Chapter 32: Chapter 32

THIRTY-TWO

“If it bothers you so much, I’ll have a word with Willow.” Caleb proposed with an arm around Levi. Levi shook his head and kissed Caleb’s head to show his gratitude.

“I’m just thankful that you listened to me even though I’m clearly the wrong one.” He said instead.

Caleb sharply glared at Levi. “Don’t say that, you’re not wrong for loving your brother.” He scolded him. “I also didn’t understand in the beginning and you should never feel guilty for loving family unconditionally.”

“You’re amazing,” Levi told him before kissing him passionately. When he pulled away, he was smiling widely. “I love you.”

Caleb’s smile grew wider after hearing Levi’s words. He was aware that Levi loved him and so did he but there was some great happiness that came with hearing those words first-hand. He leaned in and pecked Levi’s lips before wrapping his arms around him to hug him.

“I love you too.” He said. Levi replied with a kiss on the top of Caleb’s head. “Don’t forget to come early.” Caleb reminded Levi once again after they let go of each other and got into Levi’s car. Levi nodded and buckled his seatbelt.

“How about we see a movie together afterwards?” Caleb’s eyes shined with excitement as he looked at Levi.

“Really? We can?!” He asked and Levi nodded. “Let’s do it then.”

Caleb remained with a huge smile through the entire drive up until Levi dropped him at school and kissed him. Levi could not stop smiling as well after seeing his happy mate. Despite the inner turmoil that he was going through, Caleb’s smile felt like a remedy.

Aleisa and Willow’s words kept ringing in his mind and despite everything he had done over the course of the weekend to get rid of them, he just could not. He was well aware that they were right, everything in him told him to do what he could to help Aleisa and completely close off Louis’ club. He witnessed how cruel Louis was. None of those poor men and women had it easy. In spite of all of that, a part of him believed that Louis could change.

Levi had grown up with Louis. Once upon a time, Louis had cared for him immensely, fulfilling all of his needs. After their mother had died, Louis took it upon himself to be the provider. All the suffering and pain, Levi had watched his brother go through all of that before turning bad. Misery forced Louis to turn bad, and Levi believed that gradually, Louis would change.

Under the right conditions, if he found his mate and Levi showed him more love, Louis would surely change. Levi believed that. He wanted to believe that. Heck, he needed to believe that so much. He had promised to remain by Louis’ side no matter the circumstances. He would not be the one to give up on his brother, not yet.

Louis had hurt him physically, mentally and emotionally but as a brother, Levi was determined to remain faithful. Loving and being loyal to the new people in his life was not hard. He felt closer to Caleb’s family over a few days than ideally normal and he was determined to be loyal to them but he could not do it at the expense of his brother.

Levi groaned after parking his car in the Club’s parking lot, he got out of the car and went through the back of the club. He could not say that he missed sleeping there, that would be a lie. After meeting Caleb, he slept without hearing the sounds of tortured boys and girls.

Just as usual, the club was a mess in the morning. Thankfully he spotted no hangover person still wandering. A few of the staff were already at work, cleaning the dirty place. As the manager, Levi checked the cellar before heading upwards to deal with the damage upstairs. Every room became harder for him to enter.

Whenever he helped a girl, he could not help but think of Willow. She had once been like that and he had been the one who helped her just like he did now. And when he helped a boy, Aleisa’s words haunted him and he pictured Caleb in a similar position. Levi was certain of one thing though, he would never forgive the person that would subject his mate to such treatment. He would punish all of those that would even look at Caleb indecently.

After a while, he decided that he would be able to take care of anyone and decided to head back down. He avoided Louis for most of the day and did everything supposed to him. After thinking he had made it through the entire day without having to deal with Louis’ temperamental tantrums, Louis called for him.

“Levi, baby brother!” Louis exclaimed immediately after Levi entered his office. “I’ve missed you, say you’ve missed me as well.” He added with a grin.

“What do you need Louis?” Levi said instead in an irritated tone. The seconds and minutes were passing by quickly and he really needed to be driving to Caleb.

The grin on Louis’ face turned into a frown. “You seem to be in a hurry.” Levi had been in this situation so many times and it did not take long for him to realise that his brother was slowly getting upset.

