CALEB
As I follow Jaxon up to his office while our packs mingle outside in his garden area, I have flashbacks from being here over a month ago—the worst night of my life.
Jaxon closes the door behind me, and when I take a seat, I watch him as he walks around his desk and sits down. “How is Evan doing?”
I nod, pleased to know they still think and care about him. “He’s doing better,” I confess. “It’s going to take some time, but I think the change of scenery is doing him some good.”
Jaxon hums, not taking his eyes off me. “What did you want to discuss?”
“We’re planning on taking my father out.”
He narrows his gaze a centimetre. “I’m listening.”
“He’s been terrorising packs in the North, and he’s trying to recruit me for some kind of mission that I know will drag me down with him. I want to destroy the reputation he’s given me, and now that Evan is with us, I can’t risk him finding out. He has to go, and we’re doing it as soon as we can.”
Jaxon brushes a finger over his lips. “Have you curated a plan?”
“Yes,” I say sternly. “We’re still tracking his every move, but we need a little more time as our witches are creating a spell that could weaken Ryker. Are you in on helping us?”
He stays silent for a long beat. “If it stops him from attempting to take over, then yes, we’re in. But we need to be in on the plan, and we need to work as a team.”
“We’ve already started rounding up the packs he’s targeted, and we’re going to take him and his pack out,” I state. “If we don’t do something now, it’s going to be too late.”
Jaxon rests his elbows on his desk. “Agreed.”
“I need you on my team to help convince other packs that I’m not my father, and I’m not trying to trick them.” I sigh as I lean back into the chair. “They’re still wary, and I fear they won’t trust me until the damage is done.”
“We’ll be there, Caleb,” he promises. “And we’re not going to let him hang over our heads anymore. You deserve to be free of his reputation, and you deserve to live a happy life with Evan.”
My heart skips a beat at his words. A world without my father is the safest place Evan could be. And once he’s gone, I can’t wait to be able to show the world what he means to me.
I stand from the seat and roll my shoulders, trying to shake off the conversation. “Thank you for agreeing.”
“In this world, we’ve got to keep close,” he murmurs. “We never know who is going to come round that corner and stab us in the back.”
The number of people I actually trust is depressing, but how can I when my psychotic father could show up at any minute if I talk to the wrong person? It’s not happening, and if it’s a war he wants, it’s a war he’ll get.
After training and heading home,I wrap some things up with Felix and our guards before anything else. Now that Jaxon is on our team, it gives us more opportunities, more lifelines, and a better chance of removing Ryker from this planet for good.
I head up to my bedroom, pausing when I find Evan standing in the bathroom, facing the mirror. My heart is in my throat as I approach, but to my relief, he’s just standing there, looking at his reflection.
His blue eyes flick to mine.
“What’s going on?” I say as I stand directly behind him.
“Psyching myself up for some affirmations.”
My brows raise as I wrap my arms around him and lower my face to his ear. “Affirmations, huh? I hope you’re psyching yourself up to admire this gorgeous face.”
Evan releases a breath, and I look back at the reflection to find him looking away as if I’m talking nonsense. I gently grip his jaw and twist his head back to the mirror where he meets my gaze.
“Hmm?” I kiss his temple tenderly. “Those gorgeous blue eyes,” I murmur. “Those perfect lips.”
His shoulders relax an inch when he takes a breath, and I kiss along the edge of his jaw, leaving us both shuddering.
“This beautiful body.” I carry on. “This beautiful mind.”
Evan rolls his head back with a soft whine.
