Page 77 of His Sold Fated Mate

I turned my gaze up, finding Cal standing a few feet away. He bent over and picked up the book. He offered me a weak smile. “You look like you aren’t having a good day.”

I wiped at my eyes. “I’m not.”

Cal walked over, sitting down next to me. He leaned back against the bookcase and sighed. “I’m not either. I am not cut out to be Alpha.”

I sighed. “I know that I’m new to all of this. Magic and shifters, but… I just don’t understand why everything is so complicated. There are so many books and yet none of them seem to give you the direct answer you’re looking for.”

Cal nodded. “Yeah, that doesn’t change.”

I could hear a clock ticking next to us. I turned and looked at Cal. He looked exhausted. His hair was a mess, and he looked like he wanted to throw up. “So, not cut out to be Alpha?”

He snorted. “No. The council wanted an update on Klaus. Then I had several angry members calling me wanting updates on their family members that were in the infirmary. A fight broke out, and I got punched in the face trying to break it up.”

He turned to me. “All before noon. Plus, I was up all night because there were finances that we had to finalize.”

“Do you think we can do this? That we can get Klaus back?”

“I don’t think we will stop until we do.”

I looked down at the books. “I’ve been through everything. There is nothing that is going to help us.”

“What did the others say they did?”

I frowned. “They fought it. Klaus has to fight against it and win.”

We both fell quiet. Cal sighed after a moment. “We should get home. You need sleep. I need sleep.”

“I need answers more. I can’t be the reason he’s stuck locked up, Cal. After everything he’s done for me. I can’t just sit aside and let him lose this fight.”

“You’re not the reason he’s locked up. The magic is. This would have happened whether or not you were here, Aubrey.”

I nodded. I knew that deep down, but I couldn’t accept it. “I love him, Cal. I know you might have a hard time believing that, considering everything that’s happened. I know you don’t know me that well, but I do.”

“And he loves you.”

I snorted at this. “No, no, he doesn’t.”

Cal shook his head. “No, I think he does. He might not know it, but I’ve been working for him to know him. He has never been as protective as he is when it comes to you. I’ve never been asked to watch after someone. No one is above him, but he puts you there. He’s had me watch after you since you came here.”

“You’re just saying that.”

He shook his head. “I’m not. He’s dated, but not like this, Aubrey. I see the way he looks at you. You mean the world to him. And if he’s going to do this, he’s going to do it with you by his side. So, we need to get you home so you can rest.”

I chewed on my cheek. “I don’t want to lose him.”

“You won’t. I won’t let you.”

I softly smiled. “When we get him back, I’ll be sure to tell him to give you a raise.”

He smirked. “I would much rather have a vacation.”

“Fine.”

Cal took me home, where I curled up in Klaus’s sheets. Peanut lay next to me, and I decided I was done moping around. Tomorrow I would get answers. I was taking action.

We headed to Riley and Janella’s pack early the next morning. I left my anger fueling me. I wasn’t going to sit around and cry anymore.

We arrived at City Hall and headed inside. I guided Cal with me to the large room where the door led to the basement. We headed down the stairs and into the room where the cauldron stayed. It sat bubbling in the middle of the room. The strong scent of a rotting corpse filled the space, and Cal scrunched up his nose.