Published: May 24th 2023, 3:30:09 pm
Caleb’s nowhere to be seen when I wake up, and I pat the cold, empty spot next to me in bed before sitting up and looking around. The bedroom door is closed, probably to keep me from hearing him and waking up.
A glance at the clock tells me it’s still early, a few hours before the Alphas are set to arrive at the pack, and I run my fingers through my hair before making my way into the bathroom to shower and clean up. I half expect Caleb to join me, but he’s still nowhere to be seen as I dry myself off and slip on another of his outfits.
Caleb said he’d have Adam bring my clothes here, and I can’t wait. As much as I love wearing Caleb’s things, I don’t necessarily want to meet the Alphas in Caleb’s oversized sweatpants.
“Caleb?” I call out as I pull open the bedroom door and head downstairs.
“In here!”
His voice comes from the dining room, and I press my lips together as I reach the bottom step of the stairs and look around. Has the house been cleaned? Everything in the living room and entryway has been tidied up and put away, and I even smell the faint scent of lemon cleaner. How long has Caleb been awake?
I follow Caleb’s voice into the dining room.
“I made you some oatmeal while you were in the shower,” he says as I enter the room.
He’s sitting at the table on his computer and spares me a millisecond glance before returning to his screen, his fingers continually typing. Caleb’s always been busy, but it’s never been quite this bad before. I hope it’s only temporary.
“Thanks.” I eye the bowl of oatmeal sitting on the kitchen counter before turning back to Caleb. “How long have you been awake for?”
Caleb furrows his brow, looking mildly annoyed, but I know it’s not toward me. He’s still focused on his computer.
“Three hours ago.” His words are spoken slowly. “The Alphas will be here shortly,” he continues.
My pulse spikes. “They’re coming here?” I ask. “You mean, like, to the house?”
I spin around, examining the living room and kitchen again. At a second glance, the house has definitely been cleaned. When Caleb said the Alphas were coming to the pack, I assumed we’d meet them elsewhere.
“It’s best not to take any unnecessary risks,” Caleb says, finally shutting his computer. “If HPAW manages to get eyes on me or you, it would blow our cover.”
He rises from the dining room table, his eyes continually flickering over my face. It’s obvious he’s trying to read me, and I force myself to remain calm as I grab the bowl of oatmeal off the counter and shove a spoonful into my mouth.
It’s good, filled with brown sugar and cut fruit, and I focus on the flavor to keep my thoughts away from the Alphas who are, apparently, coming to our home. I’m beyond nervous about meeting them, but I need to put that fear aside.
Or, at least, hide it as much as I can. Given the wolves’ heightened senses, they can probably smell my fear.
“I’d like to discuss your plans to claim me as the female Alpha,” I say, changing the subject.
I want to get this conversation over with before everybody arrives.
Caleb glances at me out of the corner of his eye. I’m sure he knows precisely what I’m going to say, and he doesn’t look pleased.
“What about them?” he asks.
I shift my weight from foot to foot and shove another spoonful of oatmeal into my mouth as I think through my following words. I’ve never argued with Caleb before, at least not regarding something that so clearly falls into his domain, and I’m not sure how it will be taken.
HPAW never took it well when I questioned them, but Caleb isn’t them. He’s my mate.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea?” My heart is beating out of my chest, and I pause to suck in a shaky breath before continuing. “With everything else going on, I think it would be best to wait.”
Caleb plants his hands on his hips, looking far from happy. “I think now is the perfect time.”
Well, this isn’t going as well as I hoped it would. A small, minuscule part of me hoped he would immediately agree, but I should’ve known better. Caleb’s an Alpha for a reason. He was raised to make decisions, and he’s comfortable with it.
“Please,” I beg.
It’s not my best argument, but I don’t have the time or energy to come up with anything better. The Alphas will be here soon, and I’ll never win in a discussion about what’s best for the wolves. I don’t know them well enough.
Caleb purses his lips as he thinks over my plea.
“Very well,” he decides with a sigh. “But I’m not putting it off forever.”
I shove another spoonful of oatmeal into my mouth before Caleb sees my growing smile.
He seems to sense it anyway as he raises a brow, and I swallow my food before setting my bowl aside and wrapping my arms around Caleb’s waist. Tingles erupt as we touch, and I take a moment to enjoy it before pulling away and peering up at Caleb.
“Thank you,” I say.
Caleb brushes my hair out of my face, his touch soft.
“But I will be making it abundantly clear that you’re my mate,” he continues.
I don’t even want to know what he means by that. The wolves have a different tolerance for public affection than the humans do, and I’m pretty sure Caleb would happily fuck me in front of his entire pack if I permitted him.
“What are the Alphas like?” I ask. I want to be prepared. “And what are their names?”
I’m already fighting an uphill battle when it comes to the wolves, and I don’t intend to make things worse by looking like I don’t care. Alphas are rumored to have egos, and I’m sure the three who are coming to visit are expecting me to already know of them.
I wish I’d taken more time to learn about Caleb’s people and all the packs, but I’ll have plenty of time to learn once everything with HPAW is settled. I want to be a good mate to Caleb, and I want to help him however I can.
It’s what I wish I’d been doing from the beginning, but it’s better late than never.
“There are twelve Alphas in total,” Caleb says. “But the three who are coming are King, Maverick, and Everett.”
I snort. “King?”
Caleb’s lips twitch before he shrugs. “His parents were optimistic, I suppose. His rule as Alpha has reflected that, too. His pack is the largest among my Alphas, and they cause the most trouble.”
Caleb lifts a finger and rushes to his computer. It’s still sitting on the dining room table, and I follow Caleb and peer over his shoulder as he maneuvers through all his files and eventually pulls up a large photo. It’s Caleb, surrounded by several intimidating wolves. Most are men, all with stoic expressions, but three women are mixed within.
They don’t look much friendlier.
“These are the Alphas,” Caleb explains, his eyes darting over the image before landing on one particular man. “And this is King.”
He points to the man standing two people to the left of Caleb. King looks like a stereotypical wolf, with brown eyes and shaggy dark hair, but he stands a good head above most of the other Alphas. He wears a black t-shirt and long pants, and every inch of skin exposed on his arms is covered in thick, black tattoos.
A quick scan tells me King’s the only Alpha with nearly this many, and I imprint that small detail to memory. It’ll help ensure I don’t get him confused with somebody else.
“King and I rarely see eye to eye, and he doesn’t care for our hierarchy, but he’s never outright done anything to warrant punishment,” Caleb explains. “At the end of the day, he’s a strong leader and a good Alpha.”
Caleb slides his pointer finger to another man in the image.
This one is standing directly on the right of Caleb, and even though he’s not smiling, he doesn’t look nearly as hostile as King. He’s also not wearing a shirt, exposing his toned chest and bulging biceps. I thought Caleb was muscular, but this guy puts even him to shame.
I personally think it’s a bit overkill, but that’s just me. I’m sure his mate loves it.
“This is Maverick,” Caleb says. “He went to college with Adam and me—”
“Was he getting blowjobs, too?” I interrupt without thinking.
Caleb snorts before cupping the top of my head and turning to press a hard kiss to my cheek. It really isn’t my business, and we both know the question was inappropriate.
