Land of Wolves: Chapters 31-35 (Patreon)

Chapter 31

Caleb peers at me from over the back of the couch as I step out of the bathroom. His feet dangle off the end, his body too long to comfortably lay across it. I insisted he sleep in my bed while I took the couch, but he seemed offended I even suggested that.

My blanket is spread haphazardly over his chest, and he pushes it to the side as I enter the living room and look around.

His computer’s resting on the coffee table, and it looks like he helped himself to a bag of my chips after I went to bed last night, but other than that, the room looks untouched. I wouldn’t have minded if he went through my things, and a small part of me is shocked he didn’t.

I’m nosy, even without HPAW’s influence, and I probably would’ve done a bit of peeking if I were him.

“How’d you sleep?” I ask.

Caleb shrugs and sits up. He took off his shirt sometime last night, and as he stands, I realize he also removed his pants. He’s still wearing his underwear, the tight black fabric stuck to his thighs, and I allow myself a fleeting glance before clearing my throat and turning away.

“Your pulse was steady all night long,” he says, ignoring my question.

I gulp. Was he listening to my heart while I was in bed? I know he has good hearing, but I didn’t realize he was planning on being that watchful over me.

Caleb doesn’t bother putting on his clothes as he walks into my kitchen and begins brewing a pot of coffee. It’s the same machine he has back home, and his motions are smooth and confident as he gets everything ready.

I anxiously run my hands through my hair before clearing my throat and following him. I laid in bed for a good thirty minutes panicking over what to say to Caleb this morning, an action I now worry he was able to pick up on thanks to my tattletale racing heart.

“Did you get a lot of sleep?” I ask again.

I worry he didn’t if he was up eavesdropping on my pulse all night.

Caleb glances at me out of the corner of his eye. He doesn’t look outwardly tired, but he can be good about hiding his emotions when he wants. I’ve seen this man stay up working into the early morning hours, only to wake up and bounce around the house five hours later.

“Stop worrying about me, Ev. You’re the one with the concussion,” he jokes.

I frown but don’t argue. I like to worry. It brings me great joy.

Caleb turns and faces me, his stare intense. I wish I knew what thoughts were swirling around in his head, and I do my best to read him as he steps into my personal space and gestures for me to look down. I suck in a shaky breath before doing so, giving him access to my cut.

“It feels a lot better,” I say as he reaches forward and begins prodding at it.

He hums. “It’s starting to scab.”

That’s good. I tried to look at it while I was in the bathroom this morning, but even with my hand mirror, it was hard to get a good view. Caleb moves my hair out of the way as he gently touches the edges of the wound.

His breath hits the top of my head, and a second later he places his pointer finger below my chin and urges me to look up. I don’t hesitate to do so, and I stare into his eyes as he presses his palm to my forehead to feel my temperature.

“I don’t have a cold,” I tease.

He shrugs, unapologetic.

“Does your head still hurt?” he asks.

There’s a bit of pressure behind my eyes, but it’s significantly better than yesterday. Caleb shoved glass after glass of water into my hands before sending me to bed early. Both things seemed to have done the trick.

The doctor told him my concussion was mild and not much of a concern, but he’s not treating it that way.

“My head feels fine,” I answer.

Caleb’s lips purse as he scans me over, seemingly not believing me, before he slides his hands to my cheeks and cups my head. We’re so close I can feel his breath against my lips, and his body heat seeps into me through my clothes.

My stomach rolls as he shuts his eyes and brings his forehead to mine, his touch addicting. Our closeness feels intimate, and it takes everything within me not to tilt my chin and kiss him. I want to so badly.

“Ev…” Caleb whispers, his voice low.

I’m sure he can hear how fast my heart is beating, and I silently will it to slow as he brings his mouth closer to mine. Instinctively I shut my eyes, waiting, and I resist the urge to reach for him when I finally feel our lips meet.

Caleb keeps the kiss gentle, his closed lips pressing softly against my own before he tightens his grip and tilts his head to the side. I follow his lead, pleased when his tongue finds mine.

I pour every bit of love I can into the kiss, and Caleb politely ignores it when my cheeks grow wet.

He slides his hands to my waist, his fingers finding their way under my loose sleep shirt and meeting my bare skin. I hold back a moan as he makes contact, and after a brief hesitation, I reach for him.

Caleb’s lack of a shirt and pants makes it hard to find appropriate skin to touch, and I settle with pressing my palms flat against his chest. He groans, the deep sound vibrating from his chest before he takes one step further into my space.

I didn’t anticipate him kissing me today, and I struggle to keep a level head as he slides his hands further up my waist. His touch is intoxicating.

I’m faintly conscious of the coffee machine brewing in the background, the sound and scent clogging my senses, but any awareness I may have had of it disappears as Caleb lifts and sets me on the counter.

He places himself between my thighs, his torso pressing against mine, and I throw caution aside and slide my fingers into his hair so I can cup his head and hold him against me.

“I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. I couldn’t stop thinking about your head, about you dying. You can’t, fuck, you need to be careful, Ev.” Caleb wraps his arms around my waist and carries me into my bedroom.

I grab and hold his shoulders as I slide my mouth to his neck and kiss up the column of his throat.

I feel him gulping as I touch him, his throat bobbing against my lips. I love it, and I continue kissing his skin as he pushes open my bedroom door and sets me on the bed.

It’s not made, and the comforter bunches under my butt as he lays me on my back and crawls over me.

“I thought the distance between us would help, but you’re still my every fucking thought and want,” he continues, spreading my thighs so he can press between them.

He’s hard, and I let out a quiet groan as he grinds against me. His underwear and my loose sleep shorts do little to block the feeling of his erection pressing against me.

“Please,” I beg, needy for more.

Caleb pulls back and looks down at me, his expression unreadable as he watches me wiggle underneath him. His arms flex as he readjusts his position, pressing his palms into the mattress on either side of my head to hold himself up.

Unable to resist, I touch them, sliding my fingers over his shoulders before trailing them down his biceps. He doesn’t stop me, and once I reach his elbows, I travel to the waistband of his underwear. I pause there before sliding under the material.

I can’t believe this is happening, and I’m pretty sure I could cum from the feeling alone of having him in my hand. I curl my fingers around him before stroking from base to tip, loving the deep moan he lets slip from his lips.

Fuck.

The tingles I feel when we touch are as strong as ever, even with my blackened mark, but the knowledge that he doesn’t feel them has me retreating. This isn’t right.

I want to have sex with Caleb as his mate. Not whatever this is.

Caleb groans as I release him and pull my hand from his underwear, and he rolls his hips forward to keep the connection before realizing what I’m doing and stopping. His pupils are blown out as he peers down at me, and he licks his lips before bringing his forehead to mine again.

“I’m sorry,” he says after a long minute.

I clear my throat before giving a slight shake of my head.

“There’s nothing for you to apologize for. I miss you so fucking much, you have no idea, but this isn’t right. I want to be with you as your mate,” I admit.

Caleb looks pained, his expression perfectly matching how I feel inside. Taking him into my mouth after our fight was a horrible mistake, and I refuse to ruin the memory of any more of our sexual encounters.

“I understand. I shouldn’t have kissed you. It was inappropriate,” he continues.

His voice is soft and filled with genuine regret, and it’s painful to hear. I loved kissing him, and I know I’d love to have sex with him, but it wouldn’t be right. I fully intend to be intimate with Caleb again, but it will happen once I’ve reversed the blackening of my mark and restored our bond.

