Land of Wolves: Chapters 46-50 (Patreon)

Chapter 46

I’m hardly surprised when my apartment door opens and Adam steps inside. He’s holding a bag of chips, and I set the book I’m reading on the coffee table before reaching for the TV remote. I’ve got it displaying a fireplace, but I’m sure Adam will want to put something else on.

He seems to think we’re better friends than we are.

Adam makes his way to my couch and plops down next to me, his attention quickly captured by the TV. He watches as I put on some random show, loudly crinkling his chips as I return to my reading.

I thought he always came over to annoy me, but now I realize he’s lonely. He’s in his late twenties, and that’s a long time to be alone. Most wolves find their mates when they’re young, and I’m sure it’s disheartening to be his age and still waiting.

Was Caleb this lonely?

He and Adam are the same age, and knowing how affectionate Caleb is, I’m sure it was hard for him to be alone for so long. He must have been relieved when he found me.

Adam and I sit next to one another in comfortable silence, and I pretend not to notice the chip crumbs he’s leaving all over my couch.

Eventually, he leans forward and snatches my books off the coffee table.

I peer at him over the top of my current book, cautions as I watch his eyes dart over the words. His lips twitch, and I huff as I see the telltale signs of his laughter. It’s not that funny, and I don’t think that what I’m reading is any of his business.

I should have put the books away when he came over.

“I hope my mate doesn’t take this much of an interest in porn,” he says.

I scoff.

“It’s not porn. It’s romance,” I defend. “And there’s nothing wrong with wanting to read these books.”

Adam shrugs, conceding, but I can tell he disagrees. He’s never tried to hide his judgment of my reading choice. Male wolves are unnecessarily territorial, and I’m glad Caleb isn’t like that.

He knows what kinds of books I read, and he doesn’t care.

Adam continues to flip through the pages of my books, and I watch him for a second longer before leaning forward and snatching them from his hands. What I read is nobody’s business but my own. He’s too fucking nosy.

A knock on my front door captures my attention, and Adam sets his bag of chips on the coffee table before making his way to the door. I shoot him a frosty glare as he pulls it open, still annoyed over his teasing.

I’m getting sick and tired of his attitude.

“Alpha,” Adam croaks, stepping to the side.

Caleb raises a brow and glances between Adam and me.

Adam looks nervous as he scratches the back of his neck, and after a tense second, he clears his throat and sneaks past Caleb. I hear his apartment door slamming shut a second later.

Caleb’s still wearing his work clothes, and I eye his dress pants and thick sweater with a pleased hum. His thighs look strong, and the muscles flex as he steps into my entryway and shuts my door. He pushes the sleeves of his sweater up his forearms, and my gaze lingers on his mark.

“You’ve frightened Adam,” I say.

Caleb hardly looks apologetic as he shrugs and walks into my living room. I want to ask why he’s here, but I don’t want to sound like I want him to leave.

He eyes the books in my arms, and I turn and shove them underneath my coffee table. I’ve had enough teasing for one day.

“It frustrates me that this place always smells of him,” Caleb admits, moving to my window.

He pushes it open and runs a hand through his hair. I stand and join him.

“We’re just friends.” I’m not even sure I’d call it that. Frenemies is a more accurate term. “There’s nothing romantic between us.”

Caleb nods.

“I know that, but it still bothers me.”

Caleb looks out the window and sucks in a deep breath, and I awkwardly watch. What should I do? I’ve never seen Caleb jealous before, but I’ve heard horror stories of men getting violent when confronted with the emotion.

Not that I think Caleb would ever hurt me.

If he didn’t do it when I slit his throat, I doubt he’ll do it because I let my annoying neighbor into my apartment.

“What’re you doing here?” I give in and ask.

Caleb sinks his teeth into his bottom lip and shuts the window when I involuntarily shiver.

“I missed you,” he says.

Those words set my heart on fire, and I struggle not to lose my composure as Caleb steps forward and pulls me into his arms. My skin tingles where we touch, and I sink into his hold with a content sigh.

This is nice.

Caleb slides his hands down my arms and around my waist. He takes his time feeling me, and I find myself doing the same to him. It’s been eons since we last held one another.

“Have you missed me, too?” Caleb asks.

We both know the answer to that.

“Yes.”

He squeezes me before pulling back and bringing his lips to mine. The kiss is gentle, but I need more than that. I tilt my head to the side and open my mouth, urging him to deepen the kiss.

Caleb quickly complies, and I let out a quiet squeak when he picks me up and wraps my legs around his waist. He brings us to the couch and drops me on my back, and I’m pleased when he follows.

His body pins mine to the cushions as he slots himself between my thighs and drags his lips to my neck.

“Fuck,” I gasp.

He pulls my thin straps off my arms and sucks a hickey into my shoulder.

“Please tell me you weren’t letting Adam see you without a bra on?” he begs, pushing my shirt down my chest. “Please tell me he didn’t see how your nipples press against the thin lace.”

I arch my back.

I’m wearing one of my most comfortable pajamas, and it didn’t occur to me that the top doesn’t leave much to the imagination. Adam never looks, his disinterest in my body more than made apparent, but I should’ve known Caleb wouldn’t let it slide.

He brings his mouth to my chest, and I gasp as he captures my nipple between his teeth. He bites just hard enough for it to hurt, and I curl my fingers into his hair as he repeats the action to the other.

“These are mine, Ev,” he says.

I nod.

“Yours.”

Caleb pants into my skin, and my breathing is no better as he slides further down my body. Is he planning on putting his mouth on me? I haven’t felt his tongue in forever.

“Please, Caleb,” I beg.

He slides a hand up the inside of my thigh.

“I heard that you did some shopping today.” He pushes my shorts aside, exposing my bare sex to the room. I’ve never been more grateful for my decision to forego underwear. “Stella was all too happy to call my office afterward and inform me of the bill.”

I lick my lips and glance to the side. I should’ve known my actions wouldn’t stay hidden for long.

Caleb brushes his fingers over my sex, his touch just soft enough to drive me crazy. I need more, and I push down my hips in a desperate attempt to get it. I already know it’s not going to work, but I still let out a pained cry when he pulls his fingers away and trails them back down my thigh.

“I’m sorry,” I gasp.

Mary was adamant he wouldn’t be upset, but I’m not sure about that.

“I can pay you back when I get paid next week,” I promise.

The last thing I want is Caleb to think I’m using him for his money. I feel horrible about letting Stella charge the clothing and jewelry to his card, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.

Caleb laughs and kisses the skin directly below my belly button. My stomach flips, and I squeeze my eyes shut as I fight the urge to grab his head and push it where I want it.

He rarely lets me take control like that, and I can already tell today isn’t going to be one of those days. It goes against a wolf’s instinct, and I doubt he’ll put away his pride and let me dominate him ever again.

“I don’t want your money, baby,” Caleb whispers, trailing his fingers back up my thigh.

He’s teasing me, and I cover my mouth with my hands to muffle my sounds. It works, and I moan into the flesh of my palm as Caleb finally connects his fingers with my slit. He trails them up and down the length of me before pressing in, and my body eagerly accepts the two fingers he pushes into me.

It’s exactly what I need, and I clench around him as he uses his free hand to pry mine away from my mouth.

