CALIFF
“You could just split the log like Captain America.”
“Why would I do that? Go check the coffee before your Luna wakes up.” I grabbed another log and hit it with the axe. It split it in two. I could do this all day.
“Fine. Are you sure Shadow still likes croissants?”
“You will eat them all if she doesn’t want.” I chuckled.
“Then I’d better be preparing breakfast.”
“Go ahead. I’m starving.”
He scoffed. “You’re starving? I did all the heavy lifting because you’re the Alpha.”
I groaned, turning my head at him, and slammed the axe onto the hardwood. “What did you say?”
“Wew.” He raised his hand, grinning. “I was just messing with you, and I’m going inside now.”
I shook my head in amusement when he rushed inside the cabin. I barely had enough sleep last night. We stayed overnight at the closest lodging in town, then hiked back with our groceries before sunrise.
I piled the wood I split and filled her stock for her fireplace. I grabbed the axe back and hung midair when I smelled her scent.
“You’re sweaty.” She didn’t mean anything, or at least how she said it, but my heart hammered, and my muscles strained.
“You’re awake.” I put the axe down, grabbed my shirt that I hung on the tree branch, and wiped my sweat off.
“I thought you all left.”
“We did. We hiked downtown.”
Her eyes widened. “In the night? Good thing you made it in one piece didn’t bump into bears.”
I smiled, really smiled, realizing she did care for me. “Bears don’t scare me, baby. You scare me more.”
“Not funny.” She rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know you care.”
My face fell when she switched herself to the distant woman I met yesterday. Although I knew she obviously cared, it still hurt a lot that she’d rather be alone than share her pain with me.
“I’m sorry.”
“Breakfast is ready.” Zack just saved me, or the next thing that came from her mouth would be, get the fuck out.
We settled on her wooden dining table.
“Where did you get this?” She grabbed the croissant and took a huge bite, which made Zack grin.
“It doesn’t taste like the one in Italy, but it’s closed. There’s a small bakery, and it sells croissants.”
“Thanks.” She ate her breakfast with a good appetite. I hoped I wouldn’t ruin her mood before the day ended.
“You’re welcome.”
“Wanna come with me today? You’re welcome to tag along if you two have nowhere to go or people to see.”
“We’d love that.” Shadow barely finished her words. Zack already agreed.
“You should have brought some appropriate clothes for hunting.”
“Oh, we do, Shadow,” Zack said excitedly, beaming.
“So we’re hunting?” I said as I sipped my coffee. “This is good coffee.”
“Sebastien bought that for me.”
“I see.” I nodded blandly.
“It’s just coffee. Jeez.” She rolled her eyes.
“I didn’t say anything.” I shrugged my shoulders.
“Yeah, but your face looks like you swallowed a bile.” She took her coffee and stood up. “Just leave the dirty dishes on the sink. I’ll go up and get ready.”
Zack quickly washed the dirty dishes before we geared up.
“A little help here, please?” Shadow just came down with the big case.
I went up quickly and took the case from her. She had another case, the one she carried yesterday.
“This is heavy. What do you have here, baby?” I carried it down and brought it to the living room.
“Don’t open it.”
“Not planning to.” I raised my hands.
“You both ready.” She gazed at us in surprise.
“Ready whenever you are,” Zack said.
“I have an extra hunting rifle.” She unlocked the case, causing Zack to whistle.
“Wow. Are you planning on building an army?” There were handguns, mags, ammunition, tear gases, high-grade grenades, knives, and accessories.
“Sebastien went overboard when I told him I wanted to learn how to shoot, and also, if someone comes here to kill me, at least I can take some down, if not all.”
I didn’t know if I should be proud or be terrified of her. But I didn’t want to ruin the day for my overbearing overprotectiveness. Spending time with her would be good for my wolf, too.
“Here. Take this.” She gave Zack and me a handgun each-a pistol with complete rounds of magazines and two extras. “I take it you know how to use them.” She paused and smiled. “Of course you do. Sorry.”
“It’s fine. Where are the silver bullets?”
“Under the compartment. I have one mag in my case.”
