I listened to Radley leave the room without another word. My insides twisted with a mix of glee and apprehension, the former emotion belonging to my wolf who was making me seriously consider calling her practical.
The apprehension I was feeling came from the fact that Callan had just openly declared he wouldn't be leaving without me, despite Radley thinking of me as someone greatly beneath them. It made me wonder about the level of classism that existed in the Black Tide Pack.
I knew this was my brain yet again sinking into its typical overthinking habit, so much so that when Callan spoke, his words jolted me.
“You can come out now, Sophia,”
My shock caused a jerking movement from me that propelled me upward, causing me to slam my head against the wooden frame of the bed. I let out a silent scream, swallowing back my cries before I remembered Callan knew I was here. Of course, he knew. I had been too preoccupied with Radley and the conversation I shouldn’t have even been listening to that I had forgotten that in the same way I had complete awareness of Callan’s presence, so did he of mine.
I could feel my cheeks heat up from skin-searing mortification as I crawled out of my spot underneath the bed, and when I was fully outside it, my eyes met Callan’s outstretched hands. I looked up to see he was looking down at me, his eyes dancing with controlled mirth. Holding on to the last shred of pride I had left, I ignored his hand and managed to get up on my own, despite the dizzying headache I was feeling. I took a step or several away from Callan.
“I didn't mean to listen,” I said, looking down at my feet.
It was one thing to be caught snooping; it was another to be caught snooping in the same room of the person you had told off.
I was going to kill Leah.
'Right, let’s put the blame on Leah,' my wolf said snidely. Sometimes, I really wished I could shut her out for a long time. Today was undoubtedly one of those times.
Callan’s humor was obvious from his voice. “Is that so? By catching you hidden under my bed, I could've sworn listening is just what you had meant to do.”
My head snapped up sharply to meet his gaze. “I came to talk to you about something,” I sputtered, attempting to play at being offended he would even suggest I came into his room just to eavesdrop.
He raised a brow at me in disbelief before walking away and setting himself on the sofa, and somehow, that caught my attention more than it should. His legs were slightly wide open with his toes angled forward, one of his arms nonchalantly thrown over the armrest as he watched me.
Was it possible for a man’s sitting position to be this attractive? I was losing my mind. That was the only explanation for this whole thing.
“Come, Sophia, let's get talking then,” he said, still maintaining that same tone that told me he was enjoying himself immensely.
I fought the urge to massage the back of my head that I had banged. I was certain to wake up with a bruise tomorrow.
Why did he have to startle me like that?
“I’m fine standing,” I mumbled stubbornly, the rage I had felt at his earlier companion's words returning.
“That man, Radley…”
“Come here.”
Both of our words came out at the same time, and I paused, watching him with what I knew were wide eyes.
“Come here,” he repeated in that self-assured manner I had come to associate him with.
I would have liked to not do as I was told, but not when he had said it in that voice, the one that sent a burn rolling down my throat.
No two words had ever sounded so striking before, so I discarded the last bits of the pride I’d held on to and walked up to him. I sank to the seat opposite him and tried to force a nonchalant demeanor as he had but even I knew I was failing awfully.
It must be why the humor in his expression seemed to have strengthened Silence lingered in the air, and I could tell Callan was having inner turmoil, so I let the silence sit longer until finally, he spoke up.
“I apologize for what Radley said about you. It was uncalled for.”
And just like that, I was brought back to my senses, getting a hold of myself and remembering my position.
“There is no need to apologize, Callan. He told the truth.” I was glad that this time my voice came out steadied and held nothing of the pain I was feeling.
Opportunistic and dirt-poor.
Sham.
Slowly, my anger for Radley began to dissipate. The elites had a general view about us lower-class and that was we were at the bottom of the hierarchy and were so desperate for recognition and better living, we were willing to do anything for a couple of shillings and a taste of power the elites held.
The idea was disgusting, but as I sat here opposite the Alpha of the Black Tide Pack, a man who could easily be the most powerful one I would ever meet in my life, I couldn't be certain he didn't see me in the same way, but yet again, his words returned to me:
“We won't be leaving here until Sophia agrees to come with us.”
I tried to not have my heart leap up at the memory and my stomach stir in the tiniest amount of ecstasy, but they both did, and like a fool, a small smile formed on my lips, and I had to look down at my hands folded on my thighs to avoid Callan catching it, but he did.
I heard him stand up, and I focused on counting his steps until he reached me.
Seven.
He crouched before me and placed a finger on my jaw, compelling me to look up at him, and I did. My eyes locked on his, and I could read them as vividly as the smell of sandalwood that swirled around us both the emotions reflected in his eyes—affection.
“You are neither of the things Radley said. We both know this, and no one is going to make me think otherwise about you.” His eyes searched mine for what I had no idea of, so I tried to maintain steady eye contact with him, but it was hard because I had unfortunately forgotten how to breathe properly.
His jaw clenched with contained emotions. “And the goddess knows I've struggled, but I really can't, Sophia. I really can't imagine leaving you here to settle a treaty with someone like Alexander. You are young, and you should be able to lead a better life than the stifled, abused one you've been subjected to for eternity.”
Tears pooled in my eyes, and I swallowed, refusing to let them fall, but a lone one escaped, running down my cheek.
Callan continued, “You have no idea how much I wish I could do right by you as you deserve, but since that is beyond me, would you instead permit me to take you away from here? Would you come with me back to my pack?”
How could I refuse a man who uttered those words with such sincerity in his voice? One who looked at me with more affection than I had ever been offered in all my twenty-two years?
And so I nodded, knowing that if I tried as much as to say a word, the emotional mess my insides were would leave me a bumbling embarrassment.