The Hidden Queen

Chapter 12

Calix POV

           My i***t brother really f****d this one up. I know that we have to get along for the sake of the pack, and now we have to get along well enough to share a mate. We have never gotten along, even as pups. We would put up a good front with most people. Only Kaleb and Jason knew how bad it had gotten in the last couple of years. It sucked, as most siblings got along great, and we at least do with our younger sister, Bella. She was always able to bring us together. She has been the voice of reason. Why didn’t I drag her here with me?

           When Kaleb called me last night, I jumped up, shifted, and ran here as fast as I could. Luckily, I was able to find some shorts in the wood, and Cullin is the same size as me. I never would have thought that we would share a mate; I had just wanted to be sure it was his fated mate. This would be a huge deal.

           If he had found his fated mate, and I still had to take my chosen mate, there would have been an uneven power level between us. I was not okay with him having more strength, but now she is both of our mates. I guess something good did come out of coming all the way out here. However, because of Cullin, I have to ‘prove myself'. Seriously.

           Had I not proven myself when I saved his life countless times? Or when was I able to overtake our father for the Alpha position? Or how about when I keep saving my pack from utter failure? I was carrying the weight of the whole pack, and what was he doing? Granite, she didn’t know all of that, but I would just have to tell her.

           “Dude stop being so pompous!” my wolf howls in my head. I guess he had woken up. One good thing came out of today, I guess.

           “Am not… you ass…” I retort.

           “ You need to think more with your head. Cullin was right there during the battle against your dad. He has saved you just as much, and you know he is always in the office before you and still there when you leave.” He shakes his head.

           “What are you talking about?” I question.

           “i***t, what I am trying to tell you is get your head out of your ass before mate rejects you for being an arrogant ass hole.” He growls and then retreats to the back of my mind.

           I think back to the day Cullin and I finally stood up to our father. He was a huge ass and pined us against each other all the time. He ran our pack like a military camp, and all we could do was spar and work on things to better the pack. He ran the pack so far into the ground; it is a miracle that we are still alive now. It has been 3 years since I took my own father's life, and was sworn in with my brother as joint Alphas. I had hoped that by now we would be at the top of our game, but now here we are not much better than we were.

           I finally get off the couch, and try and figure out all this. I go search for Kaleb. At least then I would be able to explain that we would be staying here for the time being. It would be nice if we could all get on the same page before he and Jason have to leave tomorrow. It is going to be a long week away from the pack, and hopefully, Jason can keep Kaleb on track.

           When we took out our father, Kaleb’s and Jason’s parents were the ones that taught us how to actually run a pack. My asshole of a father did not let us learn anything and then refused to let us take over. We had no other choice, but to fight for our pack. We did, and we took down our father. My mother almost died with her mate, but she made it through the pain. After everything, Cullin and I ended up finding out how much he had abused her and other pack members throughout the years. It took six months for everyone to trust us not to turn out like him. Luckily, the pack trusts Kaleb and Jason just as much.

           Kaleb might be a jokester and Jason might be only 18, but they are the best men for the job. Jason’s dad only stepped down after he graduated high school, and then he stepped up right away. We told him he didn’t have to, but Jason said that he was ready. He might only be 18, but he has the soul of a 40-year-old. It helps when we are all four trying to agree. Kaleb is well, he is Kaleb. He can joke and be all over the place, but he is amazing at running all the pack business. He has them finally out of the black, and they are fine running machines. It is amazing how he can get everyone to agree to things. He is seriously the best beta we could have asked for.

           I finally find Kaleb sitting in his room chatting with his mate. I hope that one day Fiona and I can be like him and Erica. They are sitting on the couch, and Erica has her head on his lap, and he is brushing his hand through her hair.

           “Calix? What are you doing here?” Erica asks, raising her eyebrows. She knows how much I hate these things.

           “When Kaleb called, I ran here. I had to know for sure it was his true fated mate. And well… I guess she is both of ours,” I let out a breath of air that I did not know I was holding, and I plop down on the chair across from them.

           Erica and Kaleb’s eyes both go wide, and she sits up and adjusts her outfit.

           “She is what?” Erica spits out.

           “She is both of our mate.” I repeat.

           “How is that possible?” Kaleb asks.

           “We are identical twins. She doesn’t seem to shocked by it. She said something about her brothers. But she didn’t reject us. She made us promise to give her two weeks, or something like that.” I moaned.

           “Okay? But why two weeks? That doesn’t make any sense?” Erica questioned.

           “I have no idea. Who knows what Cullin f****d up last night? I am just happy she is giving us a chance.” I look up and shrug.

           “Dude, you can’t blame Cullin for everything. If you are going to share a mate, you need to start getting along with him.” Kaleb scolds me like I am a two-year-old.

           “Told you so,” Blaine agrees with Kaleb.

           “We haven’t gotten along in the last 24 years. How do I start now…”

           “Calix, promise me you won't get mad if I tell you the truth?” Erica raises an eyebrow, and I just wave her on. I know I am not going to like this, but she is the newest in our group.

           “Calix, you and Cullin were pitted against each other from the time you could walk. Watching you from the outside, we could see the rift he built between you. However, seeing just how big the rift was when I came into the fold was shocking. However, I think you need to just sit down and bury the hatchet your dad built between you. But I think that you need to also stop with the big brother BS, and don’t blame Cullin for every little thing. Cullin needs to stop blaming you, and stop trying to make everything perfect.”

           As she talks, I let it all sink in as Blaine agrees with every statement. When she finishes, she slumps back on the couch. I knew she was right. How do we bury this giant hatchet? Kaleb clears his throat. I knew he was going to say something that was not what I wanted to hear. 