“I want to hear you,” he says.

I shake my head.

“The walls are thin,” I whisper, glancing at the wall connecting Adam’s and my apartments.

Caleb’s eyes darken, and I immediately realize that’s his plan. He wants Adam to hear us. I know I should fight it and insist we move to my bedroom, but all rational thoughts leave me when Caleb curls his fingers and rocks them back and forth.

“Ah, fuck! That feels good,” I gasp.

Caleb hums and presses his thumb against my clit. He rubs it in the way I like best, and I grab my thighs before sliding my hands to my hair and eventually settling on holding the couch cushions.

I don’t know what to do with my hands.

“Whose pussy is this?” Caleb taunts, sliding further down the couch.

He urges me to plant my feet into the cushion and spread my thighs. I’m uncomfortably open in this position, and I clench around his fingers as his warm breath hits my sex. I want to feel his mouth on me so badly.

“It’s yours,” I promise.

Caleb watches as he pleasures me, his eyes wide as he admires how his fingers fuck in and out. It’s too much, and I lift my hips in a silent plea for more. I want his tongue.

He doesn’t give it, the fucking devil, and I curse as he bites the inside of my thigh and sucks a hickey into the skin. Why’s he always teasing me like this? It drives me insane. He continues to rub my clit and rock his fingers into me, and after a few seconds, I feel my thighs begin to shake.

I’m close.

“Are my hands the best you’ve ever felt?” Caleb asks.

I choke out a gasp and nod.

“Yes.”

We both know it to be true. Nobody comes close to Caleb, and any pleasure I’ve ever felt from men before him pales in comparison. I can hardly even remember them. Caleb’s touch has entirely consumed my mind.

Caleb moans into the skin of my thigh.

“Is my cock the best you’ve ever taken?” he continues.

He rubs my clit faster, and I moan as my orgasm builds. I haven’t been able to work up the strength to masturbate while we’ve been apart, and the last time I came was with him.

That was so long ago.

“Is your cock the best I’ve taken…” I trail off with a loud moan. “I don’t know.” Caleb’s eyes grow venomous, and I shoot him a coy smile. “You might have to remind me.”

He’s sitting up a second later, and I shiver as I watch him undo his pants and pull out his cock. I’m always so surprised by his size, and I do a poor job hiding the sliver of fear that rushes through me as I eye his cock.

Caleb grabs the waistband of my shorts and pulls them down my legs, and I love the look of need on his face as he drops them onto the floor next to us.

He holds eye contact as he fists his length, and I spread my thighs even further as he lines himself up with my entrance. He teases me with his tip, running it up and down my slit before he gives in and pushes inside.

There’s an immediate stretch as my body accommodates him, and I wrap my arms around his shoulders and pull him flush on top of me.

“Shit, Ev. Your pussy is my fucking home,” he gasps.

I don’t know what that means, but I don’t need to. I feel the exact same way.

“Tell me my cock is the best you’ve ever taken.” Caleb repeats his earlier question, his voice rough.

I bury my nails into his shoulders and run them down his back, eager to leave my mark. Caleb wraps me in a tight hold and eases himself in and out, his fucking surprisingly gentle.

I thought he’d be wanting to take me roughly.

“Your cock is the best I’ve ever taken,” I assure him. “It’s the only one I want. The only one I crave.”

Caleb buries his face in my neck and moans. His stubble tickles my skin, and I wrap my legs around his waist and dig my heels into his thighs, silently urging him for more.

I expect it to encourage him, but instead, he groans and pulls out. I can’t help but whine as he leaves me, the sudden emptiness devastating. Why’s he stopping? I half expect him to push back in, and I prop myself up on my elbows when he presses his two fingers into me instead.

“What’re you doing?” I ask.

Caleb gnaws at his bottom lip.

“I don’t have any condoms.”

My heart stops. We’ve never had sex with condoms before. Caleb was always good about pulling out, not that that’s a very effective form of birth control, and we’ve never had any issues. My lungs constrict painfully, and I drop back on the couch and stare at the ceiling.

Is he that afraid of getting me pregnant?

I feel his breath on my sex, and I use my knee to gently knock his head away. The moment is gone.

“Let me get you off, baby,” he whispers.

I shake my head. “No.”

Caleb pulls his fingers out of me and sits back on his heels. The silence between us is tense and awkward, and I watch out of the corner of my eye as he grows soft and tucks himself back into his pants. He does up the zipper and situates himself before grabbing my discarded pajama shorts and sliding them back up my legs.

I lift my hips, helping him.

Things feel heavy, and I sit up and fix my pajama shirt as Caleb makes himself comfortable on the other end of the couch.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks.

I shake my head.

“I just think with everything going on, it isn’t responsible to be taking any risks,” he continues, ignoring my answer.

Objectively I understand that what he says is true, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy hearing it.

I sit next to him on the couch, my back ramrod straight as he grabs the remote and puts on the show we once watched. It’s still saved precisely where we left off, and we sit next to one another in silence and watch.

There’s probably a lot we should talk about, but I don’t think I’m ready for those conversations.

“Can I stay the night?” Caleb is the first to break the silence.

I nod, and after a moment’s hesitation, I lie on my side and rest my head on his lap. He immediately brings his hand to my head, and I let my eyes slip shut as he runs his fingers through my hair.

Chapter 47

Caleb rolls on top of me, and I groan before burying my face into his armpit.

He smells like home, and I’m happy to be squished up underneath him.

There’s a faint vibrating to my left, and I resist the urge to groan as I realize it’s Caleb’s phone. The vibrating doesn’t stop, and after a minute, I feel his muscles flex as he reaches for it. He lifts his head to see who it is before rolling off me and bringing the device to his ear.

“What?”

His voice is thick with sleep, and I shiver as it hits me. I love his gravely morning voice.

There’s a feminine voice coming through the line, and I suck my cheeks into my mouth as I try to determine who it is. It’s too quiet for me to make out, and I curl my toes before turning and grabbing Caleb’s wrist.

He seems confused as he looks down at me, and I offer a weak smile as I pull his phone away from his ear to see who he’s talking to. He lets me, and my face turns bright red when I see Sash’s name plastered across the device.

I release his wrist, ignoring his cocky smirk as I roll back over.

I can’t believe I just did that.

Caleb moves forward and spoons me from behind.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Of course, I’m at home right now,” he scoffs.

He’s hard, and he rubs himself against my butt as he lies to his sister about his whereabouts. She must be back from her temporary exile.

Caleb and I have done a pretty good job keeping the interworking of our relationship a secret, but I’m sure it wasn’t hard for her to learn whatever information has been spread about us. By now, it’s no longer a secret that my mark is no longer black, and I’m sure Caleb’s not nearly as sneaky as he seems to think when he comes to my apartment.

“Mhmm,” Caleb grumbles, nestling his face into the back of my neck.

Sash’s voice grows louder, the woman beginning to shout in her anger. I want to know what she’s saying, but I’m sure I already know. She knows Caleb’s here with me right now, and she’s pissed.

“Alright, Sash.” Caleb’s voice is dull and laced with poorly concealed boredom.

I forget how close of a relationship they have, and guilt renders me silent as I listen to them. She’s the only family he has, and he sent her away because of me. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, and I hope it has no long-lasting impacts.

