Chapter 193 Nana Joyce Speaks Her Mind
Calhoun's POV
"My wife needs help and it's just frustrating that cannot do anything about it. That's why I gathered you all tonight," I address the people who are seated at the high table.
Nana Joyce, Bruce, Elder Festus, and three other important people in my pack.
"This explains why she's gone into hiding?" My beta inquires, although he's aware of what's happening, but not fully since I didn't make it known to him that Kristen was being haunted by the ghost of her second
mate.
"She claims to see Theodore's ghost everywhere. On my face or anyone's face each time...something happened two nights ago, we were happy, getting all cozy, but suddenly she backed away from me in fear and stared at me like I was a monster," I explain and then harden my jaw from the quick thought of this.
Nana Joyce, Bruce, and the rest of the people are listening intently. But I still notice the frown on my grandmother's face.
"She claimed I wasn't real and that she killed me, called me Theodore thrice, and ran away in the rain, barefooted when I tried to stop her," I add
Elder Festus, alarmed, asked, "Are you saying she's not stable mentally?"
"No, my wife is suffering and it's not something mentally. She does see Theodore's ghost and it keeps haunting her. She's been having nightmares before it all happened," I pause to take a sigh upon
remembering how she paid deaf ears to my pleas yesterday and turned me away.
"She cannot nurse Aiden, or carry out Luna's duties. She kept herself locked in from the entire world because according to her, when she sees her dead mate's ghost, she gets violent, and she might hurt someone," it's taking everything within me to make this known to them because it's just to disclose such things about my wife.
Elder Festus's brow twitches in curiosity, "A curse, perhaps?"
"I can't tell, but it's real. She's in despair," I put my fisted hands against the table and scan through their faces.
Nana Joyce is yet to utter a word, but the frown is still marring her face, making me wonder what she has in mind.
"Only on rare occasions do people murder their mates. And possibly Theodore's spirit is restless, that's why it keeps tormenting her," Someone else says this.
And I nod because it makes sense.
"I think this is a sign," Nana Joyce speaks up for the first time since her arrival.
Blinking, I shift my attention to her, "what sign?"
"For you to let her go?" She continues with a stern expression as she puts her intertwined fingers on top of the table.
"I beg your pardon?" My eyes are already narrowed in their sockets.
"Since you've met Kristen, it's been one problem after the other. First with her mother, abduction from the Rogue Psycho, and then her estranged father who ended up getting murdered by Natalie. Natalie thrown into jail for wanting to kill Kristen," Nana Joyce slams her fist against the table before continuing.
"Kristen having a second mate while she's still mated to you. Her mate tried to kill you and then took off with her. She killed him, drove his dead body back here to reconcile with you, and now this? She's going insane from her so-called mate's ghost, and now she's shutting herself from everyone?" She concludes and glares at me icily.
And I can feel my anger riling up because I didn't expect this from my own grandmother.
"Maybe you shouldn't talk like that, Grandmother. Kristen is my wife, my mate, mother of Aiden, Luna of this pack, and your granddaughter-in-law,"
"To hell with that, Calhoun..." Nana Joyce's nostril
flares in anger as she rises to her feet, "Your father was about your age when he was murdered, and now, I can't afford to lose you."
"You're going out of line, grandmother. Kristen needs ..." I am trying to make her understand the situation, although she's pissing me off, but she still interrupts
me.
"Enough about Kristen!" She growls.
"Can't you see how you're heading for your doom because of her? Nothing seems to be working," Nana
Joyce continues.
"Stop," there's still respect in my tone.
"You will listen to me, Calhoun," and her expression
on me is steadfast and unwavering, leaving everyone else dumbstruck.
"Maybe I never should have invited you here in the first place," I bite out, not caring if this will seem
offensive to her.
"Don't talk to your grandmother like that, Calhoun.
As much as I don't want to agree with her, I can't help but notice that she's making sense," Bruce speaks up, torn in between picking sides with me and my
grandmother.
"That's bullshit!" I growl.
"Don't be so blinded by your love for the woman-
child, she's going to be the end of you," Nana Joyce
voices out.
And for a moment, I am at a loss for words.
To think she resents Kristen this much... "How long have you had this in mind?" My voice isn't
raised high when I confront my grandmother. "Since I suspected her of cheating on you," Nana
Joyce blurts out, the anger on her face never wearing
out.
"Good, now keep your opinions about my wife to yourself. Nothing you can say or do will change my feelings for her," I say dismissively.
"You're not more than a fool," Nana Joyce insults
with a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
I choose to stay silent at this, clenching and unclenching my fists.
"Have you forgotten how I raised you? I made you the
man you are today, you ought to listen to me because
I see far ahead of you. I know better than you," Nana
Joyce yells at me from across the table.
"Enough!" I thunder.
A deafening silence takes over the atmosphere that is
full of tension, and I can see my grandmother seething in rage, her chest rising and falling along with her, as she breathes heavily.
I thought she liked Kristen as her granddaughter-in- law, little did I know she has harbored so many things in mind against my wife.
"I will take my leave, but don't say I didn't warn you,
"Nana Joyce stares at me coldly, and there's silence
as she walks out of the hall, without bothering to cast one last glance in my way.
But I don't even care, I'd rather she leaves than to remain here and infuriate me.
"Calhoun, she's only your grandmother. She might
say a lot of mean things about Kristen but deep down, she's scared of losing you," Bruce tells me.
"I don't care, dammit. No one gets to say anything about Kristen."
"You're right, she might have gone too far," this is from Elder Festus, and it makes me a tad relieved that someone else thinks she was way over the edge while expressing her concern and displeasure.
I suck in a deep breath to keep my temper in check.
One moment we were discussing how to help Kristen
and the next, my grandmother is expressing her displeasure about Kristen.
It's so upsetting that she thinks she can talk me out of being with my wife, when in fact, Kristen needs me the most now.