“He was not,” Caleb says. “Maverick’s quiet, and his pack tends to stick to themselves. They’re smart, and most of our medical professionals come from there. Greg included.”
Was Jan from there, too? I want to ask, but I figure I’ve used up my quota of unimportant, nosy questions. The wolves will be here any minute now, and I need to know basic information about them, not who lives in their pack and whether or not they hooked up with others in college.
I can get all that juicy gossip from Caleb at a later date.
“What about Everett?” I ask, ready to move on from Maverick before I ask something I regret.
Caleb shuts his computer with a quiet sigh. Is he not in the photo?
“He’s a new Alpha, and he’s young. His father was murdered by HPAW earlier in the year, and I’ve gotten mixed reports from him. Some of the other Alphas love him, others are emailing me with complaints every week.” Caleb pauses and runs a hand through his hair before continuing. “His pack is also full of warriors, and he and King have already had several spats since his ascension.”
I chew at my bottom lip, absentmindedly nodding as I absorb that information. So not only are we having three powerful Alphas in our home, but two of which are feuding with one another. That sounds like a recipe for disaster, and my nerves spike as I think over all the possible issues we could be running into.
We need to work together to create a plan, and we don’t have time to waste.
“Do you think putting them all in a room together is the best idea?” I can’t help but ask.
Caleb smooths his hands down the back of my head, his touch comforting.
“Wolves aren’t like humans, Ev,” he assures me. “My people know when to set their differences aside, even the ones with the name of King.”
My lips twitch despite my concern, and Caleb seems to take great pride in making me smile as he beams down at me. I’m sure he can sense how nervous I am. I’ve never met another Alpha before, and I can only imagine their horrible perception of me.
Caleb is confident in the wolves’ ability to set those feelings aside while we work on a plan to take down HPAW, but I still worry. I was raised by HPAW, after all, so it’s not like I’ve had any good experience with people doing the right things.
Humans love to preach about the greater good, but when push comes to shove, they continue to act in their specific best interests.
“Adam and Cole are here,” Caleb says.
Seconds later, there’s a knock on the front door. Caleb’s hearing continues to amaze me.
“I’ll get it,” I say.
Caleb plants one more kiss on the side of my head before releasing me and shifting his attention to his computer. I hear the tapping of keys before I’m even out of the room, but I’m not surprised.
I pull open the front door with a smile.
“Morning,” I say.
Cole and Adam offer me matching smiles. Adam’s wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but Cole is dressed up in a button-down and slacks. There’s also a new car parked in the driveway, a black SUV I’ve never seen before.
“We’ve got your things,” Adam says. “Stay here.”
He spins and rushes back outside, and I watch as he opens the trunk of the SUV and pulls out a large suitcase. Cole quickly joins him, and I can barely contain my excitement as they carry my things inside. I know Caleb intends for us to move to a home HPAW doesn’t know about, but it still feels good to have my things back here.
It feels like I officially live here with Caleb again.
“Do you want these upstairs?” Cole asks.
I nod, and he and Adam quickly carry my bags upstairs.
“Thanks,” I say as they emerge. “I appreciate it.”
Adam grins and pulls me into a quick side hug before disappearing into the dining room. He seems to be in better spirits today, but I don’t know how much I trust it. He practically sprinted out of here yesterday after hearing that Bells was trying to escape through his apartment window, and I doubt things have improved between them overnight.
Cole kicks off his shoes before awkwardly hesitating and placing his hand on my head. It’s terribly awkward, and he clears his throat before dropping it back to his side.
“The Alphas will be here soon,” he says.
I nod, glancing down at myself. I need to get changed.
Excusing myself, I hurry upstairs to slip on something of mine. I’m not sure what the dress code should be, Adam and Cole not setting a good example, and I settle on a solid-colored sweater and a pair of jeans before making my way back to the dining room.
Cole, Adam, and Caleb are now all on computers, the three of them fully absorbed as they type away.
I glance between them, unsure of what to do.
“You said you know where the HPAW facilities are located?” Caleb asks, glancing up at me.
I nod, and he waves me over. Adam scoots in his chair so I can squeeze behind him, and Caleb makes quick work tugging me onto his lap. On his computer is an open map, with all but one of the facilities marked. HPAW keeps their locations secret, even among their employees, and if it weren’t for them occasionally bringing me between them for new testing, I’d have no idea where they all are.
“Show me where,” Caleb says.
Can do.
Caleb smooths his hands down my thighs as I provide and confirm the locations of the HPAW facilities, and he presses kisses to the back of my head as I do my best to describe the layouts of each one. I spent most of my time in the one closest to the border, where Adam and I were taken, and I wasn’t exactly given a visitor’s tour the few times I was taken to the others.
“I believe it’s five stories,” I say, gesturing to the one furthest south. “But I was only brought to the second floor for meetings and testing.”
It’s the facility Caleb is yet to get any wolves into, and unfortunately, I’ve only ever been there twice. It was almost a twenty-hour drive each time, and all I can really remember was how stifling and humid the air was. I suppose that’s to be expected in Florida, though.
“Do you think marked humans are kept in this facility, too?” I ask.
Caleb rests his chin on my shoulder.
“It’s so far from the human borders, and given the estimates you have on the other three locations, the number seems to dwindle the further the facility is from the wolf lands,” I continue.
It makes sense. HPAW probably wants to keep us primed and ready to be released to the wolves, and that’s easiest to do in the facilities closest to the borders. The only reason I can think that HPAW would want to move the marked females away would be if they were anticipating an attack from Caleb, but if they think he’s dead and the wolves are in shambles trying to maintain their hierarchy, I doubt they’d go through the effort.
HPAW’s funds come from the government, and any unnecessary spending is scrutinized.
“I assume there are marked humans being kept in every facility, but I doubt there are many in this particular one,” Caleb admits. “My wolves inside HPAW have confirmed they haven’t heard any information or whispers about humans inside the Florida location, but I’m finding it suspicious just how quiet it is.”
“HPAW tends to keep the information and data shared between the facilities on a need-to-know basis, but it’s been impossible to get anything on Florida,” he continues. “It’s concerning, and I fear there’s something HPAW is hiding.”
I can’t imagine what it could be.
“So, what do—”
“The Alphas are here,” Caleb says, interrupting.
I quiet, immediately on edge as he gently nudges me off his lap. I hurry to my feet before following him to the front door, praying nobody can sense my fear. HPAW did a good job teaching me how to hide the most prevalent outward signs of anxiety, but I can’t precisely control my racing pulse.
Still, I practice what HPAW taught me and force my expression flat.
Caleb pulls open the front door to reveal two practically naked men and a wolf. They must have run here, and I feel my cheeks warm as Caleb possessively steps in front of the door to block my view. I have little interest in seeing anybody but Caleb without clothes on, and my lips twitch as I stand politely behind Caleb and wait for the men to dress.
There’s some shuffling before Caleb moves to the side, opening up just enough space for me to see. The two men who were already in their skin form are mostly dressed now, and the wolf is gone, now replaced with a large, hulking man.
I assume King, given the tattoos covering his arms, torso, and legs. He gives Caleb a quick nod as he pulls up and buttons his pants. His eyes then flicker to me, his gaze intense as he tugs on a long sleeve shirt.