Before she discovered what I did to Caleb, she was never anything but kind and welcoming toward me. She accepted me into their family with open arms, and I can’t fault her for getting protective when she saw how badly I hurt her brother.

“Yup. I won’t forget it. Love you, bye.” Caleb hangs up the phone before rolling me onto my back and hovering over me.

His erection presses against my stomach, but the memory of last night’s rejection prevents me from reacting. He has no intention of putting himself inside me without a condom, and neither of us has one.

“I missed waking up with you,” Caleb admits, his voice low. “You smell so fucking good, and I’m going to smell like you for the rest of the day.”

I gulp.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” I’m not, but I feel that’s the appropriate thing to say. “You can take a shower if you’d like,” I offer.

Caleb laughs, and every muscle in my body relaxes as the sound washes over me. I missed his laugh. It brings me immediate calm, and I can’t help but smile as he brushes my hair out of my face.

“I don’t want to wash it off,” he admits.

Oh.

“What about HPAW?” I know the question will ruin the mood, but I force myself to ask it.

Caleb tries to hide how his body stiffens, but I notice it. He rolls onto his side before flopping onto his back and staring at the ceiling, his lips pinched. I know he doesn’t like speaking about them, but I don’t want to be left in the dark.

Especially when their actions are directly impacting our relationship.

“We took back the pack they attacked, and we’re preparing to take more aggressive action in the upcoming weeks,” he admits.

I roll over and sit on his chest. We’re both naked, but he hardly seems to take notice of my bare body as he brings his hands to my thighs and gives them a tight squeeze.

“More aggressive action?” I pry.

Caleb avoids eye contact.

“We’re going to be taking back control.” He pauses and sucks in a nervous breath. “Many humans will die, but I’ve spent years trying to spare as many lives as possible and it’s only leading to the death of our people.”

Our people.

“I told you I’ll stand by you, Caleb. You’re a good man, and I trust you’re doing the right thing,” I assure him.

He doesn’t look certain, and I press my hands into his shoulders before bending and connecting my lips to his. The kiss is slow, and I cup his cheeks and run my thumbs across his cheekbones as I pull away.

His brown eyes flutter open, and I can’t help but admire them.

Caleb truly is beautiful.

“How much longer do you think we need to keep our relationship quiet?” I ask.

Caleb grimaces.

“Honestly, I don’t see much reason to continue trying. Everybody’s already taken notice of our marks, and the rumors spreading about us are close enough to the truth that continuing to lie seems pointless.”

He frowns, and I smooth my thumbs over his forehead until the expression softens.

“Won’t your people be angry that you’re giving me a second chance?” It was his initial concern, and I’m sure it’s still there.

Things with HPAW may be taking precedence as of late, but that doesn’t mean his people have forgotten what I’ve done. I was a member of the organization that has tortured and killed hundreds of their people, and then I tried to kill Caleb and run back to HPAW to share all of the wolves’ secrets.

Those aren’t exactly easily forgivable offenses.

“They will be, but I’ll make it clear I’m taking you back as my mate. Not as the female Alpha,” he explains. “Besides, and please don’t take offense to this, they don’t fear us being together anymore. They’ve been watching you a lot these past few weeks, and they think you’re physically quite weak.”

I smash my teeth together.

“I’m not weak,” I snap.

This probably isn’t something to argue about, but I find myself speaking the words anyway.

Caleb dips his chin, silently conceding.

“I know, baby,” he assures me. I can tell he’s just saying it to appease me, and I press my lips tightly together before blowing out a deep breath and letting it go.

One battle at a time.

Caleb pushes my hair out of my face, his touch soft. My eyes travel to his mark, and I eye the dark lines with a slight frown. I miss the days when it was light, and I wonder if it’ll ever be that way again. I hope so.

I turn and press my lips to the back of his hand, loving the tiny sigh he lets out.

He looks tired, and I feel the same way. Just talking about this is exhausting, and I can’t imagine how stressful it must be for Caleb. He’s the one who has to make all the decisions at the end of the day.

I know he cares about the humans, at least the innocent ones, and I’m sure it weighs heavy on him to make plans that will kill many of them.

It’s no decision anybody ever wants to make, but if Caleb doesn’t stand up for himself and his people, HPAW will continue pushing. Eventually, they’ll find a way to succeed, and Caleb needs to keep the upper hand.

“What time should I pick you up?” Caleb asks, drawing my attention.

I frown, unsure of what he’s talking about.

“Pick me up for what?”

Caleb slides his hands up my waist, finally noticing that I’m naked and sitting on top of him. His fingers skim over my ribs before reaching my breasts, and I can’t help but chuckle as he cups my boobs and gives them a firm squeeze.

He takes his sweet time feeling them before running his thumbs over my nipples, and I shiver as I grab his wrists and pull his hands away.

“Can I take a photo of you?”

I jolt, Caleb’s question catching me by surprise.

“A photo of me?”

He nods.

“Yes. I want something to look at while I touch myself,” he admits.

My mouth is dry, and I clear my throat before reaching to the side and grabbing his discarded phone. Caleb’s gaze is locked in on my breasts as he navigates his way to his camera and takes a photo, and it takes everything in me not to make a sound as he pushes me further down his body and urges me to spread myself.

“Fuck,” he curses.

“How often do you touch yourself?” I can’t help but ask.

Caleb glances at me over the top of his phone.

“More than I’d care to admit.”

He’s achingly hard below me, and I fight the urge to sit on his length as I shift on top of him.

“What do you usually look at?”

“Nothing. I think of you.” Caleb sets his phone on the bed before shutting his eyes and sucking in a deep breath. I take great pleasure in knowing it’s because I’ve gotten him riled up.

He takes a few moments to collect himself before shaking his head and pulling me onto his chest. He holds me so tightly that I struggle to fill my lungs with oxygen, but I’m not complaining. I love when he gets possessive.

“Anyway,” Caleb says, changing the subject. “What time do you want me to pick you up?” he repeats his earlier question.

I slide my fingers up the column of his neck. His throat bobs as he gulps, and I circle his Adam’s apple before continuing upward until his stubble tickles my fingertips. He’s due for a shave, and I run my nails across the short hairs before burying my face into his neck and breathing in his intoxicating scent.

Having my bare body pressed against his like this is the ultimate test, and it’s damn near impossible not to rock against him and try for more. A small part of me is still hurt after his refusal to fuck me without a condom yesterday.

Once upon a time, he was overjoyed with the idea of having a child with me.

He finished inside me without a second thought, and I could tell how excited he was to do so. I know I need to be patient and give us time to heal, but I’m impatient and want things to be how they were before.

I want to skip all those middle steps.

“Pick me up for what?” I ask, remembering his earlier question.

It’s hard to stay focused when I’ve got him underneath me in my bed, and I hope my sheets smell like him when he leaves.

“For my birthday party,” Caleb says. “I assume that’s what the dress you bought was for.”

I lick my lips.

“You don’t need to worry about that,” I assure him.

Caleb never invited me, and I don’t want him to feel like he has to be my date just because I’m coming. I’m perfectly capable of attending a party solo.

“What do you mean? Do you not want to go with me?” Caleb sits up and leans against the headboard.

