Chapter 15 Caleb
CALEB
Iwanted to be the bigger person and do what any good Alpha would.
The moment I saw them from the kitchen window with that stupid hammer and a dream of a treehouse, I couldn’t look away.
My head told me not to intervene because sometimes we have to learn the hard way, but the second Evan decided to give a demonstration and his hand placement was all wrong, my heart forced me into action.
Now I have a rusty nail lodged in the back of my palm, and I’m questioning my life choices.
“Alpha, I’m so sorry,” the boy says with a shaky voice. “It was an accident.”
I grit my teeth and hold the nail steady before tugging it from the wood to release my hand. Blood drips down my fingers as I set it free. I’ve experienced all sorts of injuries over the years, but fuck, nothing compares to something going through bone.
“Alpha, we—”
“Go,” I heave. “Get out of my sight.”
It was an accident, and I know that, but the fury inside me doesn’t, and I don’t want to unleash it on them. Goddess, why do I even try?
Evan steps forward with wide eyes, choosing not to leave with the brothers. “Are you okay?”
“Ah, fucking top of the world,” I grumble.
I stare down at the nail, and my stomach churns. My fingers latch around the head of the nail, and I brace myself to rip it out. There’s enough adrenaline pumping around my body that it shouldn’t even make me flinch, but something tells me it’s not going to be pleasant.
“I need to take it out,” I blurt.
“You need the pack doctors to look at it.”
“I need it out now,” I snap unintentionally. “I’ll heal. It’s fine.”
“Okay, then I’ll do it,” he says simply when he notices I’m hesitating.
My gaze rises to his, and I stare at him with hooded lids. I’m breathing raggedly, and I shouldn’t be stalling. He takes my hand in his, and the instant calmness that rushes through my veins is numbing, and the noise in my head starts to quieten.
I’m seconds from protesting, but I can’t find it in me to when he looks at me with those blue eyes, and his touch is like a fucking drug. No matter how hard I try to fight against it, it’s impossible.
“I’m going to count down from three, okay?” Evan says boldly.
I bite down on my jaw and nod as he grips the top of the nail. “Just do it.”
“Three, two—”
He rips it out before getting to one.
A low grunt escapes my throat as it tears back through bone and skin, blood pouring out of the wound like a waterfall.
“Fuck,” I hiss through my teeth. “You went on two.”
“Didn’t think you’d moan this much,” he mutters with a curled brow as he throws the bloody nail to the floor. “Considering how many tattoos and piercings you have.”
My heart spikes at the sassy tone in his voice. “Those are for my benefit,” I grumble.
We make it into the kitchen, and he doesn’t remove his hands from mine as he guides me. The second we reach the sink, he turns on the water and shoves my hand beneath the tap.
I don’t even flinch at the contact with the water because he’s still holding onto me as my blood drips down the drain. We stay like this for a while, and instead of feeling my skin bubbling with anger, it’s fizzing with a different emotion.
It’s alien, and intense, and leaves me trembling like a fool.
Evan’s shoulder brushes my arm, and sweet cherries are all I can smell. My heart pounds in my chest, and I don’t even think it’s from the gaping hole in my hand.
“You should see your pack doctor.”
“I’ll be fine.”
He tilts his head to look up at me. “Tetanus is serious.”
“We’re wolves, I’ll heal.”
“Doesn’t mean we’re invincible,” he sighs heavily as his thumb starts to drag over my knuckles tenderly, and a small, unexpected breath of satisfaction escapes me. “You don’t have to act so tough all the time.”
And I know he’s not just talking about today.
My eyes lock onto the sweeping motion he’s still doing with his thumb, and I’m stuck in a trance at the solace that holds me hostage. The touch of a mate is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. Pain doesn’t exist when he’s holding me.
It makes me feel seen, and I grit my teeth at the thought, breathing deeply through my nose as we remain in silence until the bleeding eventually stops. I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. His brows are slightly pinched as if he’s concerned, but trying to hide it.
He could have left; he could have turned his back on me. The Goddess knows I deserve it after the way I’ve treated him, yet he’s still here. Right by my side, without any indication that he’s planning on letting me deal with this alone.
My eyes shut tightly as my chest rises and falls, trying my hardest to calm myself in his presence, and in the knowledge that his soul is pure and gentle. He’s fucking with my head.
“Does it feel better?”
“What?”
“Your hand…” he trails off. “How does it feel?”
My lips part as I watch the water continue to roll over my skin. But truthfully, I don’t know how it feels because my sensations are warped when he touches me.
I make the mistake of looking at him as he stares up at me with those fucking eyes that could put me into an early grave. He still has a firm grip on my hand, and I know I’m slowly starting to lose control, but I can’t.
He’s not safe with you. Let him go.
Blind fear wracks through me, and I rip my hand from his grip, stunning us both, but I quickly cover my expression. Pain etches through me like ten lightning strikes in a row, and now I’m shaking from the withdrawals.
“Don’t do that again,” I grumble, even though my wolf screams to reach out and take his hand once more to stop the agony.
Evan frowns. “Do wh—”
“Touch me,” I hiss.
“Caleb, I–”
“Your scent is everywhere,” I grit through my teeth. “In my fucking soul, and it’s destroying me.”
Evan’s eyes flick between mine as he releases a ragged breath of disbelief, and I curse to myself for being such an asshole.
“All you had to say was thank you,” he mutters with vacant eyes.
Without another word, he swallows harshly and turns to leave as I sense his heart quivering.
My chest feels like it’s gaping open because I’m letting my future walk out the door.
I subconsciously reach out for him, not wanting things to be left like this after lashing out.
I take his wrist in my good hand, sparks fly through my sternum.
I told him not to touch me, and here I am touching him.
Never in my life have I felt this conflicted.
Evan shudders as he looks back at me. “He–” I start before pausing. “He can’t know,” I murmur raggedly, praying he understands.
His forehead creases deeply. “I know you don’t want me, Caleb. You don’t have to lie about it.”
The raspy whisper of his voice is filled with anguish and coldness that makes me feel like I’ve been shot. He tugs his hand from my grip and walks out of the kitchen without looking back. I hunch over the sink and let my eyes strain against the wall for a few seconds.
“What the fuck, Caleb?” Felix’s voice echoes around the kitchen as he approaches, and then stares down at the hole in my hand.
“Did you hear all that?” I ask, praying he didn’t and can’t put two and two together.
Felix scoffs. “I saw Evan leaving, and he explained what happened with your hand. He was only trying to help.”
“Don’t start,” I snarl.
“Don’t start? You have no idea what he does for us.”
I spin around to face him with blazing eyes. “I know exactly what he does for us.”
“Then why talk to him like that?”
My jaw crunches. “I’m just—” I cut myself off to collect my thoughts. “Frustrated.”
“That’s not Evan’s fault.” His gaze falls to my hand and winces. “Hell, you need to go to the infirmary.”
It’s the last thing on my mind.
“Can you just get off my back?”
Felix’s face remains stoic. “Keep pushing people away, Caleb, and one day, you’ll really regret it.”
My nostrils flare as he throws up his hands in defence and heads out of the kitchen door, leaving me all alone to drown in my thoughts.