“It’s not what Caleb wanted. For you to risk yourself. Ryker broke your fucking leg, Evan. You’ve only just recovered.”
My jaw crunches as I glance up at him. “I don’t care what Caleb wanted. He was the one who left, and if he thought I was going to sit back and do nothing, then he doesn’t know me. Neither do you.”
Jaxon sighs. “It’s dangerous. You were recovering for weeks, Evan.”
“And Caleb could be in danger for all we know. Don’t you care?”
“Of course I care,” he says with pinched brows. “But he asked me to look out for you.”
I slam the book shut and huff out a breath. “You’d do it for Ava, and Ava would do it for you. So don’t try to lecture me,”I say with shaky hands. “We’d do absolutely anything for our mates, even if that means we go against their wishes.”
Jaxon’s eyes glaze over for a second. “I’m sure he’ll make it home. He’s one tough guy.”
I don’t doubt that he’s a tough guy. He’s the strongest person I know. But it’s creeping up to almost three months since he’s been gone. Anything could have happened to him during that time, which makes me even more desperate to find him.
As the days tick by, I worry about what he’s enduring. Felix has been a massive help in keeping things between Zara and me.
After hearing someone snitched to Ryker about our relationship and their plan, Felix became wary of everyone, and I’m glad he was making sure to keep everyone else at arm’s length.
It wasn’t unusual for me to go over to their house after everyone found out that we’re mates, so it wasn’t suspicious. Felix made purposeful plans, and we searched and searched until my feet literally bled. But every time, I came home with an emptier heart.
After finishing up in the library, I head upstairs. There’s nothing I want more than to be out there looking for him, but Felix has a pack to look after, and if he found out I went alone, he wouldn’t let me go again. It’s safer that we do it together.
I lounge on my bed and stare aimlessly at the ceiling. I’m not stupid enough to believe I can take on Ryker myself, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling guilty. The first time we went looking for him, I didn’t expect him to turn up, but it only made me want to look for him more.
Oh, to hear his voice one more time. That's all I ask, all I dream of.
“Evan?”
I blink at the quiet roar of my name. I push myself up onto my elbows and stare towards my closed door.
No. I’m imagining things—going batshit crazy.
“Evan!”
My heart hammers in my chest as it becomes louder—a voice I could recognise anywhere. I stand up so quickly I nearly topple over. My feet pound against the hardwood as I rip open my door, and rush to the stairs.
The second I come to the banister, I pause when I find Caleb standing in the middle of the hall, his chest heaving as he calls out my name once more.
I tremble at the sight of him. I blink and blink until I realise it’s my reality.
He’s here.
He’s here.
His eyes find mine, and his handsome face falls slack. For a moment, we both stare at each other. Time stands still as I take him in. A day I feared would never come, but tried to keep hopeful for anyway.
No words, just pure feeling.
Tears well in my eyes, and my heart aches to the point I think it might explode. “Caleb,” I choke out desperately.
I can’t breathe as I rush down the stairs, nearly tripping over my own feet. Caleb meets me at the bottom—equally in a rush—then I launch myself into his arms.
He catches me and holds me tight to his chest, my feet coming off the floor.
The second I touch him, I’m filled with relief.
Home.
