3. Caleb
3
CALEB
L ater that day, Caleb crouched down, scrubbing at the crude spray-painted symbols defacing the community center's brick wall. The acrid smell of paint thinner burned his sensitive nose, making his eyes water. His muscles tensed with each stroke, anger simmering just beneath the surface.
"Those Nightfang idiots couldn't even spray paint properly." Wade dragged a trash bag filled with broken glass across the parking lot. "Look at this - their alpha symbol's backwards."
"Really helps narrow down the suspects to whoever flunked basic geometry." Caleb dunked his sponge in the bucket, splashing solution onto his pants. "Damn it."
"You know, when I signed up to be your second, I pictured more epic battles. Less janitorial work." Wade tied off the trash bag with a grunt. "Though I guess this counts as cleaning house, technically speaking."
"If you're done with the puns, grab another sponge." Caleb pointed to a particularly offensive message about his lineage. "This isn't going away on its own."
"Neither is the bigger problem." Wade grabbed supplies from their pile and joined him at the wall. "Thompson's probably already running his mouth to Victor about everything he learned while working here."
"One problem at a time."
"Speaking of problems - incoming community members to your left."
"Alpha Caleb!" Mrs. Henderson's floral perfume hit him before her voice did. "What's going to happen to my pottery class?"
Caleb suppressed a groan as more pack members emerged from their cars, clustering around him. The paint thinner fumes made his head spin as he straightened up.
"The community center isn't closing," he said, addressing the growing crowd. "We're just between managers at the moment."
"But I heard Nightfang-" started Jerry from yoga class.
"My daughter's dance recital is next week," Martha cut in, bouncing her toddler on her hip. "Should we move it somewhere else?"
Wade shot him a sympathetic look as he continued scrubbing. The questions kept coming, each one pulling Caleb in different directions.
"What about security?"
"Is it true Thompson was working for them?"
"Everyone." Caleb's voice carried the weight of his alpha status, quieting the chatter. Paint dripped down the wall behind him as he faced his pack members. Their anxiety rolled off them in waves, making his wolf restless. "The community center stays open. All classes continue as scheduled. And yes, we're implementing better security measures."
"But who's going to run it?" Mrs. Henderson clutched her designer purse closer.
"For now, I'll-"
"He means I'll handle the day-to-day for now," Wade interrupted. "While our illustrious alpha focuses on more important matters."
Caleb shot his second a grateful look. The crowd seemed to relax slightly at Wade's casual tone.
"Now," Wade continued, "who wants to help us finish cleaning this wall? I've got extra sponges, and I know Mrs. Henderson's arms are perfect for scrubbing after all that pottery throwing."
"I'll have you know this is a Chanel blazer," she huffed.
As the tension eased and some pack members actually stepped forward to help, Caleb's shoulders remained tight. He needed a plan - not just for the community center, but for dealing with Victor once and for all. Before someone got hurt.
Caleb slumped into Thompson's - no, his former manager's chair, the leather creaking under his weight. Paint thinner still clung to his clothes, and his muscles ached from scrubbing graffiti. He rubbed his temples, trying to ward off an impending headache.
A knock at the door interrupted his brooding. Sandra from the front desk poked her head in.
"Alpha Rivers? There's someone here about the manager position."
His nose caught it before Sandra finished speaking - the sharp scent of cinnamon and woodsmoke. A witch. An elemental, by the distinctive magical undertone.
"Send them in."
The woman who walked through the door made him sit up straighter. Waves of red hair caught the afternoon sunlight streaming through the window, and determined green eyes met his without hesitation. His wolf perked up with interest.
"I'm Fiona Ashwood," she said, extending her hand. "I heard you might be hiring."
Caleb shook it, noting the warmth of her skin - definitely a fire witch. "Might be is the operative word. How did you hear about the position?"
"Nina at Cauldron & Cup mentioned it." Fiona settled into the chair across from him, smoothing her pencil skirt. "I just moved here from the city, and I have extensive experience in event coordination and management."
The timing was too perfect. Victor had eyes everywhere these days, and non-shifter allies weren't beyond him. But something about her directness didn't fit with Victor's usual schemes.
"That's quite a career change, coming to manage a community center."
"Sometimes change is exactly what we need." A smile played at the corners of her mouth. "Besides, I hear Saltwater Grove is more accepting."
Caleb leaned back in his chair, studying the witch across from him. Her posture remained perfect despite the chaos he could hear through his office window.
