SHADOW
“Okay. That’s enough for today.”
“But I lit up a candle, didn’t I?” I giggled. My smile was ear-to-ear.
She sighed with an eye-roll. “This is not about how you learn to light up a fire.”
“Then what is it about that I’ve been doing for the whole week?” I asked begrudgingly. I’d wasted so much time and energy, and she just told me it wasn’t helpful.
“It’s about your focus, your control, learning about yourself. You already figured out your gift. All you have to do is master it. Concentration and control are important, or you will hurt yourself. Before this training, how’s your senses?”
“I think I have heightened than werewolves, even Califf.”
“So you can focus on something but have trouble when you’re away from your mate?”
“What do you mean?” I blew the candle and got up.
“You can’t depend on your strength from your mate. I know people said you’re stronger when you’re together.”
“I didn’t say that.” Well, I could focus on my senses when I was with Califf, even when I hadn’t met him.
“That’s your problem to solve. Emotions can be a triggering factor, but I want you to focus on your own self and the center of your energy. Meditate well, Shadow. That’s how you can dominate your gift. Everything around us can be the source of our power. When your mind is focused, that’s when you can visualize you’re the power in you.”
“It’s just—”
“A lot is going on. I get it. When you come to learn something, I want you to leave your baggage behind. I don’t have time for bullshit. I want your 100% focus because I also have life. I teach Aira, and I have a coven job.”
“Thank you. I appreciate you’re doing this for me.”
“Now go. Do whatever you do.”
“Can I ask you something?”
She gave me a blank face. “What is it?”
“It’s Califf. While we’re—”
She showed no interest because she could probably read my mind. “Go on. You don’t have to tell me the details.”
“Yeah. His wolf was kinda controlling him. Maybe I pissed him off, or something was going on that made him lose control. He almost bit me.”
“He’s upset about something,” she said cryptically.
“Yeah. About his brother, and feeling betrayed, and I also think he’s afraid of losing the attention, the position.”
“No, no, no. No way. He will not lose his position. He’s pure-blooded. My guess is the bastard is half-human. Then Califf is way stronger. He beat a Lycan once, but there’s something else going on, and you have to find it out and help him.”
“How?”
“Jeez, Shadow. Talk to him. Make him open up to you. He’s your mate. You know him better than I do.”
I went back to the pack house. Califf was just leaving the construction site of our house. He hadn’t seen me, but he was checking something on his phone.
“Hey, handsome.”
He lifted his gaze and smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Hey. How’s your lesson?”
“Slow and boring.” I tiptoed to kiss him on the lips.
“Hey, Luna,” Preston and Sam passed by.
“Hey, guys.” I waved my hand at them. “They look great together and happy.”
“So do we. Love does the magic.”
“Really?” I focused on my man. “Can we talk?”
“Aren’t we?” He smiled meaningfully.
“That thing you owed me is for tonight, Califf. Get your mind out of the gutter.”
“If you say so, wife.” He snaked his arm around me as we walked away from the construction site.
When we got far, I took him to Zack’s favorite spot.
“What is it, baby?” He sat down while I stayed standing, observing him.
“You have the most annoying, unwavering self-control I’ve ever known. What happened?”
He blew off a breath in a way of showing me how bored he was. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“I wanna help. I wanna be there for you, and you have to let me in like you did for me when I was in trouble controlling my hybrid form. And we’re mates. That means something for you. For us.”
“Of course. You’re everything to me.” He reached out for my hands and squeezed them. “That is why I feel guilty that I almost bit you and, worse, hurt you.”
“But you didn’t. I don’t want that to happen again. That’s why we need this talk. If this is something have to do with your—”
“No.”
“Let me finish.”
“Okay.” He raised his hands.
“If this has something to do with your bottled-up emotions, your anger towards your father, or our problem with the hunters, you have to tell me. It helps. I know you’re the controlling SOB, the Alpha, the leader, and you want to be the toughest guy in the room, but you’re also—” I chuckled. “You’re not human. We’re not human. What I mean is it’s okay to have a bad day. It’s okay to show weakness. And I know everyone depends on you, but you can’t do your job if you’re struggling deep inside.”
He nodded, but I felt like I hadn’t gotten through him.
Sighing, I sat next to him and put my hand on his thigh. “You’ve been the center of your parents’ attention, are you afraid—”
“No, Shadow. I’m not afraid of anything.”
“Maybe you should. Calder will never be you and can never replace you in your father’s eyes. There’s no freaking way. Do you understand me?” I held his chin so he could meet me in the eye. “You and Calder are different. You’re a pure-blooded alpha werewolf, and he’s not.”
“I’m not worried about that.” He sighed. “I’m sorry, baby.” He put his hand on top of mine.
“For what?”
“When we’re planning to have kids, these happen, the hunters, that son of a bitch, and now I’m losing control over my wolf.”
I met him in the eye. “That can wait, but what triggered your wolfy?”
He blinked and looked away as if he was guilty of something.
“Look at me, tough guy.”
He chuckled. “When you left to see Zarah, I was pissed off, but there was no way I could be there on time, and I knew she wouldn’t open a portal for me. Then I was also pissed off with Calder. I mean, why did he come to see me? What did he want? I swear in my gut, he wasn’t telling the truth.”
“Sometimes, I doubt my senses, but his heartbeat was regular until you kicked him out. But this can be just a coincidence. If I think he is who says he is, then you have to give him a chance but proceed with caution. What do you say?”
“I don’t want to see him.” He wouldn’t be Califf if he weren’t stubborn, grudge-holding Alpha.
I exhaled in a huge gust, shuddering. “You shouldn’t be mad at someone who’s not his fault being born into this world. I’m not saying to blame your father. All I want is to get to know him. Maybe we will find something to support your suspicion. What do you say, Alpha?”
He rolled his eyes. I thought it was cute, and he caught me smiling. “What if I say no?”
“I will sleep in the chamber until you control your annoying, irritating, hot-tempered wolfy.”
“You disobeyed me. That pissed him off.”
“With, among other emotions bottled up in your chest.” I poked his chest. “Maybe you should hit the gym, kick a punching bag to blow some steam, Alpha.”
He rubbed his chin as if thinking of an alternative. “How about we pay my bastard brother a visit.”
“Stop saying bastard because I am too.”
“Fuck.” He pulled me in his arms and hugged me tight. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean it.”
“You actually do, but I’m a royal Lycan princess, Luna, a hybrid, and a half-witch. Illegitimacy is overrated in our world, anyway.” I raised a brow, showing him I didn’t give a shit about legitimacy.
“Right. Shove that title, your species, and position into my face, baby.”
I shook to laugh. “By the way, your brother is hot.”
“Fuck you.” One moment, I was in his arms. The next second, he was standing before me, glaring.
“Jeez. I prefer you a million times. I’m your mate.” I raised my hand, showing him the wedding band and engagement ring. “And your wife, Alphasshole.”
“Get up. We’re meeting that asshole.”
“So, you know where he lives?”
“Yes.”