“Are you going to your boy toy?” Louis mocked. He laughed when he saw the shocked and disturbed look on Levi’s face. “What did you think?... That I don’t know about what you’ve been up to. Do you think I’m stupid?!” He yelled.

Levi flinched and took a step back.

“It’s been months, you don’t sleep in your room, smell like another boy and have a mark...Do I look dumb to you?” Louis asked. “I’m very disappointed...I thought I said you shouldn’t fantasise more about this gay shit. Do you want to be a faggot?!”

“Louis ple—”

“I don’t need a gay brother! You should forget about whatever game you’re playing with that little Alpha-boy. Did you forget that you’re nothing but a worthless rogue?!... He’s just using you, at the end of everything you’ll just be a rogue and he’ll reject you.” Louis stood from his seat and full on lectured his younger brother. “Stop whatever rubbish is going on and find a girl!”

Levi clenched his hands into fists and glared back at Louis strongly. “Well, he’s my mate!” He yelled back defiantly.

Hearing his own brother say all those horrible things about Caleb made him want to hit a wall. He had heard all these things from Louis before but hearing the same attacks toward Caleb was different. The need to defend Caleb in every way possible overrode everything.

Louis laughed out loud and smirked devilishly. “Mate?... You’re mate?! Levi don’t make me laugh.” Louis stepped around his desk and looked into Levi’s eyes. “End whatever shit you have going on with that little boy.”

“No.”

Louis ground his teeth. “Fine. Why don’t I just have my men visit your little boy since he likes men so much?”

“Lou—”

“Or, I could bring him in here.” Louis continued with his threat.

“Don’t you dare!” Levi growled.

“Why not?... I hate his family and he’s clearly got you confused. After all, I do know where Caleb Sutton’s school is because you led me there...and there’s the option of bringing Willow back if I can’t get a hold of Caleb—”

“Louis!” Levi yelled before wrapping his hand around Louis’ neck. Louis choked uncontrollably and tried to get out of Levi’s hold. “Don’t you dare touch them?” Levi released Louis and threw him to the floor.

Before Levi could walk out of the room, Louis let out his hand and tripped Levi. With a thud, Levi fell to the ground, allowing Louis to get above him and impale him into the floor multiple times.

......

“I don’t know...I-I called and called but he isn’t picking up.” Caleb kept on ranting as he paced the entire space of Willow and Charlotte’s living room.

“What do you mean?” Willow asked, growing more concerned the more Caleb talked.

“He promised that we’d see a movie together but he didn’t show up...it’s unlike Levi to be extremely late and not to answer calls. I’m so worried, Willow. What if Louis did something to him?” Caleb cried out.

Willow stood up from the couch and pulled Caleb into a hug. “Don’t worry, I’m sure there’s a totally logical explanation for all of this. Perhaps his car broke down and his phone died.”

She tried to sound calm while reassuring Caleb but she could feel the gnawing feeling in her stomach grow gradually. It was certainly unlike Levi to cancel plans without a warning, as well as to ignore calls. Despite all of that, Willow just had this gut-wrenching feeling that things were not okay.

Caleb on the other hand was dying because of all the horrible thoughts and scenarios his mind was making up. He already did not like that Levi insisted to work for his criminal brother. Working for Louis was already such a huge risk, and Levi took that risk each day. Worrying for Levi’s well-being during the day had become a permanent part of Caleb’s schedule. Louis was a huge threat to all of their lives, especially Levi and Willow.

Maybe a gut feeling or a sixth sense but Caleb was very uneasy. He always felt something from the other end of the bond even when Levi was far from him but today, there was nothing. It was like there was no Levi and Caleb could not feel him. Every aspect of Caleb’s body and mind felt disoriented. After waiting an hour for Levi, Caleb decided to tell Willow about what was happening.

Even if someone told him otherwise, Caleb believed that the worst-case scenario would have Louis involved.

“Let me call Black and Isaac,” Caleb said as he checked his pockets for his phone. He quickly called Black’s number. “Hey, Black!” He said immediately after Black answered. “I need your help, Levi is in danger please help him.”

