by Eve Vaughn
Caleb’s Woman
By
Eve Vaughn
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
All trademarks, service marks, registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Caleb’s Woman
Copyright © 2018 Eve Vaughn
Electronic book publication March 2018
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means without permission from the author, Eve Vaughn.
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means electronic or print, without the author’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement without monetary gain is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in Federal Prison and a fine of $250,000. For more information regarding the government’s stance on copyright infringement visit: http://www.fbi.gov/ipr.
Dedication
To my readers, thank you so much for supporting me, and keeping me going. I hope you’ll enjoy reading this book as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.
Prologue
Seth Masters traveled down the winding, rain-slicked road with a heavy heart. He’d felt powerless, as he had witnessed his friend struggle through yet another loss. Sometimes, he saw no point in being Alpha, if there was nothing he could do to make things better for his pack members.
Trevor and Laurel were loyal, caring and his best friends. Seth and Trevor were practically brothers, growing up together, sharing in each other’s triumphs in life. Trevor was Beta to Seth’s Alpha and there was no one Seth trusted more. When Laurel and Trevor married, she too became a fast friend of Seth’s. It didn’t seem fair those two should go through so much only to find out what they desired most, having a child, was not to be.
Seth thought of his own little one, Caleb, his chest swelling with pride. Almost ten years old and already he was showing signs of being a great leader. Yes, he’d follow in his old man’s footsteps and make him proud. It saddened Seth to know the McGregor’s would never know the joy of parenthood. After her last miscarriage—twins this time—Laurel was informed she’d never conceive again, and if by some miracle she did, she wouldn’t carry to term. The couple had been devastated by the news.
The mood had been somber and no words could adequately express how sorry he’d felt at their loss. At times like this, Seth cursed his Alpha status because it fell on his shoulders to seek a resolution…but what? Most couples who couldn’t conceive tried adoption or some looked into fertility treatments.
But for his kind, the option wasn’t something they could explore without bringing attention to what they were—Wulfen. They were the descendants of a time when beasts were sentient and walked on hind legs and mated with humans. Over the years, they’d evolved into what they were now, half-human, able to walk in human form, but slaves to the moon, answering its call, changing when the time arose.
They were what some would call werewolves, but not quite. When they shifted, they held on to their identities and sanity, unlike the Hollywood versions of those creatures. They shifted for the hunt, not the kill, although sometimes the kill was necessary for their survival.
The Wulfen numbered in the thousands, close to a million, scattered all over the world. Like wolves, they existed in packs, living in their own communities, registered in a secret database to identify under whose care they belonged. It was an exclusive bunch and rarely did they marry outside of their own kind, and even then, it was only with the consent of the Alpha and the pack elders. They lived like everyone else, working, owning their own businesses, raising families.
For all intents and purposes, they were normal, except they weren’t. Each and every one of them could be a deadly entity when crossed. There were twelve Alphas in North America. Seth’s territory was along the Northern East Coast of the USA, running from Maine to Virginia. His hours were filled with keeping up with the needs of his pack members.
Of course, he had lots of assistance; a handful of Betas who reported to him and made sure things ran smoothly. When he wasn’t tending to his pack, Seth ran his investment firm and doted on his family. Thoughts of Monica and Caleb brought a smile to his face, but then again, that pang of guilt washed over him. Was it right to have so much happiness when there were others who suffered?
“Goddamn this rain,” he muttered, cursing under his breath, wishing he’d left a little earlier. At least then he wouldn’t have been caught in this downpour. He could barely see the damn road and it was pitch black to boot.
Seth slowed his Range Rover down another ten miles on the speedometer. As much as he wanted to get home to his wife and son, he wanted to get there in one piece. Something caught his attention, however, ten feet ahead to the left, just off the road.
Blinking red lights.
Had someone gotten stranded? This stretch of road wasn’t often used at this time of night because several people had gotten into car accidents on what was called ‘Dead Man’s Curve.’
Cautiously, he maneuvered his vehicle to the median not far behind the immobile car and shut off his engine. Not able to make it out completely, something struck him as odd about the way the car rested. He’d need to take a closer look to determine what the problem was.
Seth didn’t bother to dig in the back for his umbrella, so the stinging rain beat against his skin like sharp needles. It was only when he got closer that he saw the car was actually flipped upside down.
He raced forward, silently praying the passengers were okay. Debating on whether to flip the car over or just rip the doors off of the sedan, he finally decided on the latter. To actually set the car to rights could cause more damage to the passengers inside than there may already be.
He tore the driver’s side door off the hinges, not giving a thought to what the people inside would think about such a feat. Wulfen males possessed an inherent superhuman strength, but now wasn’t the time to concern himself about being questioned about such abilities.
