Kallisto's POV

I wash my hands, smiling at myself in the mirror.

The toilet flushes, then the woman I had spotted watching me, dressed in a beautiful white flowy dress, leaves a stall behind me. I look away, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

She checks herself out in the mirror. "What are you doing with my man?" She turns to me, sounding bitter. "You heard me, b*tch. What are you doing with my man?"

I remove my hands from the air dryer, distancing myself from her. "I don't know who you're talking about."

"My name is Rowena. In a few months, I'll become Mrs. Capo," she seethes.

"Capo?" I stammer. My heart is pounding loudly and my body goes numb. Mrs. Capo? She’s not saying…

Rowena points at me, squinting. Her body shakes as her expression turns deadly. "That's right, b*tch. Apex is my man," she says angrily.

"Apex said he was single," I say, instantly feeling flustered and used. How could he lie to me like that? "I'm sorry. I didn't know. I..." My voice trails off, emotions mixing within me—anger, hurt, embarrassment, and hate. Why would Apex do this to me? 

I study Rowena, instantly disgusted at myself.

She looks flawless—perfect and much better than me. The doubts that filled my head earlier tonight return. Of course Apex wouldn’t be genuinely interested in someone like me. Not while he had someone like Rowena beside him. 

Was he simply playing with me? Was he doing this to get back at my grandfather somehow?

I shake my head, fighting back my tears. "Excuse me."

"Where are you going?" Rowena reaches out to me, but I dodge her hand, sidestepping her.

Exiting the restroom, I temporarily lose my direction, wiping the tears from my eyes. I start walking, trying to get somewhere–anywhere–when I suddenly bump into Farran.

He grabs my arms, giving me a saucy look. "I told you I'd be waiting."

I pull out of his grasp, avoiding his stare. "Um, excuse me. I need to go, Mr. Fontaine."

"Please, give me a minute," Farran calls, grabbing my arm again. "I'd like to discuss something with you."

I yank my arm out of his grasp and rush away from there, tears still blurring my vision. I find Apex standing where I left him, and his smile immediately widens as he sees me.

"Kallisto, there you are."

I glare at him. "You're nothing but a foul-mouth liar," I spit.

Apex wears a shocked expression, pointing behind me. "Whatever he told you is a lie."

"It's you, Apex. How could you lie to me? You're no better than Vance."

"Who is Vance?"

"Never mind," I tell him, waving my hands. "I thought you were different. I want an honest man in my life, not a liar."

"What are you talking about?" Apex asks, evidently confused.

"You should have told me you're engaged."

"I'm not engaged!" he replies angrily.

At this point, people start staring at us instead of the art, and I know we’re making a scene, but I can’t seem to find it in me to care right now.

"You are, you liar!" I yell.

Apex touches my arm gently, but I step back, pushing his hand away. Now, the tears are flowing down my cheeks and I just let them. "F*ck you, Apex. I'm leaving," I add, rushing towards the exit.

Apex quickly catches up to me. "I don't know who lied to you, but I'm not engaged," he pleads. "I'm not that type of man. I wouldn’t ask you out if I were with someone else."

For a few minutes, I stare at him. I study him like a behavior specialist looking for lying traits.

How could he? Is she so much better than I am? Maybe he likes the supermodel types, huh?

His warm hand slides across my arm, causing me to shiver under his touch.

I feel the tension and anger in my body lessen, but my mind doesn’t allow me to indulge him. I’m hurt. Alex hurt me.

Realization seems to hit him and he creases his brows as he looks past me. "Rowena?" Apex suddenly asks.

"Yes, Apex," the woman from the bathroom says, stepping near us.

Immediately, I snatch my arm from Apex's grasp. "You do know her then?"

Apex shoulders sag and his eyes dart away from my face. "I know her, but it's not what you think, Kallisto."

"We're getting married, Apex," Rowena interjects, completely unaware of my heart shattering.

I shouldn’t be feeling this way. I just met Apex. Sure, I am hurt for being used and lied to, but why does it feel like my heart is being ripped from my chest?

"Shut up, Rowena," he growls. Exhaling, Apex looks at me, looking defeated. "I'm telling you, Kallisto, it's not what you think. Rowena was promised to my father as a Luna, and now I'm the Alpha—"

"What are you talking about, Apex?" I laugh, feeling so hurt and confused that his words sound comical. Apex is trying to get out of a lie by telling me weird shit about Lunas and Alphas or whatever. "I'm not stupid.."

I move to leave, but he steps in front of me, blocking my path again.