His sudden movement forces me to sit up as well, and I make myself comfortable on his lower abdomen as he runs a hand through his hair and pouts down at me.

“You didn’t even invite me,” I whisper.

My admittance is laced with insecurity, but I can’t help it.

Caleb frowns and glances to the side. He looks genuinely confused, and I watch the emotion play out on his face before he turns back to me.

“I’m sorry, baby. It’s an informal event, and there are no invitations. I suppose it slipped my mind that you wouldn’t have known about it. I’d love for you to come with me,” he promises.

“If we go together, everybody will know we’re working on getting back together,” I warn. “HPAW will know about us.”

Caleb cups the back of my neck.

“I won’t let anybody hurt you,” he promises.

His mouth is on mine a second later, and I melt into him as he kisses all my worries away. His touch is intoxicating, and a tiny whimper slips from my lips when he finally pulls away and climbs out of bed.

The muscles in his back flex as he bends and grabs the clothes he haphazardly tore off last night, and I admire his naked skin as he redresses.

“What’re you doing today?” I ask.

Caleb raises a brow. “Work.”

I flush. That was a silly question. Caleb works every day, like clockwork.

“Mary let it slip that the wolves are speaking poorly about you because of my job at the hospital,” I continue.

My words are met with a long silence.

“I like my job, Caleb.”

“I know, and I’d never do anything to take it from you. I know how important your independence is.” He sits on the end of the bed and pulls on his socks. “You never told me when you want me to pick you up for the party.”

The abrupt change of subject doesn’t go unnoticed by me, but I don’t push. I love my job, even when I have to work around the nasty nurses, and I’d hate to be pushed into leaving it. Despite what Caleb says, I fully intend to pay him back for the dress, shoes, and jewelry Stella charged to his card.

“I told Adam I’d go with him,” I admit.

Caleb shoots me a sideways glance, and I avoid eye contact as I crawl out of bed and make my way to my dresser. I can feel the weight of his eyes on me, and after a second, I feel his body heat through my back.

I hold my breath as he leans over my shoulder, his breath tickling my ear.

“If you show up with that wolf, your body wrapped in a sexy tight dress and your sweet skin smelling of him, I fear I’ll have no other options but to reclaim you in front of my entire pack,” he whispers. “You’re forcing my hand, Ev, and you won’t like how I respond.”

Blood rushes through my ears.

“You can pack me up at eight,” I gasp.

Caleb grabs both my hips and presses his front against my back. His clothes feel rough against my sensitive skin, and I clench my thighs as his fingers tap against the soft skin of my belly.

“No. You made a promise to Adam, and you’re going to keep it.”

I hiss as his teeth sink into my neck, his bite just hard enough to hurt. Caleb’s never been this dominating before, at least not in this way, and I can’t say it doesn’t set my body on fire.

He chuckles as he releases me, and I stare in shock at the wall in front of me as he steps out of my bedroom and leaves my apartment.

Chapter 48

If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that I look absolutely feral right about now.

The hospital hallways are empty, and I rush down them like a bat out of hell. Caleb’s party has me all out of sorts, and I can’t fucking believe I let myself get this far behind at work.

All this talk about how important my independence is and how much I need this job, yet here I am, slacking only a few weeks in. I doubt Greg would punish me for getting behind every once in a while, but I want to make a good impression.

I want him to be actively happy he hired me and not just tolerate me because he pities me.

I fly around the corner and smash into a rigid body, and the linens fly out of my hands as my feet slip out from underneath me. A small part of me half expects the person I ran into to catch me, but instead, I land straight on my tailbone with a hard thump.

Fuck.

Pain radiates up it, and I’m surprised the poor bone hasn’t shattered by now. I have faint memories of being clumsy as a child, but my life in the HPAW facility was so coordinated and routined that I hardly had the opportunity to slip up or trip.

I didn’t realize my clumsiness was a condition that remained into adulthood.

I’m not a fan.

Jan peers down at me through her lashes, her lips curled in a poorly concealed smirk. She’s enjoying seeing me sprawled out by her feet, and I’m sure her choice not to righten me when I started to fall was a very purposeful decision.

I work my jaw side to side as I turn and grab all the linens I dropped. Thank the heavens I deep-cleaned these floors yesterday, because I don’t know what I’d do if I spilled fresh linens on dirty, dirt-covered floors.

I’d have to rewash them, and it would set me impossibly behind.

“What’re you doing here?” Jan asks.

My lips purse as I debate whether or not to answer. Most of the hospital staff has left already, and I imagine everybody is at home getting ready for the party tonight. I’m surprised Jan isn’t among them.

“Well?” she prompts.

“I need to finish making the beds, then I’m leaving.”

She crosses her arms over her chest, her frosty glare only deepening.

“So, you’re going to the party tonight?” Her voice is laced with anger, and I resist the urge to flinch.

I feel safe around most wolves, but Jan is a wildcard. She hasn’t spoken to me since I addressed Caleb without his title in the waiting area, but I can tell she’s still furious about it. I embarrassed her, and even worse, I did it in front of Caleb.

She wasn’t nearly this obsessed with him before his search for a wife went public, but I have a feeling that when the announcement went out and the idea got into her head, she began to fantasize. Caleb’s title alone is enough to make him one of the most sought-after male wolves, but being a genuinely kind and friendly person on top of it only adds icing to the cake.

To her, I’m the lowly human who took that opportunity to her.

And we both know I’d be real easy to kill.

Especially tonight, when nobody is around.

“Did you know Alpha Caleb made a special request for me to work tonight’s shift?” she asks.

I gulp.

Greg is here, too, not that he cares much about going to parties, and the nurses have been gossiping for weeks about who the unlucky nurse he’ll pick to stay on tonight will be. I had no idea Caleb requested it to be Jan, and I force my face to remain flat as I absorb that information.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I say, my voice level.

Jan cocks her head to the side.

“Why would you say that? I’m sure he just wanted me somewhere private and easily accessible. I fully anticipate him sneaking out of his party and finding me here tonight.”

We both know what she says is untrue. She’s only looking to get a rise out of me. Maybe she wants to make me angry enough that I attempt to attack her. Then she can kill me and claim self-defense.

I’d never be stupid enough to do that, but it’s a good try on her part.

Jan shoots me a sickly sweet smile.

“I look forward to him feeding me his cock,” she says.

Without thinking, I drop the linens and spin around on my heel. Fuck the laundry. I’m leaving, and I’ll worry about the mess tomorrow.

Jan’s shoes are loud against the linoleum flooring as she follows me, and I quicken my pace until I burst into the staff break room. It’s empty, just my fucking luck, and I march toward the cubbies and snatch up my coat and scarf.

“Grace told me that he likes that. He likes feeding it to women. That he’ll curl one hand around his base and the other around the back of their head and fucking use them,” Jan continues.

My hands shake as I zip up my coat and shove my hat onto my head. That’s precisely what Caleb did to me, and even though I know what she’s saying is a lie, I can’t help but wonder about the similarities.

Why would Grace even know anything about that? She probably doesn’t.

I’m sure Jan knows about Caleb’s history with her and assumes it’s a sore subject for me.

I haven’t thought of Grace in forever, but the sharp memory of the woman who was once chosen to stand by Caleb’s side in my absence ignites a fire inside me.

