After I carefully constructed those walls high enough to protect myself and Astrid, Caleb has stormed back into my life with his absurd demands, expectations, and a connection I tried to kill years ago.
Even with him gone, I can still feel the ground shifting under my feet and all the ways he’s turning things upside down.
Worst of all, I fear the part of me that still responds to him anyway.
Chapter 8 - Caleb
Darkness settles over the grounds as night falls, and despite the usual peace of Briarwood, the air feels charged. It’s the kind of stillness that comes before something big changes everything. Then again, maybe that’s just me, far too aware of what’s coming.
The old lumber mill has started to rot down to its foundation, providing enough shelter with the steel roof and strong enough support beams, but it’s by no means luxurious. From the outside, it looks like something long forgotten and better left untouched. From inside, it’s big enough to host our pack meetings without any human eyes around to bear witness.
Light flickers from the lanterns hanging between beams overhead, and shadows shift across the cement floor as bodies fill the space, some shifted and some not, while waiting and murmuring. It’s a low, constant rumble full of anticipation and maybe even a touch of skepticism. It’s hard to predict how a meeting might go down.
Lila walks just ahead of me, hesitant with every step, as if bracing herself for whatever scrutiny she expects to receive. Dominic, Zane, Hunter, and Luke follow as we walk in. While they’re not part of the pack, they want to participate anyway, more so to get a feel for how we do things here than anything.
While I don’t love the distance she keeps from the rest of us, I don’t say anything. At the very least, she’s here, and that’s enough for now.
Lila slips inside before us and finds somewhere off to the side to linger in an attempt to avoid any attention brought to her, but of course, many pack members sense her anyway.
But once I move in with the guys in tow, their eyes go straight to us, eyes widening slightly in surprise. It seems many of them weren’t anticipating me.
Still, the crowd parts around me as wide grins spread across their faces and a feral kind of excitement gleams in their gazes. They get riled up, calling my name and getting each other wound.
I’m not the Alpha yet, but since I was already named Varic’s successor, they fall in line all the same. They submit to structure, only defying it when they sense weakness. They’re constantly sniffing for it, which is why standing firm in one’s conviction and dominance is integral.
I have their respect, but it can be a fickle thing under pressure.
A touch of pride settles in my system as I walk through them, seeing firsthand that their opinion of me hasn’t changed in those four years. They’re still waiting for my ascent.
Varic stands at the far end of the room, shadows streaking across one side of his matured face as his eyes land on me. He seems almost stronger and wiser than the last time I saw him, or maybe it’s just been long enough for everyone to feel new to me all over again. Familiar, but different enough.
His grin spreads easily at the sight of me, holding his hands out. “Caleb.”
“Varic,” I return, maintaining that stoicism before allowing my own smile to form as I accept his grasp that turns into a brief but amicable embrace.
Despite the visible strength still evident in his form, I can feel the slight difference in his hold, as if time has both been kindto him, yet it’s creeping in around the edges, turning him a bit wearier.
“It’s been too long… but your service has done well for you,” he says, giving a final clasp of my hands before letting go again. He glances at the guys who stand some distance away, observing respectfully, and he nods his acknowledgment before returning his attention to me. “I understand you have some things you’d like to address. Feel free to do so while their attention is focused.”
I nod once before turning to face the others.
The moment I do, I catch every pair of eyes in the wood mill. Those familiar faces take up nearly every inch of the place, either standing in the crowd, lingering on old pieces of equipment, or on wood crates. Either way, their noise picks up again, encouraging me to speak.
Pulling in a discreet breath, I remind myself of everything that’s at stake, and I step forward.
“I know several years have passed and many things have surely changed, but I have an announcement concerning security and pack continuity.”
At this, the others get rowdier, and despite their respect, a note of challenge settles in the space.
There’s no proper way to say it, and no bulletproof wording that will make it any easier. So I pull my strength in as Varic always taught me, and I come out with it.
“Before I step in as the next Alpha, I need my Luna,” I begin, letting my voice travel through the space, already hearing as the pack begins growing louder in anticipation. “Tomorrow night, I will be initiating a mate bond with Lila Quinn.”
Immediately, they go quiet as my words sink in. So quiet that the scuttle of a mouse would sound more like a gunshot.
Then, those voices rise again, all at once, flooding the mill with confusion, disbelief, and outrage. Some scoff and snarl, others murmur to one another or outright shout their complaints.
“You’re binding yourself toher?” one of them calls, not trying to hide their distaste.