           “Calix, I know you hate it when I say this, but you are just too much alike.” He says then the look of fear crosses his face. I normally would chew his head off when he said this, but this time I just slumped further down in my chair.

           We sit like this for a few minutes, and I just take in what they told me. They didn’t even hit on the things that I knew Cullin would want to.

           “Calix, we also need to talk about Mad and Meg before we head back.” Kaleb breaks the silence.

           “That’s what I was coming to talk to you about. She asked Cullin and me to stay a week here… and then she would take some of her brothers for a week in our pack. Then we all have a chance to reject.” I explain the details.

           “Okay? So? She still might reject you?” I hear Jason from behind me.

           “Dude. Don’t remind me.” I roll my eyes at him.

           He walks in and sits down in the other chair across from me. We were only missing Cullin from our group.

           “She seems like a total badass.” Jason quips back to me. I let out a little growl.

           “Dude, stop. You are going to really piss him off.” Kaleb tries to smooth it over.

           “Calix, I have been dating your sister since we turned sixteen. You can stop with your overprotective Alpha BS.” Jason raises an eyebrow.

           “Yeah... yeah… yeah… Back to the plan, we need to figure out how the next two weeks are going to go.” I try to get back on track. We spend the next 30 minutes figuring out the details when Cullin walks in and sits next to Erika. He joins in and helps us develop a plan of attack so both of us can be gone for a full week. The two of us actually agree without arguing for the first time ever. As I go to get up and find something to eat, Erica pulls me back in.

           “Calix, Cullin, you both need to decide what to do with Mad and Meg.” Looking between the two of us.

           “Easy, tell them it’s off,” Cullin states plainly. I knew it would be easy for him. The whole thing was just a transaction for him.

           “Kaleb, can you move them both out of the packhouse, and we will talk to them when we get back.” I direct to Kaleb.

           “Dude, you both should talk to them before you get back,” Jason states with wide eyes. He knows the most details of all of it, but I just shake my head.

           “It was a dumb thing to do from the start. I will take care of Meg. You need to deal with Mad though Calix. Your agreement was different than mine with Meg,” Cullin says.

           “I will deal with it. But if we don’t stop I am going to die of hunger.” I growl out and leave the room in search of food. I wander around the packhouse, I cannot figure out where anyone is. It looks like the other alphas are leaving. Kaleb and Jason will be leaving soon as well. I needed to find food; I hadn’t eaten much all day, and it was starting to catch up with me.

Finally, I find my way into the kitchen. Sitting at the counter are three young pups snacking. They had to be around 5 or 6 and had the biggest bowl of fruit that they were devouring.

I sit across from them and grab some chips off the counter, and start snacking, as three identical eyes watch me intently. I put a chip in my mouth and raise an eyebrow.

“Who are you?” the middle one asks.

“Carson, Sissy says we shouldn’t be rude,” the one of the right scolds.

“But sissy also said all the visitors were leaving,” The middle one glares back.

“So, then who are you?” The one on the left asks, pointing at me.

“Ayden!” Both of the other two yell.

“Nolan, said all the visitors are leaving, so who is this guy stealing our chips?” the one they called Ayden quips back.

“I am Calix, Is it okay if I share some of your chips?” I say trying to smooth over the squabble the three were having.

           “I guess… Sissy did say we have to share…” The one they call Nolan pouts.

           “What are your names?” I ask trying to at least keep the conversation going. I loved pups, and these three reminded me of Cullin and me before dad messed us up.

           “I am Carson, that is Nolan, and that is Ayden,” the middle one points to each of his brothers. They had to be triplets because of how similar they all looked. Triplets were rare for wolves, so I figured they were Fiona’s little brothers.

           “So what are you three up to, now that the big party is over?” I ask them.

           “We are sneaking snacks before dinner, and then sissy promised us a movie night now that she isn’t busy” Carson smiles.

           “Oh, and what movie did your sister promise you?” I ask. I was hoping these three could at least give me an in with my mate. I was used to girls wanting to be with me, not doing everything to stay away from me. I needed whatever help I was going to get even if it was from 5-year-olds.

           “Peter Pan! It’s our favorite” Ayden screams. Just as the kitchen door opens and the amazing smell of marshmallows and chocolate enters the room.

           “Boys, there you are!” She smiles until her eyes meet mine.

           “Sissy!” They all scream and run up to hug her. She looks totally different in a pair of leggings and an oversized sweater. I can't help but smile looking her over from head to toe.

           “Okay boys, go clean up and head to the dining room. Dinner is starting soon. Isaac and James are both in there waiting for you.” She directs the boys with such confidence that I feel my pants tighten.

           Once she gets the boys' hands washed and out of the room, she turns back to me.

           “Are you coming?” She asks pointedly, as I shove another chip in my mouth.

           “As you wish.” I smile and wipe my hands on a napkin, and she just rolls her eyes.

           “So, I heard you have a big movie date with your brothers tonight, but I was hoping I could steal you away at some point. Maybe tomorrow?” I ask as I follow her out of the room.

           “I have a date with Cullin tomorrow night.” She responds. She was not going to make this easy.

           “How about lunch?” I ask again, and she turns around and crosses her arms.

           “Fine.” She says through gritted teeth. “But don’t think that I forgot about what happened earlier.”

           “Fiona, please just give me a chance?” I please.

           “I am running out of chances for you two.”

           “Please?” I ask again.

           “Lunch.” She agrees and then turns, and I follow her into the dining room.