“Why are you so upset, Evelyn? You tried to kill him, so you can’t exactly blame him for seeking pleasure elsewhere,” Jan taunts.

I refuse to engage as I storm out of the break room and toward the hospital’s front doors.

My eyes land on Caleb the moment I push through the double doors separating the waiting area and inner parts of the hospital. He’s waiting by the front doors, leaning against them while he taps away on his phone.

He’s quick to shove the device in his pocket when I emerge, and I slow to a stop as I approach him.

“What’re you doing here?” I ask.

Caleb’s eyes darken.

“You are not going to my party with that man,” he says, his pseudo-angry expression dropping as he takes in my splotchy face and hurried pace. “What’s wrong?”

His attention slides to the double doors behind me, and I feel his body stiffen as he takes notice of Jan. It’s no secret she’s not exactly kind to me. Still, I’ve always appreciated Caleb’s decision to stay out of it and let me handle her myself.

Well, I suppose he hasn’t wholly remained out of it.

He did tell Greg to have her remain behind tonight.

“What did you say to my mate?” Caleb asks Jan.

His voice is frighteningly cold, and even I fight the urge to shiver as it washes over me. Jan squeaks, apparently just as affected, before her eyes grow wet and tears leak down her cheeks.

“Please,” she sobs. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make her upset, Alpha.”

Caleb asks again what she said, his question met with only more cries, before he turns back to me. I shake my head, unwilling to repeat the vile words. I trust everything Caleb has told me, and as hurtful as what she said is, I know it’s not true.

I’m the only woman Caleb has been with, and he’s never fed any part of himself to anybody but me.

Still, the sight of Jan has me feeling emotions I don’t ever want to feel. I want to hurt her, and I want to watch her writhe and sob in agony on the floor.

“Will you get on your knees?” I whisper. “Please.”

Caleb’s eyes dart all along my face, confusion written plainly on his before he dips his chin and drops to his knees. I’m surprised by how quickly he did it, and I stifle a gasp as I stare down at him.

His face is level with my chest, and I wind my fingers through his hair before curling them around the strands and gently pulling his head back to expose his neck. He lets me tilt his head back, and the column of his throat bobs as he gulps.

Caleb, Jan, and I are the only ones in the room to witness this, and I highly doubt anybody would ever believe Jan if she tried to tell them this occurred. They’d laugh her out of the room.

My attention lingers on the spot where I once sunk my knife in, and with complete horror, I notice a thin line where he scarred.

How did I never notice it before?

Probably because I’ve actively avoided looking at it.

I turn to Jan, pleased by her horrified expression.

Caleb doesn’t even let her address him without his title, but he gets on his knees for me and bares his neck. He’s mine, and she now sees it.

“Happy birthday,” I whisper, pulling my present out of my coat pocket.

It took me fucking eons to make, and I pray it fits as I pull the hat out of my pocket and force it over his head. It’s a bright yellow, just like the traffic cone coat he makes me wear, and I beam as I flick the giant blue pouf at the very top.

It’s a perfect fit.

Caleb reaches up and feels it.

“I’m not great at crocheting, but I think it looks pretty good,” I admit.

Caleb licks his lips. “You made this?”

I nod, and he offers me a breathtaking smile before rising to his feet and pulling me into his arms. I scream as I’m lifted and spun around, and Jan looks about ready to throw a fit as she watches.

It’s about time she gets it through her thick skull that Caleb isn’t available.

“I love it, Ev,” Caleb says, setting me back on my feet.

He rips the hat off his head, thoroughly messing up his hair in the process, and holds it in front of his torso so he can better inspect it. I feel my face turn bright red as he flips it every which way, and my heart soars as he shoves it back on his head with a cheesy grin.

Did he think I wouldn’t get him anything?

“I’ve had everything you need for tonight brought home. You can get ready there,” he says, wrapping an arm around my waist and leading me toward the front doors.

Home.

It’s been so long since I’ve heard him call it that, and it feels nice.

“Adam’s going to be quite disappointed to be attending the party alone,” I tease.

Caleb shoots me a frosty glare, and I feel the boiling anger caused by Jan’s words disappear as he sneaks my car keys out of my coat pocket and nudges me toward the passenger side. Did he run here?

“You know, for how often you wolves are stripping naked and getting dressed in public, I hardly ever see it,” I admit.

“I mean, we’re not trying to flop our cocks around for everybody to see. We make a pointed effort to be discreet, especially when we have small human mates who get angry when so much as an ankle is exposed.” He says the last part in jest, and I turn and pinch his side before hurrying into the car.

He’s quick to follow, and I take my sweet time admiring his hat as he adjusts the seat and gets the heat vents turned toward me. He also turns the radio down.

“It’s not my fault you have such tantalizing ankles,” I defend myself. “I’m sure all the other male wolves are relieved to see those sexy guys hidden.”

Caleb snorts, and I clear my throat before awkwardly reaching over the center console and grabbing his wrist.

“I’m sorry I asked you to get on your knees.”

Using him as a pawn between Jan and my’s petty arguing was inappropriate. I’d be upset if he did it to me, and I know better.

Caleb flips our hands and kisses my mark.

“What did she say to you?” he pries.

I shrug. “I don’t want to speak about it.”

“Ev…” Caleb shakes his head with a low sigh. “I need to know, baby. I assume it was about me.”

I shrug, debating my following words.

“Why does the pack know how you like to receive blowjobs?”

Caleb groans and puts the car in reverse. He licks his lips as he backs out of my parking spot, and I stare at the side of his head while I wait for his answer.

“I didn’t think anybody even remembered that,” he admits, his cheeks flushing. “I got drunk with Cole once many years ago, and I thought it would be a great idea to tell him about this fantasy I have. I maybe used too much detail, and it didn’t occur to me at the time that everybody in the bar was listening.”

I gulp, relief as I’ve never known spreading through me.

“They teased me for years afterward,” he continues.

“Who teased you?”

Caleb shoots me a sideways glance.

“Everybody.”

Things between us fall silent, and I’m grateful when Caleb doesn’t pry any further into what Jan said to me. I’m sure he can figure enough out by my question, and I don’t wish to speak about it any longer.

“Will you move back in with me?” Caleb blurts.

I turn, surprised to see how visibly nervous he appears. Does he honestly think I’d ever say no to that request?

This is coming at an exceptionally good time, too, since my shower drain stopped working last week. The damn tub takes forever to empty, and the water builds up to my calves whenever I shower.

I have no idea how to fix it, and I’m much too horrified to tell anybody what I’ve done. I don’t even want to think about how expensive it will be to clear the pipes of whatever it is that’s clogged them.

Maybe the soap I purchased is coagulating inside them.

“Are you asking me to move back in as your mate?” I ask, needing to know before I give my answer. I’ll likely say yes either way, but I want to be prepared. “Do you intend for us to share a room and live as we used to, or are you doing this to protect me from HPAW?”

Caleb doesn’t hesitate to answer.

“I want you as my mate.”

My heart fucking soars.

“Then I’d be honored to move back in with you.”

Chapter 49

I stare at my reflection for longer than appropriate, nervously tugging on my dress and readjusting the fabric around my waist.

