Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Caleb’s pretending that last night never happened. I appreciate that, and I play along as we get ready for the day.
“Hungry for anything specific?” he asks.
“Not really.”
He cooks breakfast for me every morning, usually something with eggs or yogurt. He’s a good cook, and I can tell he takes pride in feeding me. His chest puffs up whenever I compliment his dishes, the man practically imitating a peacock.
I hop in the shower while he heads downstairs, and I refuse to let myself think too deeply about last night as I clean myself, dress, and meet him in the kitchen. A plate is set out on the counter, but Caleb is nowhere to be seen.
Wherever he’s wandered off to, I’m sure he’ll be back soon.
I begin eating, and sure enough, he saunters into the kitchen just as I’m finishing up. He’s wearing a navy-blue sweater, the fabric thicker than usual.
“Are you about ready?” he asks, eyeing my empty plate.
I nod. “Yep.”
We don’t speak much as I clean up and head to the door, and that doesn’t change during the short drive into town. I’m sure we’re both feeling awkward after last night, but I fear bringing it up will only make things worse.
Rosy rises from her desk as we step into the building.
“Morning, Alphas,” she says, greeting us as she does every morning.
Caleb smiles. “Good morning, Rosy.”
He seems just as cheery as usual as he breezes past her and heads upstairs. He doesn’t carry me up them anymore, and I hand Rosy my coat and hat before following after Caleb. He holds open his door for me, and I make myself comfortable on the couch underneath the large window.
“I want…” Caleb sighs, running his fingers through his hair as he sits at his desk.
“I’ve been worrying all morning about what to say to you, but I need to rip off the bandage.
I’m sorry for telling you I love you last night.
You’ve been through a lot these past few weeks, and I shouldn’t rush you.
I understand why my words make you uncomfortable.
I imagine I would feel the same way if I were in your position. ”
He’s apologizing for telling me he loves me. I squeeze my eyes shut, unable to keep this up. I can’t do it. I just can’t. Caleb isn’t a bad person. He’s the opposite, and I can’t lie to him any longer. It isn’t right.
I’m not a killer. I’ve never done it, and I don’t know how HPAW thought all that training would make me capable.
Maybe Caleb and I can work together to fix relations with the humans. I’m a human, so surely, Caleb will understand why I want peace between our kinds. I’m willing to bet he’d be agreeable to it. I think he’d do it for me.
I’m letting down the humans, but Caleb isn’t the evil man HPAW is making him out to be. He’s kind and genuine, and so are the other shifters I’ve met. Everybody here has been so fucking kind to me. They don’t treat me differently because I’m a human. My race doesn’t matter to them at all.
Caleb clears his throat, his gaze darting toward his computer. “The Aubert and Allard packs have been fighting. Land disputes,” he says, changing the subject. “I’ve received a formal request to step in and settle things.”
I lick my lips. Is Caleb actually telling me about his work? Why?
“Why are you telling me this?” I ask.
Caleb taps his fingers against his desk. “I’ve been thinking that perhaps you might like to work with me. You seem to enjoy accompanying me to the office, and I can tell you’re interested in my meetings. Would working fulfill you?”
“I don’t know anything about shifter politics.”
“I’ll teach you.”
He makes it sound so easy. Maybe to him, it is. Will he still let me work when he knows the truth? I highly doubt it. My affiliation with HPAW will destroy our trust.
Caleb stalks toward me, his eyes soft as he kneels beside the couch and grabs my hands. “I want you to be happy, Ev. I can tell you’re holding back from me. From all of us, really. Tell me what you want, and I’ll make it happen.”
“I—” I start. I need to tell him.
Caleb releases me and turns, facing the door. Somebody’s coming. My confidence crumbles as two hard knocks vibrate through the room.
“Come in,” Caleb orders.
He doesn’t move, continuing to kneel beside me as the door is opened to reveal Caleb’s second-in-command, Logan. I haven’t seen him since Caleb sent him away, but I recognize his thick facial hair and muscular, borderline-bulky frame. My gaze dips to his marked hand.
