Page 145 of Callen's Captive
Kate laughed, and it was music to his ears. His Kate was alive!
Mila left them alone, closing the door behind her.
“You’re awfully quiet, bear.”
Hearing her nickname for him felt so good, but he needed more from her. “Where are you going from here, Kate?”
Her face fell. “I was hoping you’d take me back to the pack, unless. . . You don’t want me anymore, do you?”
He scrubbed his hand over his face, trying to keep calm. He hadn’t realized how angry he’d been until that moment. She had walked away from him to protect him and his pack. She had risked herself and nearly died.
“How can you even think that? I thought you were dead, Kate.”
“Dead?” She thought about it a moment. “The news reports. They said they found a body, didn’t they?”
“Nate and Enrique were searching Riverview for you when they heard the news. They attempted to reach you, but the house was surrounded by police, ambulances, and the coroner’s van.
“Nate said they saw one of the mercenaries carrying a dead white wolf in a trash bag.”
“I was the only shifter in that house with Briggs. After killing him, I passed out on the kitchen floor. Later, when I woke, I was in an abandoned building two towns north of Riverview. I had crude stitches in my side, which I promptly tore the first time I moved, and a new laptop waiting for me.”
“Who—”
“I don’t know, but my wolf recognized the scent.”
“Nate and Enrique were convinced you were dead. They said your body was completely limp, head hanging out of the garbage bag, tongue to the side. But they never got close enough to check for a pulse. Perhaps your wolf opted for a bit of deception until she had a chance to escape.”
“Maybe. But that doesn’t explain the stitches or laptop.” Kate ran her fingers over his hand, resting on her thigh. “The last thing I remember before passing out was that I needed to shift, to control the bleeding from where Briggs stabbed me. I was trying to reason with my wolf, convince her to let me shift back to human form, but she refused. She’s stubborn.”
“Well, gee, Kate, I wonder where she gets that from?”
She smacked his hand. “Seriously, Callen. She wouldn’t let me shift back to human form. I didn’t understand why at first. Briggs was already dead. I was lying there, bleeding out when several mercenaries entered. There was a lot of swearing, then they filed out. Two remained. One bent over me, ran his hand through my fur. The other talked about putting a bullet between my eyes. Then I heard a low growl. That’s when I passed out.”
“You mean your wolf growled, scared them off.”
“It wasn’t my wolf, and I don’t know what happened. I’m just glad you’re here with me.” She leaned into his hand that cupped her cheek. “I missed you Callen, and I’m sorry Nate and Enrique told you what happened. I’ve been trying to make my way back to you. I had no way of contacting your pack directly.”
“I felt the bond die, Kate.”
* * *
KATE
Callen clenched his jaws. Kate could see him holding his emotions in. He really had thought she was dead. Crap.
She had closed herself off from the bond to spare him. Over the past few weeks, when she wasn’t sure she was going to survive, she kept the bond closed to protect him. Instead, she had ended up hurting him. She needed to do better by him,forhim.
“Maybe you don’t need me, but I need you, Princess, more than the air I breathe.”
She bit her lip. “What makes you think I don’t need you?”
“The bond. It’s still closed. All this time. . . If I had felt you across the bond, I wouldn’t have stopped looking until I found you.”
“Really?”
“Don’t you get it, Kate? I have to be strong for the pack. I can’t break down, cry, show any weakness, in front of them. Except you. I can be myself with you because I know you won’t fall apart. You’re my strength, my hopes and desires all rolled in one. When Valerie died, I don’t think I ever felt so low, so weak and useless. You kept me from drowning in self-doubt and the feeling that everything I did was for nothing, that there was no hope. You are the one I can count on to help me through anything, to make me believe I can survive anything. You’re the one who protects my heart and soul, Kate.”
He pulled the necklace out from under his shirt. “When Nate and Enrique returned and gave us the news, I didn’t react. Everyone thought I was in shock, but I had already felt the bond disappear. I pushed the feelings away and left.”
