Land of Wolves: Chapters 11-15

Chapter 11

Caleb is like a blanket. No, no like. Caleb is a blanket.

He squeezes me against his chest, his arms caging me in and denying me even an inch of space. I’ve never slept with a man before, and thought it would be hard to get comfortable, but surprisingly I feel entirely at ease as I stare up at Caleb’s sleeping face.

He’s a beautiful man, and I try to ingrain every pore, mark, and piece of him I can see into my memory as he opens his mouth and exhales a soft breath of air. I think his lips are my favorite, and I wiggle in his arms until I’m able to reach up and touch mine to his.

He purses them, the wolf eager to kiss me even when unconscious.

The realization makes my heart thump, and I give my head a subtle shake to push away the pain it brings forward in my heart. I am going to kill him soon. I can’t get too attached.

I’ve been telling myself that since day one, but so far I’m doing a shitty job at keeping my distance. Caleb keeps saying and doing the right things, forcing my fondness for him to continue growing. I need to keep my mission in the forefront of my mind if I’m to succeed.

Take down the Alpha, take down the pack.

I chant that to myself, knowing I need it ingrained deep.

Caleb shifts as if sensing my bad thoughts, and holds me tighter to his chest before rolling on top of me slightly. He applies no weight to my healing ribs, but throws his thigh over my hips and pins me beneath him. I don’t mind it, and let a small smile toy at the corners of my mouth as I shut my eyes and let sleep pull me back under.

When I wake up again, I’m cold and know immediately that I’m alone.

Caleb is nowhere to be found, and I refuse to let myself feel disappointed as I crawl out of bed and tug on some clothes. A handful of items were purchased and placed in the closet for me, but somehow all smell like Caleb.

I have a feeling he did something to them to make it that way, the wolf probably rubbing himself on them or something weird. I don’t ask for fear that he’ll get embarrassed and stop.

Where did Caleb go?

He’s almost always here when I wake up, and if I’m sleeping and he has to leave he will nudge me to let me know he’s heading out. Today I received neither of those things. I search the whole house before tugging on my coat and heading outside, my boots stomping through the fresh snow.

His car is here, but that doesn’t mean much considering he prefers to shift into his wolf and run everywhere he needs to go.

I hesitate, staring at the vehicle, before grabbing the keys off the entryway table and heading to it. I’ve been wanting to explore without him for a while now, and this is the perfect opportunity. I want to see how the pack interacts when he’s not present.

It’ll be good intel for HPAW.

At least that’s what I tell myself as I mess with his seat and mirrors, knowing he’ll get annoyed the next time he has to drive somewhere. Maybe he’ll let me know where he’s going next time he leaves.

HPAW taught me how to drive when I was a teenager, but I can tell I’m a bit rusty as I back out of the driveway and turn onto the main road. It’s a straight shot into town, and I move slowly so I don’t slip on any snow or ice still lining the street. I suppose there’s no need to salt them when they’re hardly ever used.

There’s a coffee shop we drive past whenever Caleb takes me to work with him, and I’ve been wanting to go there for a while now.

People stare at the car as I pull it into the empty lot and step outside. The place is busy, and I do my best not to look intimidated as I push open the front door and look around. I’m surrounded by wolves, and while I trust that Caleb has no intentions to hurt me, that confidence is not extended to his pack.

I feel my muscles relax when I catch the gaze of a few people and they all smile. That’s a good sign, I guess.

The barista is waiting for me, and looks almost excited as I approach the counter and glance at the board behind her head.

“Alpha!”

I freeze, confused, before spinning in search of Caleb.

He’s nowhere to be seen, and the breezy laugh of the barista has me turning back to her.

“I was talking to you, Evelyn. You are our female Alpha.” She explains, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. “What can I get you to drink?”

What? I didn’t realize being Caleb’s mate earned me a title. If he dies, does that mean I am the new leader? I’ll have to discuss with Caleb what exactly me being the female Alpha means.

That could change everything.

I pick the first thing on the menu that looks good, and dig through my pockets for some money as the barista rings me up. I thought Caleb was being so weird when I caught him shoving bills into each of my coat pockets last week, and it seems I owe him an apology for my teasing.

That money is coming in handy.

The barista makes quick work handing me my change and making my drink, and I offer a quiet thank you as I take it from her and find a small table near the back of the shop. The wolves don’t do a very good job hiding their glances, and I pretend not to notice as I sit down and sip my drink.

It’s good, and the warmth feels amazing after driving here in the cold car.

I stare out the window, pretending to be lost in thought as I eavesdrop on the conversations around me. A group of young girls to my left are working on some school project, and joke quietly to one another as they get distracted and start talking about some cute boy in their class. It feels eerily similar to the way humans behave, but there’s a distinct lack of desire to their words.

They are probably in their early to mid-teens, and I’d expect girls their age to talk about wanting to go out on a date or kiss him, or maybe even wish he ends up being their mate, but there is none of that. Their descriptions of him are tame, all of them respectful of the mate they are hoping to have in the future.

It’s weird.

A young couple on the other side of me is more interesting to listen to, and speak quietly about some spat between two different packs north of here. They don’t go into detail, which is unfortunate, but from what I gather, it’s some land dispute. The two wonder if Caleb will be forced to intervene, and while the female seems to think he will, the male is adamant the issue can be solved without their Alpha needing to step in.

Very interesting.

I wasn’t aware there were divisions between the packs, and that could serve as a good way for HPAW to potentially make some alliances with the northern wolves and bring them down from the inside. Greed drives people to do stupid things, and from the sounds of it, these packs are feeling heaps of that emotion.

The land they argue over is stolen, anyway, and the only people with a genuine claim to it are the humans who inhabited it first.

Before I know it my cup is empty, and I return to the counter to buy myself a muffin before sitting back down. I’ve only taken two bites when the door flies open and Caleb comes strolling in. The teenage girls next to me immediately break out into giggles and hushed whispers.