The foul odor of death hit him immediately. Was it already too late? Seth knelt down, bringing himself level with the passengers. A young African-American couple was inside, neither wearing seat belts. As gently as he could, he pulled out the driver, whose neck hung at an unnatural angle.
He was dead.
Once Seth laid the body along the road, he crawled in to see the woman clutching a tightly-wrapped bundle. Her desperate gasps for air greeted his ears, signaling life.
“Miss, are you okay?” he asked even though she clearly wasn’t.
She turned her bloodied face, her eyes nearly swollen shut. “Please…” she gasped.
“Don’t try to speak. I’ll use my phone to get us some help.”
“No…too late for me…”
Seth refused to give up on her, but something made him pause.
The pitiful cries of a small baby.
“Please,” she began again, struggling to get out each word.
‘Take…Sommer…take…take the baby….good care of her.” A string of crimson liquid poured from her mouth before the life seeped out of her eyes.
Seth didn’t have long to dwell on what had just occurred because the baby’s screams grew louder, as though she’d sensed the loss of her parents. Seth reached over and took the swaddled child from her mother’s arms. In most circumstances, he would have given pause to the enormity of th
e situation. This baby’s parents had been killed, leaving it orphaned and left without the warmth of their love. However, he didn’t have that luxury. He needed to get the little bundle to a warm, dry place.
Holding the child close to protect her from the rain as best he could, Seth ran back to his vehicle. The infant’s cries were nearly drowned out by the rain slapping furiously against his vehicle.
“Shh, it will be okay,” he whispered to the child, patting her gently on the back.
Seth pulled the blanket back to get a really good look at her and his heart flip-flopped. She was a cute little thing, chubby brown cheeks, large dark eyes, and a head full of curly black hair. “You poor baby. What am I going to do with you?”
First, he’d have to call the police to take care of the accident, but then his thoughts turned back to Trevor and Laurel…childless. What if…?
He eyed the crying baby. It would be risky for two Wulfen to raise a human child, but…how could he turn this little one over to the authorities when she could be the solution he’d been looking for?
Chapter One
“It’s official! I’m now a business owner! I’m so excited. For once in my life, I finally have something to call my own!” Sommer McGregor squealed, twirling around with her arms out. She wanted to jump up and down, shout to the world her fantastic news and celebrate.
“I’m happy for you, hun. You’ve finally done it, and it’s all because of a chance meeting with that psychic.” Tasha’s voice was full of smug satisfaction as if she were really the one responsible for Sommer opening up Afternoon Delights, a catering operation that focused on servicing corporate lunches and fulfilling orders for business functions. They also specialized in hand-dipped chocolate confections. Sommer had the foresight to have a store as her main base where she could sell her treats to people off the streets, but her bread and butter would be the catering.
Sommer shook her head at her zany friend’s declaration. “Tasha, you know I’ve had this planned for a while.”
“But you were dragging your feet. If it weren’t for that palm reading with Madame Cleo, you’d still be dragging your feet.”
Pursing her lips at the nuttiness of that particular claim, Sommer could only stare at Tasha for a moment before dignifying that claim with an answer. “Oh, please. I barely remember that stupid reading, that you dragged me to by the way, let alone everything she said. She was only saying things I wanted to hear. I don’t even know why you believe in all that garbage. The woman was faker than a three dollar bill.”
Tasha sighed with the impatience of one trying to get a point across to someone who just didn’t get it. “Madame Cleo had done readings for several famous people. There are people who don’t make a move without consulting her first. I’m telling you, she’s the real deal.”
“Just because the world is full of foolish people who don’t mind throwing their money away on that mess, it doesn’t mean that I’m about to join their ranks.”
“But you have to admit the psychic was spot on about you. She said that you were full of dreams and ambition but you allow your uncertainties to get in the way.”
“She could have said that to any number of people. Everyone has uncertainties.”
“But you’ve told me countless times how scared you were to take the plunge on this business venture. And you have to admit that you perked up a bit when she mentioned that she sees new beginnings, prosperity, and happiness in your future,” Tasha gushed.
Sommer rolled her eyes. God save her from this zany woman. “Again, she was only telling me what I wanted to hear. And as for me, the only reason I ‘perked up’ was so I wouldn’t laugh in that woman’s face.”
“Say what you want, girl but that was fate.”