He shows no emotion, not exactly the most soothing, and I force a smile onto my lips until his eyes dart back to Caleb.
“Alpha,” he says, holding out an arm.
Caleb returns the gesture, and the two grab forearms before Caleb moves to the side to reveal the rest of me. My pulse races, and I keep my smile level as I step beside Caleb.
“This is my mate, Evelyn,” Caleb says, releasing King’s forearm and placing a warm hand on the small of my back.
King turns to me and dips his chin, the motion slight.
“King,” he introduces himself.
I offer him the same slight nod, annoyed with myself for not asking Caleb what greetings should look like. Everybody in Caleb’s pack was beyond friendly, and the introductions were significantly less formal.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say.
Caleb’s fingers smoothly wrap slightly around my hip and tug me aside, the hint obvious. I step closer to Caleb, allowing King to enter.
He does, and I find myself holding my breath as he steps past the threshold of our home. King truly is large, and I crane my neck back as he makes his way through the foyer before disappearing into the doorway leading him to the dining room where Cole and Adam still sit.
Has King been here before, or is he relying on his senses to find his way to the others?
Another man steps up to the door, fully clothed in dress pants and a tucked-in button-up shirt. He looks solemn, but significantly less ominous and intense than King. It’s a considerable feat, given how muscular and broad he is.
“Caleb,” he says, welcoming himself into our home and pulling Caleb in for a tight hug.
The greeting is familiar, and my tense muscles immediately relax. This must be Maverick, the Alpha Caleb mentioned he and Adam went to school with. The one who was not getting blowjobs.
Caleb doesn’t remove his arm from me as he lets himself be pulled into Maverick’s tight embrace, and he immediately presses himself back against my side the moment he’s released.
“It’s good to see you again,” Caleb says. He sounds genuine. “This is my mate, Evelyn.”
Maverick turns to me, an odd knowing glint in his eye as he cracks a smile and nods in my direction. I want to know what that look is all about, and I will definitely be prying more into Caleb’s college days when we head to bed tonight.
Caleb is always more truthful when he’s sleepy.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Evelyn,” Maverick says.
I clear my throat. “You as well.”
Maverick steps inside and follows King’s path into the dining room, and I shift my attention to the last remaining wolf. This must be Everett, the young Alpha Caleb hasn’t met before. I’m most nervous about meeting him, given my affiliation with HPAW and that his parents were apparently killed by them.
He wears more casual clothing, a t-shirt and jeans, and his eyes flicker rapidly between Caleb and me as he reaches up and pushes his hair out of his eye.
I stifle a gasp as I notice the marking on the back of his hand, my attention immediately captured by the dark red color. That’s how mine looked when I first met Caleb, and I’m surprised to see a wolf with similar darkening. I knew it was possible, but I was under the impression it rarely happens.
The wolves cherish their mates too much to let it get so dark.
Caleb is the first to speak.
“Everett, I presume,” he says.
Everett nods, and the muscle on the side of his jaw flexes as he lowers his gaze to the floor.
“Alpha.”
Caleb runs his thumb down my side, silently comforting, before extending his arm. Everett looks back up and takes it, clasping Caleb’s forearm.
“This is my mate, Evelyn,” he introduces me. I’m sure Everett already knows, considering Caleb’s said so to King and Maverick, but I’m just pleased he isn’t introducing me as the female Alpha.
“Evelyn,” Everett repeats.
I wish I knew what he was thinking, and I press my lips together as he steps into the house and disappears into the dining room. I wait until he’s out of sight before dropping my shoulders and spinning into Caleb’s chest.
There’s a quiet click as the front door shuts, and Caleb wraps his arms around my waist before pulling back and peering down at me.
“I love you,” he whispers.
My heart thumps, and I cup his cheeks before gently urging him to bend and kiss me. Caleb doesn’t need to be told twice, and his lips mold around mine before he pulls away. He’s smiling, a sight I love to see, and I pop up on my toes to kiss him one last time before turning and making my way into the dining room.
I’m relieved Caleb has such a big home, but the space still feels crowded with so many giant wolves inside.
The three Alphas sit at the table, staggered between Cole and Adam, and in front of them are three laptops. They didn’t have any devices with them when they arrived, but Cole came with a large bag. They were probably in there.
Caleb silently guides me to the seat we were in before, and I do my best not to flush as I reach for my own chair, only to be pulled into his lap. He immediately wraps his arm around my stomach, preventing me from leaving. I suppose he wasn’t joking when he said he intended to make it clear I was his mate.
“So, what do we have?” King is the first to speak up. “News of Evelyn and Cole’s capture reached my pack, but the details have been conflicting, and you are yet to answer my emails.”
Caleb’s chest expands against my back, and I can practically feel the irritation flowing out of his pores. Caleb’s been swamped with work, and I don’t even want to think about how full his inbox is right now. When I’m labeled the female Alpha, will I be expected to help with those things?
I’ve got little idea what the role entails, and if it comes with actual work or if it’s more of a figurehead title.
“Yes, I’ve been quite busy,” Caleb says, his voice sharp. “I suppose I should start from the beginning…”
The three Alphas lean back in their chairs, and Maverick shuts his laptop to give us his full attention. King and Everett simultaneously glance at him before slowly lowering their computer lids halfway, signaling they’re listening.
I can already tell I like Maverick, but it’s hard to get a read of the other two.
Cole and Adam continue tapping away at their computers as Caleb explains everything that’s happened in the past few weeks. I’m relieved when he takes it upon himself to quickly gloss over the mention of Adam’s torture or what he and I did to communicate.
I’m sure everybody can put two and two together, but I don’t necessarily want it broadcasted to the world.
“And what do you need from us?” King asks once Caleb finishes speaking.
Caleb licks his lips. “Warriors, primarily. We don’t have time to roll out in phases, and we need to work together to act quickly.”
I’m pretty sure that as the Alpha of Alphas, Caleb could pull the wolves in for war without asking, but I suppose the permission goes a long way.
Everett taps his fingers against the top of his laptop.
“You’ve been pushing for peace with HPAW for years,” he says, looking Caleb in the eye. “Our people have been kidnapped, tortured, and murdered since the divide, and you haven’t cared.”
Everett’s gaze shifts to me.
“But the second your mate is captured, suddenly you want to take action?” He lets out a sharp laugh before shaking his head in disbelief. “Your mate is HPAW. What will you do with her?”
My muscles tighten, but it’s nothing to the complete stillness that comes over Caleb. His hands find my wrists under the table, and he circles them with his thumb and pointer finger before squeezing. It’s borderline painful, but I don’t react.
Caleb’s voice is lethal when he finally begins to speak. “Are you threatening my mate?”
Everett licks his lips, his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer before returning to Caleb.
“Of course not,” he says, shifting course. “I’m just trying to understand your motivations. Are you looking to end HPAW for the wolves, or are you doing it as retribution for your mate? I’m not interested in risking my warriors for your personal affairs.”
Maverick turns to Everett, pointedly looking him up and down.
“Does it matter? Either way, we’re getting what we want,” he argues. Everett frowns, and Maverick snorts before turning back to Caleb. “HPAW won’t wait long to attack. What’s your plan?”
