Free Web NovelChapter 51: OUTSIDE HER DOOR
DANE’S POV freewebnσvel.cѳm
Callum told me to fix Vanessa a place to stay and I left the hall with every intention of doing exactly that.
I walked the east corridor and turned toward the estate records room where the housing inventory was kept, where I got about forty steps down the path outside before I found myself turning left instead of right.
Toward Keisha’s house.
I stopped walking and looked at the path ahead of me.
Where the hell was I going? Alpha Callum said he would be going to see her when it was night fall and it was still evening. Maybe I could sneak in a little visit before he made his way there?
Somehow, I needed to hold her myself and confirm that she was still real. My wolf was aching for something— for her. And I wanted to quench that thirst. And it wasn’t to sleep with her— even though that would also take tension off my shoulders — I simply wanted to make sure she was okay.
No. I shouldn’t. I should be sensible about this.
With a sigh, I kept going anyway because apparently that was the kind of day it was.
I told myself I just wanted to check that she was alright. That it wasn’t anything more than that. That after sitting in that hall and watching her pour a drink for the woman who had been chosen to replace the bond she didn’t even officially hold, the least I could do was make sure she was okay.
Ares said nothing to call me out on my bullshit.
Smart wolf.
I was about fifty meters from her house when I saw them.
Callum was standing near her front path and Riven was in front of him and neither of them looked like they were having a pleasant conversation.
I moved closer without announcing myself and caught the tail end of whatever had already been said.
"ㅡwhat exactly are you doing around here?" Callum’s voice was low and he sounded irritated.
What was Callum doing here now? Could he also not stay away until nightfall?
Riven looked at him steadily. "I could ask you the same thing." He said. "What brings the Alpha of the pack to this particular corner of the estate?"
Callum said nothing.
"Because from where I’m standing—" Riven gestured at the path between them and Keisha’s door. "We seem to have the same destination."
I stepped out from the tree line. "We’re on patrol." I announced.
Riven turned to me with shock flashing across his features. Then he turned back to Alpha Callum. "Both of you." He frowned. "On patrol together outside Keisha’s house specifically."
"The east residential path is part of the evening rotation." I said. "Always has been." I looked at him. "Now answer his question. What are you doing here?"
Riven looked back at Callum as something moved through his face. "She’s a friend obviously." He said simply. "I came to see her."
"A friend?" Callum repeated.
"Yes."
"You stood in front of your entire pack and announced another woman as your mate." Callum’s voice hadn’t changed tone but something in it had shifted. "While Keisha was in that crowd. And now she’s a friend. Is that was truly this is?"
Riven’s jaw tightened. "What happened between me and Keisha is—"
"Is done and over." Callum said. "It’s done and she is a member of this pack now and you are a visiting delegation and you will conduct yourself accordingly." He looked at Riven directly. "You’re here for proposals. Border agreements. Infrastructure. That’s the full extent of your business in Ashveil." He paused. "Are we clear?"
Riven looked at him for a long moment. "You care about her." He said quietly, as though he was making an observation. "Both of you. I can see it in your face."
Callum said nothing and I froze.
"That’s interesting." Riven said calmly, but something moved through his eyes. "That’s very interesting."
"The delegation wraps up in three days." I said before Callum could respond to whatever that was. "You’ll be back in Coldridge by the weekend. Until then, your movements on this estate are limited to the formal areas." I held his gaze. "Understood?"
Riven looked between us one more time, then he nodded. "Understood." He said.
He turned and walked back up the main path and I watched him go until he was properly out of sight.
The path was quiet and Callum hadn’t moved.
"You were already here when I got here." I sighed.
"I was passing through." He turned to me.
"Passing through is very convenient." I muttered.
He looked at me.
"Nadia’s inside." I nodded. "I can hear them from here." And I could — faintly, through the closed door, the sound of movement in a kitchen and something that was almost a laugh.
Callums’ face softened into something like relief and he nodded.
"She’s okay." I said. "You can hear it."
"I know." He admitted but he didn’t move.
"Callum." I looked at him.
He looked at me.
"Go back to the mansion." I said. "Talk to her tonight like you said. After dark, after Nadia leaves, when it’s safer." I paused. "She’s okay right now. Let her have this time with her friend."
He looked at the door one more time before he nodded.
Slowly, he turned and walked back up the path without another word while I stood there.
I stood there longer than I needed to.
For a second, I was tempted to walk up to her door and knock. But I was already under Rivens’ radar. He was suspecting something — I wasn’t sure what exactly but it would be damning if he pieced everything together.
The only thing I could hope for was that he kept his mouth shut until he left. We couldn’t afford him running his mouth. And it would be a shame if I made him go missing. But I’d do it if that was what would keep Keisha safe.
Finally, I sighed and I went to sort out Vanessa’s accommodations.
