Calliope - Book 3 - A collection of Short Stories

By morning, Caleb left, but only for a short while. He returned to the cabin, knocking on the door with a basket of food in his hands.

“Alice? My name is Caleb; I am Eli’s father; may I speak with you?”

“Go away!” She yelled.

“I’ve brought food,” Caleb said as he looked down at the basket. “I’ve brought you freshly baked bread, some eggs, slices of ham…”

The door slowly opened, and a woman with brown hair and brown eyes peeked through the crack. She took in a deep breath, smelling the food that Caleb carried. But then she looked past him, looking to see if anyone else was there.

“It is just me,” Caleb assured her. “I’d just like to talk over breakfast.”

Alice nodded as she opened the door for him to walk in. Caleb set the food on a table as he looked around. This cabin was in a similar condition to the one he used to go to all those years ago. He looked at the broken, tattered furniture, and then his eyes settled on a little girl sitting on a pile of blankets. Alice walked up, standing between him and her daughter.

“What is her name?” Caleb inquired with a gentle smile.

“Millie,” Alice answered hesitantly. “Her name is Millie.”

“That is a very beautiful name,” he said as he looked down at the little girl. But he could feel Alice’s anxiety, so he looked away, turning his attention to the food. “You must have a lot of questions.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Well, you probably came into your gifts and your wolf after your parents passed.” He replied as he took the eggs from the basket. He looked around, but there was no kitchen, no stove for her to cook things on. There was only one pot and one old pan sitting on a rack on the counter.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she muttered as she crossed her arms. “What are you doing?”

“I was going to cook us some eggs, but I don’t even see a fireplace in here. Do you cook outside?”

She shook her head, but she didn’t elaborate further. She was not trusting of the man before her. She did not trust anyone. Her whole life, she was pushed away by others, or used by the rest. Alice looked down when there was a tug on her skirt.

“Mommy, I want some eggs,” Millie stated as she smiled.

Alice scowled as she walked over to Caleb. She held her hands out for the eggs. He handed them to her and stepped back, giving her space. He watched curiously as Alice set the eggs down before placing her hands on the pan. After a few seconds, he saw the pan was getting hot from her touch. He looked at her wide-eyed as she began to crack the eggs, dropping them into the sizzling pan.

“What?!” She snapped when she noticed that his gaze was not leaving her. “Am I a freak to you!?”

“No,” he answered quietly. “I just never expected you to have fire as a gift.”

“Fire? No, far from it,” she rolled her eyes. “I can warm things with my hands. That is it. It is what allows me to cook, to give us warm water for bathing. I was able to melt the snow with my hands this past winter, barely saving this place from collapsing.”

“Amazing,” he gasped as he listened to her.

“Amazing? What are you talking about? How does this not freak you out?!”

“Alice… Do you know what you are?” He inquired as he stepped up to her. “Do you know what I am?”

“You are some man, standing in my kitchen, who claimed to be the father of a man his own age.” She answered as she scooped up the cooked eggs onto a plate. “I only allowed you in my home because you brought food.”

“I am the Great Alpha. And you, Alice, are the next Great Luna.”

“You must be confused,” she replied with a shake of her head.

“The warming that you can do with your hands, no other person can do that. And you shifted before you turned 18, didn’t you? Normal wolves cannot do this. Only Greats can,” Caleb explained gently.

"Stop, Please," she begged as she placed her hands on the counter. She was visibly shaking as she held back tears.

"Alice..." Caleb whispered as he looked at her.

He could not help but feel for the girl. His youngest, Zoe, wasn't but seven years older than her. But he also had granddaughters her age. He would not have wanted them to live as she did: alone with no one to turn to. He looked over as Millie climbed into a chair, eyeing the food that was on the table. Caleb reached in front of Alice, taking the plate of cooked eggs.

"Are you hungry?" He questioned Millie with a smile.

She nodded her head vigorously. He chuckled as he made her a plate, giving her eggs, a slice of bread, some cheese, and ham. She bounced in her chair, excited for all the food he was giving her. Caleb then made Alice an identical plate, setting it down beside Millie.