I swallow a mouthful of muffin and greet Caleb with a slight dip of my chin.

“Good morning, beautiful.” He beams, his smile growing as he leans in and presses a kiss on my cheek.

I can feel my face warming, and clear my throat when he sits in the chair opposite me and helps himself to a bite of my muffin.

“How’d you know I was here?” I ask.

Does he have people watching me? I wouldn’t be surprised, but I’m shocked I haven’t noticed.

Caleb shakes his head and gestures to his car parked in the lot.

“I was feeling a bit antsy this morning and went for a run. This cafe is on my route, and it’s hard not to notice the single car in the lot.” He laughs.

I hum, noting for the first time that he’s wearing workout clothing and is covered in sweat. His arms and legs are exposed despite the frigid air, but I doubt it affects him much. The man is a furnace.

The barista approaches with water and sets it on the table next to Caleb’s hand, and in true Caleb fashion, he shoots her a grateful smile and greets her by name. Why’s he have to be so kind? It’s only making things harder.

I almost wish he was the cruel man HPAW painted him to be. I prepared myself for that, but this is catching me off guard.

“Why were you antsy?” I ask, drawing his attention back to me.

Caleb licks his lips and glances around the room, a sly smirk I don’t trust spreading over his face as he leans over the table and brings his lips to my ear. I find myself holding my breath, both excited and terrified to hear what he has to say.

“Because I woke up with my half-naked mate below me and a cock so hard it fucking ached.” He breathes, his lips grazing my ear before he presses another kiss to my cheek and pulls away.

I gulp, my chest constricting as he relaxes back in his chair and takes a long drink from his cup.

My thighs clench, and I struggle to think of a good rebuttal as I watch his throat bob with each swallow. I want to lick the sweat off him, and clear my throat before I say anything I regret. These wolves have good hearing, and I know any that care enough to listen can easily hear our whispers.

I’m sure most of the room is tuned in to us.

“Caleb!” I hiss, glancing around.

He shrugs, uncaring, before popping another sizable piece of my muffin in his mouth.

“I’ve waited a long time for you, my love, and I will not be shy in my desires.” He calmly states. “Just like I hope you’re not when I rub myself between your thighs again tonight.”

I choke on my drink, and hide my face in my hands as his words are felt straight in sex. I’ve never been a timid person, but his outward and very public dirty talk is more than I can handle.

Caleb seems to take pity as he breathes out a quiet laugh and promises to stop.

“Why don’t we go back home so you can clean up? Can I come to the office with you today?” I ask, desperate to change the subject.

Caleb downs the rest of his water before nodding and standing. He holds out his hand for me, and I ignore the tingles that spread down my arm as I accept it and let him help me rise. He grabs my muffin, too, and holds a piece to my mouth with a raised brow.

I should bite his fingers.

He pulls away when I try, a loud laugh bubbling up out of his throat as he drops the muffin piece in my mouth and pulls away.

“Nice try, mate.” He teases.

The wolves in the room do a poor job hiding their smiles as they watch us leave, and when Caleb holds out his hand for the keys, I clutch them and run to the driver’s door. I expect him to try and stop me, and am pleasantly surprised when he doesn’t fight it and climbs in the passenger seat.

He seems to regret that decision minutes later when I’m flying down the road, one of his hands clutching the door while the other grabs the console.

“Are you okay? You’re looking a little green.” I tease as I whip into the driveway and slam on the breaks.

That was fun.

Caleb’s knuckles are white, and when he turns to me with an angry glare I shriek and make a run for it.

I only make it three steps from the car before he’s picking me up and carrying me inside. My heart feels light as he helps me out of my coat before heading to the shower, and for once I don’t think about HPAW or my duty to kill him as I head into the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea.

Chapter 12

“I want to take you on a date.”

I spin, shocked Caleb entered the kitchen without me noticing. He’s always so quiet when he moves, the man surprisingly lithe despite his large size. I suppose that’s what makes the wolves so hard to fight.

They’re always sneaking up on us.

“Is that so?” I tease.

Caleb grins, his white teeth on full display as he steps forward and further invades my space.

I try to hide my shock as he curls his hands underneath my thighs and lifts me onto the kitchen counter. The action brings me closer to his height, and I can’t help but smile as he slides his hands down my calves and urges me to wrap my legs around his waist.

I’d say I’m quite fond of this particular position.

“It’s about time I show you off to the pack.” He breathes, leaning in until his lips just barely graze mine. “I’ve been informed I’m hoarding you and it’s impolite to keep you locked away in my home.”

I arch my back, desperate for more of my body to be on his.

It’s been a whole week since I’ve had my cast removed, and I’m nowhere closer to getting Caleb inside me. At this point my ribs are almost entirely healed, and even the doctors agree that it’s safe for us to engage in physical activity.

Caleb groans as I slide my hands up the front of his shirt, my nails scratching his abs as I inch them upward toward his chest. I’ve learned that Caleb likes when I use my nails on him, the man always shivering and falling apart when I do.

He also seems to like it when I bite him or do anything that leaves a mark.

“A date, Ev.” He reminds, reaching up his shirt so he can grab my wrists and pull my hands away.

I frown, my lips tugging down at the corners.

Caleb laughs at my annoyance, his happiness infectious as I bite my cheeks to stop from smiling. He’s so dumb.

With little urging, I find myself heading upstairs to shower and get dressed. My excitement only grows as I get ready, my mind running over a thousand scenarios of what he has in mind for our date. I’ve never been on one before, and Caleb seems the type to put a lot of thought into them.

Even if he is avoiding having sex with me, I still like all the quality time we’ve been spending together. Caleb’s so interesting to watch, and I’m very quickly growing obsessed with doing just that.

I’ve even found myself enjoying it when I’m not getting any good information for HPAW.

Caleb meets me at the bottom of the steps when I’m finally dressed and ready, his gaze sliding pointedly down my frame in a way that has my body on fire.

I love the way he looks at me.

