Chapter 52

Gilbert’s POV.

“Julian has been texting me nonstop. We’re going to have to figure out what we’re doing,” I remind Toby at breakfast.

“I haven’t asked Annie yet. I think we should wait for her to say.” Toby answers as he looks over the morning spread.

“What are you both planning?” Callie asks. She is feeding Callen so I fill a plate then set it in front of her.

“Julian. He’s going to die, we just need to figure out who gets the honor and if Annie should be there,” I explain Callie looks between the two of us. “Why are you putting that on her shoulders?”

“Because it should be my choice. I am the one that suffered at his hands, no thanks to you.” Toby stands to take Annie’s hand, which she allows.

Callie ducks her head. “Of course Annie, if you want to watch him die, you should have the choice. I just don’t think you need to rush.”

“I don’t care what you think. You thought it was a good idea to make that spell, regardless of the consequences. If it weren’t me, if it were some other female, she’d still be there, trapped, and under his influence.”

“I’m sorry, Annie. I can’t change the past, but I want to help in any way I can.”

“I don’t want your help. I don’t want anything from you, you’ve helped enough.”

I hold Callie’s hand under the table to give her some comfort. “Annie, I know she made the spell, but Julian is the one at fault, not Callie.”

“Don’t defend her to me, Gilbert. If not for her, he never would’ve come looking for me in the first place. You know she’s the reason Luna Ellen never conceived, right? That heat tea didn’t make her heat manageable, the herbs made her incapable of getting pregnant. Knowing Giselle, she probably even enhanced it with a spell.” Callie ducks her head more and I think Annie nailed that assumption. It’s one more thing she managed to keep from me. “Dr. Mike would still be alive and the girls would still have their parents. I know why he was killed, Gilbert, the girls told me all about it.”

I softly raise Callie’s chin so she looks into my eyes. “Is that true, Callie?”

She nibbles her lip and nods. Annie continues her tirade “They never got their heir so he sought out a new source. Me.”

“Actually, Annie. I think he would’ve sought you out regardless of an heir. Remember, I told you about my sister? He loved her to the point it was more than friendship, and I think you would’ve appealed to him based on looks and demeanor alone,” I tell her.

Annie looks at me. “He did mention her. He told me that she was his half-sister. His dad had an affair with your mom.” My mouth drops open and I remember everything that was going on at that time. “I didn’t think you knew.” She tells me. She’s right, I had no idea, but it puts a lot of things into perspective. Skip never cared about Shelby, but Raffy liked her more than he liked his own son. I always just assumed it was her charm.

“I’m going to get the little ones. They need to eat breakfast.” Callie hands Callen to me to burp then quietly leaves the dining room.

“You were pretty hard on her, Annie,” I tell her once Callie is out of earshot. “She feels terrible. I already laid into her the other night and she’s been holding onto that guilt since.”

“Alpha A-hole was pretty hard on me. Imagine how I feel. She should feel guilty for what she’s done”

“I don’t doubt that you’re suffering, kiddo. I can’t imagine how you feel, but Callie loves you, she always has and always will. She’s suffered at Julian’s hands too.” I remind her and tears begin to fall from her eyes.

“At least she had a choice,” she scoffs then shakes her head as she leaves the dining room without another word.

“That went well,” I sarcastically point out.

“Do you really think he would’ve gone after Annie, even if his mate had pups?” Toby asks.

I nod. “Without a doubt. His love for Shelby was almost incestuous, but she never encouraged his attraction, she was just a joy to be around. She was the light in our dark world and he was drawn to it. Annie and Shelby have so many similarities I think he latched on to her the second he saw her.”

“I need to go check on her. We’ll decide what to do once everyone has calmed down.” Toby grabs a water bottle and a cinnamon roll, then leaves in the same direction Annie went.

Callie comes back down with Aria and the little ones. She starts loading their plates with the food they pick out. Callie makes chocolate milk for Xavier then they begin eating. Bells and Victor join us for breakfast shortly after. Callie is deep in thought as everyone chats.

“You’re my mommy?” Xavier asks, staring at Callie with bright inquisitive eyes.

Everyone is staring at her and she hasn’t looked up. I give her a little nudge and she looks at me in question. “Xavier asked you a question.”

She looks at the little boy that’s staring at her. “I’m sorry, what did you ask?”

“Are you my mommy?”

Callie nods. “Yeah, I am.”

“Then how come I lived at the house and not with you?” He asks then takes a bite of his bacon.

Callie clears her throat. “I don’t have a good enough reason, but I am so sorry for leaving you there.”

“Do you want me now? I asked Annie, but she said to ask you. So do I get to stay with you?”

“Would you like that?” She asks and I squeeze her hand reassuringly.

“I never had a mommy.”

Callie squeezes my hand back. “That’s my fault, Xavier. You did nothing wrong and you deserve to have a mommy and a daddy. We’re here if you want us.”

He looks at me. “Do you get to be my daddy now?”

I nod my head with a smile. “Sure do.” Xavier smiles to himself and continues eating as if that hugely important conversation didn’t just happen.