Caleb doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to pull away, and he lets our chests rub together with each inhale we take. My knees still hug his hips, and I hold back a shiver as the insides of my thighs rub against his bare skin.

The tingles are so close to where I want them to be, and Caleb mumbles a hushed curse as I accidentally shift and rub myself against him. His length twitches, the action felt through his underwear and my thin shorts, and I roll my hips as it applies perfect pressure against my clit. Fuck.

“We can’t have sex,” I blurt, unsure if I’m trying to convince him or myself.

Caleb gives a jerky nod and grabs my hips.

“No sex,” he agrees, sliding me up and down his length.

It feels incredible, and I fist my bed sheets as he repeats the action. It’s not going to take much to make me cum, and Caleb seems to be feeling something similar as he clenches his jaw and continues his dry humping.

It reminds me of our first times being intimate, when my ribs were injured and he refused to fuck me, but this time we’re clothed and I know exactly how much better it would feel to have his thick length inside me.

“Fuck.” I throw my head back with a loud cry. I want more, but I won’t ask for it.

I’m sure he’d rip off my shorts and sink inside me the second I gave him the go-ahead.

Caleb continues to thrust against me, his bulge pressing perfectly against my clit with each movement. He seems to take pleasure in how I grab his shoulders and hold them for dear life, and he holds my hips with the same energy.

“Fuck, Ev. I need you,” he moans, burying his face in my neck.

He pants into my skin before beginning to suck a hickey into it. I arch my back with a low cry, and my thighs start to shake as the pleasure builds. I’m so close, and it only takes a small handful of thrusts before I fall apart.

Caleb is quick to follow, his mouth disconnecting from me before he crushes me to his chest and goes still.

The loud noises that pour from his throat are filthy, and I imprint every single one of them into my memory.

We lay still for a long moment, both of us needing a moment to recover. My body feels like jelly under his, and after what feels like only seconds, Caleb lifts himself onto his elbows and peers down at me.

He’s frowning, and I’m immediately put on edge. Why’s he unhappy?

“The doctor said we should keep your blood pressure down,” Caleb says, his frown deepening as he crawls up my body to see the top of my head.

My injury hasn’t crossed my mind, but now that he’s drawing attention to it, I hate to admit it does sting slightly from the friction caused by my pillow.

“Since when have you listened to what the doctors say?” I tease.

I distinctly remember them telling him not to do anything intimate with me while my ribs were healing. Caleb tried his best, he really did, but he’s terrible about remembering their orders when he gets horny. He used to feel so guilty afterward, too, the man sulking around until I proved to him that I was okay.

“I should take you to the hospital to have your head checked,” Caleb mumbles. “I was moving you around too aggressively. I probably jumbled it.”

He looks pissed as he jumps off the bed, but I know it’s not directed at me.

I’m strangely complimented by how anxious he is about my health.

My eyes travel down the length of his body. His chest is still heaving, but he hardly seems to notice his heavy breathing as he glances at his underwear.

There’s a visible wet spot on the fabric, and he’s still just as hard as before. Caleb’s got a knack for fitting in a quick second round after he cums, and I can’t help but eye him as he turns and rushes into the bathroom. The water turns on, and I take that as my cue to get up and start making breakfast.

“Sit down!” he shouts from the bathroom.

I ignore him. I feel fine, and I don’t need to go to the hospital. Caleb didn’t jostle my head around that much.

A second later he comes storming out of the bathroom, his underwear long forgotten and his dick swinging. I choke on my spit before turning to grab him a mug, but he snatches me up and carries me to the couch before I reach it.

“Stay,” he orders.

“I’m not a dog.”

Still, I don’t move as he grabs his discarded clothing off the floor and tugs them on. His movements are borderline frantic as he walks into my room and returns a minute later with clothing for me.

“Caleb…” I start, eager to calm him.

He lifts a hand to stop me before gesturing for me to stand so he can help get me dressed.

“I’m honestly okay,” I promise.

Caleb refuses to look me in the eye, his attention locked in on my head. I can tell he doesn’t believe a word I say, and I hold back a tiny laugh as he tosses me my coat and grabs my keys. The doctor will be pissed that Caleb and I are wasting his time, but I struggle to feel bad when it means Caleb is showing me such outward concern.

Chapter 32

Caleb walks like a man on a mission, his pace fast as he grabs my hand and leads me straight to reception. His conversation with the person behind the desk is about as curt as yesterday, and I’m being led into an empty room within seconds.

“You’re wasting the doctor’s time,” I say for what is probably the fifth or sixth time.

Caleb gives my hand a tight squeeze before finally letting go when I move to the bed in the center of the room. I take a seat, again crinkling at the sound and feel of the cheap plasticky paper below me.

“Isn’t it painful to have your dick rub against your pants?” I ask, glancing at his crotch.

I know he’s not wearing underwear, and I can’t imagine the zipper is very comfortable against his bare skin. Caleb shifts before huffing out a laugh and shaking his head.

“I wouldn’t say it’s comfortable,” he admits.

I thought so.

We sit in relatively comfortable silence for a few minutes, and Caleb taps his feet impatiently against the ground while we wait. My head still feels fine, and I pull out my phone and play aimlessly with it while Caleb taps hurriedly on his.

I wonder who he’s talking to, probably Cole or Sash, but I don’t ask.

He still doesn’t trust me, and I don’t want to make myself look suspicious by asking.

“Shit. I need to make a quick phone call. I’ll be right back,” Caleb abruptly says.

He’s out the door a second later, and I stare in shock at his retreating form. Okay, then?

I shift on the crinkly hospital bed and look around the room. It’s pretty clean and well-kept despite hardly ever being used, and even the medical posters hung on the cupboards seem relatively up-to-date.

I wonder if wolf children need vaccines as humans do. Probably not, but I’m sure it doesn’t hurt to give them, anyway.

Caleb’s presence is a comfort, and I feel my anxiety begin to rise as I wait for him or the doctor to come on in. The doctor was here almost immediately yesterday, but today it seems he’s a bit busy. I don’t mind the wait.

I’m willing to bet he rushed here yesterday after hearing that Caleb was waiting for him, but now that he knows how much of a non-issue the issue is, he’s not in a hurry.

I’d do the same thing if I were in his position. Caleb is being dramatic about my concussion.

The door groans as it’s pushed open, and I look up just as two women walk into the room. They’re dressed in matching scrubs, and they pause momentarily as they take notice of me. I set my phone in my lap and look up at them, assuming they’re here to look at my head.

“What are you doing here?” the one who entered first sneers.

She’s shorter than her counterpart and holds a small tray of supplies. The one behind her has a pile of folded hospital gowns in her arms.

I clear my throat and glance anxiously at the door. Where did Caleb disappear to?

“I hit my head yesterday. The doctor said I have a mild concussion, and Alpha Caleb wants it to be rechecked,” I say, careful to use his title.

The women sigh as if my presence here is their biggest inconvenience. Still, I pretend I don’t notice their glares as I clear my throat and offer a weak smile. Kill them with kindness.

“We’re here to restock the room,” the taller woman, Jan, if her name tag is correct, says. “We’ll be out in a minute.”

I nod and glance at the chest of the shorter woman. Her name tag reads Gabby.

