Chapter 84: Dinner Talk

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Anna


As soon as we walked into the dining hall all eyes fell on me. I don't smell like a member of any pack, nor do I smell like a rogue. Or maybe, the rumors of the extremely attractive partner of council member Maddox reached them. Caleb keep walking to an empty table seemingly oblivious and I walked by his side ignoring the confused looks. I glanced at Anthony who was sitting by a big table in the middle of the room with Kevin, Tobias and other important Alphas and their mates. He winked at me and gave me thumbs up. I rolled my eyes and looked to the front.

"Your friend?" Caleb pulled out a chair for me. So, he did notice.

I thanked him and sat down. He sat across me.

"My friend and partner, actually."

His eyebrows shot up and he opened his mouth. Then, he looked away. "I see."

Why does he look so shocked? Wait. Is he so dense? "As in my work partner. Council members work in pairs."

He turned to look at me and beamed. "I have heard about council member Amores-Lobo." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I, actually, tried to visit the packs where you have been staying at but I seemed to always be a step behind." He chuckled nervously. "Why are you using your two last names, though?"

"Lobo is my biological father's last name. It is one of the few things that I have from him."

"I understand." His expression went serious. "Anna, there are so many things that I want to tell you and ask you."

I nodded. "I agree, but this is not the place or time."

"What about-"

Harper, one of the omegas gave me a side hug. "Anna! You are here. Are you staying longer this time?"

I smiled and awkwardly patted her arm with one hand. People seem to love hugging me even though I still cannot get used to it.

"I am not sure. It depends on how things play off."

She straightened up and pulled out a notepad. "Rice or potatoes? Beef or chicken?"

What to choose... What to choose. "I will have potatoes and chicken." I didn't feel like having rice for dinner today.

"I'll have the same." Caleb smiled and Harper practically melted right there.

I held a growl back. Almost no one knows that we are mates. Besides, I told everyone that I was in the path of becoming a nun. I had to keep unmated werewolves at bay somehow. Thanks to the rumors, everyone knows that I was rejected. They really have nothing better to talk about.

After thirty seconds Harper was still frozen in there staring at my mate. I snapped my fingers. "Wake up and do your job!" I wasn't using my Alpha voice but my tone was severe and dominant. She jumped and whimpered.

"I want water with my food." I gave her a small smile and she seemed to relax just a tiny bit. What? She was ogling my mate. I am not apologizing.

"Same" Caleb took my right hand in his and kissed my knuckles.

Realization flashed across Harper's face and she scrambled away as fast as she could. I rolled my eyes and looked at Caleb only to find a smug smile on his face.

"You shut up." I pulled my hand away.

He shrugged, still smirking like a cliché bad-boy. "I haven't said anything."

"You thought about it."

He flashed me a lopsided grin.

My eyes moved slowly over his face, tasting every feature. He had shaved, which made him look younger now but still older than the last time I had seen him. His hair was still short on the sides but longer on the top and meticulously styled back, still it looked somehow messy. His eyes, brilliant as blue fire, were looking back at me with the same intensity but his pinkish cheeks betrayed him.

I pinched his right cheek. "So cute."

He rolled his eyes. "You are aware than I am much taller than you – even more than before, right?"

"Oh, you are? So shocking."

He closed his eyes and I was blessed with his melodious, attractive chuckles. I had missed him so much. I can't barely believe he is here now. But, why though? Why kneel before me when he was the one who rejected me? Is he playing me right now? I know I said I was going to go to him before, but I never did it because I was so afraid of getting rejected again.

Another omega brought our food and drinks, bowed and dashed away from our table.

Caleb smiled took a sip of water. "It seems like you left an impression."

I stared at him, trying to read him. Why is acting like everything is perfect? He did say that he wanted me back, repetitively, but I don't understand why. He was so cold last time we talked. What changed?

He waved his hand in front of my face. "Anna?"

"Why?" I grasped my hands below the table and felt my heart pound faster than ever in my chest. Even in the air-conditioned room, I was sweating.

He finished chewing and swallowed. "Why what, beautiful?"

"Why are you acting like this? I thought you hated me."

His expression turned severe and soft at the same time. "I would never hate you. I love you."

I mindlinked him. 'You rejected me.' I kept a blank face and a neutral tone. I wasn't complaining about it, but stating a fact.

His eyes widened before going downcast. "And that was the biggest mistake of my life."

I pointed my index finger at him. "So far."

He smiled sadly at me.

I let out a long sigh. "We really need to talk, but I would rather have that conversation somewhere private."

He nodded. "I know. Is tomorrow okay? You look tired."

"Tomorrow after the meeting. Could you tell me what happened between you and Aiden?"

Caleb began fidgeting with his fork and stared at the piece of chicken in his plate as if it was the most fascinating thing ever. I kept my gaze on him. He peeked at me and I arched one eyebrow. He sighed in defeat.

"The meeting was about to start when his smell reached me. I didn't know who he was, just that he smelled like my mate. My wolf went crazy and took over. I attacked him and you know the rest."

"So, you were jealous."

He covered his face with one hand and sighed again. "Extremely."

