8

Crispin's POV

It's been two weeks since the 'Alpha Summit'. I don't know why I keep calling it that. But it also means it's been two weeks since I have seen Dieter.

In those two weeks, I came back and I told my pack, they were all ecstatic and happy. But then I had to explain our situation. Dieter being so far away and sharing how big his pack is. There were a lot of factors.

We talked all day, every day. We called every night too. Carter has gotten better, and his attitude has finally gone back to normal. But I couldn't help but feel like something was off between him and I's connection.

My poor baby wouldn't even be doing anything I would find myself annoyed with him. In ways, I had never been annoyed with him before. Perhaps I was just in a slump and I needed to work through something in myself. I tried my best not to show it outwardly, but I'm scared if I bottle it all up, it'll explode all over him. And I can't have that.

Rena was currently playing with him in his room, and I was thankful she was there. I was cleaning up from dinner. She was around still, but this time it was strictly platonic, which I loved. It was nice to have a friend. I don't have many of those.

She came downstairs with Carter's backpack in her hand and him following behind her. He was going to spend the night with her this weekend. This was the first step in trying to break his separation anxiety from me. Plus he trusted Rena and has known her all her life, and because she's constantly around, it should help ease him into being away from me.

Carter ran into the living room to grab more of his toys, but Rena joined me in the kitchen.

"Excited for your Facetime tonight?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm always excited." She smiled, but she eyed me for a moment and furrowed her brows.

"You look tense." I scoffed at her and rolled my eyes.

"I'm always tense."

"Yeah, well, tenser than usual. What's going on?"

Should I tell her that it's because I don't trust myself around my son any longer? Or should her it's because I am incredibly horny, and any time I'm on the phone with Dieter I hang up and my dick is rock solid, leaking, and begging for attention. And that hand jobs aren't enough anymore? No.

"Oh, I know what it is." I stilled and kept my eyes focused on the task at hand. Did she just read my thoughts? "Well, I have two words for you. Phone. Sex." She just read my fucking mind. Did I say it out loud by accident?

"I know what you're thinking, No I'm not a mind reader. But I look at you and I can tell. And it's okay. That's how it was with Danielle and me, but then we tried phone sex, and it helped calm me down."

My cheeks were flushed red, and I should tell her to stop saying those words when Carter was in the other room. But I couldn't.

"How in the hell do I even initiate...that? When we haven't even kissed or touched in real life." Also to add the fact I'm 1000% dominant in the bedroom, and I don't know if Dieter would be into that. Seeing as he drips masculinity. And considering he is the bigger one, I assume he would assume I would be the bottom...

"Okay, calm down. You're spiraling. Look, it doesn't have to be anything. It was just a suggestion." A suggestion I really liked, but had no way to implement.

"It's too soon. Yeah, you know maybe another day. In like a few weeks, or something." I said chickening out, and I could hear William growling at me and cowardly behavior.

"Of course. Anyways, we should get going so he can watch a movie before he has to go to bed." I nodded as she turned around and scooped Carter up.

"By Daddy!" Carter yelled and I smiled at him.

"Bye, baby! See you later."

Minutes later they were out the door. I checked the time it was 6:45, and Dieter always called at 7. I had to get ready.

*****

I was on the bed with my back to the headboard and my phone fully charged. I had my accent lights on and I was tucked under the covers. But this time would be a little different. I didn't have a shirt on. I know it wasn't crazy promiscuous, but it would be different.

Before I did anything like phone sex. I needed to first see if he would be okay with my dominant energy. How I would figure that out? I have no clue.

The phone rang right as it hit 7. It always did. A smile spread across my face as I answered and there Dieter was in all his glory. His hair was wet and pulled back, and he was also shirtless. Though I only saw his upper chest, it was still glorious.

"Hi." I'd never get used to how his voice is. How deep it is. How it rumbles in my chest and warms my body.

"Hey, Deder." I teased, calling him the name Carter calls him.

"So I was thinking, perhaps next month I could come visit you." My face lit up with excitement at the idea of him coming here. We hadn't talked about it, and I think that's because we were enjoying this bubble. Adding real-life issues would just ruin the fantasy we're creating.

"I would like that. For how long?" Please say forever.

"How long do you want me?" He smirked at me and I groaned. Knowing that the answer I want to say I can't because it would pop our bubble. Which is to stay for months.

"A week? Is that doable?"

"Yeah, I can do that."

