Chapter 49 Caleb
CALEB
Weeks of planning my father’s demise have finally come to light.
With Jaxon on our side, along with our other allied packs from the district, and working day and night with the witches, I know it’s now or never. There is always a trick or two up Ryker’s sleeve, and if we wait a second longer, we could lose months of preparation—which I refuse to do.
As I finalise the details of the mission, there is a soft knock at my office door.
“Come in,” I instruct.
The handle dips, and Evan emerges from the hall.
“Everything okay, pups?”
He nods and steps inside, shutting the door behind him. “Just wondering what you’re up to.”
Without hesitation, he walks around my desk and sits directly on my lap. I blow out a breath of relief at how comfortable he’s become, and his affection is what keeps me going.
“I’m wrapping some things up before we take Ryker down.”
Evan visibly tenses in my hold. “Can I come?”
“No,” I say heavily.
“Why?”
“Because I need you here where it’s safe.”
“But I can help.”
My nostrils flare. “I said no.”
His eyes widen with the sudden change in my tone. I curse myself internally before holding him closer.
“I need no distractions,” I say honestly. “And with you there, I’ll be worried about you the entire time. You need to stay here where it’s safe. Okay?”
He purses his lips. “But I can fight. You’ve seen my sparring, I’ve got so much better.”
“I know you’ve been improving drastically in training, but that’s beside the point. I need you safe, and when this is over, you will be by my side forever.”
“Okay,” he exhales.
“It has nothing to do with your abilities,” I admit. “But the second my father gets a whiff of what you mean to me, it’s game over.”
Evan swallows. “I get it.”
I study his expression as I watch a million different thoughts fly through his head. “Are you mad at me?”
“No,” he whispers. “Just worried.”
“Everything is going to be alright,” I say softly. “We’ve got a good army, and I know he won’t see us coming. We’ve spent too long perfecting this.”
“How are you going to do it?”
“The witches have been working for months on a spell that should be strong enough to confuse Ryker when we attack,” I start.
“Then we plan on taking out his men, freeing the women and children, and then isolating Ryker so we have him at his weakest. He might be powerful, but I know he’s not invincible. ”
“Will it work?”
I shrug. “We will have to wait and see.”
“And if it doesn’t?” Evan murmurs, panic flashing across his face.
“I have Jaxon’s pack’s help, and the other packs for backup. I believe we’re strong enough to take him down. He can’t physically fight us all off without getting tired, and then his powers will start to slip. We’ve gone through every possibility we can, and we can’t wait anymore.”
Evan’s eyes flick between mine hastily. “When are you leaving?”
“Early morning.”
He presses his forehead against mine. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Don’t worry, pups. I trust everyone involved, and I’m fighting for what’s most important.” After a few moments, he pulls back and stares at me with a confused expression. “You. You are what’s most important to me.”
Evan lunges at me and wraps his arms around my neck, making my chair rock backwards slightly. “You’re what’s most important to me, too,” he whispers. “Come back to me. Promise you’ll come back.”
I press my palms flat against his back and bury my head into his neck.
“I promise, baby.”
He takes a shuddering breath, and we stay like this for what feels like an eternity, but it’s the most vital ‘see you soon’ I’ll ever receive because I know exactly what’s at stake, and losing him isn’t an option.
Tell me what’s going on, Carson. I order my head guard as we creep towards where my father’s pack house is, near the North River.
Jaxon’s pack is right by my side, and their support gives me the boost I need.
No sight of Ryker, but he was here an hour or so ago.
And you didn’t keep track of him?
He’s gone off radar, Caleb. But we’ll find him.
I release a ragged sigh.
He might be hiding, or he’ll come back soon.
I need to know for sure.
If we attack, it’ll give him a good reason to come crawling back.
I ponder for a second. He has a point.
What do you order us to do, Alpha?
I inhale a breath of the cool night breeze; it’s dark and eerily silent.
Are the witches in place?
Yes, and they’re protected. When Ryker comes back, they’re ready to use their magic.
Let’s draw him out of hiding then. It’s now or never. We can’t wait any longer.
The men in his pack are the type of wolves that have the same mentality as my father and his cruel ways—all are as bloodthirsty as he is.
No one in this world will miss them. Although I know some have joined Ryker who aren’t all bad, and have left once they've learned his intentions, but some still stay, and they’re the ones I want wiped from this Earth.
I would show remorse, but I can’t—not for those who enjoy inflicting pain on others for power and greed.
My reputation might tell people I’m willing to follow in his footsteps, but I can’t wait to tear out his throat and pray he rots in hell.
It’ll better the world, and that’s the only thing I’m focusing on.
I watch as wolves clash against one another—roars of pain and howls of triumph. My snout raises in the air for a sign of Ryker, but I can’t sense him anywhere.
It’ll only be a matter of time before he comes running back when he finds his pack has been taken out.
My eyes follow Oscar, my father’s second, across the woodlands. I release a low growl before I charge towards him and take him to the ground. My claws swipe at him as he tries to clamp his teeth around my leg.
He lunges for me and tears into my shoulder, but I use my legs to kick him off, sending him flying through the dirt.
I ignore the throbbing sensation that bursts down my arm as blood drips through my fur.
My teeth bare at him as I clamp them down around his back leg, and he growls as I crunch through bone and flesh.
The moment I have him in a compromising position, knowing he’s in too much pain to fight back, I shift. My fingers dig into his wound as he howls in pain, and I avoid his teeth as he tries to get back at me.
“Where is he?” I demand when all I see is red.
Oscar shifts back to his human form a second later as he stares up at me.
“He’s not here,” he says weakly with a lazy smirk on his lips.
My jaw grits together. “Where is he?”
“You left him all alone.” He laughs before wheezing. “Where he’s unprotected.”
Ice rushes through my veins. I kick him in the ribs. “I’m not going to ask you again.”
Oscar flashes me a sickening grin. “You’re too late, Caleb.” He coughs. “We knew of your plan, and you left your mate alone. Where do you think he is?”
My eyes widen in realisation and fear. Everything starts to slow down, and when I take a moment to breathe, rage flows through me. I grab his neck and twist without a second thought and watch his lifeless body collapse against the ground.
My heart thumps in my throat as my stomach churns with panic, but I don’t have time to think. I shift and race off through the trees.
Ryker is with Evan, I shoot through the pack mindlink. Kill his men and get back to the pack house as soon as possible.
Caleb— I hear Felix’s voice.
Finish off his pack and get back to the house with the witches. Tell Jaxon.
I can’t move fast enough.
My paws are pounding against the ground as the world beneath me begins to wobble.
Evan, you need to get out of there.
But my mindlink goes unanswered.
Evan?
I’m left with silence, only the sound of my blood screaming in my ears.
Pups, tell me you’re okay.
But when there is no response, I immediately think the worst.
Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!