Calder
"So Ethan's been hunting us," I said, my voice barely audible. "All this time."
Patrick shook his head. "Not exactly. According to what we found, he became obsessed with proving his father was killed by something supernatural.
Got committed to a psychiatric facility when he was twenty-two after a breakdown.
Lost his job at a newspaper in New York for pursuing 'monster stories' too aggressively. "
"And now he's here," Trevor added grimly. "In our territory, investigating attacks with the exact same signature as his father's murder."
The implications hit me like a physical blow. Ethan wasn't just some curious journalist. He was a traumatized survivor, hunting the creature that had destroyed his life. The same kind of creature that had just kissed him.
"Calder," Patrick's voice was uncharacteristically gentle. "If he finds out what you are… what we are—"
"I know," I cut him off, unable to bear hearing it spoken aloud.
Trevor placed a hand on my shoulder. "The Council's already watching him. If he gets too close to the truth, they'll eliminate the threat. You know that."
My wolf snarled at the thought, a possessive rage surging through me that I barely managed to contain. "They won't fucking touch him!" The fierceness in my voice made both men step back. Trevor's eyes widened in fear and confusion.
“Boss?” he asked tentatively. “You okay?”
Fuck. They didn’t know Ethan was my mate and I sure as fuck wasn’t going to tell them now.
But having an outburst like that wasn’t normal for me.
Usually I was cool and collected, sometimes to my own detriment.
Now both my Beta and Gamma were staring at me like they were trying to figure out if I’d gone rabid.
I forced myself to take a deep breath, tamping down the protective fury that had nearly exposed everything.
"I'm fine," I said, carefully modulating my tone. "Just concerned about Council overreach. They've gotten trigger-happy lately. You know how they like to make people disappear and ask questions later. It doesn’t seem right."
Trevor and Patrick exchanged glances, clearly not buying my explanation but unwilling to challenge their Alpha directly.
"It's just that..." Trevor hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "You've been spending a lot of time with him. The pack is starting to talk."
Of course they were. Wolves were worse than high school gossips when it came to their Alpha's business.
"I've been gathering information," I said firmly. "And so far, I've learned more than any of our patrols."
"And what exactly have you learned?" Patrick asked, his usual easy going manner replaced by something harder, more suspicious.
I moved to the workbench, needing to put space between us before my scent betrayed my inner turmoil.
"That he’s trying to start a new life here.
It seems like he’s trying to get away from his past. But it keeps popping up at his job, so I’m assuming he can’t leave it alone completely.
" I turned to face them. "And I know that he has information that could help us find the rogue. "
"Or he could expose us all," Trevor countered. "He's dangerous, Calder."
"To the rogue, maybe," I shot back. "Not to us."
Patrick's eyebrows rose. "You sound awfully confident about that for someone who's supposedly just gathering intelligence."
The implication hung in the air between us. They weren't stupid. They could sense something had changed. "What I'm confident about," I said, choosing my words with extreme care, "is that I know how to handle this situation without the Council's heavy-handed tactics or a mutiny from my own pack."
“We’re not trying to mutiny on you,” Trevor said. “But that won’t stop us from being worried.” He stepped forward, lowering his voice. "Calder, as your Beta, I have to ask... is there something more going on with this human?"
The direct question caught me off guard. My wolf surged forward, wanting to snarl, to defend my claim on Ethan and to punish my Beta for questioning my leadership. I gripped the edge of the workbench, my knuckles turning white. "Nothing that will compromise the pack," I managed.
"That's not an answer," Patrick said quietly.
I met their gazes, seeing the concern there.
These weren't just my subordinates, they were my closest friends, the brothers I'd chosen.
They deserved some truth, even if I couldn't give them all of it.
"I'm... drawn to him," I admitted, the words feeling like they were being torn from my throat.
"More than I should be. But I have it under control. "
The silence that followed was deafening. Trevor and Patrick looked at each other again, having one of those silent conversations that only lifelong friends could manage.
"You know what this sounds like," Trevor finally said.
"It's not that," I lied, the words burning my tongue. "It can't be that."
"Because he's human?" Patrick asked. "Or because he’s a man?”
“Both,” I said, clenching my jaw.
Trevor ran a hand over his face, letting out a long sigh. "Calder, you know I've got your back no matter what. We both do. But if the Council even suspects—"
"They won't," I cut him off. "Because there's nothing for them to suspect."
"Bullshit," Patrick said bluntly. "I can smell him on you right now. Even after whatever shower you took before coming here."
My heart stopped. If they could smell Ethan on me, then my earlier kiss had left more of a mark than I'd realized. The mate bond was already forming, already changing my scent signature in ways I couldn't control. "It's not what you think," I said weakly.
"Then what is it?" Trevor demanded. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like our Alpha is compromised by a human who's spent his entire adult life hunting creatures like us."
The accusation hit like a physical blow.
Compromised. Is that what I was? So lost in the pull of the mate bond that I couldn't see clearly anymore?