He holds out his arm for me to take, and I’m more than happy to oblige as I link them together and let him lead me to the car. He refuses to let me drive after the last time, but I don’t mind too much as I climb in the passenger seat and turn all the air vents on myself.

I also take it upon myself to adjust the music and turn up the volume, two things I know he hates but won’t say anything about. He does roll his eyes when I settle on a pop station, but I make sure to keep the volume relatively low so it’s not too bothersome.

He’s got sensitive ears.

Or at least that’s what he says. I think he just doesn’t like my music.

“Where are we going?” I ask, peering out my window as I curl my fingers around his hand currently resting on my thigh.

Caleb squeezes my flesh, but doesn’t answer. I’m not entirely surprised, and do my best to contain my excitement as he parks in front of an abandoned building and kills the engine.

“Stay here.” He orders.

I laugh, turning to watch as he jumps out of the car and runs to grab something from the trunk. I sure hope it’s not a shovel he plans to kill and bury me with. Caleb’s back a moment later, his large frame taking up the entirety of the open space he creates as he opens my door and holds out a pair of thick snow pants and white boots.

The shoes are surprisingly cute, and I admire them with a slight nod before scanning the thick, vibrant orange coat he’s got tucked under his arm. Why on earth is he trying to make me look like a traffic cone?

“How flattering.” I snort, kicking off my shoes and reaching for the pants.

Caleb only grins, the man practically emanating delight as he watches me yank them up over my jeans and struggle with the button at my waist. The boots are next, and already I can feel my feet sweating as Caleb bends to help me do up the laces. He ties them tight, and I hop out of the car and slip on the coat while the oversized man beside me makes himself busy shoving a giant hat on my head.

It looks like all that time I spent on my hair was for nothing.

“Are you warm?” He asks, bending to look me in the eye.

I nod.

“I’m sweltering.”

One playful pinch to my cheeks later and Caleb’s grabbing my hand and dragging me around the side of the abandoned building and into the wooded area behind it. He only wears boots and a mildly insulated jacket, but I have a feeling that’s more to keep him from getting wet than it is to keep him warm.

I flinch and ram myself into Caleb’s side when a wolf bursts through the trees and sprints past me, its brown fur practically brushing against my arm as it hurries ahead and smashes into another wolf running perpendicular to it.

Caleb wraps an arm around my waist and holds me close as I cringe. That looks like it hurt.

Despite the impact, both wolves are up and running in a matter of seconds, their muscular bodies easily absorbing the hit.

“What’s this?” I ask as I spot another wolf deep into the woods where we’re heading.

The number of them grows the further we walk, and before long I’m practically surrounded by the large animals.

“We get antsy when we’re in our skin forms for too long, and once a month we have a big party of sorts to get all that pent-up energy out. Think of it as an adult play date.” Caleb leans in and whispers the last bit in my ear, but I can tell his words have been heard as a few snarls fill the space.

The sound is scary, but Caleb’s lack of response makes it clear they’re made in good humor. I suppose the wolves are limited to the noises they can make when in their fur forms.

“There are races and hunting, mostly for rabbits, and usually just a lot of running into one another. We have a big bonfire up ahead, and I thought you’d like to sit with me and watch the chaos.” Caleb offers.

There’s a slight hesitation in his voice that has me turning to him in question. He licks his lips and squeezes my hand, and I feel my heart skip a beat as I realize it’s because he’s nervous.

“That sounds amazing.” I respond, eager to assure him I like this.

Despite my general dislike for the wolves, I do have to admit they are fascinating. Watching them like this does sound enjoyable.

Caleb takes me further into the woods, and once I see the fire, I speed up until I’m practically leading him. He lets me, happily following behind as I pull him toward the heat. Despite the sheer amount of layers and wool he’s forced me into, my cheeks and nose are growing slightly cold.

I hope they aren’t too red, but I figure they are by the way Caleb’s eyes keep darting to them.

It’s a shame he doesn’t show this level of care and concern toward the thousands of humans he and the other wolves murder.

Caleb wipes the dusting of snow off an empty seat before plopping down and pulling me onto his lap. He cages me in with his arms, and I settle against him as I stare in awe at the roaring fire in front of us.

A few wolves are standing around in their skin form, but most are in their fur. They smile and greet us, their welcomes friendly as one of the men Caleb frequently meets with grabs some drinks from a cooler and hands them over.

I’m happy to have something to distract my hands with, and even more pleased to discover it’s alcohol.

“You said this happens once a mo-“ I start, my words dying in my throat as I watch two giant wolves slam directly into one another on the opposite end of the fire.

They straighten out with snarls before lunging, and I can only stare in awe at the grace and speed at which they move. I’ve seen videos of wolves fighting, but never have I witnessed it so close. Even though they’re clearly doing it in good spirit, their bites never truly digging in deep, it’s still a complete shock to see.

“They’re showing off for you.” Caleb snorts, shooing them away a minute later.

The two huff, turning to look at us head-on. Their eyes reflect the light, and it seems almost spooky as they peer in at us from the dark woods.

Despite not being able to see most of the wolves, I can sure hear their paws slamming against the ground and the loud thumps from where they run into one another.

They really are like a bunch of puppies.

“Do you not participate?” I ask after a moment.

Caleb shrugs and takes a sip of his drink. I copy the action, noting that mine is almost empty while his is still full.

“I used to, but not anymore. Most of the wolves you see here are still unmated.” He explains, his lips brushing my ear. “Once we find our other halves, we tend to find other ways to release our pent-up energy.”

The way he says those words make me shiver, and I hope the thick layers between us help to hide my reaction. I’m more than happy to help him release that energy, and curse HPAW for the extent of the injuries they gave me.

If it weren’t for my ribs, I have a feeling Caleb would have bedded me long ago.

At some point a wolf in her skin form tosses us a small bag of chips, her eyes shining with excitement as she almost immediately begins to strip out of the loose dress she wears. It takes everything in me not to stare as she gets naked in front of all of us, and I hope I’m subtle in the way I turn my body so I’m blocking Caleb’s view.