“Let’s go then.” I carried her case, but she had a handgun on her waist. She looked badass and hot, like a character in RPG games or Lara Croft.
“What’s in your backpack?” Zack asked as we began hiking.
“Some water and protein bars.”
“Let me carry it then.”
She gave it to Zack since he didn’t carry anything other than a hunting rifle. But if I did, she would probably refuse.
“You’re not scared hiking alone?”
She shook her head. “Sebastien, he has someone trained me. An ex-military man. He left me alone in the woods overnight.”
I halted, held her at her wrist, and narrowed my eyes at her. “What the fuck, Shadow? You could have hurt yourself.”
She glared back. “It’s part of the training, Alpha, to test my survival instinct. And if an animal attacked me, then so what? I’d be dead.”
“Why are you so eager to die, Luna?” He choked. Zack’s strong emotions were everywhere.
“Will you two stop treating me like a child? I wouldn’t do it if I knew I couldn’t.”
“I remember you asked me why I’m so eager to die. Don’t we really matter to you right now because you’re human? For us, nothing has changed. We still care for you. We still love you and miss you every day since you left, and it’s part of us to be protective of our family, our Luna, so you have to understand him. Besides, he’s also your husband.”
“You talk a lot.” She marched forward, leaving us behind.
“She worries me so much,” Zack murmured.
“Just let her do what she wants. I trust her, and she wouldn’t do this if it’s not important for her. Maybe it helps her heal.”
“I hope you’re right and she’s not suicidal.”
We’d been hiking for half an hour and still had no idea where we were going.
“Come on, boys. You need to catch up.”
Zack chuckled. “She’s also amazing.”
“And you’re talking about my mate, asshole.”
“And she’s my best friend.”
I shook my head in irritation and amazement.
“Just a heads up. There’s a pack here.”
I stopped and grabbed her wrist. “What the hell, Shadow? I can’t cross any territory without a formal invitation, or we all get mauled. Their scouts can scent us a mile away.”
“Do you think I don’t know that?” She met my gaze, looking chill. “Their Alpha knows my father. And he’s the one who trained me. So you can keep your claws in and your fangs in your mouth. We don’t need them.”
“A warning before we went hiking would be nice, Luna,” said Zack.
“I would never put you both in any harm, and I wouldn’t invite you if I didn’t know I could trust this pack with my life.”
“Well, lead the way, baby.”
The house appeared. It was an impressive modern country design. And then I smelled werewolves.
“Alpha.” Zack’s eyes narrowed, shielding me from three wolves from the left and another three from the right.
“For Goddess’ sake! Go away!” Shadow just shooed them away, and they retreated and ran back.
“Shadow.” A tall, big man in his forties appeared.
“The Alpha,” muttered Zack.
“Forgive my men. You must be Alpha Califf. Your picture didn’t do justice. You’re a handsome young fella. Frye Hammonds. Alaskan Pack.” He offered his hand.
“Califf Stone.” I shook his hand firmly. “Night Stalker.”
“I know who you are even before I met your wife. His father, the Lycan Alpha King, is a good friend of mine. Come. Don’t mine those dogs. And that boy. You must be Zack.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“I apologize for coming unannounced. My mate just told me about you just a minute ago.”
“No apology needed. So you’re here for the shooting range?”
“Shadow took me here, and I didn’t know her plans, so maybe we’re here for the shooting range.” I smiled when Shadow pursed her lips.
“Not a problem. I trust her, and you’re her Alpha. And her father vouched for you, that you’re a good man.”
“So kind of him. Thank you.”
“Well, Shadow. You know where to go. Let my men know if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Alpha Frye.” Shadow saluted him.
We headed north. From a distance, the clearing came into view.
“We do shooting practice in that area?” Zack asked.
“No. Up there.” She pointed at the mountain.
“You’re kidding.” I laughed out loud.
“Am I?”
My smile faded.
“What? You’re a werewolf. You can run fast-”
“I’m more worried about you, baby.”
“Of course.” She rolled her eyes. “We won’t go there by foot, dumbass.”
Then, the 4Runner just arrived.