The two women turn away, signaling the end of our conversation, and after a brief hesitation, I reach for my phone and pull up some random game. I suppose that’s better than sitting here awkwardly staring and waiting for them to finish whatever they’re doing.

They approach the cabinets across from me and crouch down to set their items inside.

“Did you hear Alpha Caleb finally announced his search for a wife?” Gabby asks Jan.

What? Every muscle in my body tenses, and I shift my attention from my game to their conversation in a split second. There’s no way he’s announced anything. Caleb’s been with me for the past twenty-four hours.

He told me he couldn’t stop thinking about me only an hour ago.

I’d have seen if anything was announced before he came to my apartment. I’ve been scouring the internet for him like a fucking hawk.

Jan perks up and spins toward Gabby. “Seriously? It’s about time!”

Gabby hums before shooting me a sideways glance. I’m not surprised. I’m sure she purposefully brought this up with the sole intent of making me upset. They want to see me hurt, but I won’t let them.

“Yeah, the notice went out this morning,” she says, nudging Jan’s shoulder. “I was thinking of applying myself, but I don’t meet the requirements.”

This morning? Caleb has been with me all morning. And what fucking requirements? What the fuck are they talking about. Caleb told me he’d have to search for a wife should I not be able to fix our bond, but he promised he wouldn’t do anything until his mark is entirely black and I no longer feel the bond.

He promised.

I glance toward the door, eager for Caleb’s return. He’ll clear all this up.

“What requirements?” Jan asks.

I’ve spent years training to hide my emotions, and I put everything I ever learned into effect as I stare blankly at my phone and pretend their words don’t hurt me. It’s hard, and my heart feels like it’s bleeding onto the floor as Gabby continues speaking.

“Well, the rumor on the block is that he’s looking for a woman to fuck. She has to be a wolf, obviously, and she has to have already found and lost her mate. Alpha Caleb doesn’t seem to care if it’s through death or rejection, but it has to have been over a year ago,” she explains, sounding vaguely disappointed.

My entire body is numb.

“There are a few other random little things, but those are the big ones. You should try for it!” Gabby urges, giggling to her friend as if I’m not even in the room.

Jan shrugs and organizes the scrubs.

“Maybe. I don’t think I could do that to Benny,” she admits.

“He died when you were five, Jan! He’d want you to be happy. Besides, it’s Alpha Caleb we’re talking about. Don’t act like you wouldn’t jump at the chance to take him for a ride.” Gabby shuts the cabinets and bounces to her toes.

I’m sure they can hear how loud my heart is pounding, but it’s impossible to keep it steady. They’re lying. I’m sure they heard from reception that I was here, and when they saw Caleb leave the room, they came up with this elaborate ploy to hurt me.

I know the wolves hate me.

“I’ll think about it!” Jan laughs. “Although I don’t think there’s much of a point. We all know he’s going to choose Grace. They were seen on that date the other night, and we all know they’re obsessed with one another.”

There’s no way. Caleb told me once that he and Grace agreed to a marriage should he not find his mate, but he made it clear that nothing intimate would ever happen between them. She’d never do that to her deceased mate.

That’s what he said.

I also know damn well there’s no way he’d get dinner with her. Caleb knows how I feel about Grace and promised to keep his distance.

I’ll stab her in the fucking throat if she tries to marry Caleb.

The two women shoot me another glance, their poorly concealed smiles only further aggravating me. I want to ask them more, but I resist the urge. I want to hear my answers directly from the man himself.

They leave in a hurry, and I stare blankly at the wall as I wait for Caleb to return. Every second feels like an hour, and I clench and unclench my jaw as I glance at my phone to see how much time has passed.

It’s been ten minutes since he ran out of the room to take his call.

Sweat accumulates on my upper lip, and I wipe it away with a shaky exhale. There’s no need to get all worked up before I speak to Caleb. I’ve done enough assuming to last a lifetime, and I refuse to continue to do so.

I owe him the benefit of the doubt.

Still, I can’t stop myself from pulling up my phone and searching for any news surrounding Caleb. It takes me only seconds to find what the women were talking about, and I just about drop the device as I click on the announcement.

It was sent out just a few hours ago, probably while I was still sleeping, and it highlights pretty much everything they said. Caleb released an entire statement, and I force myself to read every fucking line of it.

I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand when tears make it hard to read. It specifically mentions he’s looking for a female wolf comfortable with intimacy. I just about gag when he says he’d like to engage in it in both forms.

The woman has to have already discovered her mate and been split from them for at least a year. I suppose that’s to prevent any women from leaving their mates in the hope of having a chance with him.

Wolves cherish the mate bonds, but they also cherish their alpha.

I’m sure some women are greedy enough to throw their mates away for him.

My jaw aches from how hard I’m clenching it, and I struggle to keep my breathing even as I continue reading. Caleb preferably wants a female who’s at least twenty-five, older than me, and has strong family ties.

I let out a dry laugh.

He wants the opposite of me.

Knowing I’m digging myself deeper into a hole, I also search for any recent articles discussing Caleb and Grace. Nothing stands out, but I do stumble across a photo of them sitting across from one another in some restaurant.

Grace is all done up, and she looks at a brooding Caleb with an easy smile. It seems almost like she’s teasing him about something and he’s mid-pout. Rage heats my blood at the visible proof of their flirting.

The timestamp is from two days ago, which means he went out with her the night before he came to my apartment to check on me.

The door handle jiggles, and I look up just as Caleb steps inside.

“What’s this?”

I toss my phone at him.

He catches it easily before turning it in his direction and looking at the image blown up on the screen.

“Better yet,” I say, jumping to my feet and snatching my phone back. I navigate to the article of his announcement. “What’s this?”

My voice cracks, and Caleb looks horrified as his eyes dart over the headline. There’s a long silence as he thinks over his following words, and I cross my arms over my chest in a self-hug as I wait to see what he has to say.

“This isn’t what you think it is,” he promises. “I didn’t intend for this to be announced today. Sash heard from Cole that I was with you last night, and she pushed the article out early.”

He steps forward, and I hurry back. I thought we were getting somewhere. I thought he was giving me a genuine chance to fix things between us.

Caleb runs a hand through his hair. He looks stressed, but I don’t care.

He doesn’t think I can fix the bond. How can I when he’s actively working against it? I’m out here searching for any information on how to fix this while he’s holding meetings to decide how he’d like to fuck his future wife?

I’ve been making an absolute fool of myself.

“Ev, breathe,” Caleb urges, stepping into my space.

The bed presses against my lower back, and Caleb takes full advantage of my inability to escape as he pins me against it and cups my chin so I can’t look away.

“I have not been involved in this, Evelyn. I’ve given a few yes and no answers, but this is not something I’ve been planning behind your back. I had no idea an announcement was being made, and I would’ve stopped it if I did. As for my meal with Grace, it was for business. That picture is misleading. There were four others in attendance. I would never go to dinner with her alone,” he says.

His words go in one ear and out the other.

I know I’m in no place to be angry after everything I’ve done, but my emotions aren’t matching my thoughts. I shouldn’t be, but I still am. I’m fucking furious.

“Don’t look at me like this, Evelyn,” Caleb pleads, his eyes roaming every inch of my face. “I want to fix our bond. You have no fucking idea how badly I want that.”

He presses his forehead against mine.

The door opens, and Caleb’s body stiffens before he turns his head just slightly.

“Get out.”

The door closes.

