“Dude, your true mate? Are you serious?”
“Yeah, I’m serious. Out there in the woods I kissed her but
even before that I sensed her. I knew she was near; I just felt drawn to her.
Like she was the very reason I breathed. But then we kissed and I…it was unlike
anything I’d ever felt before. It was just—remarkable.”
“I think they call those hormones. Young, fertile females
are like that, Bro. It’s that animal attraction; their heat. I smelled it too
when you brought her into the house. But that’s all it is. It’ll pass in a few
days and your horny, little wolf will settle down again.”
“No, Charlie. It’s not hormones or my libido. It’s her. I
know it is and I’m gonna prove it!” he grinned, backing down the hallway
staring at his brother before turning and rushing after Kaya. He followed her
scent through the house, finding it just off the back door leading towards the
gardens. The smell was strongest near the rose bushes that led into the hedge
maze and he immediately darted behind it. Starting off on the west end of the
trail, he realized the scent moved and was now drifting north.
Switching course he hurried off to the right and then the
left but found the lingering trail shifted once again. Her scent surrounded him
as if it wafted in from every direction, floating on the breeze that whispered
through the cherry blossoms like a secret kiss. It was impossible to pinpoint
the exact location and Caleb found himself growing more and more frustrated by
the confusion. Closing his eyes he allowed the smell to engulf him like a warm
blanket on a winter’s night and guide him where he needed to be.
His eyes opened in sudden awareness that Kaya was standing
near the waterfall towards the back of the garden. Hurriedly he ran in the
direction of the lake until he spotted her curvy figure situated on the edge of
the shore. “So, you do like it here, too!” he commented, slowly walking up
behind her. Caleb noticed her shoulders tense at the sound of his voice and
again remembered his tone needed to soften. “It’s a really great place to get
lost,” he smiled warmly, hoping she would turn in his direction but was sadly
disappointed.
Kaya looked down at her feet and nodded. A small, feminine
moan escaped her lips as she dipped a foot into the stream. “It’s really
pretty; and peaceful. I can see why it’s your favorite place.”
“This area has a great many secrets like this one actually.
There’s an alcove some miles towards the cliffs that is absolutely amazing
during sunset and the smells that surround it during a good, heavy rain are
just…incredible. If you’re interested I’d love to show you.”
“No. Thank you,” Kaya answered abruptly and retrieved her
foot from the lake and turned to face him. “I can’t right now. I—there’s
just—my parents must be worried. I need to get Connor and get home. Get
someplace where I know we’re safe because here…I need to know I’m around people
I can trust.”
“You can trust me,” Caleb replied, dipping his head to gain
her attention. “I’m not going to hurt you. In fact I want the exact opposite. I
know it sounds funny coming from someone you just met but, I have an aching desire
to protect you. You feel it too, don’t you? This intense heat radiating between
us; it’s all-consuming.”
Kaya hugged herself and swallowed hard. She watched the
desperation on his face and the quick rise and fall of his chest as he spoke. “I
don’t know what I feel. I’m not very experienced with this…” she sighed, making
a motion with her hand in the space between them. “But I know it—it
wasn’t…you’re—we’re different. And it’s not supposed to happen like this.”
“Oh, Kaya, this is exactly how it happens. You just need someone to show you,” Caleb whispered and closed the small gap between them. It was a risk trying to get this close to her after that comment but he’d been fighting off the urges since they’d returned to the manor. He needed to feel her again; the overwhelming heat from her body, or the delicateness of her skin, even if for a moment. His wolf demanded it and like their moment in the woods, he couldn’t deny this craving. Threading their fingers he pulled her closer, keeping their eyes locked like he was baring his soul to her and wanted to show her exactly what he was feeling.
What he wanted more than anything was to kiss her; get as close to her as
possible and kiss her until they were both breathless. But he was content with
just her standing toe-to-toe with him, her chest less than an inch from his would
satisfy the beast within.
His eyes flickered down to her lips before moving back to
her eyes and Kaya caught the slight frown he quickly banished. There was
question in his eyes; a struggle of uncertainty that she didn’t understand
until he stepped back and placed a tender kiss on her hand before releasing her
altogether. Although there was a reaction to that simple act, Kaya’s pang of
disappoint was inescapable. It was more than obvious to her wolf that she
wanted Caleb’s closeness and his touch and sadly what he’d just done didn’t
feel like enough.
Before she had the chance to second guess the thought, Kaya
rushed forward, pushed up on her toes and pressed her lips against his. Caleb
stiffened, caught off guard by the suddenness of the act but quickly relaxed
and circled his arms around her. She was so small, yet so soft and fit
perfectly against him. Her lips moved along his slowly before her tongue
brushed against his prompting an involuntary growl from him that made him push
closer and kiss harder. Running her tongue along his lips, begging for entry,
Caleb happily obliged and allowed her to deepen the kiss at her own pace. They
could have stayed like that forever, if that was an option, but as his body
began to react to their closeness, heating up and desiring more of her, Caleb pulled
back, breaking the kiss.
