"There will be other females," Callon said.The words alone made him want to vomit.But like the fool Roan declared him, he just kept right on going."She needs a male who can give her all of himself and I can't do that.At least, not right now.Not if there's a kingdom or kingdoms committing crimes that could possibly lead to war."
"I'm going to hang up now, because there's a strong possibility that if I continue to listen to your bullshit I will show up at your door and Null your ass.Or even better,” he clucked his tongue, “I'll pay Lola a visit and Null her.Then she can go on with her human life, and not worry about being the target of any beastwalkers.She can fall in love with a man who will see the gift that she is, and treat her with the reverence she deserves."
"If you go near her, I will kill you."The words left Callon's mouth at the same time his fist went through the wall.
"Why?"Roan challenged."You're passing her off to some other male as if she’s too much of a burden for you to handle.What do you care if she's no longer able to be a mate to one of our kind?"Roan made a sound in his throat as if he'd just realized something."Or are you hoping that later, whenyou’reready, you can pursue her?Did you cut her loose and think that she will honestly give you another chance?"
"What are you talking about?"Callon scoffed.
"I spoke with your father earlier, just checking in and letting him know when I'd be back," he explained."Your mother was with him, as usual, and she was so excited to share with me that you'd brought Lola to meet them and claimed her in front of them.If she's not with you, and you've got another male watching her, then I'm going to deduce that you, what is it humans call it?Broke up?Yes, that's it.You broke up with the mate that you just met, and shared our world with, and claimed."Roan chuckled, but there was no humor in the sound."And you think she'll take your sorry, shiftless-ass back?"
"You have no idea the pressure that I carry," Callon shouted."She will get half of my attention, and she distracts me from what is expected of me.She deserves more than that, and I can't give the members of my pride less than my absolute devotion to their safety."
"I'm done with this conversation," Roan said cooly."Be at your father's office tomorrow.You need to hear what Visata said when He paid the council a visit.Though it won't matter for you.It's pretty clear you've given up any chance at a mate."
"Visit?"Callon said, his voice a near whisper.But his question was unanswered because Roan had hung up.
Callon felt the icy grip of dread as his heart raced wildly in his chest.He dropped his phone to keep from smashing it, then hit the wall with his fists over and over, leaving impressions of his pain etched in the plaster.Roan's words echoed in his mind, begging him to reconsider what he had done, urging him to fight for the future he did not believe was possible with Lola.Thoughts of her flooded him, penetrating the walls he had so quickly built around himself in an attempt to push her away.Something inside of him cracked, and he wasn’t sure what the hell was happening, but the beast in him was done with the decisions the man had made.
He headed out of the apartment going to the one person who he hoped could help him figure out what the hell was going on.He passed up the elevators for the stairs and ran up them the entire way.He wasn’t even out of breath when he opened the door to his father’s office.He’d no doubt that his Prime would still be working.
Taras stood up, concern marring his brow.“What’s wrong.What’s happened?”
“I screwed up.I screwed up bad.”
Chapter 18
I Think It’s Time To Call Her Doctor.
“What is truth?Is it something we simply decide because we claim it?Is truth something that is absolute?I personally hope, it’s the latter.If it is not then we are simply standing on shifting sand.We will sink under the lies boldly proclaimed by those whose ‘truth’ cared nothing for anyone else, and only benefited the person who believed their disguised lies.”~ Lola
Lola pushed the door to the apartment open and wondered how she'd made it home without collapsing.
"Hey mom," she hollered out."Katy and Maddie are staying over."
"There's dinner in the fridge," her mom called back from the kitchen."How was your day with your new friend?"
Lola's throat felt as if it might close up.She swallowed down the lump that had formed and managed to answer."Fine.We had to cut it short because he had to work.So I just went into work as well."
Her mom appeared in the entryway that led to the kitchen holding a dishtowel and a glass she was drying."I'm sorry to hear that.Do you think you'll hang out with him tomorrow?"
Lola heard Katy shift behind her and then she saw Maddie from the corner of her eye.
"I don't know," Lola answered.What she wanted to say was,“Not if hell froze over and pigs started to fly.’”
"Well," her mom sighed."It's good to take these things slow."
Lola nodded and then started down the hall that would lead to her room."We ate at NNP, so we're just gonna go hang out.We might want food later though.Thanks for leaving us some."
"Yeah," Katy said."Thanks, Mom."
"You just want our cereal," Andi laughed.
"You've got to get over the cereal addiction," Maddie said."It can't be healthy to eat that much of it."
As soon as all three of them were in Lola's room and the door was closed, Katy flopped down on the bed, Maddie took the seat at Lola's desk, and Lola began to pace.
"Alright," Katy spoke up."Tell us what that P.O.S.did so we can deal with it."