“I am your mate, and I will be your wife.” Caleb grabs my hips as I say this, and I take it as an encouragement to continue. “Take off your pants.”

Caleb blinks, looking shocked, before mindlessly following my direction and removing his bottoms. He’s still not wearing underwear, and I’m happy to note he’s already half-hard for me. I bend and shove my leggings and underwear down my legs before pulling them off my ankles.

I lean back against the bed before jumping up on it. It brings me to the perfect height, and I wrap my legs around Caleb’s waist to keep him close.

“I will not have women walking around thinking they can have what’s mine,” I hiss, reaching down and curling my hand around him.

Caleb grunts, and I don’t hesitate to line him up with my entrance. He hardens quickly, his cock thickening with each beat of his heart. I stroke him until he’s thrusting into my hand.

“Ev—“

“Mate,” I interrupt. “I am your mate.”

Caleb glances down at our bodies before easing his hips forward. I let him push into me, but I squeeze around him once the tip disappears. I want to hear him say it.

He sucks in a shaky breath before grabbing my cheeks and forcing me to look up and meet his eye. His pupils are fully blown out, and at this moment, I know he’s feeling the bond. He always did say he wanted a female who stood her own against him.

It seems the bond agrees.

I want to look at my hand to confirm, but Caleb’s loud moan distracts me.

“Mate,” he purrs.

He’s thrusting the entirety of himself deep into me a second later.

I don’t care if everybody hates me. I don’t care if they think I’m a greedy whore. Caleb is mine, and I refuse to let that be confused. I’ll fix our bond and earn their trust with time, but there will never be any question about who Caleb’s mate is.

I’m not going down without a fight.

Chapter 33

Caleb’s fucking isn’t gentle, and I hold his shoulders as he hugs me to his chest and thrusts into me. He slides his hands up the back of my shirt, his blunt fingers pressing into my skin to keep me in place.

“I am the only woman who will ever feel this,” I moan.

Caleb buries his face into my neck and breathes in my scent. He groans as he does so, and I clench my jaw to stop from being too loud as he rocks into me.

It feels so fucking good.

“Only you,” Caleb agrees.

His voice is thick and full of need, and when he pulls back and looks down at me, so is his expression. He cups the back of my head and holds me in place while he fucks me, his eyes never once leaving mine.

I slide my hands down his chest, loving how his muscles flex with every roll of his hips.

Caleb may not have a lot of experience fucking, but he sure as hell learns fast.

He grabs my leg and readjusts it around his hip, and I can’t help but squeak as the action pushes him deeper inside me. It feels good, albeit a bit unexpected, and Caleb lets out a breathy chuckle before pressing against my stomach until I’m lying flat on my back.

His fingers wrap around my ankles, and I watch in confusion as he slows his fucking to a leisurely drag. He drives into me with ease before pulling out at a painfully slow pace. I wiggle my hips, desperate for more, but Caleb doesn’t speed back up.

“You’re fucking soaked,” he says, pushing my knees into my chest.

The position gives him a complete view, and he leans back to watch his length slide in and out of me. I resist begging for more as a shit-eating grin spreads over his lips. He’s feeling awfully good about this.

Pleasure builds in my abdomen, and I clench around him as goosebumps pebble up along every inch of my body. Having Caleb touching me feels incredible after so long without, and when he releases my ankle and presses his thumb against my clit, I just about bend in half.

It only takes two soft strokes of his finger for me to shatter. I kick my legs free from his hold and wrap them around his waist as my orgasm tears through me, and Caleb lets out a low curse as he watches every twitch and jolt of my body.

I refuse to let him go, and I latch onto his arms so he can’t remove himself from me.

“So needy,” he teases.

He gives me a moment to come down before carefully unwrapping my legs from his waist and pressing them back into my chest. I can’t help but laugh at his silent guidance, and I wrap my arms around my thighs and hold them in place for him.

It seems Caleb has a preference today.

This position allows him to go deep, but he’s careful not to push in too far and hurt me. Still, despite the two inches he keeps out of me, his thrusts are fast and hard. My fingers run down his chest before curling around his shoulders. I love his muscles, and I allow myself to feel every single one as he finds pleasure in my body.

He buries his face in my neck as his breathing grows heavy, and I feel his lips brushing against my sensitive skin with each exhale he lets out. This is everything.

Caleb slows even further before lifting his head, and the column of his throat bobs as he gulps and readjusts his hold on my ankles. His palms are a bit sweaty, but mine are no better. Sex with Caleb is always a workout, and hopefully it will make me sore.

I want this reminder of him to last for days.

“I don’t want to cum.” Caleb grabs the base of his cock and squeezes. “I don’t want this to be over.”

A second later he bends and presses his forehead against mine. My legs are crunched between our torsos, and Caleb huffs out a laugh before grabbing and pulling them out of the way.

I can tell he’s close by the way his moans grow clipped and he can’t keep his hands still. He slides them from my thighs to my hips to my ass before settling on my tits. He cups and squeezes them through my shirt before roughly ripping the fabric down the center.

My back arches as he brings his mouth to my chest. Caleb sucks roughly on the skin, placing love bites I’m sure will be a deep purple, before he licks my nipple and curses into my skin.

He pulls out to avoid finishing in me.

The sudden emptiness is disappointing, and I clench around the air as he shoves his hand between us so he can tug himself to completion. Low moans slip from his throat as he jerks himself, and it only takes two pumps for him to still and tumble over the edge.

His cum lands on my inner thigh, and I watch as he coats my skin. A small part of me is disappointed he didn’t finish inside me, but objectively I know that wouldn’t be appropriate. Sex doesn’t fix anything, and getting pregnant sure doesn’t, either.

“Fuck!”

I cringe at Caleb’s angry curse, but my fear morphs into something softer as he grabs my head and squeezes it in his hands. He forcibly tilts it down so he can look at my cut, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

My head is fine.

I shift my attention to my mark, too scared to look. Caleb called me his mate with so much intensity, but that could’ve just been the lust speaking. I lick my lips, hesitating. He might have just said it because I told him to.

What if it’s still black and smudged? That’s a genuine possibility, and I brace myself for it as I flip my hand and take in the sight of my mark.

My breath hitches.

Caleb grabs some paper towels, and I flex my finger and stare as he cleans my thigh. His eyes are locked in on my mark the entire time, the both of us staring at the nearly black design.

It’s still smudged, and the color is so close to black that you wouldn’t realize it isn’t if you didn’t take the time to look and inspect it. Still, it’s not black. Tears well in my eyes, and I wipe them with my free hand as I stare at my mark.

“You feel the bond between us again?” I ask, needing to confirm.

Caleb dips his chin.

“It’s faint, but it’s there,” he says. “I feel it when I touch you, and you smell better.”

I drag my eyes to his.

“I smell better?”

“It’s hard to explain. Your sense of smell isn’t as good as mine, so you don’t experience the mate bond through scent. Wolves do, and our mates smell, I don’t know the words, stronger to us. You smell like mine,” he tries to explain.

It doesn’t help much, but I don’t question him further. I imagine it’s like asking somebody to describe color. It just is.

Mindlessly I stand and pull up my pants. Caleb does the same, both of us dressing in relative silence. He tugs off his shirt and hands it to me, and I let out a shaky laugh as I shrug off my ripped shirt and bra. I liked these ones, but I like having something of his more.

I’m not giving it back.

Caleb lets out a hum of approval as I slip his shirt over my head. It falls to the top of my thighs, swallowing my form and making me look like a sack, but I love it.

