Calliope's Mate - Book 2
Chapter 8

Caleb lay in his bed, holding the stuffed wolf in his hands. Today was the day he was going to see Calliope again. He didn’t know if it was the toy or something else, but he felt as if she was often with him.

Since the festival day, he has worked on seeing his own wolf again. He worked on meditating, as Calliope had suggested, but so far, it was no use. He couldn't see his work or any other person's memories.

During Calliope’s visit, he intended to ask her why he couldn’t use his gifts. Or did he want to be near her? Was she his source of energy? Energy. He had been reading about it in one of the books she sent.

He looked across his room at his desk. All the books she sent were sitting in a neat pile. Alpha Bennett didn’t see a need to get him a teacher, rather, they left him to learn on his own.

He sniffed the stuffed wolf. The scent of lemongrass and sage was faint. He looked down to the floor. He had been hiding the wolf under one of the loose planks so his mother didn’t see it. But today, since Calliope was coming, he wouldn’t hide it. He set it on his bedside table and sat up.

Being in his own bedroom, back home with his parents, was nice. Even his little sister began talking to him again. Though, she always had a twinkle of fear in her eyes. His mother was still distant, though at the command of Alpha Bennett, she was not abusive towards him. Usually.

He had noticed the biggest change from his father. Aaron was one of the two people responsible for his combat training. His dad was tough on him, but he was also very informative. If Caleb fell, Aaron would be there to explain what went wrong.

All of this became Caleb’s new normal. He spent his mornings training and his evenings studying. He tried to help around the house with chores, always putting a smile on his face. He didn’t want anyone else to know of his internal struggle. His emotions constantly fought each other.

He knew he needed to kill Calliope, but yet he felt like he needed her. He felt he could change her, make her not as dangerous as she once was. Or, perhaps, he could imprison her. Build a nice cabin, put her there, away from everyone else. But he could still visit her and spend time with her while he ruled instead. Something other than kill her.

Caleb heard howls outside. She was here. He quickly got dressed and rushed outside. But, when he saw his mother, he slowed down. He didn’t want to seem eager in front of her. He didn’t want her to be angry with him later.

When he stepped outside, he saw her standing in the morning light. She was handing out food to the people of his pack. Her smile was bright and vibrant. But he was hesitant. There was something in the pit of his stomach. Nervousness? Why was he nervous to see her again?

Calliope passed out all of the food that they had brought. She was happy to see that everyone was well-fed and that the pack seemed to prosper. Another prospective pack to the south had recently joined with the Eclipse pack. It made the population rise into the triple digits.

She reached onto the wagon and grabbed a small box with a twine ribbon. Her eyes brightened when she saw Caleb across the village market, looking at her. She walked over to him but was intercepted by Alpha Bennett.

“Welcome, Great Luna!” He said. He reached out to touch her arm. “Welcome!”

Paige stepped forward and pulled his hand from her arm.

“You do not touch her,” she growled at Bennett. "Don’t act so familiar to her.”

“I’m sorry,” he replied as he stepped back. “I’m not used to all of these Royal customs.”

Caleb approached and took Calliope’s hand, not making a sound as he did so. Bennett looked at him and frowned.

“I hope you don’t mind that I take the Great Alpha for a walk?” Calliope asked Bennett. “I’ve been in my wolf form for some time, and I need to stretch out my human legs.”

“Of course,” he nodded, though he wanted to refuse her. He didn’t want them to be alone, but he didn’t want to argue with her. “But I shall tag along to guard. It is dangerous in the outer territories, after all.”

“While they talk, I’d like to go over the plans for your village,” Paige told Bennett, directing him to his home. “I have some packs donating several trees to help build more homes.”

Bennett couldn’t help but be pulled by Paige. She was a born Luna; her power overshadowed his. There was a difference between a born leader and a chosen leader. He may have been his pack's strongest Moon wolf, but that didn’t make him a natural Alpha. And as such, he couldn’t deny Paige.

Calliope smiled as she watched Paige drag off Bennett. She then turned to look at Caleb.

“Hello, Caleb,” she whispered.

“Hello, Cali,” he smiled back.

“Cali? That is an interesting name.”

“If you don’t like it, I won’t call you that,” Caleb quickly said as he looked down. Calliope gently took his chin and lifted his gaze to hers.

“You may call me whatever you’d like.”

Caleb nodded, and his grip on her hand tightened. A teenage boy walked up to them and bowed to Calliope.

“Oh!” Caleb said as he went to stand by the boy. “This is Waylon. He is my cousin and my companion. Waylon, this is Calliope.”

Waylon bowed again to Calliope.

“Nice to meet you, young man,” she replied. “While here, why don’t you talk to my companion, Briana? She can help explain to you what your duties to Caleb are.”

Waylon nodded and looked at the older woman that Calliope pointed out. Briana walked over and motioned for Waylon to follow. Calliope smiled now that it was just her and Caleb.

“Why don’t you take me to your favorite place?” She asked.

“Can I take you to where I meditate?”

“I’d love to see it.”

Caleb retook her hand and led her out of the village. He took her up the rocky ridge she had seen over a year ago. At the top, the rock was flat and was freshly swept.

“I’m the only one that comes up here,” he said as he sat on the ground. “I come here to read sometimes, meditate, or to get away.”

“It is very quiet here,” Calliope noted as she sat down. She held the box out to Caleb. “I know your birthday was last month, but I’m not the best at stitch work. It took me a little longer than I anticipated.”

Caleb took the box with excitement and opened it. Inside was a cloak. It was made with dark brown leather and had red fox fur around the top.

“The part that took me the longest is on the inside,” Calliope said as she held it out for him.

