Forbidden by Fate
Chapter 20

Emersyn

There is something invigorating about the cool breeze that washes over me as I feel the horse beneath me swaying gently down the trail. Liam doesn’t force me to fill the void with awkward conversation as we make our way back to the stables. His question left me with a lot to ponder and I get the sense that he knows that the silence will give me the space to think.

I don’t want to admit it to myself, but I know that his words hold some truth. Callum made it blatantly clear that he is not ready to grow up. I wanted to give him an excuse, but honestly could replace none. He knew what he was doing when he called Callie, yet he didn’t stop himself. He chose to continue knowing that it would hurt me, and that felt almost unforgivable.

Liam wasn’t just offering to forgive me, he was offering to love me. I would have to be insane not to see the stark difference between the two, yet I still found myself at an emotional war. The only thing I was certain of was that I made a promise to both my mother and Liam that I intended to keep. He deserved a chance, and I was going to give it to him.

We approach the stables, drawing my attention back to the task at hand. I feel Liam’s eyes on me as I dismount with ease, turning to him to take his reins. He laughs as he nervously looks around muttering, “Oh, great this again.”

I effortlessly laugh as I look around, knowing that he is making sure no one will be the wiser to his less than stellar dismount. “The coast is clear,” I say chuckling.

He grins as he hands the reins to me before holding onto the saddle horn for dear life and nearly tumbling from atop the horse. I can’t contain the laughter that escapes my pursed lips as he begins to walk next to me. He is bowlegged and awkward, but somehow still acutely attractive.

I haven’t taken the time to fully appreciate how handsome the Alpha heir is. His jet black hair is tousled a bit from being under the riding helmet, but he still looks like he could appear on the cover of a teen magazine as the next heartthrob. I allow my eyes to trail his face noticing the slightest hint of a scar beneath his right eye. His eyes are a honey colored hazel, unique and inviting. His lips, full and a deep hue of red, call my attention.

When he speaks I almost jump, startled back to reality. “So, I was wondering if you would allow me the pleasure of your company at a private dinner this evening?”

I know he saw me admiring him by the way he looks at me. I blush, embarrassed that I have been caught before answering, “I would love to.”

His eyes light with excitement as he responds, “Good. Be ready at seven. Meet me at the gazebo by the pond!”

“It will be cold,” I counter as he walks away.

“Dress warm,” he says smiling over his shoulder.

I can’t help but smile back at him as I ask, “Hey, where are you going?”

He doesn’t stop as he begins to break into a run, “It’s a surprise!”

I watch as he leaves me at the stables still holding the reins of the horses, “I guess it’s just the three of us then!”

I take my time brushing the horses, and cleaning up from our ride, before I make my way towards the packhouse to prepare for our evening. As I replace myself in my room once again, I am reminded of last night’s events. I can still smell his lingering scent upon my sheets and I instantly feel a pang of regret.

I am ripping the sheets from the bed, before I consider it any further. I toss them in the laundry basket and cover them with yesterday’s laundry, hoping that it will mask his scent. That somehow it will ease the tension in my heart. I open the window knowing the breeze will help.

I start to walk away when I hear Maverick from the courtyard below my window. At first, I don’t realize that he is with anyone, but it doesn’t take long to realize that he is angrily talking to someone. I lean against the edge of my wall, listening despite myself.

“What are you thinking? You can’t just leave!” Maverick says through a raised whisper.

“Be quiet, I don’t want the whole damn house to know.” My heart drops as I hear Callum’s reply.

No. He wouldn’t. I have to be mistaken. But Maverick continues, “You are a fucking idiot! This is not what I meant when I said fix it.”

I can see their silhouettes through the slit in my curtains, as I hold my breath, afraid that they will realize I am listening. Callum doesn’t hesitate to answer, “But this would fix it. No me. No problem.”

“So you are going to leave without so much as a goodbye? Not just to me, but to Emersyn? You really are a coward.” Maverick spits with anger apparent in his every word.

“I think that’s already been established. I am no good for anyone. It’s best that I just leave.” Callum says with the kind of conviction that only a desperate man possesses.

My heart is breaking into a million pieces as I hang on their every word. Callum is broken, there is no denying it. But for the first time I realize that I cannot fix him. I want to more than anything, but I realize now more than ever that he has to want to himself.

Maverick doesn’t answer right away but when he does his voice is filled with venom, “If you leave, don’t ever come back. You will be banished from this pack.”

Callum’s shoulders slump in defeat as he replies, “I understand.”

“Then go,” Maverick spits with hurt apparent in his tone. “But don’t call yourself a friend if you leave me to clean up the broken pieces you leave behind.”

Callum hesitates for a moment before I see his hand brush away a stray tear, “I don’t know what else to do, Maverick.”

Maverick’s voice softens as he puts his hand on his best friend’s shoulder and says, “You stay. You allow her to choose. But you don’t make this harder for her. She deserves better than that, and I know you know that.”

Relief washes over me as I realize Maverick loves Callum like a brother. He wants him to stay, but more than that he wants him to realize this will break me. Maverick doesn’t just love Callum, he loves me.

Callum shakes his head in understanding as he leans against the column. “I never meant to hurt her.”

Maverick laughs mockingly as he answers curtly, “Yes, you did but a man knows when to admit that. He knows that running is easy but staying, that’s the hard part. Grow up, Callum! If you truly love her then you will give her the right to choose.”

Maverick is on point with everything he is saying. Callum leans forward placing his head against his chest as he allows a sigh to escape, “You are right.”

“I know,” Maverick replies. “But you have to decide who you are going to be, a man that fights for who he loves or a boy that runs. The choice is yours and yours alone.”

He shakes his head as he turns to leave Callum alone in the courtyard. I swallow hard knowing that he is debating on shattering my very existence, as I hear him whisper. “She deserves better.”

He grabs his bag and starts to walk away, and it is all I can do to suppress the sob that threatens to erupt from within, when he pauses. He stands on the brink of a life altering decision. He looks towards my window and I stay as still as possible, praying he doesn’t see me. He shakes his head, pacing in a circle, before he turns and forces himself to walk back to the packhouse.

The breath I am holding comes out in sobs, as I slide down the wall. Callum Murphy is a damn fool, but despite myself I still love him. I know that the future holds heartbreak’s unimaginable for one of them, but for tonight I am thankful that I do not have to choose.