Simply Bound (18+) Sequel

“...Misunderstandings...”

*Caleb*

Slowly I begin to regain conscience and my thoughts get completely centered in one person; Meadow. My eyes shot open and I growl as a sharp pain pierces through my skull. ‘Meadow… where are you?’ I try to reach her but I can't feel her.

My eyes adjust to the light and I see Aeneas and another figure exchanging curses. I don't even care how or why they are here, I need to find Meadow. “Meadow…!” I yell and I see her peak from behind Aeneas, I relax after our eyes meet.

“Caleb… are you… are you ok?” Her voice is shaky and I slowly get up from the bed.

What the hell happened? The last thing I remember was me closing the windows in our room and then, without warning, something broke in and I was never even able to sense it. This is not normal, even with my guards down I could always sense a creature of a different race approaching.

I can see Aeneas standing protectively in front of Meadow and my rage takes over, without wasting time, I shift and become one with my wolf.

I snarl to the man who slowly turns around and his face changes from emotionless to one of surprise. “You are not a regular wolf... You are something else, aren't you…” He says, and I growl at him threateningly.

“Caleb… please wait… this is my brother… just.. Don't kill him...” Aeneas’ words barely distract me from staring at what now I can sense as a vampire. “Cyrus, leave before it is too late for you… I don't want to assist at your funeral.”

“I won't let my Anima Alterum away… how many times do I have to repeat this?” He said with apathy.

I didn't care, I growled one last time, not even sure why I was holding myself. Something in the words he said, the way he referred to Meadow, it just felt wrong. So I begin to walk towards Meadow, my priority is to make sure she was safe, and right now I could not sense her and that was a clear sign that this vampire had a very strange ability that was affecting me.

He made a move to interfere my approach and I lost it; I pounce him and we fall to the floor, as he is trying to offer resistance. I bite his arm and pull it hard, tearing part of the flesh. He screams, and with his pain came confusion. He was disoriented for a moment and I bite his hand so hard, I almost severe it from the rest of his body.

Meadow’s scream stopped me. “Please don't!” She cried.

I drop the shaking body of the vampire and walk to my mate. She wraps her arms around my neck as she sobs and checks my head. I had forgot the extreme pain that was taking over, but I was willing to leave it aside just to keep her safe.

“f**k… you are an i***t… stupid and careless… why was I cursed to have you as a brother? Damn you Cyrus...” Aeneas’ words made me turn around and Meadow stood next to me. He was trying to help his brother at the same time he cursed him. I growled again, making the vampire whimper.

“Caleb… he is half dead… give him a break…” Aeneas says with frustration and Meadow tugs at me while she keeps her arm around me. That vampire better have a damn good explanation for this or next time I will not stop until I have teared every piece of him apart.

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~{@}~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

*Meadow*

I am still shaking a little. I don't know what is happening or why is Aeneas’ brother with us. I didn't even know he had a brother!

We are at a private island that Caleb rented just for us to enjoy the last days alone; a place for us to be free as wolves and to not worry about strangers. Aeneas is changing the bandages on his brother as I finish cleaning Caleb’s fur. He refuses to shift back; staying alert as a wolf.

I hug him and feel calm as our connection returns; there is probably something that Aeneas’ brother does that interrupted our communication. I didn’t know I would miss it that much.

“Ok, he is recovering at a normal pace now. Caleb’s bite was almost deadly but he will make it. Thank you again for stopping.” Aeneas begins. “Yeah… yeah… I know… you probably stopped only thanks to Meadow… still, you did. Thanks.” He finishes as he and Caleb exchange looks.

“Aeneas… is not that I am not happy to see you… but, I am not happy to see you right now. Not under these circumstances and even less in the way they presented. What the hell?!” I lose my manners. I know this is not normal of me but right now I need answers.

Aeneas sighs and shakes his head. Caleb finally shifts and pulls me protectively to him. “Yeah… about that… it might be a bit of my fault. My brother has strange abilities, I am sure you both have noticed this.”