I clear my throat and look around the room.

What now? I’m not foolish enough to think this fixes anything. There’s no longer a countdown to the complete end of our bond, but it doesn’t mean he’s about to publicly proclaim his love for me.

I suppose he did just fuck me in a hospital room where undoubtedly every wolf on this floor overheard us, but fucking me is not loving me. Although maybe the wolves will have a different opinion on that. They take sex very seriously.

My pulse races as I run a shaky hand through my hair.

“What are you going to do about the announcement?” I ask.

“Sash has already been stripped of her title,” he says. “She’s also being banished for 30 days. I gave the order over the phone a few minutes ago.”

I blink, surprised to hear that. She and Caleb are close, and never in a thousand years did I ever think he’d punish her so severely. Stripping a wolf of their title is serious, and banishing her on top of that really puts the nail in the coffin.

“That seems a little harsh,” I admit.

“It has to be. I let her push limits because she’s my sister, but she went too far. I can’t have my people going behind my back. It sets a bad example, and I’m already being questioned after my relationship with you,” he says.

Guilt renders me momentarily silent.

Caleb never had these issues before I came along. Things ran smoothly for him, and whenever there was strife, it never directly involved him. HPAW would be pleased to learn I’m making things hard for him, but I no longer find joy in it.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” I ask.

Caleb shakes his head.

“You’ve done enough.”

I know he doesn’t mean to sound so harsh, but I still flinch. I’ve really fucked up things for him, haven’t I? Caleb frowns as he realizes how his words sound, but I wave him away before he can launch into the apologies I’m sure are on the tip of his tongue.

I don’t need the coddling.

“I might have some helpful information on HPAW,” I suggest.

Caleb grimaces before quickly hiding the reaction. I cross my arms over my chest, mildly annoyed. He doesn’t know what I know, and I’m sure some of the things I’ve learned over the years would be helpful.

“You’re the Alpha’s mate, Ev, and they knew that. They wouldn’t have told you anything they didn’t want getting back to me,” he says.

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. “I know where their facilities are.”

“So do I,” Caleb admits. He runs a hand through his hair and steps away, putting space between us. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

My mouth feels dry, and I fiddle with the hem of my shirt while he begins to pace the room. I’m not dumb, and I know he’s stressed about what to do now that I’ve lightened my mark. He can’t exactly invite me back into his life as his mate.

I tried to kill him, and he needs to put his people first.

“You should take me back to my apartment,” I say, making the decision easy for him.

We both know that’s what needs to happen. Emotions are high right now, and he has enough on his hands with his sister.

Besides, just because I’ve managed to lighten my mark doesn’t mean I’m going to give up on my plan to find a job. I need to integrate myself into their culture if I intend for them to forgive me. Being Caleb’s mate made things easy the first time around.

They readily accepted me out of respect for him, but I intend to prove myself.

Caleb’s phone begins to vibrate, and he pulls it out and rejects the call without even looking to see who’s on the other line.

“You look like you’re about to pop a blood vessel,” I joke.

I’m trying to lighten the mood, and it seems to work as Caleb rolls his eyes and leans against the counter.

“How are you going to handle the news you’re searching for a wife?” I ask, revisiting our earlier conversation.

I’m sure everybody has either read or heard about this morning’s announcement, and it’s only a matter of days before women start throwing themselves into the ring. Shit. I’m sure some already have.

“I don’t know. I hope it doesn’t become a big thing,” he says.

I blink. It already is.

“Are you going to go through with it?” I pry. “Are you actually going to meet women and search for a wife?”

Caleb’s phone rings again, and he looks ready to kill as he ignores the call again. I scramble to my feet, not wanting to be sitting for this conversation.

I have a feeling it’s not about to go how I want it to.

“I can’t marry another while my bond to you is intact,” he eventually says.

It doesn’t go unnoticed that he hasn’t truly answered my question. Caleb is sly with his words, but I’m a good listener. Anger heats my blood as I think through my following words.

He agreed he wouldn’t take a wife if I fixed our bond, but I suppose those aren’t his only options.

“But you can still pick a woman to inseminate.” That’s what he originally planned to do with Grace. “If not a wife, do you still intend to find a mother for your children?”

Caleb opens his mouth, but no words come out.

Slimy fucking bastard.

“It’s not like that, Ev. Redacting the statement is essentially saying I’m choosing you. You who was a part of HPAW and tried to slit my neck only a few weeks ago. I have to put my people first, and this is a tricky situation. This has to be handled…” he trails off as he searches for the right words.

I tap my foot against the ground, waiting.

“This needs to be handled delicately,” Caleb decides.

I dip my chin. I hear him loud and clear.

He intends to entertain these women. I like to think of myself as an understanding person, and if I’m being completely objective, I understand this isn’t an easy decision, but my jealousy refuses to accept that.

Caleb doesn’t need to say anything about me, but I want him to shut down the rumors.

A furious Cole pushes the door open, and I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as Caleb turns in his direction.

There’s a brief pause on Cole’s end as he takes in the sight of shirtless Caleb, and I straighten my spine as his eyes slide to me and finally land on my torn shirt and bra sitting on the bed behind me. When his nostrils flare, I wish for nothing more than to crawl into a hole and disappear.

It doesn’t take an expert to understand what just happened in this room.

“We need to talk,” Cole says, turning to Caleb.

Caleb’s quick to dismiss him. “Not now.”

Cole jerks his head toward the door. It’s the first time I’ve seen Cole push back against Caleb, but I’m not surprised. This is probably about Sash, and I’m sure Cole’s not happy to hear she’s being kicked out of the pack for the next month.

“This is important,” Cole says, glancing at me. “And private.”

I feel the weight of Caleb’s stare on the side of my head, but I’m too angry to meet his eye. He’s in for a rude awakening if he thinks I will happily sit by while he searches for some woman to spawn his children.

“Caleb.…” Cole’s voice is tight.

My chest hurts as I let out a shaky breath and grab the car keys sitting in the chair Caleb once occupied.

“Go. We both know my head is fine, and I’m more than capable of getting home by myself,” I say.

Caleb doesn’t move, and it takes every bit of strength I have to look up and meet his eye.

“Go!” I feel like I’m shooing away a dog, and Caleb must feel something similar as he clenches his jaw and works it side to side.

I don’t care if he’s pissed at me. I’m twice as pissed at him.

He rocks back on his heels before storming out of the room, and I ignore the disgusted look Cole shoots in my direction as he spins and follows Caleb into the hallway. Fuck both of them.

Chapter 34

My palms are clammy, and I mindlessly wipe them on my pant legs as I step into the kitchen and wait for my coffee to finish brewing. I need all the extra energy I can get today.

I refuse to sit around like a lost duck waiting for Caleb to claim me. It’s pathetic, and I refuse to be that girl for one minute longer. If he wants to go around entertaining the female wolves, he won’t do so with me waiting for his return.

Caleb’s made it clear I can only rely on myself, and I can’t continue to blindly believe our bond will save our relationship. I need to put myself first.

If I’m going to live in this pack for the indefinite future, I need to acclimate.

Earning the forgiveness of the wolves is going to be an uphill battle, one I’m not necessarily excited about. They hate HPAW just as much as HPAW hates them, and I understand why they’re pissed. They were nothing but kind to me, and I took advantage of it and made them out to be fools.

