Chapter 128 Chapter 128
She didn’t want to talk about any of it in front of the others. They may not be standing right beside them, but she knew they could hear every word. Grabbing his hand, she walked down the hall to her room and went in. Only to stop suddenly and look around. She’d forgotten she’d all but torn the place apart, and hadn’t been back since. There were books and papers from her shelves all over the place, the wooden shelves were broken and tossed in a heap on the floor, her mattress was half off the bed, and clothes were strewn all over the room.
“Maid’s day off?” He asked over the top of her head.
Turning, she gave him a blank look. “I forgot I had a… moment.”
“I’ve had moments before.” He stepped into the room and looked around. “You have a violent streak at times.” His eyes were sparkling with humor.
“I do?” She looked at him, her eyebrows up. She wasn’t the one going to fight Leroy.
Calum nodded and waved his hand around motioning to the mess, “this and you’ve hit me, twice.”
She felt some tension drain out of her, “that was not hitting you.” The offended look on his face made her smile, “that was getting your attention.”
“You always have my attention.” Shaking his head, he looked at the books all over the floor. “You read all of these?”
Moving over, she knelt and started picking them up and closing them. “Yes, and every book in the village, twice.” She shrugged, “I almost lived at the library while I was at school.”
“Mmm,” he squatted down and picked up one of them and looked at it. “Environmental Science?” He glanced back at her before adding it to the pile. “I thought you studied medicine?”
Nodding, she pushed the stack toward the wall and started another one. “I did, do.” She shrugged, “I’ll read anything with words really.”
Adding a few more to the pile, he stopped and looked at her. “I think, my beautiful mate, you are entirely too smart for me.”
She shook her head, “I don’t think so.” She looked him over slowly. “I think you hide intelligence behind the brawn, so people don’t see it.”
He smirked, “Is that so?”
“It is.” She moved the books over beside the other stack and looked around. “I really made a mess in here.”
Chuckling, he sat down. “You had every right to have a moment.” Reaching out, he played with a lock of her hair on her shoulder.
“I just… there were so many lies.” She sighed softly, “Then there’s all this… everything I don’t know anything about.” Shrugging, she watched his face, noting again that she had his full attention. “I don’t like not understanding, or knowing, about something.”
His eyes looked around at the papers and books still scattered on the floor with them. “You don’t say.”
“I don’t know anything about being a shifter. Is there a book…”
He chuckled, “I don’t know. Maybe somewhere there’s something with information.” He shrugged, “you would have to ask Devin or his father, the alliance may have rooms full of books for all I know.”
“I hope so.”
Rubbing his hand over his forehead, he stopped and looked at her. “I can see you reading each one if there is.”
“At least twice,” she said widening her eyes at him, teasing him.
“I can answer some questions if you have anything nagging at you right now.” He watched her face while she thought.
She couldn’t believe they were sitting here talking like this when in a few hours… everything was going to change. He was so calm. Inhaling a sharp breath, she remembered. “I do have one question.” She shook her head, “I can’t believe I don’t know it…”
“What is it?” He eyes searched her face.
Biting her lip, she felt her cheeks flush, “I don’t even know your last name.”
Smirking, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Mmm, yeah the moment for proper introductions was skipped right over wasn’t it?” He looked back at her. “I didn’t know yours until you introduced your mother a few minutes ago.”
Her face flushed, she covered it with both hands. “I still can’t believe how we met,” Dropping her hands, she gave him a stunned look, “How could we ever explain to anyone how we met?” She giggled, “Well, he was chained to the wall…”
He reached out and grabbed her, making her shriek, and pulled her into his lap. “We won’t be sharing that with just anyone.”
His smile told her he wasn’t upset. She chuckled again. “So, do you have a last name? Or are you just The Calum that wild bears even run from?”
“You heard that, huh?” Hugging her tight, he laughed quietly. “I have a last name and some stories from when I was younger that are never going to go away.”
“Who do I talk to so I can hear them.”