“Fate is what you make of it. The only one who can control my destiny is me. I’m the one who put in the work to make all this happen, from the bank loan to renting this space and getting the word out about this business.” She tapped her chest with her palm. “I did all the legwork. I’m not going to make it because of what some charlatan with a crystal balls says. Besides, I already have one client who wants me to take care of a series of business seminars they’re having in a couple weeks. If all goes well, they’ll use me again and I’m sure they’ll recommend me to their associates.”
Tasha twirled one of her long braids with her finger. “What about your father’s company? He’s an executive at Masters and Son. They’re huge. It would be a coup if you landed an account with them.”
Sommer groaned, wishing Tasha wouldn’t keep badgering her about this particular subject. She’d already made a conscious decision not to use her father’s business. No, that would be the easy way out.
The reason she’d started her venture, to begin with, was to prove to everyone, and mostly to herself, she could make it on her own without the help of others. All her life she’d been coddled and cosseted, having to fight for every ounce of independence which she’d come to value.
Her parents meant well, but they were much too overprotective. And it wasn’t just them, but her extended family as well. The pack. Sommer would never be able to explain to any of her human friends what it was like growing up human among the Wulfen.
The obvious difference between her and the two people who raised her was their skin color. Her parents were white and she black, but that had never been an issue. They’d made the effort to ensure she was in touch with her culture by learning about the proper upkeep, buying books and films featuring people who looked like her. They took her to African-American museums and taught her to love and accept her own unique beauty. Her mother had even taken cosmetology classes and watched numerous online videos to learn how to properly take care of Sommer’s hair. Race was a trivial matter where her parents were concerned because to Sommer, they were simply the two people who loved and raised her. It was only outsiders who made a big deal about it.
The Wulfen factor was the much bigger issue.
Even her best friend since high school, Tasha, who was into the psychic phenomena and anything to do with the occult, would probably laugh in her face if Sommer revealed the truth about her family’s heritage.
“No thanks. I’d rather do this without my dad’s help. It’s bad enough that he wanted to fund the entire thing for me as if this were some hobby of mine.”
Tasha gasped her exasperation, plopping down into one of the swivel chairs in Sommer’s office with her usual dramatic flair. “You’re nuts. Do you know how many people would kill for that? Why struggle if you don’t have to?”
Sommer took the seat opposite of Tasha. “If everything was handed to you, would you really value it as much as something you worked hard for? Would it mean as much? Everything I’ve tried to do on my own, they’ve taken over to the point where I stop bothering. I know they mean well, but it gets a little trying sometimes.”
“Your parents are sweethearts. I was a little jealous when I met them. My parents barely tolerate me, but here you are with these people who would walk through fire for you and they spoil you like crazy. I’m sure they only do so much for you because they love you.”
Sommer sighed. She couldn’t deny her parents loved her, but that wasn’t the problem. “But sometimes their love is suffocating. I don’t just have them to contend with, but the Alp—I mean my Godfather and his family as well.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
“You have absolutely no idea.” Sommer sighed, gazing at the picture of the smiling couple in a small oak frame on her desk. She reached out, allowing her fingertips to drift along the glass. It wasn’t possible for her to love them more than she already did. How could she, after they’d adopted her when she’d lost her birth parents? But sometimes they hindered her independence.
The photograph was of them on her graduation day. They were a handsome pair, both slender, her father tall and dark, her mom petite and blonde. Sometimes she thought they loved her too much.
“Then make me understand.”
“Why
is it so important for you to know?”
“Because you always clam up when you talk about them—except for the odd comment here or there. When we were in school together, you initially didn’t want me to come to your house. You’d always make excuses for me not to go there. I thought it was because you didn’t want your parents to know you were hanging out with a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. But once you assured me that wasn’t the case, I wondered what could possibly be so horrible about them. I practically had to twist your arm to finally get an invite. And when I finally met them, they were awesome. I never understood why you always got so edgy at the mention of them.”
“They are awesome people.”
Tasha threw her hands up in the air. “Then what’s the problem?”
Sommer knew her friend wouldn’t let go of the matter until she received what she believed was an adequate answer. “For one thing, all my friends were interrogated to the nth degree. It was almost like they were applying for clearance with the CIA or something.”
Tasha snorted. “That’s what parents do. Even mine occasionally pretended like they cared and did that. Give me another example of how they smother you.”
“Growing up, they wouldn’t let me do anything for myself. I remember this one instance, I had to do a science fair project and I asked my dad for help. He ended up completing the entire experiment himself, and before you say that’s normal, he did it all the time, when what I really wanted was to sink or swim on my own. Whenever there was a class trip or an after-school activity I wanted to participate in, they’d only allow my involvement if they were chaperoning. I couldn’t go anywhere without my every movement tracked. I couldn’t get a job like most teenagers because Dad didn’t want me being out so late.”
