In less than five sentences, he'd used the word 'mate' two times, and it hung in the air, causing Liam's wolf to regress to its aggravated state. "Mate, huh?" he questions, studying Caleb's features with narrowed eyes.
Marisol picked that exact moment to speak up again, taking Caleb's hand and nodding happily. "Yes. Dad, Mom, Caleb is my mate. We have a bond that's... indescribable." She says dreamily, looking between the man and the elders of her father's circle.
The sight of Caleb's fingers wrapped tightly in Marisol's doesn't sit well with Liam. An undercurrent of annoyance simmered within him, despite Marisol's obvious happiness. He wanted to rip Caleb off, his perfect daughter.
Something about Redwood stuck out in his memory, and it was beginning to stress him out how he couldn't remember what it was. He wanted this man off his daughter and away from his daughter and their lives. He wanted him off his territory.
He grits his teeth, hidden by his lips, and clenches his fist. His wolf seemed to be taking it a lot more seriously, wanting nothing more than to show this man just how displeased it was by his mere presence.
Nicole, ever graceful, steps in as the silence made the tension more palpable. "Caleb, why don't you stay in our guest house for the night? We can discuss this further tomorrow."
Liam's initial instinct was to dismiss the idea altogether. But as he sees Marisol's joyous reaction to that, something inside him softens, wanting to preserve that look of contentment and happiness and keep his daughter smiling. He nodded painstakingly, stamping his agreement. He couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.
Giggling, Marisol throws her arms around him, his arm goes around her immediately and Liam doesn't look away no matter how hard he tries to, not wanting to miss the second something goes wrong, but that doesn't happen. When they pull away, Marisol regards her parents with a grateful smile and Caden, another respectful nod before they walk away together.
^
Later that night, Liam paced around their shared quarters, his gut feeling intensified. He couldn't ignore the nagging doubts about Caleb.
"My gut tells me something's off, Nicole," he admits, a frown etched into his features.
"Liam, I feel it too," Nicole confesses with a sigh, "But seeing Marisol so happy, I'm willing to do anything to keep it that way. We'll just have to tread carefully and investigate what might be causing such feelings of distress." She soothes, her tone ever so soft, and Liam grunts in frustration.
"It annoys me so much, Nicole. I can't shake the feeling that there's more to this than meets the eye."
Nicole gently cups his face between her smaller fingers and holds his gaze. "I know, love, but we have to trust Marisol on this. She's not a child anymore, and she can protect herself if an immediate need for it arises. As parents, we need to respect and support her choices. Tomorrow, we can talk about investigating discreetly, hm?." She finishes almost in a coo as if speaking to a child, and Liam wraps his arms around her, linking them behind her smaller frame. His wolf was itching to confront the situation head-on.
Nicole sighs, understanding his struggle even if he doesn't say the words out loud. "We'll find out more tomorrow, I promise. For now, let's trust in Marisol's judgment. She's our daughter, and you know we'll protect her no matter what."
As Liam grumbles in reluctant agreement, Nicole adds, "Besides, Marisol hasn't shown interest in anyone before. That's worth considering."
Liam pauses as he considers her words.
"You're right. It's just.... I just want what's best for her. I want her to be safe. "
Nicole squeezes his face gently in her hands, "I know, my love, and so do I. We'll figure this out together. Now, let's get some rest. We'll try to make sense of all this once it's dawn."
Liam grumbles, the thought of Marisol probably wanting to stick by him through the night as she had all along scared him.
Reading his thoughts, Nicole reassures him, "I've already ensured they won't be left alone."
A faint smirk curved Liam's lips at Nicole's shrewdness. "You've effectively separated them, haven't you?"
Nicole winks playfully. "Of course. I'm the smartest, remember?"
Laughing in a bit of relief, he pressed their lips together. His Nicole was indeed the best woman on the planet. She'd always been able to think ahead, and it had saved them both a lot of times.
^
After showing Caleb to his quarters, Marisol's plans to spend the night soaking up his scent were ruined by Garrett's sudden appearance.
Frustration bubbled within Marisol. She longed for an intimate moment with Caleb, a chance to explore the depths of their connection without prying eyes. She'd never felt so needy in her entire life.
It made her so creative that she evades Estella, who was following her around not so subtlety and sneaked back into the guest house.
Getting Caleb past Garrett wasn't easy, but Marisol was nothing if not determined, and finally, she gets them both out of the house and leads them to her secret spot in the forest.
"Ugh, can a girl not get a moment alone in peace?" she grumbles, though a small smile played on her lips.
Caleb, who seemed unfazed by the long walk they'd just taken into the forest, wrapped his arms around her under the moonlit night. "It seems your friends are quite protective. Can't blame them, though; you're a treasure worth guarding with one's life." He rasps out, and Marisol feels her cheeks grow hot.
"Well, they're making it hard for us to have any privacy."
Caleb chuckles in reply. "But you made it happen, didn't you?"
Marisol smiles, her wolf sighing in relief and contentment at the close contact, and she wraps her arms around his neck, reveling in the heady scent of his pheromones.
He pulled her in for their second kiss that night. As their lips moved against each other, Marisol felt like a life wire. Her body thrummed with newfound vitality, the touch of Caleb electrifying her senses.
Just as they separate for some air, Marisol makes a small oh noise when Caleb suddenly drops down to one knee.
"Marisol, you've made me happier in one night than I've been in my entire life, and now I can't imagine my life without you. Will you marry me?"
Marisol's eyes widened in shock, her jaw dropping. "Caleb, I..." Her voice was caught in her throat, emotions swirling within her. It was an unexpected twist to their clandestine rendezvous, and the sincerity in Caleb's eyes tugged violently at her heartstrings.
"Say yes, Marisol, please. Make me the happiest man alive," Caleb urges, his eyes locked onto hers.