Chapter 83: Their Cursed

Remi

Nicole was so wrong. Reading all of this about shifting was not bringing me any calm or ease about this. It was all I could do to sit still and keep my eyes on the page while I sat in Calder’s lap. He was reading something from a folder, occasionally leaning forward to kiss the top of my head. I was trying to sit still so he could work but the anxiety was beginning to eat at my insides. Shifting was going to be far worse than coming across the boundary. I tried to focus on just breathing as I thought about every bone in my body breaking to accommodate a new physical form. How were 13-year-olds not afraid of this?

With a sigh, Calder closed the folder he was reading documents from and set it aside. His hands cradled either side of my face and his lips came to mine in a soft, lingering kiss. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole packhouse could feel your anxiety, baby,” he said finally.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. His thumbs lightly rubbed my cheeks.

“You don’t need to be sorry. I just wish I knew how to make this better for you,” he said, sadness creeping into his tone. He leaned his forehead against mine, and I closed my eyes so I could focus on his touch.

“I’m just scared,” I admitted.

“I know. I wish we could save you from this…” his soft voice said. “We won’t leave you for a moment.” We sat there like that for a while, his thumbs caressing my cheeks softly in a comforting motion. The door opened, but neither of us moved. I could tell without moving my head or opening my eyes that Cullen had come in. The couch dipped next to us, and arms wrapped around me, his forehead leaning against the back of my head. I idly wondered if Calder had linked him or if Cullen came because he couldn’t take my anxiety anymore like Calder.

Despite their efforts, the anxious nausea wasn’t subsiding. I hadn't been this scared since my parents made me leave. The difference was that then, I didn’t have time to think about it or wallow. I had to act, or I wouldn’t have survived. It isn’t the same now. There wasn’t much for me to do except wait for tomorrow night.

Calli was the farthest thing from helpful right now as well. She just kept telling me everything was going to be alright, we had our mates, and she was finally going to stretch her legs. I was excited for her, but I was not convinced everything would be okay after my whole body needed to reshape itself completely. Calli’s excitement was not mixing well with my anxiety.

Calder reached down and pulled the book from my hands, closing it and setting it aside. “I think you need to think about something other than shifting for a little while,” Cullen said softly behind me.

“I agree,” Calder said. Calder sat up straight, and my eyes followed him. “I think I might have an idea.” Cullen looked up at him as well, their eyes connecting over my shoulder. I turned my head, trying to look between them.

“Are you two linking?” I questioned. Cullen’s mouth quirked up in a smile before he kissed me lightly on the cheek.

“Now, love. We aren’t keeping you in the dark about anything,” he admonished. I squinted at him and then Calder. Cullen’s arms tightened around me, and he pulled me onto his lap. He pulled me against him completely, burying his face in my neck. He started peppering my skin with soft kisses, and I relaxed against him. Calder got up and started putting all his work away on his desk.

“What do you think about cheering up Pip?” Cullen asked. I looked up into his stormy eyes. I could see the worry in his face, and I felt guilty for causing him so much worry.

“What do you have in mind?” I knitted my eyebrows, wondering what I could do to cheer her up in my current state.

“Well, Pip loves sweets. I seem to remember that my mate is rather good in the kitchen. I may not know how to turn on the oven, but I can follow directions.” Calder gave me a charming smile as I turned my head to him. His thoughtful suggestion made me smile. “What do you say?” I nodded quickly, thankful for a real distraction. Pip wasn’t answering my text messages since I left her with Zeus last night, but Gentry had stopped by this morning and told Calder she wouldn’t come out of her room again. Zeus had knocked on their door first thing in the morning but was sent away quickly by Gentry and Pip’s father.

I turned back to Cullen, and he smashed his lips to mine. He kissed me deeply for a minute before letting me go, breathless. “Are you coming, too?” I managed to breathe out.

“No, love. I still have some things to finish up. But I would be happy to taste test when you finish,” he told me. I gave him a sheepish smile, nodding my head. He pecked me once more before lifting me from his lap. When I stood, Calder was ready to go.

-

“I hope Pip isn’t picky,” I thought, looking down at the countertop with the cookies cooling on it. Unfortunately, they weren’t the most eye-appealing treats.

“What do you mean?” Calder asked, furrowing his brow. He was proud of his culinary accomplishment. I just giggled.

“I think you should take credit for them,” I teased. I picked up the spoon from the dough bowl and started licking the excess cookie dough from it. Calder frowned, pulling my face up to his.

“I want a taste,” he pouted. I smiled, pushing the spoon towards his face so he could taste. He shook his head before bringing his lips to mine. He nipped my bottom lip, my mouth automatically opening for him. His tongue invaded my mouth, and he tasted me before pulling away with a satisfied smile. “Mmmm,” he hummed. I rolled my eyes even though I found his antics amusing.

I pulled away from him so we could start gathering the cookies onto a plate. Calder began to grabbing dishes to wash. Nicole strolled into the kitchen and burst out laughing when she spotted her son at the sink with a sponge in his hand.

