I’ve realized something about myself. I don’t carry negative emotions well, and it takes a lot to cause me pain. I’m a sadist, not a masochist. So, when I feel pain, I immediately want to find another person to offload it all on. Someone who can take it.
And Jay...I chuckle.Oh, Jay can take it.That’s why when she passed out, I knew she had to be in absolute anguish. Someone pushed my little masochist too far.
And they will pay.
My head is aching from the events of last night. Fear and rage has never hit me like this. I cared—and still care for Alaina—but not like this. Never like her.
Because an attack on her is an attack on us. It’s personal.
Is it?I challenge my wolf.Or is it business?
Speak more,he says. Which is his caveman-like way of verbalizing his need for more information.
Is it because she’s my mate or is it because my pack is defying me?I clarify.
Both. We care for mate and pack.
I shake my head.It can’t be both. We have to pick a side.
Why?
Because she’s a killer, remember?
My wolf tilts its head sideways in confusion.If killer, why lover-shaped?
If I could leave him at home, I would. The mate bond has clouded his judgment and arguing with him is pointless.
Then he stumps me with the question,Can mate have killed and not be a killer?
I’m not sure how to respond. His argument that past actions do not define who we are is sound. It reminds me of that book of hers. But in this case, is he right?
Great, now my headache has upgraded to a migraine.
The emotional turmoil weighs heavily on me. I have a lot of baggage to unload. And I know exactly who I want to unload it on.
I stomp up the front porch steps to my neighbor’s cabin. I knock on the door because I have manners, and my mother raised me right. But it won’t be long before nature overpowers nurture.
Mrs. Dell answers the door. The imbecile still lives with his mother. She’s probably been begging him to get his own place.Don’t worry, I’ll find him one.
“Caleb. What a pleasant surprise!”
“Hi, Mrs. Dell,” I say with such sweetness. “Is Kevin home?”
“Uh, yes. He just got home an hour ago.” She calls him down from upstairs. “Kevin! Someone’s here to see you!” She turns back to me. “Oh, honey, you’ve got blood all on you.”
I glance at my button down and peer back up to her, smiling. “Oh, yes, I’ve been hunting.”
“Oh, that reminds me. Make sure to tell your mother I said thanks for the steaks. We can’t get enough of them.”
My hands are behind my back, and I rock onto my tiptoes. “I’ll make sure to tell her.”
Kevin appears, and he pales. He’s mistaking me for a ghost, but what he’s really facing is a demon.
“Hello, Kevin.”
“Well, I’ll leave you two kids to it. Caleb, it was nice to see you.”
“You too, Mrs. Dell.”
