13. Caleb
13
CALEB
C aleb's heart skipped as Fiona's body pressed against his. The music swelled around them, but all he could focus on was her scent - cinnamon and woodsmoke. Her green eyes caught the twinkling lights strung above them, and for once his gruff exterior cracked. His hand tightened on her waist.
He leaned in closer, breathing in that intoxicating scent. Their lips were inches apart when the lights cut out.
The howls echoed through the darkness. Caleb's enhanced vision caught the massive shapes moving outside - at least fifteen wolves approaching the building from the distance. Still, he didn't move away from Fiona yet.
"Your timing is impeccable, Nightfangs," he muttered.
Gasps and worried murmurs rippled through the crowd. In the darkness, Fiona's hands began to glow with orange light, casting shadows across her determined face. The warm radiance highlighted her fierce expression and made her hair look like living flame.
"Ready to show them why they shouldn't mess with an alpha and a fire witch?" she asked, finally stepping back, her hands blazing brighter.
"You know," Caleb drawled softly, "this isn't exactly how I planned our first dance ending."
"Oh? And how did you plan it?"
"Less howling, more kissing hopefully."
She smirked. "Play your cards right, and maybe we can pick up where we left off. After we deal with your party crashers."
"I like the way you think, Ashwood."
The howls pierced louder in the night, closer now. Through the windows, yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness. The shapes were converging, moving with purpose toward the community center.
Caleb's wolf instincts screamed to attack immediately, but his alpha responsibilities came first. His people needed protection. The darkness pressed in around them, broken only by Fiona's warm glow.
"Wade, get everyone to the safe room now," he called out. "Use your phones for light to get there safely."
Wade's voice cut through the panicked whispers. "Everyone pull out your phones. Follow the light trail. Stay calm."
Tiny screens flickered to life across the room like fireflies. Caleb watched as Fiona lifted her hands, sending orbs of fire floating through the air. The flames cast dancing shadows on the walls but illuminated the path clearly.
"Show off," he muttered, earning a wink from her.
"Says the man who can turn into a giant wolf."
A child stumbled nearby. Caleb steadied her with one hand, guiding her toward the group. "This way, sweetheart. Follow the pretty lights."
"Like Christmas!" the girl exclaimed, fear forgotten as she stared at Fiona's flames.
Wade organized the exodus, his steady presence calming the crowd. "Single file, folks. Just like we practiced in drills. Though usually with less mood lighting."
Fiona snickered softly. "Everyone's a critic."
Caleb's enhanced hearing picked up the padding of paws outside, drawing closer. His muscles tensed, but he kept his voice light for his people's sake. "Those flames permanent? Because my electric bill's high enough."
"Worried about utilities at a time like this?" Fiona created another floating light. "Your priorities are fascinating."
His stronger pack members gathered near the entrance and windows, shifting their weight from foot to foot, ready for battle. The howls grew louder and louder, but Caleb noticed his people moving with purpose rather than panic. Fiona's lights and Wade's organization had prevented mass chaos.
"You know," Caleb said, watching the last party-goers file into the safe room, "this is still better than my cousin's wedding. At least no one's done the chicken dance."
"Yet," Fiona said. "Night's still young."
A growl rumbled just outside, closer still. Caleb's wolf stirred beneath his skin, eager for the fight. But watching Fiona direct people with her flames, seeing Wade protect their pack, he felt a surge of pride. Whatever Victor had planned, they were ready.
Glass shattered as wolves burst through the windows. Caleb's bones cracked and shifted, his formal attire shredding as his body transformed into his massive black wolf form. The scents of his attackers filled his nose - Nightfang, but not Victor or Rachelle. This was possibly just the first wave.
Wade's grey form appeared beside him, hackles raised. Through the darkness, illuminated only by Fiona's floating flames, Caleb counted at least ten Nightfang wolves circling them.
"You know," Wade's thoughts reached him through their pack bond, "I was just thinking this party needed more excitement."
"Next time we'll just hire a DJ," Caleb projected back, lunging at a russet-colored wolf that got too close. His teeth sank into fur and muscle. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth as he threw the attacker aside.
Two more Nightfang members charged him. Caleb ducked under snapping jaws, using his larger size to his advantage. He slammed his shoulder into one, sending them sprawling into a table of carefully arranged desserts. Frosting and cake splattered everywhere.
"Those were expensive," he growled, batting away the second wolf with his paw. "And Fiona spent hours on the decorations."