He laughs, and makes a big show out of turning his face away from her direction.

I’m aware he wasn’t even paying attention or looking, the wolves finding nudity natural, but I don’t care.

“You’re the only female I lust after, my mate.” Caleb whispers. He grabs my chin and turns me toward him. “Although I must admit I do like seeing this jealousy on you.”

I elbow him hard in the side.

For a moment there’s nothing, but then Caleb flings us out of the chair with a dramatic shout. I land in a heap on top of him, a bit disorientated before I realize he’s playing around with me. His cheeks are flushed as I grab a handful of snow and attempt to shove it in his face, but he grabs my wrist and forcibly turns my hand toward myself.

“Caleb!” I scream, unable to hold back my laughter as I struggle to fight out of his hold.

He grins, wrapping an arm around my back so I can’t escape as he shoves my handful of snow back into my own face.

“Why are you rubbing snow on your face, Ev?” He teases. “You should really stop doing that. It’s cold.”

I splutter, snow getting in my mouth as my hat slips off my head and Caleb finally lets up.

I straddle him, and feel only a little stupid for the way I can’t see to get myself to stop smiling. My cheeks are beginning to hurt, and if I’m honest with myself, I didn’t even know one could grin this hard for this long.

Caleb continues to hold me as he sits up, removing his back from the snow and connecting his chest with mine. This position puts his head slightly above mine, and I look into his eyes as he ducks and gives me a gentle kiss.

I’m more than eager to return it. This man is always fucking teasing me, and I resist the urge to beg when he pulls away after a few seconds. Is it too much to ask he fuck me into next week?

His eyes are soft as he grabs my discarded hat and sticks it back on my head. My ears are cold, and Caleb takes care to ensure they’re entirely tucked underneath the warm knitting.

“I have a surprise for you at home.” He whispers.

I perk up, more than a little excited.

“What is it?”

Instead of answering, Caleb grabs my hand and places it underneath his shirt. His abs flex against my fingers, and I suck in a shaky breath as he raises my palm to his heart. It’s thundering inside his chest, but before I can comment on it he’s grabbing my hips and yanking me further into him.

He’s on his feet a second later, carrying me away from the bonfire and toward the parked car.

“No longer will I be rubbing myself between your thighs. Tonight you’re going to learn how it feels to take a wolf.” He states, his words spoken like a promise. “And I intend to make you mine in every way.”

Chapter 13

Caleb drops me on his bed with a laugh, and I can't help but respond with one of my own as I bounce on the mattress and prop myself up on my elbows. Caleb is my favorite when he's in one of his playful moods.

He stands on the edge of the bed, his knees just barely grazing the sheets as he grabs my ankles and pulls me toward him. I fall back as I'm moved, but quickly prop myself up on my elbows once more.

"My mate," He states, grabbing the tip of my sock and pulling it off. "I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've imagined this since bringing you home."

I can feel my face flushing, and hope it isn't too apparent as he lowers my now bare foot and reaches for my other ankle. He holds eye contact as he removes my second sock and sets my foot back on the mattress.

The man barely gave me time to take off my boots before throwing me over his shoulder and carrying me upstairs, and I'm sure I look like a fool lying here in a thick winter coat, snow pants, and bare feet.

Caleb still looks at me like I'm the most beautiful woman he's ever seen, though, traffic cone coat and all, and places his hands onto the mattress on either side of my hip as he leans in and connects his lips with mine.

His kiss is soft, and I barely have time to enjoy it before my hat is tugged off my head and hands are unzipping my coat.

My breath is embarrassingly deep as Caleb pulls back and nudges it down my shoulders. The shirt I wear underneath is thin, and he wastes no time yanking that off, too. I'm glad I chose to wear a cute bra today, and I hold in a smile as I watch his eyes travel over the light blue lace.

He told me this was his favorite color, the man not at all subtle as he followed it up by reaching into my underwear drawer and pulling this bra out. He held it up, making sure I knew exactly what one he was talking about, before putting it away and leaving for work.

It was much cuter than it had any business being.

Caleb takes his time looking me over, and while I absolutely love it, the snow pants are getting a bit hot and I'm forced to take matters into my own hands as I reach down and begin unzipping them.

"No," Caleb breathes, grabbing my wrists and pulling them away.

He moves fast, and I'm barely able to comprehend what's happening as he pins them above my head. The position is similar to the one he put me in in the shower, and I realize with a grin that this must be a favorite of his.

He's lucky I like it too.

"I'm hot," I complain.

Caleb rolls his eyes and releases my wrists, but I keep them in place as he takes over removing my pants for me.

"You're always rushing me." He laughs.

I shrug, knowing he likes it. He's admitted before that he enjoys how outspoken I am, especially when it comes to the way I speak to him. He doesn't have to worry about me going along with something just because I'm scared of saying no to him, and he knows when I say I like something, I genuinely mean it and am not just saying it to please him.

Caleb brings his lips to my belly as he hooks his fingers into my pants and tugs them down my legs. I lift my hips to make it easier, relieved when the thick bottoms are finally removed. Just as he did with my shirt, he's quick to grab my jeans and repeat the process, leaving me in only my matching blue underwear.

Today was a good day to wear the set.

I clench my jaw as he slides his lips across my lower belly, the tingling from our connection spreading to my sex. I want to grab his head and push his face down, but I have a feeling he wouldn't take well to that.

Caleb might enjoy pleasing me, but I've realized when it comes to the bedroom, he's going to do it the way he wants to.

Instead I grab his shoulders, my fingers curling into the thick muscle as he smiles against my skin and spreads my thighs. I prop my feet on the bed and open my legs, giving him access to all of me.

"Caleb," I huff when he slides his hands around my hips and brings his lips to the inside of my thigh.

He's teasing me.

"Yes?" He laughs.

I lift my head and glare down at him. His smile only widens, and with another low huff I scrunch the fabric of his shirt and pull it upward, gesturing for him to take it off.

