Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Iglare at the back of Adam’s head as he leads me into the woods, his pace just a little too fast to be comfortable. I should slit his throat next.
Wolves blur as they run around us, darting in and out of sight with unnatural ease. Nobody attacks me, which I count as a personal victory. Maybe Adam wasn’t lying when he said the pack is eager for Caleb and me to find common ground.
I don’t understand why. I was a member of HPAW. They should hate me. Maybe my less-than-stellar upbringing has earned me some pity. I don’t love that, but I’ll take what I can get.
Three wolves run up on us. They’re intimidatingly massive up close. Why did HPAW even bother teaching me how to fight? There was no point. Maybe it was about discipline, or their attempt to turn me into a killer.
The wolves circle Adam, nipping at his ankles. He grunts, kicking out his foot. “Fuck off. I’ll join you later.” He jerks his chin toward me. “I have precious cargo.”
The wolf he kicked whines before darting forward, sinking its teeth deep into Adam’s calf. It draws blood, and Adam spins and fully kicks it in the arm.
“Fucking asshole. You’ll pay for that.”
The wolf yips, sounding almost excited by the threat, before darting away.
I try to follow its movements, but it’s too fast. Do they know how to fight in their skin forms?
As far as I’m aware, they almost always transform into their animal forms when dealing with HPAW soldiers.
If HPAW found a way to prevent the shifters from transforming… that’s not good.
Adam continues walking, speeding up once the flickers of a flame appear between the trees. I recognize the area. Several shifters are standing by the fire, and they look over as Adam and I approach. They seem confused, their gazes darting between Adam and me.
“Where is he?” Adam asks.
A woman opposite the fire lifts her arm, gesturing to the left. Despite the cold weather, she’s in a practically sheer dress. I assume it’s easy to slip on and remove when shifting between animal and skin forms.
“He’s taking a lap,” she says. “He left a while ago. Should be back soon.”
Adam hums, pulling out a chair. “Sit,” he orders me.
I should tell him to fuck off. Instead, I scoot the chair closer to the fire and plop down. It’s freezing tonight, and the fire is the only source of warmth. I’m not going to turn it down out of spite.
“What are—” I turn toward Adam, my voice dying in my throat.
He’s already undressing, his shirt coming up over his head and his pants quick to follow.
I turn away, uninterested in seeing anything else.
I was under the impression that he’d be sticking by my side, but when he transforms into his animal form and takes off into the woods, I realize I’m on my own.
I’m a lone human surrounded by agitated shifters. This is wonderful.
I wait, impatient to get out of here. I don’t know the way out of the woods, so I’m stuck here until either Adam or Caleb returns. I suppose I could ask one of the other shifters here for help, but I don’t.
A small part of me wants to see Caleb. Is Adam telling the truth about my mate being surrounded by unmated women, or is he exaggerating to make me mad?
Several minutes pass before Caleb appears. I recognize him immediately. His size gives him away. He’s larger than the other wolves, and he draws attention. It’s hard not to notice him.
Caleb runs into the clearing, his paws pounding into the damp ground and kicking up mud. He’s practically covered in it, and it flies in all directions as he lunges at a shifter on his right.
They both topple over, a pile of snarls and sharp claws as two other shifters join in. I know they’re only playing, but seeing three shifters attacking Caleb is a terrifying sight. They’re vicious, drawing blood without care.
Caleb holds his own, fighting with strength and speed I didn’t realize he possessed. It’s incredible, and I find myself leaning forward to watch. Several shifters take turns attacking Caleb, circling him before darting forward to take a bite.
One buries its teeth into Caleb’s hind leg. It’s a hard bite, and when he pulls away, a chunk of leg is missing. I wince, gulping. Caleb limps back a step, then pivots and sinks his teeth into the shifter’s throat.
He could kill the shifter if he bit down, but he doesn’t. He holds the shifter captive, forcing it to roll over onto its back.
Then it transforms. My heart stops.
A naked woman lies on the ground beneath Caleb, her long dark hair splayed around her shoulders as she laughs and tries to roll away. My hands curl into fists, but I otherwise don’t react. I’m giving Caleb the benefit of the doubt, something I should’ve done a long time ago.
“Okay, okay!” The woman snorts, her fingers curling around Caleb’s paw. “You win!”
Caleb releases her and steps back. Only once they’re no longer touching can I breathe again, and I draw in a deep inhale as the woman sits up. Caleb gives his back to her, facing another shifter.
