Page 105 of Callen's Captive
Tired. Like she could sleep for three years. Certainly, too tired to make her mouth move since those words had been in her head and she hadn’t been able to speak them.
Her eyes closed again. Keeping them open was a real struggle.
Callen kissed her head again as if he understood. The guy’s aim was about six inches too high. She licked her lips. That got her a wet cloth to suck on for some reason. The guy could be really dense sometimes, but she’d take it up with him tomorrow, after she slept a bit.
* * *
CALLEN
Tied in the traditional gold ropes, Callen’s and Kate’s cut palms pressed together as their blood mixed. On the ridge overlooking the site Blade had set up for the ceremony, the entire pack was cheering and howling their congratulations. An hour ago, Blade had run close enough to attract the patrols. He’d explained the situation to Mason and between the two of them, they’d set up everything needed for a proper blood-bonding ceremony, complete with gold ropes, a white robe for Callen, and a white robe for Kate, which they draped over her prone form like a blanket.
Callen had looked on in awe at everyone who showed up to witness. His packmates were far enough away not to infect him, Kate, Blade, and Anna, but close enough to hear and see. Shifter abilities and all. It touched him that everyone, except those few shifters on patrol, had gathered to share this special day with him and welcome Kate. His pack was there for him, their enforcer. Imagine that.
Blade slapped him on the back. “I bet you never thought you’d have such a crowd.”
No, he hadn’t. It moved him that Blade had done the one thing no one else could have, made Callen feel like a part of his own pack. It struck Callen at that moment that this was goodbye for Blade and him. Once he and Kate entered the pack, there’d be no leaving, no talking or joking with Blade again. Today was bitter-sweet, gaining Kate and losing Blade at the same time. They had no choice. Kate’s health had declined rapidly during the trek. There were times she’d stopped breathing, only to resume on her own again—barely.
Callen turned to Anna who was already absorbed in the notes Alex had left for her. “You need to find that cure, Anna. You and Blade need to come home, along with all the others. Life. . . the pack won’t be the same without you.”
“Even if I find a cure soon, I’m still on my honeymoon so don’t expect me too soon.” She kissed Callen’s cheek before Blade pulled her into his embrace.
“Where are they going?” Kate asked. She was fully conscious for the first time since they started their hike through the forest two days ago.
“Their honeymoon,” Callen replied, unwrapping the gold rope that held their palms together. Their blood had mixed, and the blood-bond was already healing her. It was a strong bond. Her breathing had eased, and the swelling around her eye had gone down considerably. Her lovely brown eyes were as clear and bright as ever.
He peeled the ceremonial robe off of her to check her other injuries. Much of the bruising along her ribs had disappeared, but the carving on her chest remained. Bruises always healed faster than deep cuts. Hopefully, the tissue would mend without scarring. He draped the robe back over her. This was to be a happy day, not one to focus on what Briggs had done to her.
“Where are we, Callen? What’s happened?”
Callen lifted her into his arms. “Rest, Kate. There’ll be plenty of time to tell you everything when you wake.”
He started walking up the hill to the entrance of his pack’s new home. She’d be safe here, where the WSSO would never find and harm her again.
Kate snuggled against his shoulder. Damn, but it felt good having her in his arms, hearing her talking and knowing she’d be alright. A sliver of doubt plagued him as he walked those last hundred feet to the entrance. The literal point of no return. Blood-bonding without her consent was bad enough, but this was the decision that would make her hate him. He had no choice. It was the only way to protect her from Briggs and the WSSO.
As Callen passed through the crude-wooden gate, Damien, Tess, Frank, and Pryce gathered around him. No one held out their hands or hugged him. They looked at him with knowing eyes. It was up to him to make that final decision, to choose them or turn around and leave.
Callen offered his hand to Damien. His alpha grabbed his hand in both of his, then they all hugged him, welcoming him home.
It was done. The virus spread to him and Kate. There was no going back now.
