Chapter 5 The Bet

Calla’s POV

“Calla! Where are you?”

I woke up with a start at the sound of loud voices. I bolted upright, still half dazed, wondering where I was.

I pushed off the bed, but as I did so, I caught my reflection in the mirror. I gasped. I looked so beautiful a tear slid down my cheek. My face looked like it had gotten a lift, my lashes were longer, and my face was as smooth as a baby’s bum.

That hideous scar on my face was no longer there.

“Calla? Calla?!!” The voice I heard was definitely Lucas, but this room was not familiar. I made my way out of the room, I followed the voice, and went downstairs to the living room. I saw Lucas and Darius circling themselves like they were about to fight.

The house had the dragon claw crest on the wall. This was Darius’s place.

Definitely Lucas.

Darius saw me first when I got downstairs, and he sighed. “Lucas is here to see you.”

When Lucas saw me he whistled. “Someone told me you killed a rogue who tried to attack you. I'm impressed.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked him.

Lucas shook his head. “I thought you'd be more excited to see me. I'm finally caring about you.” He dragged his eyes over my body and scoffed. “You got a makeover?”

“I…I didn't.” I heard myself say.

Darius answered for me. “She shifted tonight, and the moon goddess blessed her with a transformation.”

Lucas whistled again. “Finally. Now you can be a proper member of the eclipse pack. Can you shift again? The full moon is tomorrow and I'm sure everyone will want to see your wolf.”

That made me wince. I couldn't go back, and I could not let him see how different my wolf was.

“She's not going anywhere.” Darius cut in. “She's staying here and no one touches her without my go ahead.” He folded his arms across his chest and glared at Lucas.

“I promise you, I'll soon forget my fists in your face if you don't stay away from family matters.” Lucas threatened.

Darius sneered at him. “Oh so now she's family? Do you forget how shitty you treated her at the club yesterday?”

I was tired of them fighting. “I…I am not going anywhere with you, Lucas.” I said trying to sound braver than I was feeling. My body was still weak and in pain from shifting and from Lucas' rejection.

But I doubt Lucas understood the amount of pain I was in. He was always selfish. True to form, he rolled his eyes. "What do you mean not coming? You can’t refuse me, Calla. I placed a bet.”

I shot him a glare. “A bet?”

“Yes,” he said, “I bet that my stepsister would never survive a night out…and she would never shift, but someone said you shifted and also survived on your own. I had to come see for myself.”

“I…I'm not going with you, and I don't care about your bets.” He never cared about me.

Darius stepped in front of me, chest out. “You heard her. She’s not going anywhere with you. Back off.”

Lucas could not believe his ears. He looked like he would explode at any moment. “This isn't over.” He said finally when some of Darius's men started entering the room.

I guess he realized he couldn't fight them all.

“Lucas, this is over. If you step foot here again, I won't be responsible for whatever happens to you.” Darius finished, taking a menacing step towards Lucas. “Get out, now.”

Lucas hesitated, baring his teeth like he wanted to bite Darius, but eventually he left. I exhaled shakily, sinking to the couch, and then I pulled my knees to my chest.

Darius crouched beside me again. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I think so. Everything is just different, and everyone can see me now. What…what if people find out? You heard Lucas, sooner or later I'll have to face the pack.” I buried my face in my hands.

He reached for my hand and brushed his thumb over my knuckles. His hair fell over his face and I had the slightest urge to touch it. “Yes, they'll see you differently and fuck them. We already talked about this, remember. Just tell them you can't shift again since he rejected you.”

“Why are you helping me? You've barely talked to me until today.” I asked. This was not my first time here since my best friend also lived here.

Everytime I came here, he barely paid me any attention.

“You worry too much. Right now, I only need to see you safe and alive.”

I laughed. “You saved me at the club and now. Thank you.”

“I know you like Lucas.” he said and I blinked, caught off guard.

I nodded, cheeks burning. “Yeah. And you… you’ve never liked Lucas, I know that.”

He rolled his eyes. “Yes, he can be an ass. I went to the club to actually beat the shit out of him.”

“Really? I thought you were there to drag Sierra's ass out.”

“Really.” he answered, smiling a little. I noticed how handsome he actually was with a dimpled smile and green eyes. Darius continued. “Lucas is an idiot, but you're more than anyone deserves to see at a glance.”

I nearly choked on my own spit. “You're just saying that. Even though I feel safer here.”

“Look, I have an idea.” He said leaning in like he was sharing a secret.

I raised a cautious eyebrow. I didn't like the tone of his voice. “Idea?”

“A fake engagement,” he said, his hand brushing mine again. “We can go public, just to make Lucas jealous.”

I blinked. “A fake engagement? You… you want us to pretend?”

“Exactly, Calla. Think about it. No one would ask about your wolf again if you belong to my pack, but Lucas he won't see this coming and he'll be crushed.”

I stared at him like he had gone mad. “This is forbidden. Do you know what–”

He cut me off, pressing his finger to my lips. “Just trust me. We will have fun doing this. Don't you want to get back at Lucas? And maybe… maybe something real could come from it. If you let it.”

I couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped. “You’re insane.”