The addicting scent of coffee fills my nose, and I grab some milk from the fridge as it finishes brewing. I need it.

I got almost no sleep last night, and finding a job will be a headache. I hate being dependent on Caleb, and it’s time I learn how to be a functioning adult. I went from having HPAW take care of everything to Caleb doing so. There’s never been a time for me to be independent.

My phone vibrates as I ready my coffee, but I ignore it.

I know who it is.

Caleb’s been trying to reach me since I left the hospital yesterday morning. He’s called and texted a handful of times, but I refuse to torture myself by reading his messages or listening to his voicemails.

Thinking of him with other women hurts, and I’m not mentally prepared to acknowledge it.

My phone vibrates once more before going silent, and I turn the device over so I’m not tempted to look. I already have a plan for today, and I refuse to get distracted and sway from it.

I will drink my coffee and scarf down a granola bar before going to the library to beg Mary for a job. She hates me, that much is abundantly clear, but I can tell she needs the help. When I came to do my research, the return cart was overflowing with books and there weren’t any other people working.

My nerves grow as I work through my morning routine, and I’m surprised I haven’t sweat through my shirt by the time I’m ready to leave. I threw on a thick sweater and did three swipes of deodorant to be safe, and I do a sniff test before grabbing my car keys off the table and making my way outside.

I’m extra careful not to slip on the concrete.

My doctor said I need to be mindful not to knock my head for the next two weeks while my brain heals, and I’m taking that advice seriously. I don’t have many skills, and my intelligence is the one thing about myself I truly wish to preserve.

Slamming my head against hard surfaces is sure to damage a few brain cells.

Without thinking, I reach up and touch the back of my head. The small cut is all scabbed over, and I spent a good thirty minutes this morning styling my hair so it doesn’t show. It’s not perfect and shows if I move a certain way, but it’s the best I can do.

I’d put on a hat, but I don’t want my hair to get all messed up. The wolves already hate me, and I want to paint myself in the best light possible when I beg them for a job. Having hat hair would be doing the opposite of that.

The tips of my ears grow cold as I rush to my car, and I shiver as I get inside and turn on the heat. Caleb used to turn the car on and leave it running for a few minutes in the mornings, and I’m very quickly learning I hate the feeling of getting into a cold car.

Caleb spoiled me.

My fingers twitch with the urge to check my phone, but I remain strong. Other than redacting the statement Sash released on his behalf, there’s nothing he can say or do to make me feel better.

The drive to the library is spent in silence, the only noise being the intrusive thoughts slamming through my brain. They refuse to settle on one topic, and my mind races between Caleb, HPAW, and whether or not I remembered to turn off my straightener before leaving.

I’m grateful my phone doesn’t vibrate during the drive, and I tuck the device into my pocket before making my way inside.

I had Caleb’s permission the last time I came here. I’m not sure if I need it, but I figure he’s tracking my phone and will send Cole to shoo me away if it’s an issue.

The building feels daunting, and I wipe my palms on my pants before pushing open the front doors and making my way inside. A blast of warm air hits me in the face, and I tug off my gloves as I turn toward the desk where Mary sits.

My eyes land on the return cart first, and with a smile, I note it’s still full.

That’s a good sign.

Mary’s sitting behind her desk, her focus already on me. She’s wearing a black turtleneck sweater with a red sundress over the top. It’s a cute look and is the same bubbly style as the outfit she wore the last time I saw her.

I wonder what she’s like when she’s not speaking to somebody she hates. I imagine her personality would match her clothing, bubbly and fun.

She doesn’t bother hiding her annoyance as I approach, but I’m happy to note it’s not disgust. That seems to be the only look I receive lately, and I’ll take annoyance over it any day of the week.

“Good morning,” I greet.

I’m proud of myself for how cheery my voice sounds.

Mary blinks, looking entirely unamused, before letting a low hum slip out of the back of her throat. It’s not the friendliest or most forthcoming noise I’ve ever heard, but it’s better than her ignoring me altogether.

I glance at the books scattered along her desk as I work up the courage to ask for a job. It looks like she’s in the middle of adding plastic sleeves to a handful of new arrivals. I don’t recognize any of the books, but it’s not like I’m keeping up with the trends.

I’ve been much too busy trying to find a way to murder Caleb and bring down the wolves.

Priorities.

“Yes?” Mary urges when I take too long to speak.

Fuck. I clear my throat as my cheeks heat up, embarrassment turning them into what I can only assume is a deep shade of red.

“I couldn’t help but notice there aren’t many workers here, and I was wondering if you’re hiring,” I ask, my words rushed.

I shift my weight from foot to foot. This is so fucking awkward.

Mary raises a brow, and her lips twitch in a way I wish I better understood. I’m usually good at reading people, but my nerves and racing thoughts make it hard to focus. A clock from somewhere behind me clicks as the seconds pass, and I find myself holding my breath as the awkward silence between Mary and me stretches.

“I’m a fast learner, and I—“

Mary lifts her hand to stop me. I snap my jaw shut with a quiet click.

“I don’t need any help,” she says.

I knew she’d probably say that, but the crushing disappointment that courses through me is still intense. The small part of me that insists on being optimistic was hoping she’d say yes.

“I don’t need much pay, and I’m available whenever—“ Mary lifts her hand to stop me again.

The action is embarrassing, even more so when I’m practically begging, and I force myself not to look too pitiful as I dip my chin in acknowledgment. She almost lost control and shifted into her wolf form when she heard what I did to Caleb, and it was probably a bit silly to think she’d ever consider hiring me.

I glance to the right.

From here, I can just barely see the tables that line the back portion of the library. Most of them are empty, but the few that aren’t are filled with wolves looking in my direction. They have good ears, and I’m sure their attention was on me the second they realized I was here.

I tighten my grip on my gloves before turning back to Mary.

“Well, please let me know if anything changes,” I say.

The words are thick on my tongue, but I force them out anyway. The wolves have good reason to dislike me, and I can’t get mad at them for not wanting to be around me.

Mary only stares, her face void of emotion, and after a minute I shove my gloves back onto my hands and make my way outside. That was fucking humiliating, and I gear up for another round of it as I get in my car and make my way to the coffee shop I sat in a few weeks ago.

The barista was friendly, and maybe she’ll feel bad and agree to give me an application to fill out.

Unsurprisingly, there are no cars in the parking lot, and I force myself to hold my chin high as I make my way into the shop. I’m sure it won’t take long for the wolves in the library to spread the news that I tried to get a job there, and I’d like to be tucked safely in bed before it does.

I can’t handle the mocking looks I’m sure I’ll receive when word gets out.

There are a few wolves in the shop, and I’m eternally grateful when none turn and stare as I step inside. Instead, they continue their conversations as if they don’t even know I’m here.

The barista working today isn’t one I’ve met before, and I fight back a frown as she glances at me and quickly looks away. She’s got the typical brown hair and brown eyes, but she’s surprisingly short. I’m average height for a human woman, maybe even a bit on the taller side, and the barista only makes it to my chin.

I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a short wolf before. They’re always so tall and athletic.

She doesn’t look in my direction again as I approach, and I glance at her name tag before smiling and trying to make eye contact.

“Hey, Clover!” I greet her.

She sucks in her cheeks and continues cleaning the coffee machine. I rock back on my heels and wait, my eyes following her as she wipes down all the nozzles with a wet rag. She takes her sweet time, probably on purpose, and I force myself to remain patient.

