Chapter 14 Evan
EVAN
Ilost count of how many times I poured out my pot of rice and prayed to the Moon Goddess. I did it so often that the skin on my knees started to split, making me bleed.
But I deserved it.
We’ve been training non-stop, and it’s been a struggle, not because of my weakness, but because of my weeping wolf. He’s sluggish and low on morale. We both are.
But instead of letting it drag me down, I use training to distract myself from the pain. Even Jaxon recognises my efforts, and usually his praise would light up something inside me, but it makes the weight on my shoulders feel heavier.
What is wrong with me?
The last thing I wanted to do today was go over to Caleb’s pack, but I still have duties to complete, and I don’t want Jaxon on my case. So I have no choice but to suck it up and deal with it.
What happened in Caleb’s bedroom still plays on in my mind, but I refuse to let the embarrassment keep me in a chokehold for a second more. I’m not here for Caleb. I’ve never come here for Caleb, and it’ll stay that way.
When I’m asked by a couple of teenage boys to help build a treehouse, I nearly burst out laughing. I’ve never built anything in my entire life, yet I still agree. I watch them carefully as they rummage through a rusty toolbox before pulling out a hammer and a couple of nails.
They’re currently assessing how much space to put between the planks of wood that will make up the ladder on the trunk of the tree. When they’ve got it figured out, they attempt to hammer it in, only to bend the nail a few seconds later.
“Goddess,” the youngest boy hisses. “Why is this so hard?”
He hooks the other side of the hammer beneath the nail and yanks it out.
I huff a breath and hold out my hand. “Let me try.”
As soon as the hammer is in my grip, I realise I am definitely not cut out for this, but there’s no harm in trying. I hold the nail between my fingers before gripping onto the plank of wood.
“Hold this still,” I say.
They both lunge forward to hold the wood in place as I line up the nail with my fingers, and hold the hammer shakily with my other hand. I suck in a breath and decide to go for it.
It sinks into the wood with the first try, and all the way by the fifth without it bending. Relief washes through me because not a single drop of blood was shed. The boys demand it’s their turn next, and I hand over the hammer and guide them as best I can.
I chew on my lip anxiously as they take it in turns with very close near misses of their fingers. “Whoa, whoa.” I step forward. “Not so fast. Do you want the hammer to go through your skin?”
“It’s fine, Evan,” the oldest dismisses me, and I raise my brows. “I’ve got this.”
The hairs on the back of my neck begin to stand, and my heart rate increases.
I hold in a shudder as my wolf howls inside me, sensing that our mate is near.
My eyes close, and I inhale a breath to calm myself.
It doesn’t take long for gasoline to flood my senses, and before I know it, I hear his voice.
“Do you have a death wish? One of you is going to hurt yourself.”
I don’t dare turn around. I can’t. His voice has my skin tingling.
“It’s just a hammer, Alpha,” the youngest says. “We’ve dealt with worse.”
Caleb scoffs, and as soon as I feel his presence beside me, I can’t deny myself a glance for a second more. His face is struck like thunder, eyebrows tight and mouth pinched.
“Why are your fingers at the top of the nail? You’re going to obliterate them,” Caleb grumbles as he leans forward and rips the hammer from his hands.
“But you said we could build a treehouse.”
Caleb’s nostrils flare. “With a responsible adult present.”
My mouth falls open. “Excuse me, I am an adult.”
His green eyes fly to mine and glow with irritation. “Responsible is the keyword here. You’re just as bad as they are. Have you ever used a hammer before?”
I part my lips and contemplate lying, but I stop myself.
Caleb’s brows raise when I don’t respond. “Exactly.”
My eyes narrow at his rudeness when he turns away and reaches for fresh nails. He takes a moment to explain how to do it safely without taking our fingers off.
“I think I’ve got it. Can I try now?” the oldest says with bright eyes.
“Knock yourself out, kid.”
Caleb repeats himself and gives him step-by-step instructions, which is ridiculous because the task isn’t rocket science, but I say nothing and watch.
“Okay…” Caleb trails off. “To your left a bit.”
“My left or your left?”
His jaw clenches. “Our left.”
“Here?”
“Yeah,” he sighs as he holds the plank of wood tight. “One solid hit and it’ll go straight in. Got it?”
The kid pokes his tongue into the corner of his mouth as he mutters, “Uh-huh.”
“Go.”
I study the nail and tense as he pulls it away from the wood and then swings the hammer. Caleb’s voice echoes in my ears as he shouts, but I don’t hear what he says as the nail goes straight through the middle of his hand instead, pinning him to the wood.
There’s a burst of discomfort that floods my stomach, along with deep, growing irritation. Caleb’s emotions are intense and nauseating, but I’m not sure if the sickness side is coming from me, considering he has a nail hanging out of the back of his hand.
Blood seeps out of the wound, and Caleb releases a deep groan that I feel in my veins. The boy steps back and claps a hand over his mouth, dropping the hammer at his feet in the process.
“Motherfucker,” Caleb roars.
Both of the boys cower away, realising they just hammered a nail into their Alpha’s flesh.