Chapter 14. A Maybe Date
Caleb
“Caleb, are you incompetent?” Zane asks me over the phone and I take a moment to think before I answer rudely. He’s my mate’s dad so I have to be respectful.
“No, Zane, and like I already explained I have everything under control.”
He scoffs. “Really? Because you just told me that you have a shapeshifter in your pack and last night you took my daughter to a sex club.”
“Marlo is Iris’s mate, and I didn’t know it was that kind of club!” I shout into the phone and pinch the bridge of my nose squeezing my eyes shut. Last night was stressful and so is this phone call.
“Still, you’re a pup and shouldn’t be alpha yet. If you asked around, then you would know Sweet Desire is a vampire club. They pump a pheromone through the vents that even the strongest vampires have trouble resisting. The club turns into a full-blown orgy and Faith shouldn’t have been allowed 100 feet of that place.” he sighs. “My little girl probably witnessed the most horrid things.”
I want to argue his little girl isn’t so innocent, but I keep my mouth shut. Faith feels guilty enough and I don’t want to inform her dad of her behavior when she couldn’t control it. Whatever they sprayed must have affected her as soon as we arrived because, from that moment on, she couldn’t keep her hands or mouth off me.
Normally I wouldn’t complain about my mate wanting me. Hell, I crave her constantly. When she was in heat, and we spent days trapped in bed together, it was the best. But last night she kept taking things too far. I had to keep stopping Faith from shoving her hands in my pants when we danced and sadly, I don’t think she even realized she was doing it.
The worst of it was when we tried to leave, and she bit me. I tried to push her off, but she just bit me harder. Her fangs sank into my neck and I was torn between pushing her off or letting her continue to drink my blood until there was none left. Every time she bites me I feel waves and waves of pleasure so I was torn on what to do.
It wasn’t until her hand slid into my pants and she grabbed my hard cock that I came to my senses. I managed to get the upper hand and flip us around but I knew Faith wasn't going to stop so I had to drug her. The syringe I had in my pocket wasn't meant for my mate but it came in handy.
Faith’s golden eyes faded back to gray, and she slumped into my arms unconscious. Dallas drove us all home and Faith ended up sleeping the rest of the night and when she woke up this afternoon, I explained what happened to her.
She didn’t want to believe it at first but when I showed her my bruised neck and the scratches on her arms from me fighting her off, she started crying. I assured her I wasn’t mad and that if we had been at home, it would have been different, but she still felt so guilty.
Faith continued to cry and beg for my forgiveness. She called herself a monster and assured me she would never feed from me again. I told her it was uncalled for because I didn’t mind. Honestly, I would rather she bite me than some stranger, but she was so persistent that I agreed she could stick to blood bags and killing animals from now on.
After our talk, she got dressed immediately and left. She claimed she needed space, but I know she’s just letting the guilt eat away at her. Faith is all about consent and always asks before she bites me or waits until I say she can. So, her biting me last night has made her stressed and confused.
I may be stressed but not confused Faith loves me and I love her. She would never hurt me on purpose and last night was out of her control. The blame for last night isn’t on her but on Sweet Desire. If not on them it's on me, I should have taken better care of my mate and left when I first realized something was wrong. Instead, I stayed and now my mate is suffering.
“Caleb! Are you listening to me at all?” Zane shouts through the phone getting my attention. I had completely forgotten about my monster-in-law.
“Yeah, I’m listening what's up?”
He growls. “I asked how Faith is. Sasha said she was still upset about the other night. Have you talked to her?”
“Yeah, I talked to her earlier around lunch, but she’s been gone all day. I’m not sure where her head is at.” I answer honestly. Faith is blocking me out thinking it's what’s best, but it just makes me worry more when I can’t feel her emotions.
Zane sighs. “Just do me a favor, Caleb. Don’t let her push you away. When a woman says she wants space that’s when she needs you the most, trust me.”
I nod even though he can’t see it. “I understand. I’ll talk to her and let you know what we find out about Sweet Desire. Our tech team hacked their security footage so we can find out what alpha has been hanging out there.”
Zane hangs up and I lean back in my chair and run my hand down my face. Things are stressful enough with officially becoming alpha, a deadly virus spreading, and my college classes starting again soon. I have so many things I need to worry about yet there’s only one thing on my mind.
Faith
“I can’t believe I let you drag me outside, I’m supposed to be at home sulking.” Faith pouts beside me and if she weren’t so sad I would find her bottom lip poked out adorable.
“Baby how many times do I have to tell you what happened wasn’t your fault? It was Sweet-”
“Yeah yeah.” She cuts me off. “You say it was Sweet Desire’s fault but what if it wasn’t? What if I’m the issue?”