I don’t know what I was thinking when I let Mary and Stella convince me to get it. It’s so tight, and the low neckline leaves little to the imagination. The cut of the top makes it damn near impossible to wear a bra underneath, and after a good twenty minutes of adjusting, I decided to cut my losses and go without.

The fabric is thick enough that my lack of a bra isn’t too obscene, but I know Caleb will notice and say something about it.

At least the jewelry pulls some of the attention from my breasts. The diamonds are distracting, and they draw the eye further up my neck. I mess with the center stone before grabbing my earrings off the counter and putting them in.

I decided to wear my hair down, but it’s all pushed back and clipped out of my face so it doesn’t cover the jewelry. It looks pretty.

A knock on the bathroom door halts my self-evaluation, and I turn just in time to see Caleb peek his head in.

He freezes as he catches sight of me, and he takes his sweet time sliding his gaze down my body before pushing open the door the rest of the way and stepping inside.

“You take my breath away,” he admits.

I could say the same to him. He’s already dressed, and I eye his navy blue suit with an appreciative hum. Caleb tends to dress on the more formal side of things, but it never gets boring. His suit is tailored perfectly for him, and the jacket hugs his shoulders and arms in a way that makes me dizzy.

He’s got a simple white button-down underneath, and I can’t help but let out a tiny laugh as I eye his tie. It’s covered in tiny images of wolves, and I’m sure he feels quite proud of it.

Caleb always feels proud when he’s able to incorporate a wolf into his clothing. It’s much more endearing than it has any business being.

“I didn’t take you as the type of person to have a party with a dress code,” I admit, leaning against the sink.

Caleb steps further into the room.

“It was Sash’s idea. She said it would boost morale and give people something to look forward to,” he says. “If I had my way, I’d spend my birthdays eating junk food on the couch with my mate.”

It feels so fucking good to hear him call me that.

“I have another present for you when we get home.” I reach forward and trail my finger down the center of his chest.

Caleb raises a brow, his eyes growing heavy. I want to feel him inside me, for longer than thirty seconds this time. The other day was a tease, and I’m sure he’s feeling something similar.

“Another present,” he asks. “What might that be?”

He steps forward and grabs my hips, his hold tight as he lifts and sets me on the sink. I gulp, loving how easy it is for him to pick me up. Caleb slides his hands down my sides, his touch warm even through the thick fabric of my dress.

I clench my thighs together, and Caleb’s lips turn into a sly smile as he watches the muscles flex.

“Are you already wet for me, baby?”

Yes.

“You’re going to have to work harder than that,” I say instead. “I’m not a faucet, Caleb.”

Caleb sinks his teeth into his bottom lip as he finds the end of my dress and slides his hand up it. His fingers tickle the inside of my knees, and I spread my legs as far as my dress will allow as he works them up my thigh.

“Are you sure about that?” he challenges. “Are you sure your cunt isn’t soaking for me right now?”

I’m not wearing any underwear, and I can see on Caleb’s face the moment he realizes it. His eyes widen just slightly before he levels his expression, and he moves his body closer to mine.

Caleb holds eye contact as he runs his pointer finger over my slit. I’m sure he can feel my wetness from there, but he still applies pressure until he’s touching my entrance. A low moan slips from his lips as he feels me, and I take great pleasure in it.

I’m going to torture him this evening.

“This feels wet to me, Ev,” Caleb whispers.

“Do you think it’s wet enough for a cock to slip right in?” I ask.

Caleb sucks in a shaky breath.

“It’s wet enough for my cock to slip right in.”

He shoves two fingers into me to prove his point, and I gasp as he curls them upward and brings his thumb down on my clit. He rubs the sensitive nerves with a smile, and I shut my eyes as I struggle to collect myself.

I’m supposed to be torturing him. Not the other way around.

“I’m going to fuck this when we get home tonight,” Caleb says, his voice low. “I’m going to bend you over the bed and fuck this wet cunt hard.”

Fuck.

Caleb eases his fingers in and out of me, the drag and thickness of them making my thighs shake, before he pulls out.

I whine.

“Make me cum,” I plead.

Caleb shakes his head. “No.”

He slips his fingers into my mouth, pressing down on my tongue and filling my mouth with the taste of myself. I’m slightly bitter, but it isn’t bad.

I curl my tongue around his fingers and clean myself off them. His eyes darken as I do so, and I let out a low moan as I lean forward and take them deeper.

He has fantasies about feeding me his body, and I fully intend to take advantage of that.

“Does it taste good?” Caleb asks.

I hollow my cheeks and nod. Caleb groans, and I hope he’s imagining how it would feel to have my mouth around his cock like this.

“I want to try,” he whispers, pulling his fingers out and bringing his lips to mine.

His tongue is inside my mouth a second later, tasting my arousal for himself. He groans as he kisses me, and a low curse slips from his lips as he pulls away and steps back. I drop my gaze, eyeing his erection as he reaches down and adjusts himself.

He’s too hard to hide it entirely, but he does his best before grabbing and pulling me off the counter.

My knees wobble as I’m set on my feet, and I grab his forearms as I regain my balance.

I was supposed to be teasing him, but I feel like I’m getting the short end of the stick.

Caleb leads me downstairs, and it takes everything to ignore the dampness between my thighs as I slip on my coat and gloves. It’s horribly distracting, and Caleb smirks as I awkwardly shift my weight from foot to foot.

I hope the wolves at the party won’t be able to smell me.

“Where is this party?” I ask.

“There’s a big warehouse we use for events. It’s on the outskirts of the pack, but we’ve driven past it a few times,” Caleb says.

He grabs and tries to hand me my hat, but I reject it with a laugh. I didn’t spend an hour doing my hair only to shove a giant hat on my head and ruin it. Caleb glances between me and my hat before shoving it into his pocket and grabbing his.

I can’t help but beam as he pulls it onto his head.

“That’s going to ruin your hair,” I laugh, reaching for him.

He moves his head out of my hand’s reach.

“I don’t care.”

I press my hands to my cheeks, begging their redness to disappear, before rushing outside to the car. Caleb takes the driver’s seat, and I get comfortable in the passenger while he drives us to the venue.

For once, our vehicle isn’t the only one on the road, and I realize it must be because the wolves don’t want to run and potentially ruin their clothes or hair.

The cars are jam-packed with people, and I laugh as I peer inside the few that pass us. I’m sure there are a limited number of wolves who own a vehicle and know how to drive, and it’s clear those people are the most popular tonight.

It only takes us about fifteen minutes to arrive at the venue, and given the sheer number of cars in the lot, I’d say the party is in full swing. I hear music from inside, and several wolves are lingering outside the front doors.

I nervously wring my hands together as Caleb kills the engine.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he says, taking my hands.

My tongue feels heavy in my mouth, and I clear my throat as I search for the right words. I’m fucking terrified, and a small part of me is convinced I’m going to be murdered before the night is over.

“I’m nervous.” That’s a light way of describing it.

Caleb gently squeezes my clammy hands, but it doesn’t make me feel much better.

I was hoping to hide my feelings toward his birthday party, not wanting to ruin his big day, but I should’ve known he’d be able to sense them.

I’m pretty sure nobody would be so daring as to say something cruel when I’m here with Caleb, but nothing stops them from giving me dirty looks and talking behind my back. They’ve been doing it for months, but it’s easier to ignore when I’m not there to see it.

