14. Fiona
14
FIONA
F iona conjured a small flame in her palm, illuminating the path as she and Caleb made their way to the safe room. Her heart still raced from the fight, but organizing chaos was her specialty. The wound on Caleb's side had already begun healing, but she noticed him favoring it slightly.
"You should let someone look at that," she said, gesturing to his injury.
"After everyone else is taken care of." He pushed open the heavy door to the safe room.
The crowd inside immediately surged forward. Questions overlapped into a cacophony of worry and fear. Fiona stepped in front of Caleb, raising both hands.
"Everyone sit down and take a breath." Her voice carried across the room. "If you're injured, move to the left wall. If you need help finding family members, gather by the right. Everyone else, middle of the room."
"But what about-" someone started.
"Now," she said firmly. To her satisfaction, people began moving.
Caleb touched her shoulder. "I'll check the injured."
"Not with that side. You'll handle the family reunions." She poked his chest gently. "I've got medical training from my event planning days. You'd be surprised how many wedding mishaps need first aid."
He opened his mouth to argue, then closed it with a slight smile. "Yes ma'am."
As she moved among the injured, treating cuts and sprains, she heard Caleb's deep voice reassuring worried pack members. He knew everyone by name, remembered their families, asked about specific concerns.
"Quite the power couple you two make," Emmett said as she wrapped his wrist. "Haven't seen anyone handle him quite like that before."
Her cheeks felt hot. "We're not-"
"Yet," the elder said with a wink.
Working together, they got everyone sorted within an hour. Most injuries were minor - scrapes and bruises from the initial panic rather than the fight itself. Fiona created floating orbs of warm light around the room, casting a comforting glow.
"Ready to let me look at that side now?" she asked Caleb.
"It's fine-"
"That wasn't actually a question." She grabbed his arm and pulled him to sit. "Shirt."
He chuckled, wincing slightly as he lifted the fabric. "Anyone ever tell you you're bossy?"
"Only everyone I've ever met." She examined the healing wound. "Could be worse. Though your dancing definitely needs more work than this."
"We were interrupted," he said softly.
Their eyes met, and that moment from earlier sparked between them again. Then someone called for Caleb's help with the lights, and the moment passed.
The fluorescent lights flickered back to life, revealing the full extent of the destruction. Fiona surveyed the damage - shattered windows, overturned tables, and decorations strewn across the floor like confetti after a particularly violent party. Her carefully planned festival lay in ruins.
Caleb stormed past her, his jaw clenched. "Wade, gather the fighters. We're going after them."
"Oh no you don't." Fiona grabbed his arm, surprised by the warmth of his skin under her fingers. "Your people need you here right now."
"They need me to show strength." He tried to pull away, but she held firm.
"They need you to show leadership." She gestured to the chaos around them. "Look at this place. There's broken glass everywhere, tables crushed, and Mrs. Henderson's prize-winning quilts are hanging in tatters."
"The Nightfang can't-"
"The Nightfang will still be out there tomorrow." Fiona crossed her arms, meeting his intense gaze. "But right now, your pack needs to see their alpha helping them rebuild, not running off for revenge."
His nostrils flared as he glanced around the room. An elderly woman was trying to sweep up glass with trembling hands. Two teenagers struggled with a fallen beam. Someone's child was crying over a ruined art project.
"Fine. But I'm not happy about it."
"Really? I couldn't tell by that sunny disposition of yours."
As Caleb moved away, Fiona couldn't help but notice how his shirt stretched across his shoulders as he lifted the heavy beam. She shook her head, focusing instead on organizing clean-up crews. Romance would have to wait until after they dealt with the broken windows and crushed furniture.
"You know," Wade said, appearing beside her with a broom, "that's the first time I've seen someone talk him down from a fight."
"Someone has to be the voice of reason around here." She created a small flame to melt together the broken pieces of a plastic chair. "Though I'm starting to think that's a full-time job with him."
"You're not wrong." Wade chuckled. "But he listens to you."
Fiona watched Caleb gently help an older pack member to her feet, his earlier rage tempered by concern for his people. Maybe Wade was right - maybe Caleb did listen to her. The thought made her smile as she turned back to her task of restoration.
Caleb paced the length of the community center's main hall as Fiona directed the remaining pack members to board up the windows near the front entrance. The last car filled with guests had just pulled away.
