Calliope - Book 3 - A collection of Short Stories

Nine days passed by agonizingly slow for the group. There was constant tension in the air as Eli avoided Alice. The first few days, he had traveled alone, making his way back home on his own. But something drew him back. The further he was from Alice, the more his body hurt. He hated it. They were not even mated, and she had a hold over him. So, when he returned to the wagon, he would refuse to even look in her direction.

Likewise, Alice made sure to avoid Eli. She ignored his alluring scent, choosing instead to occupy her time with Caleb. Though, she sometimes felt a burning gaze on her when she was alone. She would always look around, but she would never see Eli.

At one point, when she was looking for the source of the eyes that were on her, Zeke, Eli’s companion, approached her. He smirked as he pointed up into the tree. She was confused, but she looked upward. Near the top of the tree, she could see him, she could see Eli hiding away. She could not hold back a chuckle as she looked at him. A wolf in a tree, especially so far up, was unusual.

On the morning of the ninth day, Eli left camp early. They were not far from the Royal Moon pack boundaries, and he was ready to escape the source of his torment. Alice breathed a sigh of relief when she awoke and was unable to smell him. It allowed for everyone else to relax for the last leg of their journey.

Caleb sat in the back of the wagon with Millie and Alice. Usually, he was talkative, but today, he was anxious. He had been away from Calliope for nearly a month. He could leave them and run to her in under 30 minutes. But he promised Alice that he would not leave her side for the journey.

“Are there other kids there?” Millie suddenly asked, filling the silence with her soft voice.

“Yes, plenty,” Caleb nodded as he looked at her.

“Are they all your grandkids?” Alice inquired curiously. “I know you said you have six children, but I don’t recall whether they live with you.”

“The two oldest girls do not live with us,” he answered sadly. “Their mates were alphas, so they left the Royal Moon pack to join the packs of their mates. Our youngest daughter, Zoe, does live with us. Her mate, a beta, chose to become a delta warrior and join our pack. She actually just had her first baby a few days ago.”

“I’m sorry you weren’t there for the birth,” she murmured as she looked down.

“I have sat in the corridor for many births. I shall be around for many, many more,” he smiled reassuringly.

“Our sons do still live with us. Liam resides in the nearby town with his mate. But his eldest son and his mate live with us. Our youngest son, Brent, and all of his children live with us as well.”

“How many grandchildren do you have?”

“Oh man, that is a Calliope question,” he chuckled. “I lost count after ten. Let’s see… five, nine, fourteen, seventeen, eighteen! We currently have eighteen grandchildren and two great-grands!”

“Since you and your mate are still young…looking, do you think you will have any more children?” Alice questioned.

“I hope not,” Caleb laughed. “It has been nice getting uninterrupted sleep for the most part. Occasionally, Cali gets up and helps with any newborns or sick children.”

Caleb looked off into the distance and perked up. He could see the castle coming into view. He pointed it out to the little girl.

“Look there, Millie,” he instructed as he smiled. “That is your new home.”

“It’s so big!” She exclaimed with excitement. “Look, Mommy!”

“I see,” Alice murmured as her heart began to race.

There was something that she was feeling. Her wolf was waking up after having been pushed down for so long. There was an aura, a spiritual feeling that caused a tingling down her spine. It wasn’t a mate bond. This did not elicit feelings of love and desire. This was a raw, dominating power. The closer they got, the heavier it weighed on her.

After a few minutes, the entire palace was in view. Out front, many people stood around, waiting on the group. Caleb jumped from the wagon, shifting into Altan. His and Eli’s companion shifted as well, rushing toward the palace. All three men shifted back to their human forms once near their mates, tightly embracing them. Alice could not help but smile as she watched. Caleb peppered Calliope’s face with kisses as he swung her around. Once he let her go, he was tackled by a horde of children of all ages, all wanting to greet their grandfather.

But then Alice met Calliope’s gaze. She held it for a moment, but then quickly looked down. It was her. The heaviness, the aura, it was Calliope. She was the reason that her wolf was waking up, against Alice’s will. She had suppressed her wolf for so long. It was not the time; she was not ready.

When the wagon came to a stop, only Calliope approached. Alice remained unmoving, her eyes glued to the floor of the wagon. But Millie quickly stood, excited for all of the new things. She immediately went to Calliope.

“You must be Millie?”

“I am!”

“Welcome, little lady,” Calliope smiled as she held out a stuffed doll. “I have a gift for you.”