"Want to prove yourself?" He gestured toward the window. "Handle that mess out there, and the job's yours."
Fiona's eyebrow arched. "That's quite the interview technique. What exactly needs handling?"
"There's graffiti that needs cleaning without damaging the brick, about thirty people who need reassuring their classes aren't canceled, and general panic control." He ticked off each item on his fingers.
"I assume the vandalism wasn't a local art project gone wrong?"
His wolf bristled at the comment. "Let's just say we have some territorial disputes."
"Ah." Fiona nodded, a knowing glint in her eye. "Politics."
"Something like that."
"Well then." She smoothed her skirt again, the gesture oddly calming to watch. "What resources do I have available?"
The question caught him off guard. Thompson had never asked about resources - he'd just complained about what he didn't have. "There's cleaning supplies, my second Wade is already out there, and you've got full authority to make decisions about the center's operations."
"Any other parameters I should know about?" she said, leaning forward slightly.
The scent of cinnamon intensified as she leaned forward, and Caleb's wolf perked up again. He pushed the reaction aside. "Keep everyone safe, keep the peace, and don't burn down the building."
"That last one was oddly specific."
"You're a fire witch. I can smell the magic on you."
"Fair enough." She stood, smoothing her skirt one final time. "Though I'll have you know, I haven't accidentally set anything on fire since college."
"That's... reassuring?"
"It should be. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a crowd to organize."
Caleb leaned against the doorframe of his office, arms crossed as he watched Fiona work. She'd transformed the chaos into something resembling order in less than an hour, setting up impromptu stations for different concerns. His wolf paced restlessly, unsure whether to be impressed or suspicious.
"Mrs. Henderson, your pottery class starts at four on Tuesdays, correct?" Fiona's voice carried across the room as she typed into a laptop she'd produced from somewhere.
"Are you sure about letting her reorganize the entire schedule?" Caleb muttered to Wade, who'd materialized beside him with a fresh coffee.
"You mean instead of your 'write everything on Post-its and hope for the best' system?"
"That system worked fine."
"Sure it did, boss." Wade took a sip of coffee.
Caleb pushed off the doorframe, prowling closer to where Fiona directed a small team of volunteers in cleaning the walls.
"The cleaning solution needs to be diluted more," he said, pointing to a patch of fading brick.
Fiona's shoulders tensed. "I adjusted the ratio based on the brick's age and porosity."
"And I'm telling you it's too strong."
She turned, green eyes flashing. "Do you want to do this yourself?"
"I'm just saying-"
"No." She jabbed a finger at his chest. "You're micromanaging. Either trust me to do the job or send me home but stop hovering."
The volunteers pretended to be very interested in their cleaning supplies while Wade's poorly disguised snort echoed across the room.
Caleb's wolf bristled at being challenged, but something else stirred too - respect, maybe. Or attraction. He shoved both feelings aside.
"Fine." He held up his hands in surrender. "Do it your way."
"Thank you." She turned back to her clipboard, red hair swishing. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to convince the book club they can't meet in the same room as martial arts training."
As she walked away, Wade appeared at his side again. "I like her."
"Shut up."
"Just saying, she's the first person besides me who's told you off since you became alpha."
Caleb growled softly, but his eyes tracked Fiona's movements as she navigated through the crowd, somehow making everyone feel heard while still getting things done. Maybe Nina's recommendation wasn't so random after all.
Caleb stood in the doorway of the community center as the sunset painted the sky in shades of orange and pink. The place hummed with renewed energy - a stark contrast to the chaos of that morning. His wolf preened at how quickly order had been restored.
"Final report of the day?" Fiona approached, a stack of color-coded folders tucked under her arm. The scent of cinnamon and accomplishment rolled off her.
"Let's see - the walls are clean, Mrs. Henderson's stopped threatening to call the local news, and I haven't heard the word 'crisis' in at least two hours. I'd call that a win."
"Don't forget the new security protocols I drafted." She pulled out a bright yellow folder. "And the reorganized class schedule."
His lips twitched. "Seems like you've thought of everything."
"Almost." She shifted her weight, a hint of uncertainty crossing her face. "Except whether I actually got the job or not."
Caleb's wolf nudged him forward. "The position's yours if you want it. Though I should warn you, the health insurance doesn't cover any magical mishaps."
"I'll take my chances." Her smile lit up her entire face. "When do I start?"
"How's tomorrow sound?"
"Perfect. I already have ideas for-"
"Of course you do." He shook his head, amused despite himself.