“Oh, Remi darling, you are perfection. You got my Alpha son to do the dishes. Dare I ask how you did that?” she asked, coming over to me by the counter.

“I guess you might have a hard time believing that this is not the first time?”

Her eyes grew wide. “Really?”

“Yea,” I laughed. “I made everyone breakfast in the Ordinary Realm one morning, and the twins washed the dishes.”

She hung her arm over my shoulder. “You are going to be a wondrous Luna.” She smiled fondly down at me, and I returned it.

“Alright, mother,” Calder grumbled from behind us. “Cullen and I are not incapable of simple chores.”

“But we spoiled you so much, darling,” she teased. I peeked over my shoulder to see him rolling his eyes.

“We should probably take these over to Pip soon,” I said. “I’ll help you.”

“These are for Amanda? How sweet. You two can go along. I will finish cleaning up here,” Nicole gushed.

“Thank Goddess,” Calder murmured before dropping the sponge in the sink. I snickered at him. He came around me and grabbed up the plate before reaching to clasp my hand. “Thanks, Mom,” he said sweetly to her as he pulled me towards the exit. I waved to Nicole as she watched us leave. We left the kitchen, but before we made it to the front doors, we were stopped by someone with a small package.

“This is for Miss Anderson,” the boy said. Calder scowled at him as he held out the parcel to me. I took it in my free hand.

“Who is it from?” Calder questioned the messenger. He shrugged his shoulders and left us standing there.

I looked at the small parcel in my hand quizzically. “Should I open it?” I asked Calder. My eyes went up to him as he continued to scowl at the box. He wasn’t inspiring confidence in me. He dropped my hand, reaching over to take the small box from me. “Calder?”

He slipped the box into his pocket. “Later. Let’s go.” He grabbed my hand again, and we left the packhouse.

Carson

“You need to calm down!”

“No, I won’t calm down. The annoying brat you like to complain about saw us. How are you so sure she isn’t going to tell her mates or your father?” He slammed his locker door, shooting me a venomous look. Elias has been angry at me since yesterday when we ditched school and got caught in the packhouse library. He ignored my calls and text messages all night, and this was the first time I have been able to corner him at school.

“Remi just won’t!” I tried again. I was beginning to sound whiny. I didn’t know if I hated that more or him being mad at me.

“You have done nothing but talk about what a weak pushover she is but all of a sudden, you trust her to keep your secret? I am not getting kicked out of the pack for this,” he growled. Elias knew everything. He knew my father’s distaste for my preference and my imminent mating situation. I hadn’t even gotten to tell him about anything that happened at the Summit before all of this.

“You won’t get kicked out. I wouldn’t let that happen,” I tried to reassure him. Elias scoffed and tried to step around me. I blocked his path. “Remi is on my side. She promised to help get my brothers to stop it!”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Elias said. I could see the frustration and hurt in his face. “Move. You are going to make me late for class.”

“Not until you calm down and talk to me!” I demanded. My fists were clenched, and I was starting to shake with frustration. He wasn’t being fair. I held his gaze for a solid minute before his shoulders finally dropped fractionally.

“Fine,” he acquiesced. “After school but not at the packhouse.”

Pip

Buzz. Buzz. My phone keeps going off, but I am still not ready to talk to him. I curled up even further into my blankets. I missed the sound of my door opening and footsteps coming over to my bed. I was startled by my bed dipping next to me. I popped my head out of my blanket to see Remi lying on her side, facing me. She had a slight smile on her face.

“Rem?”

“I guess yesterday didn’t go so well?” she asked. I felt more tears starting to rim my eyes. I have been crying on and off since Zeus left yesterday. I shook my head a fraction. “I’m sorry.”

“He wants me to hear him out,” I whispered, not trusting my voice.

“Maybe you should,” she suggested.

“He said he would rather give up his title than give me up….”

“That sounds like he is serious….”

“He humiliated me….”

Remi’s hand came to cup my face. “I don’t think he meant to.” She let out a sigh. There was a soft knock at my now open door. I looked past Remi to see Calder standing there holding a plate and cup in his hands. “Calder helped me make you some cookies,” Remi said, smiling at me.

“You made me cookies?” I asked.

A small frown came across her face. “I may have needed a little distraction today,” she said, sitting up. She pulled me up with her. Calder came in and sat on the edge of the bed next to her. He handed me the plate stacked with gooey-looking cookies and a large glass of milk. I gave him a small smile.

“Thanks, Caldy,” I said.

“I’ll let you girls talk for a bit,” he said as he stood. He left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

My brain caught up to what Remi just said. “Wait, Rem, what’s going on?”

Her cheeks flushed a little pink. “I shift for the first time tomorrow,” she told me.

“On the full moon? Oh, that is so great!” I perked up a little. She was going to love shifting into her wolf. However, the look on Remi’s face told me she wasn’t as excited for herself as I was for her. “Isn’t it?”