A Savage Meeting – Pt. 1 – Trespassers

“Get off of me!” the girl growled and pushed at the two wolves clawing at her, trying to hold her down to the ground.

“Keep it up, you’ll only make this worse for yourself!” one of them snarled in reply, catching her flailing leg and pinning it beneath him.

“Don’t do this, please, don’t do this!” she begged as the second man crawled on top of her, positioning himself between her legs. Continuing to struggle, she ripped an arm free and swiped her nails across the man’s face, scoring long, bloody marks into his skin.

“Hold her still!”

“You fucking bitch!” he yelled, punching her hard twice in the face, splitting her lip. The girl shook her head as she saw stars swirling in front of her eyes from the dizzying blow and felt her shorts rip down her legs.

“No…” she begged again. Her voice was weaker and her words left her mouth barely above a whisper. Her head fell to the ground in defeat and she felt herself about to pass out. From the corner of her eyes, she saw a large, black blur storm from the trees and heard the wolves beside her groan and felt his weight move off of her and scrambled to her knees.

Looking around through the darkness she saw a third man had joined the other two and was gripping one of them in a one-handed chokehold while the other looked on in fear. The man’s gaze turned towards her and she gasped at the bright red eyes staring back at her. Quickly she got to her feet and took off in the opposite direction. 

Heavy footsteps thundered behind her as she moved but she refused to turn around and look back at her pursuer. His hand grazed her shoulder and she ducked swiftly before darting around him towards a thicker brush of trees. “Wait!” he yelled behind her but the girl continued running, moving as fast as her legs would carry her but still she hadn’t seemed to get very far. “Stop!” the man again growled at her back, but this time she felt his entire weight crash down against her as he tackled her to the ground just ten feet away from a 100-foot drop.

The girl stared at the chasm in shock and hurriedly backed away until she was resting against a tree. Her breath gathered in white puffs in front of her mouth as she looked from the man to the gap, her chest heaving with exertion. She wiped at tears blurring her eyes and untied the loose ropes that hung around one of her hands, tossing it to the ground. The man resting beside her moved an inch and her eyes instantly met his with a terrified expression on her face. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispered and slowly reached out to slice the rope on her other wrist with his claws. Removing his shirt, he draped it over her shoulders. As he leaned forward to button it up, the sweetest smell touched his nose. Looking up into her eyes, he watched as she shook violently with fear. “You have to be careful out here. There are too many drops like that and even more hunter’s traps. It’s easy to get yourself hurt or worse, killed.”

“Connor…I have to find my friend,” she replied and jumped to her feet.

“Whoa, wait a second,” again the scent hit him and he paused a moment as he let himself become intoxicated by the smell. The girl flinched as his hand moved towards her face and he gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She licked her tongue across her bottom lip and he felt his insides light on fire. The act was so simple and innocent but there was something about her that he felt calling to him. Like a magnetic force he could no longer fight he stepped forward, closing the small distance between them. She could feel his eyes beaming down on her and instinctively looked up.

Peering into his steely gray eyes became her undoing. The smoldering look that overcame his expression filled her with desire and he ached to fulfill her need. Caleb reached out to caress her again and sent a jolt from her cheek down between her hips and she shamelessly moaned and leaned into his touch. His eyes that were now indelibly etched into her brain seemed to be staring into her soul. They were complemented by full, dark eyebrows and lashes and long jet-black hair that tumbled perfectly over his shoulders fitting his masculine bone structure. He was perfect and standing so dangerously close. 

As he did before, Caleb closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. Opening them he looked down into the girl’s ocean blue eyes. Lowering his head, he again trailed his nose along her jawline and down her neck, inhaling and then exhaling with a satisfied sigh. Stopping at the junction of where her neck met her shoulder, he undid the top button of her shirt and speckled her exposed flesh with tender kisses that sent a wave of electric currents through her.

Her wolf was howling inside of her. She enjoyed every second of his touch and was encouraged to touch him back. Caleb pulled back slightly with a smile curling his lips. He could sense the needs and wants of her wolf and would gladly oblige. With his hands hooked around her waist he pulled her closer to him, slowly tilted her head back and brought his lips closer to hers, watching her eyes until the very last second. Their lips met with an explosion of heat. The way he moved them along hers with so much skill and tenderness made her knees weak. Caleb’s teeth raked her bottom lip until she sighed with pleasure and he seized the opportunity to run his tongue along hers.

