19. Caleb
19
CALEB
T he knock jolted Caleb from his paperwork. His wolf senses tingled - something was wrong. The scent hit him before he reached the door: blood mixed with Fiona's familiar cinnamon-and-smoke essence.
He flicked the porch light on and opened the door quickly. His eyes widened at the sight of her.
"Surprise?" Fiona attempted to smile. He saw there was blood in her teeth. "Don't suppose you have a first aid kit and some aspirin?"
"What happened?" His heart lurched at the sight of her torn clothes and the dark bruises forming on her pale skin. She swayed, and he caught her before she could fall, scooping her up against his chest. Her head lolled against his shoulder, her usually vibrant red hair matted with dirt and blood.
His wolf howled inside him, furious that someone had hurt her. He carried her through his living room, kicking aside the scattered papers from his abandoned work. The scent of her blood made his hands shake as he settled her carefully on his couch.
"Stay with me," he murmured, brushing her hair back from her face. Her skin felt clammy under his touch. His protective instincts screamed at him to find whoever did this and tear them apart, but he couldn't leave her like this.
She needed him here, now. Everything else could wait.
Caleb grabbed the first aid kit from under his kitchen sink, along with a clean washcloth and bowl of warm water. When he returned, Fiona had managed to prop herself up against the armrest, though her face was pinched with pain.
"You know," she said weakly, "this wasn't exactly how I planned to get invited to your place for the first time."
Despite his worry, Caleb felt his lips twitch. Even beaten and bloodied, she was still trying to make him smile. "Next time just ask me to dinner instead."
Caleb grabbed his phone, punching in Dr. Harrison's number with shaky fingers. "Becca, I need you at my place. Now." He barely waited for her confirmation before hanging up.
"I can heal on my own, you know," Fiona protested as he guided her to his bedroom. "Perks of being a witch."
"Humor me." He helped her onto his king-sized bed, trying to ignore how right she looked there among his dark sheets. "You're hurt, and I need to make sure nothing's broken."
"Such a mother hen." She winced as he helped her lie back.
His hand trembled slightly as he examined a particularly nasty scratch on her shoulder. The sight of it made his wolf want to tear through the night hunting for revenge. "Who did this to you?"
"You already know." She caught his wrist, her touch steadying him. "Rachelle and her two pet thugs."
Caleb's growl rumbled through his chest. "I'll hunt them down. Every last one."
"My hero." She tried to sit up but fell back with a groan. "Though maybe save the heroics until after we deal with these scratches? I'm bleeding all over your Egyptian cotton."
"They're just sheets." He got up and left the room, returning in a blink of an eye with the washcloth and bowl of warm water.
He dabbed at a cut above her eyebrow, forcing his touch to remain gentle despite his rage. "Though I have to say, for someone who just got jumped by three wolves, you're surprisingly chipper."
"Well, you should see the other guys." A proud smile crossed her face. "I may have singed off Rachelle's eyebrows. And one of her minions is probably still trying to put out his tail."
Despite everything, Caleb found himself chuckling a little. "That's my girl."
The words slipped out before he could stop them. Fiona's eyes widened slightly, but before she could respond, he busied himself with cleaning another wound. His wolf preened at calling her 'his', even as his human side panicked at the slip.
"I mean... you did good. Defending yourself." He cleared his throat. "Though next time, maybe try not to walk alone at night when there's a hostile pack out there?"
"Aw, you do care," she teased, then hissed as he found a tender spot. "Though I might take that advice, considering how well tonight went."
Becca's arrival brought a wave of antiseptic and mint into Caleb's already overwhelmed senses. The pack doctor's gray hair was still mussed from sleep, but her hands moved with practiced efficiency as she examined Fiona.
"Seriously bruised ribs," Becca announced, her fingers probing Fiona's side. "And a concussion. The cuts are superficial, though they'll sting for a few days."
Caleb's wolf paced restlessly as he watched Becca work. Every wince from Fiona made his hands clench.
"Good news is, you'll live." Becca pulled out bandages and antiseptic from her medical bag. "Bad news is, no fire-slinging for at least a week."
"A week?" Fiona's outraged squeak made Caleb's lips twitch despite his worry. "But what if-"
"Doctor's orders," Becca cut her off, applying butterfly bandages to the cut above Fiona's eyebrow. "Bed rest for two days minimum. After that, light activity only. And someone needs to wake you every few hours tonight to check on that concussion."
