CALIFF
“I’m grateful for your patience.”
My wife just shook to hold her laugh. “You’re shitting me, Alpha. I have all the patience in the world when it comes to you.”
“Come here.” I opened my arms, and she came to me willingly.
“I don’t want to crash you, and you’re still recovering. You will get another fluid tonight. Do you want anything else?”
“I wanna kiss you.”
She smiled. “Just kiss. We’re at Zarah’s house.”
“Just kiss.” I cupped her face before she could protest and kissed her like my life depended on it.
I always felt at home with her. And three days felt like an eternity before I could kiss and feel my mate.
Our lips moved in sync. The moment she felt my tongue at the seam of her lips, she opened them for me, granting me access. Our tongues collided, probing deeply, swirling in her mouth.
I missed her taste, the sweetest I’d ever tasted. I missed feeling her skin against mine, her touch, the warmth of her embrace, the tightness and hotness inside her. And I missed her moan, her groan, her breaths against my face, and the flushed color on her cheeks when she was satisfied. And I missed her taste in my tongue as she came into my mouth.
The kiss turned hot and demanding, and we moaned deliriously, which drove my cock mad, steely hard, that could break the zipper of my pants.
She pulled apart with a moan, panting, her breath fanning my face. “You should rest.”
“Will you stay with me for a while?”
“Of course.” She came and rested her back against the headboard, her fingers running through my hair.
I shut my eyes as she began massaging my scalp, and it felt good, making me almost moan.
“I want to see the High Priestess.”
“Why?” I kept my eyes closed but listened to her heartbeat.
“We have a treaty, and we can’t harm humans. I want to know what she has to say about it.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll come with you.”
“No, baby. You need to rest. I got this. I still have to talk to Zarah to arrange a meeting. I don’t know when it will be. You probably fully recovered by then.”
“That’s good then. You don’t have to come alone.” I looked at her. “Baby, have you had a dream lately?”
She shook her head, furrowing her brows. “Why did you ask?”
“You didn’t see this happened?”
“No. I think it wasn’t a gift. I don’t have a vision-just a warning. I don’t know. I feel like there’s a lot that has changed in me lately.”
I got up and rested my head just like her. “What do you mean? Can you still transform to hybrid?”
“Yes. I guess. I can still feel my annoying wolf. You?”
I thought of my wolf, and he just purred at me. I chuckled. “Yes. Unfortunately. Can you feel our connections and read my thoughts?”
“Yes.” She closed my eyes for a few seconds, and when she opened them, her eyes were glowing. And then blinked it off, and they were back to normal.
“So, the only thing changed is you no longer have dreams.”
“Yes.” She sighed. “I miss running with you.”
Squeezing her knee, I rested my head on her shoulder. “We will do it together once we’re back to the compound.”
“Do you think Elder Aciano is okay? Why hasn’t he called you back?”
“Mom will contact his wife. Don’t worry.”
“I don’t want anyone to get hurt, Califf. Watching you suffer it kills me inside.”
“I’m so sorry, baby. I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you, watching me go through that.”
“That’s the price I have to endure for having an awesome mate.” She looked at me, wrinkling her cute nose.
“That we can agree on. The awesome mate part.”
As she pressed her lips on my head, I said what had been in my head. “We’re going to that address if Aciano won’t call me back tonight.”
“Fine, but you’re staying in the car.”
“Baby.”
“Don’t baby me, Alpha, or we’re going without you.” Her voice flattened. His eyes sharpened.
“Fuck you, Luna.”
“Fuck you, too, Alpha. That’s an order.”
“Do you realize-”
“That when the Alpha is not feeling well, Luna does his work on his behalf? Yes. I know.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’re enjoying this a lot, aren’t you?”
“Kind of. Now rest.”
“Fine. It’s because it’s Luna’s order.”
***
I woke up with a full bladder and heard murmurs outside the room. After I used the bathroom, I walked outside, and they all stopped as if I just caught them gossiping about me.
“Hey. You’re awake.” Shadow looked guilty even if she tried hard to hide through her smile.
“What are you all talking about?” I joined them.
“It’s nothing. Just about Barbie movie.”
“Liar. It’s not your strong suit, baby. Tell me, Zack.” I turned to Zack, and he looked at Shadow as if to communicate with her. “Tell me.” I used my Alpha tone, causing him to stiffen.
“Erm, Luna will tell you. It’s her idea, anyway,” Zack said softly.
“Really, Zack?” Aira groaned. “With two words, and you already sold your best friend.”
