Page 70 of Callen's Captive
Chapter Fourteen
KATE
“The trail is more defined here,” Kate said as the terrain finally leveled out after what felt like days of hiking. They’d only left the abandoned camp yesterday.
“My pack is over one hundred seventy shifters. A single march through here would be enough to wear the trail down, but there’s no scent here. The rain washed everything away. Even so, I’d say we’re definitely heading in the right direction.”
Callen sounded reserved still, and this time she didn’t think it had to do with whatever he planned on telling her when they found his pack. Did he have a cranky mother who would disown him for bringing home a human? Did he pig out on donuts every chance he got? She glanced at his rock-hard body. That was a definite ‘no.’
Whatever this revelation of his was, there was nothing he could say that would make her think any less of him. She knew who he was, inside and out, and she loved him for who he was.
Kate stumbled and nearly slipped over the embankment, but Callen grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to him. “You okay?”
She nodded. She was still trying to figure out how the word ‘love’ had crept into her head moments ago. Did she really love Callen? The very idea was scary as hell and yet exciting, as in go online and declare in every forum that she’d found the perfect person. Maybe that was love. She didn’t exactly have a lot of experience in that area.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Callen said.
“And you’re nervous.”
“I’m not nervous,” he said, rather fast. Too fast. She smirked, and then he sighed. “A bit nervous. I keep turning the facts over and over in my head. I can’t think of a single reason why Damien didn’t leave a note, a map, even an obscure clue for me.”
“Do you trust him? I mean like with your life?”
“Yes.”
She liked how he replied without hesitating. It meant he had shifters on whom he could truly rely.
“Relax, Callen. You’ll find the answers in time.”
“I’m not good at waiting for answers. I’m used to getting the answers even when people don’t want to give them up.”
Apparently, they were back tonotdiscussing whatever he was hiding from her. The hidden message in his words was going over her head. Before she could say anything, he thrust his arm out, stopping her. Then he slid his pack off, laid it down gently and signaled her to hide. Earlier, he’d gone over some basic military signals with her, but she’d never thought she’d ever use them, at least not so soon.
As Kate crouched behind a thick pine, Callen moved ahead. Growls erupted all around them. Callen shifted, shredding his clothes. The size and beauty of his wolf never failed to amaze her. For some reason, he was circling her instead of chasing off whatever the threat was.
Five sets of wolf’s eyes suddenly shone in the shadows surrounding them. The wolves, all as large as Callen, ranged in color from silver to brown. Without an ounce of caution, Callen walked toward the silver wolf who promptly growled at him.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Callen demanded as he shifted to human form. He advanced on the wolf who was baring his teeth at him.
“Callen, get down!” Kate aimed the gun at the wolf.
Callen turned his back on the wolf and quickly shoved her arm upward as the gun fired. The five wolves howled in unison. Callen slid the gun from her hand and then cupped her cheek as he took a deep breath.
“Show yourself, Mason. We were recently attacked by Drake’s men and this is hardly a welcome you’re showing us.” Callen slipped the gun’s safety in place.
The silver wolf shifted, leaving a tall brown-haired man with bright blue eyes in his place. “My apologies, Callen.”
“I don’t want your apologies, Mason. I want an explanation for why I’ve been surrounded and threatened.”
“Damien’s orders. You’re banned from entering our pack.”
Kate inhaled sharply. She hadn’t believed Callen’s pack would disown him. Her shifter lived for his pack. To be turned away from them had to be crushing. Callen looked completely unaffected, but she could sense his hurt, his pain at the pronouncement.
Mason jerked his chin toward the tan and brown wolf, a signal, Kate suspected. The wolf quickly disappeared from sight, heading in the direction she and Callen had been walking.
Callen slipped her gun into his pack and swung it over his shoulder as he took her hand. “Let’s go.” He pointed her back down the mountain.
“Wait!” Mason said.
