Same Time Next Year (Tundra Wolves Book 1)

by Maggie Walsh

  “Earth to Ridge,” Jag said, pulling him from his thoughts.

  “What?”

  “You weren’t even listening to me. I said, I can’t wait to see you completely happy with the perfect mate for you, and I know this guy is the one.”

  “Thanks, Jag. From everything I know about him, I think you’re right. I think my mate is my perfect match.”

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

  Caleb walked into the mud room and shook off the snow, then hung his heavy coat on a peg and slipped off his boots. He placed his hat, scarf, and gloves on the drying rack, then made his way into the kitchen. When he entered, his mom, dad, and Dell were sitting there talking.

  “Hey, I thought you all were away at a meeting and wouldn’t be home until tomorrow?” He asked, as he moved across the room and poured himself a cup of coffee.

  “We were, but the weather report said a storm was coming in mid-day tomorrow and everyone wanted to make sure we were all home before it hit. The meeting went perfectly, so there was no reason to stay longer,” his father replied.

  “Well, that’s good,” Caleb said, as he joined them at the table. “Dell said everything would probably go smoothly, but you were going to stay for a social visit after. Sorry that got screwed up.”

  “Yeah, everyone was kind of bummed over having to call it early. Especially that Jag guy,” Dell said with a snicker, then took a drink from his cup.

  “Who?” Caleb questioned.

  “He’s second to Alpha Heart and he seems to have taken a liking to your friend Bo,” his father answered with a laugh.

  “Shit, really? So this guy is a beta, right?”

  “Yup. The alpha’s second and best friend,” Dell replied.

  Caleb’s face twisted in disgust. “Eew. How old is this dude? I mean, if he’s the alpha’s best friend he must be pretty old, and he’s interested in Bo?”

  Dell slapped him on the back as he stood and laughed. “He’s not that old. What, pop, maybe fifty-five, sixty, tops?” Dell went to the counter and poured himself another cup of coffee.

  “Yup, he and the alpha are the same age, fifty-five. But you know in our world age doesn’t make much of a difference. They both look like they’re in their late twenties.”

  “But I thought Alpha Heart was like two thousand, or something like that?” Caleb asked.

  Dell returned and sat. “That would be old Alpha Heart. He passed away five years ago and his son now runs the pack.”

  Caleb’s eyes went wide. “He did? Why didn’t we know this?”

  “We did know this, Caleb. It’s not something the Heart pack has let too many people know about yet. One of the reasons was this land deal we have been working on. Hiram Heart and I were working very close together to purchase the lands between our packs as a joint effort and we were afraid that if any of the other packs knew of Hiram’s death, one of them would have tried to jump in and try to purchase it. Alpha Hiram was the oldest living alpha in these parts and the other packs were afraid to get in his way, but if they knew he had passed and his son had taken over, we may have lost our opportunity.”

  “So you and the Heart pack bought the land together? Why? I mean, I know both packs formed an alliance right around the time I was born, but to own land together is a bit extreme and unheard of, isn’t it?” Caleb asked.

  “Normally, I would say yes, but Hiram and I had our reasons, which we will explain to both packs someday soon, just not yet,” his father replied.

  Caleb sighed heavily. “Another secret, huh? Great,” he said, in frustration.

  “I know you don’t understand any of this, son, but someday soon, you will. Now, I’m off to go check on the generators and the pack to make sure everyone is ready for the storm. Dell, you coming?” His father stated as he stood and pushed back his chair.

  Dell stood as he replied, “Yep. I want to go check out the market and make sure we have enough supplies for everyone.”

  “Good idea.”

  “The generator is working perfect, Pop. That’s where I just came from. I gave it a tune-up and made sure it had enough fuel. I also filled up all the tanks for the CATs. I heard about the storm on the news this morning and wasn’t sure if you all would make it back before then,” Caleb informed them.

  His dad smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “Good job, Caleb, thank you. Okay, so that’s a few less things I have to worry about. Let’s head out and check on the pack, Dell.”

  Caleb sat and drank his coffee as he watched his father and brother leave. Once they closed the door to the mud room his mother turned to him. “This came for you,” she said, and pulled an envelope from her apron and slid it across the table.

  “What is it?” Caleb asked, as he picked up the envelope and read the words on the front. His eyes opened wide in surprise. “This is today’s date, but it’s not my birthday. That’s a week away.”

  “I know. It came as a surprise to me too,” his mother answered, as she pushed back from the table and stood. “I’m off to get things ready for the storm. Dinner is at six.” She turned and walked out of the room, leaving Caleb alone.

  He wanted to rip into the letter and see what it said, but from experience he knew he should do it in private. Lately, every time he looked at one of the letters he seemed to get horny and suddenly, he was playing with himself as dreams of that hot guy from the bar four years ago played across his mind, with each fantasy becoming hotter and sexier than the one before.

