Chapter 50 Stay
Kristen's POV
When Ciara slapped me and ruined my dress with wine, he didn't stare at her with contempt, but when I fought back to defend myself, he looked at me with contempt because my wolf bit her.
It hurt when I was bashed with insults and accusations. The way they stared at me like a slut, the disgust in their eyes, mostly from Ben who I was trying to be caring for.
But then Calhoun came to my rescue and I've never felt so grateful before. Because I wasn't expecting him to stand up for me like that when everyone saw me as the bad guy.
The way he told the truth without leaving anything, proudly agreed that we fucked, and then added that we were mates.
He was like my hero at that point, because everyone else was quick enough to judge me and throw insults in my way.
The look on Mom's face was as if Calhoun pressed a knife to her heart. She thought we only had an affair, she didn't know we were already mates before their marriage, until today.
She never would have learned the truth if she hadn't blatantly announced to everyone that Calhoun was sleeping with me, nor did she see what was about to hit her in the face.
People were shocked at the way Calhoun addressed them, they feared him because of the position he held, he was even more powerful than Alpha Gregory and Ben wasn't even close to him in terms of power and wealth, so he shut his mouth the whole time Calhoun spoke with an authoritative voice.
He is different now, isn't the man who didn't want to hurt Mom's feelings for my sake, instead it was the other way. He felt confident enough to spill the beans without even shaking. And if I hadn't fallen for him before, I would have fallen for him there and then. The way he defended me made me feel like I mattered.
I don't feel as bad as I did before, because Calhoun came to my aid, otherwise I don't know what would've become of me, with everyone, mostly Ben being so judgy.
Ben's behavior showed how fast people can change, and hate you within a few months. But Calhoun saved me from all the hate, they are all aware that I am his mate now.
The burden resting on my shoulders has been uplifted since the cat is finally out of the bag.
To think how much suffering I went through with the guilt raging inside of me, now all those feelings wore out.
Everyone knows Calhoun and I fucked.
And Everyone knows we're mates.
From the beginning, I was supposed to be his stepdaughter, but it was impossible because of the moon goddess.
Calhoun doesn't take me to my apartment at school, instead, he drives through another route and pulls up in front of his hotel. I've never been here before, but I'm thankful he didn't take me to my apartment. Who knows if Mom might have gone there, looking for me?
"You should stay here tonight, I'll make sure everything is under control by tomorrow. No one will speak I'll of you anymore." Calhoun looks at me with concern. His hand leaves the steering wheel and he settles it on mine.
"I'm sorry you went through all of that, it won't happen again," he adds, caressing my hand in his.
"Okay," I am agreeing to
everything he's saying right now. Ever since he stood up for me, my respect for him tripled.
He honks and the security opens the gates, while Calhoun drives in and stops at the garage.
Inside, he asks the receptionist to phone his manager, who hurriedly showed up and took us to a superior room.
Calhoun ensured no one was on the top floor, he wanted me to stay there alone while he had some men guarding all the wings on that floor, because he didn't want anyone to be of any inconvenience to me.
I make my way into the bathroom to wash up, and fresh clothes are already waiting for me when I come out.
Calhoun requested them while I was in the shower.
"Dress up," he says with his back to me.
This is new, he's never behaved like this before, turning away so I can change up.
He seems different from the man who could barely keep his hands off me when we were together.
"Are you being serious right now?" My eyes are lowered in their sockets when I ask him this.
"Of course, I don't want you to feel weird. Just dress up so I can turn around." He responds.
We're mates again and even our bond is stronger this time, but he's hiding his gaze from me.
Quickly, I slip into the sweats and settle on the bed.
There's an uncomfortable silence hanging in the air.
Calhoun finally turns away from the wall and looks at me. I wonder what he was thinking the whole time I changed.
It's strange to have him act this way with me, it's as if we haven't seen our bare bodies before, or joined our bodies together.
Is he trying to be more decent and considerate now?
Heh! It's just hysterical because I'm not even used to this him.
"I should go, I don't want to be of any inconvenience. If you need anything, just ring them and they'll attend to you." Calhoun says the last thing I was expecting to hear from him.
"You want to leave me out here alone?" Loneliness overwhelms me when I ask him this question.
Calhoun nods and massages his temple.
And then it dawns on me that I don't want him to go.
"You're safe. I'll be back first thing tomorrow morning," he says but I don't even want him in the morning, I want him to stay here overnight.
"Trust you'll be okay by yourself?" He inquires.