It was as he’d hoped. He was breathless and tingling with
sharp jolts of electricity surging through his veins. He may have sounded like
a mad man before; telling Charlie he knew for certain this woman was his mate.
But now, having felt her so impossibly close to him, he knew his feelings were
not imagined and that Kaya was undeniably his. Smiling warmly as he gazed down
at her, Caleb withdrew his arms from around her lower back and gently grasped
her tiny hand in his. There was no question that everything he was feeling she
was too. Kaya’s bottom lip slipped between her teeth as the two continued
staring at one another, neither uttering a word nor making a move.
Finally Caleb exhaled noisily while gently massaging his
hand along Kaya’s cheek. She leaned into his touch, her eyes drifting closed
briefly and he smiled at the peacefulness in her look. “It’s new,” she started
before opening her eyes and looking up at him. “I’m not used to this kind of
attention. In fact, my Dad warned every male within a 75-mile radius that if
they even looked at me funny he’d have them stripped and bled out.” Caleb
chuckled softly in his throat, the sound of it producing a giggle from Kaya.
“My Dad can be a little extreme.”
“Extreme? Nah. That
sounds pretty rational to me,” he replied sarcastically, his smile never fading.
“Oh yeah, rational.
You should see the ringer he pushes my potential suitors through. Four days of
grueling blood duels and interrogations by him and the rest of the pack elders
just for him to tell these guys they aren’t good enough for me. Not that I mind,
really. None of them actually fit into my ideal mate category. Plus this one
guy smelled like mothballs and peppermint and had this really creepy lazy eye.”
“Nice. He could watch you no matter where you were.”
“Haha right!” she laughed again and Caleb reveled in the
sound of it.
“So if none of those inferior specimens of wolf could suit
your needs, tell me, what exactly are the criteria?” he asked, folding his arms
into his chest as Kaya leaned against the rock wall behind her.
“Hmm well first, he’d have to be taller than me.” Caleb
stood more erect and took a step closer, towering over her with a smile.
“Second, I’d have to know he was capable of defending himself and protecting
me.” Caleb nodded his head as if marking that requirement off his checklist and
Kaya smiled. “Next, he must have an incredible sense of humor. I like a man who
can make me laugh.”
Caleb blew on his knuckles before brushing them off on his
collar and smiled, “Well I don’t like to brag but, I’ve been known to snare a
few chuckles,” he beamed brilliantly, licking his lips while he watched hers
form words. “What other requirements are there to becoming your ideal mate?”
“There’s just one more, but it’s really, really important.
My ideal mate must be artistically inclined. Whether it is music, poetry,
painting or sculpting, I want him to be sophisticatedly well-rounded and well-read.”
“Check and check,” he grinned, leaning into her as she concluded
her list of prerequisites. “I think I pretty much decimated your list, Kaya.
The only question now is, do you?”
“Do I what?” she asked, feeling his lips hover just above
her own.
“Do you think I am the man you’ve described?”
“I don’t know, Caleb, I barely know anything about you,” she
sighed and backed away, feeling his mouth lightly brush hers. “But what I do
know is you’re a member of a group of animals that everyone I know fears. And I
know that there is no way on earth that any of them would bless this union.”
She tapped her hand against her leg a few times and sighed. “I should go; check
on Connor. We need to get home soon before my pack sends an army to find me.”
She started by him and Caleb reached out, quickly capturing her arm as she passed. “Kaya…”
“Please, don’t make this any harder than it already is.” Releasing his grip, he watched as she hurriedly raced out of the hedge maze and back towards the manor away from him.
“GET AWAY FROM ME!”
Kaya heard shouting as she reentered the back doors. It was
loud and unmistakable; and a very welcomed sound. “Connor!” she yelled, rushing
back towards the surgical room. Peering through the glass windows, she found
him alert, on his feet and throwing large pieces of medical equipment between
him and the few personnel still in the room. One of the nurses was holding a
large syringe which she remembered from earlier. It still contained their
Alpha’s blood which meant Connor had yet to be treated.
He glanced towards the window and stopped in his tracks as
he saw her. “Kaya! Kaya get me out of here!” She hurriedly moved towards the
door and tried to gain entry.
“Stop!” Vaughn admonished, pulling her hand off the handle
and pushing her away. “He’s not in his right mind.”
“He’s scared! He awoke to find strange wolves hovering over
him with a needle full of blood! How did you think he would react?”