“Thank you!” Millie yelled as she took the doll in her hands. She hugged it and smiled brightly up to Calliope.

“Why don’t you go to Caleb over there? Let me speak with your mother for a minute.”

Millie nodded her head. She glanced briefly at Alice before running to Caleb. Calliope stood there, looking at the woman in front of her. She could tell she had a wolf from a mile away. She could feel the aura of another Great Luna. It was a similar feeling to when she first met Gianna, Theo’s mother. It brought a smile to her face.

“Come, Alice,” Calliope instructed as she held out a hand.

She did not need to command her. It would not work. Greats cannot command other Greats. But she knew she had a pull over the girl. Giizis had a pull over her wolf. Alice did not even hesitate. She stood from her seat and went to Calliope. Once on the ground, Calliope put a finger under her chin, forcing her to make eye contact.

“There you are,” Calliope whispered.

“Here I am,” Alice uttered. She felt as if she were a child in front of this woman. Though they were of similar heights, she felt utterly small. She looked at the youthful face of the ancient power before her. She could hardly believe that Calliope was over 200 years old.

“Come, we have much to discuss, but we can save it for tomorrow. For now, let me take you and your daughter to your rooms,” Calliope said as she led Alice to the others.

Alice looked around at all of the smiling faces, but they stepped to the side in an attempt to not overcrowd her. Her eyes searched, but she could not see Eli nor smell him. But why did she search for him? She did not care about him. His absence should make her happy if anything. Her wolf growled within her soul, nagging at her.

She held Millie’s hand as they walked inside. Both of them could not help but gasp when they looked around. Though the corridor was large, it felt warm and cozy. There were several paintings along the wall, ranging from professional art to the paintings of children. They went up to the second floor and stopped in front of a large set of doors.

“Here we are,” Calliope smiled as she opened the doors.

They walked into a large entertainment room, that had several chairs and couches around a large fireplace. Across from them were windowed doors that led to a large balcony. Off to the side was a desk, as well as a box filled with toys. Millie squealed as she ran over to them, taking everything out and examining it.

Calliope brought Alice to a room to the right. It was a small bedroom decorated with more toys and little furniture.

“This is Millie’s room,” she said before taking Alice to the left side of the entertaining room. This was a larger bedroom with a huge bed and its own attached bathroom. “We got plumbing put in about 30 years ago. We have fresh, running water throughout the entire palace. Hot water, cold water, whatever you desire. In both yours and Millie’s closet are clothes. Sorry, nothing is new; I didn’t know your sizes. So, I gathered some extras from my children and grandchildren. If there is more you need, please let me know.”

“This is all too much,” Alice whispered, dumbfounded by everything she saw. No one had ever been this nice to her. No one had ever given her things without asking for anything in return. She knew that they expected her to be a Great Luna, that she was still the mate to their son, but they weren’t pressuring her. They were not reminding her of what she owed them.

“Nonsense! Now, rest up. We eat dinner downstairs in the Dining Hall, but if you don’t feel up for company, I shall bring food to you.”

“Thank you,” Alice smiled as she gave Calliope a bow.

“Please, no bowing to me,” Calliope begged as she placed a hand on Alice’s arm. “You and I are equals. You bow to no one.”

Alice blushed with embarrassment as she nodded. She and Millie spent the rest of the evening in their rooms, resting and adjusting to their new life. Calliope requested Alice go to the training grounds the next day while Millie went to play with other children her age.

Once outside, she noticed Calliope standing by herself in the sandy arena. Only a few women were standing off to the side. Otherwise, no one was nearby. Alice relaxed, not feeling the pressure of eyes on her. She approached Calliope, holding back the urge to bow to her.

“Caleb has told me that you can make things hot with your hands,” Calliope started. “I’m assuming another gift is your ability to hide your wolf?”

“It is more of me pushing my wolf down than hiding,” Alice mumbled.

“When was the last time you shifted?”

“Before Millie was born,” Alice replied as she looked down.

“And your wolf does not protest?” Calliope questioned curiously.

“If she does, I do not hear her. When I suppress my wolf, nearly every part of her becomes dormant.” Alice explained.

“I see,” Calliope nodded as she approached Alice. “What is her name?”

“Ema.”

“A short but good name,” Calliope nodded. “Today, I want to see Ema, nothing else. But first, I shall shift. I want to warn you, though, that Giizis will be larger than you might expect. But don’t be afraid. She shall not attack you so long as you do not attack her. Understand?”

“You speak as if your wolf makes all the decisions when you shift,” Alice commented as she furrowed her brows.

