Chapter 25
Things got a little strain between Finn and me by the time I curled up next to Callum and waited for the morning.
Callum knew something was up between us before we even left the cave but I brushed him off and said it was just nerves.
"Bullshit Everette," He called me out. "Did he do something because I swear-"
"He didn't," I placed my hands on Cal's cheeks, "He just took me by surprise by telling me how he feels."
His eyebrows rose as his hands went around my wrists and pulled my hands to his chest.
"And how exactly does he feel?" My eyes drifted to the opening of the cave where Finn and the others were outside preparing to leave.
My mother always said that she and my dad lacked communication when they met and it caused serious trouble. With that knowledge, I know that talking to Callum was inevitable unless I wanted to create a barrier of secrets between us.
Under my palm, I could feel his heartbeat erratically pulsing and the sound was like drums in my ear.
"He said he loved me," I whispered.
"Loved?"
"Love, present tense." I let my eyes drift behind him so I wouldn't see whatever he was feeling. But that didn't matter because I could practically feel his anxiety and rage.
He took a minute to speak but when he did his voice was strained, "How do you feel? About him?"
I looked into his emerald eyes and showed my honesty, "He's family to me. Nothing more. I won't lie and say I hate him though."
His eyes narrowed with uncertainty, "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. You're my person." I placed a kiss on his chest where his heart lay.
The cloud of anxiousness cleared away from his eyes but I could tell he had something more he needed to hear because of the vulnerability that lingered.
His hand rubbed across the back of his neck in his typical telltale sign of nervousness, "What about me? How do you feel about me?"
My heart lurched in my chest at that question.
I had no idea how my feelings were not clear to him.
Well, to be honest, it may not be quite clear to me either.
But I did know one thing, "Your name is written in permanent sharpie all over my heart Cal. Something that no one has ever done... except for you."
His eyes searched my own and whatever he saw was good enough because he grinned like the cat that ate the canary.
"I'll tell you a secret," He whispered in my ear.
"You brought ice-cream and forgot to tell me?" I joked to lighten the mood.
Rolling his eyes he said, "I'm beginning to think ice-cream has at least seventy-five percent of your heart and I'm the remainder." I smirked and gave him a little shrug before he continued. "You're written all over my heart too, not to mention you take up every inch of my brain."
Oh geez, I think my heart was about to combust. Who even knew that cold thing in my chest could feel so warm.
We didn't say the three words, but what we said was so much more.
"If we die tonight, I'm going to be so pissed," I grumbled as I grabbed Cal's t-shirt and pulled him in for a kiss that was over too soon.
"You're not going to die Princess." He chuckled but I could still see the worry in his eyes.
"Neither are you." I pulled back, "So let's go meet your family and friends and hope they don't shoot me."
"Let's hope the Moon Goddess watches out for us then." He swung his arm around my shoulder as we walked out of the cave.
I smirked, "Look at you having faith."
"What can I say, you made me a believer." He shrugged.
As I shifted, Callum started helping the others with their bulletproof vests just in case our plan doesn't work as smoothly as I'm hoping.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes as he pulled the strap to tighten Finn's vest a little too much and the wolf growled at him.
How did I ever think bringing these two together was a good idea?
Sighing, I made sure we were all packed up as we left our little camp. We would probably arrive in Fairbairn at five in the evening if we sped up a bit.
But of course, there were rogues. Four of them.
They either found the body of the one we took out yesterday or our cover had been blown because they sure as hell didn't seem surprised.
'Make sure Callum doesn't shoot.' I mind linked Abel as I lunged forward and grabbed onto the neck of a rogue.
As I Alpha, I was strong, but these rogues seemed uncharacteristically strong for being out of a pack. Just like the she-wolf from yesterday.
Before I could knock the rogue down with my paws, another ran into me and pummeled me into the floor.
I looked to see Finn chasing after the rogue as he loomed over me with silver berry teeth. But before his teeth could come any near me Callum was at the side of the wolf delivering a shot.
I waited for the loud ring of the gunshot to echo through the woods but as the rogue's heavy body feel on me, I heard nothing.
Pushing the body off me, Callum gave me a grim look, "I have a silencer on the gun."
Oh. Well, thank the Moon Goddess because any loud noise would have just dragged more rogues our way.
Getting to my feet, I helped Minna out with a rogue by biting on his tail and dragging his body to the ground before she bit into his jugular.
Abel, Kelly, Ross, George, and Finn took care of the other two by the time the rogue bled out.
"I'm fighting beside you, remember. Not for you and not behind you." Callum said sternly as he tucked his gun away and some of my fur back.
Giving him a wolfie nod, I motioned for him to get back on Abel so we could get out of here before anymore showed up.
The wolf in me really wanted to roll over and get a belly rub but we didn't have that kind of time.
'Something is up with these rogues.' I mused to my group of six wolves.
'They're a lot stronger for one.' Ross muttered as he eyed Finn. 'One even knocked back Finn as if he weighed nothing before heading for you.'
'Shit.' I groaned, 'It's like all these little pieces to a large puzzle and I can't wrap my head the big picture.'
'Do you think the humans will be able to help with that?' Kelly asked.
