Chapter 11: Chapter 11

It’s the first day of Young Pup training at the Royal Moon pack. Calliope rode with Jaxson and his older brother. Jaxson sat close to her, but she seemed not to notice. Her thoughts were elsewhere - on Theo.

She heard a muffled sound but didn’t catch what was said. She looked up at Jaxson.

“What?” she asked confused.

“I said it’s cute that you seem excited to go,” Jaxson chuckled.

“Oh. I’m excited to be out of the house; spread my wings.” Calliope replied with a shrug.

“Just remember, if you need help with something, I’d be happy to assist!” Jaxson said with a grin.

Calliope nodded to him and looked forward as the wagon arrived at the front of the palace. A guard approached and helped with their bags. Calliope walked inside the front hall and realized they were probably the last to arrive.

She silently counted the teens in front of her... 17 total. She frowned. She had hoped there would be fewer teens and fewer eyes looking at her.

When the doors closed, Owen approached the group.

“Welcome future leaders to the Young Pups training!” he said with a smile. “Over the next two weeks, you will participate in morning stretches. After this, you will learn hand-to-hand combat, and by the end of the week, you will learn weapons combat. After the morning training, we will break for lunch. Then, we will spend a few hours each afternoon in a classroom. Great leaders must be well-rounded and strong but also knowledgeable. After that, we shall have dinner, and you will be free to do anything you like in the evenings.”

“I will be in charge of you during your stay,” he continued. “My name is Owen. I am the secondary companion to the Great Alpha. I shall be your teacher, and I shall be your trainer. When the Great Alpha has time, he will join. Anytime the Great Alpha enters a room, you must acknowledge him and bow to him.”

He stressed that all in his sentence as he looked explicitly towards Calliope. She nodded her head along with everyone else. She understood what he meant. She knew the consequences of standing out while here amongst the children of Alphas, Lunas, and Betas.

Owen clapped his hands once, and some servants stepped up to retrieve everyone’s bags. Calliope recognized the woman that was helping her. She gave a small smile and looked back to Owen.

“They will lead you to your rooms. With the exception of the few sibling pairs that came, the rest of you have your own sleeping arrangements. You are all placed in the guest wing on the second floor. The third floor is off-limits, as it is the Great Alpha’s personal space. All I ask is if there is a closed door that you do not open it. Respect this castle as if you live here. And be kind to those around you. We have everyone from ages 13 to 17. Those that are older should be mentors to those younger. Now, off you go to your rooms and change from your riding clothes. Dinner is in an hour.”

The servants led the way through the front hall and up the main stairs. Calliope was in the very first room down the guest hall. She stopped to watch as other girls were placed in adjacent rooms while the boys were placed towards the end of the hall.

Calliope followed her helper into her room and looked around. It was a rather large room. A large bed sat between two large windows. A fireplace was lit on the far wall. Across the other side of the room was a desk and a door leading to what she assumed was the washroom. She looked back at the woman.

“Thank you, Nancy,” she whispered.

Nancy gave Calliope a low bow before leaving. She shut the door, so Calliope was alone with no one to see her. Calliope walked over to her sitting area and saw a small jar of candied orange peels next to a water pitcher. She smiled and took a peel. While she nibbled, she walked over to the desk. She saw blank paper and a set of quills and ink.

Calliope closed her eyes and took a breath. She couldn’t sense Theo. He wasn’t at the palace, not at the moment. She tried to concentrate and see through his eyes but couldn’t. No matter how much Calliope pleaded, her wolf hasn’t given her back that ability. She sighed and fell back on the bed.

After about an hour, she could hear Owen call down the guest hall that dinner was ready. Calliope went out into the hall, where others were gathered around Owen. He led the way to the great hall.

There was a long table decorated with plates and food that smelled divine. Jaxson called Calliope to sit beside him towards the middle of the table. Owen chose the seat across from Calliope as the other teens sat down. It was in the middle of the table, so he could easily see and talk to everyone, but most importantly, he could keep a close eye on her.

Everyone began to dig into the prepared food: roasted duck, stewed venison, various vegetables, and slices of fresh sourdough bread. As Calliope took some food onto her plate, she could suddenly sense something. She could feel Theo was near. She glanced at Owen, who slightly nodded to confirm what she thought.

Calliope smiled as she began to eat. She kept her ears open, listening for when Theo entered. She wouldn’t approach him, not here, but she wanted to be the first to look at him.

After a few minutes of eating, Owen stood. When everyone looked at him, he motioned them to stand, too. Calliope stood, and she sensed he was to the right. She saw the door open and saw him.

