Chapter 5
1152 Words
hapter Five
Lila
“Another rogue?” I was confused, as I hadn't received another vision concerning that.
“No. Alpha Caleb.”
My heart stopped for a bit, and my eyes widened. “What? What is he doing here?”
“We are about to find out.” Max's jaw tightened, and his lips pursed.
Now outside his mansion, my heart beat loudly in an unnatural rhythm, and my stomach fluttered.
“Are you that excited to see him?” Max asked, his eyes guarded as he looked toward the door. “I can hear your heart racing from where I'm standing.”
“What? No.” Excitement was far from what I felt right now. “More like nervous. We didn't exactly part ways on a good note. Goddess. What does he want?”
“Before we go in there, take a deep breath and calm down. I'll go in first; you come in later. I don't want him getting the wrong idea that you're excited to see him or something.”
“I'm not excited,” I said through gritted teeth.
But he ignored me, opening the front mahogany doors and disappearing into the mansion.
After a few beats and making sure my hair was in place and that I looked presentable, I took a deep breath, quieting down the butterflies in my stomach. I definitely wasn't excited to see Caleb.
As I pushed the door open, the smell of something delicious hit me, and I almost inhaled sharply when I remembered that there were probably people in the room who were watching me.
As I entered, I was immediately hit with grey eyes that felt like they were piercing into my soul—eyes that I could not look away from. Our gazes held each other’s for what felt like forever until someone cleared his throat, breaking me out of the trance I was in.
“So, the rumors are true then,” Caleb's voice sent a slight tremble down my spine, but I ignored it. “This is how you've been winning against rogue attacks.” He was speaking to Max, but his eyes were trained on me, taking me in.
My face almost heated at his attention when Max snapped, “It seems you got my question wrong the first time I asked. What the f**k are you doing in my territory unannounced?”
“Well, I sent you a mail countless times, of which I'm sure you refused to read or acknowledge, so it isn't my fault you didn't know I was going to be here.” Caleb crossed his legs on the table in front of him, stretching his arms on the long brown couch in the middle of the living room.
Goddess, I forgot how cocky he could get most of the time.
I could literally hear the grinding of Max's teeth against each other as he tried to keep his boiling rage in check. Deciding to take matters into my own hands, I stepped forward, avoiding looking into Caleb's eyes.
“What do you want, Alpha Caleb?”
“I just came to confirm something.” Somehow, he found my eyes. “Have you been having rogue attacks like my pack has?”
My eyes widened. “They have been rogue attacks at the Moon pack?” My heart thumped loudly. “My mother. Is she okay? Was she attacked?” I asked frantically, my breath quickening.
“Your mother's fine, Lila.” I didn't know if it was the way he said my name or the assurance that my mother wasn't hurt that calmed the already aching spot in my chest.
I breathed a sigh of relief either way. “Yes. We've been having rogue attacks. Why are you asking?”
“I heard you have visions of the attacks beforehand and plan to put a stop to them, which is why none of the rogues succeeded.”
I stiffened. “How do you know that?”
Caleb gave a one-shoulder shrug. “I have my ways.”
“You've been spying on my pack? Is that what you're saying?” Max spat, his face red with rage.
“Oh, relax. It's not like you don't have a spy in my own territory.” Caleb sent him a wave.
There was no response from either of us, and a wicked glint appeared in Caleb's eyes. “You see, that wasn't so hard to admit after all.”
I raised my head heavenward. “For the last time, Alpha Caleb, what are you doing here?”
His face turned serious. “I need your help.”
I raised a brow. Alpha Caleb of The Moon Pack needed our help? Had the world started ending or something?
“You need our help,” Max repeated what was on my mind. “Has hell broken loose?”
Caleb looked away, hiding the vulnerability in his eyes that he felt from asking for help from another pack. “The rogue wolves are closing in on us while we keep losing enforcers. We are strong and can keep them off, but not for long. I can't lose any more men.”
The silence in the room was so loud that you could hear a pin drop.
Max and I exchanged looks. You know, the kind you exchange with your best friend that says a lot.
“What do you need?” Max, an alpha like Caleb, understood what it meant to lose pack mates—shifters you've sworn to protect.
Caleb's sulking gaze drifted to me, and I knew what he wanted before he could say it.
“No. No,” I said, shaking my head vigorously.
“Please, Lila. I need you. My pack needs you.” His eyes softened at the edges.
I released a bitter laugh. “Your pack that made me feel so useless and inferior because of my powers? Now they suddenly see how important my powers are? Now they need me?” I seethed. “Hell no, Caleb. Hell no.”
The hurt my wolf had felt that night when they mocked me rushed into my mind. There was no way I would do anything for those people. No f*****g way.
Max didn't say a word as he let me decide what I wanted. It was what I liked about him.
“Please, Lila.” Caleb was now on his feet as he approached me. “Think about your mother. How unsafe she is with the pack. Think about the pups and their future.”
I gritted my teeth; my hands were fisted at my sides. He was right. I couldn't look the other way when I could help, when I could put my powers to good use.
But how can I forget the hurt Caleb and his packmates made me feel because of these very powers?
How can I?
- Writer