I shifted my gaze. “I’m the Alpha, and he answers to me, Aira.”
“I didn’t forget about that, Alpha. Even Tor is sleeping, if he hears your voice, he instantly forgets me and comes running to you.”
“I don’t recall calling him in the middle of the night, especially those with mates.”
“My point is. They all respect and follow your order without questions.”
“So, Shadow. Are you going to tell me what did you all talk about?” I was at the edge of my self-control when she held my gaze.
She blew a breath. “Fine. I’m planning to take Lyon and Zack to the address.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? It could be a trap. We already talked about this a thousand times.” I glared at Lyon and Zack, who couldn’t look me in the eye anymore. “And you two idiots agreed with her plan?”
“You’re still recovering, Alpha.”
“That doesn’t answer my question. And it’s not an excuse if you’re putting your Luna in danger, Lyon.” At the corner of my eye, Shadow watched my jaw clench. My nose flared as I felt a sudden jolt of protectiveness far darker and more powerful than anything I’d felt before that they would risk her and their lives for the address they didn’t know was waiting for them there.
“Yes. I’m convinced Alpha. I’m sorry.”
I hadn’t looked at Zack. Lyon already answered, “Zack and I will scout first the perimeters. We also discussed taking Kairo and Tor with us. Tor will stay with Luna in the car. Once the area is clear, we will take Luna to the location.”
It sounded like a good plan, but it didn’t change the fact that they were willing to go behind my back. “What’s in that address?”
“It’s a train station. Crowded. I’m sure hunters would not attack to expose them. Besides, there are a lot of CCTV and witnesses if they try.”
“Have you forgotten how they got to me? I did not even notice I was poisoned until I became sick.”
“It’s a solid plan, Califf. I can’t pass this opportunity if this could answer our questions. I know the risk, but it’s much riskier if we let this go and keep looking over our shoulders until they come and strike at us.”
“Could be a waste of time. Do you know where to look for? What would you expect to find if Aciano had been missing and there was no meeting time? Or have you already found it out?” When I glanced over my mate, she pressed her lips together. “I see. So you’ve been busy while I’m resting. Care to share, Shadow?”
“I talked to Sebastien, and your mother called, but I told her you’re resting, so she relayed the message. Aciano is indeed missing. According to Sebastien’s contact, he found something and had some important information with him. The man from the council scoured the books Aciano had been reading about hunters.”
I drew a deep breath when my wolf growled. “Do you think he stuffed that information before he went missing? Where are we going to search for it in the station?”
“We?” Her eyes lit up.
“Well, let’s say you convinced me.”
“Great.” She threw herself into me and kissed me loudly. It wasn’t like the Shadow I knew, which surprised me and caught me off guard a little. She then went back to her chair. “Aciano’s mate, Claire, went to Duke and asked about him.”
“So, we’re going to find him,” Lyon added. “Claire told Duke where he was last seen. And the best part is he likes to ride a train and has a locker there. No. 26, but there’s one little problem.”
“They don’t have the key.” Zarah joined us. “But I can help.”
“Good. When are we going?” I stood up.
“Easy, Alpha. Tor and Kairo are still on the way. First, drink this.” She offered a glass full of what looked like a smoothie.
I took it from her. “What’s this?”
“Probably horse’s dung,” Zack answered, snorting.
Everybody grimaced, and Shadow wrinkled her nose.
“Oh, for Goddess’ sake, it’s just a protein shake.”
I drank it empty. It wasn’t bad, unlike the first one. “It’s good. I tasted lime.”
“I told you,” Zarah said proudly.
“So, you’re also part of this plan?” I asked her faintly.
“I can’t go with you, but I can make a master key.”
“Damn, I wish I could do that,” Lyon reacted.
“What are you going to open? A locked heart?”
“You should use it to your heart, witch. Your heart seems locked up and frozen somewhere in the Arctic.”
Zack cracked up.
“If you want your voice, Zack, you better shut up,” Shadow told him.
“Wait. She can do that?” His eyes widened in amazement.
“I can do better. I can give you life-long erectile dysfunction.”
“What the hell?” It was comical how Zack quickly cupped his groin before us.
“Hey, big guy.” I felt Shadow’s hand on mine. “You should go change.”
“Right.” I left them, and I still caught Shadow talking to Zarah.
“Can I ask you something?”
“What is it, Shadow?”
“I used to dream when something terrible would happen, but I didn’t dream when Califf was in danger. Is something wrong with me?”