“In that case, I’ll pack us some extra food since the hound is coming.”
Chapter TWENTY-SEVEN
Jay
Caleb insisted we gather food for the pack first. He couldn’t take one moment to celebrate his birthday. He had to be Prince Alpha and put us to work. I don’t know why I thought he was going to lose a little.
I respect him for it—Caleb is truly committed to his pack. Being put to work, I’m seeing how much effort is required to gather as much food as they have.
Ew. Did I just say I respect Caleb? Ugh, what is going on with me lately?
It isn’t until we’ve gathered a sufficient supply that Caleb is ready to put work aside and have fun. So, he orders Tyler and a few other guys to run the food back to the pack. Tyler will return later, but for now, Caleb and I are alone. Which I don’t mind.
Standing on a fallen tree trunk, Caleb holds the bow and arrow out to me. “Do you want to try?”
“Me? Oh, no. I couldn’t—” I wave in protest. “I mean, I wouldn’t even know how,” I laugh nervously.
Since when did I get so flustered around him?
He waves me over. “Come here. I’ll show you.”
“I don’t know... What if I hit something? Or worse.”
He chuckles. “I promise you won’t hit anything other than your target. Can you trust me?”
My eyes drop to my fidgeting hands, trying to decide my next move, feeling caged by the word. Trusting anyone is a gamble and something tells me that taking a chance on my enemy with a weapon is a losing bet. He’s only referring to archery, but to me,his question feels heavier than that. He’s asking me to take a leap of faith—something I don’t do.
I’m waiting for signs of a panic attack, but none come. No sweats, chest pains, nothing. Someone who is considered my Master wants to hand me a weapon to shoot at something. Shouldn’t my wolf be triggered by this?
“Jay?” he asks.
“I’m thinking.”
Taken aback by my response, he lowers the bow and rests it in front of him. “Okay, but what is there to think about? I would’ve thought you’d jump at the opportunity to take a weapon from me,” he jokes. “Up to you, though.”
Before all of these confusing feelings, he’s right. I would have thought he’d be yelling at me by now to follow his orders, so he could weaponize me without question. At least, that’s what my previous masters have done. But I don’t detect impatience, pressure or disappointment. He’s giving me a choice—a real choice, not just the illusion of one.
He isn’t them, my wolf assures.
I bite the inside of my cheek and consider her words. Is she right? He’s kidnapped me, imprisoned me, humiliated me, threatened me in more ways than one and has me calling him Master.
But this feels different. With my prior captors, I wasn’t safe. With him, I’m not so sure. Maybe what I need is reassurance.
A lick of courage finds me, and I speak my fear aloud, asking, “Are you going to make me kill something?”
“Only trees, promise.” He crosses his heart.
I take a deep breath and exhale, nodding. “Okay.”
I join him in the brush. When I make it to the fallen tree, Caleb extends his hand to me. I take it, and he helps me onto the large trunk with him. He moves behind me, sets the bow in myhand and reaches around to place the arrow, drawing my arm straight back.
“Okay...” He checks me over, gliding his hand down my arm, adjusting my position in a few places.
I suck in a breath at his touch and goose bumps pepper my skin.
“Biggest thing to remember is to keep your arm at shoulder height and keep your elbow turned away from the string...” He rotates my elbow. “There. Perfect.” He drags his hand back the underside of my arm, down my side and rests on my hips.
Pressed against him, I relish every contour, protruding pecs, chiseled abs, and the bulge against my back.
