The Alpha's Slave Mate

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Daphne's Point of View

Finally, Hannah and I were done shopping, I was so excited to be home. I had a lot of fun with Hannah, but planning everything so quickly has been hectic, and truly all I want to do is sink into a hot bath and let my muscles relax. Hannah grabs the rest of the bags out of the trunk while I carefully retrieve my dress from the back seat.

The sales lady made sure that it was in a solid white cover so that Caleb would not see it before I was ready for him to.

“Thank you, Hannah, for shopping with me, and teaching me about the mating ceremony.” I hope she knows how much I appreciate her.

“That is what family is for silly.”

Hannah's bouncy nature shines through in her words. She lets me know that she is going to take everything up to the room, and we walk in the house. I can tell right away that something is not right. There is a feeling in the house, a tension so thick that it is like a blanket of fog. I see Caleb pacing in the living room, and my heart speeds up.

“Caleb is everything alright?” Caleb stops immediately and looks at me. He looks like he has been caught sneaking cookies from the cookie jar. If I was not so worried, I might have laughed at his expression. I watch his face and can only imagine his mind trying to shift gears.

"Did you have a fun trip? Is that the dress?” Caleb puts on a fake smile and is trying to change the subject. I hate when he acts like this, as if lam a child and cannot stand bad news. Hannah is already headed upstairs with the rest of the bags.

"Yes, I found a dress, let me take it upstairs and then we can talk.” I want him to know thatl am not going to let this go. There is obviously something bothering him, and if we are to spend our lives together, he needs to quit hiding the negative stuff from me. I quickly jog up the stairs, wasting no time in placing the dress care fully in my closet.

Once I am back in the living room Caleb is seated on the couch. “Come sweetheart, sit and tell me all about your day with Hannah. Did you like the catering samples?” Caleb is truly trying to hide what is bothering him. I go and sit on the couch, but I turn so that lam facing him.

“Caleb the shopping trip was great, the food is wonderful, and it will be fine for the ceremony. Now tell me what has you pacing in the living room? What is going on?” I cut to the chase quickly, am not giving him any room to wiggle out of this conversation. Caleb sighs and puts his head in his hands. I can tell that whatever is going on is weighing on him heavily.

“Daphne, I wanted to surprise you with something, but I fear that my gift may ultimately cause you more pain.” lam confused by Caleb's words what could he have possibly gotten me that would cause me any pain.

“Caleb, I do not understand. How could any gift cause me pain?”

“Remember when I said that I would try to find your sister Scarlet, and invite her to the mating ceremony?” I nod my head acknowledging that yes, I remember the conversation. “The reason you have not seen Theo the last couple of days, is thatl sent him ona mission to locate Scarlet and invite her here. Theo is very good at finding people.” I nod my head encouraging him to go on. “Theo has located your sister, as well as her mate in California. They will be here very early tomorrow morning.”

“Caleb that is fantastic news, how could you think that this would hurt me. I have not seen Scarlet in so long, almost ten years. I cannot wait to catch up on her life.”

“Daphne stop there is more.” Caleb's voice was firm as he interrupted my bubble of excitement. “Daphne, the thing is ten years can really change a person. I need you to understand that you and Scarlet are not the same girls that you once were. This is what lam worried about. She may look different now, act different, and possibly have different values now.” Caleb's eyes are hard as he is telling me all of this, I can feel that he knows more than he is telling me.

“I know that time changes people Caleb, I mean my life changed drastically in a day. I know Scarlet though, she never hit me like my parents. She did not call me names; she was not cruel to me. I know that she will be happy that my life has changed for the better. I also feel like you know something that you are not tell me, and that is hurting me.”

As much asl do not want to admit it, Caleb's demeanor regarding my sister is ticking me off. How can he judge her, or wolry about her character if he has never met her?

“Sweetheart, I am only saying that I do not want you to have an image of your sister in your head that may not equal up to her in real life.” I hate that he just called me sweetheart, it sounds condescending, as if he is trying to soothe a child throwing a tantrum, and I find my anger ramping up even more.

"CALEB ENOUGH.” I have never yelled at anyone, but jumping up from the couch all I can see is red. “How dare you judge her when you do not know her. You have no idea how bad it was when I was younger. I wanted to die every single day. Scarlet was the only person I had then. She was the only person that cared if I lived or died. The only person that hugged me.” Tears are flowing down my face at this point, and Caleb gets off the couch trying to pull me into a hug.

“No do not touch me. I know that my family is screwed up, but not Scarlet. I mean she is dropping everything to come see our mating ceremony, and your sitting here talking about her as if she is some devil.” My voice is breaking now, I am crying but I have the strong urge to hit something, anything at this moment.