“Regardless, he’s not leaving that room without being
treated and I’m not letting you or anyone else enter until such time.” Nodding
towards the nurse, he instructed her to proceed and Connor again refused,
tossing a tray of medical tools at her.
“Connor! Connor, stop,” Kaya pleaded, banging against the
glass trying to reason with her friend and calm him enough to be cared for.
“These people are trying to help.”
“Help? Oh man! Please don’t tell me you’ve been drinking the
Kool-Aid! They’re the ones who did this to me!”
“Yeah,” she sighed, briefly looking in Vaughn’s direction. “I
know.” By now, several other members of the pack had heard the ruckus and were
making their way towards their Alpha in case they were needed. Caleb had also
found his way back inside and slowly moved towards them, looking up at her with
doleful eyes. “Connor, you’re sick. They need to inject you with their Alpha’s
blood to get rid of the toxins in your system. They’re slowly eating away at
you; it will kill you. Please. Let
them help you so we can go home.”
“Home; back to our own Alpha so your dad can finish what the
Savages started,” he harrumphed and dropped listlessly into the chair against
the wall.
“I won’t let that happen.” She watched as the medical team
finally moved in and administered the antidote to her best friend.
Vaughn turned to her with a look of confusion which melted
into recognition. “You’re Armand and Kaelani’s daughter; Kaya.”
“Yes,” she replied, staring him in the eyes. “Blueberry?”
Vaughn gasped and nodded in surprise. “I didn’t think you’d remember,” he said with a smile.
“How could I forget the man with the purple stomach?” Kaya asked, throwing her arms around his neck. Vaughn gave her a squeeze before looking down at her once more.
“I should have known. You were always a remarkable child,” he paused, examining her as if seeing her for the first time.
“Dad?” Caleb finally said, watching the exchange curiously. “How do you…”
“Your friend is right, you know?” Vaughn continued, interrupting and ignoring his eldest child. “Armand will not be happy that you came here. Our
packs have been at odds since before I can remember. Imagine what will happen when he finds out you were attacked in my
territory by my pack.”
“He doesn’t have to. I won’t tell my Dad about this and you
two can continue hating each other for whatever reason. Cure my friend and let
us leave and you will never hear from us again.”
“No!” Caleb shouted, hearing Kaya’s request and schooled his features to present a calm front. “Dad, even if
we let them go, what guarantees do we have Armand won’t find out anyway; come
looking for payback?” He glanced back towards Kaya; the same woeful expression
crossed his face. “I think we should keep an eye on her—them, just for a while, to
be sure.”
“Agreed. You and your friend can go; I will personally escort you to the edge of our
territory. But you must understand I need to observe caution where my pack is
concerned. If your father is going to strike against me and mine for tonight’s
transgressions, I need to be prepared.”
“Fine,” Kaya nodded, turning away from the father and son
and back towards Connor. “That’s fine.”
“Then it’s settled. Once your friend is ready, we will head
out immediately.” Vaughn quickly turned and exited the hallway, leaving her
alone with his eldest child and the silence in the room in front of her.
“Kaya…”
“I know why you did that. And I want you to know it was very
stupid. Nothing will ever come of this night between us. I just want to go home
and forget that any of this ever happened.”
“Wait, Kaya…”
“Please. Just…stop.” The nurses exited the room and Kaya
caught the door, entering in behind them to sit with Connor as he healed. Two
hours later Vaughn did as promised and escorted them to the edge of town. The
two left without another word.
“I really don’t think this is such a great idea,” Charlie
bemoaned as he followed his older brother through the thick sprawling of trees
towards the clearing just outside of Greymane Manor. A week had passed since
Kaya and Connor returned home and Caleb volunteered for what Vaughn believed
was a wellness check on the two; ensuring they had not spilled the beans about
their trip to Shadowvale. “What if her father catches you? What do you think
he’ll do to you? To her? He’d probably maim or murder you and probably ship her
off to some foreign country where you would never see her again!”
“Enough, alright? I’m not concerned about her father, I can
handle him.”
“Oh I’m sure. You think you can take on an Alpha? Are you
that enamored you can’t think straight? Caleb, listen to me,” Charlie snorted,
snatching his brother’s arm and spinning him around to face him. “This is
stupid! You can’t just go barging into another pack’s home and kidnap the Alpha’s
daughter! And maybe I’m wrong. Maybe you can handle the Alpha. But what about
Kaya? You think she’d be impressed watching you beat the snot out of her old
man?” Caleb sighed and dropped his gaze to his feet. Charlie was right; he
hadn’t thought this through. “Look, all I’m saying is, think about what you’re
doing. And be careful. I don’t think our parents wanted only one son; although
they may not be disappointed, considering they’d be left with their perfect one,”
he beamed and received a playful fist to the chest.
