Royals

by S. Dalambakis

  “I don’t have anything. What could I possibly have that she wants?”

  “Us.” I answer simply.

  “He’s not saying it to be vain. It’s the truth. Kelsey has been trying to wrangle one of us in for the past couple of years. She tried going for Zeke at the end of last year. The beginning of last year it was Graydon. Side note, we are pretty awesome if I do say so myself. I mean have you seen us?” Max says holding his arms out to the side. The grin on his face is the only way you know is his joking.

  “You’re so full of yourself.” I grin back at him.

  “She’s trying to climb the social ladder. Yea her parents have money, but she wants the best of everything and that includes boyfriends. As for why we stick around, it’s because we want too. You don’t have an easy life. But that doesn’t mean you’re not worth it. Because you are. You so are,” I say.

  “Callie bear, we’re here with you because we want to be. Point blank,” Graydon says in a matter of fact tone.

  “We love everything about you. Everything you have been through is shaping the person you are becoming. I, for one, am glad you came into our lives. My only wish is that it was sooner. Yes, we know what you deal with at home, but you can depend on us. Have we given you any reason to doubt us?” I say.

  Callyn shakes her head no.

  “Then believe that we won’t. You have to trust us. Trust that we are not going to disappear on you,” states Zeke.

  “I’m trying, but it’s hard to trust others, when you couldn’t for so long.”

  “We know that baby, that’s why we have been trying to prove to you that you can with us,” I say.

  Graydon

  Fucking Kelsey. We should have known she was going to be a problem, especially after last week in the hall. Callyn knew there where whispers. Heard the rumors. But she was ignoring it. Then Kelsey goes and unknowingly play on her insecurities. When we first started talking to her, Callyn had said as much to them. I understood then because she didn’t know us. Going by the reputation that everyone else made for us, we’re bad asses. Not really. We stick to ourselves, less drama and trouble that way. But for the past two months, she has gotten to see the real us. She should know that we would never just drop her.

  Hell, if I had my way, she wouldn’t still be living with her father. But as it stands, right now I can’t do anything. The Council, I shake my head, the fucking Council has forbidden me from doing anything. Which is bullshit. For now, I have no clue what to do. She should call the police, but I know the fear of uncertainty of what would happen to her keeps her from calling. I’m being selfish, but I don’t want her leave. I can’t lose her. I can’t lose my mate. I feel like the worst person for thinking it, especially knowing her father hits her.

  Everything that has been said, we heard. We have tried to head some of it off, making it known that no one is to mess with her. But the threats only work on guys, it’s not like we can threaten the girls here too. That would make us no better than her father. But Kelsey has a lot of power. She can make Callyn’s life miserable. I hate that Callie still has any doubts about us. What more can we do?

  I look over at her as we walk through the halls going to our lockers. She’s so beautiful. Why can’t see she that? Kelsey, hell no other girl, can compare to her. Callyn is defeated right now. She eyes are trained on the floor like it’s the most interesting thing in the world. She needs to stop moping.

  “What’s it going to take for you to not doubt us anymore?” Smooth Graydon, just piss her off. Actually, that might not be the worst idea. Everyone else doesn’t agree. They all groan. Callyn doesn’t get mad though. Her head snaps up and she looks me dead in the eyes.

  “Just don’t give up on me.”

  I reach out and envelop her in my arms, my cheek resting on the top of her head. Her arms encircle my waist, squeezing me tight.

  “That my Callie bear, I can do. I promise to never give up on you,” I whisper.

  Zeke

  I watch Callie reluctantly pull away from Graydon. She shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot. I have a feeling we are not going to like what she is about to say.

  She takes a deep breath. “I have been thinking, and I think we need to stop touching each other so much.”

  “What?” I exclaim.

  “No,” bellows Graydon.

  “Fuck that,” states Max.

  “Here me out. Maybe the rumors will die down, and maybe Kelsey will leave me alone. We fuel the fire because in some way or form, I’m touching one of you, or vice versa. If we stop being so touchy feely, maybe they’ll stop and leave us alone.”