Theo walked in, and Calliope felt something different. Her heart raced; her heart yearned for something. Did she feel something for him that she hadn’t felt before? Did she have a crush on her mate?

Theo found Calliope instantly. But he had to look away quickly. He felt something, too. For the first time in 8 years, he felt something other than protective over her. It was love, but not like a mating love. He felt love for her as he did his mom. Calliope was now his family, after all: his only family.

The teens and Owen bowed to Theo. He looked and saw an empty chair to the far end, near some of the older teens. He sat down and motioned for everyone else to sit.

As they ate, Theo got acquainted with everyone. He has met each of these teens before but never long enough to converse. After everyone finished their meals, servants came around with trays of desserts. One man went in between Calliope and Jaxson.

“Orange cake, miss?” He asked as he offered a slice to Calliope. The cake slice was square with a candied orange slice on top. She nodded happily.

“May I have two?”

“Of course!” The man answered as he placed two slices on Calliope’s plate. Jaxson looked at her and frowned.

“Are you sure you want two?” He asked as he declined to have a slice himself.

“I love oranges, so yes,” Calliope snapped.

Owen frowned at the exchange; he noted it in his mind but didn’t say anything. He had watched as Jaxson was close to Calliope. He and Theo knew their history, knew what his parents thought of them. He knew Calliope wouldn’t be rude to him, but he wanted to watch them closely to ensure that Jaxson didn’t overstep.

After dinner, some of the teens returned to their rooms. All of them had traveled, but some traveled for many days to get to the palace. Others stayed up to talk with the Great Alpha or play games. Calliope was the one who went to her room. She wanted to see Theo more, but she couldn’t risk it.

After several hours, she looked out the window. It had to be near midnight. She hadn’t heard anyone out in the halls for some time. Calliope slipped out of bed. She hadn’t even changed into her nightdress yet. She knew she would be going out after night fell. She grabbed the stuffed wolf hidden in her luggage and tucked it under her belt.

She opened her door quietly and looked around the hall. She saw a guard near the guest wing entrance. She stepped out and closed her door. She held her finger up to her lips. A silent order, and he nodded.

She walked down a hall and up the large set of stairs to the third floor. When she reached the top of the stairs, she turned toward Theo’s room. But before she arrived, she saw him leaning against a wall, waiting. She hurried to him, and they embraced.

For the past few months, she had forbidden Asher or Nova to speak to Theo about her. A command they had to obey, a command Theo couldn’t make them break either. But now she regretted it. The sparks in their hug eased her heart and the anger she held onto. Theo also relaxed. The sparks brought him comfort from his loneliness. Without his mother, these past three years were the worst for him. He felt isolated from everyone else.

After a minute, he let her go and stepped back to look at her. She was becoming more beautiful each time he saw her.

“How have you been?” He asked gently.

“I’ve been fine, but I still don’t have the ability to use my gifts,” she answered. She frowned and pushed Theo. “What did you do to me?!”

“Keep your voice down,” he whispered.

“Then..fix..it,” Calliope replied.

“I’m sorry, really,” Theo said as he took her face in his hands. “I didn’t know your wolf would keep you from your gifts this long.”

“Explain.”

“My wolf could sense you looking. I was going to investigate a human village and didn’t want you watching. I didn’t know what I would find, and I didn’t want to risk you seeing a dead body or worse.”

“What’s worse than a dead body?” She questioned in a confused tone.

“Lots,” he sighed. “Things I hope to keep you from seeing for your entire life.”

“Can you fix it?” Calliope asked as tears filled her eyes. “Please?”

Theo nodded and placed his forehead against hers. Calliope closed her eyes, and she felt like she was flying. She felt the wind rushing around her until suddenly, she was on the ground. She was in the snow, but she didn’t feel cold. She looked up and saw a large black wolf.

You must be Theo’s wolf. Calliope said as she walked over to him.

I am, my name is Amarok.

How did I get here? Calliope inquired as she felt his fur. She looked him over. He wasn’t as large as her wolf spirit. But he was still large compared to her in human form.

Theo is speaking to your wolf. He is seeing her as you see me here. Amarok answered. He leaned his head gently into Calliope. My little wolf.

Theo said you could tell when I looked through his eyes, how?

You looked through my eyes, not his, when he was shifted. I could tell; I could feel you. I knew I was too far from you for you to sense me naturally. So we knew instantly you were watching. He would not allow it. Amarok responded as he lay down.

Calliope sighed as she ran her hands over his head. She knew Theo didn't do it to be mean; he did it to protect her. Before she could ask more questions, she felt like she was being pulled from Amarok. She was flying again. And suddenly she opened her eyes, back in the palace.