“Daphne, please calm down. I did not intend to hurt your feelings, and I was not trying to talk ill of your sister. It is clear that she means a lot to you.” I can not stand the tone of his voice right now. Rationally I know that he is just trying to calm me down, but that is not registering with me right now. Now I am riding the roller coaster that my emotions have gone on

"Stop treating me like I am a child Caleb. You do that all the time. I know that you know more than you are telling me, but you are hiding it from me. How am I supposed to be the Luna of

this pack if you cannot even trust me enough to talk to me?” I can see that my words have struck a chord within him.

He stops in front of me, speechless for a moment. I take this opportunity to turn from him and stomp up the stairs. I do not want to see Caleb right now. I slam the door to our bedroom, and it dawns on me that I am throwing a tantrum like a child.

I go into the bathroom and start filling the tub. After shopping all day, the stress from the mating ceremony, the news about my sister, and fighting with Caleb I am exhausted. I need a bath, I need to relax, and I need my mind to stop going a million miles a moment.

Tears are still streaking down my face as I drop a little jasmine oil into the rapidly filling tub and start to undress. Sinking into the steamy hot bath, I try to calm my mind.

Taking a deep breath, I replay the conversation between Caleb and I, getting to the root of my anger. I can see

why Caleb was scared to talk to me, he does not want me to get hurt. I understand that feeling. I should have talked to him about how I was feeling instead of blowing up at him. It is frustrating that he treats me likelama glass doll. I can handle problems, and if I am going to be Luna, he needs to communicate problems to me instead of trying to hide them. I am old enough to know that life will not always be rainbows and butterflies.

Sinking farther into the tub, I think of Scarlet. Perhaps I have idolized my sister for so long because she was the only person at the time that was nice to me. I know that Caleb is right, and that time can change people, but I do not think that she has changed into a malicious person. I am excited to see her and I hope she feels the same way. I know that I need to apologize to Caleb and have a real conversation with him about my feelings. Sighing I let the water surround my body and relax my muscles. Admitting that lam wrong is hard, but I do not want there to be strife between Caleb and I. I drain the water in the tub and step out.

I dry myself off quickly, resolved in the fact that I need to make things right between Caleb and I. I wrap a robe around myself and exit the bathroom, going in search of Caleb. I do not have to look far he is waiting for me in the bedroom. Looking at his face, I can tell that our argument has affected him too. “Daphne I am sorry.” Caleb is quick to spit out.

“Caleb stop, you need to sit down. We need to have a talk.” Although I am not yelling my voice is firm. I need to have a serious discussion with him. We both sit on the couch in our room. A part of me really wants to crawl on his lap right now and bury my face in his shoulder. I am ashamed of my actions earlier.

“Caleb I am sorry; I shouldn't have yelled at you in the living room.” Caleb moves as if he is going to interrupt me, I raise my hand stopping him. “No please I need to get this out. I was angry but not for the reasons you think. I have noticed that you keep things from me that are not good, or that you think will hurt me. I get upset because it is like you see me as if 1am a glass doll. I am stronger than you think I am.” Caleb looks down at his hands, I can see that he is trying to process my words. “Caleb in a few short days we will have our mating ceremony, where in front of our pack, our allies, and your friends we dedicate our lives to each other. This ceremony also puts me front and center as the Luna to this pack. No one is ever going to respect me, if Ido not know what is going on with this pack, both the good and the bad.” Caleb nods, and I can see that he is listening to my words. I am encouraged that he is taking my concerns seriously.

“You have to quit hiding things from me, so that we can work as a team in protecting and growing this pack. I also need to apologize about Scarlet. I think I have idolized her for so long because she was the only person that showed me kindness when I was younger. She may have changed in the last few years, but I am hoping it is not a malicious change. I also want to thank you for finding her. I think it is important for her and I to catch up, even if we choose not to continue a close relationship.” I can tell that Caleb is impressed with my words. He can see my resolve to be a good Luna.

“Daphne you are right, I am sorry for the way I have been treating you. lam learning to open myself up, but you are right I do try to hide unpleasant news from you. I guess in a way I have viewed myself as the white knight and you as the damsel in distress. My own ego getting in the way of myself.” Caleb wraps his arm around my shoulder, and I bury my head in his chest.

I am relieved that after earlier we can come together like this. I am still embarrassed about yelling at him, but he is right we are both learning. I can hear his heart and it brings me peace. Like a bomb dropping out of the sky, I realize that I think I love Caleb. lam not ready to tell him yet, but he is the one that puts my mind at ease. He is the one that makes me happy. My heart is light, and I find myself smiling. Soon I feel Caleb shifting and he is getting up from the couch. I was not expecting him to lift me up from the couch as well.

“Caleb what are you doing?”

“We have both had a long day, and we are exhausted so I am putting my beautiful mate in bed where I can snuggle her.” Caleb is laughing as he puts me under the covers. He quickly strips down and joins me. We spoon, and I soon find myself drifting off to sleep.