  Caleb struggled over going to his room and opening the letter now, or waiting until later tonight when everyone was asleep and he didn’t have to worry about them possibly overhearing him. Technically, all his chores were done for the day and training had been cancelled due to the upcoming storm, so that everyone could get ready for it, therefore he really didn’t have anything else to do today.

  “Caleb.” His mother's sudden reappearance made him flinch and brought him out of his thoughts.

  He cleared his throat. “Y-yeah, mom?”

  “I’m heading over to Miss Sally’s. I want to make sure she doesn’t need anything for the duration of the storm. You know how old she is and it’s not easy for her to get around these days. I’m taking one of these casseroles over. It should give her a few meals. I’ll be back in time to finish dinner.” His mother grabbed the casserole dish off the counter and went to the mud room.

  “Okay, mom. Is there anything else we need to do here?”

  His mom gave him a smile. “Nope. Everything's all done, so you have some free time, unless you want to go out and join your father and brother. I’ll see you at dinner.”

  His mother closed the door and he watched through the window as she dressed in her winter gear, then stepped out the back door and shut it behind her. Caleb sat still for another five minutes, waiting to make sure he was all alone. Once he was certain, Caleb grabbed his coffee cup and brought it to the sink, then snatched the envelope off the table and took off to his room.

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

  Once in his room, Caleb locked the door and quickly stripped out of his clothes. He grabbed the tube of lube from the nightstand drawer, along with his favorite dildo he had purchased three years ago. It was thick, twelve inches long, with ridges along the shaft, and when he slid it fully inside him, it hit just the right spot to give him the most pleasure. Then, he would hit the little remote and it would begin to vibrate and swivel. Shit, he needed to get the damn thing inside him. Caleb laid the items on the bed, then climbed in and got comfortable. Even if this letter didn’t say anything sexy, or anything to make him horny, Caleb knew what was going to happen, so he didn’t fight it. Over the past couple of years, each letter that came got a little more personal, and at times Caleb thought the writer was flirting with him, which sent a jolt of excitement through him.

  A time or two he thought what would happen if this guy was a really old dude who was obsessed with him from the moment he was born and how gross that would be, but he quickly pushed those tho
ughts aside, again knowing his parents would never be a part of that. So, again he just took the letters for what they were in that moment, a mystery friend who kept checking in on him. Caleb couldn’t wait to see what his pen pal had to say today.

  With no one home and the house all to himself, Caleb was actually looking forward to the fantasies he knew were about to take over his every thought. It had been a few weeks since he had been able to pleasure himself, so he could really use the release, and there was no better way he ever found, than to think of his mystery writer and put the gorgeous Adonis from the bar’s face in his mind as the man who wrote to him, then let the fire in his loins begin.

  Caleb ripped the letter open and pulled out the page, then unfolded it and began to read.

  Hello Caleb,

  I know it’s not your birthday, and this letter is coming to you out of the blue, but I just couldn’t help thinking about you today and wanting to reach out. A week from today will be your twenty-fifth birthday and you will finally come of full age. It must be an exciting time in your life. Your training will be complete and you will be given a position in the pack as one of its warriors. Then the following day I will be there to finally meet you face to face and the reason I have been writing to you all these years will be revealed.

  As previously promised, I swear it is nothing sinister, or creepy and once you find out the why, I hope you won’t turn away. I know my words still remain a mystery to you, but unfortunately they still need to be, but soon all will be revealed.

  Until then, I hope you know that I am looking forward to the day we meet and am getting excited and a bit nervous. I just wanted you to know that I was thinking about you a lot today, gorgeous, and that I will see you in a week.

  -R

  Caleb let the words wash over him and found himself excited about the prospect of finally meeting this guy soon, and what it all meant for him and his future. His future must be a part of all of this for this person to keep writing him all these years.

  In his mind and fantasies, he hoped this mystery man was someone who would swoop in and knock him off his feet then carry him away. A part of him hoped that this guy would be the one who would be his mate. Not his true mate, because Caleb wasn’t stupid enough to think he would ever find his true match, most didn’t, but maybe this guy would want him as a mate.

  But then again, the letters had been coming since his birth, so there was no way this guy would know what he would grow up to be or look like, so how could he want Caleb as a mate? Maybe he knew that Caleb’s parents had given birth to a beta, and this guy’s pack needed betas, so he had worked out a deal with his parents for Caleb to go to his pack? No, that couldn’t be it. His parents always told him he would be Dell’s beta someday. But then again, when he thought about it, no one had actually said that, or brought it up since he was like, sixteen. Was this why? Did they know then that someday they would what? Trade him away? Shit! No. There was no way his folks would do that.

  He needed to stop playing the what-if game, driving himself crazy with all the questions, and just keep holding on and having faith like he had been doing for the past nine years. He would just accept the letter as it was, as a mystery pen pal who wanted to meet him, and maybe get to know him. That was all. No more questions or doubts. He would worry about what it all meant in a week when finally he got the answers, then he would deal with whatever it was.