"I'll do it," Caleb said immediately. The thought of leaving Fiona alone tonight made his wolf bristle.
"Of course you will." Becca's knowing smile made him want to growl. She packed up her bag and headed for the door. "Ice those ribs every few hours. And try not to get into any more fights with rival pack members, dear."
"Thank you, Becca." Caleb walked her to the door. "I owe you one."
"Just keep her still," Becca whispered. "She seems as stubborn as you are."
After she left, Caleb grabbed the chair from his desk and planted it firmly beside the bed. "Get some rest. I'll be right here."
"My very own guard wolf?" Fiona's voice was already drowsy from the pain medication. "Lucky me."
"Someone has to make sure you don't try to sneak out and torch anything else."
"Spoilsport." Her eyes started drooping. "You don't have to stay. I'm sure you have alpha things to do."
"Nothing more important than this." The words came out before he could stop them, but watching her nestle into his pillows, he found he didn't want to take them back.
Caleb kept his vigil through the night, waking Fiona every few hours as instructed. Between checks, he watched the steady rise and fall of her chest. The moonlight streaming through his window caught the copper highlights in her hair spread across his pillow.
His fingers itched to brush a stray strand from her face, but he kept his hands firmly on the armrests of his chair.
When had she become so essential? The thought of losing her made his chest tight in a way he'd never experienced before. She'd stormed into his life with her quick wit and fiercer determination, bringing light to places he hadn't even realized were dark.
Dawn crept in, painting his room in soft oranges that reminded him of her magic. Fiona stirred, her green eyes fluttering open.
"You look terrible," she mumbled, voice rough with sleep.
"Says the woman who got attacked by wolves last night." He leaned forward, checking her pupils. "How's the head?"
"Still attached." She tried to sit up and winced.
"Stay down." His hand moved to her shoulder, gentle but firm. "I'm going after Rachelle today."
"No, you're not." Despite her injuries, her voice carried that familiar steel that always made his wolf take notice.
"Fiona-"
"Don't 'Fiona' me with that growly voice." She grabbed his wrist gently, her touch sending warmth through his arm. "Your pack stood with you yesterday. They believe in you. Going after Rachelle now would just prove Victor right about you being ruled by anger."
"They hurt you," he said, the words coming out rougher than intended.
"And I torched them right back." A smile tugged at her split lip. "Besides, I'm not some damsel who needs avenging. I'm the witch who's going to watch you kick Victor's ass fair and square."
Caleb couldn't help but chuckle. "You make it sound so simple."
"That's because it is." She squeezed his wrist. "You're going to beat him, and then maybe take me to dinner. In that order."
His wolf preened at her confidence in him. "Dinner, huh?"
"Well, you did promise last night." She yawned, then grimaced. "Though maybe somewhere that serves soup. My jaw feels like I got hit by a truck."
"Actually, you promised to ask next time."
"Fine." She rolled her eyes. "Caleb Rivers, would you like to go to dinner with me after you're done being all alpha male?"
His heart did a strange flip in his chest. "I suppose I could pencil that in."
Caleb noticed how the morning light streaming in from his window seemed to dance across Fiona's face. His wolf practically purred at having her here in his space. Even with the bruises and scratches marking her skin, she was beautiful.
He cleared his throat. "You're staying here."
"Excuse me?" Fiona tried to push herself up, wincing at the movement. "I have my own place, you know."
"Which Rachelle and her goons seem to know about now." His jaw clenched. "You're staying here until this is resolved."
"I can take care of myself." The familiar spark of defiance lit her green eyes. "Or did you miss the part where I said I barbecued those wolves?"
His lips twitched despite his determination to stay serious. "But you're hurt, and I..." He ran a hand through his hair, struggling to find the right words. His wolf urged him to mark her as his, but the human side knew better. "I need to know you're safe."
"Need to, huh?" Something softened in her expression.
"Yes." He leaned forward in his chair, close enough to catch the lingering scent of smoke and cinnamon that was uniquely her. "Because somewhere between you organizing my community center and setting my enemies on fire, I started caring about you. More than I should."
Her breath caught. "Oh."