Page 53 of Callen's Captive
His wolf paced within, restless and on edge, as if he were feeding off of Kate’s emotions. Was his wolf doubting if he could handle the fallout of claiming a human? Callen didn’t care what others thought, only what Kate thought. If he could convince Kate to stay with him, they could still be together. He would simply claim her as his, without a blood-bond. His wolf nipped the fuck out of him at that thought.
The blood-bond. . . so that was the issue. His wolf wanted the blood-bond. It was as instinctive to a shifter as breathing, perhaps more so. Callen had lived his entire life assuming he’d blood-bond a mate one day, have that ultimate connection with another.
He wanted that with Kate.
He would never feel as one with her if they didn’t blood-bond, but blood-bonding a human meant weakening his shifter abilities. He would no longer have the strength or speed to be Damien’s enforcer, or even a guard. Callen would be useless to the pack he’d fought his whole life to protect.
“You’re safe, Kate. I’m here with you.” He said as he pulled her against his chest as she shook. “Everything’s fine,” he reassured her.
No longer an enforcer. . . Perhaps that wouldn’t be so bad, if she would truly be his, if she could ignore the fact that he was an enforcer to begin with. He wasn’t sure he had the courage to tell her about that part of his life just yet. What if she looked at him with disgust? Hell, he didn’t need to imagine how she’d look at him; he’d already seen the utter revulsion on her face when she had read the WSSO’s profile on him, thinking it was Blade she was reading about.
“We’re. . . we’re in the woods, Callen.”
“Yes. The river washed us downstream. I’m guessing several miles. It wasn’t the optimal way of escaping Riverview but it worked.”
Her hand went towards the gash on her forehead.
“You hit your head on something in the water. You’ve been out of it for two days.”
“But I can’t be in the woods.”
“Sure you can, Princess. The rain’s stopped, we’re on higher ground, and. . .”
Her eyes darted from left to right at a frantic pace. She was starting to panic again. Callen placed both hand on her face, trying to get her to focus on him. “Look at me, Kate, and only me.”
Tears streamed down her face. “I can’t be here, Callen. They’ll get me!”
Smelling her fear instantly sent his entire body on alert. “I won’t let the WSSO touch you, Princess.”
She shook her head and closed her eyes tight as she squeezed his hand hard. She was struggling.
“No one else is around,” he repeated as soothingly as he could. “Just us and a bunch of trees. Keep listening to me and breathe, Princess.”
As he continued talking, giving her something to focus on other than the WSSO, her breathing calmed. Lovely, deep, rich, brown eyes opened at last.
“I can’t stay here. Which way is home?”
“We’re not going back. Not now at least. We’re headed toward my pack.”
* * *
KATE
No, no, no! She couldn’t go to his pack! Was he crazy? This place, these woods, she couldn’t be here. This was insane. He should have left her in that river, to get washed ashore at a town, any town, even a damn pit stop somewhere. Anywhere but here!
Her eyes traveled up toward the trees. She started shaking all over again.
He kissed her, long enough to get her attention. Then he pointed to his face. “If you can stand to look at this ugly mug, then that’s what you do when you feel like you’re starting to lose it, okay?”
“Far from ugly,” she said with half of a smile. It was a very fine face, with a strong jaw, beautiful rich skin, and eyes that made her feel so alive every time he looked at her. She certainly wouldn’t mind waking up next to him every day, but she wasn’t in fantasyland anymore and she wasn’t Little Red Riding Hood either. She knew enough to stay out of the woods. While the big and deliciously bad wolf wouldn’t kill her, the forest would.
“Ah, so you admit I’m dashing prince material.”
She rolled her eyes, feeling more like herself. He’d helped her avoid another panic attack. “Yes, that humble attitude is the clincher.”
He chuckled. “Feeling better?”
“A bit. Though another kiss couldn’t hurt. Maybe longer this time. You know, to help stave off the worst of my panic.”
