Best and hottest thing that has happened to me. That will be a day I never forget.
“I can feel you more too.”
“I never asked, but do you feel the guys?”
“Not really. I can feel a bare minimum of their energy, but it’s not like I do with you,” Graydon states.
“I wonder if that will change as I claim the rest of you or as our bond grows?” Callie questions.
I shrug my shoulders. I don’t really have an answer for her. We found out that Max and I can’t communicate telepathically. We think that might change after she claims all of us. Even that’s not a guarantee.
“Come on, let’s get the others. It’s getting late and we need to practice at least a little.”
“Okay, but first…” I trail off. I lean over and place a quick kiss to her lips.
Lucian
We are just finishing up elemental training. It went a lot better tonight than it has over the last couple of weeks. We learned that Callie is our center, the spirit. She helps us control our powers over the elements. We spent time reading the journal and testing things out in the field behind the gym. Without Callie we realized pretty quickly how out of control we could get. We need her there.
She is turning into such a strong individual. I think the fact that she has shifted has helped. Her phoenix fills her with more fire than she had before. Case in point, the claiming. I didn’t think she would be ready to do that for a while. Much to my surprise, it was her idea, as it should be. None of us will ever push her into something she doesn’t want to do. She claimed Max and Graydon within a couple of weeks of each other.
I can’t wait for it to be my turn. I mean I can, but I can’t. I look around the gym and realize that we are the only ones in here right now. The guys still in the locker room. I plan on taking full advantage. We don’t get a lot of alone time. Callie is preoccupied by her phone that she doesn’t hear me walk up behind her. She jumps when I initially touch her.
I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her body back against mine. I place my head on her shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“Reading one of the books you recommended. I found this cool app on my phone, and my aunt said she was okay with me using her card to get a book here and there.”
“Ah, which book did you settle on?”
“Thirteen Reasons Why.”
“Good choice. If you want to talk about it, let me know.”
“You know I will,” she says with a chuckle. She turns around within the embrace of my arms. “Is there something else you wanted?” I nod right before I lean down and kiss her.
I don’t know how or why it happens, but every time I kiss her, I lose track of time. It’s like the world fades into the background, and the only thing that matters is me and her. Normally, I wouldn’t get to handsy with Callie, but tonight her scent is driving me mad. I place my hands on her perfect shaped butt and pull her closer to my body. The move shocks her enough that she opens her mouth, and I take advantage, tasting and teasing her with my tongue. She moves one of her hands and grips the back of my head, deepening the kiss, trying to take control.
She may get away with that with the others, but not with me. There are certain times where I like to be in control, and eventually Callie will learn that, but for now I should give her a little taste, just to test the waters. I reach up and grip her hands with mine, pulling her arms down, locking them behind her back. Our hands rest just above the curve of her butt. I pull back from kissing her to taking in much needed air and to assess where she is at.
I search her eyes for any discomfort, but I don’t see any. Instead, I am graced with her lust filled eyes. Without any doubt in my mind, I’m about to claim this beautiful girl as mine. I place a kiss on her lips before trailing down the side of her neck. She moans and tilts her head more to the side giving me better excess. I tease her by nipping and licking at that soft on her neck. My canines lengthen and I give into my urges. I bite Callie, claiming her as mine.
Somewhere in the haze, Callie bites me back, and it feels like ecstasy. It feels like our souls have merged, making us one. There is a blast of energy that pours from us the second we pull back.
Lucian, can you hear me?
Holy...is this what you do all the time with Graydon and Max?
Yeah. Cool right?
Yeah. It’s like I can hear your voice, but it’s a soft whisper in my mind.
It’s the same for me.
Think of the all the possibilities. She gives me this weird look.
What do you mean?
We can communicate telepathically. If something were to happen, say like a fight or battle or if one of us was taken or lured away, we still have a way to talk to each other. We need to start figuring out how far the distance can be before we can no longer hear each other.
Lucian, that’s the greatest thing I’ve heard. We need to tell the guys.
“Is it safe to come out yet?” Max yells from down the hall, interrupting.
“Yeah,” Lucian answers back.
“Good, because I’m hungry, and you guys were taking forever,” Max whines.
“Did you guys do this on purpose?” Callie questions.
“No. We saw you guys so wrapped up into each other that we were giving you a few moments to yourselves,” Zeke explains.
I nod my thanks. Good, I don’t mind seeing them kiss Callie, but somethings should be private. This being one of those times, and I’m glad they gave that to me.
Zeke
We’re at my house. Usually who ever drives everyone to the gym, we go to their house after because there will be food, and today, I drove. The second we entered my house we all could smell the garlic bread. My mom made a simple dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, with garlic bread, and it hits the spot. The guys and I are playing a few rounds of this fighting game; Lucian and Max are currently playing against each other. Callie volunteered to help clean up after dinner, but she should be done by now. I wonder what is taking her so long.