Tonight they’ll be doing it in front of me, and I don’t know how I will handle that.

Caleb brings my hands to his face and kisses my mark. His lips linger, and I meet his eye as he repeats the kiss.

“I’ll be by your side the entire night,” he promises.

Nodding, I force myself to take a few calming breaths before unbuckling my seatbelt and stepping out of the car. Caleb does the same, and he’s by my side in an instant, his arm wrapped tightly around my waist.

It’s comforting, and I hold my chin high as I make my way to the entrance.

Too many eyes are on me as I step through the front doors.

There’s a small foyer, and Caleb leads me to a coat room on the left and helps me hang my jacket and gloves. He tugs his hat off last, and I take a moment to fix his hair before readjusting my dress one last time.

“You look absolutely stunning tonight,” Caleb whispers.

My face heats, but I’m glad to hear it. Stella said he’d love it, and I’m delighted to see she wasn’t wrong.

Caleb leads me out of the coat room and down a small hallway where all the noises originate. A few wolves are lingering about, but I’m sure it’s nothing compared to the sheer amount inside the big room.

My heels click against the floor, and I’m happy I had the idea to wear them these past few days so they’re broken in and don’t hurt my feet.

The music grows louder, and I hold my breath as we step through the doorway into the room. It’s giant, and hundreds of wolves are already filling the space.

Everybody is dressed to the nines, the women in elegant gowns and the men in tailored suits.

To the left is a dance floor full of wolves, and I feel my lips twitch upward as I spot Mary grinding on a man I’ve never seen before. She’s wearing a short red dress with a plunging neckline, and I turn away when the man behind her begins to trail his hand up her thighs. I didn’t realize she was mated, but I suppose it makes sense.

Several round tables span the remainder of the room, most of them full of wolves. They all wear broad smiles as they chat amongst themselves, and I even spot a table full of older men playing cards in the back.

“Should we go to the bar?” Caleb points to our right.

I turn, pleased to see a giant staffed bar. A long line of people are waiting for drinks, and four bartenders rush around to complete the orders and move on to the next wolf. It looks efficient.

“Are you drinking tonight?” I ask.

Caleb’s lips meet the back of my head, and I awkwardly step forward until he disconnects from me. I’m nervous enough about us showing up together, and I’m not ready for us to be doing any more than that.

I can only handle so much hatred at once.

“Not tonight,” Caleb says, his answer unsurprising. He’s never been a big drinker, and I’ve only seen him drunk once.

People don’t bother hiding their gazes as they walk past us, and I curl my sweaty hand around Caleb’s forearm and let him lead me toward the bar.

This isn’t too bad.

“Caleb!”

I take that back.

My entire body stiffens, and I plaster what I hope looks like a friendly smile on my lips as I spin toward Sash.

Chapter 50

Sash pulls Caleb into a tight hug, her head buried into his chest as he wraps his arms around her.

“I was starting to think you weren’t coming!” she pouts.

Caleb laughs.

“To my own birthday party?”

I scratch the side of my neck, fully aware I’m the reason we’re arriving so late. It took me longer to get ready than I thought, and I pushed us behind schedule. Caleb said nobody would notice, but I should’ve known better than to believe him.

He just didn’t want to rush me.

Sash gives Caleb another tight squeeze. I’m glad to see there’s no bad blood between them, and I awkwardly stand next to the pair as she whispers something I can’t quite make out into the fabric of his shirt.

His muscles stiffen before he pulls away, and he wraps his arm around my waist before changing course and looping it through my arm instead. He’s picked up on my desire for space, and I’m glad he’s not making a big deal out of it.

Cole approaches out of the corner of my eye. I haven’t seen him in a couple of weeks, the man laying low after Sash was banished and the threat of me being killed by the wolves diminished.

“Cole,” Caleb greets him.

They give one another a quick hug, and I clasp my hands behind my back as Sash’s intense stare digs into me. I’m scared she’ll explode if I try and say something to her, but I’m also afraid she will if I don’t.

Caleb smoothly pulls away from Cole and places his body between Sash and me.

“You look nice, Evelyn,” Cole compliments, breaking the awkward silence.

I jolt, surprised he’s speaking to me.

“Thank you,” I rush to say. “So do you.”

He steps behind Sash and wraps his arms around her waist. She visibly relaxes as she leans against him, and I spot her chest expand as she sucks in a deep breath and places her hands over his.

She’s wearing a floor-length black dress. It flares at the waist and moves with her, and I have to admit she looks amazing.

“I love your dress,” I say.

My voice comes out strong despite my nerves, and I hold Sash’s gaze as she raises a brow and tightens her grip on Cole’s wrist.

“Thank you.” She sounds strained. “Yours is nice, too.”

This is painful.

Caleb clears his throat and gestures to the bar.

“We were just about to get our drinks. Do either of you want anything?” he offers.

Cole shakes his head. “We’re fine, thank you.”

He leads Sash away, and I let out a sigh of relief the moment they’re gone. Caleb chuckles at my visible relaxation and places a hand on the small of my back. I have half a mind to step out of his hold, still unsure how I feel about him showing intimacy in public, but I don’t do anything to stop it.

It’s comforting, and I desperately need that right now.

Caleb gently nudges me toward the bar, and we make our way to the back of the line. The wolves surrounding us step aside and gesture for him to go right up to the bartender, but Caleb remains put.

“I’m okay waiting,” he laughs.

“It’s your birthday!” a woman near the front says. “Come on.”

She grabs her mate’s arm and pulls him aside, and the man accidentally bumps into her rounded stomach as he hurries out of Caleb’s way. She protectively places a hand over her belly and shifts so it’s out of harm’s way, and I can’t help but stare.

I’ve seen her at the hospital once or twice getting exams for her pregnancy, and she’s just beginning to show.

I smile at her as we pass, but she doesn’t look at me and doesn’t see it. The wolves are pretending I don’t exist, which isn’t the most encouraging, but it could always be worse.

Caleb leans over the bar and orders two drinks, one a water and another some fruity mixture I’m sure will lead to a nasty headache tomorrow morning. The bartender hands them over a minute later, and Caleb grabs them both before leading me to a far corner of the room.

I appreciate it.

Being in the center of all the action is nerve-racking.

“You should go mingle,” I say, taking my drink from his outstretched hand.

Caleb raises a brow and shakes his head.

“I’m happy here with you, Ev,” he promises.

I struggle to believe it.

Caleb is a natural-born leader, and I know he loves talking to his people. I’ve seen him at parties before, the way he floats from person to person with an easy smile. I used to enjoy being outgoing, too, but that’s hard to do when surrounded by people who hate you.

Still, I don’t want to be why Caleb doesn’t have a fantastic time at his birthday party.

He should be celebrating, not hiding in a corner with me.

“I won’t be offended if you want to take a lap,” I try again.

Caleb ignores me, and I let out an annoyed huff before scanning the room. People are still going crazy on the dance floor, but now an upbeat tune I haven’t heard before plays. It seems to have a synchronized dance tied to it, and the wolves on the dance floor move in tandem.

They laugh as they spin around and clap, and I wonder if Caleb knows this dance, too.

