I’m staring at these three women surely, they cannot be serious they are all looking at one another like they agree, I step towards the them not knowing exactly what I’m going to say.
"Artemis, you can’t be serious you’re going to accept the fact that you have to die. I’m sure when the moon goddess did what she did death was never the intended outcome"
I sit down on the bed with them looking for one of them to speak, Arti has a look of absolution when she talks.
"*Calder , you cannot understand our parents have warned me of this since the day I knew and if they were around they would have warned Cynthia and Selene too ,I have had years to think this over I never knew when it would be or how it might come to pass but this is it .*"
She stands up and the other two follow suit.
"*I think we need to tell Sigi and Ryan. Calder do you have a larger room we could move to* "
"I Have a place, but what are you going to tell them exactly that you love them but you’re going to die? "
I turn and look at Cynthia.
"*You just mated with Sigi after he helped you overcome the loss of your first mate, but you are so easy to leave him alone ... if you felt this way you should have left him alone* "
I fix my eyes on Selene and we stare at one another not breaking until her head drops to the floor. Turning towards the door I open it.
"I’ve linked Sigi he is with Ryan and they are on here way, we will go to my office " I don’t look back or say another word. I won’t lose Selene to this idiocy I will lock her away from this impending fight if I have too.
When we reach the room Sigi and Ryan are already there they take a seat next to their mates leaving me and Selene to sit next to one another. As we sit in an awkward silence Sigi gives me the what’s going on look, but I won’t explain this to him I’ll leave that to his mate.
Finally, Artemis speaks taking Ryan’s hand in hers as she does. She begins to explain their theory and Ryan seems to be fine with it like he already knew what was happening. Great so this guy is nuts too.
After thirty minutes of Arti and Cynth talking Selene yet to say a word , I look over at Sigurd and I can see the rage in his eyes it’s the same rage I saw every day after his parents died , I don’t know what’s going to happen next but I know it’s not going to be good .
When it’s all said and done Artemis looks around the room as if she is waiting for someone to ask questions. Sigi says nothing pushing his chair out and leaves the table I hear his heart beating as he walks past my chair, I get up and follow suit when a small hand grabs mine and pulls me back.
"*Please Calder let me, I have to explain*” I step aside letting Cynthia pass.
Soon enough Ryan and Arti leave too and it’s just me and Selene sat next to one another in stagnant Silence.
**Selene's POV**
Arti linked me as she was leaving the room , she told me I have to talk to Calder and try to make him understand , the reality however is that I’m not sure I understand I don’t want to die but I don’t want anyone else to die .
Now it’s just me and him sitting beside one another no sounds other than our breathing and my own rapid heartbeat trying to escape from my chest.
I turn to him his eyes focused firmly in front of him fingers interlocked and, on the table, not even acknowledging I’m there.
"Calder "
I wait for him to look at me, but he does nothing.
"Calder I’m ... im sorry i ran away "
This seems to get his attention, he turns his head to look at me those ice blue eyes piercing me like daggers.
"*Selene, you don’t need to apologize some of what I said was out of line, I should be doing that you cant want this , you can't just agree that your going to die * "
He goes to pull his chair away but, in the moment, I can’t bear to be away from him I reach out and grab his hand.
"Calder please wait “I feel the heat between us rise and travel throughout touching skin. He stops moving and sits back down and I reluctantly pull my hand away instantly missing that contact.
He looks at me again staring intently this time a look of both coldness and lust twinkling. Trying not to let this throw me off I manage to form some words.
This is it I can admit to him that I don’t want the destiny my sisters have accepted and that I want my freedom to choose or I can lie and say that I’m down with the idea of dying , it’s not often I disagree with Arti and Cynth but I want a life .
Before I know it I’m crying the build-up of emotions overpowering me then I feel that heat again as I’m scooped into Calder’s arms and I’m sobbing against his chest while he rubs my back and places tiny kisses on the top of my head .
"*Selene what’s the matter why are you crying*?" I try again to talk but its incoherent mumbles.
He tilts my face up to meet his own wiping the tears off my cheeks so much concern in his eyes and its then I know , I’ve been pushing him away because of what I’ve heard him do what I thought he would be like but I didn’t even take the time to know him, only stolen kisses from a bond we cannot control.
"Calder. I’m not ready to die. I don’t think Arti and Cynth are right " I take short sharp intakes of breath trying to maintain composure. He runs his hands through his black shiny hair.
"*You mean you don’t think this will end with you dying* " His expression is one of concern and longing.
"No Calder, I don’t think that we are Destined to die at the end of all of this, I think there must be another solution another reasoning. Why would the goddess give my parents children only to snatch them away again it doesn’t seem right “?
He studies me taking in what I’ve just said and then his lips crash into mine at first, I’m shocked and then its natural all over again the kiss softens and it’s like we’ve been doing this forever.
His nips my bottom lip with his teeth willing me to let him in and I do, wrapping my arms around his neck and moving to straddle him as I do. I want so much to give into him completely, but I need to work out what I’m going to do first.
I pull away from his lips and a small growl escapes from his mouth I try to pull my body away, but he has a firm hold on me.
"*Selene* "His voice is soft and seductive. "*Selene, please don’t pull away from me again I want you*”
I want you. those words send shivers up my spine.
"I want you too, but I can’t " he frowns at me, wanting to clarify I continue.
"I don’t mean I can’t, I mean I can’t right now. I need to work out what I’m going to do " I rest my forehead on his and close my eyes.
"*You don’t have to die, we can find another way to beat Arlo and I will help you with your sisters* "
This guy he surprises and scares me at every turn he sure keeps me on my toes.
"I want to show them first I need to find some kind of evidence that we can do this without it ending in death .Artemis will have us training like mad and I know she wants me to practice my powers and theirs too so I’m going to have to do this in secret "
He nods in agreement then it clicks, our old house when our parents died, we moved into the pack house, but all their stuff is still there. Pushing myself of off Calder's lap I pace the room trying to formulate plan.
I need to go through my mum and dads things I know them they must have information on my mother’s pack but it won’t be easy to find , more to the point I don’t even know if my parents’ house is standing after the attack . More to the point I don’t even know what it is I’m looking for deep down though I know that I’ll find it when I see it.
I’m racking my brains for where they might have put something, they wouldn't want anyone to find.
I stop feeling his eyes on me.
"Calder. I need to go back home "