He does so quickly, straightening back up and tugging it over his head.

My mouth runs dry. I've seen Caleb shirtless a hundred times at this point, but it does me in every damn time. He's full of hard muscle and soft skin, and I trail my eyes over his muscular chest and abs before traveling lower.

His erection strains against the material of his jeans, and I suck in a shaky breath as he slides both his pants and underwear down his legs.

Fuck.

"Spread your knees." He orders.

I didn't even realize I brought them together, the action a subtle way to clench and receive some of the pressure between my legs, and open back up as he takes hold of himself and stares. I'm aching, and feel my hips flexing and wiggling as he finally brings his free hand between my legs.

"Please," I whisper as he presses his knuckle against my slit over my underwear.

He doesn't respond, choosing instead to stare at my sex while he strokes himself.

I love the way he rolls his hips into his hand, the tip of his cock disappearing whenever he twists his fist around it. He's so big, and I'm more than a little eager to know how it will finally feel inside me.

"You're beautiful." Caleb mutters.

I drop my chin, flushing as he releases himself so he can pull my underwear down my hips and toss it on the floor. He sucks in a sharp breath as he sees the entirety of me, and I choke back a gasp as he drops to his knees and pulls me to the edge of the bed once more.

I'm desperate to know how it will feel to have his tongue on my sex, and slide my fingers into my hair as his warm breath hits me. Two thumbs slide up either side of my inner thighs just seconds before something wet trails its way up my slit.

I force myself to remain still as Caleb buries his face between my knees and licks me, the man wasting no time latching onto my clit. He's sloppy, and I can't tell if the wetness spreading over my inner thighs results from my arousal or his spit, but I don't care either way as I arch my back and press harder against his lips.

Fuck.

Caleb moans, sliding a finger into me as he flicks his tongue over my clit.

He seems to be enjoying this as much as I am, the noises emerging from him loud and frequent. I match them with moans of my own, and curl my fingers into the sheets as I snap my thighs around his head.

He drops a hand to my belly to hold me in place when I start to wiggle, the man forcing me still as I squeeze around him and cry out.

I'm so close.

He seems to sense it as his noises grow louder, and with a silent gasp I reach my peak and shatter beneath him.

Caleb licks me through it, his tongue lightly gliding over me until I still. I grimace when he pulls away, my eyes landing on the wetness covering the lower half of his face.

He hardly seems to mind, though, as he licks his lips and urges me to scootch back so he can kneel on the bed between my thighs.

"That was amazing." I gasp, reaching for his arms.

He smiles, ducking to kiss me before thinking better of it and sliding to my cheek instead.

I don't mind, and turn my head to connect our lips. I taste bitter, but it's not bad. The tongue that was just inside me grazes against my own, and I moan into his mouth as I feel him bringing himself between my thighs.

His cock is warm as he presses it against my entrance, and with a shaky breath Caleb pulls away to look down at where we connect.

"Do you want me to stop?" He asks, checking one last time before pushing inside.

I shake my head, my eyes widening in horror at the mere thought.

"No." I blurt, rolling my hips against his.

The action pushes his tip inside, and I watch as his jaw clenches and eyes squeeze shut in response to it.

"This is mine." I state, reaching down to take hold of him.

Caleb's eyes spring open before he smiles and nods, quickly agreeing.

I love it, and give his shaft a tight squeeze before releasing as he rocks forward and slips in further. He stretches me, but I love it and spread my thighs further apart as he drops his hands to either side of my head and drives in deeper.

"And this is mine." He grunts, sliding in the last few inches.

I gasp, my back arching as he grabs my leg and wraps it around his waist. I'm more than happy to comply, and let him move me how he wants as I adjust to his size.

"You take me so well." He compliments, leaning back to see where he disappears into me. "I knew you would."

My heart thumps. I love the praise, and I happily nod as he pulls out and rocks back into me. I feel stuffed, and writhe underneath him as he finds a rhythm he likes and begins to fuck me to it.

I bury my nails into his back and hold him close, desperate for as much of his skin to be on mine as he drives himself deeper with each thrust. I'm not sure what I was anticipating, but Caleb wasn't kidding when he said he would make me his in every way.

I arch and cry and beg as he fucks me, his brutal pace leaving little room for thoughts. Caleb's chest rubs against my own, and I don't even notice he's moved until my bra is gone and there's only bare skin between us.

I'm pretty sure he ripped it, but don't dwell on it as heat coils in my lower belly and another orgasm works its way through my body. Caleb doesn't slow, and fucks me through it before pulling out and grasping himself.

My legs fall open as he spills on my stomach, the low groan that slips from his lips making me shiver. I'll be thinking of that noise for the rest of my life.

"Fuck," Caleb huffs, releasing himself before flopping entirely on top of me.

His weight forces the breath out of my lungs, and I suffocate until he realizes what he's done and lifts a bit. He laughs, his eyes bright as he presses a kiss to my cheek and stands.

"That was amazing." He states, staring between my thighs.

When he licks his lips I snap my legs shut, not ready for whatever dirty thoughts are rushing through his mind right now. I need a break, and at least three hours of sleep before even entertaining the idea of him touching me again.

Not that it wasn't the best thing I've ever felt.

Caleb did not disappoint.

He continues to smile like a fool as he scans me, but I'm pretty sure I look identical as I do the same to him. His skin is covered in a thin layer of sweat, and his softening length is covered in me. Just the way it should be.

Eventually Caleb steps forward and gently presses a hand to my ribs, his expression shifting from happy to concerned.

"Do they hurt?" He asks.

I shake my head.

"Not at all." I promise.

Caleb doesn't seem to believe me as he continues to prod around, his touch feather-light as he prods at each of the ribs that were once broken. He watches my face, searching for any signs of pain, and relaxes when he finds none.

"Let's get you cleaned up." He decides, urging me toward the shower.

I'm more than happy to follow, and wrap my arms around his waist as he leads us into the bathroom and grabs fresh towels.