Willow watched the hysterical boy before taking the phone and telling Black what had happened so far.

“He might be very busy,” Black replied after listening to Willow.

Willow exhaled frustrated. “Caleb is really worried and so am I, please just look into it even if we are overreacting.”

“Fine,” Came Black’s reply before the call was cut.

Willow pulled Caleb to the couch and hugged him. “It’s okay, I’m sure he just got too busy.”

Caleb shook his head. “No, he didn’t. His brother is a total nut job, what if he hurt Levi? Let’s go there Willow, please.” He pleaded with huge eyes.

Willow stiffened and swallowed heavily. Go back there? She did not want to go there. There were no good memories attached to that place for her and even while they lived in the small town, she did all she could to avoid the place after she no longer had to go there. She did not want to meet Louis, not after what he had said last time.

Caleb noticed how Willow stiffened and remembered that Willow had every reason to avoid the place. “I’m sorry, I know how you feel about the place. I’m just so worried about Levi.”

“I know,” Willow said before ruffling Caleb’s hair. “But let’s leave this to Black for now. Okay?” Caleb nodded in reply and exhaled before closing his eyes.

“Can we go home though?” Caleb asked after a while and Willow had no objection to that.

Willow called a taxi for both of them. Caleb continued nervously biting on his bottom lip throughout the entire ride until they stopped at the restaurant Willow used to work at. Thankfully they did not have to wait long before someone came to pick them up. She was worried that the longer they remained in the restaurant, the more Caleb would decide to take matters into his own hands. After all, Louis’ club was not too far from there.

Even as Mateo stopped the car in front of the Alpha residence and Caleb rushed inside, Willow could not get over her fear. She was concerned about Levi’s safety as well as Caleb's. What if Caleb decided to be stupid? Perhaps he would have a better chance of survival in a deadly situation but she would not. She could not heal like them or fight, all she could do was wait for her best friend.

“Is he alright?” Aleisa asked after Willow entered the house and sat on the couch. She looked up at the stairs and saw Caleb going up to his room. She shook her head.

“I don’t think so. I really hope Levi is okay.” She said and Aleisa nodded.

“Black and Isaac went to check.”

“Alone?” Willow asked worriedly.

“And two other men,” Aleisa replied but Willow was not at ease.

Louis had men all around his club. Some of those people weren’t even his men but were just loyal to the club because they were rogues as well. Even if Isaac and Black were strong, it would still be an unfair fight if one ensued. Louis was not a weakling either. Willow could feel some of Caleb’s hysteria getting to her as well. Not only was Levi in danger but Black as well. Louis was very unpredictable and she prayed that they would not succumb to his mind games.

“Don’t worry too much, Black and Isaac can fight off a couple of rogues.” Aleisa patted Willow’s shoulder. “And Isaac has abilities that Louis is not aware of so if anything happens, they still have the upper hand.”

That made Willow sigh a bit but she still could not get over the worry yet. Black, Isaac and Levi were still not there. Judging from how much time had elapsed, they were supposed to be back or perhaps called to tell them that they did not need to worry.

“I just hope that Louis did not decide to do something stupid.”

......

“I didn’t think we’d have to deal with you so soon,” Black told Louis as he cut Levi free. Levi’s hand and legs were tied with a blue cord. Black smiled triumphantly after cutting the cord before turning to Isaac. “Anything else?” He asked.

“Yeah, call Alex and tell him to find the families of all those people out there,” Isaac ordered.

“What is this? Are you some wizard?” Louis asked on the floor with his legs immobile. Isaac rolled his eyes and kicked him.

“I told you to stay away from my pack.”

“Levi isn’t a member of your pack.”

“Officially, but he is my brother’s mate and so I consider him family,” Isaac replied.

Louis scoffed. “I can’t believe an Alpha like yourself is supporting such madness. You’re turning my brother into a fa—”

Before Louis could finish his words, Isaac decided that he had heard enough and hit the other man’s head, knocking him unconscious. After looking around, he followed behind Black and Levi back to their car.

“You guys did not have to do any of this, he would have let me go after some time.” Levi winced as he stepped down the stairs.

