Jorge's POV ....
'Jorge, my office. Now.'
Kameron's voice echoed in my mind through the mind link.
"Perfect," I muttered to myself as I moved away from my desk.
Kameron was going to have a go at me for what happened in the healing center. I had been anticipating this.
I walked through the packhouse towards Kameron's office. A few pack members moved aside as I passed through the halls. I could feel their stares and hear their hushed whispers. I was a leader that was not loved but feared. They respected me because of that.
Many would have opted to have the love of their people, but not me. Love was fickle and a pointless emotion that led to stupid and avoidable situations. I preferred fear. It inspired obedience, and obedience meant an efficient and effective pack.
My alpha, on the other hand, disagreed with me.
He sought the love of his people, which he believed earned him their respect. He said we needed to serve others in order to be great leaders.
I disagreed with him. Machiavelli once said that it is better to be feared than loved if you cannot have both.
I stood at his door, knocked twice, and waited.
"Come in," I heard his muffled voice from inside the study.
He looked up from his large desk and gestured for me to approach. I closed the door behind me, walked up to his desk, and sat in the chair. Kameron leaned into his leather chair and set his papers down onto his desk. He stared at me for a moment, a thing he often did when he was trying to remind me of my place.
"What was that in the healing center, Jorge?"
"What do you mean, Alpha?"
He furrowed his brows. "Jorge, don't play dumb with me. What you did to Callie was out of line, even for you."
I wanted to say a lot but I held my tongue. I learned very early on that, when Kameron had pent-up frustrations in him, it was best just to let him get it all out before you tried to say anything to him.
"What were you even thinking? The woman came to us barely weighing anything, her wolf holding on for dear life, and then you come along and terrorize her. We're lucky she didn't lash out from all your harassment, Jorge. You left claw marks on her body. You nearly lost control."
I sat in my chair silently as I allowed him to have a go at me. I bit down on my tongue to keep me from responding to him, and instead, I just nodded.
"Are you not going to say anything?"
I wanted to say a whole lot, but I knew it would only lead to more confrontation and neither of us needed that right now.
I'm sorry, Alpha. I was only trying to do my job, and it got a little out of hand. It won't happen again.
I was lying. If given the opportunity, I would lock her up and throw away the key so she could rot.
Kameron pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. I got used to reading Kameron's social cues by now. Whatever his frustrations were, they were not all my fault. I was willing to bet my title that his frustrations had more to do with that girl than they did with me.
Normally, if we found a rogue wandering on our lands, Kameron would have ordered for them to be placed into one of the cells until they started talking. But he was doing everything possible to make sure that that girl was comfortable.
"Forgive me, Alpha." The words pained me to say them, but I knew it needed to be done. I had to play the long game. It was important that I didn't lose focus.
He sighed. "It's fine. Just stay out of her way, Jorge and leave her alone."
"Yes, Alpha."
"Good." He got up from his chair. "I'm moving out of the packhouse and going back to my home."
What? He hated his home.
"Why, Alpha?"
He shrugged. "I need the change of scenery. And Flo is coming in the next few days. I need to start preparing for her arrival."
I wasn't fully convinced, but I didn't say anything further. His moving out of the packhouse wasn't a major concern to me. The more distance between us, the better.
Kameron walked toward his office and I followed behind him. We parted ways when he continued down the stairs and I turned to go to my room.
I walked back to my room with only one thing on my mind: Callie. There was something not quite right about that girl. I couldn't quite place what it was, but I knew that something was afoot. She was lying to us all, and Kameron was being oblivious to it.
I needed to make a few calls and I knew exactly who I needed to start with. I pulled out my phone and scrolled to the number I was looking for.
He answered the third ring.
"Alpha Scott, how are you?"
***
Kameron's POV ...
I walked through the door onto the front hall, half-expecting to see Callie waiting for me by the door. But I knew she was most likely resting.
I walked past the living room and found no one and then walked to the kitchen where I heard some noises. But, when I rounded the corner to the kitchen, all I saw was the kitchen staff.
