Jason Dolley as Cal

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"What is she going on about? Call us Daddy? I think our resident witch has finally lost all her marbles," Salim grins.

"Not entirely," I smirk. "Alpha Salim, Roman you may want to sit down for this piece of news, and you will understand why our dear Esme is having a mini-breakdown, or shall we say a tantrum?"

"Tantrum, Cal? Put yourself in my shoes and you tell me how you'll feel," Esme yells.

"Shit, are you guessing the same person I think is their mate," Darric prods Rafe.

"I guess so," Rafe whispers.

"What on earth are you all going on about?" Georgiana asks. "Raul, we need to stay for a while, this sounds juicy and Sun-god knows I'm curious."

"Curiosity killed the cat, my love."

"Good thing, I'm not a cat now, isn't it? Spill it, Cal."

"When I was kidnapped, Rafe revealed to Esme, a secret he learned from his grandfather. The secret about who Esme's biological father is. Because of who her father is, Rafe believed her father will help rescue me and spilled the secret. Esme didn't receive that news well, especially when she found out who her father is. This 'said' father just gave her a long hug before we left the Ruling Council chambers. So, if Alpha Salim and Roman believe the scent on her is their mate, that means that..."

"... Cal, will you please stop beating around the bush and tell us who her father is," Georgianna huffs.

"Her father is El Dargon," I sigh, annoyed she didn't let me tell the story my way.

"No way," Georgiana scoffs.

"Yes, way." I snap at her.

Alpha Salim falls back on the sofa, shaking his head. Roman moves his head back and forth like the needle on the clock between Esme and me.

"Ruling Council members don't mate," Cole whispers from his stance in the den's corner. His eyes have been on Esme walking up and down, muttering to herself.

"Well, according to the prophecy...' I start again.

"... What prophecy?" Interrupts Georgiana, again! Seriously.

"We learned of the prophecy given to the council decades ago when we met with them. The prophecy says, 'Two will mate. Two will sprout. Two will be chosen'."

"You forgot two..." Esme starts.

And I interrupt her. "No, I didn't."

"We cannot tell them two will die when we don't know which two. Maybe too much information for them at this point."

"Fine. But these two pussy cats? Mated to my father? No way."

"A prophecy? Wow!" says Georgiana. "Who is the other council member that will mate?"

"Well, that will be my father, and he already mated, I guess," I tell them.

"Beta Yorke? He's not a council member," Cole says.

"You're right and he's also not my biological father. Something my other mate, Darric found out. It seems my biological father was an Elder Sorenson."

"You are an Elder's child? Oh, my Sun-god, Did I say this decade is fun? Hell, it's fucking amazing!" Georgiana laughs. "Two direct descendants of the god and goddess? Now the 'root' thing is making sense."

"That's what we concluded."

"An Elemental? Why now? Why me? Why us?" Alpha Salim finally speaks.

"I don't care who he is, I don't want a mate," Roman says defiantly.

"Not now Roman," Alpha Salim sounds exasperated.

"I said I don't..."

"And I said NOT NOW!"

Roman's eye widens, and he moves away from Alpha Salim, sitting closer to the edge of the sofa.

I look at Alpha Salim in shock. I have never heard him yell like he just did. His mood has changed. The smile is gone. He sits back up and looks Rafe in the eye. "So what did you want to see me about, Rafe?"

"Em, well we decided on what to do with the Nebraska compound."

"And what's that?"

"We want to build a school for all supernatural. No exceptions."

"Unusual, I'll give you that. A tough task. Every race already has its own dedicated schools. How do you plan to manage one with all of them in the same area, much less in one school?"

"Cal and Esme believe it can be done. It took a lot of convincing from them but Rafe, Georgiana, Tobias and I now think it is a great idea. There will be no higher or lower ranks, no division, everyone treated equally," Darric says.

"Tobias, too?"

"Yes. We needed the permission of the Ruling Council and we got it. We also need them to spread the word to every pack, clan, coven, and gathering. We hope they do. We hope your pack will also join. But apart from that, we want to go over the plans to build the school with you. Is your company open to helping us build the school?" Rafe asks.

"Let's work on the plans and I can give you an estimated finish time and go from there."

"Alpha Salim, that is the short-term goal. Our long-term goal is to turn the area into a small town. We hope that misconceptions and fights can be laid to rest. The new ones can hopefully learn to live and work together in peace. We also hope that the town will attract humans."

"Humans too?" Alpha Salim asks.

"Humans. We must learn to live with them, for our sake and theirs. So how long will the first couple of buildings take? The only separation will be because of age. And we will start from age ten, but we will make exceptions for younger ones."

"Earlier, isn't that too young?"

"Maybe. But if I had this opportunity when I was younger, I would have jumped at it to escape my miserable childhood. There might be others like that who will want to do the same. We will make exceptions to shield and educate them."

"What about security?"

"Ah. That's where I come in Salim. The area will have the best security money can buy. And the highest protective aura I can encapsulate the compound in," Esme tells him.

"And who will be in charge? Cal, you have school and Wood Inc. Esme, you have your shop, so..."

"... Minerva. My sister will head the school with Co-administrators from each race."

"Cal, I think Lars Crane will be the perfect representative for the covens," Esme says.

"Your Lars Crane?" I tease.

"Who is Lars Crane?" Cole growls and walks up to Esme.

"Tone it down. He's a friend of mine, get used to it," Esme tells Cole.

"More like 'friends with benefits' right?" I nudge her.

"Shut it, Cal."