“I need more than that Aen…” Caleb grunts. They had become friends the last couple of months, to the point where he calls him Aen in a friendly way. Aeneas was not happy about this, but he accepted it as a part of their growing friendship.

“I know… I was visiting old friends in many places. Old loves and new ones.” His lips twitches slightly as if he wants to smirk. “Any way. I decided to visit him, he has been away from everything and everyone for over five hundred years; tired and secluded. He was behaving strangely, even more than the usual, and I told him about my last adventures, mostly about how we were finally able to erase Cornelius from the face of the earth. This caught his interest and he asked for more details. When I talked about you Meadow, his eyes lit and he started to act like a lunatic in a frenzy.”

“What do you mean? Why?” I manage to ask still caught on his recollection of events.

“He said he was going to come get you…” He continues but Caleb growls and I feel him about to shift. I squeeze him tight and try to make him focus, in order for us to listen to the full story and his iron grip locks firmly on my waist. After a couple of more seconds, Aeneas continues. By now, he is used to Caleb’s outburst of anger, since he knows the nature of his other beast. “He was acting stranger than usual because he smelled in my clothes the essence of what he fervently believes to be his Anima Alterum, which is our equivalent of mate. He things you are his soul mate Meadow…”

This can't be happening. I am with Caleb, I never had an inch of doubt that he was my everything since the moment we met. I had my doubts as a human on the speed of things but I never doubted he was my everything. I can't feel anything towards Aeneas’ brother, and I haven't felt anything more than surprise and even some fear at a point. There must be mistake, there must be something wrong here.

“What the f**k?” I hear Caleb finally mutter. “And you stopped me from killing him?” He is at the edge, I know he is.

“He didn't give me time to reason with him about what is happening, or why… we fought and he restrained me briefly in order to take advantage and speed to your chase. Of course I came after him as soon as I got myself free.” He sighed, I know he was being honest on how sorry he was. “I mentioned where you were on your honeymoon when I was telling him about the wedding and your gifts and so… here we are. Caleb, I think he really smelt his soul mate in me, but it was not Meadow… might be someone else. He just thought it was her. This is the only reason why I beg you not to kill him. The reason why I want him to heal and focus on what is really going on… he hasn't been in contact with humans, vampires, or any other race for more than 500 years, he is a powerful hermit that has lost the sense of what it is to be around other thinking creatures.”

“Aeneas… if it wasn't me who he smelt in you… then what? How? I am trying to understand your line of thoughts!” I blurted out a bit annoyed.

He chuckles slightly and his eyes gleam with mischievousness. “Well, I don't owe you any details… but vampires do have other appetites… besides blood… so what if I was with a few other woman in the way to his cave?” He smirks and I feel Caleb laugh shaking his head.

“For f***s sake Aen…” He shakes his head and I can feel him more calm. I am still upset with him, but I can't help but to smile as well, this was all a big misunderstanding and I could not help but to be thankful that it was only that.

I turn around and head to the kitchen, where I pour myself a glass of milk. I take several deep breaths and I feel my babies swift slightly. I rest my hand on my tummy and caress it gently. “Shhh… don't get restless now… you are all fine… no one is going to get in between daddy and mommy…”

I smile as they stop moving and relax at the sound of my voice. Another beautiful connection I treasure greatly.

Caleb joins me and I feel his arms wrap around me from behind. “Do you want to go out for a walk…? As us… as wolves… no one will bother us here… Aen is going to keep an eye on his i***t of a brother… besides I don't think he will be fully recovered any time soon.”

I smile and lean against his chest, resting my hands on top of his, now both of us soothing our children. “I would love to… in a few hours… I want us to go walk under the moon.”

He softly kisses my shoulder and I shiver with delight, his touch and attentions always filling my skin with goosebumps. “Then we have a date with the Moon… let's go get some rest, shall we?”

I nod and let him take me by the hand to the balcony, where a big daybed welcomes us filled with pillows and silk. We both lay here together, closing our eyes and relaxing once more. Tomorrow is our last day in paradise. I think I am ready for what comes next.