“That is because she does,” Calliope stated as she walked away. “I have no control while in wolf form. Likewise, Giizis has no control over my gifts while I am in human form.”

Calliope turned around, facing Alice once again. The sand began to swirl around her feet as static began to build around her. Calliope closed her eyes as she took in a deep breath. When she exhaled, her body began to transform. Her bones snapped as they broke, rebuilding her into her wolf. Giizis stood tall as her eyes studied Alice. One of her companions walked over.

“She requests that you shift,” the woman told Alice.

Alice nodded her head. She could not remember what it was like to shift. It had been so long. She had feared being in her wolf form. She did not necessarily fear her wolf, but she feared what others would say. She had known she was different when she shifted early. Due to her being isolated her entire life and from her old parents' ramblings, she assumed that everyone was a threat to her. But now, being in front of Calliope, her wolf wanted to obey her. Even she felt compelled to obey. Calliope’s aura dug deep into her very mind and soul.

Alice tried to mimic Calliope. She closed her eyes, waiting for the pain of shifting. But it never came. She opened her eyes, confused as to what to do.

“Close your eyes again, but this time, imagine yourself in your wolf form,” the woman beside her explained. “Call for her; she will come.”

Alice nodded as she closed her eyes again. She had only shifted once in her entire life. A day that she wished never to remember. But she tried to remember what it was like to shift. She tried to remember what she looked like, what Ema looked like. Then she dug deep into her soul. She called for her wolf, urging her forward.

After a few seconds, she could feel the pain radiate through her body. It was severe, causing her to scream in agony. And then suddenly, the pain stopped. She opened her eyes, surprised to see that it worked. She had shifted, and it felt so effortless! Ema stretched her legs, excited to finally be out again.

A large white wolf and a slightly smaller dark brown wolf stood on the sandy arena. Ema approached Giizis slowly, but she wagged her tail and displayed her neck. Giizis sniffed her, but she did not move. She watched the young wolf move around, curious as to her movements.

Eli came running around the corner. He had heard Alice scream, and though he tried not to care for her, Dirge forced him to check on her. She was their mate, after all. He froze when he saw her wolf. She was dark brown, and her fur looked thick. This could be because she was born and raised in the northern territories. It was colder there; she would need extra insulation. Eli watched as Giizis began to walk around Alice, sniffing her, studying her.

Dirge growled, wanting to go out and see her. But Eli shook his head. He did not want to go out there and ogle at her. He was disgusted by her. He had gone his entire life not touching another woman. And yet here she was, sleeping with men before turning 18. It made him angry to think of others touching her. Of their eyes looking at her before he could.

He stormed onto the sand, shifting quickly into Dirge. Though Dirge wanted to rub against his mate, Eli did not want that. He was angry with her. He wanted to show her that she was not welcome. That even though his parents protected her, he did not want her.

I want to fight her, to see if she is strong, he mind-linked Calliope.

His snarling made Alice and Ema both whimper. Alice lowered herself onto the sand, submitting to him. But Eli did not care; he approached her, ready to attack. Before he could lunge, Giizis stood over the whimpering wolf. She growled back to Eli.

Don’t you dare, Calliope warned Eli. She is my successor. You shall not harm her.

She is not yours! Eli snapped. She is my mate, and I will do with her as I please!

Giizis ran to Eli, snapping at him. He ducked away from her, but she swung her paw at him, striking him in the side. He knew better than to attack his mother’s wolf, but she was persistent in her attacks. Giizis was finally able to pin him to the ground, her mouth mere inches from his throat. Eli had no choice but to shift back into his human form to show Giizis that he was no longer a threat. Only then did she get off of him.

During the quick fight, Alice shifted, unsure of what to do. She felt afraid for Eli, but at the same time, she thought he deserved it. She could tell what he wanted to do. But she was surprised when Calliope’s wolf shielded her. After Eli left the training grounds, Calliope shifted back. She looked at Alice with a sad expression.

“I’m so sorry,” she said as she approached Alice.

“Don’t apologize for his actions,” Alice scowled. “He can make his own decisions.”

“Yes, but I raised him better than that,” Calliope sighed as she shook her head. She was angry with Eli. She could not believe that he would dare try to fight his new mate so blatantly. “If he ever tries to do that again, you let me know.”

“You can’t protect me forever,” Alice argued. “If he does it again, I will face him. I need to show him that I am not weak.”

“Then you start training tomorrow,” Calliope stated as she looked Alice in the eyes. “And you shall train with me.”