The inner lining of the cloak had the crest of the Royal Moon pack at the top. It was hidden on the inside, so when he wore it, no one would know. She knew his family and the Alpha would not allow him to wear it otherwise. But she wanted him to have something of his future. Something he could look forward to.

Caleb grinned as he put it on. It was slightly big for him.

“I made it so you could use it for a few years. I hope you like it?”

“I love it! I hadn’t gotten anything for my bir-” Caleb said before he cut off his words. He wasn’t supposed to tell Calliope that. She wasn’t supposed to know. “Cali, please don’t say anything. Please?”

“It’s fine,” she reassured him. “I won’t say anything. Same with you about the crest. Agreed?”

“Agreed.”

“Good, now, how is meditating going?”

“Not good,” Caleb sighed as he sat back down. “I can’t recreate my gift. I can’t see my wolf again.”

His eyes went wide, and he covered his mouth. Why was she so easy to talk to? Why did he always drop his guard around her?

“You’ve seen your wolf?” She asked. “What did he look like?”

Caleb didn’t look at her; he looked down at the ground. He was going to be in trouble when he got home tonight. He shook his head and blinked back the tears that threatened to fall.

“Come here,” Calliope instructed gently.

Caleb looked up at her and saw her hand held out to him. He hesitantly took it and moved closer to her.

“Can I try something?” She asked. “I can do something to make it where I can see your wolf, and you can see mine. Do you want to try?”

He nodded his head. She placed a hand on the back of his head and moved his head until their foreheads touched. She took a deep breath. When she exhaled, she found herself standing in front of a giant wolf. He had a solid black face, and his legs were solid black. But the rest of his body was black, gray, and white speckled. He was an unusual-looking wolf. She hadn’t seen anyone else with the same patterns.

Hello, Cali, the wolf said to her. He laid down, and his tail wagged, causing the ground to thud under him.

Calliope looked at the surroundings. For Giizis, she was in a snowy terrain surrounded by trees. But this wolf was in a desert area, with a dark red sun setting behind him. She then looked at the wolf’s similarly colored eyes.

Do you have a name? Calliope asked as she walked over to him. She did not fear this new wolf. There was something familiar and comforting about him. But she didn’t know what it was.

I am called Altan, he answered slowly. It was as if this was the first time he had said his name. Calliope nodded and began to scratch his fur.

Why do you hide, Altan?

How do you know I hide? He questioned.

I am your mate; I can feel it. I can feel your fear. Why?

I cannot come to Caleb when he is stressed. His anxiety hinders me. And I don’t have the energy to push myself forward. And... his alpha... I wish I could say more.

Calliope scratched his ear. She thought of his name. Altan. No other Great had a wolf of this name. Was he new? But something about him felt old. She moved to stand in front of him.

I will try to help Caleb build his confidence, but he will need your help. He cannot do it alone, and I won’t always be here. She said gently.

I will do my best, for you. Altan replied as he leaned against her gently. Calliope patted his snout before stepping back. The wind swirled around her as she vanished.

She was back on the ridge with Caleb when she opened her eyes. Caleb, though, moved back from her. He was out of breath, and he was sweating.

“What’s wrong?” She asked.

“Your wolf! She is huge!”

“Oh, yes, I should have warned you,” Calliope laughed. She stopped when she noticed Caleb didn’t relax. She moved to him and took his hand. “I saw your wolf, though.”

“You did?”

“I did. He is a large wolf, almost as big as Giizis. He has an interesting fur pattern. And his name is Altan.”

“Altan? Can he talk? Your wolf didn’t talk to me.”

“Giizis can’t talk. She never has. She is the only wolf spirit that can’t. Everyone else has a wolf spirit that talks to them.” She replied.

“So why haven’t I seen him again?” He asked.

“Because of you.” She answered.

“Is something wrong with me? Am I not trying hard enough?”

“Actually, I think you’re trying too hard,” Calliope chuckled. “You are stressing yourself out and causing your wolf anxiety. Relax. Take deep breaths, and don’t get upset when you don’t get it. Believe me, I’ve been in your place. Meditating alone may not be the answer either.”

“Oh,” Caleb said with disappointment. He had hoped she would have a definite answer for him.

“Why don’t you show me your home? I’d love to see the house that Paige helped to build. Do you remember Paige?”

“The woman who went to talk with Alpha Bennett? I remember her. She comes often to help build either a home or business.”

“Yes, she is one of my personal advisors,” Calliope said as she followed Caleb back down to the valley. “Maybe when she visits, you should talk to her about what’s happening in the rest of the packs. Get used to some of the political goings-on?”

“Alright,” he nodded. As they neared his home, he stopped. “Actually, can we not go to my house? My mom might not like it.”

“Sure,” Calliope smiled. “We don’t have to. But if your stuffed wolf lost its scent, do you want to sneak it out to me? I can put my scent back on it?”

Caleb nodded and ran ahead. He went into his home quietly. He noticed his mom in the kitchen but continued to his room. He set his cloak down on his bed. He opened the window slowly and set the stuffed wolf on the sill. He went back outside and grabbed the wolf. He ran it to Calliope. She took the wolf in her hands and looked at it. He had kept it clean, and indeed, the scent was faint. She slipped it under her cloak.

“I’ll hold onto it for a few hours. Come get it from me when I get ready to leave.”

Caleb nodded and took her hand. He led her to where their companions were sitting. She spent several hours with Caleb. It made her happy to see him smile, to hear him laugh. Before she left, she talked to Alpha Bennett about Caleb being trained less. She explained that his wolf wouldn’t come out if Caleb was too anxious and stressed. She hoped that by doing this, Caleb's treatment would continue to improve. It was the only thing she could do for him.

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