Gemini of the Shifter Realm

Chapter 55 Decisions, Decisions

Zoe Lawson P.O.V

I shifted into my wolf form and darted between them just as they lunged at each other, instincts taking over. I didn't care about the danger; I only wanted the fight to end. My body collided with Caleb's, and I was hurled against a tree. Pain shot through me, and I whimpered, feeling the bark scrape against my fur. Theodore, bruised and battered from Caleb's onslaught, whimpered when he saw me.

Caleb, realizing his advantage, moved swiftly. He gripped the loose skin behind my neck with his powerful jaws, dragging my weakened body toward him. His eyes were wild, filled with a dangerous determination. He bared his canines, ready to forcefully mark me, his breath hot against my throat. Panic surged within me—I could feel his teeth, sharp and unyielding, just pressing against my skin. But before he could claim me, Theodore, mustering the last of his strength, charged forward and slammed into Caleb, knocking him away from me.

Theodore collapsed beside me, his body reverting to its human form, bloodied and broken. "She's not your mate!" he shouted at Caleb, his voice raw and desperate. His eyes flashed a brilliant yellow, his wolf still burning inside him.

Caleb shifted back as well, his expression darkening. "Why are you trying to take something that doesn't belong to you?" Theodore demanded, voice trembling with rage and pain. "How would you feel if someone tried to steal your mate?"

For a moment, a flicker of hurt crossed Caleb's face. The word "mate" was like a fresh wound being torn open. "You will leave her eventually when you find yours," Theodore continued, his voice softening.

"I won't," Caleb said coldly, his eyes hardening. "My mate is dead."

The words hung heavy in the air, a bitter truth that silenced us all. "No one understands more than I do what it means to lose a mate," Caleb added quietly, his pain evident.

"Then why are you trying to make me feel the same?" Theodore shot back, his voice breaking.

Caleb scoffed, bitterness dripping from his tone. "You rejected her."

"I did what I thought was right at the time," Theodore replied, his voice steady but filled with regret. "That doesn't give you the right to take what is meant to be mine."

He moved toward me, checking my wounds, his hands gentle despite their roughness. His mark was still there, and I could feel his relief.

Caleb broke the silence, his voice challenging. "Why don't we ask her instead?"

The weight of his words settled on me like a stone. He grabbed a shirt that was lying on the ground and approached me, draping it over my form as I shifted back, grateful for the cover. But as he moved to lift me, Theodore growled low in his throat, warning him off. He scooped me into his arms, his grip firm but careful, and carried me back toward the room.

A few pack members appeared, drawn by the commotion, but Caleb waved them off, muttering that it was nothing. The tension between us remained, thick and unresolved, a reminder that this was far from over.

Oz Wyltt P.O.V

"Do they know about Logan?" I asked Lorraine, my voice low and edged with worry. She shook her head, her expression serious.

"Adrian didn't mention him to the council," she replied, her tone flat but revealing the weight of what she left unsaid.

I let out a sigh, frustration gnawing at me. "I didn't know your father was aware," I admitted truthfully. If I had known, I wouldn't have mentioned Vanity. The last thing I wanted was to expose more than necessary.

"Who are they to decide the fate of a child?" I muttered, turning my gaze away from her. The council's arrogance was infuriating. They sat in judgment, playing gods over lives they could never fully understand. Vanity was more than just some hybrid to be judged and condemned. I had held her in my arms, cared for her despite everything. She was innocent, undeserving of the fate they planned to mete out.

"What about the parents?" I asked, my mind racing with the implications of their decisions. It wasn't just about Vanity. It was about all of them. The family. The bonds that could be shattered in an instant.

Suddenly, my father's figure emerged from the shadows, his presence as unsettling as ever. "They're being set up," he said without preamble, his voice heavy with foreboding.

I narrowed my eyes at him, sensing there was more to his sudden appearance. "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to piece together the fragments of information.

"Adrian plans to trap Lucifer on the day his daughter stands trial," my father explained, his expression grim. "They know he will come to defend her, and it's then that his fate will be decided as well."

Zoe Lawson P.O.V

Both of them, now fully dressed, turned their gazes toward me with a mix of hope and anxiety. Theodore's face was etched with stress, his brows furrowed deeply, and I could hear the rapid thumping of his heartbeat from where I stood. It was as though he was bracing for a verdict he wasn't sure he could handle, his internal turmoil laid bare.

Caleb, on the other hand, despite the shocking intensity of his earlier actions, seemed oddly at peace. His demeanor was surprisingly calm, even serene, which only added to the complexity of the situation. Our connection had never evolved into something I could fully define. I needed more time to understand my own feelings and decide what I wanted.

Before I could even start to articulate my thoughts, Caleb raised a hand to silence me, his gesture gentle but firm. The look in his eyes was a mix of resignation and acceptance, a silent acknowledgment of what was about to unfold. "I can't do this," he said softly, his voice tinged with regret.

He turned to Theodore, his gaze steady. "You better take care of her this time. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a second chance," he said, the weight of his words heavy in the air.

With a final, tender smile, Caleb approached me. He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, a gesture that was both affectionate and bittersweet. His touch lingered for a moment, a silent goodbye that spoke volumes. Then, without another word, he walked out the door.

That was the last time Caleb and I spoke.