Page 9 of Callen's Captive
Callen didn’t enjoy killing or making others suffer. He only did what was necessary to ensure the survival of the pack, and he was damn tired of everyone treating him as if he didn’t have a heart.
He stormed out of her room, slamming the door behind him, and instantly regretted it. Making noise here could attract the wrong attention. He needed to focus on the situation and not let one small woman and her attitude get to him. She was nothing to him, other than a friend Anna wanted to protect and possibly an ally given how the WSSO was after her. Her words and especially the way she had looked at him had hurt, more than it should have.
* * *
KATE
Callen stormed out unexpectedly, the hurt on his face tugging at Kate’s soul. When had anyone ever cared enough about what she said or did that her words could hurt? She’d never sniped or done anything to Anna to upset her, but maybe that was because she and Anna had only communicated through emails and one phone call early on. It was easy to keep her emotional distance that way.
Here, with Callen in her face and trying to. . . Damn it. She didn’t even know what he was trying to do, but somehow it seemed personal to him. Janie would have been the first one to tell her to march herself out there and apologize. Then again, Janie was always the kind-hearted one, whereas Kate was the selfish bitch. That’s what her foster-mom had told her often enough, so often she’d begun to believe her.
Kate slipped into the living room, leaving the bedroom door open a fraction so she’d have some light. Callen stood by the window, peering out through the opening between the boards.
“I’m sorry,” she said, though she wasn’t entirely sure what she was apologizing for. She’d spoken the truth back there. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone on my side, and honestly, I’m still not convinced you’re on my side.”
“I said I won’t hurt you. Whether or not I continue helping you is another matter.”
She straightened her stance. Earlier, she hadn’t thought she needed or even wanted his help, but his words and tone made her reconsider.
“I’m not too proud to admit I’m in trouble here and can use some help, but I don’t know a lot about you. You could be as big a threat as the WSSO. Maybe more, considering I’m alone in here with you.”
With her only light source behind her, his face was hidden in the dark. Being able to see his expression, gauge his mood, and maybe what he was thinking would go a long way to settling her nerves.
She lightly gnawed on the silver pendant that hung around her neck, wishing she hadn’t pushed her luck with the WSSO. She’d gone into their files one too many times and now she was paying the price. Going back to her apartment wasn’t an option, and by now, the mercenaries would have found the cabin and nearby bunker. How they had found her trail in the first place was beyond her, but they had. Now she had to deal with it.
“That can’t be good for your teeth.”
She dropped the pendant back against her chest with a soft thud. “How well can you see me in this light? I’m straining my eyes just to see your outline.”
“I can see the freckles on your nose, Princess.”
Princess? Seriously? What about her made him even think of a princess? Her threadbare jeans and sneakers with the hole by the big toe, the white t-shirt that had turned yellow from a week’s worth of sweat and was smeared with dirt from the woods, her dirty and all-too messy hair that really needed to be washed along with the rest of her, or the green canvas backpack stuffed with all that remained of her possessions?
“So, it’s true, everything they say about shifters?”
“Depends what they say. Our hearing and eyesight are quite good, like a wolf’s. Or was there something more personal you wish to know?”
His voice was soft and deep and the way he spoke warmed her all over, including areas that shouldn’t be warmed by a guy she didn’t know. She hadn’t heard of shifters having any type of hypnotic effect on humans, but now she was starting to wonder. Kate backed away.
“You’re still afraid of me,” he said on the tail end of a sigh.
“Still waiting to hear why you were looking for me. Beyond that line about helping Anna.”
“Not a line. I saw what those mercenaries did to her.”
Panic raced through Kate, and she inadvertently stepped closer to him. “They caught her?” She couldn’t keep the squeak out of her voice. It was like Janie all over again.
“She’s fine now, but they beat her up pretty bad before Blade stopped them. One got away and continued hunting you. I guess he figured you were an easier target, at least one that wouldn’t get him killed. Either he lost you before the bar, or he was waiting for you to come out. Probably didn’t want to go up against a bunch of bikers by himself. Unlike you.”
Callen didn’t approve, not that it was any of his damned business. “That bar seemed like a good place to hide at the time.”
“How long were you planning to stay under that table? And how is it no one knew you were down there?”
“There was a woman outside when I got there. I guess I looked kind of desperate. She offered to hide me in exchange for my denim jacket.” The jacket had been her last clean piece of clothing. She had put it on to blend in better at the bar. “Sorry I smell so bad.”
His laugh made her head snap up. “Hey, it’s not like I’ve been near a shower in between dodging bullets and grabby bikers.”
Callen rose from where he’d been leaning on the windowsill. “One of them touched you?”