The sound of fighting filled the community center. His pack members held their own, protecting their territory with fierce determination. Pride swelled in his chest even as he dodged another attack.
A white wolf tried sneaking up behind Wade. Caleb pounced, pinning them to the ground. "That's not very sporting of you."
The wolf beneath him squirmed. "Victor sends his regards."
"Funny, he couldn't deliver them himself?" Caleb tossed the wolf into a group of their packmates. They tumbled together in a heap of fur and limbs.
Through the chaos, he caught glimpses of Fiona's residual flames providing just enough light to fight by. The orange glow reflected off fur and bared teeth, creating an almost beautiful display of violence. Though he had to admit, he preferred how it had looked on her face moments ago when they'd almost kissed.
"Focus on the fight, lover boy," Wade teased, taking down another attacker.
"I am focused." Caleb snapped his jaws at an approaching enemy. "I can multitask."
The Nightfang wolves pressed in, trying to overwhelm them with numbers. But Caleb's pack fought smart, using the darkness and familiar territory to their advantage.
A massive grey wolf lunged at Caleb's throat, but he barely registered the threat. His attention had just locked onto Fiona as she stepped into the fray, her hands wreathed in dancing flames. She moved with fluid grace, sending ribbons of fire between two attacking Nightfang wolves. The heat of her magic warmed his fur even from across the room.
Something primal stirred in his chest, different from his usual protective alpha instincts. This felt ancient. Every cell in his body screamed to keep her safe, to fight by her side. His wolf form vibrated with an energy he'd never experienced before.
"Careful with the fire, sweetheart," he projected through their newfound mental link, surprising himself that she could hear him. "These floors are hardwood."
Fiona's laughter rang out as she created a wall of flames, herding three Nightfang members away from Wade. "Really? Property damage is what you're worried about right now?"
"I'm excellent at multitasking." Caleb knocked aside the grey wolf with his shoulder, keeping one eye on Fiona. "Besides, do you know how much these floors cost?"
She spun, her hair a copper streak in the firelight, and sent another attacker scrambling back with singed fur. "Send me the bill."
The sight of her fighting alongside his pack, defending their territory with such fierce determination, made his heart stutter. His wolf recognized something in her, something that transcended pack politics or supernatural species. She belonged here, belonged with him.
"You know," Wade's thoughts reached him as they tag-teamed another wolf, "I've never seen you this distracted during a fight before. It's adorable."
Caleb snapped his jaws at a retreating Nightfang member. "I'm not distracted. I'm strategically aware of all combatants."
"Right. And the fact that you haven't taken your eyes off our resident fire witch for more than two seconds has nothing to do with it?"
"Shut up and fight," Caleb growled, but there was no heat in it. He watched as Fiona created another floating flame, illuminating her fierce grin. That primal connection hummed stronger, making his fur stand on end. Whatever this feeling was, he knew one thing for certain - he'd tear apart anyone who tried to harm her.
Caleb's nostrils flared. Despite the chaos of snarling wolves and flying fur, one thing was clear - Victor didn’t have the courage to come here himself. These were just foot soldiers, but they fought with the desperate ferocity of true believers.
A brown wolf lunged at his throat. Caleb twisted away, his muscles bunching as he slammed the attacker into a nearby table. "You know," he projected to Wade, "I'm starting to think Victor's too scared to face me himself."
"Less talking, more fighting," Wade replied, tackling another Nightfang member.
Caleb's attention drifted back to Fiona as she danced through the battle, her flames casting shadows across the walls. The sight of her made his chest tighten with that strange primal pull again. She moved like wildfire given form, beautiful and deadly.
His distraction cost him. Sharp teeth raked across his side, drawing blood. Caleb snarled, whirling to face his attacker - a stocky grey wolf with a scarred muzzle.
"Getting soft, Rivers?" the wolf taunted. "Too busy making eyes at your witch to protect your pack?"
Caleb's response was to seize the wolf by the scruff and throw him across the room.
A black wolf with white paws charged at Caleb. He met the attack head-on, bowling them over. As they tumbled across the floor, scattering decorations, the wolf sneered, "Some alpha you are. Can't even keep your people safe at a party."
"Says the wolf currently eating floor," Caleb retorted, pinning his opponent. "How's that working out for you?"
The combined might of Eclipsed Moon and Fiona's flames finally proved too much. The Nightfang members began retreating, limping and bleeding, through the broken windows. The scarred grey wolf paused at the exit.
"Victor will show everyone how weak you really are," he spat. "You can't protect them forever."