Chapter 30
The Boys- Lucian
We all reluctantly leave Callyns room but she needs to do this. It’s the first step to her healing. We all walk quietly back to the waiting room. Our parents look up. My grandma is the first to speak up.
“How is she?”
“Bruised, broken, scared, but she’s hanging in there best she can.”
“We saw the cops go back, I take that as a good sign and she’s finally going to stop that monster?”
I nod my head. “Yeah, but I’m scared, Grammy.” She gets up and comes over to me. She pulls me off to the side.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just-I just.” I don’t how to explain it.
“You love her, don’t you?” she questions.
Did I love her? I think I might be fallen in love with her.
“I love her like I do the guys, as my friends. But I think I might be Grammy. I might be fallen in love with her.”
“Love is scary Lucian.” I shake my head.
“That’s not why I’m scared.” I glance up at the others, my eyes finding each of my friends. “What if she doesn’t want any of us like we do her? What if she can’t cope with being a mate to four guys? She is my destined, my one. What if she doesn’t feel the same because she is human? What if I’m not enough or she doesn’t want me as one of her mates? I hate not being able to tell her but keeping secrets isn’t going to help any of this or anyone.”
“Oh, Luke, you are enough. Do you hear me?” I nod. “Good. Now, I think this is a conversation you need to have with your friends. You guys need to come up with a solution, whatever that may be. But you don’t push her into anything. Ultimately this must be Callyn’s decision. I will talk to your grandfather. The Council has stalled long enough. That girl in there could have lost her life. I will not stand by and let that happen.
And I think you may be wrong about Callyn not wanting you. I believe she wants all of you just as much as you want her. She may not end up a shifter, but I believe she feels the effects like you do, just not to the same degree. I think it’s about time you boys tell her who she is to you. I’ll deal with your grandfather.”
I nod my understanding. Grammy gives me a quick hug and goes back over to her seat. I look around and catch my friend’s eyes. I let out a breath as they all walk over to me.
“You okay?” Max asks.
“Yes and no. But…but I think it’s time we talk. My grandmother thinks it’s time to tell Callyn that she is our mate. She said she will help deal with Council. She is not happy with the way things have turned out. But we do need to talk about how each of us feels about Callyn and the possibility that she may want one or none of us. She is human, and we don’t know how well she will take this news.”
This conversation should have already happened, but we were listening to the Council. I think it’s about time that we stopped.
Graydon
No way in hell will I not give a fighting chance to be Callyn. Did it cross my mind that she may not want any of us? No. But I must hold out hope that she does. I know that a relationship with four guys is unconventional to a human, but as shifters we understand. The question is, can we help Callyn understand? I know how I feel about her. How deep my emotions for her run. I think the guys need to confess theirs as well. Looks like I’m going to get the ball rolling.
“I’m falling in love with her. I want her and I think she wants me, possibly all of us,” I state boldly. I was waiting for the yelling to start but it didn’t. No one said anything. I look around meeting each of their eyes. Zeke was the first to break the silence.
“I agree with Graydon, with all of it.”
“Me three,” states Max.
“I do as well.”
“I figured as much. Well, where the hell do we go from here?”
“I don’t know, but now really isn’t the time. We can talk later when Callyn is resting. We also have to decide when we want to tell her,” Lucian says.
I say we tell her as soon as we go back to her room, but logically, we should wait until she is feeling better. I just don’t know how much longer we can wait.
∞∞∞
Another hour and a half goes by before we see the police leave. Our parents left about an hour ago, making us promise to tell them the second something changes. Also, that we aren’t supposed to stay here all night and we are expected to come home. Like I’m going to listen. Callyn literally doesn’t have anyone right now. I can’t leave her here by herself. After everyone’s confessions, I doubt they will leave either.
We watch the police stop and talk to her doctor for a moment before turning and walking out the door. Callie’s doctor walks over to us.
“Callyn has asked for you guys to return to her room when you can. Visiting hours are done at ten,” he says sternly, before turning and walking away.
We all get up and start walking back to her room. I pause outside her door, turning to look at the guys. “We can’t say anything to Callie yet. We don’t even know what we are doing, let alone what she just went through. We have to give her time to heal. Agreed?” I say barely above a whisper.
I look each of them in the eyes and they all nod their heads in agreement. I turn back and knock on Callyn’s door.
“Callie bear, it’s us.”
“Come on in.”
We all file in and take up post around her room. I look at her face and her eyes are red and puffy. She’s been crying again. I clear my throat. God, I hate this.
“How are you holding up?” I ask.
“Best as can be expected, I guess.”
“I hate to ask Callie bear but what did the police say.”
I see her eyes well up with fresh tears, and I feel like an ass for asking, but I need to know. She lets out a deep breath.
“They are going to go and arrest him. I told them about my aunt. They said that they will try to locate and find her. If they can’t before I’m released, I’m going to have to go to a group home. I don’t want to, but I don’t have a choice.”
Callyn breaks down and starts crying. Lucian and I sit on one side of her bed, Zeke and Max on the other. All of us put a hand on her leg.
“When are they going to release you?” Lucian questions.
“The day after tomorrow. What if my father’s not there when they go arrest him? He has to know that the cops would be called.”
We glance quickly at each other. Chances are that he is passed out drunk in his room. We didn’t think about him trying to skip town. Someone should have stayed to make sure, but we didn’t know if Callyn would tell the police. I send a quick message to my dad to see if someone can go to Callyn’s and make sure everything goes well when the cops arrest her father. I send the address. A few seconds later, he lets me know that Lucian’s grandmother already had it taken care of. Elder Harris is going to Callyn’s to watch things. We were so worried about her that nothing else mattered. It still doesn’t. Callie comes first and always will.