Caleb continues squeezing my wrists, and even though I can’t see his face, I have a feeling he’s still glaring at Everett. Most of the wolves I’ve met go out of their way to please Caleb, but I suppose the Alphas don’t feel the same need.
They’re on similar playing fields.
It takes Caleb a moment to respond, and my cheeks turn a thousand shades of red when he aggressively buries his face in the back of my head and smells me. Adam cracks a smile, clearly refraining from laughing at me, but Cole and the other Alphas hardly bat an eye.
I’m sure they do the same to their mate—Everett and his dark mark excluded.
“We’ve heard reports that HPAW is keeping several marked humans,” Caleb eventually says. “They range in age, but we know at least three are toddlers.”
King shifts uncomfortably in his seat.
“I will not kill children,” he interrupts.
“I don’t want you to,” Caleb explains, finally loosening his tight grip on my wrists. “Our first move will be to get them out.”
Sash has made it clear she disagrees with Caleb’s decision to go for the humans first, and I briefly wonder if that’s why she’s not here today. Caleb didn’t say anything about her not coming, and he seemed even to think she was. Is this Cole’s doing?
He probably doesn’t want to risk his mate being banished again for speaking against Caleb in front of the Alphas. She clearly has no issues pushing his buttons and challenging him—which I suppose isn’t too shocking considering they’re siblings—but a level of respect needs to be maintained in front of the other Alphas.
“That’s too risky,” Everett says, scoffing. “Those facilities are state of the art and full of safety measures. One wrong move and the building will be locked down. We can’t break through steel, Caleb.”
Adam clears his throat and looks up from the laptop, drawing attention.
“They’ll kill the humans if we don’t,” he says.
Everett shrugs. “That’s the cost of war. The moment HPAW learns we’re in the human lands, they’ll go on high alert. There’s no feasible way to get into the facilities and remove the humans, even if we wanted to. It’s a suicide mission.”
Not only is it a suicide mission, but it’s one to save humans. I’m sure the Alphas would be singing a different tune if this was a mission to rescue wolves.
“They’re marked,” Caleb urges. “And they’re children. I’m not asking for your permission, Everett. I’m telling you the plan out of respect. We will be removing the children first, and only once they’re safe will we be attacking.”
Caleb paces the length of the room, and Adam lays his head flat on the dining room table with an exaggerated groan.
King excused himself to the living room and threw himself face-first on the sofa, his dangling feet barely visible from where I sit at the table. Occasionally he shouts a response into the dining room, his words slightly muffled as he speaks through a pillow, so I know he’s still listening.
I tap my fingers against the table, momentarily distracted by the loud popping from within the microwave. Maverick is helping himself to our food, and he shuts our fridge with a loud groan before turning toward the still-pacing Caleb.
“Almost two hundred adult wolves are living on the human lands,” Maverick says, leaning against the fridge door and crossing his arms over his chest. “There’s no conceivable way to sneak our men across the border and down into Florida. It’s too long a trip, and the risk of them being spotted is too high.”
As much as I hate to admit it, I agree. Despite how stealthy they try to be, a large group of beefy, wolf-sized men will surely draw attention. Wolves are significantly larger than humans, and while it’s not impossible for the occasional human to be as tall and muscular as a wolf, it’s rare.
Even stopping for gas would draw attention, and humans have no issues calling the HPAW hotline when they spot somebody they suspect is a wolf.
“Those men have mates and children living on the human lands,” Caleb points out. “If something goes wrong, their entire family will be at risk. We’d need to get mates and children back onto our lands before launching anything, and as dangerous as it is to sneak wolves over, it’s just so to bring them back.”
“And it’d take too much time!” King yells from the couch.
Maverick rips open the microwave and pulls out the popcorn bag he tossed in a few minutes ago. He lifts the bag into the air and makes eye contact with everybody in the room, silently asking if they want any. I give a slight nod, unable to resist, and Maverick rifles through our cabinets until he finds two bowls.
Everett watches all of us with unnerving intensity. He’s clearly angry with Caleb’s dismissal of him earlier, and he’s hardly spoken a word since. I’d pay good money to know what he’s thinking.
Maverick sets a bowl full of popcorn in front of me before taking a seat between Cole and Adam. The pair immediately reach over to steal some of his food.
“Even if we managed to remove the marked humans from the facility, it would take a good twenty-four hours before our people would make it back to the border,” Cole points out. “There’s no way they wouldn’t be intercepted in that time.”
The second furthest facility is only four hours from the border, which is manageable. We assume HPAW will figure out what’s happening during the rescue or directly after. Caleb’s fairly confident they won’t be able to pull together enough support within six hours to stop the wolves from returning to our lands.
They can try to close the roads, but trapping the wolves would endanger the general public, and the human government would be pissed. They expect HPAW to handle things privately, and forcing the wolves to fight in the middle of a city would lead to too many civilian casualties.
HPAW could never justify it. Not to save marked humans they don’t care much for, anyway.
“It’s not ideal, but it sounds like a rescue in Florida is just too risky,” I tentatively say. I’ve been trying hard not to speak up, not wanting to intrude in a conversation I’m not welcome in, but it’s been hours and we’re nowhere near closer to figuring out a solution. “Especially when it could ruin the other missions. Besides, we don’t even know for certain that there are marked humans there,” I continue.
Everett snaps his fingers and points in my direction.
“I agree with her.”
It’s the first thing he’s said in well over an hour, and I’m not sure how I feel about it being because of me.
Caleb runs a hand down the front of his face before approaching me and grabbing a handful of my popcorn. He practically empties the bowl, and he quickly returns to his pacing as he pops the individual pieces into his mouth.
“Plus, we don’t know anything about that location,” Cole interjects. “We have no idea what security measures they have in place or how big the building even is.”
He props his elbow on the table before clicking through his computer.
“We can get Everett’s warriors to the two eastern facilities, and King’s got a way to access the western one,” Cole continues, pulling up the notes he’s been taking. “It should take nine hours max to clear them all out, and Maverick can supply doctors for each unit. This is our best opportunity, and adding in Florida risks everything.”
It’s not ideal, but we’ve exhausted all other options. For every idea, there are at least three faults to be found, and we have to decide sooner rather than later. We want to make moves, and we don’t have time to waste.
Caleb returns to the table with a defeated sigh and peers over Cole’s shoulder to read the notes for himself.
Thankfully, Everett’s admitted he’s got a way onto the human lands—for reasons he refuses to share—and the trip from his pack to the eastern facilities is only two and four hours away. King has been monitoring HPAW’s shift change on his border for months now, and there’s an opening he’s discovered but hasn’t used.
Both men are confident they’ll be able to get their warriors onto the human lands undetected.
Once the wolves have returned, hopefully with the marked humans in tow, Caleb can move forward with more drastic measures. He’s made it abundantly clear he doesn’t intend to harm any civilians, even if it’s inevitable that some will be caught in the middle, and he only wants to target HPAW soldiers.
The room falls silent as Caleb reads over Cole’s notes, and after a minute, he gives a jerky nod and backs away. He locks eyes with me as he walks over, and I press my lips together as he comes to a halt behind my chair and wraps his arms around my shoulders. His hands dangle in front of my chest, and I’m surprised he doesn’t go the extra mile and try to touch my breasts.