'I don't know, it seems unlikely that they'd come across any rogues. Our best bet is to find the main source for these rogues. Maybe their location or a leader.'
'Like a faux Alpha of the rogues?' Abel asked with wide eyes.
The thought struck me, what if that's a thing? A wolf forming his own pack from rogues.
'Ever read about rogue Alpha's Finn?' I questioned.
He seemed to be in thought before he answered, 'Can't say I have.'
'Maybe it never happened before?' George said.
'Maybe,' I mused. 'I just don't know why they're attacking our pack if they have the entire forest to claim that's larger than our territory.'
'Power.' Finn muttered. 'Jealousy. They'rerogues, it's in their blood to want what isn't theirs and break the rules.'
'Can't say you're wrong.' I growled lowly at the thought.
~~~
It was exactly five when we neared Fairbairn. It reminded me of the night I came for Callum. To think I was scared back then but now I wouldn't trade this human for anything in the world.
Not even cookie dough ice-cream.
That night the elders in town made sure the hunters stayed away but Callum told us they scout the forest every other time.
Cal got off of Abel's back as he walked by my side as we made away around the town to the forest on the other side where the hunters now lived after fleeing the town twenty years ago.
We moved slowly as we kept our eyes, ears, and nose open for any hunters or humans.
"Shouldn't be far from here," Callum said and I tried to give him a reassuring smile, but who am I kidding, both of our heartbeats were erratic.
Fear is healthy I tried to remind myself.
Except I wasn't really terrified of the hunters.
I was scared of meeting his people, especially his grandpa, who might hate my guts for taking Cal away and being the 'Beast'.
A further five minutes in, I caught the sound of the scent of two humans.
Nudging Cal with my nose, I motioned my head to the front of us. Putting one hand on his gun holster, we proceeded until I heard,
"Did you hear that?"
I wanted to bark in laughter at how loud they were to us no matter how soft they whispered.
If I was here to kills, they'd never be able to hide.
As the heart rate of the humans picked up, their scent became strong.
And alas, the two men appeared before us with guns raised.
One of them almost dropped their gun when he spotted Callum while the other seemed surprised but calm.
"Callum fucking Cain," The calm one growled. "Didn't expect to ever see you again, let alone with a few strays."
"Carter, Louis. Didn't come back to deal with you dumbasses so put the gun away before I shoot you first." Cal gave them an easy smirk and I looked at him as if he was crazy.
The not calm one lowered his gun but the other man held his gun up firmly, "What the hell are you doing Louis, pick up your gun."
Louis shrugged, "You and I both know Callum would shoot us before we even press the trigger, I rather hear what he has to say then lay here dead."
Hmm, smart man. An oddity.
"Don't care what he has to say, he brought those creatures here, to our home. The same ones that killed our families." Carter looked at us with hateful eyes.
"They're not the ones that killed any hunters and they're not here to hurt anyone. We just need to meet with old man Otis before we leave." Callum said.
"Otis ain't never want to see your face here again Cain so you better back the hell away from Fairbairn before I shoot that thing next to you and make a nice rug with that white fur."
I growled at the threat and felt the anger radiating off Cal, "I'm not asking, I'm telling." Callum had his gun out in a nanosecond with his finger on the trigger, "Now let us in because we both know my aim is better after your little accident."
Carter gulped as he looked into the barrel of Cal's gun and let's just this badass side of my man was really hot.
Nodding, he said, "Fine." But he hadn't lowered his gun, "They need to shift though."
We knew we had to be in human form so we complied.
Carter hadn't lowered his gun and neither had Callum as the seven of us wolves went behind trees and changed.
"Greg went out to find you a few days after you were taken." I heard Louis whisper to Callum about the hunter than showed up dead at our pack border. The one who left a little girl behind since his wife had died.
"He's dead," Callum said in a strained voice.
"They killed him!" Carter's voice boomed through the forest as I approached them and his eyes snapped to me.
Callum immediately blocked his view, "They didn't. It's a long story but that's why we're here."
"Well, you better have a good reason because no one's going to like that you brought them here."
"I know," Callum said in understanding as the seven of us resumed our position.
"Alpha Everette Blackwood," I introduced myself.
"Emery's daughter." Carter guessed.
"Firstborn."
His eyes narrowed, "You're the little devil, the Beast."
I smirked, "The beast and leader."
"Wrong part of the woods kid. You're nothing but a dog in our town."
"You humans really only have that one 'dog' insult don't you." I shook my head.
"Well, I could call you a b-"
The words didn't make out of his mouths because I was in front of him insanely fast as my fist connected to his jaw.
"Damn, Princess, I was going to shoot him. But that works too." Cal chuckled as he grabbed Carter's gun off the ground.
As Carter opened his mouth and spat some blood he glared at Callum and I, "Can't believe you went from hating these creatures to, what, being in love with the one that stole you away? Must be under some kind of voodoo shit."
Callum patted the man on his cheek, "At least I'm not a single forty-year-old who lives with his Ma."
The snort that escaped me couldn't be held in. From the glare I received from Carter, I sobered up and I extended my hand, "Lead the way human before Cal actually shoots you."
