Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Ispend the next week learning everything I can. It’s not much.
Caleb brings me to work each day, but he leaves his office for all his important meetings. I’ve asked to join, but he always has an excuse as to why I should stay behind.
I fear it’s because he’s suspicious of me. Maybe he put two and two together when it was revealed that HPAW soldiers were responsible for my abduction. Maybe my insistence on having them killed without questioning is what clued him in. I’m not sure.
There’s also the possibility that he’s not suspicious and I’m reading too much into things.
Caleb has taken a handful of quick meetings in his office, but they’ve been about inconsequential topics.
A representative from the Allard pack came by to ask for help with polar bears.
Fucking polar bears. The representative said they’ve been infringing on the pack, testing boundaries and attacking the children.
Caleb sent a unit of men back with the representative. I’ve yet to learn more about these units. How many shifters are in a unit? How many units does Caleb have? How does he train them? Where are they?
Caleb’s pack is enormous, but if his warriors cluster in one area, HPAW could take them out in one fell swoop.
I sigh, dragging my mug of steaming tea across the kitchen counter. Today was exhausting. Caleb had back-to-back meetings, and I lost thirty-four solitaire games. I haven’t yet found a good opportunity to go through his computer files, not until I’m sure it isn’t a trap.
“What’re you thinking about?”
I jolt, shocked by the proximity of Caleb’s voice. He’s too sneaky for his size. Men as large as him shouldn’t be able to sneak around a house the way Caleb can. It must be a shifter trait. They’re all incredibly agile.
“I’m thinking about how many solitaire games I lost today.”
Caleb laughs, leaning against the counter. “I’m sorry to hear that.” He taps his fingers against my mug. “I know how to cheer you up, though.”
“Is that so?” Genuine enthusiasm flares. “Do tell.”
Caleb stalks around the counter, for once looking every bit the predator he is. I’m not afraid. If anything, I’m excited.
Once I’m within reach, Caleb curls his hands underneath my thighs and lifts me onto the kitchen counter. He hasn’t touched me like this since our shared shower. I’ve made the first move several times now, and I’m waiting for him to take charge. I don’t want to appear too eager.
Caleb slides his hands down my calves and wraps my legs around his waist.
“The pack is growing antsy to meet you,” he admits. “I’ve been told I’m hoarding you, and one of the elders recently told me that keeping you locked away in my home and office is impolite.”
The corners of his lips twitch upwards. “I told him that you likened yourself to Rapunzel last week. He took great enjoyment in the comparison.”
I squeeze Caleb’s shoulders. “What do you have in mind, then?”
“It’s a surprise.” Caleb leans in, pressing his lips against mine in a chaste kiss before pulling back and setting me onto the ground. “Go get dressed. Something warm.”
This is stupid. Still, I feel almost giddy as I hurry upstairs to change. I don’t care about Caleb’s pack, and I don’t care about meeting them. It doesn’t matter that he wants to show me off. Caleb’s excitement to introduce me to his people means nothing.
But it does.
Nobody has ever been proud to be seen with me. Nobody has looked or touched me with such softness. I’ve never been important.
I suppose I’m important to HPAW, but that’s different. They’re using me. Caleb doesn’t have ulterior motives. I’m sure the mate bond is responsible for some of his emotions, but it feels like more than that. Unless Caleb is an exceptional actor, he seems to genuinely like me for who I am.
He laughs at my jokes. He indulges my curiosity. He shivers at my touch.
I speed upstairs, skipping every other step and pushing the limits of what my injured ribs can tolerate. Doctor Greg said deep breathing and light exercise are good for me, though. I’m only following orders.
What does Caleb have in mind? Where is he taking me? I run through a thousand different scenarios as I change into dark pants and a thick sweater. Is this a date? Will it be romantic?
Caleb is waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs, and his gaze slides pointedly down my frame in a way that sets me on fire. I’m not wearing anything alluring. Most of my skin is covered. Still, I love the way he looks at me.
“Here.” He pulls open the entryway closet and removes my giant, orange coat, a black hat, and a pair of gloves. “Put these on.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s been snowing all day and we’re going to be outside.”
Outside? What the fuck does he have planned? I shoot him a curious look as I slip the items on, but I hold back my questions. I’m truthfully excited about the surprise, and I don’t want to ruin it for myself.
“Can I drive?” I ask. The sun is beginning to set, but it’s not yet dark. There’s probably another hour or so of sunlight left.
“No.”