His design is cool. Two harsh, flame-like lines travel from his knuckles to his wrist. It’s a crisp white. Just like Sash’s. Just like Caleb’s.
Logan’s gaze darts between Caleb and me. “Good morning, you two.” His gaze settles on Caleb. “There’s a shipment out back. Do you want to take a look?”
Caleb hums, feigning indifference, but I know better. I’m no fool, and I know damn well there’s no shipment out back. That’s a horrible code phrase.
I watch through my lashes as Caleb rises. What’s he hiding from me?
“I’m coming,” Caleb tells Logan. He turns toward me. “I’ll be right back. Stay here.”
Stay here? He’s never asked that of me before. Even when he leaves to attend his meetings, he doesn’t ask me to stay put.
Years of training allow me to remain outwardly calm. Daniel would be proud of me.
Caleb leaves. I count to thirty, giving him time, before sneaking out of his office. I’m not sure where he went, but I assume he’s not conducting this business out on the main street.
I slink across the building, heading toward his father’s old office. It’s filled with boxes, but it overlooks the back of the building.
I crouch as I approach the window, peering through the very bottom corner in search of Caleb.
I find him immediately. He’s standing beside a freight truck.
There are two wolves beside him, Logan and another man I don’t recognize.
They speak hurriedly to one another before Caleb gestures for them to open the doors of the truck.
Maybe Logan wasn’t lying about the shipment.
I’d try to open the window if I thought I could get away with it, but the shifters have impeccable hearing. Caleb would undoubtedly notice.
The truck doors open and Logan steps inside.
I slap a hand over my mouth, in absolute disbelief as he drags out five human men. No, not men. Boys. They can’t be much older than eighteen, twenty at the max. The one on the left is covered in acne, and the one beside him has braces. Fucking braces.
They look terrified, and I can tell they’re pleading as they’re pushed to their knees. The boy with braces drops his forehead to the ground, openly sobbing.
The shifter with Caleb and Logan laughs. I can only watch in horror as Caleb approaches the boy with acne. He crouches, grabbing the back of the boy’s head.
I flinch, disgust roiling through me as he forces the boy’s head upward and spits in his face. The boy is now sobbing, his shoulders trembling as my mate’s saliva trails down his eye and cheek.
Caleb twists his head to the side, effortlessly breaking his neck. I gag. The human’s limp body is dropped, and Caleb moves down the line. He kills them all.
When Logan begins tossing the limp bodies into the truck, I hurry back into Caleb’s office. Adrenaline courses through me as my training kicks into place. My heart is pounding—that tends to happen when you watch five people be executed, and I need an excuse for it.
I open Caleb’s computer and type in a random password. I repeat this until it locks me out. Caleb will notice, and he’ll assume my accelerated heart rate is due to my failure to gain access to his computer.
When Caleb returns, I’m lounging on the couch. His brows furrow, but he doesn’t say anything as he sits behind his desk. He opens his computer. I chew at my bottom lip.
Then he laughs. “Evelyn!” He peers at me over the top of the device. “You’ve locked me out.”
I shrug, feigning innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m beginning to worry about your solitaire addiction.” He abandons his computer, shutting the lid and giving me his full attention. “I meant what I said earlier.”
I cock my head. “What’s that?”
I hardly remember. Our earlier conversation has been overshadowed by the sight of him snapping the necks of five humans. Is he going to tell me about them? That’s wishful thinking. I don’t bother getting my hopes up.
Caleb clasps his fingers together. “Tell me what will make you happy. You’re holding yourself back. There’s no need to answer now, but think about it. I want you to thrive here.”
Caleb is a good mate. He’s a good leader, too, but I don’t give a fuck about the shifters. I care about the humans. It’s time to leave.
I haven’t learned everything there is to know about the wolves, but I’ve learned enough to give the humans an advantage. I need to kill Caleb before I soften toward him any further. My feelings are compromising things. I can’t let that happen.
I’ll kill him tonight.