Page 114 of Callen's Captive
With a long drawn-out sigh, Kate started gathering up the remnants of Callen’s shredded clothes. She was starting to understand how Aloe would grow a bit testy with the guys and their busting through so much clothing. One howl and suddenly there were five sets of clothing to repair, and that didn’t include the guards out in the woods.
Tess approached with a handful of shredded clothing in her hands. “This is the part I hate.”
“Picking up all the remnants and hoping you didn’t miss anything?”
“Hoping the howl doesn’t mean someone’s dead.”
“Oh. Sorry.” Kate felt like a selfish idiot. Here she was thinking about clothing and not what had pulled the shifters away.
Tess waved a casual hand. “Forget it. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad or anything. I just get a bit anxious when I hear a howl like that.”
“Anxious? I have no idea what that’s like.” Kate took a deep breath, trying to focus herself. “And that right there is my anxiety playing out. I didn’t mean to be sarcastic with you. I don’t think any of you have seen me at my best.”
“Oh, you have a best side then?” Tess asked, her mouth quirking.
Kate was about to snap back when she realized Tess was joking with her.
“Relax, Kate. Living in the woods when you’re a techie who’s used to having everything at your fingertips takes time. I went through the same thing, but I had the benefit of being in our established camp with everyday conveniences like running water, electricity, and a real shower. God, I miss my shower. Bathing in the river is just so wrong. I don’t care that I’m shifter, that river is too damn cold.
“So, it’s not just me. That’s good to know, I guess.”
“Callen told us about your anxieties. Maybe you should have worked your way up to living in the woods. Like starting with a bonsai tree on your desk or something.”
Kate smiled at Tess’s wry sense of humor. She hadn’t known Tess or the other shifters long, but they really had been understanding.
“How about magnets sewn into the seams or even snaps to allow for an easy release when the guys shift?” Kate suggested, hoping to change the subject before Tess asked about the source of Kate’s anxiety. For as lovely and welcoming as Tess was, Kate wasn’t ready to discuss her past with anyone other than Callen.
Tess straightened, tilted her head as if considering. “Ooh, interesting idea. I like it. We’ll have to run it by Aloe, though, since she’s in charge of repairs.”
“I have a lot of those,” Kate said. “Interesting ideas. Getting someone to listen. . . whole other story. Like the files I stole from the WSSO. If I could find the right person in the media, the information could make a difference. With Drake even, I have a rapport, I have skills he needs. He listens to me.”
“Drake only listens to himself.”
“I think everyone is wrong about that. He can be reasoned with. I’ve done it before.”
“He’s dangerous, Kate.”
“Who here isn’t? Callen’s the pack’s enforcer, and everyone seems to fear him. From my perspective, he’s a teddy bear. It’s all relative, Tess. I have an in with Drake, a past and a reputation with him that can be useful to help sway him. It’s worth a shot.”
Tess put a hand on her arm. “Callen’s right, at least what he said about Drake. Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. You’ll have to get used to the fact that as shifters we hear better than humans. What I’m trying to say is that Callen’s not exaggerating when it comes to Drake. I lived at his compound for over a month, saw a lot of stuff I prefer not to think about, especially what happened to Anna.”
Kate suddenly felt defeated. She couldn’t reconcile the Drake she knew with the one they all talked about. Maybe Callen was right, and this was simply one of those things she’d have to trust him on, but something felt wrong, like she was missing some huge piece of a puzzle.
Another howl sounded. And another. Tess grabbed her by the hand.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, but more than one howl in quick succession is never good.”
* * *
CALLEN
Callen caught Kate’s scent before she and Tess came into view around the bend.
“I guess I was wrong,” Tess said to Kate as they approached the group of shifters dancing about, celebrating. “Successive howls apparently means we’ve got visitors.”
“Not just visitors. Blade and Anna,” Kate said. “No one’s worried they’ll get infected either given all that hugging going on over there.”