I immediately pull over my car and turn to face her. Faith still refuses to make eye contact with me, so I cup her chin forcing her to look into my eyes. “Faith there is nothing wrong with you, you are perfect to me. I love you and I couldn’t ask for a better soulmate.”
Her lip quivers. “But I hurt you? I attacked you, practically forced myself on you. You wanted me to stop but I didn’t. How can you defend my actions when I assaulted you? I’m your mate I’m not supposed to hurt you.”
Tears start to slide down her rosy cheeks and I quickly wipe them away. My heart aches to see her like this. I gently stroke her face hoping she focuses on the sparks and not the pain she feels.
“Faith baby you did not assault me. I know you feel that way but that’s not what happened. I liked what happened between us. You have my consent to touch me whenever you want. I only pushed you away because of where we were, not because of what you were doing to me.” I say and she nods so I continue. “If I wanted you to stop, I would have pushed you off. I’m an alpha I’m way stronger than some vampire princess.” I smirk and a small smile graces her lips.
“Really? You think you're stronger than me?” she whispers and I roll the sleeve of my shirt up and flex my muscles.
“Come on baby, look at these muscles. I work out daily while you spend your time eating junk food with Ruby!”
“Hey!” She smacks my chest playfully and I put my arm down and start driving again. “That’s not all I do Caleb! I train sometimes.”
“When is sometimes, once a week?” I tease and she growls.
“Whatever, how about you tell me where we’re going for this date?”
“It’s not a date. We’re just going to eat and drink, maybe see some old friends.” I shrug and she smiles, a real one this time.
“So, a maybe date?” She arches an eyebrow and I nod.
“Yes, a maybe date.”
Ten minutes later we’re pulling into the parking lot of O’Dell’s. I haven’t even shut the car off yet and Faith is practically bouncing in her seat to jump out and run inside.
“Why didn’t you tell me we were coming to O’Dell’s? You know Ruby and I were planning on making a trip soon.”
I turn off my car, shove the keys in my pocket, and cradle my mate's beautiful face. Her gray eyes flash gold and right here in this moment, she’s never looked more beautiful. Her blonde hair is in a messy bun, and she’s wearing a blue V-cut shirt and jeans that hug her body perfectly. It reminds me of the first night I saw her which just makes tonight even more special.
“To be honest I didn’t bring you here to see Kandy. I know you were upset and wanted to cheer you up.” I confess and inhale a sharp breath. “I thought about taking you where we had our first date but that felt too cheesy. So, I brought you here, the place where I first laid eyes on my gorgeous mate.”
“Damn it Caleb, why do you have to be so sweet?” Faith wipes a tear from her eye, and I kiss the corner of her mouth.
“Don’t curse baby, leave the filthy words to me.”
She nods. “We better get inside now, or we’ll never make it in.” Faith’s eyes roam over my body and I growl because she’s right. It’s taking everything in me not to strip her naked right now.
Faith and I walk into O’Dell’s our hands interlocked together. Butterflies erupt in my stomach and even though we’ve done this a hundred times it still feels like the first time each time we do it.
We walk over to our booth, and I slide into my side and pull Faith right onto my lap. There’s no way I’m letting her sit across from me. I’m craving her touch, and I don’t care how clingy I look.
“Caleb!” She squeals as she adjusts herself so she’s beside me, her legs are draped across my lap so she’s not entirely on my lap but I’ll take it.
“Faith!” I mimic her voice making her eyes roll.
“Don’t make fun of me. You know exactly what you’re doing, we’re here to eat and maybe have a few drinks. None of the naughty things swirling around in your crazy brain.”
“You have no idea what insane thoughts I have baby. But right now, I’m on my best behavior so I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I say licking my lips and smirking.
Faith blushes. “What am I going to do with you, Caleb Black?”
“Love me.” I shrug.
The next few hours are spent in pure joy and happiness. Faith and I share a meal like we always did when she was on her lunch break, Kandy talks with us for a bit, and we drink a few beers and play pool.
And to make the night even better we end the night as we always did before, making out behind the bar. I have Faith pinned against the brick wall and her legs are wrapped around my waist. My shirt’s been ripped open, and her hands are roaming over my chest.
“Fuck baby I missed this,” I whisper along her skin as she trails kisses along my jaw and down my neck.
“Me too, just me and you-”
“Just Faith and Caleb.” I finish for her.
Our eyes lock an intense gaze passing between us. But it only lasts a moment before our lips connect in a heated kiss. We’re in a frenzy, tongues dancing together, our teeth clashing and our hands roaming all over as we try to get the other undressed.
I pull away and take my shirt off, letting it fall to the ground. Faith starts to unbutton her pants and I start to help yank them down when a loud growl erupts behind us. We both freeze and a familiar yet alarming scent floods my nostrils.
Vampire