Chapter 15: Keeping Me Sane - Callista's POV

“I still don’t understand any of this and why it manifested so soon,” I said, looking away. It felt weird and awkward in a sense. “We’re just sixteen.”

“I’m glad it happened,” he murmured. “So what if we’re different?”

“Why would you be glad? You even said the thought of anyone else touching me makes you violent? We’re having feelings that adults feel and…mates…” I couldn’t hardly finish my sentence.

“Because this bond might be the only thing keeping me—”

He cut himself off, looking away as his cheeks heated crimson.

“Keeping you what?” I asked, my voice lower now.

I couldn’t look away. What was he about to say? Did he really intend to tell me I was the only thing keeping him sane? That sounded like what he was going for.

“Sane,” he finished quietly. “You keep me grounded, and the bond helps with things you don’t understand yet. So while it may be weird or early, I am thankful for you.”

There it was again. It’s like he keeps hinting that something was wrong, something he wasn’t and didn’t want to tell me.

“What things are you talking about?” I asked. “What aren’t you telling me?”

His jaw worked as if he were trying to find the right words and failing repeatedly. “There are…aspects of my wolf that aren’t typical. Not even my pack knows or fully understands it. And if they come out at the ceremony, that means other packs and my own may find out. You seem to calm that part of me.”

My mind went back to the dream, where he had alpha abilities early and could command me, though I wasn’t part of his pack. He even mentioned something about the Alpha King or that he was him. Could it be that his strength was something he needs to hide?

“Does this have something to do with the vision?”

He met my gaze, and I saw real fear there for the first time.

“You saw what…I could be the monster. They may see it too,” he whispered.

My heart clenched. “You’re not a monster. I think there are things beyond our understanding and that these visions are hard to decipher. Maybe it is just a nightmare.”

“You don’t know that.” His hands tightened around my waist. “You don’t know what I’m capable of and what I’ve done. Or what I might do if anyone tries to take you from me. My wolf…wants his mate.”

“Then tell me what is really going on.” I cupped his face, forcing him to look at me. “Just tell me the truth and don’t spare any details. I want to know all of it, so no more half-answers and cryptic warnings.”

For a moment, I thought he might actually do it. Maybe he’d finally explain the secrets he’d been keeping from me and the danger he kept hinting at. Then footsteps in the hallway sounded outside my room. We both froze.

“Callista?” It was my father’s voice coming through the door, followed by a soft knock. “Are you still awake? I thought I heard you up and wanted to check on you.”

Panic shot through me as if I had been doused with ice water. If he came in and found Riven here, shirtless and bleeding in my room, there was no telling what he might think or do.

“Just a second!” I called out, my voice way too high for normal. I turned to Riven, gesturing frantically toward the window. “You have to go now,” I whispered.

“We’re not finished with this or our conversation,” he said, standing carefully and grabbing his bloodied shirt from the floor.

There wasn’t a speck of blood in my room, but I knew his scent would be.

“I know,” I hissed as I helped him to the window, my hands shaking. “But if he finds you here—”

“Callista?” Dad knocked again, more insistently this time. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine! I was just talking to Kalley on the phone!” I watched as Riven climbed through the window with a grace that surprised me. “Be careful going down. Your ribs—”

“They’re fine,” he murmured, pausing on the sill to look at me. “Tomorrow night, after they’re asleep, we’ll finish this conversation. School won’t be the place.”

“Riven—”

“I’ll tell you everything,” he promised, his red-gold eyes burning into mine. “Same place as this morning, okay?”

"I'm grounded," I hissed. "I can't just sneak out again—"

“You can, and you will.” His hand found mine one last time, squeezing gently. “Because you need to know the truth and I need to tell you before the ceremony, before everything gets more complicated.”

He leaned forward before I could respond, his lips meeting mine. They were warm, inviting, and everything I could ever want from a kiss. Then he was gone, disappearing into the darkness.

I grabbed the can of air freshener near the window and frantically sprayed it. My hands were still shaking as I placed it back, shoved the first-aid kit under my bed, and grabbed my phone.

Dad opened the door, just as I placed it to my ear.

“Yeah, that sounds great. Bye, Kalley.” I hung up the phone and stared at my father. “Sorry, she just had a question about homework.”

Dad stood in the doorway, his expression showing his suspicion. His gaze was narrowed as he studied me. Then he inhaled, and I just knew he smelled something. Hopefully, the spray was enough to mask it.

“I thought I heard voices,” he said, scanning my room. “Was it really just the phone?”

“Yes,” I said, holding it up. The screen had gone dark now. “She just had questions about homework and I was happy to help her.”

He studied me for a long moment, and I forced myself to meet his gaze, praying the air freshener had done its job.

“It’s getting late,” he finally said. “You should get some sleep, because I’m sure tomorrow will be another difficult day.”

“I know, and I will,” I said, sitting on the bed. “When is the meeting happening with Riven’s family? We were supposed to have dinner, but I know you all got busy.”

“Tomorrow after school.” His expression softened slightly. “I know this is hard, sweetheart, but we need to know what we are dealing with. It’s for his safety as much as yours, because he will be the one challenged.”

“I understand.”

He went to leave, then paused in the doorway. “And Callista? Whatever happens at the ceremony or whatever challenges come, you won’t be alone. As a family, we will all stand together. And I may have gone a bit too far with the patrols' sons guarding you, so just don't do anything crazy for now, okay?"

Guilt twisted in my chest. "Thanks, Dad."

He closed the door, and I waited until his footsteps faded before letting out a breath. Tomorrow night I had to meet Riven, and that was after meeting his family.

I wasn’t ready for either. The truth Riven was hiding seemed even scarier than a meet and greet with his family, though.

The mate bond hummed in my chest, aching from his absence. If we couldn’t seal our bond for two years, this was only going to get worse. I could still feel where his hands had been on my waist and still see the fear in his eyes when he’d called himself a monster.

Whatever he was hiding, whatever darkness he carried inside of him, was big and dangerous. It was the kind of secret that could destroy everything. At least, that was what I thought. It had to be for him to be so secretive about it.

I moved to the window, looking out into the darkness before reaching up to slide it closed. Out in the woods, I caught red-gold eyes staring back at me. He hadn’t left yet.

“Riven,” I whispered.

It looked as if his head tilted to the side. Was he in wolf form? Was he out there still bleeding?

Part of me wanted him to come back and stay the night, but I wouldn’t dare ask him for that.