"Selena"
Selena snapped out of her reverie. She smiled up at him with her big brown eyes, deciding to ignore whatever that was. Callum could swear he saw a golden comet orbit her corneas.
"You weren't by my side when I woke," she said softly. "What happened?"
"Dad wandered off again." He paused. "You know, his annual escapades?"
"For your Mom?"
"She's not my mother," Callum cut in, his tone acerbic. He looked away and Selena watched the rise and fall of his chest as he took in a deep breath. His mother whom he'd never even actually met. His mother who had abandoned them. That mother? "His Luna" he corrected her. "He went out in search of his long-lost Luna and he got ambushed by the Bloodfangs–"
Selena gasped.
"-But thanks to Vesper, we were there right on time before things could get out of hand"
"What? How is he?"
"He's out...actually" Then he smiled at her, "But he'll be fine," he immediately brushed it aside.
"Come on" he reached down and swept Selena off the ground. Her eyes bulged, caught off guard, and then she giggled. "Let's get back to bed"
And in the afternoon of that same day, he burst out the door with Selena in his arms.
"Let's go shoot some arrows!"
He carried her outside to the archery range. Selena had the first turn. Her arrow landed on the blue row of the target. Callum audibly stifled a laugh. Selena laughed too. And then it was Callum's turn. He stood sideways, warmed up his shoulders, relaxed, and brought the bow within his eye level. Narrowing his eyes, he pulled back before releasing the arrow.
Selena chortled. Confused, Callum lowered the bow away from his face. The arrow had landed on the black row. His surprised expression made Selena fall deeper into her fit of laughter. She bent over stomping her foot and clapping her knee. "Did you even try?" She cried.
Callum chuckled, pinching his nose bridge and kneading his brows.
"And you were so confident too" she wheezed.
Freya's little self silently appeared beneath the curved doorway of the archery range. Her face beamed as she spotted Selena and she ran over to her.
Selena stood there, waiting for the little girl to crash into her. "Freya!" Selena gave her a teddy hug. "How was school today?"
"Good"
"It was?" Selena kissed her rosy cheek.
"Freya?" Callum chimed in.
"Hey, Cal," Freya grinned. "Didn't see ya there"
A peculiar yet familiar scent pervaded Selena's nostrils. It was captivating, fogging her mind. There was a presence, stark and right there with them. The world fell into a static haze all around her. Her wolf stirred within her... in excitement? What was exciting right now?
Freya whispered into her ear, "Why is Lucian watching us?"
Selena froze. "Lucian?"
Freya discreetly motioned upwards with a tilt of her head. Selena lifted her gaze.
Sure enough, Lucian's visage loomed behind the circular window by the balcony. It was slightly high up, yet close enough to see everything. Their eyes locked.
So that's what hijacked her senses.
No.
This couldn't be real. Couldn't be now.
Her body moved instinctively. She detached herself from Freya, standing up straight. "Freya close your eyes!" She marched up to Callum.
Freya did as she was told, slapping her hands in front of her eyes, though she left a crack between her fingers just enough to see Selena pull Callum to herself by his sleeveless vest and smash her lips into his. She instantly regretted it. "Ugh! Not the smooching." She turned her face away.
Callum was taken aback. He held her waist, pulling her towards him and deepening their kiss. He could read the urgency beneath the kiss. It was a bit stepped up and not at their usual pace.
Selena had completely shut the world out. She was in love with Callum and it would stay that way. It was a kiss of reassurance. That she was still Callum's own and he was hers. It was to keep the thoughts that creeped in at bay. But most of all, it was to tame her wolf, silence it. She only pulled away when her wolf relaxed within her and her heart began to race. They pressed their foreheads together, breathless. Callum brought her face to his chest and inhaled her hair.
Selena checked to see if Lucian was still there. She closed her eyes, sighing with relief when she didn't see him.
"Can I open my eyes now?"
They chuckled quietly. "Yes Freya"
"And are you sure you weren't looking?" Callum asked her.
"Mhmm?" Freya nodded vigorously. "Um. And I'll go ahead to my bedroom now, okay?"
"Of course"
At a safe distance, when she came upon the stairwell, she paused. "Before you swallow each other's faces!"
Selena gasped. "Freya!"
Freya had sprinted off the stairs. Her giggling bounced off the walls.
"You alright?" Callum asked her.
She felt light in the head. And her forehead was moist. "Yeah. I think I just need some rest"
An Omega, clad in a fitted ash-grey tunic and long skirt, frock and apron, came to inform them that the Alpha had gained consciousness and would like everybody to meet at the Council Ring. "Strictly those marked by blood," she added before scampering off.
Callum inspected her face cupping it in his hands. "Will you be able to come? Do you feel well?"
"Yes," she grinned. "Don't worry about me."
"I wonder what we're meeting for?"
"I'm just glad he's awake"
"Me too"