Chapter 164 The Masked Man
Kristen's POV
Two weeks later.
The field has over a thousand people from the Greyhound pack and other neighboring packs who are here for the Greyhound pack run. Something which has been anticipated for a very long time because this time, things are a bit different. Calhoun will ask the winner to demand whatever he or she wants and it will be given.
Contestants from other packs are also allowed to partake in the Greyhound run, although it was prohibited before, but this time it's different because everyone is allowed to participate as long as they're above twenty-one years of age.
The exact age I was when I participated in the pack run and won.
It's almost like yesterday because at that time, Mom was still married to Calhoun and I just figured Calhoun was my mate. We had sex in the rain on the previous night and possibly, Mom didn't know what wasn't
happening at that time.
So much happened during that time. Calhoun was torn between rejecting me to stay married to my mom or divorcing my mom to remain mated to
me.
A small sigh comes from me as I push these thoughts out of my mind and fumble with my hands.
As Luna of the Greyhound pack, I am dressed to perfection, and seated next to Calhoun who's in his power seat.
Since the whole incident with
Theodore Fitzgerald, Calhoun has been a bit distant from me. He hasn't even
come to my room to touch me. Although he's swamped with work and his responsibilities as Alpha, I can sense there's a slight change in his behavior.
Perhaps he sensed that I lied to him that night when he barged into my room and confronted me about Theodore. I haven't hated myself as much as I did that night, because I was in denial even though I was trying to save our marriage and what we had.
My lies kept eating me up until this very day because it's something I've never done before. Deceiving the man who loves me with his whole heart. A man who went against all odds just to be with me. He even left my mom for my sake. And then this whole thing with Theodore came up, destabilizing our relationship which was near perfection.
As usual, people are excited about today's pack run because there's always an after-party until dawn.
My head quickly fastens to Calhoun when I hear a short laugh coming from him. Only to find out Bruce is talking to him, and he seems amused.
This makes my stomach churn because Calhoun doesn't even look at me to see my eyes on him.
Is he deliberately ignoring me so I will yearn for him and then approach him out of desperation? Or he's just keeping a little distance because he doesn't want to add baby number 2 to Aiden?
"Who's the contestant in the mask? He
looks got a body to kill for!" A girl
squeals from the crowd and immediately, I can feel goosebumps rising in my every single pore.
"Is he insecure? We've never had any
masked man participate in the pack run with a mask."
"He looks strange though, like he's not
a member of this pack or comes from any neighboring pack." "Something isn't right about him."
The murmur within the crowd was increasing.
And I am still as shocked as hell
because even if anyone else cannot recognize him, I do. In spite of the freaking mask.
Is he out of his mind?
I thought he's gone for good and will
never return.
What in the world is he doing here and
why is he one of the contestants for the pack run?
All the calmness within me leaves my
body when Theodore steps forward to join the remaining contestants who are lining up. And the crowd erupts more peals of excitement because his body looks better than the rest of the contestants.
Large, lean build.
And Calhoun cannot recognize him
because he's hiding his face with that
creepy mask, no one else no who he is. Even his blind sister, Darcy cannot perceive him because they're far apart.
But I can.
Because he's my mate.
I gulp unsteadily as I fix my gaze on him, wondering why in the hell he chose to join this pack run. Dread runs
through me when I recall how beastly and huge his wolf is. And if he shifts during this pack run, people will be scared of it.
Although he seems to have gained a
few more pounds, his build is evident
that he trained a lot within the past two weeks he was away. Unlike the last time, I clasped my eyes on him.
Of all the timing in the world, why would Theodore participate in the pack run? Does he have something in mind
to do? Because it's obvious he's not here for nothing.
And what if he wins the pack run by
mistake? What will he demand of Calhoun?
And will he take his mask off for Calhoun to see his face?
The thoughts racing through my mind
are enough to make my breathing get sharp. And when Aiden starts being fussy in the arms of Cynthia, I give the girl a wordless order to keep rocking him, because I am not in the right state of mind to attend to him.