I’ll see if he can teach me when we get home tonight.

I continue looking around the room, but I pause when I spot a familiar face.

Adam is sitting by himself at one of the back tables. He’s all dressed up, and he’s got one of his feet propped up on his chair and his chin resting on his knee. There’s nobody else at the table, and he looks mildly bored as he messes around on his phone.

“Did you tell Adam you were picking me up from work?” I ask Caleb.

He takes a sip of his drink and nods.

“Yes.”

That’s good. I should’ve asked earlier, and I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as I watch Adam set his phone down and stare at the dance floor. His eyes flicker over all the dancing couples, obvious longing evident in his expression.

Most wolves his age are mated, and I’m sure it’s hard being one of the last ones left.

He scratches at the mark on the back of his hand, and his chest expands as he sucks in a deep breath and reaches for his phone again. He looks so lonely, and my heart tugs as I watch him.

“Would you like to go talk to him?” Caleb asks.

I turn to him with a raised brow, surprised to hear him say that. Caleb is constantly annoyed by our friendship, and I know he doesn’t like when we’re close. Caleb complains whenever my apartment smells of Adam, and he made it clear he didn’t want me attending the party with my nosy neighbor.

“Are you sure?” I ask.

Caleb slides his hand down my back and cups my butt.

“Just be careful to keep your distance,” he warns.

He pats my cheek and urges me forward, and I clench my hands into tight fists as I work up the strength to leave Caleb’s side. Even now, I can feel the eyes of dozens of wolves on me. They don’t try to hide their staring, and I fight the urge to shrivel and make myself small as I step away from Caleb and make my way to Adam.

I’m sure Caleb’s keeping an eye on me, and I swallow past the lump in my throat as I reach Adam’s table.

Adam looks up when I’m a few steps away, and a genuine smile spreads across his lips as he takes in my hair and outfit.

“Ev! You clean up nice!” he laughs.

I run my hands down the front of my dress.

“So do you!”

I mean it, too. Adam only ever wears his ratty sweatpants at home, and I have to admit he looks quite nice in his black dress pants and crisp white shirt. It even looks like he ironed it, and I wonder if he actually owns an iron or if he welcomed himself into my apartment to use mine.

I’m not sure I want to know.

He stands and pulls out a chair for me, and I shake my head and gesture toward the dance floor. Caleb will kill me, but nothing raises the spirits more than a dance. It’s clear Adam needs it, too.

He looks fucking miserable.

“Dance with me?” I ask.

Adam glances behind me before shaking his head.

“I’ll pass on that.”

I turn, locking eyes with my glaring mate. Five wolves have surrounded Caleb in my absence, but his attention is solely on me. He watches Adam and me over their heads, and he gives a subtle shake of his head before pointedly looking at the seat Adam pulled out for me.

He wants me to sit.

If things weren’t so tentative between us, I’d probably ignore him and insist Adam and I dance, but I don’t want to push my luck. Adam breathes out a sigh of relief as I plop down, and he glances at Caleb one more time before returning to his seat.

“I’ve already done plenty of dancing,” he says. “Before you got here.”

I don’t believe that one bit.

“With who?” I pry.

Adam leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest.

“With my students. The kids come earlier in the day, and the last of them cleared out about twenty minutes before you got here,” he explains.

I take a sip of my drink.

“You’re telling me I missed watching you getting yanked around a dance floor by a gaggle of seven-year-olds?” I pout. “I would’ve paid good money to see that.”

It still takes me by surprise that Adam is a teacher. He’s such an asshole to me, and I can’t imagine him having the patience to work with children all day long. Maybe he’s lying about what he does.

I’ll have to run his story by Caleb later and confirm he’s not lying.

I take another sip of my drink, debating whether or not it’s appropriate to ask Adam if he can overhear what the other wolves are saying about me. I’m eager to know, but I don’t want them to hear my prying.

I’m sure Caleb would lie to me if I asked him.

He’d make up some elaborate story to avoid telling me the truth, but Adam doesn’t care about preserving my feelings as much as Caleb does. He’ll be honest, even if it hurts.

“What have you—“

An ear-piercing noise cuts off my words, and before I can even try and figure out what it is, Adam’s lunging out of his chair and tackling me to the ground. He’s fucking heavy, and I land on the floor with a hard thump just as the wall nearest us implodes.

Adam takes the brunt of the explosion, and the table we were sitting at flips over the top of us.

He grunts as it cuts through his back and presses himself further into me. What the hell? Adam’s arms curl around my head and tuck my face into the front of his throat as the room around us bursts into chaos.

The high-pitched noise only seems to grow in volume, and I wince as Adam cries out and burrows his ear into the ground.

What the fuck is happening? HPAW found a frequency that prevents wolves from shifting into their animal forms, and I can’t imagine what this is, if not that.

This is HPAW.

Wolves have sensitive hearing, and I cup my hands over Adam’s ears as gunfire fills the room. Where is Caleb?

I try to tear my face free from Adam’s chest to see what’s happening in the room, but another loud explosion makes me freeze. Adam stiffens against me, and I press my hands harder against his ears as the incessant high-pitched screech grows louder.

It makes my head hurt, but my human ears are dull enough that it’s manageable.

Adam brings his hands over mine to hold them in place and lifts his head to look around, his eyes wide and panicked as they flicker around the room. I turn and do the same, unable to comprehend what I’m seeing.

Men in masks and full tactical gear, HPAW soldiers, I assume, storm in through the blown-out exterior wall. Wolves lunge for them, but it’s clear they’re struggling by the way they shake their heads and press their usually pointy ears flat against their heads.

The soldiers fire at the wolves, most landing a few hits before they’re taken down and torn apart. The pained whines that slip from the wolves’ throats when they’re shot is like a stab to the chest.

It’s hard to see anything after the wolves are on top of the soldiers, but I can tell by the screaming and spewing blood that it’s not good.

My eyes land on Caleb.

He’s in his wolf form at the front of the carnage, but his eyes are on me. His entire body is positioned so he never loses sight of me, despite the vulnerability it gives him.

“I’m going to get you out of here,” Adam shouts. “Don’t fucking fight me, Evelyn, and don’t fucking let go.”

I continue to hold his ears as he curls a hand under my butt and urges me to wrap my legs around his waist. I do so, holding on tight while he prepares to jump up and run. Caleb continues to watch us, and he makes brief eye contact with Adam before dipping his chin and lunging at a soldier who turns and aims a weapon between his eyes.

Another wolf brings the human down before he shoots, and vomit rises in my throat at how close Caleb was to being shot.

What the fuck is happening?

How did they get this far onto our land without being detected? It would’ve taken hours to get here from the border.

Adam jumps to his feet and takes off in the opposite direction of the fighting. He runs faster than me even when supporting my weight, and I tuck my face into his chest and squeeze the sides of his head for dear life as he pivots left, jumps over a knocked-over chair, and makes his way toward an emergency exit.

Not many wolves are attempting to flee.

They’ve all shifted and are fighting, the sheer amount of torn clothing on the floor is proof enough of that.

We make it only a few feet from the door when another explosion rattles my teeth. It’s from where we’re headed, and I make eye contact with a flying piece of metal just moments before it smashes into my skull and everything goes black.

___

I lowkey feel bad for Adam