Book 2 Chapter 14

Caleb's Point of View

I am not even surprised that I am once again waking up alone. Although my anger has left me the

hurt consumes my soul, and I briefly wonder if I even need to get up from the bed today. Laying

here is a special kind of torture. I can smell my beautiful mate, and a part of me wants to roll over

and hug her pillow to my chest and just deeply inhale. On the other hand, my pride is wounded and

now I feel like pushing her away. Perhaps if I treated her the way she had treated me these past few

weeks she would understand better the torture she has put me through. There is that wonderful

voice of self-doubt that creeps in asking would she even care.

Allowing myself a few moments to continue to wallow in my own depression, I finally resolve myself

to climb out of bed. Hoping that a nice hot shower will help lift the dredges of the soul crushing

depression that has seeped deep into me. Climbing into the steaming shower I ponder how I am

supposed to handle the precarious situation involving Daphne and me. Eventually I conclude that

there is no longer anything that I can do to help the situation.

I have done everything in my power to gain her love and trust. I have been patient and loving. I

have never strayed from her, and I do not plan on it even under the circumstances that we find

ourselves in now. In truth I am out of ideas. I understand that she lived in hell when she was

younger, and that it would leave a lasting impression on her. I fought to dispel the negative

thoughts she had about herself. I surrounded her with loving and supportive people. I have always

been there to tell her that she is beautiful. I try to praise her daily, but despite all of this it did not

matter. She never gave me her full trust.

Hopping out of the shower and toweling off I decide that I need to focus on the pack. I have an

upcoming meeting with a few trusted allies, and I need to be prepared. Thinking of the upcoming

gathering I remember that Alpha Noah will be in attendance. I need to discuss the turn of events

with Theo. While I know that we need to be amicable to each other, I still do not trust the man. Just

thinking about him being here turns my stomach.

I will want to heighten security in the pack house as well as throughout the grounds while he is

here. I also need to see if the catering has been taken care of. I will also need to find out if the guest

rooms have been made ready. Most of the Alphas will be bringing their wives. Typically, the Luna

organizes a few events with the other wives. Brunches, movie nights, and things like that. I make a

mental note to see if Daphne has thought about it. If not, I am sure that Scarlett will give her a hand,

but I also make need to see if Hannah will be willing to help.

Having my mind consumed by pack business, I walk out of the room almost on auto pilot. It does

not take me long to make it to the kitchen, I am startled out of my thoughts by Daphne's voice.

“Hey, I wanted to say sorry.” Glancing over to where she is leaning against the breakfast bar, a fresh

wave of sorrow rolls through me. Knowing that my mate does not trust me, and questions my

character makes me feel physically ill. I grunt a hello in response while pouring a cup of coffee

I am not purposely trying to push her away, but I was not expecting the pain to still be fresh today.

Seeing her, even being this close to her is almost physically hurting. It is as if an elephant has sat

upon my chest, or an evil sorcerer has placed my heart within a vice and is slowly crushing it.

“Daphne as you know I have a few of our allies, and friends visiting next week. The meeting is

important as we discuss the upcoming winter, and supplies. We will also be discussing this years

Mabon Ball.” Her eyes go wide as I mention the dance that brought us together originally. This is a

bittersweet moment for me. At one time I thought that it would be a rather romantic night for us

both, an anniversary of sorts. With this new tension between us though I do not even want to see

how she feels about the event.

“The only reason why I bring this up now is because usually the Luna will host or hold events during

these kind of meetings like brunch, or movie nights. I was not sure if you knew about that. If you do

not currently have anything planned both Scarlett and Hannah will help you to organize a few

things. They do not have to be large grand events, but something to show the wives that we

welcome them with their husbands.” My voice is hollow even to my own ears. I am straight to the

point, and I do not dabble with small talk.

I take the risk and briefly glance at Daphne's face. I see the tears slowly falling and there is a part of

me that wants to rush to her and wipe her face clean. To gather her close to my chest, inhale her

sweet scent, and tell her that everything will be fine. There is a larger part of me at the moment that

remembers her striking me and accusing me of cheating on her. With that brutal memory flashing

through my mind, I quickly look away from her.

"l also need to tell you that amongst our guests will be Alpha Noah. Although I personally despise

the man, he is one of our allies, and he is one of the closest packs to ours.” I drop the bomb on her

in an almost mechanical voice. She states that she understands.

I turn and place my empty mug in the sink and start to leave the kitchen. I almost make it out

before her voice stops me.

“Caleb, I love you.” I do not even recognize the cold laugh that leaves my lips at her remark.

“No Daphne see I can say I love you and mean it with every fiber of my being. You on the other

hand can not truly mean those words because the fact remains that you still do not trust me. Here

we are almost together a full year, and you still question if I am a good man, a man worthy of you

dropping the impossibly high walls surrounding your heart. Last night proved that I have fallen

short of scaling those walls.” I had to walk away quickly. I had not meant to tell her everything that

was in my mind, but she broke through the thin veil that I had tried to bury those thoughts behind. I

hope that she did not hear my voice crack at the end. I angerly swipe at the few tears that have

fallen, betraying the tough exterior that I am desperate to keep up.

Storming out of the house, I march steadily towards the training center. I need to hit something,

anything at the moment will do. I mind I**k Theo and ask him to meet me there. I need to get

everything off my chest and he is the only one I can trust.