I get up from my spot on the couch and walk to the kitchen. I do it quietly just in case if Callie is talking to my mom. I don’t want to interrupt her. The closer I get to the kitchen, I realize I don’t hear anything. Callie is standing at the sink by herself. She is drying the dishes, but she has this thousand yard stare on her face. In the few moments I have watched her, she has been drying the same plate and the same spot. I walk up behind her and wrap my arms around her, resting my chin on the top of her head. She jumps.
“Jeez, Zeke. You can’t do that, I almost dropped your moms plate. Make some noise next time.”
I chuckle. “I came in here to make sure my mom wasn’t working you too hard. You’ve been in here for a while. What had you so deep in thought?”
She sighs, “Everything. There is so much to do and to prepare for, but it’s hard when you don’t know what you’re doing. I keep thinking about how much easier all your lives would have been if this didn’t happen. We’re in over our heads. I don’t know the first thing about being a queen. There’s the war, god only knows when that is supposed to happen. We have school, and I have Kelsey, who won’t share her visions with me. I don’t even know how many she has had. It sucks because what if she sees something that could help us? We’d never know. I’m just frustrated.”
I turn her around, so I can look her in the eyes. “I’m glad you came into our lives. I couldn’t imagine a life without you in it, now that I have meet you. I don’t want an easy life. Yes, we face a lot of uncertainty right now, but you are not alone. What happens to one of us, happens to all of us. We will get through this like we do everything else. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about Kelsey. She will do what she wants regardless of what anyone else tells her. We’ll take this one step at a time, that’s all we can do.”
She nods. I open my arms, and she walks right into them. She fits perfectly against me. Her head is on my chest, and I love the little nuzzle she does. I don’t think she realizes that she is doing
it. It’s a good way for her to pick up my scent. I like her smelling like me. My wolf agrees. It’s something primal in us to want our mate to smell like us. It also tells other shifters that she is taken. Not that sporting the mark of three of her mates shouldn’t do the trick, but sometimes those will not be visible. I can’t wait to add my mark.
My wolf is pacing in my mind telling me to do it now, but I won’t push Callie into letting me do it. She will let me know when she is ready, just like how she did with the others. I just hope it will be soon.
“Thank you, Zeke. This is just what I needed.”
I puff my chest out a little. “Anytime, sweetheart.”
Callie moves her head back enough to look up at me. She gives me a small smile before she puckers her lips. I immediately lean down and place a quick kiss on her lips. I pull back and she has a frown on her face.
“Um, what was that?” she questions.
“Sorry?” I say confused.
“Zeke Montgomery, you better give me a proper kiss,” Callie demands.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Oh, I’ll give her a proper kiss alright. I bend my knees and wrap my arms around her legs, just under her butt. I stand, bringing her with me. Callie puts her hands on my shoulders. Now, she is slightly over my height, but her lips are easier to reach. I keep a firm grip around her with one arm and move my other. I fist the hair at the back of her neck and angle her head the way that I want it. I crush my lips to hers.
Callie lets out a little moan. I tease her by nipping at her bottom lip with my teeth. I keep doing that until she opens her mouth giving me what I want. I feel her legs wrap around my waist and her arms around my neck. Best feeling in the world. With her pressed this close to me, there is no way she can miss the bulge resting between her thighs. I won’t shy away from her either. I can smell the effect I have on her. She needs to know that the feeling is mutual.
There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for this girl. She breaks the kiss, and I take the moment to catch my breath. Callie has other ideas. She starts to kiss her way down neck, taking a moment to nip at my earlobe. My knees almost buckle. Holy shit, I wasn’t expecting that to feel that good. It takes everything I have not to press myself into her. Callie notices my reaction and does it again. This time I growl. I never knew that could be such a turn on.
I feel Callie smile against my neck. She knows what she is doing. Two can play at this game. I nuzzle her neck and take a deep a breath. Even her scent drives me crazy. I get that soft spot by her ear. Oh, yeah, the others have told me what it does. I get the same response from her, that she got from me and my ear. I feel the points of her teeth run along the junction of my shoulder and neck. What I wasn’t prepared for was the bite that followed.
I couldn’t help the loud growl that escaped my lips. Not wasting any time, I bite Callie in the same spot that she bit me. I feel the energy, in what I’m sure is my soul connecting with Callie’s. I feel whole, like I found a piece of me that I didn’t know I was missing.
Oh, Zeeeeke.
I stare at Callie wide-eyed.
I take it you can hear me?
All I could do was nod my head.
Try and say something back.
Sweetheart. Callie smiles at me.
You know I really need to come up with nicknames for you guys. You all gave me one.
This is weird and cool at the same time.
Yeah, but you’ll get used to it.
I like being able to communicate with you like this. Think of all the private conversations we can have.
Oh yeah. How do you think me and Max came up with the cotton ball prank? We talked this way about it. Graydon never saw it coming.
I chuckle.
“We should tell the guys. Remind me to ask Max if he can hear me when I telepathically talk to you. If so, I’ll have to work on a way to block that from happening ,” Callie says. I place her on her feet making sure she is steady before I move away. She smiles at me before she turns to walk into the living room. I watch the sway of her hips as she does.
Oh, I know exactly how I’m going to use my telepathic ability. Callie has heard nothing yet.