Alice turned around, holding her shaking hands to her chest. She watched her daughter eat for a moment, enjoying the smile on the girl's face. It had been a long time since they had this much food to eat. There was enough there that if she rationed it, it would last them about a week. Then she eyed the plate that was set for her. She could not deny the rumbling that she felt in her stomach. Reluctantly, she went to the table, sitting beside Millie. The three of them ate in silence for a while, everyone enjoying the fresh food.

"Thank you for all this food," Millie said between bites.

"You are very welcome, young lady," Caleb smiled. He took another slice of bread and set it on her plate, much to her delight.

"Be mindful of how much you eat," Alice whispered to her daughter. Millie looked down and nodded her head, pushing the extra slice of bread to the side.

"Will too much food upset her stomach?" He inquired curiously.

"No," she replied while avoiding eye contact with him. "I would rather us save some of the food. Stretch it over a couple of days."

Caleb sat in his chair, silent for a moment. He looked at her face, at how her eyes were slightly sunken in. He recognized the look, but it had been many years since he last saw it. Before Calliope came into his life, he lived in a similar situation. They had to scrounge for food, and when there were extras, they saved it. Nothing was ever wasted, and there were never any complaints about hunger. It was a way of life when they were still considered rogues.

"Alice," he finally said. "My mate and I would like to invite you to return with us. To join the Royal Moon pack."

"Why would you want me?"

"You are the next Great Luna," he answered. "Plus, this is no way to live or raise a child. Believe me."

"I have been doing just fine without any help!" She snapped. "You say that I am the next Great Luna, but yet my parents and I were always ostracized. Where were you or anyone else?!"

"I can assure you, we knew nothing about you or how you were living," he insisted as he looked her in the eyes. "I was furious when I found out that they let you live out here, all alone, after your parent's death."

"But nearly everyone in this pack knows, and no one cared!"

"All I can say is that we can try and prevent this from ever happening again." Caleb sighed. "But now you have a chance for a fresh start, for both you and your daughter."

Alice glanced down at Millie, who happily chewed on her breakfast. Then, thoughts of Eli ran through her mind. If she closed her eyes, she could smell the remnants of mint and pine that lingered. It caused her to blush as she looked down. But as she was silent, she kept thinking.

"You say Eli is your son. Did you adopt him or something?" She inquired as she looked up at Caleb.

"No, he is of my flesh and blood!" Caleb replied with a hearty laugh.

"But you two look the same age!"

"Well, Greats have a longer life span than others," Caleb explained. "The Moon Goddess gives us special wolves with extraordinary gifts. We are meant to help protect all of those under the Moon's embrace. And with those responsibilities, it means we live longer lives."

"So...” she whispered as her voice trailed off. “How old are you?"

"88," Caleb smiled. "And Eli is 63."

"That's old," Millie remarked between bites, causing Caleb to laugh again.

"It's nothing, little one. My mate, Calliope, is 228 years old and has not aged a day in over 200 years."

"Wait, if I am a Great, will I live to be that old?" Alice questioned with a gasp. "What about Millie?"

"Millie will have a normal lifespan," Caleb murmured softly. "But, in time, you will see that as a blessing for her."

"Why? How long do we live?"

"Average lifespan is 300 years, perhaps 350."

"But you said your mate is 228 and still looks like she is in her early 20s. Will she suddenly start to age?"

"No," Caleb replied with a sad look in his eyes. "She is the exception to the rule. She is going to outlive me, you, Eli, any children you and Eli have, and so on. Her wolf is different than everyone else's."

"So, she has to watch everyone she loves die?" Alice whispered.

"That is what makes it a curse. Living so long, not aging a day, it takes a toll on you." Caleb added as he leaned back in his chair. "But Calliope always says to enjoy the moments with the ones around us. We cannot dwell on death; it'll only ruin our time together."

"Is there anything I can do not to be a Great?" She questioned. "Can I choose not to do any of it?"

"No, being a Great comes from your wolf, and there is no way to split yourself from it," he answered.

"But I don't have a wolf," Alice scowled as she crossed her arms. "That is what everyone says, or were you not told that?"

"Oh really?" Caleb inquired as he raised an eyebrow. "But you can use a gift?"

"Doesn't mean I have a wolf," she shrugged.