“No one, ever.” He sobered. “Dante. Calum Dante.”
She paused and wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into those deep green eyes. “Calum Dante,” she said softly. “So, with mates do they use the same last name?”
He was watching her mouth as she spoke. “They can. We have actual ceremonies as well. Mates get married like other people do. We have to live in the normal world like everyone else, with all the associated paperwork.”
Biting her lip, she thought about that for a moment. “Shaelan Dante,” she said softly trying it out. “I like it.”
“I like all of it.” He said, leaning closer to her mouth. “The brains, beauty, even the violent moments,” he kissed her softly, pulling her tight against him.
Shae leaned into his kiss, craving the taste of him, almost needing it.
“Shae…Oh.” Kelsey stood in the doorway, looking shocked as she surveyed the room.
“She had a moment,” Calum said.
“I would say so.” She smiled at them. “Nona made some food, says Shae’s Calum needs to keep his strength up.” Kelsey smirked at Calum.
Shaelan nodded. “That’s a good idea.” She glanced at the clock on her wall. “Only four hours until dawn.” Exchanging looks with Kelsey, who silently acknowledged the fear and anxiety of what was to happen. She could feel his reluctance as Calum stood, bringing her to her feet as she did.
“I’d just like ten damn minutes alone with my mate.” He grumbled quietly.
Kelsey grinned, “Poor man.” She gave him a serious look. “After things are… resolved, tomorrow, you can hide with your mate in your cabin for weeks.”
“I plan on it.”
Kelsey turned and went back out.
He sighed and took her hand and starting walking out.
“You are?” They walked slow, in no hurry to go eat. She wasn’t even sure if she could eat.
He nodded, “Yeah, it’s small, I’m still working on it. It has power, satellite, and internet though, so it’s not as rustic as it looks. I finished the hot tub…”
She tugged on his hand. “Don’t tell Aunt Marilyn it has a hot tub or she’ll be visiting. She’s been wanting one for years.”
He stopped abruptly and looked down at her, a serious expression on his face. “Will you come there with me? I know you have responsibilities here and…”
She put her hand over his mouth. “Yes. I think it’s a good idea, to get to know each other and then we’ll decide where we live, maybe both places part-time?”
Kissing her quickly he nodded, and pulled her close against him again. “We can do that.”
Winding her arms around his neck, she gave him a soft smile. “The internet is like an endless book...”
Frowning, he studied her. “So, you’re coming to use my internet?”
She bit her lip and tried not to smile. “Of course.”
There was quiet snickering behind him, she looked around him so see the others watching them, trying not to laugh.
Calum growled playfully, “We’ll finish this discussion later.”
“Oh, I don’t know, Cal, I think the internet is what has her interest.” Gage said smirking.
Shae went to the table and sat down, while watching the interaction between the men. It was clear they had been friends a long time.
Devin laughed, “Maybe the hot tub was a good draw too.”
Jake grabbed his sides, laughing so hard at the expression on Calum’s face.
“Hot tub?” Aunt Marilyn came out of the kitchen carrying a tray of sandwiches. “Who has a hot tub.” She set the tray down and stood with her hands on her hips.
Calum lifted his lip at his friends in a fake snarl. “Marilyn, I will build you your own private hot tub, if you keep these clowns out of my face.”
Aunt Marilyn looked at him for a moment, then looked Devin and Gage up and down. “Nona, grab the fork.”
Raising their hands, Devin and Gage backed up, big grins on their faces. “We’ll behave.” Gage said trying not to laugh.
She gave them a quick nod then sat down and looked at Calum. “I want one big enough for friends.” She motioned to Nona, “we could have parties in my hot tub.”
Nona laughed and sat down, motioning for the others to help themselves.
Shaelan sat there, her hands in her lap smiling, trying not to think that it all could change in a few hours. Her chair suddenly slid as Calum pulled her closer to him.
“Don’t dwell on it,” he said next to her ear.