  Caleb relaxed back and re-read the letter. The gorgeous comment made him smile and filled him with hope and desire. He would see this man soon. As that thought came, Caleb closed his eyes and brought up the image of the gorgeous man from the bar on his twenty-first birthday. Mmmm, that gorgeous jet-black hair and those amazing green eyes smiling at him. The long, thick lashes that brushed against the man's cheek, and all those rippling muscles that lay hidden under the guy’s tight black dress shirt.

  Soon other images began to come. Ones of him on his knees in front of this man as he sucked his cock, worshiping it. Caleb moaned as he thought about what that would feel like, taste like. He grabbed the dildo and the lube and slicked up the toy. Spreading his legs wide, Caleb reached down between his legs, and pressed the tip to his hole. He knew he hadn’t stretched himself, but he would go slow and let the anticipation build. Besides, he loved the burn.

  As he pushed the thick mushroomed head through his tight ring of muscles, Caleb hissed from the slight bite of pain, then moaned again. Fuck, it felt so good. As he slowly worked the toy inside him, Caleb pinched a nipple between his thumb and forefinger and tugged on the peak as he immersed himself in the fantasy of his mystery lover dominating him.

  CHAPTER 4

  “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Caleb, Happy Birthday to you!”

  The chorus of voices rang out around the pack meeting grounds as everyone in the pack gathered to celebrate his twenty-fifth birthday. They had enjoyed a feast, now cake, and after, everyone would go on a special pack run with him. Then afterward, he would stand before his father and brother as they announced his new position within the pack.

  Caleb smiled his appreciation at everyone, then leaned in and blew out the candles. Everyone cheered, then his mother cut pieces and handed them out as his father pulled him away. They went far enough, so that no one could hear their conversation, and when Caleb faced his father he instantly knew something was wrong.

  “What is it, Pop?”

  His father rubbed a hand across the back of his neck as he sighed heavily. “Look, son, I know you are expecting to get your position tonight and I just wanted to warn you without everyone around, that it is not going to happen.”

  Caleb’s eyes went wide. “What? What the hell, Pop? I have always worked my ass off for this and now that I am officially of age and have gone through all the training – top of my class I might add – of course I expect this. Why the hell wouldn’t I? And what the hell could you tell me that would make all of this right?”

  His father reached out and placed both hands on Caleb’s shoulders and met his gaze. “You are very deserving of this, Caleb. You have always worked very hard and have more than proven yourself in this pack. Your mother, brother, and I couldn’t be happier, or prouder but there is something that needs to happen first. Once it does and depending on how you feel and what you decide, then we can promote you to your new rank. But, it won’t happen until tomorrow. It’s a promise I made and a promise made to me.”

  His father released him and reached back behind him, then pulled an envelope from his back pocket and handed it to Caleb. Instantly he recognized the envelope and the writing, which had today's date on it.

  He didn’t take the offered letter, but just stared at it. “This all has to do with those, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes, son, it does,” his father replied, in a whisper.

  Caleb sighed. “Okay, just tell me this, have you sold me, or traded me to another pack, and that is why you can’t give me my rank today? You’re waiting to see how I react and decide, and it has to do with these letters, so... am I leaving tomorrow?”

  “Shit, Caleb. Your mother and I would never sell you. How could you even think that? And trade you? Of course not. Even though some packs do member trades for much needed help, we did not trade you, son.”

  “I’m sorry I thought that you would ever sell me, Pops, but what else am I supposed to think? These strange letters have been coming my whole life, and now you’re telling me I have to wait for my rank until after whatever this is? Shit, Pop, I don’t know what the hell to think. For nine years since you gave me those first letters, I have been going insane with a thousand questions of who it is and why? I’m fucking confused, Pop,” Caleb said, in a strained voice.

  “I know you are, son, and I’m sorry we had to put you through this. I know every time you asked all your mother and I did, was tell you we couldn’t tell you and to trust us, so I am asking you again, please, Caleb, please, just show me a little more of that trust for another twenty-four hours and all w
ill be revealed. I promise you, it’s not a bad thing, Caleb.”

  Caleb sighed as he reached out and took the letter. “Okay, Pop. I have always trusted you and Mom, and giving you one more day with all of this isn’t such a hardship, so if you are telling me it’s not bad, then I trust you.”

  His father smiled at him and brought him in for a tight hug. “Thank you, Caleb. Now, how about we go on that run in your honor?” He said, as he broke the hug.

  Caleb looked at the letter one more time, then folded it and slid it into his coat pocket, met his father’s gaze and smiled. “Sounds good. Let’s go.”

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

  Later that night as Caleb lay in bed, he slowly opened the letter. This time there was no rush, this time his gut filled with butterflies and began to twist, but not in a good way. He was nervous and scared. For the first time since receiving these letters, he was scared and he didn’t know what to do.

  Slowly he pulled the page out and unfolded it, but closed his eyes. He took a deep breath trying to calm himself, then just accepted the fact that he couldn’t hide from this. Caleb opened his eyes and read the words on the page, but they didn’t bring him any comfort, they only made him more nervous. The letter simply said: