Chapter 234

After a bit more running, Caleb sets me down in a spot that seems relatively safe for the moment. We’ve been moving in a more dangerous way than before. Instead of running away from the danger, we seem to be skirting around it, with the enemy wolf howls nearer rather than at a safe distance.

Caleb seems entirely focused on following the sound of that howl. I wish I could ask him what is driving him. He must have recognized that howl, but as things are, in his werewolf form, he cannot talk to tell me what’s happening.

He encourages me to stand at the base of a tree.

There’s a stillness in the woods now, a sort of calm before the storm. Yet, even with my limited human senses, I can tell something is about to happen.

Maybe it’s the way Caleb’s entire body tenses that gives the danger of the situation away. But I freeze as I watch him, bracing for an attack.

As I do, the wolves step out of the forest behind him.

Caleb gives me a look that seems to say, Do not move.

One of the agreements of me joining Caleb on this trip was for me to always obey his every command.

Right now, I can tell this is exactly one of the times he meant. I know when to rebel against my Alpha King, just as I know when not to. Now is decidedly one of the not to moments.

So I nod, ever so slightly, trusting him fully.

That doesn’t mean I won’t also try to defend myself however. Looking around, I spot a fallen tree branch. Grabbing it, I hold it up like a baseball bat, and I’m ready to start swinging at any and all wolves who get too close.

Caleb is tired of running.

He has taken Harper to the edge of the allotted hunt zone. Following that familiar howl, he cannot go further without violating the rules of the hunt. Rules that he doesn’t particularly care for at the moment, but with the life of Harper’s handmaiden on the line, he can’t be too cocky.

While he can protect Harper, he cannot protect her handmaiden when he doesn’t know where she is or how easily she could be killed by the rebellion forces.

For now, he must play by the terms of Gladys’s game, and kill any fool who dares get too close to him.

He can sense the moment the malicious wolves step out of the forest. Slowly, he turns to face them. As he does, a low warning growl escapes from his throat.

Since knowing Harper, he can admit that he has made efforts to be a better man for her. She has sated his paranoia in a way that no one else has ever even gotten close to.

Yet, it was never just the mate sickness that made Caleb the Alpha he is. His ruthlessness is bone deep, especially in times where it is warranted. Like right now.

Caleb is Alpha King, not just because he inherited the position from his father, but because he is the strongest Alpha in the kingdom. At any point, any other Alpha could challenge Caleb for his throne, yet none dare.

These foolish wolves had no idea what he was capable of. They believed they had strength in numbers. Yes, he ran earlier, but that was only in an attempt to protect Harper from the carnage of what a fight like that would be.

To protect his mate, Caleb will show no mercy. He will kill viciously. He does not care if these attacking wolves are misguided members of his kingdom or not.

Harper is his mate. Yes, he’s sure of that now. Maybe he’s known for a while.

Perhaps the impact of the mating bond is lessened slightly because she is a human. He is unsure, and in this moment, he does not care. He will investigate that once she is safe.

But he has no question that she is his. Even without her ability to soothe him, he feels a sort of tether to her, like a connection between their hearts. He’d ignored it for a time, believing since youth that the pull of a mate would be stronger.

Perhaps if she was a werewolf…

No matter. She is his mate. That’s what’s important now.

She is his mate and she is being threatened.

He watches from the corner of his eye as she picks up a branch to help him fight. She might not have strength, but she has spirit. She is perfect for him, his fearless human mate.

He will insure no wolf gets close enough to warrant that branch’s use, however. If he does, then he’s failed Harper, and does not deserve to be her mate.

The wolves inch closer, clearly misunderstanding Caleb’s warnings as weakness. They will see soon enough.

He braces himself for a fight, yet, just as one of the wolves lowers as if to pounce, a high-pitched screeching sound shrilly pings through the forest.

At once, every werewolf winces, even Caleb. Harper stands tall, looking at them all in confusion.

The noise is not coming from the direction of where Caleb heard the familiar howl, but from Gladys’s estate.

The wolves glance at each other. Then, one by one, they retreat backwards, disappearing into the forest once more.

Caleb stretches out his senses, and can tell they are all rushing back to the house.

How curious. What could be going on?

What could that sound have meant? Clearly it was a whistle to call back the pack to the house but…

Had something changed since the start of the hunt to now?

“What’s going on?” Harper asks. She’s still holding up her branch, ready for a fight. She can’t tell the danger has seemed to pass, for reasons unknown.

Caleb is so confident that the wolves are retreating that he allows himself to shift back into human form and turns to Harper.

“Caleb?” There’s even more confusion in her eyes, though, she must sense that this means the danger has moved on. She slowly lowers the branch.

“You didn’t hear the whistle,” Caleb says. It’s not a question, but Harper shakes her head anyway, confirming that she did not. “It came from the direction of the house, right before all the other werewolves retreated.”

“What could it mean?” she asks.

Caleb wishes he knew, but he doesn’t want to appear unconfident in front of his mate. “Whatever it is, this gives us time to consider our next move. I suspect the hunt is off now, though there are still hours until morning.”

Nodding, Harper drops her branch weapon. “You heard a howl earlier,” she says. “That seemed to change things.”

Pride fills Caleb. Such a smart, observant mate. Yes, even though she is not a werewolf, she will still make a fine Luna, beloved by the pack.

“Yes,” he says. “I knew that howl as well as I would a brother’s.”

“Tristan,” she says.

“Yes,” Caleb says, with even more pride swelling.

“He’s here?”

“Nearby,” Caleb says. “I sense a fortress here on the edge of the forest. But it is filled with many unknown werewolves, like the rebellion.”

Harper wraps her arms around herself. “He’s so brave to try to reach out to you. Do you think Bethany is there somewhere too?”

“I’m not sure,” he says, “But I’m willing to believe it.”

She looks up at Caleb, fire in her eyes. “Then we need to investigate it.”

Harper is so perfect, Caleb has no idea how he missed it before.

That she is his mate is no question.

“I will do more than investigate,” Caleb growls, ready for some revenge.