7. Caleb
7
CALEB
C aleb followed Fiona into Thompson's old office. Fiona had already made the space her own in the past day - organized filing cabinets replaced the previous chaos, and cheerful potted plants dotted the windowsill.
He shut the door behind them with a soft click. "Take a seat."
Fiona settled into her chair, raising an eyebrow. "Is this where you finally tell me I'm fired?"
"Actually, it's the opposite." Caleb leaned against the edge of her desk, crossing his arms. "I've been watching how you handle things here. The way you organized those volunteers today, got them working together. Even the way you got Marcus to help out despite his grumbling."
"Marcus just needed someone to listen to his stories about the good old days first." A smile tugged at her lips. "And maybe a promise of my grandmother's secret cookie recipe."
"That's exactly what I'm talking about. You see solutions where others see problems." He uncrossed his arms. "I need that right now. With Victor and the Nightfang... I've been so focused on protecting the pack that I haven't been leading them. They're scared, divided."
"So, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying I want your help. Not just with the community center, but with the whole situation. You've got good instincts, and you're not afraid to tell me when I'm being..." He searched for the right word.
"A stubborn ass?"
"I was going to say overcautious."
The late afternoon sun streaming through the window caught the red highlights in her hair, making them glow. She sat there, green eyes wide with surprise, now completely silent for the first time since he'd met her.
Caleb shifted uncomfortably. He wasn't used to asking for help, especially from someone outside the pack. But watching her today, seeing how she'd brought people together despite their initial mistrust, he knew he'd made the right decision. Even if her continued silence was making him question his delivery.
"This is usually where you say something. Preferably yes, since I'm not great at speeches."
Fiona drummed her fingers on the desk, her brow furrowed in thought. She finally spoke. "Why not just go to the police? Or the council? Surely they'd step in with all this harassment."
Caleb couldn't help but chuckle at her suggestion, though there wasn't much humor in it. The sound echoed in the small office space. "The council has a strict non-interference policy when it comes to pack politics. As long as we keep our squabbles away from the general public, they consider it an internal matter."
"That's ridiculous." She crossed her arms. "What about property damage? Threats?"
"Welcome to supernatural politics." He straightened up, stretching his back. "Each group handles their own. Witch covens settle their disputes through their own channels. Dragon wings handle their territory fights privately. Hell, even the vampire courts keep their power struggles under wraps."
"So, you're telling me that if Victor came in here right now and-" She made a slashing motion across her throat.
"As long as no humans witnessed it, and he cleaned up after himself? The council wouldn't bat an eye." The thought made his wolf bristle, muscles tensing involuntarily. "It's why pack leadership is taken so seriously. An alpha isn't just responsible for keeping order - they're the only real protection their pack has."
"That's..." Fiona's face scrunched up. "Actually explains a lot about why you've been hovering over my shoulder like an overprotective mother hen."
"I do not hover."
"Please. You practically growled at the UPS guy yesterday."
"He was acting suspicious!"
"He was sweating because it was hot outside and the air conditioning in his truck broke." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. "But I get it now. You're not just being paranoid - you're trying to keep everyone safe."
The way she said it, without judgment or mockery, made something in his chest loosen. Most people outside pack structure didn't understand the weight of responsibility that came with being alpha. But here was this witch, who'd known him less than a week, cutting straight to the heart of it.
Fiona tapped her fingers on the desk again. "So, what did Rachelle mean about securing leadership peacefully?"
Caleb ran a hand through his dark hair, buying time to organize his thoughts. The question brought up memories of his own rise to alpha status - the challenges, the doubt, the constant pressure to prove himself worthy.
"Being an alpha isn't just about who can bite the hardest." He paced the small office, his boots silent on the carpet. "It's about strength and respect. Both have to be earned."
"Like a supernatural political campaign?"
The comparison startled a laugh out of him. "Something like that. We have elders - wolves who've lived through multiple alpha transitions, seen packs rise and fall. Their opinions carry weight."
"And Victor's trying to win them over?"
"More like schmooze them." His wolf bristled at the thought of Victor's tactics. "He's been hosting dinners, making promises about uniting the packs. Creating this vision of a better future under his leadership."
Fiona leaned back in her chair, the leather creaking. "Sounds reasonable enough. So why do I hear your teeth grinding from here?"
