Chapter 12

Luka

What did Caleb mean by just standing by his side? I wanted to ask him, but I didn’t want to look stupid. The words themselves were obvious, sort of—he wanted me to stand by his side.

But what did that mean in reality? To follow him around and serve his needs? To shadow him and keep him company? To be his bedmate?

To be his mate?

I didn’t want to read too much into it. I stopped the thought immediately after having it.

“Caleb…” I started.

Just that minute, Caleb’s beta, James, walked into the foyer.

“I have to deal with a few things, Luka.” He let my hand go and met his friend, then went down to his office.

I guess that means I’m not literally supposed to stand by his side, I said to myself, grateful to have that question answered at least. But I still had no idea what he meant.

I wanted to integrate into the pack as soon as possible, and I wanted to do anything I could to be an acceptable wolf. I wanted to contribute so that he knew I appreciated being here.

It was confusing, though, because I was always told so emphatically what not to do, that without being told what to do, I really didn’t know.

Caleb said to do what I normally did, so, that meant making myself useful. I wanted to do some work to make this beautiful estate even more beautiful.

I walked the grounds of the estate, getting myself used to the place, and truthfully just getting used to the idea of being able to walk anywhere I wanted.

The gardens of the estate were exquisite. I noticed, however, that one patch of a flower bed had weeds at the edges, and I decided I would take matters into my own hands, literally. I knelt down and pulled at the weeds, putting them in a little pile when I was done.

It felt good to sweat, to do something besides lay in a hospital bed. I thought the weeds would hurt my hands, but the cool vines felt good on my fingers. Maybe they had healing properties. Even the weeds here were luxurious.

A beautiful woman, probably around my age, started walking toward the mansion. Her dress was sumptuous, a rich blue color, made of silk, coming up a little above the knee. She had sky-high heels, and I couldn’t imagine how someone could walk in shoes like that.

I smiled at her and nodded. She came over to me. Was this another one of Caleb’s sisters, I wondered? Maybe a cousin.

“Hello there,” the woman said, shielding her eyes from the sun. I was still on my knees, and she towered over me.

“Hello, my lady.” I stood and brushed off the grass and dirt on my knees, although it was embarrassing to look so dirty in front of a woman who looked so noble.

“I’d like you to help me. I need tea and water prepared. You’re not busy, are you?”

“No, not at all,” I told her truthfully. The weeding occupied my time, but it wasn’t something I had been told to do.

She waved her hand for me to come with her, and I obeyed. She hadn’t introduced herself, and I didn’t want to be rude by giving her my name when she hadn’t asked for it. Especially since she seemed so regal, I didn’t want to offend a guest who might be an important member of the pack.

To be honest, it was also nice to have someone ask me to help. I felt useless enough serving Declan when I was working myself to the bone, so to be idle felt even worse.

The woman sat reading a fashion magazine as I prepared the tea along with ice water flavored with lemon.

I moved quickly to make the tea, and even Declan would have been impressed with my speed. He wouldn’t have admitted it, but I could tell when I exceeded his expectations.

“Your tea, ma’am.”

She took a sip, then put down the teacup with a look of revulsion. “This is bitter. Did you put any sugar in like I asked?”

“The sugar is on the table,” I explained. “I thought…”

“You thought wrong. Put it in now.”

I rushed to the table and removed the porcelain lid, spooning the sugar in. “Is that enough?”

“More.”

I complied.

“Now it’s too much!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, should I make you another?” I took the mug, as if ready to dump it out and re-pour, and she snatched it back.

“No. I’ll graciously tolerate it.”

I was kind of disgusted at myself that I found comfort in this treatment, because it reminded me of what I knew.

She finished the cup of tea and put the cup on the saucer with a clang. “More, please.”

I didn’t make the same mistake as before. I took the cup away and poured another directly from the kettle, putting in the amount of sugar just before she said it was too sweet.

I brought it over and laid it down. “I sweetened it for you.”

“Thank you. It can be hard for the help to learn those sorts of things.” She took a sip and spit it out. “It’s too hot, you peasant!”

My face burned like fire, and the tea dripped from my face onto the table.

“Clean that up! I don’t need your sweat contaminating things. The air is already dank.”

I bowed my head.

“Just what is happening here!” Caleb bellowed. The tea rang on the glass as Caleb slammed the table.

“I’m breaking in your new servant, Caleb,” the woman chirped. “I thought you’d appreciate it.”

“No, Olivia, I do not, and this treatment is highly inappropriate. How dare you?”

Olivia’s face crumpled. “How can you take her side against mine, when she’s so far beneath me? And you?”

“Stop speaking now. You are in my house, and you have taken far too many liberties already.”

“Why are you doing this, Caleb?” Tears streaked down Olivia’s cheeks, mixing with the tea on the table. “You’ve never treated me like this before. I don’t have to take this, I’m leaving.”

She stood up.

“Oh, no you’re not.” Caleb stood up and pounded the table, hovering over her. “You are apologizing. Now. Then get out of here.”

Olivia pursed her lips, her face filled with rage and disbelief. “I’m…I’m sorry.”

She said it almost inaudibly, like a pouting child. Caleb rolled his eyes, and Olivia glared at me before leaving.

Caleb and I stood there silently, and he rushed over to the ice bucket. He got a towel and put the ice on my cheeks, which still stung from the burns.

“Who was that?” I asked, less upset than confused. “I thought she was someone important, so I just did what she said when she told me to make her tea and give her water.”

Caleb sighed, and his face was still red from anger, almost as red as my burned cheeks. “She’s the daughter of one of the elders in the Elders Council, Finian. We grew up together. Our fathers were close.”

“Oh. I see,” I said.

Caleb continued to stroke my face with the towel, dipping it into the ice water. “We grew up calling each other cousins, even though we’re not related. I thought of her a little like a sibling.”

“Well, I’m glad that I treated her politely then, since she’s someone who’s important to the pack. Just so you know, Caleb, I didn’t do anything to provoke her.”

“Believe me. I know.” He touched my cheek. “You are mine, and you don't need to bow to anyone.”