Theo was wide-eyed as he looked at Calliope.

“What?” She asked as she stepped back from him.

“Your wolf...” he gasped. “She is huge.”

“Yeah?” Calliope shrugged. “Yours was big, too.”

“But not that big; I’ve never seen a wolf spirit that large.”

“Wait, really?”

“That may be why you struggle with your gifts. Your wolf, she is powerful. But I think I got her to relent for you.”

Calliope smiled and hugged Theo. Before she forgot, she took her stuffed wolf that was tucked in her belt. She gave it to him.

"You still play with it?” He teased as he took it.

“No,” she answered as she started to walk away. “I hug him when I need comfort.”

Calliope quietly walked back to her room. Ten days went by quickly. She ensured that she did not show off any skills in training or the classroom. She portrayed herself as the average 13-year-old girl. And it seemed to work; no one was suspicious of her.

Jaxson was a bit overbearing at times, though. He kept approaching her, helping her without asking. She tried to be indifferent to him. She didn’t want to be rude and ask him to leave her alone, but she did her best not to attract his attention.

Calliope and another girl returned the wooden weapons on the rack after training. Owen and the others headed in to get lunch. Jaxson approached the other girl.

“I’ll help put these up. Go on and head in,” he said with a smile. The girl, tired from training, nodded and headed in. Calliope was quiet as she picked up the weapons.

Jaxson was also quiet, but he did keep his eyes on Calliope. Once all the weapons were up, they started to go in, but Jaxson cornered her against a wall.

“Jaxson, stop!” Calliope gasped. She went to push him away, but he grabbed her hands. He pinned them to the wall.

“Shh,” he whispered. “I’m going to do something we’ve both been waiting for.”

Jaxson leaned in to kiss her. Calliope went wide-eyed and yanked her hands from his. She pushed him back and, with all her strength, punched him in the face. Suddenly, Calliope was scared. She saw blood; she knew she had hit him harder than she should have.

Three men came running from the other side of the training grounds. Calliope turned and ran inside.

Something has happened outside with the Great Luna! One of the men mind linked to Theo, Owen, and Josiah.

They hurried outside and went up to Jaxson.

“What has happened out here?” Theo questioned.

“Calliope punched me!” Jaxson yelled through tears. Owen bent down to help with the nosebleed. There was a great deal of blood. His nose looked disfigured.

“He had her pinned against the wall, Great Alpha!” One of the men interjected quickly.

Theo’s eyes went black as he turned to Jaxson. Josiah ran up to get in front of Theo quickly.

Find the Great Luna. We will stay with the boy. Josiah mind linked to Theo.

“Where did Calliope go?” Theo asked the men.

“Inside!” They replied.

Take the boy home; he is not welcome back. Theo said to Owen as he went inside.

He sniffed the air and followed the scent of Juniper. It led him to the third floor and into his room. He looked around and saw Calliope sitting in a corner, her knees to her chest. She was crying and visibly shaking. Theo went to her and sat down on the floor. He gently lifted her and put her in his lap. He wrapped both arms around her protectively.

“I’m so sorry,” she whined. “I didn’t mean to punch him that hard. There was so much blood.”

“What did he do?”

“He pinned my hands to the wall and tried to kiss me,” she answered.

Theo gave a soft sigh and pushed her head against his chest. She is scared because she hurt him, good. Theo thought something worse had happened since she was in here crying.

“I’m going to tell your parents that that boy will not be near you, understand?” Theo said as he gently rubbed her back. “They let him and his family imagine for too long that you could be his mate. It has put you in an awkward position, something I couldn’t save you from without it causing questions.”

“Thank you,” she sniffed. She wiped her eyes. “Are you upset with me?”

“I could never,” he answered thoughtfully. “Not when you are doing it in defense, even if it’s just to fight off an unwanted kiss.”

Calliope looked forward and saw her wolf on Theo’s bed.

“Do you sleep with it?” She inquired.

“It smells of you, so of course,” Theo answered as he helped her to stand up. “Plus, it’s the best way to get my scent on it.”

Calliope went over to the bed and took it.

“Do I need to avoid him for the next two days?”

“No,” Theo answered with a shake of his head. He stood from the floor and dusted off his pants. “I sent him home. His brother will leave, too.”

“Will everyone else know?”

“I’ll have Owen talk to them about the rules of touching without permission. I’m sure they will understand the meaning quickly.”

Theo placed his hand on Calliope’s back. He led her to her room first to drop off the wolf before taking her back downstairs to the rest of the group.