“I bet you can’t say the same for your ribs,” Black said sarcastically. “We did it for Caleb, he's worried sick.”

Isaac hit the Black’s back. “We did it because we were genuinely worried about you...and Louis would not have let you go, don’t lie to yourself.”

“He...he—” Levi could not find the words to defend his brother. Louis continued to slander Caleb’s name no matter how much he had tried to make him understand. Whenever Levi talked back, he received a blow to his ribs.

“It hits hard when you realise that those you’ve wasted your time on don’t matter, right?” Black asked with a bitter chuckle. “Trust me, I understand.” He added before walking ahead.

Levi looked back at Isaac with a confused face and received a small smile in return. “Let’s go back home.”

Levi looked at the mess of bodies lying around in the club unconscious. It was beyond him how only two men could do so much damage and defeat so many men. He avoided as many bodies as he could. The boys and girls that were being held against their will were being led out by another man that Levi did not know.

After getting into the back of the car, he listened as Isaac and Black talked about how to help the victims and reunite them with their families. After listening intently, Levi started contributing and told them that he would help when needed. He knew how Louis worked and with his help, they could surely help most of the victims.

When they arrived, Caleb was the first person to run towards them and into Levi’s arms. Tears poured out of his eyes immediately after Levi embraced him. It had already gotten dark, and he had been worrying sick. Despite feeling the need to cry, Caleb had not shed a tear until in Levi’s arms.

“I was so scared...do-don’t ever do that again.” He said through tears. “I’m never gonna let you go there ever again.”

Levi patted Caleb’s head and wiped his tears after pulling away. “I’m never going back.” He nodded.

Aleisa and Willow followed afterwards. Afterwards, Aleisa ordered Levi to remain in his and Caleb’s room. Aleisa and Willow brought him food after he had taken a bath, and Caleb remained by his side, refusing to let go of his hand.

“Do you need anything else?” Willow asked with a worried look on her face.

Levi chuckled lightly. “You’re making it seem like I’m bedridden. My ribs healed hours ago, besides Black probably needs you more than I do.”

“He doesn’t need me, he didn’t get hurt,” Willow replied.

“Well, my mate needs me, bye Wills.” Caleb waved at her.

Willow pouted before walking out of the room and closing the door behind her. Black was downstairs on the couch, scrolling through his phone with a frown. She took her place on his lap and smiled at him.

“What’s so terrible on your phone?” She asked as she straddled him. Black wrapped an arm around her, his hand tracing the arc of her back while his other hand continued scrolling on his phone.

“Alex says I have to interrogate that bastard.” He replied vehemently.

“Is this finally the end of him?” Black nodded and put away his phone.

“Definitely.” He replied before holding her chin and bringing her lips down to his.

“Ew! Not on my couch.” Isaac shrieked upon seeing the sight in front of him as he walked into the room.

Willow’s cheeks flushed a deep red because of embarrassment and she tried to get off Black but he held her down. Black looked over at Isaac and glared at him.

“Should I count the number of times I’ve found you and Aleisa on the verge of fucking on this couch?” He said.

“It’s my couch, what’s your excuse?” Isaac retorted.

Black was about to reply with a snarky reply of his own but Willow spoke before him. “Where’s Aleisa?” She asked in hopes of driving the topic away from the fact that she was caught kissing Black as if her life depended on it.

“Ugh! She’s in her new office...she’s been ignoring me ever since her birthday for that room. Did you have to do such a great job?” Isaac feigned sulking.

Willow chuckled lightly and Black only rolled his eyes. “So you decided to bother us because Aleisa isn’t entertaining you? Why don’t you just go and fuck her in her office?”

Isaac’s eyes widened in excitement and he clapped his hands. “Black, you’re a genius. One day we’re going to tell Kace’s younger sister that she was made on top of her mother’s table.” He said before running off in the direction of the new office.

Willow turned to Black with a shocked look. “Is he serious?”

Black nodded. “Let’s leave.” He stood up with her still wrapped around him. He stabilised her by placing his hand on her ass. Willow’s cheeks blushed lightly and Black laughed lightly at her expense.