Chapter 66 Caleb
CALEB
It’s been a week since I dropped Evan off at the treatment centre.
A week of wondering how he’s getting on.
A week of hoping he’s okay.
A week without him by my side.
I’ve had no choice but to keep busy with getting back into training, making sure the pack is settled and content, checking our perimeters are safe at all times, and being the Alpha they all deserve.
That includes attending therapy of my own.
I understand now why Evan said it can be a struggle to open up and let them dive into your mind, where all your suppressed emotions and feelings lie.
It’s a scary place, but vital to bettering myself.
Considering I’ve just started, I know it could be a long journey ahead, but it’s better to start now rather than letting it eat me alive.
“Hey, man.” I hear Felix’s voice behind me as he slaps a hand onto my shoulder. “How are you feeling today?”
I stare down at the bowl of yogurt and fruit in front of me. “I’m okay.”
“Have you been sleeping?” he questions as he walks to the fridge.
“A little.”
“Plans for today?”
“Rearrange training and incorporate the new trainers,” I say. “Zara said something about planning a party for next week, but I don’t know.”
Felix perches on the stool beside me. “She thinks it’ll do us some good. Bring us all together after what happened. She means well.”
“I know,” I rasp. “But I feel guilty for having a good time when Evan—”
“Evan would want you to continue living your life,” he says. “And besides, you’re talking about him like he’s dead.”
I glare at him. “Never say that again.”
He raises his hands in defence. “You can enjoy yourself, Caleb. There’s nothing wrong with that. You would have wanted the same for him in those months you were gone.”
A small hum rumbles from my chest.
Alpha, I hear Aimee’s voice through my mindlink. We detected a scent around the perimeter.
I sit up in my stool. Who is it?
We think it’s Carson.
My eyes strain. If it is, don’t let him out of your sight.
Working on it.
“What?” Felix asks, noticing my change in demeanour.
“They think Carson is nearby.”
He stands abruptly. “Seriously?”
I nod before following him.
“What a stupid fucker, thinking he can come back.”
“He might be with others,” I say tensely.
Felix scoffs. “He would be stupid to. You said he saw what you did to your father.”
“Which makes me question, why is he back?”
He hums in agreement.
We’ve got him, Alpha.
Alone?
Alone, she states.
Make sure no one else is following him, and don’t stop until I give the order.
Yes, Alpha. Where do you want us to put him?
Take him to the small outhouse and secure him in the basement.
On it.
“He’s here,” I growl. “Taking him to his cell now.”
Felix nods with determination. “Then let’s go get some answers.”
As we head over to the outhouse, four guards are standing outside. I acknowledge Aimee as I pass.
“He came willingly?”
“Looks defeated, but yes. Maybe guilt is eating him alive,” she says with her shoulders rolled back.
I snort sourly. “A bit late for that.”
“I can’t believe we trusted him,” she says, wringing her hands.
“We’re going to make him pay.”
Aimee nods. “Good, we don’t like traitors.”
I press my hand to the door of the small, deteriorating building, and head downstairs to find Carson chained up in the gloomy basement. He doesn’t glance up when he hears the sound of footsteps, remaining on the floor with his eyes down.
“Get up and look at me,” I shout.
Carson’s shoulders tense, and after a few moments, he pushes himself up from the ground and stares directly at me. His complexion is pale, and his eyes sunken.
I stare at him for a long moment, allowing frustration to grow in my veins. “Did you enjoy yourself while you stabbed your pack in the back?”
“I-I had no choice. He threatened my family.”
I tighten my fists. “You could have spoken to me. You could have tried at least. We could have worked something out, but instead, you let Ryker know about the attack and my mate. My mate.”
Carson shudders at the intensity of my voice. “He was going to kill them if I didn’t tell him something.”
“So you told him everything?”
His eyes close in defeat. “You know what your father was like, Caleb,” he rasps. “He didn’t give up, and he certainly wouldn’t let you leave without bleeding you dry for all the information you know.”
“In what world would he have brought up Evan?”
Carson steps back into the wall as I square up to him.
“Because from what I know, he had no clue Evan even existed, so why would you tell him about my mate?”
“He—” he pauses for a moment.
I raise my brow. “He what?”
“He wanted to know what was distracting you.”
My eye twitches. “You didn’t even think to lie or twist the truth about something else. Do you remember that Ryker nearly killed him? That he made me nearly kill him.”
Carson shakes his head. “I-I didn’t know what he was going to do; he kept threatening my wife and son, Caleb. I’m sorry, okay? I panicked.”
“You gave away too much information when you could have been smarter.”
“I wasn’t thinking. Unless you’re in that position, you wouldn’t understand.”
My nostrils flare at his words. “I was in that position my entire life, and yet, I’ve never stabbed anyone in the back. You put us all in danger.”
“For my family!” he exclaims. “I know you’d do the same for Evan.”
I grit my teeth as fire roars in my soul. “Don’t fucking say his name.”
I would do the same for Evan. But I’d only present information piece by piece, not everything at once. Evan never should have been involved. Carson should have kept Evan’s name out of his mouth and pretended he didn’t exist. That’s what I don’t understand.
“You ran away after my father dragged you to his position in the North,” I hiss. “You left without even an explanation, and you expect me to give you the time of day now? There were people there who needed help, and you didn’t even stop to try. That says a lot about who you are.”
Carson shakes his head. “I saw what you did to Ryker. Your powers. All of it. You think I wanted to hang around for you to do the same to me?”
“Still tells me you’re a coward who ran because he was scared.”
He lowers his head. “C-can I see my wife? Is she okay?”
I exhale a slow breath. “Funnily enough, she’s mortified you’d go against your own pack.”
Carson’s eyes waver. “Please.”
“Don’t. I don’t want to hear it.”
“What are you going to do with me?”
I drag my tongue along my bottom lip as I study him. “I don’t know yet, but if I were you, I’d get comfortable. You might be here for a while.”
“Caleb–” he murmurs desperately.
“Caleb?” I curl a brow at the disrespect.
Carson sobers. “Alpha, I just—”
“I’m tired of hearing you talk,” I grumble. “I’d shut your mouth if I were you.”
He visibly pales as I exit the basement and head back upstairs. Felix is catching up with the guards, who tell me Carson wasn’t followed and came alone. Probably desperate to see his family again and make sure they’re alright, but that doesn’t mean his actions don’t have consequences.
“Plans with him?” Felix asks.
“Not sure yet. I’m going to speak to his wife.”
“I don’t think she’ll want you killing him.”
I shrug. “It’ll set an example, I guess. If anyone tries to go behind my back again, they’ll know what’s coming to them.”
“Think about his family.”
My head whips to Felix. “And what about mine?”
Evan might only be my mate, but he is family.
Felix chews on the inside of his cheek. “Maybe I’m biased because Zara is pregnant, but I’d do anything for those two, even if I had to give away secrets. We all would for those we love.”
“Packs are about loyalty,” I state.
“Yes, they are. But sometimes family comes first.”
I ponder his words. “We are a family as a pack. End of.”
“I know.” He clears his throat. “Just…think about it, or at least sleep on it.”
All I can do is give him a nod in response. “I’ve got to get back to organise new training and put out the new schedules.”
Felix follows me back to the main house. “And Zara’s party?”
I huff. “Fine, we can have the damn party.”
“She’ll love you forever.” Felix chuckles. “It’ll be good for all of us. We need some light after so much darkness.”
But I can’t think about light when Evan isn’t here. Guilt swarms me for these thoughts because I know he needs to do this for himself, and I’d never take that away from him. My heart weeps to see him after everything we’ve been through.
He might not think he shines, but he does. So brightly that my chest warms every time I look at him, touch him, think about him. I remind myself this isn’t forever, and soon, I’ll have him back by my side.