I smiled and went back to my food. We kept eating in silence. It was neither awkward, nor comfortable. It was just that, silence.

I opened my mouth to talk but I was slightly pushed forward as someone hugged me from behind making me squeal. Abigail...

"Hey girl! You are here. Why didn't you tell me you were back in the country? The girls and I have been missing you so much."

Who would have guessed that Abigail would become so close to Elena, Kathe and Amanda?

"Hello, Aby. I just got here this afternoon actually."

"Hello, Anna." Adam smiled at me, then leaned down and whispered in my ear. "I am glad you are with your mate now."

I grinned. "It is still a work in progress."

Abigail stared at my covered neck and gave me a sympathetic smile.

I flashed her a sad smile and put my hand around it, brushing my fingers against the choker. "Did you find a way to get rid of it yet?"

"No. Sorry. I have been reading every book in the old library day and night, but nothing yet."

"I will send Aiden to help. He has a natural talent for finding books."

Abigail nodded. "Okay. Well, we are going to our table. My room is the 412. Drop by whenever you are free. We have so much catching up to do."

"Will do! Mine is 708, by the way."

"Bye Anna." Adam extended his hand to me.

I took it and shook it. He is as serious and boring as ever, but he is the best Alpha the Blood River Pack has ever had.

Caleb took a bite of the chicken. "I heard that you are close friends with them."

"They put their lives on the line to save me when Alexander Hunter held me captive. If it wasn't for them, I would have died so many times." I sipped some of my water.

Caleb's face fell. "I see. They are good people."

"The best." My tone was sharp, but I quickly changed it to a more casual one. "Tell me about you. What have you been doing?"

"I have been working on the pack. Everything was a mess before, but now it is so much better." His eyes shone and he was smiling.

"That is great. I am glad everything is better now."

I had heard about the incident with the traitors and how he ruled the pack with an iron fist. I will ask him about that later. He definitely didn't look as terrifying as the rumors portrayed him to be. 'The new Alpha of the Wild Moon Pack is ruthless,' I had heard someone once say. Cold-hearted and merciless were the words that people would often use to describe him. The council evenhad met to discuss his pack's sudden rise of power. Anthony and I had managed to calm them down. I hope today's fight doesn't affect him.

Caleb smiled at me adoringly and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear and rubbed the space between my eyebrows. "Do I have something in my face? You have a scary look on your face."

I shook my head no and flashed him a small smile before looking down at my nearly empty plate. I will talk to him about that tomorrow.

We fell into another silence. Usually, he would be the one to break these silences. I looked at him; He looked as if he wanted to say something but then sighed and stared back at his empty plate. He is so much more guarded now.

I wonder if he has been with other girls during that time. There is only one way to know, right? "Have you had sex with any girl since the last time I saw you?"

Caleb, who was in the middle of drinking water, began coughing and hitting his chest with his closed hand. "What? Of course not."

I took the last sip of water. "Kissed?"

"After that day, I haven't kissed, touched or even thought about any other girl." He tapped his chin and looked thoughtfully. "I did hug my mom a couple of times, if that counts." He looked at me, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. "What about you?"

"I didn't sleep with or kiss anyone either. I did become close to the doctor who helped me walk again, but I haven't talked to him in over a year."

He frowned. "Walk again? How close?"

"After I woke up from a seven-months coma, I couldn't talk or walk properly. My sense of time and coordination were all messed up. I needed a lot of therapy and support to get better."

He looked down. "I see. I'm sorry."

I cupped his hand with mine and rubbed it softly. That pouting face of his was killing me, but I wasn't going to sugarcoat things for him. I didn't say those things to hurt him, but that was how it happened. Even if it makes him feel bad, past cannot be changed.

"Don't be. You weren't the one who hurt me that time." I smiled softly at him and held his hand, tugging at it. "Let's go. We need to rest." I was truly exhausted. I hadn't gotten any sleep during the flight. I was feeling uneasy for some reason. Now, I understood why.

We were about to open the door to the stairs when someone rested his arm on my head and leaned on me. A soft threatening growl came from Caleb, but I squeezed his hand reassuringly. 

I looked up to glare at Wilder. "Don't you have some third in command duties to do?"

"Yes! I am meeting Aiden here. See, there he is!"

Aiden walked out of the elevator at the end of the hallway looking refreshed and much better than before. He walked down to me and hugged me.

I let go off Caleb's hand and patted Aiden's head. "How are you feeling now?"

He pulled away smiling. "Much better. Thank you for coming for me."

"Of course, I would. I always do." I tapped the tip of his nose with my index finger.

Wilder cleared his throat. "So touching. I wish my mom were as trustworthy and hot like Anna."

Aiden frowned. "Don't express about my mom like that. She is beautiful, nothing else."

Wilder waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah. Yeah. By the way, there is something I've been wanting to ask you for over a year." Wilder's expression hardened.

My gut feeling was telling me that he was going to say something he shouldn't say. Before I could mindlink him to shut up, he had to talk like the oblivious imbecile that he is.

"Is it true that you rejected your second chance mate?"

I knew it. I hate this guy. I legit can't understand what Kathe sees in him.

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