With one hand on his shoulder and the other fumbling chaotically through his hair, she rested herself against his body, demanding more contact. Caleb lifted her leg over his hip and pressed himself deeper. He felt her grinding herself against his growing erection and growled against her mouth. Pushing her against the tree, he sucked on her tongue as he licked at her bottom lip while his hands slipped up her side, brushing with bare skin beneath the shirt that made her tremble against him. The girl drew in another sharp intake of air and suddenly, as quickly as the kiss started, it was over.

When their lips parted, he rested his head beside her ear, breathing heavily. “I’m sor—” an ear-splitting howl ripped over the tops of the trees drawing their attention. The girl screamed no and without hesitation rushed towards the sound. “HEY!”

Finding his legs, Caleb quickly darted after her, closing the gap between them as he moved. The girl ducked behind a large grove of trees and dashed into a clearing where her eyes fell on the wolf she had been looking for. “CONNOR!” she yelled and ran forward. He was being attacked by two wild wolves, each of them taking turns carving slices into his flesh and biting him. Throwing herself at one, she ripped at his neck, breaking the skin and causing him to howl as blood gushed from the opened wound. Grabbing her by the hair, he swung her violently off of him, tossing her to the ground in a brutal slam that had her curled up in a ball, clutching her stomach.

Another howl sounded in the dead of night but this time it was coming from the man standing behind her. Caleb lifted his head to the sky and roared powerfully, causing the two wolves to instantly take a knee. Connor slumped to the ground in a bloody heap and Caleb watched as the girl slowly and painfully crawled over to him. “Kaya…” he moaned as she lifted his head into her lap. Tears fell from her eyes, landing on his cheek as she looked down at his battered, bleeding body. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“Me too,” she sobbed and brushed her hand through his blood soaked hair. “I have to get you out of here, someplace safe. Can you walk?” he groaned as she tried lifting him and fell back to the ground.

“No. Kaya, you have to get help.”

“I’m not leaving you out here in these woods with these monsters, Connor!”

“And I can’t move, not yet. It’ll be best if one of us survived tonight.”

“What? No! Why would you even say that? I’m not leaving you here, Coco!” Caleb nodded to the two men standing beside her. The air moved around her as the wolves stopped on either side of Connor and pulled him from the ground. “Wait! What are you doing! Let him go!” Kaya yelled, punching one of them angrily in the arm.

Caleb moved towards her, pulling her back as they started walking through the woods. She pushed against him, trying to break free while he spoke calmly against her ear. “They are taking him back to my manor for medical attention,” he explained before releasing his hold on her and allowing her to catch up. Nervously she watched the men in their company, keeping an eye on the direction they walked and taking notes. She didn’t like the feel of this place. She had told Connor that when he decided he wanted to explore the forbidden territories.

Her father had long forbid them to wander into the Shadow lands and after the first wolf attacked them, Kaya understood why. The animals out here were unlike the men and women she grew up around. They weren’t civilized and kind but the cruel, twisted opposite. The moment they set foot into Shadowvale they had been met with angry glares and hostile attitudes that had her begging Connor to take her home. But he was too caught up in the excitement of it all to turn around. He had to see it through and her pleas turned to words of encouragement as they traipsed deeper within the outlawed terrain.

Her eyes fell on a small alcove off the main path and she gasped silently as she allowed them to quickly span over the area. There was a stream with a small bridge built over it leading towards a deck that opened into a wooded area of pine trees and colorful flowers. Perfectly clipped shrubs and flower bushes decorated the gazebo and a small swing sat in the center of the structure that appeared to be a nice place to relax. Large fields of wildflowers grew beyond that and she could imagine running through them while the wind rushed over her wolf’s fur. Just over the trees was a magnificent view of the mountains that performed the job as border, separating the Shadow lands from the city of Mystic Springs below.

“It’s more beautiful during the day but, best at sunset,” she jolted at the booming sound of his voice and Caleb smiled apologetically as she turned to face him. Clearing his throat he tried again, this time speaking softer to prevent another fright. “The falls are my favorite part.” Kaya nodded thoughtfully as he spoke before returning her gaze towards the men carrying her friend.

