The Vampire's Sweet Secret

Chapter 8: Can’t Let Her Go

-Everly-

I had lived for many, many years, and I had seen and experienced enough that you could write so many books about my life, it would fill up an entire library, and not a small library. No, the biggest one you could possibly find out there. I had felt, touched, and tasted so many things. I had seen both horrors and wonders, and I had left my mark on this world.

I had done so many things and been surprised so many times, I thought I was done with surprises, but as the little wolf in front of me spoke, I felt the feeling of surprise once again. I knew Calliope was different. There was something alluring about her, even though she was not at all my type. She was small, scared, and very careful. It was clear that being submissive was just who she was and not a role she played. She looked as plain as anyone could, but somehow, she was still so enchanting and probably the most beautiful woman I had ever laid my eyes on. It made no sense. Or it didn’t, until now.

“We are mates.” The words rang inside my head, and for a long time, I just stood there, looking at Calliope, because I had no idea what I should say or could say. I mean, I had dreamed of the day I would find my mate, but I had always thought I never would.

I wasn’t even sure I deserved a mate because, despite the good things I had done, there was a lot of bad stuff I had done as well. I was no saint, and I did not act like I was, but I still wanted a mate. One to share this deep connection with and to care for and love, but I had never imagined this one would be my mate. A wolf. And she was pregnant! It was all so messed up in so many ways.

“Mates?” I questioned because I needed to repeat the word.

Calliope nodded and looked at the ground again, while her hands grabbed each other tightly in front of her.

“Us?” I added. She nodded again and pressed her eyes together, afraid to even gaze at me.

“I know it must be disappointing to have me as your mate, but still, it would not be good for us to work together.”

Disappointing? Was she serious? As I looked at Calliope in front of me, the last thing I felt was disappointed. Sure, I had a different idea in my head about what it was going to be like to find my mate and what she would look like, but now that idea did not even seem able to compare to this moment. This was so much better!

“As I said, I don’t doubt your control, but the bond is powerful and…” Calliope kept talking, constantly giving me reasons why we should not work together, but I had stopped listening. I was just gazing at her, admiring her. Her light brown hair had been pulled back into a ponytail today, and she wore a pair of messy blue jeans that had clearly been worn more than they should have, and a big white hoodie, hiding her body like the big blazer did.

I suddenly hated that hoodie. I wanted to know what was lying underneath. I wanted to explore every inch of her skin, and only when she was writhing with pleasure, begging me to allow her to come, would I.

Hmm, I mused, maybe the little wolf had a point about us working together, but there was no way I was letting her go now.

“So, as you can see, it would just not be proper. I am very sorry for wasting your time,” she apologized and then, without warning, turned on her heel, walking away.

I quickly followed her, and just as she grabbed the door handle, I pushed the door back in place and closed it. I reached around Calliope and then locked the door. I heard a small gasp leave her as she heard the lock fall into place.

“Did I say you could go?” I whispered. I felt her shiver against me, and then she slowly turned, pressing her back to the door behind her.

“Um, Miss Colt.”

“Call me Everly,” I told her and reached out, running my finger down her cheek, feeling how soft her skin was. “It would only be right since you are my mate.”

“I…” Her voice died out. I clearly made her very nervous, which made me smile. I simply couldn’t help myself. Calliope was messing with my head, and I didn’t feel in control at all. It was a strange new feeling because I was always in control, but not this time.

“We can’t…” She reached out and pulled my hand away.

“I need to go,” she insisted.

“Why?”

“Because I can’t work with you now that you are my mate,” she pointed out.

“You knew that already yesterday, did you not?”

She nodded.

“So, what changed?” I asked.

“I was just too excited about the job to realize how wrong it was,” she whispered, gazing down.

“Does this feel wrong?” I inquired.

She slowly looked up again, and I reached out, gently taking her hand because I feared if I moved too fast, I would scare the little wolf away. She was definitely a timid little one. Like a deer, she seemed ready to run at any point.

“Well?” I pressed and squeezed her hand.

She focused on our hands, watching them with such intrigue as if no one had ever held her hand before, but that couldn’t be right. She might act like a scared little virgin, but she definitely wasn’t one, since she was pregnant.

“Does it feel wrong, Calliope?” I whispered, moving a little closer.

“No.”

“Then why not stay?” I questioned.

She met my eyes, and hers grew so big.

“I mean, working for me,” I clarified.

“We’re mates. It’s not right.”

“I don’t think it could be any more right,” I told her.

“But you gave it to me because we are mates,” she accused.

“No, I gave it to you because you needed the job, and I wanted to help. Only now do I realize what a good decision I made,” I remarked. “I have waited a long time for you.”

“Me?”

“My mate,” I explained.

She seemed very surprised, and I smiled wider, holding her hand even tighter in mine. Sh*t, I had held hands before with others, but it had never made me feel like this. I felt almost nervous about trying to touch her in other places, and that was not like me.

I was not scared to make a move, and I was very good at reading people, so I didn’t overstep any boundaries. So, if someone said they were not interested, I would back off, but Calliope was my mate. We were practically made for each other, and I could not have been more scared about trying to get closer. Maybe this wasn’t really the right place to do it either.

“I don’t see any problem with us working together,” I confessed.

“You don’t?”

“I think it would be a good way for us to spend time together and let the bond get a chance to grow,” I pointed out.

“The bond…” she whispered, and suddenly changed in front of my eyes. Her terrified expression left me perplexed, and I felt unsure of how I could offer my help, despite my strong desire to do so. I longed for her to feel supported, to know that she could rely on me for strength.

“I-I have to go,” she stammered and pulled her hand away.

“Why?”

“Because… I just have to,” she replied.

“Calliope, I understand if this makes you nervous, but I promise you I will not try to overstep. We will make the rules very clear,” I promised.

“Rules?” she echoed.

“When we work together, we are just co-workers. In our free time, well, that is a different story,” I purred.

“Free time?”

“I would love to get to know you and spend time with you outside of work,” I explained.

“You do?”

“I very, very much would like for us to get to know each other,” I said, moving my face closer to hers. There was barely any space between us now, and I had her caged in with both my hands placed on the door. She wasn't sure where to look, at my eyes or my lips, and it made me smile. My little mate might be scared, but she was also intrigued, and I would gladly satisfy all her interests.