I’m going to need a glass of wine as big as my head once this day is over. The doctor said not to drink, but what’s he know?

Clover continues to clean, and once she’s finished with the nozzles, she grabs another rag and begins to wipe down the counters. How long should I stand here and wait? It’s clear she has no intentions to serve me.

The chime above the door goes off as somebody walks in behind me, and I could practically cry tears of joy when she looks up. I’m in line first, so she’ll need to acknowledge me if she wants to serve them.

“What can I get you?” Clover sighs, turning to me.

Her voice is flat and emotionless, but I’ll take it. Anything’s better than having her completely ignore my existence.

“I was wondering if you guys were hiring?” I ask.

Clover blinks, glances behind me, and blinks again. I shift my weight from foot to foot and clasp my hands in front of me. I begin to count in my head while I wait. If I get to ten and she still hasn’t responded, I will turn around and leave.

There’s only so much humiliation I can endure in one day.

The wolf behind me clears his throat, the noise snapping Clover out of her shocked daze. Her brown eyes narrow and glare into mine, the tension between us thick. I tense my muscles, preparing for rejection, but find myself relaxing once her expression shifts into humor.

She finds this funny? Maybe she’ll find it so amusing she hands me an application.

Instead, she shakes her head, the movement jerky.

“We don’t need your help,” she says, her tone condescending.

I can’t lie and say it doesn’t hurt. Clearing my throat, I force myself not to look upset as I dip my chin and plaster a smile on my face.

“Well, please let me know if anything changes,” I repeat the same thing I said to Mary.

Clover raises a brow, probably expecting me to throw some tantrum or storm out of here in tears. I refuse to give the wolves the reaction they want. I’m not the horrible, spoiled person they think me to be, and eventually, they’ll learn that.

Her attention shifts to the man behind me, and I watch as she shoots him a genuine smile.

“What can I get for you?” she asks.

I step to the side so he can approach the counter. A hand grabs my elbow, the hold soft. My adrenaline spikes, and I snap my head toward the man as my body prepares for a fight.

My strength is nothing compared to the wolves, but I won’t go down without a fight.

“Oh,” I breathe, relaxing when I realize it’s just the doctor.

He releases me and glances at my head. I have a feeling he was staring at it the entire time he was standing behind me, and I’m surprised he didn’t take it upon himself to grab my skull and maneuver it around as Caleb finds himself more than comfortable doing.

He’s done so before, and I still find myself annoyed as I recall all the times he and Caleb crowded over me while investigating all my injuries. They were insufferable regarding my broken ribs, the pair equally overbearing.

“How are you feeling?” he asks, breaking the silence. “I heard you came in for a checkup yesterday morning, but you left before I could see you.”

I shrug, not wanting to get into what happened yesterday. I’m sure that’s not all he heard.

“I’m feeling fine,” I confirm. I actually feel like a complete piece of trash, but I’m sure he doesn’t care to hear about my emotional turmoil.

He nods. “That’s good. You’re looking for a job?”

Unsuccessfully. I’ll try again tomorrow once I’ve had the night to lick my wounds and recover. The doctor waits for me to nod before continuing.

“We need a night shift janitor at the hospital. It’s not the most glamorous, but it’s a job,” he starts. “I’m in a hurry, but if you’d like, you can stop by the hospital tomorrow night so I can tell you more about it.”

Is he serious? I bounce on my toes, more than a little excited. I don’t care if he has me cleaning out bedpans and washing bloody sheets all night. It’s clear nobody in town is going to hire me, and I need something to keep me busy or I’m going to go insane.

“That sounds amazing!” I grimace and lower my voice when I realize I spoke those words louder than appropriate. “I’ll be there.”

Clover clears her throat, but I don’t care if she’s angry. It’s not like I’m the one who started the conversation with the doctor.

Fuck. I should learn his name.

He sucks his lips into his mouth, clearly holding back a laugh. I’m too happy to be embarrassed, and I can tell I’m smiling like a fool as I turn and leave the coffee shop. I’ve never done much cleaning before, but I’m a quick learner and I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out.

Chapter 35

Greg. Greg. Greg.

I chant the name to myself as I turn off my car and rush through the hospital parking lot. The doctor’s name is Greg.

It took hours of desperate searching before I found it on some paperwork he gave me the first time Caleb brought me in. I feel horrible for not remembering it, but I’m glad I figured it out and don’t have to ask.

I’ve met him too many times for it not to be awkward. Especially considering he knows my name.

The sun is setting, and I lift my hand to shield my eyes from the glare as I push open the hospital doors and step inside. This place is starting to feel like my second home.

The lobby is warm and empty, and I glance around the room as I tug off my gloves and hat. A large sitting area is to the right, complete with a coffee table full of old magazines, and to the left is the reception desk.

Directly across from the entrance are two wide double doors leading to all the rooms.

I shove my things in my coat pockets and head toward the reception desk. Nobody is behind it, and I lean against the counter while waiting. I don’t mind it, and I take advantage of being alone as I scan every inch of the room.

Caleb is usually here with me, and he’s so distracting I hardly notice anything but him.

Does he know Greg offered me a job? The two aren’t exactly friends, but they seem to get along just fine. They both enjoy nagging me when I’m injured, and Caleb doesn’t get angry when the doctor takes it upon himself to scold Caleb for being too rough with me.

Quiet music plays from the speakers installed in the room’s ceiling, and I tap my finger against the desk as I wait for somebody to show up. My anxiety is at an all-time high today, and this waiting only worsens it.

What feels like hours pass before somebody emerges from the back area.

It’s the woman that’s usually here, Michelle, and I’m grateful when she doesn’t look at me with the same contempt everybody else does. Besides the two nurses who spoke openly about Caleb in front of me, most people who work in the hospital are friendly.

I like to think it’s because I’ve been here so many times and they know me pretty well, but objectively, I understand it’s probably because Caleb is often bringing me here. Most of the wolves probably think we haven’t been around one another since I attacked Caleb and my relationship with HPAW was revealed, but the hospital staff knows the truth.

They see him bringing me here and probably overheard us having sex the other day.

“You here for a checkup?” Michelle asks, sitting at her desk.

She taps on her keyboard to light up the computer screen, and I shake my head before glancing at the double doors to the right of reception. They are still swinging from her entrance, and the hallway behind it is empty.

“Is Greg here? He told me about an open night shift janitor position and said I should stop by tonight to learn more,” I say.

Michelle clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth.

“Ah, I believe he did mention that. Why don’t you take a seat over there,” she points to an empty chair along the far wall, “and I’ll go get him.”

I do a poor job hiding my relief as I thank her and maneuver around the coffee table to sit down. After yesterday, I was scared I’d get here and be told the position was filled or, even worse, they would lie and say there wasn’t one in the first place.

Michelle makes her way back through the double doors she just came in from, and I listen to the quiet tapping of her shoes as she disappears. The doors swing a few times before shutting for good and cutting off my view, and I nervously begin to pick at my fingers while I wait.

I wasn’t sure what time to come today, but considering it’s a night shift, I thought six PM would be appropriate. I’m usually in bed by ten most nights, but I chugged a cup of coffee right before leaving so I don’t get sleepy.

“Evelyn!”

I hear my name just before the double doors burst open.