  “You can’t be serious,” Graydon growls.

  “Is that what you truly want?” Lucian questions lightly.

  “No, but maybe people will stop talking about us and being rude ignorant jerks.”

  “Callie, let them talk. They are going to regardless. There is no need for you to change. If I want to hold your hand, I will. If I want to kiss your cheek just to see you blush, I will,” Graydon practically growls.

  “I’m with Graydon on this,” I state.

  “Me too,” chimes in Max.

  “I am as well,” exclaims Lucian.

  “Good, then its settled. We aren’t going to change just because, some people have a problem. We do what we want. End of story. Are you okay with our touching? Does it bother you?” Graydon questions.

  “No, it doesn’t bother me. I hated the idea and hated saying it even more. I guess I was just trying to spare you guys. All the girls, and now with Kelsey’s help, I’m pretty sure some of the guys think we are all dating. I don’t want this to be a problem if you guys wanted to get girlfriends.”

  “Even if we did want a girlfriend, what we have as friends isn’t going to change because of that. You were here first, and any girlfriends would have get use to you too. Don’t change because of single minded people,” I say.

  “Okay,” she whispers.

  “Good. Now, unfortunately we need to get you home.”

  We drop Callyn off a block from her house, because she doesn’t know if her father went to work. I’m still reeling from our conversation earlier. How could she think we would change who we are just please someone else? What people are saying is affecting her more than she wants to admit. She is trying to put on a brave face for us. I admire her for that, but she needs to let us know when things are becoming too much. I want her to learn to lean on us. She can’t be brave and do everything on her own all the time. Even if she thinks she can.

  Maximus

  Callyn didn’t seriously think we would go along with her plan, did she? How much more is this girl going to go through? She gets physically abused at home. Now, it’s verbal abuse at school. Instead of telling us, she decides to keep yet another thing to herself. Let alone, come up with one of the worst ideas I’ve heard. I will never understand why people need to care so much about things that do not concern them. How does my, or the guys’ relationship Callyn make any difference to them. How do we affect them? We don’t.

  I’m usually the happy-go-lucky one. I try not to take things too seriously. But this is really starting to piss me off. Why won’t she just ask for help? People are going to say and think whatever they want anyway. The human people will, the shifters won’t bat an eyelash, once they know who she is to us. I don’t see why she cares. If she is happy, and we are happy, what does it matter. My phone beeps.

  Zeke: Guys, what are we going to do about Kelsey? You know she’s just going to continue berating Callyn when we’re not around.

  Lucian: I don’t know if there is anything we can do.

  Graydon: I wish we had another girl that was a friend that could threaten her for us.

  Lucian: I think we have done enough.

  Me: What is that supposed to mean?

  Lucian: Just that WE are the reason anyone is coming after her to begin with. WE sat with her. WE made friends with her. WE are the ones that touch her. Or has no one else noticed she does hardly
initiates any of the contact?

  Zeke: No, she hugs us all the time.

  I frown. Thinking back, I would have to agree with Lucian. Very rarely does she instigate any form of contact. It’s usually us, opening our arms for her. Us making that first motion.

  Me: I have to agree with Lucian. Think about it guys. It’s almost always us telling her to come to us. There have only been a handful of times that it’s been her.

  Zeke: You don’t think we make her uncomfortable?

  Graydon: No, because I asked, and she said she was fine.

  Me: Can we be sure? It’s not like she’s forth coming with any kind of information. The thing she is comfortable talking to us about is her mother. Her face lights up like a Christmas tree.

  That is a day I will never forget. She looked so beautiful. It was easy to get information from her about her mother. After she had left that day, we called the Council and gave the information to them. You would think finding anything about Callies’ lineage would be easier now, but we still haven’t heard anything from them. It’s grating on all our nerves. A lot of our issues would not exist if we didn’t have to hide them from her and everyone else. My phone beeping grabs my attention.