"Because it's all smoke and mirrors. Victor doesn't want unity - he wants control." Caleb stopped by the window, watching the volunteers still working on the playground. His pack, his responsibility. "The elders remember when the packs were divided, constantly fighting. They think having one alpha would prevent that from happening again."
"Would it?"
"Under the right leader? Maybe." He turned back to face her. "Under Victor? It would be trading occasional skirmishes for constant oppression."
"You sound pretty sure about that."
"Victor and I..." Caleb's jaw clenched. "Let's just say we have history. The kind that involves hospital visits and restraining orders."
"Wow." Fiona's green eyes widened. "And the elders are considering him anyway?"
"He's gotten better at hiding his true nature. Plus, he's offering them what they want to hear - peace, unity, strength in numbers. Meanwhile, I'm the stubborn alpha who won't play nice."
"Their words or yours?"
"Both." He couldn't help but smile at her directness. "Though they usually phrase it more politely."
Caleb paced the office, his wolf restless beneath his skin. "There's another way to handle this though. The old way." He cracked his knuckles, a habit he'd never quite broken. "I challenge Victor to a one-on-one fight. Winner takes all."
"Because that's worked so well for settling disputes throughout history." Fiona's sarcasm could have stripped paint.
"It's straightforward. No politics, no schemes." The idea lightened his mood considerably. "Just me wiping that smug look off Victor's face."
"And if you lose?"
His wolf bristled at the suggestion. "I won't."
"Humor me." She propped her chin on her hand. "What happens if Mr. 'I'm-going-to-punch-my-way-through-this' gets his tail handed to him?"
"Did you just make air quotes at me?"
"Focus, Alpha boy."
Caleb ran a hand through his hair again, fighting back a grin despite himself. "If I lose, Victor becomes alpha of both packs."
"And you really want to risk everyone's future on one fight?" She stood up, hands on her hips. "Respect carries more weight than strength. Win over the elders, show them you're the better choice."
"By what? Hosting tea parties?"
"By proving Victor's all talk." She jabbed a finger at his chest. "Show them you're already doing what he's only promising."
His wolf perked up at her touch, which was... inconvenient. "The elders want unity. Peace."
"And punching Victor in the face accomplishes neither."
"It would make me feel better."
"You're impossible." But there was a smile forming on her lips. "There are better ways to handle this."
The afternoon sun caught her hair again, and Caleb found himself momentarily distracted by how the light made her eyes spark. He cleared his throat. "Alright then, oh wise one. How exactly should I win them over?"
Fiona opened her mouth to answer, then paused, her expression shifting from confident to contemplative.
Caleb scratched his chin, remembering an idea he'd dismissed earlier. "I'd been thinking about organizing something in the town square. Food trucks, music, maybe some friendly sparring matches. Show everyone we're not hiding."
Fiona's eyes lit up, but she shook her head. "Close, but not quite right." She drummed her fingers on the desk, a habit he'd noticed she did when piecing things together. "What about holding it here instead?"
"At the community center?"
"Think about it." She stood, energy radiating from her like heat from a flame. "This place means something to your pack. Victor tried to damage that by vandalizing it. So we transform it into something even better."
His wolf perked up at the suggestion. The center had been his first major project as alpha - turning an abandoned warehouse into a place where pack members could gather, train, and support each other.
"A celebration," he mused, warming to the idea. "Right where Victor tried to hurt us."
"Exactly. Show everyone you're not just talking about unity - you're living it." She gestured around the office. "The volunteers today proved people will come together if you give them a reason."
The more he considered it, the more sense it made. The elders would see the pack's strength. Victor would see his intimidation tactics had failed. And most importantly, his people would remember what made them strong in the first place.
"Plus," Fiona added with a mischievous grin, "it'll drive Victor absolutely crazy."
Caleb couldn't help but laugh. "You know, for someone who preaches peaceful solutions, you've got a vindictive streak."
"I prefer to call it creative problem-solving." She tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear. "So, what do you think?"
His wolf practically purred at the prospect. "I think you might be onto something."
"That's not a yes."
"Yes," he said, rolling his eyes but unable to hide his smile. "Happy now?"
"Ecstatic." Her grin widened. "Just wait until you hear the rest of my ideas."
The groan that escaped him was only partly feigned. What had he gotten himself into?