Page 132 of Callen's Captive
At the crack of dawn, a messenger announced himself outside of Callen’s and Kate’s tent. Damien ordered Callen to meet him in his cabin. Kate had helped him put much in perspective last night and he found himself able to focus again. Given the early hour and urgency of the order, Callen had a feeling he was going to need his focus this morning. There were a lot of unanswered questions, and Damien wasn’t one to take a shifter’s death, let alone two, sitting down.
Callen hoped Damien wouldn’t hold Kate responsible as he feared many of his pack did. Less than five minutes after the funerals, the gossip, the accusations had begun. They all thought Kate was one of Drake’s spies or a WSSO agent.
“Were you in control the entire time you were in wolf form?” he asked Kate as they walked, their hands clasped. He hadn’t been able to get her to talk about what was bothering her, more than the obvious discord between her and the pack.
“Most of it felt like I was watching everything happen through a piece of thick glass, though I felt safe too, or at least less vulnerable than usual.”
“Your wolf took over to protect you while you adjusted.”
“I don’t understand any of this,” she said as they entered the cabin. Damien, Tess, Blade, Hayden, Frank, and Pryce were waiting inside. Only Anna was missing from the growing circle of Damien’s top shifters and their mates. Callen had expected this to be a private meeting with Damien.
“It’s about time,” Damien said. He didn’t bother hiding his anger. This wasn’t the first attack by the WSSO their pack had survived, and in all likelihood it wouldn’t be the last. Damien had been growing frustrated at their inability to combat or even hide from the WSSO. He and Liam had led some combined missions against research facilities, such as the one in which Damien had rescued Tess, but it didn’t seem to matter what the packs did. The WSSO continued to find them and attack over and over.
“We only got your message a few minutes ago,” Callen said, his tone as harsh as Damien’s.
Everyone took a seat on the crude log benches that had been brought in. Only Damien remained standing. He towered over most when he stood, but more so when they were seated.
“I want to know what’s going on with you, Kate,” he said, his voice harsh, even belligerent. Callen straightened immediately. Damien had every right to be pissed off, royally so, but he had no right taking it out on Kate.
“Take it easy,” Callen growled.
“You can leave,” Damien suggested, his cold hard eyes trying to pin him in place. Callen rose, knowing it could be seen as a challenge, but he wouldn’t have Damien treat Kate as the enemy. “If I go, she goes.”
“Damien.” Hayden now. “We’ll do whatever you want, but we’re not going to resolve anything if we’re at each other’s throats.”
Damien focused his cold hard stare back on Kate. Callen could feel her tension rise. “Is this the first time you’ve shifted? Did Drake send you? Are you working with the WSSO?”
“Enough, Damien!” Tess said, rising. “You have all the tact of a bull.”
“Stay out of this, Tess.”
Tess grabbed Kate’s hand and pulled her out of the cabin.
“I’m not done!” Damien yelled after her.
“Apparently you are,” Blade said, snickering.
“You’re not helping,” Callen said.
“Not trying to.”
Callen chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” Damien asked, glaring at both of them.
“I’m thinking about how the women in our lives have changed us, or in Blade’s case, hasn’t.”
“Hey!”
Callen rose, slapped Blade on the back. “Speaking of your better half, where is she?”
“Throwing up probably.”
Damien nodded to Pryce. “Go see to her.”
Blade caught Pryce before he left. “She’s fine. In only lasts to mid-morning each day.”
Callen smiled as Frank pulled Blade in for a hug. Suddenly there was laughter and backslapping and more teasing. It was unexpected and so damn perfect. Good news that the entire pack needed right about now.
