“I guess that’s a chance you’ll have to take,” she replied, wiggling over to give me more room. “It would solve a problem,” she added contemplatively, eyeing me. “Since you seem reluctant to leave.”
“What can I say? The hospitality is hard to resist and the people are so welcoming.” She snorted and I waved my arm. “Can’t get views like this where I’m from either.”
“And where’s that?” Her question surprised me but when I glanced over she was studiously avoiding my gaze.
“South, directly south. Our pack lands border yours to the south.”
“You’re a Hanley?” She sneered in disbelief, both those mismatched eyes pinning me. I hurriedly shook my head.
“No, no. I’m from the Navarre Pack. The Hanleys were defeated and my Alpha took over. Dominic Navarre.” She still gazed at me suspiciously so I kept talking. “I swear it’s true.” I looked over the sun kissed valley, calculating rapidly. “I mean, it’s been ten years now since the Hanley Alpha was killed.” I glanced back at her. “You haven’t had any trouble with them have you?”
She yanked her gaze away, not answering, but her fingers trembled.
“Dru,” I said quietly, grateful Paige had let her name slip.
Her lips twisted. “And here I was starting to warm up to Princess.” I grinned, scooting a tad closer and her eyes cut toward me. “That wasn’t an invitation, Cap’n.”
“Caleb,” I repeated, knowing she hadn’t forgotten but trying to see if she’d use it.
“I’m not senile, thank you very much.”
“I didn’t think you were,” I rushed to reassure her and she plucked at the hem of her jeans. “I’m just eager to hear my name on your lips.”
“That is a terrible pickup line.”
“It’s not a line,” I protested, laying back on the rock. She hunched forward, not seeming concerned that her back was exposed. “We’re mates.”
“Thanks to you,” she snarled, gesturing to her lip. “It’s puffy.”
“In all fairness, you started it,” I pointed out gently and she twisted, staring at me in disbelief. I shaded my eyes, trying to decide if she really didn’t know. “You bit me first.”
“No, I didn’t!”
I cocked my head, wondering how she didn’t know. “You did. When you lunged at me.”
“I didn’t break skin,” she contended and I sat up on my forearms as she turned toward me.
“You don’t have to break skin,” I explained. “You just have to have intent.”
“I didn’t intend to take you as a mate,” she snapped, crossing her arms as she glared at me mutinously. “You read it wrong.” That startled a laugh out of me that quickly faded when I realized she was serious.
“I didn’t read anything into it. You claimed my wolf as your own. I just finished it so we’d have a chance.” I opened the gateway in my mind, the path that lead straight to her and only her, the one she’d created, albeit unintentionally I was discovering.
She flinched, her eyelashes lowering as she read the truth in what I was saying and my genuineness. “I didn’t know,” she admitted hesitantly. She paused for a long moment before asking, “Why did you apologize if it was my fault?”
“You may have started it, but I stole a kiss and a bite without permission,” I swallowed, gazing out over the valley so I wouldn’t have to meet her piercing stare. “I’ve had my will taken from me. My choice. I promised I would never do it to another and I did it to you.” Disgust coated my tongue as I considered that I’d broken my vow with the one person I never wished to harm.
A warm touch distracted me and I glanced down to see she’d rested her pinkie next to my hand. It was the barest of touches, but a sense of comfort washed through me. “You didn’t take my will,” she finally said. “Not if I was the one who initiated it.”
I blinked, giving her a sideways glance. “You didn’t know.”
“That’s not an excuse,” she retorted without heat, her eyes set somewhere in the distance. “Not for us. Some part of me understood what I was doing.” She took a deep breath and her finger eased away from mine. “Why did you finish it?”
My hand drifted, settling over hers and she glanced at me uncertainly. “Because for the first time in my life, I wanted a reason to stay.”
Bitterly, she smiled. “But you can’t stay, Caleb.” Something settled into place as she said my name, a determination to make this thing work, no matter the consequences. “Not here. Gran will never allow it.”
