Chapter 128 Father? (I)
Calhoun's POV
"There's someone outside for you," Bruce announces after opening my study door and popping in just his head.
"Who?" I inquire.
"A man," Bruce responds.
"What does he want?" My hands are clasped together and on top of my desk, as I look at my beta.
"He said he's here for his daughter," Bruce finally makes his way in and shuts the door behind him.
"Who is his daughter?" I ask through a squint.
"Said Kristen," Bruce hesitates before giving this answer and I am left stunned for a few seconds.
"My mate?" I voice this out loud because I want to think I misheard him.
"I was left confused too. Asked them a few more times for proper confirmation and they said she's the one," Bruce continues, "he passed the message to the butlers and he's currently still outside, waiting,"
"I'll be in the first hall, let him in," I command.
And as Bruce leaves, I walk over to the first hall to wait for the stranger who claimed my mate is his daughter.
It takes a few minutes for a ragged-looking man to make his way in, with my Beta right behind him.
My eyes lower into a squint as I observe him from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet. It seems as though he's been living in the slums for a very long time now.
He looks completely different from Kristen and I'm starting to think there's a misunderstanding here because he seems suspicious.
Although, it's obvious he's in his early forties. He's dark-haired and has hazel eyes like Kristen.
"Who do you say you're looking for again?" I ask in an authoritative tone as I take my seat on the high seat.
"Kristen, she's my daughter. I heard she's here," The man responds and looks around him as if he's in search of Kristen. Although his voice is firm, his eyes are honest.
"Who directed you to this place?" My hand is supporting my chin as I maintain eye contact with him.
"Her mother, Natalie," comes his reply.
I pause for a few seconds after hearing this from him, maybe because
I don't trust him or because he seems rather odd.
Still, I can't let any strange man come close to Kristen, because of Jack Snyder.
Worse, she's pregnant. Anyone can impersonate her father and attempt to hurt her and the baby.
"Calhoun," I hear Kristen's voice and when I stare ahead of me, I see her standing at the entrance of the hall with her bodyguard, Janette right behind her.
She's not supposed to be here right now. I wanted to question this Stewart man for a long time before giving him access to meet with my mate. But she's already here as if she's sensed someone
"What's happening?" she asks, staring from me to Bruce and Bruce
to me.
"Kristen.." Stewart says, and it's just upsetting that he's calling her name like that when he was never there from the beginning.
"Sorry, do I know you from anywhere?" Kristen has this innocent expression on her face as she looks at him.
"I'm your father," he drops this without even holding back.
"What!?" Kristen's eyes grow large in their sockets.
"He means he's my friend," I lie, wanting to ease the tension. Kristen needs to be informed beforehand.
"But.." The man attempts to protest when I interrupt him.
"Bruce," I call the attention of my Beta.
"Alpha Calhoun?" Bruce replies.
"Please escort Stewart out for a few minutes, I'd like to speak with
my mate. And then he can return." I say.
"You heard Alpha Calhoun, let's go," Bruce puts his hand on the man's back and points at the door ahead of him.
"But I came..."
"You shouldn't disrespect Alpha Calhoun, you should be grateful he
let you in," Bruce warns in a stern manner.
Stewart swallows hard as he looks at Kristen, but then he lets Bruce lead him out.
"Can you tell me what exactly is going on? I heard him clearly," Kristen turns to me right after they left and shut the large doors.
Leaving my seat, I walk until I am standing in front of my pregnant mate because she has this uncertain look on her face.
"I don't know if he's being honest, but he said he's your father," I
blurt out, watching her closely.
"Are you being serious?" Kristen blinks in utter disbelief.
And I nod before putting my hand on her arm.
"Yes, he claimed Natalie told him you're here," I reply.
"I can't believe this is happening," Kristen looks away from me, still
completely shocked.
"Me too, and I don't trust him. He just came out of the blue like that. I had Bruce take him out so I could talk to you at first, before letting
you meet him."
Kristen pushes her fingers through her hair, pants and puffs out a breath before tipping her head to look at me.
I hate the fact that this Stewart guy just showed up and put her in this state. I don't like seeing her worried, it makes me completely
unsettled.
"This is just...I don't even know what to say right now," She's so vulnerable right now that I just want to hug her and tell her it'll be
okay.
"Just calm down and don't over think things," I stroke her hair.
"You mean to tell me that man out there is my father?" She jerks her finger at the door once more, with her eyes growing glassy with
tears.
"I wasn't done questioning him when you came in," I rasp out.
"It's been twenty-one years, Calhoun. He had a fling with my mom and just disappeared, didn't even know mom was pregnant with me. And now he's back and he thinks I'll let him into my life just like
that?"
"We'll need to question him more to know if he's truly your father."
Thank God I sent him away because it would have been worse if he had been here. Kristen needs to calm down and think things through before she can face him.