The rest of the hike was made in silence for which she was grateful. Before long they were walking up to a large sprawling mansion. The property was surrounded by a heavy, metal security fence that opened in the front by an electronic box, similar to the one she had at home. Once the gates cranked open, Kaya could make out much of the property through the gloominess of night. The front yard appeared immaculately landscaped, right down to the shrub art. Brilliant, multicolored flowers sprouted from several gardens aligning the driveway. A replica Venus sculpture had been converted into a fountain and the blue and white lights surrounding it gave the goddess an ethereal appearance beneath the night sky.

“Caleb?” a young, male wolf with bright blue eyes greeted them as they entered the door. “What’s this? What happened?”

“We ran into a little problem while hunting,” he answered, looking at Kaya briefly before resuming his conversation. “Charlie, where’s Dad?”

“In a meeting with a few of his Guild buddies, why?”

“The redhead…”

“Connor,” Kaya interrupted, hugging her arms tightly around her body as Caleb moved his eyes towards her.

“Connor, was hurt by one of ours. I need Dad to give him an antidote.”

“I’ll run and get him.”

“Thanks. Amanda,” he turned towards a blonde girl standing timidly beside the stairs. “Do me a favor and take uh, it’s Kaya right?” he asked to which she nodded. “Take Kaya to one of the guestrooms so she may get cleaned up and find her a change of clothes please?”

“Wait,” Kaya mumbled, watching Connor get carted off in a different direction.

“He’ll be fine, I promise. Mandy will bring you down to him once you’re all done, ok?” Kaya looked up at Caleb once Connor was out of view and pressed her lips together. He glanced over at Amanda and she gently nudged Kaya before the two started up the stairs together.

The room itself was nothing too elegant. A simple brass queen bed sat against one wall across from a fireplace and cozy sitting area. There was a balcony she could see just off from a large walk-in closet and the backyard, she noted, was just as impressive as the front, if not more. The cream and peach colors of the walls, like much of the house, had a calming effect on her nerves and she took a deep breath before heading inside the adjoining bathroom.

Quietly Kaya undressed and stepped into the spray of water. Her nerves had been on edge since the attack and even though Caleb seemed somehow familiar to her she refused to let herself relax in the presence of known killers. Blinking rapidly as the water beat down on her, she fought back her tears while washing away the dirt and blood that covered her skin. She should have followed her instincts. She knew better. Allowing Connor to lead them into this place was the worst mistake they could have made. And Kaya knew that things were going to get worse when she got home.

Turning off the water, she quickly toweled dry and pulled on the borrowed shirt and jeans from Amanda. They were nearly similar in size but Kaya’s hips were a bit wider and she could feel the material hugging her waist snugly. She hurried down the stairs, searching for the room she’d seen the others take Connor and bumped into the blonde wolf again. “Oh, hey. I see my clothes fit you ok. I was just on the way to get you. Your friend is in with our pack doctor Theresa. The observation deck is just down this hall. Ok?”

“Thank you.”

“Can I get you anything else?”

“No, I’m fine. Thanks.” She waited for Amanda to turn out of the hallway and took in a breath as she slowly made her way down to the window the girl had pointed to. The curtains in the room were drawn back and inside she could see was an operating room with several pieces of large medical equipment. Connor lay unconscious on a table in the center of the room and two nurses as well as the doctor were swiftly going about getting him fixed up. Kaya placed her hand on the glass as one of the nurses stitched up a cut above his eye and another cleaned a wound on his arm.

“Feeling better?” again his voice made her jump and she barely glanced at him as he slipped in beside her.

“Yes,” she replied softly, keeping her eyes locked on the events unfolding in the surgery room in front of her.

“I brought you some tea, to help calm your nerves. It’s chamomile,” Caleb smiled and sat the cup on the sideboard in front of her. She thanked him silently but still hadn’t looked in his direction, feeling a little insecure in his presence. After their close encounter, his enticing masculine scent was imprinted inside her nose. And even after her hot shower she swore she could still smell him on her skin. Kaya sidestepped a few inches to gain some much needed distance between them but it didn’t help. Caleb pretended not to notice and tried not to take offense. Instead he gazed at his feet momentarily, regaining his composure before addressing her again. “So, do you live around here?”

“No.”

“You, uh,” he started again, clearing his throat. “Live farther away?”

“Yes.”

“Oh. About how far?”

“Two hours.”

“Wow, that—that’s pretty far. What brought you all the way out here?”

“I don’t know,” Kaya shrugged, briefly glancing over as she noticed him inching closer but refusing to make eye contact. “We were just riding.”

“Riding? You do that sort of thing often?”

“When the mood hits.”