I'll worry about HPAW later.

Chapter 14

"Can I help you, Ev?" Caleb laughs.

I shrug, not at all embarrassed about having been caught staring. It's near impossible not to when he's pouting at his computer like a frustrated young child.

"What're you working on?" I ask, always prying.

As much as I hate myself for it, I'm starting to care less and less about my mission. I know it makes me a complete disgrace to the human race, but when Caleb's curling his body around mine at night or going so far out of his way to be polite to every damn person he interacts with, it's hard to imagine him as the evil man HPAW is so adamant about making him out to be.

"Two northern packs are fighting, and I've gotten a formal request by a neighboring Alpha to look into it." He huffs, directing his attention back to his screen. "The two are starting to infringe on his land, and if it continues he's threatening to take action."

I lick my lips to hide my shock. Is Caleb actually telling me about his work? Whenever I've asked in the past, he's usually just brushed my question aside with the claim that he doesn't want to bore me. Naturally, I still like to ask, but I've grown to believe I'll never actually receive an answer.

"Are you going to intervene?" I pry.

Caleb nods and furrows his brows in a way that has no business being as cute as it is.

"I think so. Two packs arguing over land isn't incredibly uncommon, but it becomes a problem when that number grows. I've had some issues with these Alphas before, so it'll do me good to pay them a visit and remind them who they bow to." He breathes.

I resist the urge to snort in response to hearing Caleb say those words. Objectively I know the wolves see him as their leader and bow religiously to him, but I see him as the corny man who insists I wear six layers of socks and constantly worries about my injured bones.

"Are you laughing at me, Evelyn?" Caleb grins, standing from his chair.

I feign innocence as he stalks toward me, his eyes darkening as he kneels on the couch I'm lounging on and collects my wrists in his hand. He brings them together and lifts them above my head, forcing me to submit in the way I've learned is his favorite.

His other hand lands on my hip, and I let out a shocked gasp as he abruptly spins me onto my front.

My hair flies all around, some of it getting in my mouth, but Caleb quickly pulls it away for me and bundles it at the base of my neck. I don't think I'll ever get used to how fast he's able to move. I know the wolves have better reflexes than humans, but Caleb's are more than I anticipated.

I find that my eyes can't even follow him when he's not actively slowing himself down, and it's not a rare occurrence that I find myself in a new position before even realizing he's moving me.

It's hotter than I'd care for it to be.

"Do you want to know how wolves love to fuck?" Caleb groans, his breath tickling my ear.

He grabs my waist and lifts it in the air, forcing me onto my hands and knees. He's pressing against me from behind a second later, his hard length easily felt through both our jeans. I arch my back, taking a guess at how he wants to take me and more than eager to experience it.

Caleb's always speaking about how he wants to fuck, and I know he's been holding back because of my ribs, but I think last night was a good realization for him. I'm not as fragile as he fears.

I moan and press against him, but I drop down to my belly when somebody knocks on the office door. What awful timing. Caleb kisses my cheek, chuckling at my impatience, before standing and calling for the visitor to come in.

A man I haven't seen before pushes open the door, his flaming red cheeks a dead giveaway that he could hear what was happening inside. I don't mind it too much, and return my attention to the book I've been reading as he approaches Caleb's desk and sets some paperwork down.

"The magazine shipment is out back." He states.

Caleb hums, feigning indifference, but I know better. I wasn't born yesterday, and I know damn well he has no magazine shipment out back. That's not even a good code phrase. Nobody reads magazines anymore, and there would be no reason for Caleb to be personally informed if it were true.

The man tries and fails to make his words sound less ominous by mumbling a few other useless bits of information, and I stare at the pages in my book pretending not to listen.

When he leaves I turn toward Caleb, waiting to see what he does.

He huffs, looking mildly annoyed as he stands and approaches me again. He licks his lips before ducking to kiss me, and I return it with a low hum.

I want to know what that magazine shipment is.

"I have to run to the bathroom. I'll be right back." He whispers, pulling away.

Liar.

Years of training allow me to keep my face clueless, and I raise my brows before shifting my expression into a slight pout. Caleb smiles when he sees it, and ducks to give me one more kiss before turning away and leaving.

My heart lurches as I watch the door close behind him.

I don't like that he's keeping something from me, and I wait a good minute after he leaves before exiting the room myself. The wolves are used to having me around at this point, and hardly spare me a glance as I take the stairs up one floor.

It's used primarily for storage, and I kick at a box full of paper before heading to the window that overlooks the back of the building. I duck low as I approach it, and peer through the very corner in search of Caleb.

I find him easily, the man standing just outside the back of a freight truck. He chats with two other wolves, looking like he's joking around before gesturing for them to open the doors.

Maybe they weren't lying about the magazine delivery?

I'd try and open the window if I thought I could get away with it, but the wolves have impeccable hearing and I don't want to risk getting caught. It could blow my cover if Caleb learns I'm listening and watching.

He shouldn't be keeping things from me in the first place, but from his point of view, there's no reason for me to be suspicious. As far as he's concerned, I'm his mate who he rescued and is trying to acclimate into his culture.

He hasn't done anything that would urge me to spy on him.

When the truck's back doors open, I lean in closer to the window, my eyes growing wide. What the fuck?

I slap a hand over my mouth, in absolute disbelief as I watch two wolves drag out five human males. The men look terrified, and it seems they're begging as they're pushed onto their knees in front of Caleb.

The wolves I'm able to see laugh as one of the men drops his forehead onto the ground in a pleading position, and I can only stare in horror as Caleb crouches and grabs the back of his head. I can make out his fingers curling around the man's hair from here, and feel disgust bloom in my chest as he uses it to yank the man's head up and spit in his face.

HPAW was right.

The human looks like he's sobbing, his shoulders shaking as my mate's saliva trails down his eye and cheek.

A second later I gag, unable to stop my body from heaving as Caleb twists the man's head to the side. His body goes limp, and Caleb drops him to the floor before gesturing for the wolves standing behind the others to do the same thing.