Caleb’s been all over me this afternoon, constantly trying to touch and rub his scent into my skin and clothes.
I don’t mind it, and a small part of me even likes the claim.
“Let’s plan to move forward with the three closest facilities,” Caleb decides, brushing his thumb over my covered collarbone.
King meanders his way into the room and takes a seat.
“And once we’ve brought them back?” he asks. “What then?”
Caleb rests his chin on the top of my head. “I assume, by that point, we’ll have a small army of HPAW soldiers making their way onto our land. Their new, high-frequency weapons are still an issue, but we have numbers on our side. It’s time we end this.”
King looks pleased, and the white marking on his hand shifts as he taps his fingers against the table. “It’ll need a day to prepare and brief my men,” he says.
I couldn’t imagine running all the way here only to leave a couple of hours later, but I suppose I understand why Caleb wanted this conversation done in person. Besides, the Alphas aren’t making much of a complaint, and if HPAW is watching us, a visit from the three Alphas plays into the narrative that Caleb is dead.
For all HPAW knows, the Alphas are fighting over who the next leader will be.
“My doctors are already spread throughout the packs, so it shouldn’t take too long to get some over to both King and Everett,” Maverick says.
He finishes his bowl of popcorn and takes it to the sink, and I pop a piece into my mouth before turning to Everett. He and Caleb are staring at one another again, and I take great pleasure in watching Everett be the first one to break eye contact. He lowers his gaze to the table for a brief moment before shutting his laptop and clearing his throat.
“I’ll alert my pack,” is all he says.
Caleb straightens up, standing to his full height, and clasps a hand on my shoulder. His fingers squeeze the muscle, the firm hold indicating he’s annoyed.
“Wonderful,” he says. “I’ll let the other Alphas know, and I’ll clear out the smaller border packs in the meantime.”
According to the map Caleb shared earlier today, there are five small packs on the very border of the wolf lands. Knowing HPAW intends to attack any moment, Caleb wants to clear them out and move the wolves inward. The packs are too small to defend against a large attack, and Maverick volunteered to open his borders for the time being.
King stands from his chair and hands his shut laptop to Cole.
“I need to leave now if I want to return to my pack by nightfall,” he says.
Cole shoves the laptop into his bag before taking the others from Maverick and Everett. It’s a not-so-subtle cue, and the pair seems to pick up on it as they make their way to the front door with King. Caleb and Adam follow, and I slide out of my chair and do the same.
“I’ll be in touch,” King says as Caleb pulls open the front door.
Caleb nods, and Adam brushes past us before immediately beginning to strip. I’m sure he’s eager to get home to Bells, and I turn away before I catch sight of anything I’d rather not see. He’s gone within seconds, the man replaced with a giant wolf before he takes off into the woods.
I’m momentarily distracted by how quickly he moves and the muscles that bulge underneath his thick layers of fur. The wolves are terrifying, and I shiver as Adam disappears.
Maverick pats me on the back before stepping outside, and I pointedly avoid looking near the doorway as he and King remove their clothing on the front porch. The wolves truly have no shame, and I’m so glad Caleb’s taken to shifting in private.
Everett’s shoulder knocks mine as he passes me, the action mildly aggressive. Caleb immediately clocks it, and before I can even process what’s happening, I’m pulled behind my mate and Everett’s pinned to the wall by his throat.
“Caleb,” I gasp, startled.
Caleb looms over Everett, his grip so tight that Everett’s face turns red. He tries to pry Caleb’s hand off his throat, but Caleb doesn’t so much as flinch. I’d find the way he defends me sexy if he weren’t doing it at literally the most inconvenient time.
“Apologize,” Caleb demands. “Apologize to your female Alpha.”
Ah, fuck.
Maverick and King pause, their bodies growing painfully still. Maverick’s only lasts a minute before he resumes stripping like nothing happened, but King turns to watch Caleb and Everett. I wish I could read his guarded expression, and I hope nobody can hear how hard my heart is beating.
Caleb wasn’t supposed to say anything. He promised he wouldn’t.
Everett snarls, but the noise is cut short as Caleb tightens his grip on his throat. The muscles in his forearm bulge, and I nervously glance at King to see his reaction. He no longer stands frozen, and I straighten my spine and lift my chin when his gaze lands on me.
This might not be what I wanted, but I don’t want to look weak. I’m Caleb’s mate, and despite our rocky start, I’m meant to be the female Alpha.
King looks at me from my toes to the top of my head, scrutinizing me, before he shakes his head and turns around. I have absolutely no idea what the fuck that is supposed to mean, and I swallow past the lump in my throat when Caleb finally releases Everett.
Everett falls into a crouch, his hands clutching his neck as he struggles to catch his breath. I keep my focus on him, wary of what his next move will be. Clearly, he doesn’t like me, and I’m positive Caleb calling me the female Alpha only adds fuel to the fire.
“Apologize,” Caleb repeats.
I don’t recognize the raw anger in his voice, and goosebumps pebble up along my arms as Everett straightens up and meets my gaze. His nose scrunches, and his features flicker just slightly. It’s too quick for me to really see, but I assume it’s his wolf struggling to break through.
Does he want to attack me?
“I’m sorry,” Everett spits out.
He’s lunging out the door a moment later, his body transforming into a wolf mid-air. His clothing’s in tatters as he takes off into the woods, and Cole hurriedly brushes past me before shifting and following.
“Way to go,” Maverick mumbles.
He sounds mildly annoyed, seemingly more with the situation than the fact that Caleb’s just publicly called me the female Alpha. It’s a relief, and Caleb lets out a deep noise from the back of his throat before slamming his front door shut.
I’m spinning and burying my fist into his arm the moment we’re alone.
“What the fuck was that?” I ask.
Caleb looks at the spot where I punched him before raising a brow and meeting my gaze.
“I’m not sorry,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest. “And I won’t have my people disrespecting you. Never again.”
Caleb lays on his back on the living room floor, his arms spread out far to the sides as they’ll reach. I mindlessly push my hair behind my shoulder and follow him into the room, but I don’t join him on the floor.
Today was a lot, and I can only imagine how antsy Caleb is. I’ll never truly be able to conceptualize what it’s like to be a wolf, but it’s well-known they don’t enjoy being contained in their human form for too long. Caleb hasn’t shifted into his wolf since returning from the hospital, and I’m pretty sure beforehand, he was doing so every morning on his way to work.
At least, I assume so. I had his car, so I’m unsure how else he would’ve been getting to the office.
I take a step closer to Caleb’s sprawled form. He looks pitiful, and I purse my lips as I peer down at him. He has his eyes shut, but I’m sure he’s aware I’m here. He always knows where I am, the man always listening.
“What do you plan to do with the marked humans once we’ve gotten them here?” I ask.
Caleb’s chest expands as he sucks in a slow breath, and after a moment, he cracks open his left eye with a quiet sigh.
“I’m hoping we’ll find their mates,” he admits. “We have a database where unmarked wolves can input pictures of their marks, and a computerized program scans and searches for a match. It’s safe to assume that the humans with a match will quickly be picked up and taken home by their mate.”
