Page 80

“I haven’t, but I have something I want to talk about with Ms. Selene first.” She pulls out a stack of papers from her bag. She holds out the papers towards me.

My hands shake as I grasp the papers in my hand. I read over the title of the paperwork. Proposal of Contracted Services Between Contractee and National Geographic LTD.

My eyes bulge as my mouth drops open. I glance between the papers and Cal, unsure if this is real. He nods his head, giving me an encouraging smile.

I look back at Lena, who is standing with her hands clasped in front of her, waiting patiently.

“Is this real?” I ask as the tears well up in the corner of my eyes.

“It certainly is, but I really would recommend reading over it carefully and perhaps taking a few days to truly decide if it’s something you’d genuinely like to do.”

“I can’t…” I look at Caelon. “I don’t even know how you found me.”

Caelon clears his throat. “That would be me. I saw your email to her and after much consideration, decided to send it on your behalf. I know you’d been battling with what to say or how to say it. But, I also know that your work would speak for itself. It only needed a gentle push. So one morning while you were sleeping, I snuck onto your computer and sent it from my email. She reached out immediately and I invited her here. I didn’t know about the contract though.”

I’m staring in disbelief. I can’t…I don’t even know what to say. All these amazing things that he has done for me. I can’t even put into words the emotions flowing through me.

“I think I’ll…” Lena starts when Bea yells interrupting everyone as we all turn to the commotion.

There, in her small pine nut form, is Marlowe running across the floor with one of Bea’s cinnamon rolls tucked in her mouth. We all burst out laughing as the tiny little claws scratch against the door before someone pushes it open letting her run down the sidewalk.

“My, my, it seems things are always quite exciting around here!” Lena giggles, her eyes alight with humor.

“You can say that again,” Caelon says with a laugh.

“Anyway, as I was saying. I think I’ll certainly take my chance to explore your gallery opening. Do enjoy yourself, and I look forward to hearing from you very soon,” she says with a dip of her head as she turns to walk away.

“Cal…this is too much. I can’t believe that you did all this.”

“I love you.” He kisses my temple.

“I love you too,” I say leaning into him.

Chapter 31

Xavior

Friday, August 1st – What a Performance

Ican’t stop thinking about what Grant said at the last pack breakfast. Something about it isn’t sitting well with me and if I’ve learned anything from the years I served in the military it’s always trust your instincts.

If we can take out the threat before it becomes one, then we can save a lot of people from being injured in the long run.

I push open the door to the Pack House hoping to speak with Silas about it, but there is nobody here. I know it’s early in the morning, but I figured at least one of them would be awake already. Walking through the Pack House, I follow the sounds ofwomen laughing. It’s the private part of the house where Silas and Nova reside with their twins.

My knuckles rapped on the door when I hear a faint, “Come in.”

Nova has already filled the hallway with photos of the twins, giving this part of the house a homey feel it never had. There is soft giggling coming from the living room. Of fucking courseshe’shere. Why am I not surprised?

I’ve just walked around the couch, ready to ask Nova where Silas is when…

“Ew, didn’t your mother teach you to take off your shoes at the door? Rude of you to drag the outside world into the house,” Nellie sneers at me.

My eyes roll because it’s always something with her.

“Did someone shove the stick further up their ass today or is this just the latest show that nobody signed up for?”

Nova gasps as she covers Damon, her dark, curly haired twin’s ears, as she glares at me.