"Why?" I surprised myself by asking this.
"Somethings require my attention," Calhoun tries to explain.
My lips stretch forward in a pout as I look away from him.
It feels like a childish thing to do, I've never been this way with him before.
And I can't understand why I feel this way when he's a very busy man. Can it be that I'm starting to be selfish with him, just because he marked me to be his again? Or is it my wolf?
"You don't want me to go?" Calhoun asks in a calm tone.
"I never said that," I deny and it's not an honest response.
"It's written all over your face," Calhoun points out with a short laugh.
His laughter is pleasing to my ears. I never paid attention to it before but now that I do, I like the sound of it.
Thinking about how he'll leave me just ruins my mood.
I turn my back to him, hating myself for being so vulnerable and needy in front of him.
Shouldn't I be bold or something? And not this girl whose emotions are visible enough to be seen on the face.
"What's going on in that little mind of yours, Kristen?" He asks.
"Nothing, just go away, Alpha Calhoun," I say stubbornly.
I shudder when Calhoun hugs me from behind, burying his face in the crook of my neck.
Having this huge man act this sweet with me stirs up floating bubbles in my chest.
"If you want me to stay, just say it," he breathes out.
"I can manage fine on my own, you don't need to stay," outside I'm persistent but inside, I'm dying for him to stay. His scent alone is comforting and homely.
"Things can wait," he's quick enough to interject.
"No, you shouldn't even hold me like this. It's wrong." I'm pretending as if I don't like it because I don't want him to think of me as clingy.
"I promise not to touch you if you don't want me to," Calhoun tells me quietly, and I can sense the honesty in his voice.
"Let me stay and make you feel safer, I figured you'll be lonely," he adds, trying to convince me. One moment he wanted to leave and now he's against it.
A small sigh leaves me because I can't argue with him anymore. He's so sweet.
Pulling his hands away from him, I turn to face him.
I want to say so much to him, yet I can't seem to find the right words to use, so I just keep my mouth shut instead, because I don't want to make a fool of myself.
Calhoun doesn't say anything, instead, he observes my face.
I wonder what he's thinking right now, but I'm aware it's all about me.
Standing on my toes, I give him a quick peck on the cheek.
This takes Calhoun by surprise, and his face immediately breaks into a huge grin.
It feels so good to be with him again, after one month of our separation.
What he did today covered up the rejection and when he sent me away.
Maybe it will take some time for me to forget but I don't want to hold onto it anymore.
"Why did you get that tattoo on your arm?" He holds my arm and lowers his eyes into a squint as he examines the tattoo on my
arm.
"Because I wanted to not be the old version of myself," I end it here and don't say anything else since I don't want him to know it was because I was trying to get my mind off him.
"Dye your hair, shave it bald, tattoo or not tattoo, you're still Kristen to me," Calhoun tucks my hair behind my ear, and stares
at me with affection.
A small smile spreads through my lips at this, I like what he just did. I've never had anyone been this way with me before. Calhoun has several ways of making me enjoy his company.
We stay together in bed and nothing else happens except seating next to each other.
A lot happened earlier, it'd be wrong to start having sex, even though we've been apart from each other for six weeks.
Calhoun doesn't make any move to touch me. He said our relationship before had too much of sex in it and he wants to make me feel special without getting intimate with me.
I like the fact that he cares about what I think and doesn't let his masculine urges come in the way. He doesn't want to make me feel uncomfortable, that's why he's like this.
It feels good to be with him like this, tonight is the first time I don't have guilt eating me up because Calhoun told everyone we're mates after making me to be his for the second time. And Mom has turned into this bitter person who enjoys me being in
pain.
Calhoun even moves away from the bed and sits on the couch. I don't bother to ask him why he did that because I can tell he's trying to control himself around me.
And now, everything which transpired at Layla's funeral doesn't affect me that much, it's almost like an imagination right now.
If it was before, the look on Mom's face would have haunted me but because she hates me so much and would not hesitate to hurt me if she's given the chance, I don't feel regretful over anything.
I can tell she's mad, screaming, smashing things up, and cursing loudly. But I don't even care anymore. She's my mother but that doesn't mean I'll let her hurt me anymore. I'm done handling her toxicity. And even if some people hate me for sleeping with Calhoun, they're free to.
And Ben, how quick he was to abuse me proves that he's no better than a jerk.
Calhoun is going to work with his tab, he has one airpod on his ear and he's talking, giving instructions.
I watch him until I drift into a surprisingly enjoyable sleep.