I chew at my bottom lip, unsure how exactly I feel about that. I didn’t put up a fight when Caleb took me to his home because I was playing a part, but the other humans won’t be.
“Don’t you think that will cause conflict?” I ask. “Forcing humans to live with their wolf mates?”
If I were in their position, I’d be pissed—just like Bells. She’s furious with Adam, and I’m sure she’s fighting with him every step of the way. The other humans will be the same, and I don’t blame them. They’re just as brainwashed as I was.
They genuinely believe the wolves are evil, and they won’t be open or receptive to hearing otherwise. They’ll view our saving them as kidnapping, and they’ll act accordingly.
Caleb pushes his hair off his forehead before dropping his arm back to his side.
“Our mates are our everything, Ev. I won’t keep them from my people, and I trust my wolves will be the best solution for the marked humans. Besides,” he continues. “The humans are going to be pissed either way, and the mate bond will help to settle them.”
I brush my bare foot against Caleb’s ankle, enjoying the tingles that spread up my leg. Caleb’s lips twitch upwards at the corners, and I take great pleasure in watching them transform into a breathtaking smile a second later.
The bond really is something, and maybe he isn’t wrong in thinking it’ll be helpful for the marked humans to be around their mates. The wolves will be patient, and I know they won’t ever do anything to hurt their mate.
“What about the humans who don’t have a match in the database?” I ask.
Caleb grimaces. “We’ll put them up in housing and do our best to acclimate them, but it’ll really just be a lot of waiting for their mate to find them.”
That fucking sucks, but I know there isn’t much else to do. We can’t lock the humans up and treat them as prisoners, but it’s no secret they will hate the wolves. I doubt they’ll be acclimating anytime soon.
Caleb groans and balls his hands into tight fists before stretching so hard his muscles shake. I step away to give him more room.
Did he feel jealous when he watched the other Alphas shift and leave this afternoon? I’m sure he was longing to join them outside in the woods.
“If it helps, I’ll happily play tug of war with your wolf,” I offer, mostly joking.
To my complete surprise, Caleb seems to contemplate my suggestion. His lips twitch, and his eyes flicker between mine and the ceiling as he considers his response. If he agrees, he’ll never be able to put an end to the dog jokes. He’ll be forced to endure them for the rest of his life.
“How would you feel about chase?” Caleb eventually asks.
I blink, at a complete loss for words. Is he serious?
“That’s not going to turn your wolf on or anything, right?” I pry. “I don’t want this to end in a giant fuzzy animal trying to hump me.”
If looks could kill, I’d be long dead. Caleb glares up at me through his dark lashes, and I crack a smile before plopping down on his lap. His hands easily find my hips, his fingers curling around them and sneaking up the bottom of my shirt as I make myself comfortable.
I shiver when he makes contact with my hip bones.
“That’s not how my wolf thinks,” Caleb admits. He’s still glaring at me, the expression a sharp contradiction from his fingers’ desperate search for my bare skin. He can’t even pretend to be angry, and the realization makes my heart burn.
How could I ever have tried to hurt this man? Let alone try to kill him.
“How does he think?” I ask.
Caleb taps his fingers against my hip before answering.
“He loves you…” he starts. “All wolves love their mate’s human form, but it’s not a sexual kind of love. You are his entire world, his everything, but he knows you’re not sexually compatible.”
I stare down at Caleb, running that information through my mind.
“But what if I had a wolf?” I ask. “You told me before that wolves have sex with one another.”
Caleb nods, quickly confirming. “If you had a wolf, he’d want to have sex with her. But you don’t, so he doesn’t.”
My heart cracks. I couldn’t imagine spending my entire life waiting for my mate, only to find out I couldn’t have sex with them. I’d still love my mate, but I’d miss the life I always dreamed I’d have.
There’s no way his wolf isn’t disappointed.
Caleb would never admit it, not even on his deathbed, but I’m not dumb.
“Ev,” Caleb whispers, releasing my waist and cupping my cheek. “My wolf is a part of me, not some entirely separate being. He’s still a part of me when we’re intimate in my human form, and he’s satisfied just as I am.”
Caleb smooths his thumb over my cheekbone, his touch gentle. As much as I try to hide my emotions from him, he can read me like an open book. It’s impossible to hide from him.
“Wolves being intimate is an option, not a be-all-end-all,” Caleb continues. “It’d be like you telling me you don’t want anal sex. It’s just a type of sex, and neither I nor my wolf feel we’ve lost anything. I can assure you we’re both very content and satisfied with what we currently have.”
I shift my weight on Caleb’s stomach.
“Do you promise?” I ask.
Caleb slides his hands up my sides before cupping the back of my head and pulling me down into a bruising kiss. I don’t hesitate to lean into it, loving the feeling of his lips on mine.
He shifts below me, bringing attention to the growing erection between his thighs, before he groans and pulls away. I pant, eager to see where this goes as Caleb’s cheeks grow impossibly red. What’s he thinking?
“Would you like to play chase with me or not?” he asks.
Is he serious?
A loud laugh bubbles out of my throat, and I debate teasing him for his request before jumping off his lap and taking off in a sprint. The sound of ripping clothes isn’t far behind, and I run full speed toward the stairs.
My legs burn as I take them two at a time, my breaths coming out in harsh pants as I listen to the loud thumping following me. I’m sure Caleb could’ve caught me before I left the living room if he was trying, but he waits for me to reach the top of the stairs and step into his office doorway before shoving his snout underneath my armpit.
I jolt, unfamiliar and mildly startled by the warm, wet feeling of his wolf’s nose. I haven’t spent too much time around Caleb’s wolf, at least not like this, and I mentally prepare myself for what I’m about to see as I spin around.
Caleb’s wolf stands enormous on all fours before me, his muscles ripping and his chin raised high. I forget how much larger he is than the other wolves, his head reaching the center of my chest. If he were to stand up on his hind legs, he’d tower over me.
I shiver before slowly reaching out to touch him. His brown fur sticks out at all angles, making him look comically poofy. It wasn’t nearly this pronounced the last few times I saw him, and I let out a quiet laugh as I remember that Greg insisted Caleb get a bath while he was healing.
His fur was matted in blood, and he must have received royal treatment during his cleaning if he’s this poofy.
Did they blow-dry him, too?
Caleb’s wolf backs up a few steps, moving just out of my arm’s reach, before he brings his chest to the ground with a low growl. It’s arguably a terrifying noise, but I don’t feel afraid. He’d never hurt me.
Plus, it’s hard to take him seriously when his ass is sticking straight in the air and his long, painfully fluffy tail swishes behind him.
Playing along, I plant my hands on my knees and duck into a slight crouch.
I know I can’t pull one over on him, but I still try as I suddenly lunge forward. Caleb darts out of my reach faster than my eyes can register, and I can’t help but laugh as he quickly spins around and rushes down the stairs.
He’s so fast, and I take a moment to enjoy the sight of his half-trot, half-run. Caleb hates being compared to a dog, but the similarities are uncanny.
Shaking my head, I chase after him.
Caleb stomps loudly so he’s easy to follow, and I chase him through the living room and into the dining room, around the dining room table three and a half times, before finally trapping him in the kitchen. Deep rumbles continue to pour from his throat, and I raise a brow when he spins around, backs his butt up against the fridge, and snaps his jaw in my direction.
