Chapter 50

Gilbert’s POV.

Guilt. It’s overwhelming, so much so that I can barely focus on anything else, but it’s not mine, it’s Callie’s. “Tell me everything, sweetheart.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her cheek to rest on my chest. “No more secrets.”

She wipes her eyes and takes a few breaths. “Remember the spell I created for Julian?” I nod and she continues. “It was a spell to make some unfortunate female believe that he was her mate.”

“Goddess, Callie. How could you make a spell like that? You know what he’s like.” I rub a hand down my face and more tears fill her eyes as more guilt overwhelms me. “Keep talking. There’s got to be more.”

She sits up to face me. “I didn’t have a choice. I made a blood oath.”

I can’t stop the groan from escaping me. “Why, in the name of the Goddess would you make a blood oath with him, he already has you tied down with a life debt.”

“Actually…,” she timidly replies Oh, fuck. I close my eyes. “Callista… Start talking.”

Her eyes are pleading and her lips are pouting, she knows I’m not going to like what she has to tell me. “I don’t have a life debt anymore, but he doesn’t know that.”

“What!” I get to my feet and begin pacing. “The life debt is gone and you never thought to tell me? You know I’ve wanted to kill him for a while now. That life debt was the only thing stopping me. I can’t believe you never told me before, Callie. All those lives that have been affected by him, innocent people forever changed or died because of him. Damn it, Callie! How could you keep that secret from me?”

She slightly shrugs her shoulder, if not for feeling the guilt compiling on me, I would think she doesn’t give a damn. “I just never thought to.”

“Never thought to,” I repeat the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. Combing my hair out of my face, I grip it in frustration. After calming down with a few deep breaths, I look to my mate to find out what else she’s been keeping from me. “How did you break the life debt?”

Ducking her head, she licks her lips. “Xavier. By creating a life together, the life debt is paid. He didn’t know that so I tricked him and he was more than willing”

“I’m sure he was.” I seethe. Goddess, this is a mess. “Tell me why you made a blood oath.”

“To be finished with him. When we came here to bless Calliope with her name, I had to ask for permission, like I’m some child. He agreed to give me my land and never bother me again in exchange for the month away and one last spell. It was open-ended and he could ask for anything whenever he decided. He decided on that spell that tricked Annie.”

“But why, Callie? Your land and to not be bothered, are you kidding me? You should’ve told him to shove it up his ass. You’re far more powerful than him. I… Why would...? Argh!” This is absurd.

“I wanted him out of my life. He thought he could control me but I’m not one to be controlled. I just wanted you and Calliope kept safe,” she whispers.

“Callie.” I sit down beside her, frustrated as hell. Her reasons don’t make sense to me at all. “He only had control over you because you let him. You never would’ve had to create that spell if you would’ve just talked to me.”

“I didn’t want to put you in the middle of it.” She softly admits.

“I’m your mate, Callie! For the love of the Goddess. Your mate! Doesn’t that mean anything?”

“Exactly. You’re my mate and we can’t mark each other because of him.”

I shake my head at her statement. “No, Callie. We haven’t marked each other because of you. You didn’t want him to be your Alpha.”

“Do you blame me? He would’ve gone after Calliope and tied her down with a life debt too.”

“No. I wouldn’t have let that happen. She’s my daughter. I would never allow anyone to hurt a single hair on her head. Or yours. Definitely not Annie’s. If I was there, I would’ve snapped his neck the second he laid a finger on her. I promised I would protect her. I vowed to the moon Goddess that I would painfully tear apart anyone who did to her exactly what Julian did to her. Just thinking his name makes my blood boil. I will end him. His life is forfeit.

“Annie will never forgive me for what I did, and I don’t blame her. I never meant to hurt her, I swear it, Gilbert. I love her. She’s my best friend. She wasn’t supposed to get caught up in this.”

No, but some other innocent girl was. I don’t say that out loud. It wouldn’t change anything. “Is there anything else I need to know about?” Callie shakes her head no. “I need to run. I’ll be up later. Try to get some rest, we’ll sort everything out tomorrow.”

“Are you mad at me?” She quietly asks.

Looking in her beautiful eyes, I shake my head. “No, sweetheart. I’m upset about the situation and I’m disappointed that you thought keeping things from me was a good idea. I keep nothing from you.”

“What about Xavier?”

“What about him?”

“You never told me you’re so close with him.”

I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes. “You know I visited the orphanage all the time. I’m close with all of the pups. Flora too. That’s not news, Callie. Besides, I told you about little Callie’s visit and what happened.” She slightly looks away and I feel a new emotion from her, one I've never felt before. My mouth drops open. “Callie. You can’t be jealous that I have a relationship with him. He’s been 100 yards away from you since the day he was sent to that orphanage. You chose not to know him.”

“I didn’t have a choice. Julian would…”

“Bull shit! You’re making excuses for being a coward. He’s your son and you never bothered to even say the words. If you want him in your life, now is your chance, but you’re blowing it. You didn’t even say a word to him. It's not his fault his parents are stubborn assholes, but he’s the one paying the price for it.”