She turned to Caleb. "If you keep that up, you'll wear a trench in the floor," she said, perching on the edge of a salvaged table. "And I just got this place looking decent again."
He stopped, running both hands through his hair. "I should be out there hunting them down right now."
"You should be right where you are." She conjured a small flame, letting it dance between her fingers. "Your people saw their alpha helping them tonight, not abandoning them."
"Doesn't feel like enough."
"Tell that to Mrs. Henderson. You personally rescued her quilts." Fiona smiled. "I thought she was going to adopt you on the spot."
A reluctant chuckle escaped him. "Those quilts are practically pack heirlooms."
"Speaking of pack..." She slid off the table, extinguishing her flame. "When was the last time you ate anything?"
He waved off her concern. "I'm fine."
"That's not what I asked." She poked at his chest gently again. "Even big bad alphas need food. And I happen to know there's perfectly good sandwich supplies in the break room that survived the chaos."
"I need to-"
"Nope." She grabbed his wrist, tugging him toward the break room. "Wade's got the patrols covered, everyone's either home or at the hospital, and I'm not above using my fire magic to make you take care of yourself."
"You wouldn't dare."
She raised an eyebrow, a tiny spark dancing on her fingertip. "Try me."
The autumn night air nipped at Fiona's skin as they stepped out of the community center. Her feet ached from hours of cleanup, but she felt oddly energized. Maybe it was the leftover adrenaline from the fight, or maybe it was the way Caleb's shoulder kept brushing against hers as they walked.
"You really don't have to walk me home," she said, though her heart skipped when he fell into step beside her.
"After tonight? Not a chance I'm letting you walk alone." His eyes scanned the shadows between buildings. "Besides, we should talk about what happened during the fight."
"You mean when I saved your furry behind with that fireball?"
"I had that situation under control." He nudged her gently with his elbow. "But no, I meant the connection. I heard your voice in my head."
Fiona stopped walking. "Wait, that actually happened? I thought I imagined it."
"Mind links are common in the pack, but they don't happen with outsiders." His fingers brushed against her arm. "Ever."
"Oh." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, suddenly very aware of how close he stood. "Is that... bad?"
"Bad? No." The streetlight caught the blue in his eyes, making them gleam. "Unexpected? Definitely. Interesting?" His lips curved into a smile. "Very."
A cool breeze rustled the leaves overhead, carrying the scent of his cologne. Fiona's magic stirred under her skin, warm and responsive, like it recognized something in him.
"So, what does it mean?" she asked, starting to walk again to hide her flustered state.
"I have some theories." He matched her pace. "But right now, I'm more concerned about getting you home safely."
"My knight in shining fur," she teased, trying to ignore the way her pulse quickened being next to him.
The porch light cast a warm glow over Fiona's small craftsman house as they reached her front steps. Through their newfound connection, she sensed a dangerous undercurrent of rage beneath Caleb's calm exterior. It felt like static electricity dancing across her skin, making her magic respond in kind.
"Okay, spill it." She turned to face him, crossing her arms. "What incredibly stupid thing are you planning?"
Caleb's jaw tightened, surprised that she sensed his plan while in human form. "I'm taking Wade and our strongest fighters to Nightfang territory tonight."
"Oh yes, because storming into Victor's den in the middle of the night is a brilliant plan." She rolled her eyes. "Did you hit your head during the fight?"
"He attacked innocent people, Fiona." His eyes flashed with barely contained fury. "Children were there. The elders could have been seriously hurt. I won't let him think he can get away with that."
Fiona felt his anger pulse through their connection, hot and fierce. Her own magic flared in response, warming her fingertips. "And getting yourself killed proves what exactly?"
"I'm not afraid of him."
"Being brave and being stupid are not mutually exclusive concepts. In fact, they often go hand in hand. Especially with stubborn alphas who don't think things through clearly."
"I have thought it through."
"Really?" She arched an eyebrow. "So you've considered that he'll have home field advantage? That he'll probably have traps set up? That he's probably expecting you to do exactly this?"
Caleb's silence was answer enough.
"Fine." Fiona sighed, fishing her house keys from her purse. "If you're determined to walk into an obvious trap, I'm coming with you."
"Absolutely not."
"Wasn't asking permission." She said firmly, letting a small flame dance across her palm. "Besides, you might need someone to light the way."