My eyes immediately fall to his teeth. They’re impossibly long and sharp, made to kill, and could easily rip through my bones and flesh. How many humans has he killed with them? I assume it isn’t a low number.
Instinctively, I shiver.
Caleb’s wolf stares up at me with his big brown eyes, and even though he can’t speak or convey much emotion when he’s in this form, I can tell he can sense the direction of where my thoughts have fallen. He ducks his head and flattens his ears to his skull with a quiet whine, and I don’t hesitate to step forward and slip my fingers through his fur.
It glides effortlessly through my fingers, not a single knot to be found.
I’ll have to take care to bathe his wolf more frequently. I immensely enjoy his fluffy fur.
“Good boy,” I whisper, my voice low.
Caleb’s wolf huffs, a hot breath of air puffing against my wrist, before he shakes my hand off him. His head and shoulder brush my waist as he makes his way out of the kitchen, and I immediately follow him into the living room.
I expect him to shift back into his human form, but instead, he plops himself on the floor in the center of the room and thumps his tail against the ground. It doesn’t take an expert to understand what he wants, and a smile warms my face as I drop to the floor next to him.
A second later I reach for one of his discarded socks wedged between the couch cushions. It’s a perfect size, and I dangle it over Caleb’s mouth with a sinister smile.
“Come on, now,” I tease, giggling. “Don’t be shy.”
The sock is torn out of my hand before my eyes register the movement, and Caleb’s wolf flings it to the side before wiggling closer to me. He makes odd noises as he presses the side of his body against mine, and my heart warms when he lifts his head and drops it onto my crossed legs.
I guess that’s a no to the tug-of-war.
Dropping it, I lean against the leg of the couch and pet Caleb. He’s told me before that he hates being compared to a pet and doesn’t like when people try to pet him, but he sure doesn’t seem to have an issue with it as low, deep rumbles begin to pour from his throat.
He loves this, and I happily sift my fingers through his fur before reaching for his ears.
They’re almost as large as my hand, and silky smooth. It’s probably the softest part of him, and I take great pleasure rubbing the thin skin between my thumb and forefinger.
A few minutes of silence stretch between us, but it’s comfortable. I enjoy spending time with Caleb’s wolf, and I think we should make an effort to do it more often.
“I love you,” I say, trailing my fingers down Caleb’s snout.
He cranes his neck to peer up at me, his eyes wide and unblinking. You’d never be able to guess that just a few days ago, he had a rubber bullet bulging behind his eye, and I press my lips together as I carefully touch the area.
I could cry if I think too deeply about that day, and I instead focus on the tingles that spread through my hand and up my arm with every touch.
“No matter what happens with HPAW, I’ll always love you,” I continue.
Caleb’s wolf lets out a low whine before wiggling closer to me. His front paw presses against my thigh, and I fight back a laugh when he rolls onto his side and accidentally kicks me. For how lithe he is in his human form, he’s a bit clunky in this one.
Just like a dog.
I wake up with a jolt, my mind taking a moment to understand where I am and what the giant, fuzzy thing underneath me is.
My shoulder and hip ache from laying in the same position for so long, and I grimace as I roll my arm back and turn to peer at the wolf I’ve been sleeping on. I didn’t mean to fall asleep on the living room floor, but it turns out Caleb’s wolf makes a pretty comfortable pillow.
His belly is soft when he’s relaxed, and the sound of his heartbeat thundering in my ear puts me right to sleep.
Caleb’s chest rises and falls with deep, even breaths, and I mindlessly run my fingers through his fur as he cracks open his right eye and peers at me. I’m sure he woke up the moment I did, my jerky movements certain to pull him from sleep.
“What time is it?” I ask.
I realize only a second later that he can’t precisely answer me in this form, and I groan as I turn in search of my phone. It fell out of my pocket while I was sleeping, and Caleb’s wolf lets out a quiet huff before lifting his leg.
It’s an odd movement, and I hesitantly stare at his newly exposed stomach. Is he looking for me to give him belly rubs? I make a lot of jokes about him being a dog, but this seems a little extreme, even for him. A few seconds pass before I awkwardly reach for his stomach.
Caleb’s wolf jerks away before I make contact, a deep rumble emerging from his chest as he avoids my pets.
Isn’t this what he wants?
He lifts his leg even higher, and my cheeks turn a thousand shades of red as I realize my phone is wedged under his thigh.
The wolf glares at me through narrowed eyes, probably worried I will try and rub his stomach again, as I quickly dart forward and snatch my phone out from under him. That’s so embarrassing, and I pray he doesn’t notice how hard my heart is beating.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that,” I say, clutching my phone to my chest.
Caleb’s wolf drops his leg before wiggling closer to me. His body radiates heat, and I press my lips together to hold back my cheesy smile as I check the time. I slept longer than I thought, probably because the giant wolf next to me practically cocooned himself around me until our bond was unnervingly relaxed.
It likes when we cuddle, and being pressed so closely to Caleb almost always puts me right to sleep.
“Adam called me,” I say, unlocking my phone.
It looks like the call came in about an hour ago, but he didn’t leave a voicemail or send any follow-up texts. Still, I can’t help but worry about what could’ve happened that Adam would call me at four in the morning. I hope everything is okay with Bells.
Caleb growls as I call Adam back and bring my phone to my ear. I ignore it, which the wolf doesn’t seem to appreciate as he tries using his hard head to knock the device out of my hand. It’s rude, and I push against his snout before standing and turning away.
I’m sure it isn’t a coincidence that my phone was wedged under Caleb’s thigh where I wouldn’t hear any ringing. He probably hid it away the moment it started to vibrate.
The sound of bones popping makes its way to my ears, and I spin around so I don’t have to watch the transformation. I’ve seen Caleb shifting once before in detail, and I don’t have much interest in witnessing it again. It’s graphic, and even though I know it doesn’t hurt Caleb, it’s painful to watch his every bone and muscle break and reform underneath his skin.
The noise stops at the same moment Adam sends me to voicemail, and I frown as I pull my phone away from my ear and peer at the screen. I guess whatever he was calling for wasn’t that important.
I hang up before spinning toward Caleb.
He stands naked in the center of the room, his phone now clutched in his hand as his eyes dart quickly over the screen. Something on there has captured his attention, and I take this opportunity to admire his body. The wolves are so comfortable being naked, and it shows.
I’ve always thought of myself as a relatively confident person, but I don’t think I could ever stand naked in front of Caleb with so much ease. Even if he is my mate.
“Our safe house is ready,” Caleb says, breaking the silence. “I’d like us to be there before the wolves infiltrate the facilities.”
Already? My heart thumps, and I press my lips together as I peer around the living room. It’s never been a secret that Caleb intends for us to move to a location HPAW doesn’t know about, but I haven’t placed much thought into it.
“That’s so soon,” I whisper, hating how my voice cracks.
I’ve come to think of this place as my home, and I’m not eager to leave it.
The Alphas are returning to their packs now, and possibly have already arrived, and we intend to move forward with our plan quickly. We don’t have time to waste, and by this time tomorrow, the wolves will likely already be en-route to the facilities.