And I can notice the masked man
staring around as if in search of something.
Eventually, his focus rests on me. And I stiffen in my spot.
"Are you okay?" Calhoun's deep voice swiftly pulls my attention to him. Only for me to find him watching me intently.
His blue eyes are readless this time. I
can't even tell what he's thinking, but what I am aware of, is the fact that he
doesn't know Theodore is right here, else he wouldn't look so comfortable.
"I'm fine," I lie to Calhoun. And
suddenly, Sapphire's voice rings in my
head.
Once you lie, there's no going back.
You keep telling lies until you become
a professional.
She told me this exactly two weeks ago.
Calhoun slides my hand in his and caresses me, but it rather leaves me tense instead of giving me comfort. Because I know Theodore is staring at me through his stupid mask. Slowly, I release my hand from Calhoun's hold, because it's making
knots form in my stomach. And I don't look to see his stare.
Why did you come back? I would have shouted this at freaking Theodore, but I can't. I just pray he loses this pack run, so he won't have to confront Calhoun one-on-one. I want Theodore to leave in shame, so he will know better than to return next time. Except
to pick up his blind sister whom he abandoned for Calhoun to cater for. I try to get a grip of myself when the
drummers begin slamming their drums.
And silence falls as some beautiful
girls are asked to come forth. They're to attend to each contestant by putting on their number tags around their
neck. Since the run has less than fifteen minutes to begin. I toss uncomfortably in my seat when
the girl in front of Theodore takes a
step forward to fill the gap between them.
But Theodore does the unexpected, by
snatching his number tag from the girl and sidestepping her. People are already baffled by this
behavior because such a thing hasn't
happened before.
And I can't help but hold my breath when Theodore starts heading in my direction with his number tag. Looking completely unafraid even as Calhoun's men were stepping forward to guard
us, as if sensing he's up to something. "Alpha Calhoun," Theodore speaks up for the first time, whilst connecting his gray eyes with mine.
At this point, I am so scared of what Theodore will say. If he'll announce to the crowd that I am his mate. I dig my finger into my palm, to the
extent that I almost sustain a bruise.
"There's something I'll like to ask of you," Theodore continues, and this
time he tears his gaze away from mine just to put it on Calhoun.
And there's silence as Calhoun raises
his fisted hand to his mouth and looks at the masked man in front of him.
"Yes?" Calhoun replied at last, "Go
ahead."
"I'd like the Luna to put the number
tag on me. It will bring more than
enough good luck to me." Theodore
drops this.
And I can feel my heart taking a leap in my chest.
To say Calhoun is shocked is an understatement. Because he's never had anyone make such a demand
before.
Right now, I want the ground to open
up and consume me. To save me from
this disaster that is about to take over
and
be the order of the day. Why is Theodore doing this? It's just
too much. He's not even afraid of
Calhoun at all. Perhaps because his wolf is larger, dark, and beastly.
I want so much for Calhoun to tell him
off, in fact, to have him disqualified
for making such a demand.
But Calhoun is still silently observing
Theodore. His hand is still on his mouth.
And the crowd is waiting for his
response. Not a single sound is made.
Calhoun is sensitive.
Can it be that he now recognizes who
the masked man is?
He seems to be so cool and relaxed. If
he's upset, he doesn't even show it.
And this just makes him even more
dangerous than normal. Because the expression on his face is devoid of
emotions.
Why is Calhoun taking so much time to respond? He can just order his men to
kick the masked man out. Why does it seem like he's still contemplating whether to say a yes or no?
"Alpha Calhoun, I am still waiting for your response," Theodore speaks up once more, looking seemingly bold and
challenging.
"Fine, she'll do it," Calhoun responds
at last, and gives him a curt nod.
Something which throws me completely off guard because I wasn't
expecting him to concur with Theodore's demand.
Turning to me, Calhoun continues,
Go ahead and help him, Kristen," before shifting his attention back to
the challenging
masked man, whom
he's yet to know his real identity.