My face started to hurt from how hard I was smiling. I had yet to see Dieter fully smile, but it was something I aimed for in every conversation. But as we get to know each other more, he loosens up as do I.

"When you come, there is not much to do," I told him truthfully. "I can show you what we do have. Though many of us here prefer to stay in our perspective homes." The feeling of not being good enough came in like a wave. Would he enjoy his time here for the whole week? Would my home be enough for him?

"Will you be there?" He asked pulling me from my thoughts.

"Yes, of course, I will be here."

"Then that is all I need." I didn't know I could smile any bigger than I had been. But I did. My cheeks were straining from the pull, but I didn't care. A soft silence fell over us as I sat feeling giddy at Dieter's words.

"Can I ask you a question?" Dieter asked, I could sense he was nervous so I wondered what he could be asking.

"I noticed you wear a band on your finger and a ring around your chest."

"Oh, yes. Well, the ring belonged to my mother. The ring is my father's." I said quickly with a chuckle. "Does the band bother you?"

"No, not at all. I was just curious." His face was slightly red, as he stuttered. Goddess, he was so cute.

"How did your pack take to you finding your mate?" I asked, changing the subject. Though I wish I hadn't. Dieter's face went still and his eyes avoided mine.

"I have not told them yet." Disappointment flooded me as the words registered.

"Oh, I see."

"Not for what you think." He responded quickly. He took a deep sigh and continued. "I was hoping to tell you this in person."

My heart sped up in anticipation. Thoughts ran through my mind, none of them good.

"My pack was not always this strong, we were weak, and many other packs took advantage of us for many generations. When my grandfather was the alpha, he grew sick and tired of the treatment we received and he made a decision." Dieter took a deep breath and continued.

"He made a deal with the goddess, a deal that many wolves refuse to make because of the repercussions but he didn't care. He wanted strength and power."

"What was the deal?"

"The deal was that in exchange for Lycan-like strength for him and the rest of his lineage for the rest of his life, there must always be a sacrifice."

I looked at him, I'm sure confusion evident on my face. I had many questions but I am sure, he would answer them.

"My grandfather accepted, of course, not knowing the full weight behind what the goddess meant by sacrifice. And she transformed him and my grandmother, into the strong and capable wolves they are now. The pack changed as well, through the months the wolves got stronger and more ruthless. It was everything they had dreamed of."

"What was their sacrifice?" I asked quietly.

"The rest of my family. Their parents died from unknown illnesses, and their siblings were killed or ran away from home, no longer wanting anything to do with them. It all happened within three weeks. It went from a loving, full family. To just my grandparents left. But they had their pack, that's all that mattered."

"My parent's sacrifice was that they were only able to have two children, and barely at that. Danielle almost died during birth. But my mother had never been able to have another child, though her dream was to have many children of her own."

"What my grandparents didn't realize was that every member of the family would have a sacrifice, as long as they were a leader of the pack, including mates. And each person has a unique sacrifice, one that tears them to shreds, and haunts them day in and day out."

"Is there a way to break this deal? I mean, since it wasn't your doing?" My heart broke for Dieter and his family. The thought of being plagued by some pact with the goddess because of an ancestor sounded wild to me.

"There is no way around this. That was another one of my grandparent's sacrifices."

"Then what is yours?" Dieter sighed and his eyes finally met mine as I waited for an answer.

"I thought it was that I was to never have a mate, but now I know it's not that." I nodded in understanding and saw worry etch all over his face as he thought. "I tell you this to say that if we were to continue, and mate, and mark each other. You must know that my sacrifice will become ours. What happens to me, must happen to you too. So, I understand if you choose to reject me."

Dieter looked defeated, and unsure. I wanted nothing more than to hop through the screen and grab him. Rejection was never a thought in my mind and never would be. Though the idea of an unknown sacrifice was scary, I couldn't lie about that, but it couldn't be that bad...right?

"I'd never reject you, Dieter." Once the words left my mouth I saw him instantly loosen up and relax. Had he truly been worried I would? "Do you have any idea what the sacrifice might be?"

"No."

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VERY IMPORTANT!

I am no longer putting a warning for sexual content at the beginning of my chapters. I feel it gives the anticipation away. So yeah...you'll just get it when you get it. LOL.

Okayyyyy! How are you liking the book so far? The vibes in this book are completely different than the last and I LOVE IT.

I love how different it is. And I am so excited for you guys to read what I have next.

It took me a minute to figure out what/how I wanted to book to pan out. But now that I have it I am so excited! HEHHEHEHE