The woman finally takes notice of me. She stills as we make eye contact, and then she fucking smiles. It’s vindictive, and I lose all semblance of control as she turns back to Caleb.
I’m tired of this fucking shit.
Caleb still hasn’t noticed me, and he doesn’t see the woman lunging for his back.
I’m out of my chair in a heartbeat, blood rushing through my ears as I storm toward the wolves. Is it a good idea to throw myself into the middle of a shifter fight? Nope. They’re only playing, but it’s still dangerous.
One wrong move and I’ll be split in two.
This woman isn’t in her animal form, though. She throws herself onto Caleb’s back, her thin arms wrapping around his neck and her legs around his waist. Caleb rears back, standing tall on his hind legs, before trying to shake her off.
They don’t notice me approaching from behind.
I use that to my advantage as I reach up, grab a handful of the woman’s hair, and rip.
She releases Caleb with a cry, and I find a sick satisfaction in the way she falls.
I release her before she lands, watching as her back smashes against the hard ground. Her head is quick to follow.
Caleb transforms out of his animal form, but I pay him no mind. I’m focused on the woman, adrenaline coursing through my system as she flips around and jumps to her feet. I’m expecting to be met with anger, but her gaze is filled with unnerving excitement as she lunges for me.
Ah, fuck. I step back, barely processing what’s happening as the naked woman descends on me in an attack of gangly limbs and wild laughter. What the hell is happening? She has a natural advantage, but I realize almost immediately that she has no skill.
I hook my leg around her thigh, then roll her underneath me. Her hips buck as I sit on her, but I’m not going anywhere. She’ll have to try harder than that to get me off.
She smashes her palm into my mouth, trying to push me away. I bite. Hard enough to draw blood.
Something in her expression shifts. She’s realizing what I already know to be true. I’m a better fighter, at least in this form. I’m going to win.
Arms loop beneath my armpits and hoist me into the air, effortlessly removing me from the woman.
“Alright,” Caleb’s low voice rumbles in my ear. “That’s enough of that.”
He marches me away, only stopping once we’re on the other side of the bonfire. I’m panting, my harsh breaths loud as he finally sets me on my feet. I’m livid, maybe even a little embarrassed, as I glare up at him.
“Why are you starting fights with my pack members?” he asks.
I scoff. “Why are you rolling around in the dirt with naked women?”
“I would hardly say that’s what’s happening.” Caleb rolls his shoulders, then continues. His voice is noticeably softer. “Danielle is a happily mated woman. We weren’t—”
I interrupt. “Adam told me that you’re letting unmated women rub up against you. He said you’re playing with them. Every night.”
Caleb cocks his head to the side, two lines forming between his eyebrows. He looks genuinely confused, and I curse as the pieces fall into place. I fucking hate Adam.
“Danielle is a schoolteacher,” Caleb eventually says. “She works closely with Adam.”
It seems he’s coming to the same conclusion. Adam lied to me. He spewed straight shit to get me out here, and he probably convinced Danielle to provoke me into taking action.
I scuff my foot against the muddy ground, no doubt dirtying my shoes. I regret coming here. Women aren’t swarming Caleb, and I just made an absolute fool of myself for no reason. Fucking idiot.
Caleb clears his throat. “Look at me.”
“I’d rather not.”
He frowns, cupping my cheek. “Look at me, Evelyn.”
“Do you still love me?” I finally give in and look at him. I’m tired of us skirting around one another. “Despite everything, do you still love me?”
I clasp my hands together, running my fingers over my blackened mark. The color hasn’t changed, but I’m hopeful. Caleb’s marking has stopped darkening, so we must be doing something right.
Caleb chews on his bottom lip, hesitating. “It’s not that simple,” he finally says.
“Yes, it is. Do you still love me? Yes or no.”
Caleb lifts his head, scanning the area. I grab his face, stopping him. “Don’t look at them. Look at me.” I tighten my grip, letting my fingertips dig into the hollow of his cheeks.
Out of the corner of my eye, a shifter approaches. It’s a man I’ve seen once or twice before. He works closely with Caleb.
“Alpha…” he starts.
Caleb’s eyes never stray from mine. “Leave us.”
“The other alphas are—”
“Walk away.”
The shifter huffs, then retreats.
“Do you still love me?” I repeat.
Caleb gulps. “I told you I loved you the last time we were here, and you humiliated me.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
Caleb shrugs, then draws in a shaky breath. “I still love you.”
Warmth erupts in my chest. I was really hoping this would be his answer, but I wasn’t certain. I betrayed Caleb, and I wouldn’t blame him for holding reservations.