Caleb sets his phone on the coffee table before pulling me into his arms. They wrap around my waist and hold me firm against his bare chest, causing the bond between us to go haywire. My entire body practically hums with pleasure, and I rest my cheek against him before working up the strength to pull away.
“The safe house isn’t ideal, but it’s secure,” Caleb says, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m sad to leave this place behind, too, but I look forward to creating a new home with you.”
He offers me a soft smile, and I briefly hesitate before giving one in return. We have enough to deal with right now, and having to move is a tiny part of it. Besides, it’s because of my chip that we have to do this in the first place.
“We should get packing,” I say, forcing myself to look chipper.
Caleb doesn’t seem entirely convinced by my act, but thankfully he doesn’t push as he follows me upstairs and into our closet. It’s almost five in the morning, so there isn’t much point in trying to go back to sleep, and Caleb and I wordlessly work side by side to pack our things.
I have more clothes than I know what to do with, thanks to Caleb and his excessive spending, but I don’t intend to bring even half of it with me. I wear the same seven outfits, anyway, and I figure the place we’re going to will have a washing machine.
“I assume the safe house is furnished?” I ask, zipping up my suitcase.
Caleb nods. “Yeah. We shouldn’t need to bring anything beyond our clothing and personal items, and we can always send somebody over if we forget something.”
He lifts two button-up shirts and glances between them before shoving both into his suitcase. I leave him in the closet as I make my way to the bathroom and pack all our soaps and shampoos. I have quite a collection, and I’d like to bring them.
It takes less than an hour for us to pack, and Caleb steps into his office to take a phone call while I struggle to carry our suitcases downstairs.
He’ll be angry when he ends his call and discovers I didn’t wait for him to help, but that’s a bridge I’ll cross when I get to it. Caleb loves to act like I’m about to break with the slightest movement, but I’m sturdier than he gives me credit for.
I spent my entire life training to kill wolves, even if it was quickly realized they’re a hundred times stronger than me and it was pointless. Still, I’d say that makes me pretty strong for a human. I could easily take down an average man, and I sure know how to take a punch from one.
“Evelyn!”
Caleb huffs my name the moment he steps out of his office, and I ignore him as I finish waddling the last of our bags downstairs. He’s by my side in a second, his lips turned down into an angry frown.
“I was going to do it,” he says.
I shrug. “You were busy, and I managed just fine.”
Thankfully, Caleb knows better than to argue.
“I was talking with Cole,” he explains, dropping the subject. “He called earlier to let me know the safe house was ready, and he’ll be here soon to take you there.”
Take me there? I peer outside at the SUV we used to drive from the hospital to the house the other day. It’s still sitting out there, and a quick glance at the entryway table confirms the keys are still exactly where I left them.
“You’re coming too, right?” I ask.
Caleb hasn’t explicitly said anything about going, but I figured it was implied. Besides, he’d have said something if he intended to stay behind.
“Of course,” Caleb is quick to assure me. “But HPAW knows you’re alive, so there’s no concern about you being spotted walking to and from the car. I’m going to shift and run there with a few other wolves. If HPAW is watching, I’m hoping they won’t be able to tell us apart.”
I raise a brow.
“You’re like twice the size of most wolves, Caleb,” I say.
There’s no way he’ll blend in. Color and shape-wise, he looks similar, but it’s impossible not to notice the difference in stature. If HPAW’s watching, there’s no way they won’t notice Caleb running among his people.
“Besides, you didn’t bother doing that when we came home from the hospital,” I continue to say.
Caleb nods. “HPAW was still reeling from the attack, so it was a safe bet they weren’t watching the house. I also wasn’t able to shift between this form and my wolf. The suppressants make it hard, and Greg was worried it would aggravate my wounds.”
I suppose that makes sense.
A loud howl from outside draws my attention, and I peer out the front window to see four wolves emerge from the woods and linger by the SUV. They slam into one another and snap jaws, but I’m sure it’s all in good fun.
The wolves are quite violent in this form.
“Is that Adam?” I ask, pointing to the largest wolf of the group.
He looks almost as big as Caleb, enough that it would be hard to notice a difference between the two at a glance. The other three wolves are still larger than the others I’ve seen, but not by much.
“Yeah,” Caleb confirms. “I’ve also got some Alphas from a few small nearby packs to come.”
Two more wolves appear, and Caleb presses against my back to peer out the window with me. I doubt HPAW is watching us, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. The wolves outside continue to lunge and play fight with one another, and I roll my eyes as I watch Adam tackle one and smack another in the face with his tail.
A car pulls up a few minutes later, and the wolves get unnervingly close to the tires as Cole makes his way to the front door.
Caleb takes this as his cue to start shoving my jacket up my arms and my hat on my head, and I laugh as he frantically reaches for my boots to try and bundle me up before Cole arrives. Another wolf emerges from the woods, and I practically jump out of my skin when the back door opens.
I spin around just in time to see three wolves emerge, the giant animals tracking snow and dirt throughout the dining room. One of them drops some fabric out of his mouth before shifting into his human form, and I politely look away as he changes.
“He’s going to hang out here for a bit so it doesn’t draw attention when I leave. That way, the same number of wolves who entered, exit,” Caleb says.
He zips my jacket up in the front just as Cole opens the front door. Cole looks tired, and he offers me a polite smile before reaching for two of my suitcases. I immediately jump in to help him, but Caleb not so subtly holds my waist so I can’t.
It’s embarrassing, and I shift my weight from foot to foot as I watch Cole carry all our things to the back of the trunk. It all fits, Caleb and I’d entire belongings able to be moved in one carload, and I chew at my bottom lip as I look around our house one last time.
I will miss this place, but I’m sure it won’t be my last time here. It’s not like it will just disappear, and maybe once everything with HPAW has settled, Caleb and I can move back in.
“Ready?” Cole asks as he returns from carrying the last of our things. “It’s a forty-five-minute drive, but Sash packed us snacks.”
Caleb squeezes my wrist, and I give him another glance before nodding and following Cole outside. It feels weird being so exposed, and I nervously find myself looking around for anything that could look like HPAW.
I doubt I’d ever be able to spot something the wolves haven’t, but I search anyway.
My breath clouds up in front of my face, and I shove my hands in my coat pockets as I rush toward the car. Thankfully, it’s warm, and Cole doesn’t dillydally as he shuts the trunk and makes his way to the driver’s seat.
A second later, three wolves emerge from the house, one significantly larger than the others, and I can’t help but laugh as Caleb immediately lunges for Adam. The two tumble into a snow pile, and a second later, Caleb’s up and running into the woods.
Adam chases him, continually snapping at his tail, which causes all the other wolves to follow. It’s organized chaos, and I hope Caleb can get some of his pent-up energy out on this run. That’s probably part of the reason he decided to go this route in the first place.
I doubt our small game of chase around the house was enough to help.
“I bet you fifty bucks that Caleb’s going to show up with half his tail missing,” Cole says, breaking the silence.
What? He must see the horror spread across my face as he bursts out in laughter and puts the car in reverse.
“It’ll grow back,” he continues, clearly trying to comfort me.
I don’t feel comforted, and I grimace as I watch the last of the wolves disappear into the woods.
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Caleb's going to be bullied during the run
Next chapter we're finally getting some HPAW action!!!