasn't so sad anymore. Maybe I'd found a better reason to keep this dude at my side, I thought, smiling.

The reason at first was to find out what he knew about Rowan, but a shift just took place. I was going to keep him for the fun of it. Tease him whenever I felt I was going crazy, and have him beg like a slave

I was sill drowning in my victory and didn't notice when Rowan suddenly slipped under my hand, and in a twinkle of an eye, the table overturned. He swiped over smoothly like a credit card, and I was now the one pinned to the wall.

"What did you say you were going to do to me again?" He asked haughtily, like a champion.

A smile crossed my lips at the attack, but just before I reacted, the most bizarre thing occured. I caught a strange smell from him that filled my senses, drawing me even deeper to him. The kind of scent which drew insects to their mate: a spark of fire ignited within me, and spread to my chest. Then a painful knot twisted in my stomach, leaving my legs weak and my mind reeling in confusion.

Not only that, I heard the loud, tumultuous sound of hearts beating in harmony, but it wasn't only Rowan's heart. My heart was equally pounding in my chest, but unlike him, it wasn't out of fear. It was something I couldn't wrap my fingers around.

When I looked into his eyes, I was scared I might get lost in them. I felt an inexplicable pull towards him, as if my body was made for him and his body for me.

Snap out of it, Caleb, this is a trick. Was it Mind control? No, it wasn't. I would've known. A web of confusion held my senses prisoner. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something fundamental had shifted within me. Who is this guy? I puzzled, wanting to break away but unable to.

What had begun as a sly trick to get him scared had counterattacked. I was now the one wrapped in fear like a burrito. With a shaky breath and a heart pounding like the echoes of war, I placed my hand on his slender waist, and pulled him into him. He tried to resist, but I was stronger. He felt so delicate, so cute, and without a second thought, I gently planted my lips on his. My mind froze for a second, all I could perceive was the scent of the mate bond, pulling me into this guy.

Rowan tasted so sweet like honey. Smelt nice, like roses. Like a woman. Like my mate.