Toby comes back inside to grab me. “I have Shaun coming here. He’s going to work with you today and tomorrow. Annie wants to confront Alpha A-hole, as she calls him, but needs a few more days to prepare herself before seeing him.”

“It’s a good thing he thinks I’m driving,” I say as I stand from the table. I give Callie a kiss then follow Toby to the training room. “I’m working with Shaun, does this mean I get the honor of killing the bastard?”

“That’s still to be determined. I want you prepared just in case. I’ll be dropping in once in a while, but Annie needs me more right now. She was a mess after that scene at the table. I’m sorry for what she said to Aunt Giselle, but I don’t believe she’s wrong either.”

“No, she’s not. Callie has always done things her way.”

“Yes, she has. Even as a pup, I remember her being stubborn. She always had to do things on her own, she never asked for help. I think she was just trying to show Darren that he made the right choice by choosing her over Matilda.”

“I can see that.”

Toby nods then steps into the ring removing his suit jacket and tie. He then slips his shoes off and rolls up his sleeves. “Come at me in your wolf, I want to see you in action.”

“You’re in a suit.”

“Would you rather me fight nude?”

I shrug with a tilt of my head then pull my shirt over my head. I slip my pants off and shift in one fluid motion.

“Can you shift faster?” I tilt my head at Toby, I thought that was a fast shift. He nods his head. “Alright, let’s go.” He waves both hands toward himself and I charge high, aiming for his throat. Toby is quick and not only side-steps out of the way but also reaches out to grip my throat instead. “Don’t go for the obvious kill. Wear him out first if you’re going to do that,” he tells me then lets me drop back to the ground. “Does Julian have any weaknesses, other than his winning personality?”

I don’t know if it’s a weakness, but he’s reliant on the fact that he has that life debt with Callie. He fights sloppy, without caution because of it. I nod my head and Toby smiles. “The life debt?” Of course, he already knew where I was going with that. “That’s because, in your wolf, I can hear you. I am the king after all. I’m linked to every single wolf as long as you’re in wolf form.”

“Would’ve been good to know before.”

“We never fought in our wolves before.” He says with a smile.

“Can you link me?”

Toby shakes his head. “Nope, only hear.” He looks past me and nods. “Thanks for coming Shaun.” He looks back at me. “Now that Shaun is here, I’ll leave you in his capable paws. I’m going to be with my mate.” He slips his shoes on then grabs his jacket and tie.

Shaun enters the ring and comments on my fighting stance giving me pointers to improve my balance and close off any openings. We work for hours stopping for lunch when Aria brings in a tray for the two of us. She’s always the first to offer her help. Shaun and I get back to work then finish in time to shower and join everyone, including his mate Taryn, for dinner. They’ll be staying here tonight.

“Are things really that bad, I never really had any dealings with him?” Taryn asks before Annie and Toby arrive at the table.

I nod. “They’re not terrible. He’s not a tyrant or anything, but he’s done some pretty bad things. Things that affect the lives of members of the pack. He orphaned three girls when he killed Dr. Mike for no reason other than he didn’t get his way. He’s killed countless rogues simply for being rogues. His mate killed four women, almost six, and as punishment, he beat her. Then there are the rumors of all the females he’s been with.”

“How can he do that, wouldn’t the Luna know of his infidelity?”

“No,” Callie answers. “He has a charm that allows him to do just that.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose then look to my mate, another fucking thing she hasn’t told me. “Does it give him protection of any kind?”

She shakes her head. “Not really. I’m going to destroy it as soon as I see him anyway. Don’t worry, Gilly. I’ve had enough guilt, now it’s time to get angry. I plan on hurting him for what he did to Annie.”

“Auntie Bells said that Annie is hurting right now. I want to make her feel better, but it’s a big job and cousin Toby is helping her.” Xavier pipes up.

“That’s true, little guy.” Annie enters the dining room with Toby holding her hand. She lets him go to kneel beside Xavier. “Toby is helping me get better, but we can still play sometimes.”

“That’s my mommy. She’s your friend, right?” He points to Callie who holds her breath.

Annie nods. “That’s right, but like you said, I’m hurting right now.” Annie wipes a tear from her face. “Your mommy is going to be going back home soon. I think it’s best if you go with her.” Xavier goes to protest, but Annie continues talking. “I’ll be going too, but I’m not going to be staying. I can visit you and you can visit me. You’re not just going with your mommy, but with your sister and brother, and your daddy Gilbert.”

“Annie, I want you to stay with me. I didn’t like it when you were gone.”

“I’m sorry, little guy. I didn’t have a choice.”

“Because the mean Alpha took you after he hurt me.”

That catches me off guard. “He hurt you, Xavier?” I ask.

He nods, but it’s Annie who answers. “When he took me from the orphanage, he backhanded Xavier. He had a bloody nose and a split lip. I couldn’t even help him because he commanded me not to touch him. Flora got to him just as we were leaving.” She kisses Xavier’s cheeks. “I’m so sorry.”

“Xavier, I promise you that you’ll never be hurt by him again,” I swear to my son.