Chapter 25

Caleb

I didn’t want to share her, that much I knew. And I didn’t want her to get injured.

Why was she in such a hurry to train with the pack? This was at least the third time she’d asked me. Did she not feel the same buzzing beneath her skin when I touched her? Was it just me?

It felt like one of those Zen paradoxes, to want someone more than you ever have, but knowing your touch could harm them. My feelings were growing constantly, more than just emotions, but a genuine magnetic pull. She had to feel it, too, right?

There was no wolf, so not necessarily.

Even the lightest touch was so sexually charged for me, it was a slippery slope. Even the word, slippery—my mind went places at that thought. I remembered feeling her, warm and wet.

Maybe it was actually better for her to train with the pack, I reasoned. It was drawing on my life force and actually exhausting Logan to fight my erection every time I touched her or looked at her or thought about her.

She’s our mate. You’re a man, I’m a wolf, Logan would growl. Why are you waiting?

I was grateful for the power to control my breathing and blood pressure. Otherwise, I would have looked like one of those health warnings on an erectile dysfunction commercial about a four-hour hard-on.

I’d started working out before the training sessions to relieve some pent-up sexual tension. And I’d been relieving other things a lot more. God, at night, how I thought about her.

“Good morning, Caleb,” she said in her sweet, buttery voice.

I looked up, and her outfit was exquisite. Damn you, Mia, why do you keep buying her such sexy workout clothes? Not that I wanted her to stop.

“Good morning, Luka.”

She began the usual warmups, and I adjusted her posture to the extent it was necessary. She was getting so proficient, I barely needed to.

After warmup, we each sat on our side of the padded mat, legs crossed, posture straight.

“Today’s going to be a little different,” I told her.

She looked worried. “Different how?”

“In martial arts, there are belt levels. Different color for different degree of mastery.”

“Which color are you?”

“Depends on the fighting. But…” I raised my eyebrows. “I’m not bad. Today, though, is going to be a skills test, not for a belt, but using the same sorts of challenges.”

“Oh God. I’m scared.”

“Don’t be.” I wanted to tease her, make her afraid, but it was too cruel. “It’s just to see where you stack up.”

“Okay. But what if I’m awful?”

“You’re not.” I wanted to brush her hair out of her face, to put my hand around her waist, to tell her she’s so much more than she sees. But the most important thing right now, besides restoring her health, was holding myself back.

Performing the movements, she had the uncertainty of a newcomer, but her technique was intuitive, with elements that some people took years to master. She evaded my attempts to throw her to the mat and got out of more of my holds than I expected.

Her capoeira moves were graceful and athletic. I grinned thinking about how pleased Mia would be to have a student who was also able to challenge her. She’d pretend to hate it, but she’d love having one of her students beat the master.

When I thought about the future like that, I thought about Luka. But unless her wolf woke up, it was all in flux. Even then, there were no guarantees. The bond might not come.

That’s why I kept reminding Mia to back off. If I didn’t stop her, she’d be picking out baby names.

When Luka and I sparred with bamboo sticks, she managed to block me. A few times, she hit me, genuinely taking me by surprise, which even accomplished fighters sometimes always do.

“What next?” She took a sip of water, her face red from so many hours of training.

“We rest.”

“Okay…but…how’d I do?”

I pretended to weigh my answer, and she chewed on her lower lip.

“Honestly? Do you want me to be candid?”

“Yes. I can handle it.”

I cracked a smile. “You were excellent.”

“No, be honest. Are you lying?”

“I’m not. You’re very good.”

“Good…for a beginner?”

“Good for anyone. You have instincts that some people take years to develop. I’m impressed.”

Her face glowed with a shy smile. I could barely keep from kissing her.

“You’re not just saying that?”

“No, I don’t lie about things as serious as fighting.”

“But you lie about…?”

“I don’t lie, Luka.”

I suggested we take a stroll outside to the patio and have lunch before resuming for the afternoon. As we entered the dining room, I gave a nod to Vincent, and he left with a knowing glance. Luka had the healthiest appetite I’d seen yet from the intense workout session.

Once we returned, everything was according to plan. Three beautifully wrapped boxes sat on the studio floor.

“What’s this…?”

“Another gift, Luka.” I mean, the socks weren’t really a gift-gift, but I figured she had probably never gotten presents before coming here. Even if the gifts didn’t technically fit the label, I wanted to start making up for lost time.

“They’re so beautifully wrapped. I’m afraid to mess it up.”

“Don’t be. We can wrap all the boxes you want.”

“Okay.” She smiled and undid the paper carefully anyway.

Her face lit up when she saw the fighting shoes, custom-made by a luxury designer. She held them up to show me, as if I hadn’t seen them.

“Keep going…”

Next was the fighting ensemble, also designer, but refined, fit for a fighting competition.

“Like Mia’s!” Luka shouted with glee.

“Exactly. From the same fashion house. One more to go.”

She held the sword in her hands, examining it, as if she’d never seen one. It was made by the royal armorer, encrusted with jade and citrine, ruby and sapphire.

“Just be careful with it. It’s sharp. I wouldn’t unsheath it right now.”

“What is all this for, Caleb?”

“To look your best, for when you train with the pack.”

She nodded slowly and collected the gifts in her arms to put onto the storage rack.

“Thank you,” she said. “That’s thoughtful.”

“You’re welcome. But don’t you want to try it on?”

She had a sad smile. “I want to wait until I can actually use it.”

“Right. Exactly. Put it on.”

She paused, thinking, but once it dawned on her, she shrieked and pummeled me with the force of her hug. I put my arms around her, savoring her happiness, grateful I could give her some. I breathed in her scent, sated. More of this, Caleb. This is what we need, Logan said.

“I will. Be right back.” She slipped into the powder room and came out just a minute later.

“You look marvelous.” I took her arm in mine. “Are you ready, Ms. Shaw?”

She had a huge smile as we entered the indoor training facility.

“Oh, Caleb—is that Frederick? And where’s the Rien who Mia mentioned? Point him out to me. Ooh, him? I knew it!”

Luka was practically bouncing with excitement.

“James, Frederick, and Warren you already know, of course,” I told her as we walked past them.

“It’s so good to see you,” they said. “It’s been a while”

She greeted them back with a smile, hands stiff, making pleasantries. She’s so naturally charming, she doesn’t even know that’s something she doesn’t have to actually worry about.

An unmistakable figure in a hot pink athletic dress ran toward us. Mia. “Luka! You’re here! Oh, and you, too, Caleb. Hi.”

I greeted my sister with a hug.

“Thanks for letting her train with the group, Caleb,” Mia said.

“It was all her. She’s more than ready.” I looked at Luka with pride.

“With your help, Mia,” Luka added.

“ Luka, let me show you around. You’ve spent enough time with him for one day.”

“Just be careful,” I told them.

“Always,” said Mia, who was legendary for Formula One drivers telling her that her risky driving made them nervous.

“No. Really. I mean it.”

“I won’t let anything happen to her, Caleb. I promise.”

Both of them could hold their own, but that didn’t stop her from getting injured the last time.

Mia flitted with her to various members of the pack. Luka was shy but friendly and warm, and everyone she met was charmed.

“Hey boss.” James approached with a slap on the back. “Missed you this week. I have some things we should discuss. Can we spar and talk?”

No, I’m too busy spying on Luka, I was tempted to say. But, pack first.

“Absolutely.” I looked over his shoulder to track Luka and Mia, but I couldn’t see them anymore.

They’ll be fine, I told myself. They can take care of themselves.