  Lucian: If I hadn’t noticed she was off earlier, I doubt she would have said anything.

  Zeke: Who knows how long this has been going on.

  Graydon: Knowing her she would have backed off and we wouldn’t have noticed at first. She would have tried to play it off.

  Lucian: That’s exactly what she would do.

  Zeke: But none of this helps with the situation though. It’s not like we can follow her everywhere.

  Graydon: No, but we can help her speak up. Maybe if she starts defending herself to others, like she does us, then maybe they’ll back off. What the hell is taking the Council so long? We gave them the information that they needed.

  Lucian: That could help. It’s worth a try. I don’t know. I’ll try to see if I can find out anything from my grandfather.

  Zeke: Okay, but how do we get her to do that?

  Me: I have no idea.

  I want to her help, but she needs to want to help herself first. Until then, we’re just blowing smoke.

  Chapter 21

  Callyn

  No matter how much glowering the guys did, people still kept talking. I figured they would get tried by now, but nope. You think it would with homecoming approaching. It’s still a few weeks out. I thought the girls at school would be more concerned about finding a date, their hair and make-up. Finding a dress and shoes. Don’t girls take weeks to plan this? I would like to go, but there is no way I could buy a dress and shoes.

  I asked the guys if they were going. Jealousy reared its ugly head at the thought of them going with another girl. I shouldn’t. I don’t have any claim to them, even if it feels like I do. It still hurt, to think that they would be out having fun, while I hid in my room. Luckily, they said they didn’t want to go because they knew I wouldn’t be able too. Instead, we are going to make plans to something together. Is it crazy how happy that makes me? I feel selfish, but they are mine.

  Slow your role, Callyn. They aren’t yours, even if you want them to be.

  Right now, we are sitting in Zeke’s living room watching Game of Thrones. When they found out I haven’t seen it and knew nothing about the show, they said I had to watch it. We are a couple of episodes into season one. This show is awesome. Two words. Jon Snow. When I first saw him come on the screen, I sighed. Then I blushed, and the guys start teasing me about it. The guy is hot. Sue me.

  The doorbell sounds, and Zeke hops up to answer. A few minutes later he comes back into the living holding four boxes of pizza. Thank god, because I’m starving. Lucian goes to the kitchen and comes back with some paper plates, napkins, and some bottles of water. Graydon passes around plates, while Zeke opens a couple of boxes and sets them on the coffee table.

  I grab a slice buffalo chicken and pineapple pizza, because pineapple does belong on pizza, and a slice of cheese. I settle back into my seat to continuing watching the show. Max grabs some slices and sits next to me. I give him a smile and pick up a slice of my pizza. Just as I am getting ready to take a bite, Max grabs my wrist and brings my hand closer to his mouth. He takes a bite, the shithead. I giggle.

  Graydon comes around thumps him in the back of the head. “You have your own, don’t eat hers,” he says before coming around to the other side of the couch.

  “Yeah, but hers is better.” Max gives me a wink.

  Before I know it, I’m stuffed. Somehow, I manage to sit with my back pressed against Graydon and my legs stretched across Max’s lap. Can’t say I’m mad about it. I look to find Lucian sitting in front of the couch, but his head is resting on the cushion. Zeke sitting next to him. When did they move? I look down. I just want to run my fingers through Lucians hair. I want to know if it feels as soft as it looks. I shift slightly. I lift my hand, but bring it back down.

  Just do it Callyn. He won’t care. So, before I could chicken out, I lift my hand and slide my fingers in his hair. It is just as soft as I imagined. I spread my fingers out and slowly pulled them back in, massaging his scalp as I do so. I feel him push is head back into my hand. I take that as a good sign and continue to do what I was doing.

  A few minutes later, I heard him let out a little moan. I feel Graydon and Max stiffen. They look over and see what I am doing then instantly relax. I wonder what that was about. I did that a while longer before my hand gets tired. Lucian looks back to me.

  “You can do that anytime you want. That felt good.” I blush.