Callyn
It’s a couple of days later, and we’re sitting in the diner sharing dessert, when Kelsey walks in with the arm of someone I don’t know around her shoulders. I nudge Lucian with my elbow and gesture with my hand toward Kelsey.
“Who's that?”
Lucian frowns. “I don’t know.” He takes a look around the diner. “Hey, guys,” all of the boys look at him. “Is it me or does it seem like there is an increase of people and shifters here that we don’t know?”
With no subtlety at all, they all look around the diner. “You’re right. I wonder why?” Zeke asks.
“I don’t like this,” Graydon growls. I had to agree. Something is going on. “Max go pay so we can get out of here.”
Everyone chips in, throwing money in the center of the table. Max scoops it up and heads to the register. The rest of us were just finishing with our hats and gloves when Max returns. He quickly grabs his things, and we leave. I think we all let out a sigh of relief when the cold winter air hits us. The temperatures have been dropping, and there is snow covering the ground. We are surrounded by mountains after all. I don't like this kind of cold, and the boys say it’s only going to get worse. Max waits until we were all in Zeke’s SUV before he says anything.
“I asked the waitress at the register if she knew what was going on. She said she heard a rumor that the pack north of here is going to be in town for a while. Apparently, there has been some trouble there.”
“It would make sense that they would send them here. We are the closest town with an Elder Council. What better way to check on problem shifters than to have them in your own town,” Lucian replied.
“Let’s hope that’s all they’re here for,” Graydon grumbled.
In hindsight, we should have taken this as foreshadowing.
Callyn
“God, look at that.” Cat points down the hall, while she leans against the locker next to mine.
Kelsey is wrapped up in the same dude from the diner. It wouldn’t be so bad, but what they are doing isn’t exactly PG-13. They’re a step away from needing to get a room. Cat makes a gagging noise. I have to agree. I may kiss the guys and hold their hands in public, but that's as far as that goes. She really has no shame.
Some of the North Pack shifters are attending school while they are here. Lucky us. I roll my eyes. This will be an everyday occurrence.
“I almost feel sorry for him. He has no idea what a truly vile person she is,” Cat states.
“No, but he’ll learn eventually. Plus, she hasn’t tried to come after any of my guys since he’s shown up. I can’t say that I’m mad about that.”
“True. Small miracles I guess.”
I turn back to my locker and finish getting my stuff together. It wasn’t long before I felt a pair of arms slide around my waist. Max. I love his smell. He smells like sunshine and summer.
“Angel,” he says right before he plants a wet kiss on my cheek. “I’ve missed you.”
“How? We rode in the same car here, and we were literally part for only five minutes.”
“Five minutes too long.” I roll my eyes. I turn around and pat him lightly on his cheek.
“Yes, but this is the only time I get to see Cat at school. This is the only time I have to talk about all of you to her.”
“You don’t do that,” he scoffs.
“Uh, yeah, she does,” Cat interjects.
“Why, Callie, I never,” he acts all offended, but I giggle because I know he’s playing around.
“You never what?” Graydon asks, as him and the rest of the guys make their way to my locker.
“Your Callie bear here, talks about us to kitty Cat.”
“Oh, really. And just what do you say?”
“That’s for me to know and for you to never find out. Girlfriend code,” I say.
> “Aww, angel.” Max gives me his big puppy dog eyes. Oh, no, we’re not doing that.
“Don’t even try to pull those eyes on me. It won’t work,” I say as I look away.
“Okay, Max, I’ll tell you,” Cat says. I whip my head toward her. I almost stop her, until I see the look on her face. Oh, this is going to be good. “You want to know what we were just talking about?”
Max nods his head and leans in closer to Cat. “I was just telling Callie about how bad my cramps were yesterday. My second day is always the worst. It’s so heavy and messy.” Max pales and backs up but, Cat matches him step for step and continues. “I hate how often I have to go to the bathroom to take care of things.”
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry I asked.” Max puts his hands up in a sign of surrender.
“Don’t you want to know more?”
He shakes his head no rapidly. He has this scared look upon his face as he does so. “No, no, no. I’m good.” He turns and practically runs down the hall.
“Is that what you guys really were talking about?” Graydon asks, looking a little green.
“No. We were talking about Kelsey's PDA.”
Graydon starts to laugh. “Serves him right.” Cat and I join him. I look up and see Zeke and Lucian walking down the hall toward us.
“Just be glad you didn’t continue down the same path as Max. I would have made the conversation so much worse,” Cat states.
“I believe you.”
“Where did Max go?” Lucian questions.
“I just gave him a dose of his own medicine for being a nosy little shit,” Cat says laughing.
“I want to know what happened,” Zeke says.
“I’ll tell you in Chemistry. We better get going before we’re late for class,” I say.
Cat gives me a quick hug and throws up the peace sign. “Peace out girl scout,” she says before taking off down the hall.
We all walk the opposite way. Graydon’s classroom is first.
“I’ll see you in a little bit.” I move forward and give him a hug before I continue down the hall with Lucian and Zeke.
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