Greg steps into the room with a smile, and Michelle scurries behind him before making her way to her desk. I hurry to my feet and approach, not wanting to seem rude or unhappy to be here. I’ve never had an interview before, or whatever this is, and I don’t want to mess up.

There were a few more places I intended to try and get a job at. The grocery store is the big one, but I have a feeling this is the best opportunity I’m going to get.

Greg’s wearing a checkered shirt with jeans, his outfit relatively casual. If it weren’t for the stethoscope sitting around his neck, I’d probably think he’s a visitor. Of course, that’s probably why he wears it in the first place.

I doubt he honestly needs the stethoscope, his ears so good he can likely hear my heart beating from where I stand now.

“Hey,” I greet, feeling awkward.

Should I shake his hand? I’m not sure how to act, but thankfully Greg makes the decision easy for me as he gestures for me to follow him and turns back toward the double doors. That’s good. I’ve never shaken a hand before and was worried about it.

I saw men in the HPAW facility doing it often, but it wasn’t a gesture that was ever used with me.

“I’m glad you came,” Greg says, leading me down the hallway.

His pace is fast, and I must speed up to a light jog to keep up. He notices and slows, and I shoot him a thankful smile as I join him on the right.

“Our last janitor, Mark, found his mate and left abruptly a few weeks ago. The nurses have been helping to fill in, but we need somebody dedicated to cleaning,” he continues.

I suppose it’s good to know the old janitor didn’t hate their job and leave in a fit of rage. I did a bit of research on what a janitor typically does, and nothing seems too bad. I enjoyed cleaning the house I shared with Caleb, and it sounds like I’ll be doing all the same things. It’ll just be on a larger scale.

Easy peasy.

Greg cuts left and walks down another hallway, and I let out a quiet squeak as I spin on my heel and follow. The wolves move so quickly and smoothly, and sometimes they make me feel like a baby deer just learning to walk.

“Was Mark the only janitor?” I ask.

Greg nods. “Yes. The building is pretty small and considering we only see a small handful of patients a day, there isn’t too much that needs to be cleaned.”

“And you’re looking for somebody to work here full-time?” I continue. “Why at night and not during the day?”

Greg pushes open a door on our right before stepping into what looks to be a staff break room. One of the nurses I had the misfortune of crossing paths with the other day is sitting on the small beige couch in the center of the room, and she doesn’t bother pretending she’s not watching me as I follow Greg into another connecting room.

Inside are shelves full of cleaning supplies and two sets of washers and dryers.

“Mark clocked in about twenty hours a week, but since you’re human and slower, you might need more like thirty to get through everything,” Greg says. “And I suppose we don’t necessarily need a night janitor. Mark preferred to come in when the place was empty, but I don’t see the harm in having you here during the day if that’s your preference.”

I lick my lips, unsure if he’s saying that to be polite or if he means it. He looks earnest, and I hesitate for a brief moment before responding.

“I think I’d prefer to work here during the day,” I admit.

Gret nods and claps his hands together.

“Great, that’s settled then.” He gestures around the room. “This used to be an on-call room, but Mark had it converted into his space a few years ago. It’s got all the supplies you’d need, and we even have a work chart Mark made for us before he left.”

Greg speaks so fondly of Mark, and I can’t help but smile as he steps forward and points to the chart in question.

It’s a large laminated sheet, and there is a long list of tasks on it. I read over them and feel my tense muscles relax when I realize none are unfamiliar. There are the basics like sweeping, mopping, and disinfecting, and underneath them are a few more specific tasks like checking lightbulbs and fire alarms.

“The place needs to be swept, mopped, and disinfected every other day, but everything else only needs to be done once a week,” Greg explains. “The nurses put all their scrubs and the dirty linens in the baskets here, and they only need to be washed and folded. The nurses are in charge of putting everything where it needs to go.”

Good to know.

Mark hums and glances around, the man clearly unsure what to say.

“There’s a time machine in the break room. You’d clock in when you get here and clock out when you leave, and we’d pay you every two weeks,” he continues.

Is it appropriate to ask him about the pay? I want to, but I don’t want to sound greedy so I bite my tongue. I suppose, if I get the job, I’ll figure it out when I get paid.

“How would I get paid?” I ask instead.

Greg looks confused by my question, and I immediately wish to swallow my words.

“What do you mean? We’d deposit it into your account?” he says.

Ah. I’ll need to get a bank account, then. I’m not sure how, but I drive past the bank the wolves use, and I’m pretty sure somebody there will help me set one up. My mouth feels dry, and I swallow past the lump in my throat as I add that to the list of things I need to do.

Becoming a functional adult is going to be more complicated than I thought.

“Do I need to schedule an interview to get the job?” I ask.

Greg laughs and shakes his head.

“No. If you want the job, you’ve got it,” he clarifies.

I breathe out a sigh of relief. This feels almost too easy, and my stomach knots as worries about Caleb interfering seep into my mind. Would he go out of his way to secure me a job at the hospital and force Greg to pretend it’s all my doing?

That feels awfully conniving, but I’m starting to think Caleb is more sly than I initially thought.

Although, I doubt he’d be able to move so quickly. He wouldn’t have known about my search for a job before I went and begged for one at the library, and Greg was telling me about the janitor position less than twenty minutes later.

There’s no way Caleb could have learned about my conversation with Mary, formulated a plan, and reached out to Greg in that time. He’s quick, but he’s not a miracle worker.

“I’d be grateful to work here,” I decide. “When would you want me to start?”

“We’ll have to complete some paperwork to get you on payroll, so the soonest would be in a few days. What about this upcoming Monday? That gives us the rest of the week to get everything sorted,” he suggests.

I nod, more than happy about that.

“Great! I’ll give you some forms to take home and fill out. If you could return them sometime tomorrow, that’d be ideal.” Greg shoves his hands into his pockets and gestures for me to follow him back through the employee lounge and toward reception.

I ignore the nurse on the couch as I walk past, but I shoot Amanda a small smile when we emerge through the double doors leading into the lobby.

Greg makes his way behind her desk while I walk around the front of it. He pulls open some drawers until he finds what he’s looking for, and with a snap of his fingers, he grabs a few sheets and sets them on the desk between us.

“Here you are. There’s a lot here, but I know you’ve had a…” he hesitates before continuing, “unique past, so you’re fine to skip anything you aren’t sure about. Your relationship with Caleb should ensure we can get around a few technicalities.”

I purse my lips and grab the papers. I don’t like the advantage that being Caleb’s mate is giving me, but I really want this job so I’m not going to push back on it. I don’t have any identification, and I’m sure that’s what they need to complete the forms.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I do my best to ignore it as I finger through the forms Greg handed over. There’s a lot here, but thankfully most of them seem to be waivers and things that only require a signature.

“I appreciate this,” I admit.

Greg shoots me a friendly smile and shrugs. “You’re a nice kid.”

Michelle nudges his side when he accidentally leans into her space, and he huffs before stepping back to give him more room. He shoots her a playful glare, and she gives one right back. I glance at the mark on his hand and try to hide my jealousy as I spot the white lines.

Mine is still dark, and I hate looking at it.

“Well, thank you for all this,” I blurt. “I’ll fill these out and bring them in tomorrow morning.”

Greg pretends he hasn’t noticed my wandering eyes as he smiles and nods. My pulse is thundering in my ears, and I awkwardly linger for another moment before turning and rushing out of the building.

I need to stop by the bank and see when they open tomorrow.

____

Slowly but surely Ev's getting her shit together