“Then come with me,” I countered, lifting our joined hands. “The Navarre Pack will accept you. Welcome you with open arms.” She opened her mouth and I hurried to convince her, already seeing the denial in her eyes. “You won’t be the only female wolf anymore. We have several. One is an Alpha.” Surprise kept her mute so I continued. “Leaving your Pack is hard. I know that. But you’ll have me and I promise to help you adapt. You’ll have all the time you need to integrate into the Pack.”
“Caleb,” she said and afraid she was about to say no, I spoke again.
“Dru, consider it at least. Please.”
The tiniest smile graced her lips and my heart jumped. “Are you begging?” She questioned with a lift of her eyebrow.
“Yes, if that’s what it takes,” I answered instantly.
She ducked her head, her hand curling under mine. “What you’re saying sounds….amazing.”
“Then come,” I interrupted, suddenly eager to take her to Navarre land and introduce her to Dom, Jess, Anna, and Trent. “We can go now.”
She glanced up at me apologetically. “I won’t leave Paige.”
“She can come with us,” I offered, seeing an easy solution. “No one will care about her differences.” She must have felt the truth in my words because her expression eased and she smiled gently.
“I wish it was that simple.”
“We can make it as simple as it needs to be.”
“There’s so much you don’t know,” she replied, worrying her lower lip.
“Then explain it to me and we’ll figure it out together.”
“Paige can’t leave and neither can I,” she stated, shaking her head resolutely. I saw the determination in her eyes, but it was no match for my own.
“Then we stay.”
“I stay,” she specified. “You go.”
I shook my head, equally determined. “No.”
“She’ll kill you,” Dru reminded me, her voice catching.
“I am particularly hard to kill,” I responded, unconsciously tracing the scar on my chest. Her gaze followed the path of my scar, her forehead wrinkling with worry.
“She won’t fight you with tooth and claw,” Dru warned. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with here.”
“I have you,” I answered, bringing my hand up to her face and letting it hover there until she bowed her head in permission. I gently touched the skin under her blue eye, noticing how she kept hiding it from my view. “Together, we can make this work. I know it.”
Chapter Seven
Dru
It took every ounce of control I had not to duck my head and hide the eyes I despised from his clear gaze. How he could look at me with such awe, I didn’t understand. I was a freak, my differences obvious for the world to see, and he was….perfect.
A fact my grandmother would never see, and she would tear him limb from limb out of fearful ignorance - a reality I could never allow to happen.
“You have to go,” I pleaded, terror filling me and I saw when it hit him. I didn’t know how to control the connection between us as my emotions spilled over onto him, and I suddenly felt a surge of sympathy for Paige. “I won’t allow her to destroy you.”
“Neither will I,” he promised, his ignorance making him confident of an outcome he couldn’t possibly achieve. “I won’t allow her to destroy you either.”
“She won’t. I’m her grandchild,” I answered quickly, hoping that would be enough. He smiled, a blend of pity and understandi
ng lacing it.
“She is though.” I shook my head, not comprehending, and he explained, “She despises the wolf. She hates half of you.” He touched my brow above my amber eye. “I heard it in her voice when she spoke to me. Maybe she doesn’t do it intentionally, but she’s destroying part of you every single day.”
“She doesn’t hate me,” I denied automatically, not completely believing my own words. “She has her reasons,” I finished lamely. He stared at me doubtfully and I rubbed my neck awkwardly. “She won’t kill me at least. You, on the other hand….”
“Could die a thousand deaths and she’d smile every time,” he concluded and I nodded reluctantly. Gran had no love for wolf shifters, not after everything they’d cost her, and I knew if she could, she’d strip the wolf from me as well. “How could she hate someone she doesn’t know?” He shook his head. “I mean no harm.”
“And I believe you, but your definition of harm and hers are two very different things,” I said as I bent down, missing his curious expression.
“She said something about stealing her children,” Caleb declared, his voice lifting in question and I kept my head down as I schooled my expression, but it didn’t matter since my shoulders tensed automatically at the mention of my parents. I had the feeling he noticed, but he had the grace not to mention it.
“No idea,” I lied easily, straightening up. “You really should go,” I suggested once again, not really believing this would be the time he listened, but when his expression turned inward, regret surged through me.
“I really should,” he agreed, and I fought the desperate urge to take my words back. Leaving was what was best for him, even though I was starting to realize it wasn’t what I actually wanted. It seemed my brain and heart no longer agreed on what was best for me. “But I’ve never really been good at doing what I should do,” he continued and my attention jerked back to him as he grinned wryly. “Something Dom seems to think I should work on.”
Happiness crackled through me, but I managed to keep my voice calm as I asked, “Dom?”
“My Alpha,” he answered, and I felt his mix of emotions when he said the title.
“You love him,” I observed and his eyes snapped to mine in surprise. “I can feel it when you speak of him. So many emotions warring for attention. Only someone you love would cause that.”
He dipped his head, his own smile regretful. “It took me too long to realize that.” His gaze drifted west, in the direction of his own Pack lands, and I stuffed my hands in my pockets before I did something foolish like reach for his hand. “My relationship with Dom has always been,” he paused, taking a deep breath as he searched for the right word, “Complicated.”
“Aren’t they all?” I muttered under my breath as I considered the two people in my life that mattered most. My relationship with each of them couldn’t be more different, but I’d classify them both as complicated.
“My entire life he’s the one I looked up to, the one whose approval I sought,” he cleared his throat, casting his gaze down. “I’ve disappointed him time and again, but he’s never…he’s never given up on me.” He sighed then let out a chuckle. “And this conversation went somewhere I didn’t plan.”
“I don’t mind,” I replied softly, scuffing the ground with my foot, my toes curling in the loose soil. “It’s nice to hear about your Pack.”
Caleb glanced around curiously. “Is your Pack patrolling? I didn’t notice any scent but yours on the trail.” I leaned back, resisting the urge to fidget as I tried to come up with an explanation he would believe. His sharp gaze caught my movement as he added casually, “In fact, I haven’t noticed any wolves.”
Alarm blasted through me, but it wasn’t my own. “Paige,” I gasped as her emotions slammed into me. Instantly, I was moving, my feet pounding the ground as I raced into the forest. Caleb kept pace, confusion marring his expression as he gamely followed me without understanding.
She knows, Paige’s panicked voice broke through the distress and I knew Caleb heard her too when he replied.
Know what?
He’s still here? Paige questioned, sounding hopeful.
What does she know, Paige? I asked, striving for calm as I slowed my reckless pace now that I knew she wasn’t in imminent danger. Caleb followed my lead, jogging next to me as we waited for her answer.
That Caleb escaped, she answered quickly, then hesitated.
“Why do I feel like there’s more?” Caleb muttered aloud and I glanced at him, silently agreeing. Paige, she was going to find out I escaped, he told her patiently. You let me out, he reminded her.
My stomach churned as she remained silent, her emotions suspiciously absent. Paige?
She thinks you helped him escape, Paige admitted in a rush, the words practically blurring together and I stumbled to a stop as an icy dread trickled through me. Caleb caught my arm, but I’d gone numb as Paige added desperately, You can’t come back. She’s furious.
Fear paralyzed me as I imagined the punishment she would inflict for a transgression this great. Previous punishments drifted through my mind - weeks of being chained so tightly I couldn’t shift, being beaten with a cane over and over again until I was forced to shift to heal and then the punishment starting all over, being starved to the point that I couldn’t shift.
“Dru,” Caleb’s voice sounded far away as I wondered if this would be the time she killed me for my disobedience. “Dru, hit me.” His command pierced the fog and I blinked at him, sure I’d misunderstood. He nodded, gesturing to his face. “Knock me on my ass.”
I gave him a doubtful stare. “It won’t work,” I murmured, already shaking my head. “She’ll know.” I swallowed hard, frustrated by the newly discovered inability to hide my emotions from him. I knew he could feel the rush of anxiety as I thought of facing Gran, of dragging him before her and praying she didn’t kill us outright.
“Dru, trust me,” he stated, rubbing my arms. “Together we can do anything.”
Dru? Paige’s uncertain voice broke the moment, and stiffened my resolve.
“We have to make it look good.”
He nodded, pride creasing his face. “Consider me your punching bag.”
Paige, we’re coming back.
What? Paige squeaked. Do you think that’s a good idea?
Not at all, I sighed, my gaze going to Caleb. But I don’t see another option.
You could leave with him, Paige suggested, striving to be brave, but we both heard the quaver in her voice. I’ll be fine.
Caleb’s jaw firmed in determination and warmth filled me at his protectiveness over my sister. We’re coming back, he said decisively. Right after your sister knocks me out.
Good luck? Paige said uncertainly. And hurry.
“No pressure,” I muttered, clenching my hands into fists, then shaking them out. “I got this.”
“Put the whammy on me,” Caleb said and I blinked, distracted from my mutterings.
“Whammy?”
He nodded. “Yeah, that thing where I can’t move, like in the forest.”
My gaze shifted to the side. “I….can’t,” I admitted, yet another of my shortcomings brought to his attention. “I don’t, I don’t have my grandmother’s ability.”
“She’s the one that knocked me out the first day,” he stated slowly and I nodded. “You’re telling me I got knocked on my ass by an old lady.” My lips twitched at his disgust. “I mean I know she’s powerful, but….” I pressed my lips together to hide my desire to laugh. “Well, shit.” He scratched his head. “Don’t tell Dom,” he informed me. “Or Trent.” I shook my head, not knowing who Trent was or when I’d ever have the opportunity to tell him, but willing to agree since Caleb looked rattled. “Alright, then.” He jutted his chin out. “Whenever you’re ready.”
I balled my fist, ready to swing, but losing my nerve at the last second. “I don’t think I can,” I confessed, feeling stupid. “You haven’t done anything.” My shoulders lifted. “You’re trying to help my
sister.”
“You tried to rip my throat out the first time we met,” he grunted, staring at me in disbelief. “Now, you’re trying to tell me you’re a pacifist.”
“Not a pacifist,” I denied, pointing at him. “But I need a reason.”
“You didn’t have a reason when I showed up!”
“You were trespassing,” I countered. “And we gave you plenty of warning. You just ignored them.” I shook my head. “I can’t help your poor decision making.” One corner of his mouth lifted as he stared at me. “What?” I asked defensively. “It’s true.”
“But now you can’t hit me even though I’m trying to escape.”
“Don’t turn this around on me,” I exclaimed.
He rolled his shoulders. “I’m just saying you won’t hit me even though it means protecting your sister…..I guess you don’t love her as much as you claim.”
My eyes felt like they were going to pop out of my head as my hand clenched and I got in his face. “Do not bring Paige into this.”
“Seems to me that she’s the whole reason for this,” he retorted, not backing down as he stepped into my space. “The least you could do is punch me.”
I swung without thinking, his head snapping back as a cracking sound filled the air.
He shook it off, smirking as he said, “I think your grandmother hits harder.”
Blind rage filled me and I hit him again, this time letting my wolf power it. He flew back, slamming into a tree, and a bloody smile creased his face. “That’s my girl.”
“I,” uppercut, “Am,” punch, “NOT,” gut punch, “a,” my leg swept his feet out from underneath him, “Girl,” I sneered, panting as I stood over his prone body. He groaned, rolling onto his back. I crossed my arms. “I am a woman.”
“But you agree you’re mine,” he remarked, grinning as he stared up at me. I rolled my eyes, slamming my foot into his head and knocking him out.
“I agree to nothing,” I told his unconscious form as I lifted him onto my shoulder with a grunt. “I’m also tired of hauling your heavy ass around.”
Lone Wolf (The Pack Book 5) Page 4