Page 45 of Callum

Inside, hidden at the back behind her crafting supplies, was a sheer nightgown. It was lacy and tied together at the shoulders with two blue ribbons.

When she’d turned eighteen, her mother decided she needed an in-depth discussion about sex and imprinting and what her future mate would expect of her. Between that conversation and a few novels her aunt had snuck to her, she had a decent idea of what would happen tonight, but she was still a little nauseated thinking about it.

Her aunt had taken her shopping in a distant town and there she’d found the nightie. It had been hiding in her closet ever since.

At the last moment, she shoved a few more pairs of underwear into her bag, along with a book.

As she approached the base of the stairs, silhouettes appeared at the front door. Felix’s familiar curly hair was visible through the color glass. Drunken, rowdy voices, accompanied the three figures, one of which was clearly Benjamin, already asking if she was home.

Snatching the banister, she rushed down the last few stairs and made a fast turn, heading to the back of the house. Before they made it inside, she was out the back door and across the yard.

No way was she letting Benjamin or anyone else ruin this night for her.

When she reached Rafe’s property, he was waiting for her on the porch.

“Is he here yet?” She panted.

Rafe grinned at her. “Not yet, though I’m surprised. He was pretty reluctant to wait.” Her friend placed a hand on her shoulder. “Take a breath. Did you run here?”

“Speed walked.”

“I’ll take you on the ATV. That will give you a bit of time to get ready before he shows up.”

“What’s he like?” she asked, while they headed to the vehicle.

“He’s nice.” Rafe glanced over his shoulder at her. “I’m happy for you. But you should know, he’s not a fan of our pack and customs.”

“Neither am I.” She snorted. “Neither are you, for that matter.”

“Yeah, but you know how it is here. Better to keep your mouth shut than to draw attention.”

“True.”

He mounted the four-wheeler. “Well, Callum isn’t likely to take things lying down. He seems like a nice guy, and a hard worker, but he’s not like anyone you’ve known.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” She climbed onto the ATV behind him.

“I guess you’ll find out. But Vivian?” He started up the ATV. “If he treats you poorly, let me know. Whether or not he’s Elliot’s cousin, I’ll tear him a new one.”

Vivian wrapped her arms around Rafe’s body and pressed her cheek to his back. “Thank you, Rafe. You’ve always looked out for me. You have no idea how much it means to me.”

Though she appreciated his offer, she knew Elliot had Rafe beat on size, and outnumbered; he wouldn’t stand a chance.

But Callum wasn’t here to run in the Curusm, which gave her hope.

Did that mean he’d come all the way here just for her?

That was worrying. What if she couldn’t satisfy him the way she’d been told she needed to? Holding onto Rafe as he drove gave her something concrete to grab. It kept her hands from shaking. But a few moments later, she was standing alone in the treehouse, her bag open on the floor and the nightie shaking between her fingers.

Her stomach clenched and she struggled to stay calm enough to change.

Everything was riding on tonight. She needed to put her best foot forward.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

When she heard voices below the treehouse, she rose from the bed and folded her hands in front of her in an effort not to pace. She considered trying to pose provocatively, but figured she’d just end up looking like a fool.

Instead, she focused on not throwing up, and sending up silent prayers that this would be the beginning of a new—a better—life for her. Something beautiful and something that would whisk her away from her troubles.

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