Finding Calypso

Coming out of my Cage

Chapter Twenty

~Calypso~

We made love under the moon all night. Our beasts so intertwined they wouldn't allow us to stop. When we finally did finish, our bodies were both shaking in fatigue. I was on top of him. I laid my head on his chest to exhausted to change out position. There we fell asleep in an embrace.

I woke early just before the sun lit the sky. I just stay beside him looking at all his features. He had dark hair, but I could tell by his slightly grown out beard that his face was salted with whites. I admire my mark across his neck that will never heal now that we are mated. His skin is light, but his undertone glows a golden brown, and I kiss his shoulder in admiration. I see him smile a bit and his eyes move around even though they are still closed. He rolls over and puts his nose to the top of my head and breathes me in.

When a howl comes from the woods belonging to a wolf, not too far. Alerting us that she is approaching. I sit up and look around for my clothes. I slip on my jeans but my shirt is torn in the dirt. Ambrose sees me realize this and he stands up and walks me his shirt. I pull it over my head to see it baggy across my body and rest just above my knees. Surprising me at how much larger he is than I.

It is Seraphine that approached us. The last two times I saw her I had so much hate in my heart. Angry with her for taking me from my biological family, and then again taking me from James, Gretchen, and Octavia.

The thought of them makes me somber. I really do feel for them as my own family. Gretchen has always been my family, and getting to know Octavia really struck a connection between us. Every moment we spent together was real, and both my beast and I can sense she is genuine. The relationship we built was not influenced by the venom that was pumping through my veins.

The thought of the venom still made me stir. I craved it, and if it wasn't for my mate I could see myself going back to it like a feening addict. My beast was angry with me for feeling this. For wanting to do something that would sever our connection, but my human self couldn't deny my compulsion for venom and my weakness for James.

I realize Ambrose is watching me, using our connection to feel my emotions. Looking confused as he tries to understand the ache in my heart. When Seraphine approaches.

He stands a few feet in front of me to address the Alpha. He begins to speak with authority saying

"If my brother sent you…" When she walks right past him.

He turns watching her as she goes and walks up to me. While he still tries to finish what ever he was saying, but begins to trail off in a mumble as he realizes she hasn't even addressed his presence.

I willingly let my beast take control of my words for she is the leader of our mission. Seraphine bows her head in submission to my presence. And begins to speak.

"We have gathered our trusted Allies, they await your command. Should I alert them of your arrival" she asks my permission, insinuating her and the other pack Alphas are becoming impatient.

Ambrose looks back and forth at us surprised at how an Alpha addresses me as superior.

I nod to her question, and she begins to leave. When I call her attention.

"Seraphine…" I pause. "Thank you for your loyalty" my beast obliges.

The truth is in all of her actions taking me as an infant, helping conceal me, and now serving my commands has always been her following the instruction of the royal family. And even though it may not have all been my choices, she has been nothing but honorable.

She turns back to me.

"I will continue to do my best" she affirms.

"I will need one thing before we begin" I say.

I look down to my clothes. The dirt caked between my fingers, my hair full of earth, and Seraphine smiles and leads the way to her home.

As we walk, Ambrose is by my side. Looking down at me curiously. I feel he is filled with questions. Wondering why Seraphine treats me with authority, why I am expected to address a pack of alphas, and why he can feel my heart still aching.

It ached for more than just James and being torn from my friends. It ached for my sister, for the family I never knew, for the thought that I was leaving my normal life behind to enter into the unknown. Into war.

My beast flashed her eyes at him for a second warning away his glare, but he didn't back down. I could feel it just made him angry that I was not fully showing myself to him. We came up to the back of Seraphine's home where she gave both of us permission to enter. She didn't follow as to allow us privacy and to begin to gather the leaders that were awaiting my presence.

I walked to the restroom to take a shower. Ambrose quick at my feet. I went to close the door. When his hand stopped it and he pushed it open. The door swung just past me, but I didn't react. And I just went to undress. I took his shirt off my sandy body. He came behind me and kissed my neck. I pulled my pants off and turned on the water. My back is still to him. I could feel his eyes burning through me.

"I can feel you" I said, addressing his burning questions.

"And I you, why are you still hiding?" he asks.

I know, his heart still feels betrayed. Wondering if in a way he is somehow not good enough.

I turn to him, his chest is still bare. I allow our bodies to touch as I look into his eyes.

"Don't question our bond" I say, assuring him that what is done can never be undone.

"I can't hide from you. I am just unsure" I say.

"Unsure of what?" he asks, a bit frustrated

I turn and get in the steaming shower. And he stays standing there for a few moments waiting for my response. I let the hot water burn my skin and lean my head back into it. When I feel him slip in and wrap his arms around me. At first he gasps at the heat of the water, but then forces himself to adjust.

He holds me a moment there, and I can feel my beast relax into him. She has always been so strong inside me, but in this moment in his arms I can feel herself wanting him to help her.

"I have a sister" I say in confession.

I almost don't even know why I said it. It just came out.

"And a brother, I think… Maybe even a mom and dad"

He kept his arms around me with no response just waiting for me to continue.

"That is what this meeting is about. Finding them." I say.

"Well, why didn't you tell me? This is something I can help with. I'm part of the royal guard. We have so many resources we can use to help you" he says, thinking he has the answer to all my problems.

I don't know how to respond. I don't know how to even tell him my true identity. How do you say I'm a member of the royal family and the throne was taken from me. And I am the only one that knows our Reigning Queen is still alive.

I decided to say

"I want your help, but not the help of the royal guard. My beast doesn't trust them." I pause.

"Look, I don't want to hide from you, but I'm also afraid to admit who I am. Not just to you, but to myself. Three days ago I was a normal person. And now I'm something I don't understand."

" What do you mean what happened three days ago?" he asked.

"I became a beast" I respond.

His face was misconstrued.

"You didn't know you were a beast until three days ago?" He questioned, attempting to confirm what his ears don't believe.

"Yes" I answer.

"I don't understand" he paused for a moment.

He pulled out of our hug with his hands still resting around my waist. He looked down at me searching for my eye contact.

"Why does the Alpha speak to you, as if you have authority over her?"

The water runs cold and I turn it off and step out not answering his question. I intend to, I have just never said it out loud.

"I…." I pause not finding the words "I am someone who has been forgotten and I don't want to stay hidden anymore."