赤裸裸的滑稽故事

“What?” she asked.

“I approached him. I told him it was his responsibility to become Alpha of Summer,” Landon continued. “He had no interest in pursuing it on his own. Galen also wanted to do whatever it took to hold out until Caleb returned.”

“Hang on a minute,” Galen said, stepping toward Landon. “It was my responsibility, one that I should have taken up a lot sooner. I needed that push. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“That might be true,” Landon replied, “but you would never have lied to Fiona if I had not attacked you.”

“Attacked him?” Fiona questioned, taking a step toward them both and turning toward Galen.

Galen shook his head.

“He didn’t,” he quickly said, “not physically. He just… reminded me of what I needed to do.”

“I used Caleb against you,” Landon said.

Fiona turned back to him.

“I knew how much it would hurt you if I said those things,” Landon continued. “I pushed until I was sure that you would make the decision that I felt was best.”

“No,” Galen shook his head, again moving closer to Landon. He turned to Fiona. “That’s not what happened.”

“It is,” Landon said, “I am the one that forced Galen to lie to you, Fiona. I am to blame, not him.”

Fiona looked between the two men as they argued. She was feeling frustrated and confused. It was Galen that had convinced her to give up on Caleb. But did he do it because of Landon? But why would the man who came running when he thought she might shed a tear do something that he knew would break her heart?

“Why are you doing this?” Galen asked, turning to Landon. “You never told me to lie to her. No matter what you said to me, I made that decision. It has nothing to do with you.”

“If I had not cornered you that night, you would never have felt the need to lie to her,” Landon replied.

She took a deep breath as they continued to go back and forth. Finally, she sighed and turned to Landon.

“Why?” she asked. “Why did you get involved at all? You were the one that even told me about how I could become Alpha, so why would you then turn around and push Galen into the role?”

Landon met her eyes but quickly lowered them and clenched his jaw tight.

“I have never cared for anyone the way that I care for you,” he said softly. “Even before you showed me any affection in return, I would have done anything to keep you safe.”

“I don’t understand,” Fiona sighed.

Landon met her eyes. She swallowed as she saw the seriousness in his gaze.

“When I told you about how you could become Alpha, I saw the fear in your eyes. I felt the warmth drain from your body,” Landon said. “And as you described the way each member of your family has sacrificed for Summer… how you already have…”

He paused, licking his lips and then swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat at the memory.

“I knew that as scared and as tired as you were… you were still going to sacrifice yourself to keep Caleb’s place,” he said. “And it would have killed you.”

Landon lifted his gaze to meet hers again.

“How could I not get involved?” he asked gently.

Fiona closed her eyes, feeling a tightness in her chest. She took a deep breath and then turned toward Galen.

“And you?” she asked. “This was your reason as well?”

Galen swallowed but didn’t respond.

“Caleb…!” she cried out. “It’s really you…!”

15:08

Caleb moved closer, reaching out and pulling his mother into his arms. Immediately, Fiona began to “I remember that I told you about how I could be Alpha… at first, you seemed almost to agree… but then you changed your mind. You pushed to take the role, and when I wouldn’t agree, you told me there was no hope.”

Galen looked away but nodded.

“I… wanted to agree. Because, at the time, it would have been easier,” he said softly, “But, I realized at that time that agreeing to let you be Alpha… was like agreeing to your suicide.”

He sniffled and looked back at Fiona.

Fiona felt a rush of emotions. Guilt, understanding, frustration. She was surprised that her anger was no longer at the top of the list. Part of her wanted to be angry, feeling as though they were calling her weak. But the truth was, she had been relieved by Galen’s bid for Alpha.

“I am sorry that I lied,” he said. “But I didn’t know how to stop you from pushing yourself any more than you already had, and I wasn’t willing to lose you too.”

Galen moved in front of Fiona. He reached down and took her hands in his.

“I understand why you’re angry,” Galen said. “And I deserve it, so please, don’t blame Landon. Don’t blame anyone else. He didn’t do anything wrong, and neither did you. I’m the only one that you should be angry at. Just me.”

Fiona felt tears running down her cheeks. She swallowed and sniffled, unsure of how to feel. Her anger was almost gone. How could she hold on to it any longer? These men did all they could to protect her. And she had no doubt that the boy in front of her, her sweet boy, had been punishing himself ever since.

“If you have to be angry at anyone…” a familiar voice called behind her. One that she hadn’t heard in five years. “It should really be me.”

Galen’s eyes widened as he stared toward the doorway behind her and let go of her hands.

Fiona’s heart thudded loudly in her ears as she paused at this moment between the present, where Caleb was still gone, and the future, where he just might be waiting for her to turn around.

Slowly, Fiona turned, each second that passed longer than the last. Finally, she faced the door. And staring back at her was a man as tall as he was, with the same auburn hair he had and his same icy grey eyes.

It was hard for her to breathe. Each breath felt short and shallow.

“Caleb…?” she asked in a whisper.

A smile spread over his lips, the same smile that he wore when she chastised his impatience for his cocoa. The same smile he wore whenever he wanted to melt her heart. His smile.

“Hey, Mom,” he whispered.

Fiona gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

“Caleb…!” she cried out. “It’s really you…!”

Caleb moved closer, reaching out and pulling his mother into his arms. Immediately, Fiona began to cry, holding him tightly as she did so.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, kissing her head. “I got lost for a while, but I’m back now. I’m here.”