Chapter 4

KALEB

I stare at Demi.

That damn moan that escaped her mouth sent my c**k hard.

I had to adjust my freaking pants as they were constricting my c**k.

Fuck.

It was hard to concentrate.

“Talk, i***t,” muttered Shadow in my head, sounding slightly amused.

I cleared my throat as her eyes went to me.

“I want to apologize for how I acted back in high school,” I said, my eyes never leaving hers. “I was a d**k and didn’t mean to be.”

Demi placed more pancakes into her mouth, but her eyes stayed on me.

I watched her momentarily, trying to find the words to tell her how I felt back then, but everything was jumbled up.

“Why did you do it?” asked Demi, making me pull myself back to her.

“Back then, I liked you,” I said.

Demi frowned.

“You had a funny way of showing it,” she said, placing her fork on the table as she leaned back in the chair. “I mean, you embarrassed me to no end,” she said, “You even tripped me up; that’s not something that a person would do if they liked someone.”

I sighed.

“I know,” I said, “I don’t exactly know how to express my feelings. I did the only thing I knew how by being…” but she cut me off before I could finish the sentence, “being a jerk,” she said.

I looked at her as a hint of a smile slid across her face.

I nodded.

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” I said, “I’m sorry.”

I stared at Demi. Her eyes scanned me to determine whether I was telling her the truth.

“Dem,” I said, leaning closer toward her across the table, “all I ask is you give me a chance to prove that I’m not that same jerk back then. Let me show you I have changed since you last saw me.”

Demi stared at me for a few moments, and after a short time, she gave me a nod.

“Okay,” she said, “I will try and give you a chance, but if you act like a jerk again, you won’t find your balls anytime soon.”

I couldn’t help the grin that formed.

“I promise I will behave,” I said, placing a cross over my heart.

Demi gave a slight laugh.

I loved that laugh back in school, but I love it more now.

I wanted to make her laugh every damn day to hear it.

I moved from the chair.

Demi’s eyes were on me.

“Finish your food,” I said, “I will clean up.”

Demi didn’t say anything as I walked over to the dishes.

I started to do the dishes and placed them to dry.

I heard movement from behind me, and I looked to the side to see Demi placing her plate on the side.

I quickly wash it and place it on the side. Demi grabs the towel and starts to wipe.

After a few moments, we put everything away.

Demi leaned on the counter and looked at me, “what do we do now?” she asked.

I looked at her and smiled.

“How about we talk?” I asked, “Maybe watch a film.”

Demi smiled and walked over to the lounge.

I couldn’t help but follow her.

Shadow was close by, watching and listening.

“Mate wants us,” he murmured, “maybe we can mate and mark her.”

I frowned.

“Don’t think so,” I said as I walked toward the sofa. “We will have to wait for a few days. We need to prove to her that we aren’t a jerk.”

Shadow looked at me. Well, more like glaring.

“You need to prove to her that you’re not a jerk,” he muttered, “I have to suffer due to you.”

He plopped down in my head and growled.

“Stupid human,” he murmured.

I went to say something, but Shadow placed a block up.

I have one pissed-off wolf.

I had better make this right.

I looked toward Demi, sitting on the other side of the sofa with an amused look on her face.

“Trouble with your wolf,” she asked, amused.

I groaned.

“Yeah,” I said, “I think I upset him.”

Demi looked at me and c****d her head to the side.

“I don’t blame him,” she said, “I mean, I mostly blame you for being the jerk, but not your wolf.”

I could feel Shadow smirk at my head, even with the block up.

I frowned.

Demi let out a laugh, which made my heart beat faster.

After she calmed down, “So what do we…” she started to say, but sighed. “How have you been since I last saw you?”

I stared at her and smiled.

“I have been good,” I said, “Over the last few years, Troy announced that I was going to be his Beta, and I have been training and learning ever since.”

Demi nodded.

“I always thought he would pick you,” she said, but a blush of red spread across her face.

I grinned.

“I mean, you and Troy were best friends back in high school,” she said, looking around the house.

I could tell she was trying to calm herself down, but I didn’t know what from.

“What about you?” I asked, “How come you went to your Aunt’s pack?” Even though I knew, I wanted her to tell me.

Demi turned to look at me and smiled.

“I was offered to go,” she said, “Aunt Gina knew I wanted to go to college, and I was accepted to attend the one closest to them. She offered me to stay there while I did my studies.”

I smiled.

“What did you study?” I asked.

Demi smiled.

“I studied English literature and history,” she said.

I nodded.

“I wanted to write or learn more about the world’s history. There are so many fascinating things out there about different countries throughout the years,” she said. I couldn’t help the enjoyment in her voice when she spoke about it.

“How was college?” I asked, but realization set in. “How did you shift? I mean, you couldn’t have stayed in the dorms.”

Demi gave me a knowing look.

“I knew that,” she said, “that’s why I stayed with my Aunt Gina. Her pack was closest to me to stay, so she offered to look after me.”

“That’s good,” I said.

“The pack is much like this one,” she said, eyes boring into mine. “They train all the time, and I had to join in, which at first I was reluctant to do but soon found what I was good at and loved it.”

I nodded.

“What do you like to do for training?” I asked.

Demi’s smile itched her face, but she shook her head.

“Why should I tell you?” she asked.

I smirked.

“Well, since I am one of the trainers here, I want to make sure we can carry on with whatever you want to learn,” I said.

I leaned back on the sofa, making myself comfy.

Demi stared at me for a moment.

“I liked boxing and martial arts,” she said, “It would be nice to look into doing them again.”

I nodded.

“I will look into it for you; you will have to tell me what kind of martial arts, though,” I said.

She nodded.

Demi’s eyes stayed on me for a while, but she cleared her throat.

“How about a film?” she asked, “We got all night to talk, and it is interesting to see what you will pick.”

I nodded.

I stared at her, “how about you get us some snacks and drinks while I look for a film,” I said.

Demi moved from the sofa; my eyes trailed over her and landed on her ass as she walked away.

Fuck, she looked good in those shorts.

I shook my head as my c**k started to throb.

I needed to get my head out of the gutter and onto making this work with her.

I got up and walked over to the DVD collection. Her parents had every movie that came out over the years, and it was all sectioned into themes.

I glanced around until my eyes landed on one.

I knew she didn’t like horror, but the thought of her sitting close to me had my insides trembling.

I could look after her.

I grabbed the DVD, made my way over to the DVD player, placed it in, and grabbed the remote. I stood up and returned to the sofa when Demi walked in with snacks and put them on the coffee table before us.

“What did you pick?” she asked as she sat beside me.

“IT,” I said, which made her look back at me and furrow her eyebrows.

“Kal, I don’t do horrors,” she muttered.

I placed my arm on her shoulders and pulled her to me; the closeness of her being there made my skin prickle with heat.

I moved close to her ear, “I will look after you and even protect you from the evil clown,” I said with a hint of amusement.

Demi went to turn her head away from me, but I placed my hand on her chin and made her look at me.

Her eyes widened.

“Please,” I whispered, my eyes scanning her face.

Demi didn’t move or say anything but nod. She turned back and leaned into me.

I have never felt so happy in my life than now, with my mate in my arms.