  “Awe, now I want to know how it feels,” Max whines. “Me next.”

  “Too late, I’m already on the floor,” Zeke says as he scoots closer and rest his head on the cushion like Lucian.

  “Fine, but I’m after Zeke.”

  “How about you see if she even wants to massage your scalp first, before you make assumptions,” Graydon barks.

  “You don’t mind do you Callie?” I look to Max and see he’s giving me these big puppy dog eyes. I couldn’t help my laugh. It was adorable.

  “No, I don’t mind.” I crane my neck back to look up at Graydon. “I’ll even massage yours if you want.”

  The corner of Graydons mouth turns up. “We’ll see.” I give him the biggest smile I can. He is definitely going to let me.

  I did end up giving each of them a massage. They in turn repaid the effort. Lucian and Max each massage a foot. Zeke massages my head, and Graydon lightly massages my shoulders. It was the best day of my life, until my reality came crashing down. I had this amazing life outside of that four-wall prison, I call home. Outside of that house, I had the life I only dreamed about. The kind of life I probably would have had if my mother was still alive. I may not be friends with the guys, but I would be normal. And that is the only thing I truly want.

  My father has other ideas. I never understood why he wants to keep me locked away. Why I can’t go out and do normal things. It’s probably because he thinks that I’m going to run and tell someone. He has me too afraid to that. The uncertainty of what would happen to me is another reason. I don’t know where my aunt is, or what kind of foster family I could have ended up with. What if I got one just like my father? Then everything I did would have been for nothing. I know I sort of tell the guys things, but that took me almost two months to tell them anything. Honestly, if my father wouldn’t have destroyed my phone, I doubt I would have said anything to them. I mean maybe eventually, but not that soon.

  Just like when I got home tonight. I was on cloud nine from the day I had with my guys. I always peek around the door when I come home from spending time with them. I want to avoid my father. I slowly open the front door listening for any sounds. When I don’t hear any I quickly enter the house and close the door behind me. I rush up the stairs to my room. Normally, if I hide he doesn’t come looking for me. I seem to anger him when he can see me. That’s usually when he will push me into something
or punch me.

  I thought I had escaped him tonight. Out of sight out of mind deal. But no, I had to go to the bathroom. I went about my business. I opened the door and ran smack into my father. Let’s just say my night ended badly. And now, I’m going to have to wear a long sleeve shirt to school. I will until the bruises on my lower arms fade. Sometimes I think the guys were brought into my life right when I needed someone the most. I always dreamed about being able to leave. That’s my plan, but I honestly don’t know if I would have gone through with it. But my guys, they give me a reason. They give me hope. And hope is a dangerous thing.

  Chapter 22

  The Boys- Maximus

  Monday mornings always come to soon. But on the bright side I get to see Callyn. She was evasive yesterday, saying that she couldn’t get away. It’s happened before, but I still missed her. Instead I blew up her phone with text massages yesterday. I was to the point where I was sending her random pictures of myself and funny memes. Though I did get back some cute pictures of her. My favorite was her blowing a bubble with gum but doing it cross eyed.

  I immediately saved the picture and made it the background on my phone. Speaking of the cute devil, she’s standing at her locker. I take my time walking over so I could admire the view. It’s my favorite. She has on her favorite black boots. She wears those things every day. Yeah, that’s right I noticed. My gaze travels up, to her maroon colored jeans. Man does she fill those out nicely, if you know what I mean. She has on a light coral, long sleeved shirt with silver snowflakes all over it. Her long red hair is straight and down. Callie has one of hour glass shaped bodies.

  Seriously, how the hell did no one notice her at all her other schools? Even if she wasn’t my mate, I would have still noticed her. I would have talked to her and gotten to know her. She’s so beautiful inside and out. The other guys haven’t caught up with me yet, so I get Callie all to myself, for a few minutes anyways. I take advantage of her being distracted. I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. I give her right cheek a quick peck before setting my chin down on her shoulder.