“I can’t just suddenly be his mommy.”

“Why not?” I ask and she shuts her mouth. “If you need me, I’ll be in the back somewhere.” Turning away from her, I leave the room before she can say anything else to piss me off. I know I upset her, but I really don’t care at this point, she needed to hear those things.

The moon is still bright and I bask in the Goddess’s glow. I always feel more powerful during full moons, even though the moon cycle really doesn’t make a difference. Running at full speed, I feel the wind in my fur. It’s so freeing. Toward the back of the ground, I pick up the scent of a rabbit and my focus shifts to the hunt. Hunting is the best therapy for an angry werewolf.

Rinsing off in the outside shower, then slipping my clothes on, I’ve had the chance to calm down enough to focus on what needs to be done; Julian has to die. Toby laid claim as her mate, which is the best news of the night, and I understand his need to bathe his teeth in Julian’s blood, but Julian is my responsibility, or rather, the pack is.

“Hey, Gilbert.” Toby catches my attention just before making it back inside.

“Toby. How is Annie?” I’m afraid to ask, but I need to know.

He lets out a breath. “She’s no longer under the spell, but she’s going to need time. I’m going to rip that bastard apart for what he did to her.”

Now is as good a time as any. “I know you have reason more than anyone, but I have to be the one to kill him, for the sake of the pack.”

“For the sake of the pack?” Toby seethes. I’ve never seen him angry, but even I swallow and take a step back as the look in his eyes is murderous.

“Toby, that was wrong.” I take a second to gather my thoughts. “It’s not like that. I’m over the moon happy that Annie has you. The Goddess made the best possible match.” Toby’s demeanor perceptively changes as his mind switches to his new-found mate. “Annie is like a sister to me, I love her like she’s family, I guess technically she is now. I vowed to the Goddess that I would have vengeance on anyone who… did what Julian did to her. You and Jeremiah were my witnesses, remember.”

“I remember, but that was before.”

“I can’t break my vow, not one made to the Goddess.”

Toby runs a hand down his face. “I can’t just let this go. I have to watch him bleed.”

“Then come watch. I’ll challenge him in front of the entire pack and bring to light everything he’s done.”

He thinks about it, then shakes his head. “That’s not enough for me and I’m not leaving Annie’s side.”

“Do you think it would help her to see him dead?”

“I can’t honestly answer that. That’s something she’ll need to decide on her own.” I nod in agreement. “Let me ask you this, though,” he continues. “Do you want to be the Alpha?”

I snort a laugh. “No, not in the slightest. But I will do it if that’s what it takes to put a stop to Julian and benefits the people in the pack. I care about them.”

“You’re a good guy, Gilbert. I wish more Alphas thought the same as you. Let’s sleep on it a few days, then we’ll decide what to do.”

“Sounds good. I’m glad you got her out of there.”

“She never should’ve been in there in the first place,” he bluntly states and he’s absolutely right.

I look up to her window. “Yeah. She’s the sweetest girl I know. No one should’ve been in that situation. Callie already knows she fucked up. I laid into her pretty hard.”

“I don’t want to talk about Giselle’s role in all of this, it’s too much too soon. I’m just glad she told me about the spell before I got there.”

“Understood. Night, Toby.”

He nods. “Night.” He walks out into the garden and I head up to my stubborn little mate.

Callie is mid-spell when I enter the room. A chain hangs from her hand as she quietly chants. Her eyes return to their natural blue and she holds her hand out for me. “I made you a new charm,” she whispers. I can feel that she’s still upset, but she says nothing more.

“Thanks, sweetheart. Is Callen asleep?” I ask as I slip the chain over my head.

She looks toward his bassinet. “He should be waking soon.”

“Do you want to sleep and I can feed him?”

She shakes her head but doesn’t look at me. “No, it’s okay. Go ahead and get some sleep.”

I’m not about to let her mope. I pull her to my body then lift her chin. I wait until she raises her eyes before I speak. “I love you, Callista of the White Ash. I always will. Yes, you screwed up, but we all make mistakes. She will forgive you. It’ll take time, but she will. Annie is a good girl with a big heart, it’s just shattered right now. Once it’s patched up, she’ll remember that she loves you.” A tear slips from Callie’s eye and I wipe it with my thumb. “Try to rest. Callen needs you healthy. We all need you healthy.”

“I’ll try. I love you too, Gilbert. I couldn’t imagine being matched to anyone else. Once we’re home, we’ll mark each other, the way we should’ve from the beginning.” Her hands rest against my chest as she reaches up on tip-toe to kiss the side of my chin.

“No, sweetheart. We’re not doing it because I want it. I want you to be on board because you want it too. Your reason for not marking each other is valid. It’s a situation that I plan to remedy as soon as we get back,” I state and she looks at me with concern.

“I’m not afraid of Julian. It’s time.”

“We’ll talk about it later. I’m going to shower.” She slightly nods and I give her a loving kiss before smacking her ass then quickly moving out of the way before she can retaliate.

“Gilbert!” She calls. I chuckle and close the bathroom door.