"I will love to be a fly on the wall when they meet."

"Cal, I'm warning you."

"Seriously, though we can't tell them about the two that will die part of the prophecy. We don't know which two."

"True, I've done enough explaining about all this craziness as it is. But Salim and Roman?"

"Ha, ha, ha, the gods have a great sense of humor. Esme? Esme?"

That girl just shut off our link. How rude.

"Salim, you will let us know the timeline soon?"

"My guys and I will go to Nebraska and see the land first. Run some soil tests and so on. Once I have more information about the place, I can tell you when we can start. Finishing will be another matter altogether."

"Another matter?" I ask, worried.

"You said that it is a long-term project."

"Great. Now that we settle the school issue, Roman will you join Darric, Georgiana, and I in my office? We need your answer on our offer," Rafe says.

"I'll be joining you all." Alpha Salim gets up and leads the way out the den.

"Okay, come on guys, let's get this over it," Georgiana sighs and follows Alpha Salim. Rafe and Darric leave with them.

"I hope this works," I murmur.

They fill my office; Darric, Roman, Salim, and Georgiana. I sit at my desk, Darric, and Georgiana on the sofa, Salim and Roman in the other chairs.

"Roman, have you thought about what Georgiana, Darric and I spoke to you about?"

"He told me about the offer and I for one think it's great, but you know Roman, he has his concerns." Salim smiles. About time, he hasn't smiled since he found out El Dargon is their mate.

"And what are those, Roman?"

Roman moves to the edge of his seat, fingers crossed. "First thank you for thinking of me for Julian's position. I know that you Tobias and I have worked together for a long time but those where personal incognito jobs. This position is on a global level and a vampire owned company. I am a werecat. What do you think I can bring to the organization?"

"RAFE! Why didn't you tell me Roman is a werecat? Oh, my Sun-god, what are we going to do? Such an important position and we give it to werecat? And not just an ordinary one at that, a highly educated, street-savvy one. What were we thinking?" Georgiana dramatically holds her hand to her chest.

Darric, Salim and I burst out laughing.

Roman looks at Georgiana in shock. Georgiana has that effect on you when you're experiencing her antics for the first time.

"Roman, the most important thing is that I, we all trust you. Like my sister said in her dramatic way, you are highly qualified. You know the business already based on the jobs you have done for me through the years. We will not force you, but we need you. I need you. What do you say, man?"

"I'm so sorry Janie. It was unavoidable. I promise to be there next week. Just send me my part of the project and I'll work on it immediately. Thank you again." I turn off my phone and slam it down in frustration.

"School?" Esme asks.

"Yep. I missed lab two days ago. Another thing the Ruling Council cost me with their delay. Thank God Janie is understanding."

"How's school going Cal?" Raul asks.

"Very well thank you, other than this one absence. Two of my classes this semester have labs. I have another lab class that I cannot miss next week. But in a few weeks, I complete my first semester. Graduation seems so far awayyyyy," I wail.

"Poor baby, you may want to take time off school with all our plans and problems that will come with it," Esme says.

"No, I am completing my classes. The online ones are faster; it's the ones with labs that will take longer but I will graduate in three long-ass years, ugh! I cannot afford to miss any more labs."

"Believe me, the years go by fast," Raul consoles me.

"Did you forget that you teleport now? So, get your furry butt to your classes, fur coat."

"I forgot about that," I laugh.

"Newbie!" Esme smirks.

"Excuse me, my bitchy witch, unlike you I am new to all these powers. It will take a little getting used to."

"What powers," Raul looks back and forth at Esme and me.

"Hmm, we'll tell you all about that later. Right now, I hope Roman is onboard," I murmur and glance at the door.

"Me too. His agreement will take a lot of Rafe and Georgiana. She's close to her due date and I want fewer responsibilities weighing her down right now."

"It will help Rafe a lot too, so fingers crossed," my fingers mimic my words.

"You can uncross your fingers, babe. Roman is on board," Rafe tells us as they all walk back into the den.

"Roman, you accepted? Wonderful. Congrats. You'll be great."

"Thank you, Cal, " and I get my first smile from Roman. His caramel face pulls up to reveal two deep dimples and a row of pearly white teeth. His brown eyes change to hazel with his smile. Dazzling!

"When do you start," I ask?

"In about a month, I need to complete some jobs and find a place to stay."

"You're staying with me. In Crimson River Park." Alpha Salim walks up to Roman.

"I have my own place, you know," Roman replies.

"I know but until we make a decision, you are staying with me."

Then he turns to Esme and drops another bombshell.

"Esme, I want to meet your father. I know you can call on him anytime and he shows up. I want to know for a fact that he is our mate."

"Well, here's the thing. I don't want that man anywhere near me so..."

"You made me a promise, remember? You told me and I quote, 'I have a proposition that will get you closer to finding your mate? Are you by any chance interested?' You owe me, Esme. Please?" Alpha Salim whispers.

Esme looks at him, takes a deep breath and whispers, "I need you now."

"Esme, what's wrong, are you okay?" El Dargon appears.

"El Dargon," we greet and bow to him except Alpha Salim and Roman who take deep breaths and move closer to him.

"Mate," Alpha Salim says.

"Werecats? No, no, no," he takes a couple of steps back and he disappears!

"Wait, did he just run away?" Roman asks.

"That's my father for you, he runs away from his responsibilities. Welcome to the family boys!" Esme laughs.

Sometimes you just gotta roll (or not) with the family the gods give you😍.

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