All five humans are dead within seconds, and when they begin tossing the limp bodies back into the truck, I scurry away from the window and back into Caleb's office. My breathing is erratic and my pulse is racing, and I snatch his computer off his desk before typing in random passwords over and over again.

It locks me out, and I shift it to the right before closing the lid.

Caleb is attentive, and even if he doesn't say anything, I know he'll notice immediately that it's been touched. I can only hope he assumes my elevated heart rate is due to that and not because I just watched him execute several humans like he's some cheesy 90s movie gangster.

When he returns, I'm lying on the couch with my book inches from my face.

I set it on my chest and turn in his direction. His eyebrows crinkle just slightly, but when his eyes dart to his computer and back to me, I know I'm safe. It's not the first time I've gotten caught trying to break into his computer, and I just hope he believes me when I tell him it's because I'm bored and annoyed he won't tell me the password.

"That was a long pee." I state.

Caleb shrugs and joins me on the couch.

I feel disgusted knowing that the hands that just murdered my kind are now on my waist, but I must pretend. It's what I'm good at, and with a soft smile I climb onto his lap and wrap my arms around his neck.

"I got distracted." He breathes, pulling me forward onto his erection. "Forgive me, my mate?"

The fact that he's even able to get hard right now is all the proof I need to know he's a vile, despicable man. My body aches for him, but I can't waver in my beliefs again. The wolves are unnatural, and need to be brought down.

The mate bond may be trying hard to bring us together, but I must stay strong.

"Distracted with what?" I pry.

When his lips twitch I know I've gone too far and need to pull back.

"Because I just finished a steamy part of my book and was worried I'd have to take care of myself." I blurt the first thing that comes to mind.

I hate myself for enjoying the way he slips his hand down the front of my pants afterward, and resist the urge to cry when he rocks his fingers inside and pleasures me until I've cum.

Caleb is still hard, probably aching, but he doesn't say anything when I climb off his lap and lay back on the couch. He lets me go, but the way he kisses me afterward screams apology. He can tell something's up with me despite my attempts to play it cool.

Still, he doesn't push for me to talk as he returns to his desk and gets back to work.

I'm willing to bet he thinks I'm angry about not having access to his computer. At least, that's what I hope. If he knew I saw what happened, I know he wouldn't stay silent about it. We make brief eye contact as he opens his laptop, and I shoot him a smile before grabbing my book so I can pretend I'm reading.

"Would you like me to get you a computer of your own?" Caleb asks after a minute of silence.

No. I want access to his.

"Really?" I ask instead, feigning excitement.

Caleb nods, his eyes crinkling at the corners as his lips curl into a wide smile.

"Of course!"

Men truly are foolish creatures, and if it weren't for their physical strength over us, I have a feeling women would rule the world.

"Thank you." I whisper.

Caleb nods and returns to his work, and I stare at my book trying to recall everything I've learned about the wolves and what's left for me to discover. I'll need to kill Caleb before returning to HPAW, but now that he's sleeping in bed with me every night, that should be easy enough to do.

I'll hide a knife under my mattress, and in the middle of the night I'll stab him in the heart. Then I'll take his keys and drive to the meeting point. I should be able to get myself to safety before morning comes and everybody realizes their Alpha is dead.

It will be easy.

Chapter 15

It's been an entire week, and I've got nothing.

I wake up to Caleb's mouth on my sex and his hands pinning my waist to the mattress, which I'm quickly learning is his favorite way to draw me from sleep.

I curl my fingers into the sheets until Caleb's satisfied with the pleasure he's brought me. It feels incredible, always does, and when he climbs back up my body and slips inside, it takes everything in me not to get carried away and overindulge.

I've done that once already, and I won't do it again.

Caleb fills me with himself, and I scream into the skin of his neck as he calls me his and promises to give me the world.

I don't want the world. At least not the one he's offering.

"What does your wolf look like?" I ask as he loops his arm around my waist and pulls me onto his lap.

He's still inside me, and the new angle has me throwing my head back with a low moan. I hate how good he feels, and roll my hips against his as he sits back on his heels and guides me up and down his length.

"Fuck," He gasps, his fingers digging into the flesh of my ass. "I'll show you later."

The next thing I know, I'm on my hands and knees with his sweaty chest pressed against my back. He places a hand over my ribs to hold them steady as he drives into me, and the sound of smacking flesh fills the room until I've found another orgasm and Caleb is finishing on my lower back.

I collapse onto the mattress and fight back tears as he rushes to the bathroom to get me a damp towel.

My heart and body are so fucking desperate for him, but I can't erase the image of him killing those humans from my mind. A small part of me wishes I never saw it, even if I know it's for the best I did.

HPAW didn't spend years training me just for my dumb ass to fall in love and forget all about my purpose. Caleb may be the perfect man for me, but that's not saying much.

I'm nothing more than a trained spy. Or assassin. I suppose both labels would fit.

"You want to see my wolf?"

Caleb returns to the room with an easy smile, and I force a matching one on my lips as he kneels on the bed and wipes up the mess on my back. The damp towel is warm, and he takes care to clean everything before planting a kiss on my cheek.

He follows it up by placing another one on my actual cheek, the corners of his lips touching mine.

"I'd love to," I state.

What I'd actually love is to see how fast his wolf can run and jump. I'm willing to bet Caleb would be more than happy to show me his abilities, the man probably hoping they impress me. HPAW has captured several wolves and used them for evaluation, but they've all been either women or weak older men.

We only see the strong, youthful wolves in battle, and not many who get a good look live to tell the tale.

Every place on my body that Caleb touches tingles, and I let my limbs relax before climbing off the bed and heading into the bathroom to take a quick body shower. He's addicting, and if I lay here for a second longer, I'm going to be trying for another round.

I'm not proud of it, but I'm weak when it comes to his touch.

Caleb is nowhere to be seen when I wander back into the bedroom with wet hair and a towel wrapped around my torso, and I get dressed in peace before heading downstairs. He's begun to give me more space, which I appreciate.

