Chapter 54 At The Museum
Calhoun's POV
Kristen has a confused look on her face as she stares at the Scandinavian sculpture in front of her.
And I find it amusing because she doesn't even know I'm staring at her instead of the painting at my side. We're at the museum, and I can tell she's trying as much as she can to not whine even though she wasn't expecting me to bring her here.
She finally looks to meet my gaze, and I just scoff because I know she doesn't fancy the sculpture at all.
It's adorable to see her this way, she's twenty-one and not childish at all.
To think she fought someone just makes my respect rise for her because I never expected she could defend herself like that.
Kristen looks at me to see if I still have my eyes on her, and smiles a little because I haven't even looked away from her. My gaze has been fixed on her this whole time, and the act of hers is adorable.
I'm staring at her more than the statues and paintings in here.
She's flushing because of my obvious staring. And then she walks away, staring at the Sun god's statue, something which makes her gape her mouth in astonishment because it's beautiful.
Then she quickly looks at me as if she has something to say, before deciding against it because I pretend to have my eyes elsewhere.
Tucking my hands in my pants, I leave my side and near hers, to take a look at the Sun god's statue with her. She doesn't seem bored as she was the first time we arrived here. I can tell her interest is starting to kick in.
My mate is still staring at the statue in awe and I take this opportunity to admire the corner of her face. Wondering what's going on in that little mind of hers.
Kristen is beautiful in her own way, her oval face is round and delicate. I like the fact that it's free without makeup. She looks fresh-faced and younger like this.
She's still a young girl and still has a lot ahead of her, and I want to be with her, to see her grow.
Marking her to be mine for the second time is something I don't regret because I want to fix every damage that I have caused her.
I messed things up when I rejected and sent her away and now I have to make up for all the pain that I've caused her.
Kristen is recoiling and stepping backward when she misses a step, loses her balance, and falls, landing face flat on the floor. "Kristen, are you okay?" Fear makes me dash to her side.
"I'm okay, Calhoun. It was just a fall." She responds and lets me help her up.
When I steady her on her feet, she takes a step back from me. Using her eyes to thank me for coming to her aid
"It wasn't so serious, I just slipped and fell," she says more to herself than me.
Her hand reaches to tuck her hair behind her ear, and then she adjusts the strap of her backpack on her shoulder.
Before throwing me a quick smile.
And I find it cute.
Kristen.
Is she even aware of the way she's affecting me?
I'll bet she has no clue about it.
"You want to say something?" She asks as she maintains her standing position. I don't even understand why her cheeks are flushed. Am I too intimidating like this? Because there's this redness spreading across her cheeks.
Putting my hands right behind me, I shake my head. We'll have time to talk, but for now, let us keep staring at statues and paintings.
I know people will insult me for wanting to be with a twenty-one-year-old when I married her mother, but I don't even care. Natalie and I never got intimate since the marriage, it was before Kristen came into the picture.
Natalie has vowed to not let me be with Kristen and she's even against the divorce, but I won't let her stand in the way. We grew apart and there's nothing she can do to change it.
She accused me of not being in love with her in the first place, and I can see some truth in it. Because what I feel for her daughter is completely beyond my control.
That's why I came out in the open and announced to everyone we are mates. Thankfully I already marked her that morning. My wolf alerts me of a familiar present and when I snap my head around, I see Natalie. My wife and Kristen's mother.
I blink, upon wanting to think I'm seeing things but it's real.
What in the seven hells is she doing here?
Was she following me this whole time?
I can't believe this is happening, that she's actually here.
She waited for me to leave and then trailed after me to know where I wanted to go.
Natalie has company with her, two women and maybe she wants me to think she came here by coincidence, but I know her too well. She's trying to make me uncomfortable.
Thankfully Kristen hasn't seen Natalie yet, all I have to do is to ensure she never sees her, or it'll ruin the rest of her day with me. And it's something I don't want.
Natalie is starting to be a nuisance, stalking me and following me, something which is just upsetting. I don't even feel as good as I did before, she just ruined my whole mood with her presence.
Natalie isn't wearing a makeup and I know she doesn't need one because she's one of the most beautiful women I've ever known. She's bold, fit to be Luna and everything. Many men would kill to have her, except I don't love her anymore.
She lets her eyes connect with mine and smiles sweetly at me, something which makes her seem creepy and dangerous. It's clear this woman is up to no good. She looks like one who could kill and it's disturbing.
I've never seen this side of her before, or maybe she's always been this way but hid it away from me.
Kristen is clueless about what is going on, she isn't even aware that Natalie is right here, staring at her with that creepy sick smile still plastered to her face.
Pulling my gaze away from hers, I return my eyes to my mate who's beside me.
I think I'll have to marry her and take her far away from here, where Natalie won't have any access to hurt her.
"Can you see that?" Kristen asks with excitement evident on her face, like a child, she cannot even hide it.
Her finger is jerked at the painting of a monster with five heads and no arms. Surprisingly the smile on its face resembles that of Natalie because it's creepy.
I want Kristen to keep looking at paintings so she would never look to see the gaze of her mom settled on her.
The artwork is indeed eye-catching, but still disturbing at the same time because of that smile.
"It's scary, but still so intriguing that if my eyes find it, it'll be hard to look away. The more you stare, the deeper you're drawn to it," Kristen says as she keeps staring at the painting, and I can see her right hand wavering. Something which gives out that she's doing an inner battle to keep from running her hands on the painting.
Nearing her side, I push my hands into my pockets and look at the painting with her.
"It's so breathtaking," Kristen rasps out, with her eyes still huge in their sockets.
Curling my fingers into a fist, I raise it to my mouth and bite into it as I admire her. Having her watching the painting with so much interest is wonderful. I could kiss her right now if I want because she looks so adorable this way.
"I think I want that one," someone's voice rings out.
And I know who it is.
She couldn't fucking keep away but had to make her presence known to irk me.
It's fucking Natalie.