“Yeah, maybe you’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking. I
just want to see her, you know?”
“Ok, but, do you necessarily have to break inside to do
that?” Caleb shrugged and trudged forward. Moonless, the night
favored them as they stalked closer towards the large home. A plan had taken
form and Caleb hoped it would be enough to get Kaya’s attention. “Oh I see,”
Charlie surmised, watching Caleb look for pebbles beneath the windowsill. “A
little Romeo & Juliet action huh? Well, if you’ll excuse me, Romeo, I’m
gonna wait for you by that large oak we passed on the way up. You have ten
minutes. After that…well, I’m telling Dad!” he teased in a whiny voice before
wishing his brother luck and rushing off back the way they came.
Caleb rubbed the tiny stones in his palm a moment, using his
senses to determine which window belonged to Kaya but finding it difficult as
again, her aroma surrounded him. Taking a chance, he leaned back and tossed the
rock towards a room with a small balcony; it was one of two that had a large
concentration of her scent. The pebble made a soft clank as it connected to the
glass and he quickly ducked behind the tree beside him. Waiting a moment, he
threw another rock and then another. But neither time did he receive the
intended reaction. Shortly after 3:03 a.m., Kaya was awakened by a strange
sound at her window. She glanced at the alarm clock beside her bed before
drawing from the comforts of her warm sheets and starting towards it.
Caleb watched as the French doors of the balcony opened and
Kaya stepped out of the dimly lit room. She was dressed in a white, satin nightgown
with a flowing, silk robe and matching fuzzy slippers; he smiled at the sight. Steeped
in silence, Caleb held his breath as the wind rustled through her light brown
hair. Those deep blue eyes he admired so much searched through the darkness
looking for the source of the noise; looking for him.
He stood for a while shaded by the large willow, studying
her as she peered through the murkiness and past the very trees that served as
his backdrop. She was illuminated by nothing more than the silvery beams of
light escaping the room behind her and the pearly fluorescence of the stars
above. After a moment, she started to step back inside and he realized he was
missing his opportunity. Stepping out from behind the tree, he silently called
up to her, hoping she would see his presence in the gloom. “Kaya…”
She stopped suddenly and turned back towards her balcony.
Wind blew once more through her silky gown and she gathered the ends of her
robe as she hugged herself for warmth. “Kaya…” Quieter he yelled until her eyes
turned in his direction. She smiled with recognition and he found himself again
immersed in silence, marked only by the sound of his breathing and the beating
of his heart.
“Caleb!” she caught herself before shouting louder. “What
are you doing here?”
“I had to see you,” he responded, smiling as he moved a
little closer to get a better look at her. “I didn’t like the way we left
things and I was sorta hoping I could…change your mind.”
“It’s not…,” she started and stopped with a sigh. “It’s
really dangerous for you to be here. My Dad is very protective.”
“Yeah. I remember. But, you’re worth the severed limbs,” he
smirked and noted a tinge of redness fill her cheeks. “And can you honestly say
you weren’t dying to see me again?” he asked, holding his arms out in a showy
gesture.
On damp night air, a rich, woodsy scent wafted off of Caleb
and drifted from where he stood towards her on the balcony. Kaya inhaled
deeply, her eyes closing briefly as she reminisced about their fleeting time
together. She glanced down at him, the knowing smile on his face evident in his
eyes as he watched her and she returned the expression, leaning more over the
railing to continue smelling him. “No,” she beamed and watched him move
forward, disappearing from sight momentarily.
Climbing the trellis beside her balcony, he quickly slipped
over the railing and was standing in front of her within seconds. “Caleb, my
Dad’s…”
“This will only take a minute,” he replied abruptly and
composed himself before speaking again. “There’s an ancient Japanese legend
that promises to anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes, one wish will be
granted. I’ve been awake for nearly this entire week, making paper crane after
paper crane,” he sighed and took a solitary step closer. Reaching into his
pocket, he retrieved an origami crane and her eyes moved towards it as he
straightened out its wings. “This is my 1000th fold,” he replied,
gently placing it in her hand. “And my one wish, is that you will see me again.
I want to meet, outside of your territory, outside of mine, where we can just
be us.”
A faint smile appeared on her lips that grew the longer she
stared at the small, blue slip of paper in her hands. “If you accept, there’s
a note inside the crane with instructions.” Caleb leaned forward and sweetly
kissed Kaya’s cheek. Again her eyes closed as she took in his scent and they
opened as she felt a gust of wind on her side. He’d hopped over the railing and
down to the ground. With one last look, he waved his goodbye and hurried to
meet Charlie; leaving Kaya staring after him with a mixture of lust and
intrigue.
Part Three - Stargazing