I've never been one for constant attention, and having little moments alone has helped keep me sane. Caleb is distracting, and sometimes I just need to be away from him for a while.

"Are you hungry?" He asks as I enter the kitchen.

I nod, watching as he cuts up last night's leftover steak and throws it in a hot pan. It smells good, and Caleb shoots me a wink when he realizes he's captured my attention. He knows I like when he cooks, and has grown cocky in his skills these past few weeks.

A few minutes later, I've got a breakfast burrito sitting on a plate in front of me, and I mindlessly eat it while Caleb tells me about his plans for today. It's primarily meetings, which isn't anything new, but I no longer believe his explanations on what each one is about.

He's pretending to be getting closer to me, sharing more information and details about the affairs of the wolves, but I know to take them with a grain of salt.

Not once has he mentioned the human men he killed, and my missing person searches haven't given me any clue as to who they were. A small part of me wants to reach out to HPAW, but fear that my computer is being monitored keeps me at bay.

Caleb seems to believe me when I tell him I have no family or anybody to communicate with outside of his pack, which isn't a lie, and doesn't seem to be in the know on my computer activity.

Still, I've created an excuse about having a morbid curiosity about true crime in case he does ask about my missing person searches. It's something humans seem to love, and will be easy enough to prove.

There are a thousand podcasts about it, and I'll pull them up as an explanation.

"Stay in here where it's warm. I'll shift outside and come in through the back door." Caleb mutters as I finish eating.

I straighten my spine and spin to watch him walk outside. I have a clear view through the kitchen window, and Caleb locks eyes with me as he strips off his clothing and transforms.

It's gruesome, his body twisting and mass growing, but it's over quickly. In the time it takes me to blink, Caleb has transformed from a large man to an even larger wolf.

His fur is jet black, but as he sulks in through the open doorway, I notice his left ear has a little white spot.

My heart races as the wolf enters the house, and I clear my throat and shove down my fear as I stand and walk around him to close the door. His brown eyes follow my every movement, the intense expression uncomfortable when it's coming from an animal.

"You're large," I comment.

The wolf straightens up and ducks his head.

The back of his front paw has no fur, and covering it is our mark. It's just as light as it is when he's in his human form, and I instinctively glance at my hand before returning my attention to the wolf.

I wanted to test him to see how fast and strong he is, but that will be hard to do from inside the house. I doubt he'd allow me to go outside, the man odd when it comes to me being out in the cold. A little chill never hurt anybody.

I'm willing to bet he read one article about frostbite and overreacted.

It seems very on-brand for him.

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with this large wolf, and I carefully enter his personal space before reaching out and petting him. His fur is coarse, and he grumbles quietly under his breath as I trail my hand down his spine.

"Do wolf mates usually have sex in this form?" I blurt.

Caleb snorts before bobbing his head. I take that as a yes, and frown as I round his body and peer between his thighs. He doesn't move to cover himself, and I eye the furry penis before shaking my head with a grimace.

"I'm not going to do that."

The wolf laughs, or at least I think it does. It sounds more like a gaspy inhale than anything else.

I circle his body again. I may not be able to see a demonstration of his skills, so I make do with what I have and instead map out his body with my eyes and hands. He doesn't pull away as I lift each of his limbs and feel the muscle, and if anything, seems even happy with my exploration.

He's so large I expected a fair amount of his body to be fat, and I feel my worry growing as I realize that most of him is pure muscle. If I had to guess, I'd probably say he weighs a good five hundred pounds.

Caleb resists me a bit as I grab his jaw and try to pry his mouth open, but eventually he gives in and opens up for me.

His teeth are sharp, and the canines are as long as my pointer finger.

No wonder one of these can take down a group of humans so easily. They are born killers.

"Have you ever killed anybody?" I blurt.

I regret the question the second it slips from my lips. Caleb goes still, his body tightening before slowly turning his head toward me. Despite being in his wolf form, I can practically see the question in his eyes, and in an attempt to look innocent, I smile and grab his ears.

They're softer than I expected them to be, and I run my thumbs up the length of them before he pulls his head away and walks to the door.

I watch, and when he stares expectantly at the glass I huff and open it for him.

Two minutes later, a naked Caleb is sauntering back inside.

"Why'd you ask me if I ever killed anybody?"

I really should learn to keep my mouth shut. It's not as if I don't already know the answer to the question. For a moment I wanted to see if he would lie, the stupid fucking connection I feel for him making me want to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"I don't know." I slowly respond, urging my brain to come up with something good. "There are a lot of rumors about the wolves, and I was just curious."

My eyes are cast downward at the ground, and I find myself sucking in a shaky breath as Caleb brings his fingers to my chin and urges me to look up. He's standing only inches in front of me, and I watch his eyes dart all along my face.

Remembering my training, I bite at the inside of my cheek and glance away, hoping to look nervous and shy.

"Would it change your perception of me if I said yes?" He asks.

No, because I already know he's a cold-blooded killer. I've seen it with my own two eyes.

"Nothing could change my perception of you," I say instead.

Gag.

Caleb sucks in a deep breath before cupping my cheeks with both hands. He buries his fingers into my hair and rubs his thumbs across my cheekbones before ducking and pressing his lips to mine. I reciprocate the kiss, and let out a quiet whine for good measure when he pulls away.

It seems to do the trick as a small smile spreads over his face.

"I have." He admits.

For a moment he looks scared, probably fearful I'm going to freak out, but instead I clear my throat and step into his arms. Asking this question was stupid, but I'm proud of myself for being able to dig myself out of the hole I foolishly threw myself into.

Caleb squeezes me before breaking away with the promise to be home early from work tonight. I want to go with him, but I need some alone time to find a knife he isn't going to notice is missing and hide it under the mattress. I also need to look up and memorize the roads that will take me to the HPAW meeting point quickest.

Today will be a busy day, and in one week, I will be out of here.