Callan's eyes were solely fixed on me this time. “What do you want?” he asked.
I was taken by surprise by his words, and for the next few seconds, I remained quiet. I was aware of everyone’s eyes that were now on me, except Amelia’s. She was staring at Callan with a look of utmost disbelief as though in some way, he had betrayed her.
Callan continued, “You can live anywhere in this territory that you’d prefer, and if your choice is to remain here in this manor, then I promise you no one would cause otherwise to happen.”
Relief flooded my insides at his words. Amelia had been acting on her own accord when she had told me I couldn't stay in the manor. She was threatened by my presence, and I could tell from how she was glaring at me she was awaiting my response.
As much as I didn't want to, the feeling came upon me—I completely understood her, and with what had happened with me and Callan last night, with how much my feelings for him were growing and the fact that if he hadn't stopped it, something else would've happened between us. Amelia’s fears were valid.
'No, they are not.' my wolf interrupted. 'He is our mate, and we belong next to him, not anyone else!'
He had told me about her. I knew everything I had to, and I still chose to come here, so it made no sense why I was feeling this conflicted. It was likely that finally seeing Amelia in person was causing these feelings to materialize. I had never known myself to be someone who experienced jealousy in this intensity, but seeing them both seated next to each other, the pain was tenfold worse compared to when I had shifted for the first time. This one wrenched my guts and squeezed the air from my lungs.
How much longer was I going to have to be a witness to this? How much more could I take? I couldn't bear to imagine myself as the sort of woman who would eventually be the cause of another’s unhappiness, but oh, how much I wanted to. I wish I could be selfish, just this once. I wished with everything in me that I was able to be unconcerned about everything else and be the woman who was by Callan’s side. I wished I could stop the continuous train of thoughts that hounded me because it was proving to one day going to be my ruin.
Isla said something before I could. “I understand the need for Sophia to be able to make this decision on her own, but I think, for now, it would be best if she stays here with us.” She glanced from me to Callan, her eyes turning worried.
“With the recent happenings in our pack, maybe letting her be outside of here wouldn't be the best option. In here, she can have your full protection. I fear with the knowledge of her being your mate sweeping from one pack member to another, she might become a target for the people who have plans to overthrow you.”
My attention was immediately caught by her last few words… Overthrow him? And when my eyes went to meet Callan’s, I could see on his expression that he was considering Isla’s words which confirmed to me what she’d just said was true.
The Black Tide Pack was superior. Was it possible that there really was someone out there planning to overthrow Callan? And if so, what were the recent happenings Isla had just spoken about? Numerous questions swirled in my head going unanswered, and just then, a memory hit me.
Slowly, my eyes traveled to Radley who was looking at Callan, waiting for him to say something. The image was vivid in my head now. In the face of all the other chaos that had occurred, I had forgotten about my first encounter with Radley.
He had been snooping in Callan’s room in search of something important enough he had seemed both frustrated and desperate.
Could it be? That he would somehow be behind the plans to overthrow Callan?
At the thought, I shook my head vigorously. It made no sense. They seemed very close, and I didn't want to believe Radley would be capable of such betrayal. He had seemed to genuinely care about Callan, and that was why he didn't want us to be together because he’d feared I would be tainting Callan.
But still, I needed to tell Callan of what I’d seen, right? It would be the right thing to do, and if so, then why did a part of me feel dread at doing just that, as though somehow I would be causing a needless rift, arousing suspicion where unnecessary?
The decision to swallow all thoughts of telling Callan what had happened coincided with him finally providing a response to Isla’s suggestions.
He took in a breath. “Indeed, we’re still on shaky ground concerning our enemies, but I still stand by my earlier words, Sophia. I do not want to force you into a situation that does not appease you, so if you choose to live somewhere other than here, I can promise you that you’ll have my complete protection, and if you choose to stay here instead, then you are welcome to.”
The corner of his lips tilted slightly in an attempt at a smile, but it came out awkward and somehow, I could tell that he was more torn than I had thought. He wanted me to remain here. I knew without a single doubt in my heart that that was what Callan wanted, but he was giving me the choice to decide what I wanted for myself.
I was grasping for reasons to remain here even though I was aware of all the reasons I shouldn't and so I grabbed onto Radley. If Radley really was behind the attempt at overthrowing Callan, I was going to try my best to not let him get away with it.
It was a silent promise to myself and Callan. He had helped me out of the most difficult situations in my life, and he had given me a new one. I wasn't going to let anyone take his purpose away from him, and most especially not Radley.
I smiled at him. “I would like to stay here if you’d allow it.”
It was almost unnoticeable, the small breath of relief he released, but what didn't go unseen was the way his eyes lit up at my words.
He nodded at me. “Thank you.”
Isla glanced from him to me with a wide grin. “We are excited to have you with us, Sophia. You have no idea.”
Amelia’s cold voice slashed through the elation in the air. She didn't bother herself with hiding her hostile tone this time.
“And when do you plan on rejecting her, so we can formally go ahead with our mating ceremony? My father is getting impatient.”
Callan glanced at her, his jaws twitching in controlled anger, and how I knew what he was going to do before he did it baffled me, but he got up from his seat and dumped the napkin that had been on his thigh on the table.
“Come on, Radley. We’ll be late for the council meeting.”
And with that, he marched out of the room, Radley hot on his heels, both leaving a flushed Amelia seething on her seat.