"I'm leaving, Apex." I hiss. "Move out of my way."

"I escorted you here, and I will take you home," he replies calmly and in a serious tone.

"Apex," Rowena sings. "I'll be waiting at home."

Apex glares at her, placing his hand on the small of my back, guiding me outside. I ignore the feeling of sorrow in the pit of my stomach.

****

He parks outside of my apartment building a few minutes later, removing his seatbelt and turning to me.

I grab the door handle, struggling to open it.

"It's locked," he tells me in a soft voice.

Frustrated, I hit the door with my fist. My face feels flushed with hot tears running down my cheeks. I can’t even look at him right now.

"Listen to me, Kallisto." Apex reaches for my hand, squeezing it gently. "Rowena lied to you."

I wipe my face quickly, snorting. "I'm not crying because of you."

"Look at me," he orders in a sweet tone.

Slowly, I glare at him.

"I'm not lying to you," he explains.

I stare at him, wishing he'd hold me but wanting to smack him at the same time. How can he sound so truthful? Anguish fills my body. I feel so torn because it sounds like he’s telling the truth. Should I believe him? 

I want to because I don’t want to miss out on something special. But Rowena pops into my mind. Did she sound like a woman lying or a woman in love?

"Don't think about her," he tells me, searching for my gaze as if he can read my mind. "I need to explain things, Kallisto."

"What’s there to explain? You’re either with her or you’re not." I narrow my eyes at him, confused.

"I’m not with Rowena." He nods. "She’s a friend who was going to marry my dad."

"You’re marrying your father’s girlfriend?" I ask in shock.

"I’m not dating Rowena, Kallisto. It’s just business, but I promise you I’m trying to—”

"This was obviously a mistake," I tell him, cutting him off.

He glares at me, rubbing his eyes. "F*ck it. I don't need this in my life right now."

"What?" I ask. "Are two women wanting your attention too much?"

“For the last d*mn time, I’m not dating Rowena–” 

“No, you’re just going to marry her,” I interject. 

No,” he yells, glaring at me. “I’m not, okay? Rowena was promised as my father’s Luna before he took ill.”

I laugh. "You’re crazy Apex. Just tell me the truth.” 

Apex leaves the car, opening my door, and I exit, rushing past him, not caring to say goodbye.

I quickly hit my keyfob against the security pad, opening the door. I take pleasure in closing the door in Apex's face, although my heart seems to have been broken into tiny little pieces. 

I expect to hear him knocking on the door when I rush to my apartment, but it never happens.

So, instead, I toss myself on my bed and curl in the fetal position, still dressed in my night dress. It's dark inside my apartment, however, the moonlight offers some brightness into my bedroom.

Although I try, I fail at stopping myself from crying.

I'm attracted to Apex. He's not like any man I've ever met. Whenever we're together, I'm pulled toward him more and more.

Why does he have to be engaged? Or whatever his situation with that woman Rowena is.

My phone rings and I quickly grab it.

The unknown number pops on my screen. It's Apex, although this time is just a text.

Taking deep breaths, I read the message: "Let's meet for lunch tomorrow."

I snort and write back, "Have lunch with Rowena. Forget we ever met, Apex. I don't want to see you again."

His reply comes a few seconds later. "Before blowing me off, give me a chance to explain. Truth is often stranger than fiction."

I feel like backing down and allowing him to explain everything to me, to maybe tell me I misunderstood things, but I know better than that. 

"We're done, Apex. Have a good life."

My phone dings again. "Is that how you want to leave it, Kallisto?"

"Yes," I type. "You're hot, Apex, I'll admit that, but you're not worth the trouble. I don't fight over any man."

This time, while I'm waiting to see if we'll text back, Grandpa Eclipse's name flashes on my phone's screen. Hurriedly, I answer.

Why is he calling me after the things he said to me last time we talked?

"Grandpa Eclipse," I say, hesitating. 

Grandpa Eclipse interrupts, "Have you ever been to Brooklyn?"

"Brooklyn?" I frown, confused. "Yes, I've been there plenty of times."

"Good. Tomorrow," Grandpa Eclipse instructs, "take that envelope I gave you. I'll text you the address for you to take it there."

I shake my head. "I'm sorry, Grandpa Eclipse, I'm spending the entire day at the coffee shop tomorrow."

"Oh, it won't take long. You'll be in and out within minutes," he insists.

"In and out, huh?" I chew on my bottom lip, trying to make a decision. It wouldn't be an issue to do what he asked me, but why am I having a bad feeling about it?