"Alpha," they greeted me.
I nodded and left them to their work. Where was she?
I followed her scent until I got to the end of the hall, where I knew there was a small guest room.
Why had Rex put her in here? This room didn't even have a bathroom and it had an obscured view of the compound. You could barely even see the mountains.
I knocked on the door and waited. I didn't know if she was sleeping or not. It had been nearly four hours since I last saw her. I was about to turn around and leave her when I heard her sweet voice call from the other side of the door.
"Come in," she said.
I straightened my back and opened the door. I found her laying on the small bed, staring up at the ceiling. When she noticed my presence, she sat up quickly.
"Alpha Kameron," she greeted me.
"Please, call me Kameron." I walked over to the bed.
"Isn't that a bit inappropriate, seeing as I am not as high rank as you are?"
"I think, as my mate, you have the right to drop my title."
I watched her eyes go wide at my words. It was the first time I was acknowledging us as mates. There was no use tiptoeing around the elephant that was in the room. You knew?" Her sapphire eyes looked right through me. I had never seen eyes quite like hers.
"They were like this rare jewel that I wanted to keep for myself. Of course I did."
I was surprised by how soft my voice came out. There was a tenderness to it that was new to me.
A lock of her red hair fell on her face as she cast her eyes down to her feet. On instinct, I reached out and brushed the strand away. When my fingers made contact with her cheek, I felt the spark that surged through my entire body.
Callie gasped, snapping her jewel eyes to me. The world around us stood still and everything faded into the background except for her. All I could see at that moment was her.
I glanced down to her lips and then back to her eyes. I could see every emotion circulating behind them like a tidal wave. Her tongue darted out to wet her perfectly plump lips and I did everything in my power not to groan at her actions.
She was a walking temptress and she didn't even know it. I don't know who leaned in first, but, suddenly, the space between us was slowly disappearing until we were mere inches from each other.
I could feel her hot breath fanning my face. All I needed to do was lean forward and my lips would be on hers.
I watched her eyes flutter closed as she anticipated what I was already aching to do.
I only needed to close the distance and take her lips with mine. My wolf was urging me to. My eyes fluttered closed.
No.
I pulled away from her and dropped my hand from the side of her face.
Callie's eyes snapped open and I could see the rejection on her face. Her eyes held a lot of hurt, but as quickly as it came, it faded again.
I watched her walls go back up before my very eyes and she was back to being guarded Callie.
She cleared her throat, scooting further away from me. I wanted nothing more than to pull her into me and finish what I started, but I didn't. It wouldn't be fair to her to sell her a dream that could never become a reality. I was engaged to be married.
"I'm feeling tired all of a sudden," she mumbled. " I think I need to sleep some more." She was about to lay down but I grabbed her shoulder.
"You should lie down in one of the beds upstairs. They are far more comfortable and you'll find it easier to sleep."
"I can't go upstairs-Rex said I shouldn't climb the stairs because I could fall. It's why he put me in this room," she explained.
"Really, it's fine, Kameron."
The way she said my name was like honey to my ears.
"Then I'll carry you."
Her eyes widened. "No, that won't be necessary. I'm fine here, Kameron. The room is cozy and warm and enough for me."
It was too late. I already scooped her into my arms, bridal-style, and started walking toward the stairs.
Callie didn't try to fight me or pull away from my hold, which I was grateful for. As I walked through the halls of my house, she rested her head in the crook of my neck. The familiar scent of vanilla and rose petals filled my lungs and I felt my wolf stir.
I tightened my hold on her as I began to ascend the stairs. I looked down at the woman in my arms, completely taken by her beauty. All I could think about at that moment was how right it felt to have Callie in my arms.
She fit just right, like the space was specifically made for her. Being this close to her made every little worry and burden I had been carrying throughout the day feel weightless.
'Moon Goddess,' I thought, 'what kind of cruel joke are you playing at?'