I let out a dramatic sigh. He’s a spoilsport. It’s not as if my poor driving is putting anybody at risk. I’m the only one on the road. Shifters prefer to bulldoze through the forest in their animal forms.
I decide not to argue as I climb into the passenger seat, but I do turn all the air vents toward myself and adjust the radio, two things I know Caleb hates but won’t say anything about. He rolls his eyes when I settle on a human pop station, but I compromise and keep the volume low.
Caleb has sensitive ears, and I’m not trying to deafen him.
He drops his marked hand to my thigh, his fingers curling around the rough fabric of my jeans. His white mark stands out against his skin, and a pang of something uncomfortable shoots down my spine. I refuse to dwell on it as I place my gloved hand over his.
After almost thirty minutes of driving, he parks in front of a lone, abandoned building. It’s falling apart, the metal roof rusted and the pavement cracked and uneven.
“Caleb?”
He grins. “Don’t move.”
He jumps out of the car and hurries to grab something from the trunk. I hope it’s not a shovel he plans to kill and bury me with. Caleb’s pulling open my door a second later, his wide frame filling the space as he hands me a pair of thick snow pants and giant, white boots.
I stare at them. “Why?”
“It’s cold out.”
“We’re not in the fucking tundra, Caleb. I’m not wearing that.” I set the items in the driver’s seat and exit the car, pushing past Caleb in the process. He huffs but lets me through.
It’s chilly, and it is snowing, but he’s being dramatic.
I’ve come to learn that shifters have an incredible tolerance for cold, and Caleb clearly has no idea how much bundling humans need.
The coat, hat, and gloves are more than enough.
I’ll put on the snow pants and boots in a few months when winter truly settles in.
“Are you sure you don’t—”
“Caleb.” I level him a sharp glare. “I’m not meeting your pack dressed like the Michelin Man.”
“Who is that?”
“I’m not sure,” I admit. “He’s a big, puffy man who I think sells car tires. He also somehow bestows the most prestigious restaurant recommendations. I don’t understand it.”
Caleb blinks, looking at a loss for words, before grabbing my hand and dragging me around the side of the abandoned building. It backs up into thick woods, and I’m not the least bit surprised when Caleb leads me into them.
The shifters sure love their forests.
“So, what’s—”
My question is cut short as a wolf bursts through the trees and sprints past me, its brown fur brushing against my coat. I still, frozen to my spot as the wolf slams into another, sending them both tumbling to the side.
What the fuck?
Despite the hard impact, both wolves are up and running in a matter of seconds. They’re large and muscular, near impossible to tell apart as they run side by side, nipping at one another. Caleb is bringing me here to die. He’s figured out who I really am.
Something howls, and I flinch as another wolf sprints past me. It’s moving too fast to follow, making me painfully aware that I’m surrounded by predators. I feel like a fucking bunny, and my legs burn with the urge to take off running.
Caleb wraps his arm around my waist, guiding me farther into the forest.
I clear my throat. “What is this?”
“Shifters have a lot of energy, and we get antsy when in our skin forms for too long,” Caleb explains. “We take to these woods most nights. It’s a time for us to burn through our pent-up energy.”
Three wolves collide on my left. Two are off again in a heartbeat, and the third spends a few seconds limping before collecting itself and rejoining the other two.
“Like a doggy play date?” I ask.
One wolf stops in its tracks, its head snapping in my direction. Large, sharp teeth are revealed as the shifter snarls, and fear claws its way up my throat as it takes a step toward me.
Caleb flicks his hand toward the wolf. “Don’t.”
The wolf’s large, brown eyes dart toward Caleb, then it takes off. It takes me several moments to find my voice.
“What was he going to do?”
Caleb shrugs. “I’m not sure. Probably knock you over. He was trying to play with you.”
“Play with me?” My voice is high-pitched. I clear my throat before continuing. “I can’t play with you. You guys are twice my size.”
“Well, I never said it would be a fair fight.” Caleb nudges my back, urging me to continue walking.
“These nights consist of play-fighting and hunting, mostly for rabbits and deer, and a fair amount of general degeneracy. There’s a clearing with a bonfire up ahead.
That’s where we’re going. I thought you’d like to sit with me and watch the chaos. ”
So he’s not planning to kill me tonight. Good to know.
Something about his tone is off, though, and when I turn toward him, I see hesitation in his face. Caleb licks his lips and squeezes my gloved hand, and my heart stutters as I realize he’s nervous. Does he worry I won’t like this?