Page 178 of Caelum

Frazer, to many at Caelum, might have come across as a douche-face, jerk off jock, but he totally wasn’t. He rocked the boat when it came to being our leader.

“Darian. Had another flare-up of shingles.”

He cringed. “Shit. Isn’t that like chickenpox for adults?”

“Yeah. But worse. It’s gonna fuck up his plans for Oxford.”

“There nothing you can do? You know the fund?—”

I held up a hand, cutting him off. “Bro, no money can solve this particular issue but thanks. I appreciate it.” We bumped fists.

“It’s our money, Samuel. You know that. They’re my family, even if they don’t have a clue who I am.”

If I had a pussy, I’d have fucking melted. “I know, bro. I know. Means a lot.”

He dipped his chin then grumbled, “I want some of the soup too.”

Snickering, I said, “It’s the best soup in the world, granted. But I think we have a birthday cake tonight so that should make up for it.”

“Whose birthday is it?”

Another laugh escaped me. “Your girl’s.”

“It’s Eve’s birthday?” His eyes widened in panic, and I’d have laughed again if he didn’t look so spaced out.

“Yeah. She’s eighteen. You gonna tap that?”

He punched me in the arm but didn’t reply. He knew I was joking or we’d have ended up fighting on the floor. Wasn’t the first time and wouldn’t be the last. Instead, he was rubbing his chin like he was looking for a solution for world peace. “What the fuck do I get her for a present?”

I shrugged. “How about freedom?”

Frazer squinted at me. “Dickface.”

“It’s the truth. Getting that boat cost us a fucking fortune. Plus, I don’t think she’s like that. How can she be? I mean, where she’s from it’s likely they didn’t have a Hallmark on the compound.”

“True.” He winced. “Still, I feel like shit. I should have known. Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?”

“I just did,” I mocked, then admitted, “I only found out when I was in the gym.” I hated that. I liked knowing all the shit on my people. You couldn’t put out a fire if you didn’t know what set it off. “Dre was mouthing off about Eren going all pussy on her. Making her some kind of birthday baklava or something.”

“Birthday baklava?” He pouted. “No cake?”

“Well, the Turkish version of it.” I shrugged. “It’s good shit. I had it before when I was a kid.”

“I’ve had it too, but I’d prefer triple chocolate fudge.”

“I don’t know; it’s going to be good stuff. He’s making it from scratch. That’s where they are now. In the kitchen.”

He processed that, then the skin about his eyes pinched as he sighed. “Fuck.”

“What?”

“I not only have fuck all to give her—don’t even have a clue what I’d get her if I had a mall down the road—but it’s just weird, man. We have a woman now. One we share and more than just because we’re Pack, you know? The only reason I’m not freaking out about all of that is because she needs us to handle her. To keep her safe. Doesn’t make it less surreal though.”

He wasn’t wrong. Shit had changed a lot in a short amount of time, and it was beyond peculiar. It would have been even if Eve were normal, but she was the direct antithesis of normal.

You rubbed the woman’s belly and she could grant you a wish.

Nothing about that was regular.

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