Caleb sighed, rubbing his neck nervously as he tried thinking of a topic that would get her to open up a little more. But Kaya seemed determined to keep him at an arm’s length, even with her answers. “Your lip’s not healing,” he noted of the small split in the corner of her mouth. Kaya’s tongue darted out and slipped across it and she nodded her head. “Have you had your transition?”

“Not yet. But my Dad thinks it’ll be any day now.”

“Oh. Well that explains that,” he smiled charmingly. “That’s something to look forward to. How old are you?”

“23.”

“23? Is that in wolf years?”

“No. I’m 23.”

“Wow! You’re just a baby!” Caleb instantly regretted those words when he saw the look of irritation flash across Kaya’s face. “I-I didn’t mean…”

“Who is that man?”

Caleb looked over in the direction she stared and smiled. “That’s my father, Vaughn.”

“I know him.”

“You know my father?”

“Well, h-he looks familiar.” Caleb narrowed his gaze toward Kaya and she sighed. “What’s he doing? Why are they sticking a needle in his arm?”

“Your friend was bitten by a wild wolf. We have highly potent venom in our fangs that render our victims immobile while it attacks their immune system, killing them from the inside out. Our blood is the only thing that can cure the poison. They will inject him with the blood of our Alpha, my father, and it’ll cleanse his system of the toxins. Don’t worry though. Your Mate will be fine.”

“My what?” Kaya finally looked over at Caleb, catching his eyes with aggravation. “Connor is not my mate, he’s my friend; my closest friend.”

“Oh,” Caleb sighed a breath of relief and took a step closer to where she stood with a hidden smile. “Well Connor will be fine, I assure you.”

“You mean for now. If he makes it through this my Dad is going to kill him,” she replied as fresh tears threatened to fall. “We weren’t supposed to be out here. He told us to stay out of these woods because the Savages are…” she nibbled her bottom lip and took in a ragged breath, stopping herself before insulting one of the very wolves she was warned to stay away from. “I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s ok. I’m not naïve to what other wolves think of us. And unfortunately tonight may have only served to further substantiate those beliefs in your mind. But really we’re not bad people.”

“No? Tell that to the two that attacked me. They beat me! They ripped off my clothes and held me down, trying to have their way with me!” her voice cracked as she spoke. Kaya choked back the urge to cry but they burned in the back of her throat, forcing their way through. “And then on top of that, they took turns assaulting my best friend when his only crime was trying to defend me and protect my virtue. And now you’re standing here trying to convince me you’re not bad people? Then what kind of people are you?”

Caleb swallowed hard, listening to her speak and the overwhelming emotion in her voice. Her tears were enough to weaken him. He wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her it would all be ok, an impulse he struggled to defeat. “I’m sorry about them,” he responded in a low growl, trying to quell the animal inside of him that wanted to walk down the hallway and rip the heads off every wolf that dared touch her. “But you have no reason to worry about them now. They’ll be taken care of.”

“I’m sure.”

“I’m serious. I wish I had gotten there sooner but I’m glad I was able to stop them in time. Believe me what happens to them now won’t be pretty. They violated direct command from our Alpha when they laid hands on you and your friend. Really. It’ll all be ok, alright?”

“Yeah,” she replied simply and turned away from him.

“Hey,” Caleb stopped her, gripping her arm in his hand as she backed away down the hall. “Do you want to talk about what happened out there?”

“I know what happened. We were trespassing and your men attacked us.”

“No, that’s not what I’m talking about. I mean what happened between you and me, the kiss,” he whispered the last words. Kaya slowly moved her gaze up to his and Caleb released his grasp on her arm as she did. “I mean it was nice. It was…different. I think there’s something—there’s, um…there’s a thing here with us right? I mean I’m not imagining it, am I? You feel it too.”

“Yeah. It’s called heat. She-wolves get it and male wolves gotta have it.”

“No, that—that’s not…it’s much more than that, Kaya. It’s significant. I know it is.”

“It really isn’t. It was a kiss; a really nice kiss, but one that won’t be repeated. Thank you, Caleb, for your hospitality. But when Connor is awake and back to his full strength, he and I are leaving and you’ll never see either of us again.” Kaya moved back before Caleb could grab her again and quickly rushed up the hall.

“Ooh, feisty little thing isn’t she?”

“She’s more than that, Charlie,” Caleb sighed and glanced at his baby brother. “I think she’s my true mate.”

Part Two - Yearning