Chapter 38: We're About To Find Out - Callista's POV

The tension in Riven’s room was thick enough to cut with a knife. We were sitting on his bed, which felt a little too intimate and dangerous, with our history textbooks spread between us.

We didn’t realize until we were partially through dinner that we hadn’t stopped by the library like we had planned, so we had to resort to using our laptops to help with the project.

Concentration felt impossible as the mate bond hummed between us constantly.

“So, did you see when the territorial expansion started?” I asked, trying to focus on the computer screen.

“It started in 1875,” he repeated perfectly, noting something down in his notebook. “And he used a combination of political alliances and strategic marriages to consolidate power.”

“Interesting,” I said, looking down at my notebook. “Strategic marriages sound familiar, don’t it?”

He glanced up at me, his eyes darkening. “Yes, it seems like the packs still want to do that, but not with us.”

I blew out a breath. Though I was trying hard to focus, my mind was everywhere but here, mostly because of the day’s drama with Marcus. But also, sitting here in his room where his scent was concentrated, it was making my wolf wilder.

“Did you hear me?” He asked, looking up from the textbook.

“Sorry, I’m distracted and so is my wolf.”

He laughed under his breath. “By what?”

His red-gold eyes met mine, and the intensity there made my breath catch.

“We’re in your room doing our project and I can’t even think clearly. All I can smell is you and know that I’ll smell even more like you tomorrow when we go back to school,” I said, my voice low.

“Everything is screaming at me, too. The wolf wants to make sure you smell like a full mate bond,” he said, his voice equally as low. “I can’t imagine waiting two more years like this.”

“Really?” I asked. “You think—”

“We should make it real,” he said, standing up from the bed. “I’d like to seal it properly instead of this half-finished thing we’re stuck with.”

"We're sixteen," I said, even as my heart raced. "We agreed to wait."

“I know.” His hand found mine, lacing our fingers together. “But it’s just going to get harder. The bond wants sealed. It should calm both of our wolves if we can just mark each other.

I breathed out slowly, trying to calm my wolf. “Riven, we need to get this project drafted. It’s due Friday.”

“Fine,” he said, his tone clipped as we got back to work.

It lasted about another forty-five minutes before we both gave up pretending we could do this.

"This is useless," Riven finally said, tossing his pen down onto the comforter. "I've read the same paragraph five times and still have no idea what it says."

"Me too." I closed my textbook with more force than necessary. "We'll have to work on it tomorrow. Maybe we'll be able to concentrate better then."

“Maybe,” he said, though we both knew it was a lie.

Luna appeared in the doorway, concern etched across her face. "Is everything okay?"

"Fine," Riven said quickly. "I'm just tired from the day and so is she. We're going to call it early."

“Okay.” She didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push it either. “I left some snacks in the pantry for both of you if you get hungry before bed. And Callista? Your mother called earlier. She wants you to call her back when you get a chance before bed.”

Guilt twisted in my stomach. I'd been so caught up in settling in, in dealing with school drama, that I'd barely talked to my parents since moving. "I'll call her now."

I retreated to my room, closing the door before dialing my mother's number. She answered on the first ring.

"Callista. Finally,” she said with a huff.

"Sorry, Mom. It's been a crazy day,” I whispered, though I wasn’t sure why I was trying to keep my voice low.

"I heard." Her voice was tight. "Your father got a call from Principal Wolffe. Something about Riven attacking another student?"

Of course, Wolffe had called. I should have expected that.

“That’s not exactly the full story,” I said, sitting on my bed. “Marcus provoked him again and Riven can’t take it. Not with our bond incomplete. Riven is protective, especially since—”

“By putting his hands on another student’s throat?” My mother’s voice rose. “Callista, we’re worried. His aggression is a little intense. I thought it would settle him having you near.”

“And it does, Mom,” I said firmly. “But with an incomplete bond, you know how male wolves get. We still have to go through two years of this as well. Think of Dad and how he was before you sealed the bond.”

She sighed. “True, he was a bit…aggressive before he bit me, but we were adults.”

“And you didn’t have to wait two years,” I finished her thought. “Imagine Dad having to wait ‌two years to make you his.”

I could imagine her now, her face pale and her eyes unblinking.

“You have a good point. He’s an alpha too, so that’s going to make it worse,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I can pull him back, too.”

"You shouldn't have to pull him back." She took a breath, clearly trying to calm herself. "Sweetheart, I know you care about him. I know the bond is real. But if he's becoming dangerous—"

"He's not dangerous. Not to me."

"But to others?" The question hung heavy in the air. "How long before pulling him back isn't enough? How long before—"

"Mom, I have to go," I said, unable to stand the conversation any longer.

“We’ll talk more this weekend when you come home,” she said. “I love you.”

“Love you too.”

I hung up and stared at my phone, her words echoing in my mind. The truth was, I didn’t have an answer for her and that terrified me more than I wanted to admit.

Through the wall, I could hear Riven moving around his room, probably getting ready for bed. The mate bond tugged at me, wanting to go to him and wanting to be closer.

I changed into pajamas and climbed into bed, but sleep felt impossible.

How long before pulling him back isn't enough?

I didn't know. But I was afraid we were about to find out.