"He doesn't know," I said. "About us, about what we are. I think he suspects there’s something going on behind the attacks. He recognizes the signatures. But he doesn’t know about me or the pack. "
"Yet," Patrick added grimly. "But he's smart, and he's motivated. How long before he puts the pieces together? Before he starts to notice that you’re not normal?"
I thought about Ethan's sharp eyes, his reporter's instincts, the way he'd observed things others missed. If anyone could uncover our secret, it would be him. "Then I'll make sure he doesn't get the chance," I said, though the words felt like ash in my mouth.
Trevor's expression softened slightly. "And how exactly do you plan to do that without the Council's methods?"
I didn't have an answer. Every option felt impossible. Keep Ethan close and risk exposure. Push him away and watch the Council eliminate him. Try to explain the truth and watch him run screaming. "I don't know," I finally admitted. "But I'll figure it out."
"We'll figure it out," Trevor corrected. "Pack sticks together, remember?"
Patrick nodded. "But Calder, you need to understand something. If push comes to shove, if it's between him and the pack..."
"I know," I said, though my wolf howled in protest at the implication. "The pack comes first."
But even as I said it, I wondered if I'd be able to follow through when the time came.
The weight of their expectant stares pressed down on me like a physical force.
Trevor and Patrick were waiting for more reassurance, something to convince them their Alpha hadn't completely lost his mind over a human.
But I had nothing to give them except hollow promises and lies that tasted bitter on my tongue.
"There's something else," Patrick said, breaking the tense silence. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through what looked like text messages. "Jake Harrison from the Gazette has been asking questions about you."
My blood ran cold. Another reporter was asking about me? Why? "What kind of questions?"
"Casual stuff, mostly. Where you went to school, how long you've owned the garage, whether you're seeing anyone.
" Patrick's eyes met mine. "He's been real interested in your personal life ever since you started spending time with his coworker.
One of the wolves down at the police stationed tipped me off. "
Trevor frowned. "You think this Harrison guy suspects something?"
"I think he's territorial," Patrick replied, his gaze lifting to me. “I… I had Ethan followed for a couple days, just to make sure he wasn’t getting too close.”
“You what?!” I barked.
But Patrick held is ground. “Yes. And I got some valuable info too. Word is this Harrison fella’s got a thing for Ethan too. Apparently someone saw them getting kinda cozy at the office the other day. So his questions about you might just be jealousy."
The possessive snarl that rose in my throat was impossible to suppress. The sound echoed through the garage, making both men freeze. My wolf didn't like the idea of another male competing for our mate, human or otherwise.
"Calder," Trevor said carefully, "your eyes just went full Alpha."
Shit. I turned away, pressing my palms against the workbench and forcing myself to breathe slowly. The scent of motor oil and metal usually calmed me, but right now nothing could quiet the territorial rage burning through my veins. "I'm fine," I ground out.
"No, you're not." Patrick's voice was gentle but firm. "And that reaction just confirmed what we already suspected. This isn't just attraction, is it?"
I couldn't answer. Couldn't admit what I barely understood myself. The mate bond was supposed to be this beautiful, destined thing. Not this torturous pull toward someone who could destroy everything I'd worked to protect.
"We need to call an emergency pack meeting," Trevor said quietly. "Full disclosure. If our Alpha is potentially mated to a human, especially one with Ethan's history, the pack needs to know what we're dealing with."
"No." The word came out sharper than I intended. "Not yet."
"Calder—"
"I said no!" I turned to face them, my shout still echoing through the garage. "I need time to figure this out first. To understand what's happening and what it means for all of us."
Trevor's jaw tightened, but he nodded reluctantly. "How much time?"
"A few days. Maybe a week."
"And what about Ethan in the meantime?" Patrick asked. "He's still investigating. Still asking questions. Still potentially in danger from both the rogue and the Council."
The thought of either threat reaching Ethan made my wolf pace restlessly beneath my skin. "I'll handle it."
"By doing what? You can barely—”
“I said I’ll handle it!” I shouted, turning back to them both, my hackles up. “Give me a fuckin’ minute to think, alright? I’ll take care of it one way or another.”
Trevor, always the brave Beta, was the first to speak. “Are you sure boss?” His voice was timid, but unwavering. “You don’t have to do everything alone, you know?”
I forced myself to take a deep breath, pushing my wolf and my anger back down.
“I know. And I’m glad you both brought this to my attention.
I will fix it, okay? I promise. I just need some time to wrap my head around it and figure out what to do.
Until then… just don’t tell anyone. Especially not Ageratum. He’s already suspicious.”
Trevor took a step forward, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Alright. We’ll do what we can to keep it quiet.”
Patrick nodded, his hand falling on my other shoulder. “Whatever you need, boss. Just don’t be afraid to ask for help, alright?”
I nodded. “I promise. If I get in over my head… I’ll ask.”
I wasn’t sure either of them fully believed me, but for now it was enough to satiate them. In a few minutes they were both gone, leaving me alone inside the garage. I leaned over the workbench, resting my forehead against the cool metal as I let out a long sigh.
“What the fuck have I gotten myself into?”