Caleb sniffed the air, but he indeed did not sense a wolf. It made him curious. Did she perhaps have a gift to hide her scent, similar to Theo? But, as he looked at her, he could not help but smile. Though he and Eli could not sense her wolf, there was one person whom she could not hide from.

“Why don’t you come back with me? Meet my mate, meet our children and grandchildren. It doesn't matter what is going on with your wolf. At the very least, give Millie a chance at a life without worry or hunger.”

“Why are you the one asking me to come with you? Why not Eli?” She questioned curiously. Yesterday, she could hear the pain in his voice when he had to leave her, but yet he was not there. Was he upset with her? Or had Caleb come in his stead to get her to agree to go?

Caleb sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. He was debating whether or not he should lie to her. But if he lied, it would not take long for her to realize it. Eli was still angry. And if she found out he lied, she may refuse to go with them.

“My son did not take the information about you, about your daughter, well,” he admitted with a heavy heart.

“I see,” she nodded. She wasn’t surprised. Once she had gotten pregnant, people looked at her differently. They saw her as damaged goods, as something broken. What did surprise her was that Caleb still wanted her to go with them. To uproot her and her daughter, to be around a mate who did not want her. “I’m not surprised; I am ruined after all. But yet, you want me to go with you? So I can be a disappointment to my mate? So I can be ignored and set aside? Or perhaps so he can use and abuse me like all the rest?!”

“No, none of that,” Caleb whispered. “You have my word that my son shall not hurt you. Yes, he might be angry for some time, but I am sure that he will see past it.”

“What makes you think I want that? What makes you think I want him?!”

“I’m not asking you to come with us to be my son’s mate,” he insisted. “I genuinely want to offer you and your daughter a better home.”

Alice stood from the table and began to pace around the room. She was angry, she was scared. There was a pain in her heart when she heard that Eli was upset. But why? Why should it matter? She should be used to this by now. And sure, Caleb may have been sincere. Millie would indeed have a better life should they move. She would be accepted by a pack, receive an education, and never again feel hunger pains. But there was more for her going. Alice knew this. Caleb did not have to say it.

“What about me being a Great Luna?” She finally questioned him. “What if I refuse to go with you? Are you going to force me?”

“If you refuse to come with me today, my mate, Calliope, will come speak with you. And she can be very persuasive.” He answered with a slight smile. He then sighed as he rubbed his brows. “Look, Alice, I’m not going to lie to you. This is all new for me. I don’t have the answers to everything, nor can I tell you what will happen if you come. I can only promise to protect you and keep my son in line.”

“I’ll go, but I have conditions,” she stated firmly.

“Of course, whatever you ask.”

“I want Millie and I to have our own space, our own house. I want my daughter to be allowed to go to school. I want to be trained to fight. And I reserve the right to leave at any point and time.”

“Millie will be sent to school with my grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” Caleb smiled. “We can arrange a trainer for you. The only request is that Calliope be allowed to assess you and your wolf first.”

“Fine,” she nodded. “What about housing?”

“You and your daughter will be given your own space, but we cannot do a house.”

“Why not?”

“We live in a palace,” he explained. “The nearest town is a mile away. But don’t worry, there is plenty of space.”

Alice’s eyes went wide at the realization. She had assumed that she would be going to another pack house, like the one belonging to the Nightshade pack. She could not form any more words to argue with him. She would go, but only for Millie. She would keep Eli at arm's length from her, as he would do her. She grabbed a few things and walked to the other side of the cabin.

"My companion is on his way with a wagon," Caleb said as he stood from the table.

"How long will it take to travel?" She questioned curiously. "Millie, come pack your toys."

"About a week since we are taking the wagon," he answered. He looked down at Millie as she went to her mother. "What about her father? Is he anywhere? Do I need to send someone to let him know where you are going?"

"No," she mumbled softly. "He left long ago. Don't even bother looking for him."

Caleb nodded his head. He watched as she placed her belongings into the basket that he had brought. There was not much that Alice wanted to take. Anything of value she had sold off years ago to buy food. She knelt on the floor, looking through a pile of old, tattered clothes. Caleb noticed her head drop and her shoulders tremble. She was fighting back tears.

"Come on," he encouraged gently. "Let's get you packed up. I'll tell you all about the palace, the Royal Moon pack, and everything in between on the way."