Carter continued to stare at us but I gave him a challenging stare until he looked away and grumbled about dogs, dumb teenagers he has to work with and wanting to retire.
Louis gave Cal a sad smile, "Sorry man but I have to report you back."
Cal shrugged as if he knew it had to be done and I watched as Louis pulled out a walkie talkie.
"Callum Cain is back, and he brought company. Everyone meet me at old man Otis' house, over."
A gruff voice immediately called back, "No one kills anyone, bring them directly to me." So that must be Otis.
I looked behind me at my pack and they seemed ready to go to war. Pretty sure Carter's attitude was a precursor for what's to come.
"It's good to have you back Cain." Louis grinned and fist-bumped Cal. I had a feeling they were friends as Louis seemed to be around our age.
"It's good to be back Lew. It's good to be home." Cal smiled but I felt a pinch in my heart at his admission.
One because it was the freaking ritual's, and my, fault that he was forced to leave in the first place and two because he referred to here as home. Not my pack.
As if sensing my emotions, his hand grabbed my own and gave it a gentle squeeze.
This definitely was not the time to be thinking of these things.
The entire walk to the hunters' camp was eerily silent and my pack didn't seem too fond of where we're headed.
But when we came across a large dirt road and my ears picked up the sound of humans, I kept my focus straight ahead.
"What the hell is that?" Finn asked as he pointed to a sculpture of a creature that looked as if he was shackled to the tree.
I practically hear the smirk in Carter's voice as he said, "Don't you recognize it? That's meant to be one of you. Half-human, half dog. Scary little abomination. Since you forced us humans to be chained up for centuries, it seemed fitting that we chained him up."
The metalwork was horrific and definitely not what we looked like but I let it slide since we were a few feet away from the log cabins and a welcoming committee.
"Don't try to punch anyone this time Princess, there will be more than two of them here and you won't be able to move fast enough," Cal whispered before he pressed a kiss to the shell of my ear.
Callum's grip tightened on my hand and I watched as humans with guns walked out of their houses with their aim on us.
Some seemed downright pissed and others seemed wary as they approached us and formed a barrier around all of us. No one said a word as we continued walking.
Callum mentioned that this would happen since their leader, Otis' house was on the other end of the camp. After his orders to them not to kill us, I had hope that maybe my plan will be successful.
If not, we're all fucking screwed.
We walked right into a group of hunters that had their guns drawn as we stopped in front of a small cabin.
The group that walked with us dispursed but the kept a firm barrier around us.
An old man exited with a sinful smile plastered on his face as his eyes focused on me with a man and young woman flanking either of his sides. The woman's wandering eyes on Callum with shock and excitement didn't sit right with me, at all.
The old man, who I'm guessing was Otis sneered at me, "Ahh, well if it isn't the beast herself. Blackwood, I presume."
"Otis-" The old man held up his hand and stopped Callum from speaking further.
"Not a word from you boy. We'll have a chat after." He glared at Cal as his eyes hardened on Cal and I's joined hands. "So tell me, Blackwood, why are you on my land?"
"I need your help." I went straight to the point.
He chuckled and then started coughing harshly before looking at me like I grew a tail, "And why would I do that? Why shouldn't I have you killed here and now along with you're little squad for breaking the treaty."
The tension in the air was thick as he and everyone else waited for my answer.
"I have a proposition I think you're going to be very fond of." I gave him a no-bullshit stare.
"Well don't leave me on suspense now. Tell me." He demanded and I saw the curiosity in his eyes.
My own eyes flickered around to our large audience, "I rather speak to you in private. The less that knows, the smoother it will be."
And my less, I meant my pack. I was pretty sure the humans won't find a problem with the idea, well except for the one detail, but I couldn't let anyone from the pack know.
It had to be a silent deal between the leaders.
"You've certainly piqued my interest little one," He mused as he gave it a thought. "Fine, follow me."
So far so good.
As I took a step forward, so did Callum and the rest of our pack but thankfully Otis stopped them.
"No, no. Just the girl. The rest of you wait outside." Callum's hand tightened on my own and I heard Abel and Kelly start to grumble behind me.
"It's fine guys, stand down. I need to do this alone anyway." I gave them a pointed look, especially Cal.
He shook his head, "Absolutely not. I'm not letting you go in there alone."
"I'll be fine. Trust me, Cal." I gave him pleading eyes but he didn't budge.
"It's either her alone or we'll be happy to shoot you all." Otis grinned as he poked at Callum.
Callum shot daggers at the old man and to me, "Everette... don't do this."
His tone pulled at me but I had to do it, "It's our only chance."
"Times ticking, hurry up," Otis called again.
Ugh, this man was starting to piss me off.
Callum looked like he was between a wall and a hard place before he cursed under his breath and released my hand.
"I'll be okay," I assured him and tried to give him a smile as I walked towards the Cabin.
Otis held the door open for me and as I stepped in the cabin, he commanded his hunters, "Take them away."
I looked at him in horror as the hunters overpowered my pack and Callum.
A/N
Chapter Update: Sunday
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Wonder what's about to happen...
But also Cal and Ev's version of ILY... aww ð⤠I hope no one dies...
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