by Haley Weir
The world began to fade away as she hit the ground. There was a sharp ringing in her ears until Rina's mind was silenced by a vat of endless darkness.
~*~
Castle Black
Destiny, Alaska
Caleb crept through the corridor and came to a stop outside of the study. He eased open the door and spotted his eldest brother standing behind his desk. Caleb moved closer, careful not to startle the short-tempered beast while he was in the middle of a phone call. Giddeon glanced up and gestured to the chair across the desk. Caleb took a seat. When the call ended, he was frozen in place by his brother’s icy blue gaze. “I helped Rina last night. She’s a bit shaken, but she’s alive.”
“Casey will be happy to hear it.”
“How is she?” Though Caleb had his own opinions about the whole destined mate thing, he had grown quite close to his sister-in-law. Casey was a free spirit that stood firmly in her convictions and loved with unwavering loyalty. She had become part of their odd family within the last year as she and Giddeon prepared for the arrival of their son. It pained Caleb to know that Seth wouldn’t be there to witness the birth.
“Any word from the Reckoning?”
“Damien sent word from Kodiak Island,” Giddeon replied. “There’s no sign of Seth in the rebel camps or along the coast. We’re lucky he hasn’t been discovered yet. We don’t know how they’ll react if they figure out there’s a werewolf on the island.”
“I should be out there.”
“No. We’ve been over this,” his brother growled. “You can hardly shift as it is. We can’t have both you and Seth stranded in enemy territory.”
Caleb winced. As if it wasn’t bad enough that he faced ridicule for having left the palace to chase fame and fortune, he now had to live with the shame of his broken body. He knew Giddeon’s words weren’t meant to wound his pride, but he felt them like a physical blow, nonetheless. “Then I’ll lead some patrols around the border. I can’t just sit around here while you and Balor do all the work.”
Giddeon sighed wearily and leaned back in his chair. “Look, Caleb, the truth is that we have to find out what your limits are first. Shifting causes you pain and, at times, it incapacitates you. We can’t have you in a position that might cause more harm to you or risk the safety of our people. Balor can handle the patrols. I’ll follow up with Damien when he returns and try to contact the leader of the Reckoning.”
“This is bullshit, Giddeon.”
“Train in the barracks, Caleb. Allow yourself to heal and then come talk to me about what you can do for our people.”
Caleb stormed out of the study and slammed the door. Casey turned the corner and grabbed his arm. He knew by the sad smile on her face that she had heard everything. “You got a text while you were out. It’s from the agency. It says you’ve got a match.”
“I don’t want it.”
“It could be your mate,” she argued. “It’s a high percentage.”
“All the more reason to ignore it.”
Casey tucked his phone into his pocket. “Just think about it. I want you to be happy, Caleb. Your brothers are just worried about you. They might not know how to show it, but they are.”
He kissed her cheek and continued down the hallway. Caleb went up to his old room and locked himself away. He laid across his bed and reached for his phone. Sure enough, there was a match from Kismet Dating Agency right at the top of his notifications. He swiped through the profile and was relieved to find that his match wasn't interested in signing away her freedom for marriage shackles anytime soon.
The more Caleb read, the harder it was to convince himself that he wasn't interested. In the end, he swallowed his pride and accepted the date. Just then, a text from Rina popped up on his screen.
Coffee tomorrow?
It was a simple enough request. Caleb replied with a place and time before he sent the date details to the agency. Coffee with Rina meant nothing more than a show of thanks, but Caleb felt a bit guilty. He huffed and tossed his phone aside. Rina was practically a stranger, yet he had let his guard down and slept curled around her for most of the night. It had been nearly four years since Caleb had allowed any women to sleep next to him for more than an hour or two.
He wasn't much of a heartbreaker, but Caleb had shared his bed with enough partners to know that he wasn't looking for what Giddeon and Casey had. Soulmates...fated partners...it was just too much for him to handle. Caleb wasn't too good with that sort of pressure. He was fond of the fun, simple, casual way of dating. Too many expectations often led to resentment. If the perfect woman ever walked into his life, Caleb still wouldn't want a relationship if he didn't have a say in the matter.
A knock sounded upon his bedchamber door. He stood up and answered. Damien leaned inside the doorway and gestured to his bare chest. "I'm flattered, but you're not my type."
"Shut up, asshole." Caleb let the wolf in and resumed his place on the bed. Damien's place in their lives seemed less clear every day that passed. At first, he had been Giddeon's friend and ally, but then they discovered that Damien was Casey's boss at Technocom Inc. Now, the suave wolf shifter helped in the search for their brother Seth who had been abducted by a group of rebels. Though it went against his better judgment, Caleb had begun to think of Damien as a friend. "How long are you back?"
"I'm here for a few days. There's someone in town I've been meaning to visit, so I'll go see her before I check for Seth again. I can't seem to pick up his scent. All you bears smell the same."
"Nah, I just think you're a shitty tracker," Caleb chuckled. "Who's the girl?"
"A model."
"In Destiny?"
"She's here on vacation," Damien explained. "You should see her, man."
"Hot?"
"Beautiful."
"Sounds like you're in deep, friend. You don't drop the B-word like that often." Caleb sat up with interest. "What does she look like?"
Damien licked his lips. "Curvy in all the right places. Perfect handfuls all over. Stunning face, and she's funny as hell."
"Sounds like quite the catch."
"I wish."
Caleb scowled. "What do you mean?"
"I just wish she was interested in more than just fooling around." Damien crossed his arms and propped himself up against the bedpost. "My kind tend to mate for life. We're not like you solitary types."
Chapter Three
Destiny, Alaska
Sweat collected in the arch of her back as the bed rocked. Rina moaned, swiveling her hips as Damien pounded into her from behind. She clawed at the sheets and tossed her head back. He curled his fingers into the sweat-dampened strands of her hair and kissed along the curve of her neck. Damien growled low in his chest, and Rina flinched. Her mind turned down a dark corner and she saw the bear flash behind her eyelids. Caught between the past and present, she barely noticed when Damien flipped her over.
Rina looked right at Damien, but it wasn't his face that she saw...it was Caleb's. She clawed at his back and met each of his thrusts with one of her own. Her thighs trembled. Damien sank his teeth into her shoulder and bucked. She gasped as her orgasm washed over her. Muscles contracted, squeezing against his throbbing member until he followed her over the edge. The latex between them filled her with a sense of relief that was quickly followed by guilt. Damien was every bit a family man as his friend Giddeon and yet he wasted his time with her. "You're somewhere else."
"Sorry?"
"In your mind, I mean," he explained. "You're here physically but your mind is elsewhere."
"Just thinking."
"Mind if I ask what about?"
Rina sat up and clutched the blanket to her chest. "We don't do that, remember? Pretend like this is anything more than blowing off steam."
Damien rolled out of the bed and tossed the condom in the trash bin. "We can't even be friends? God, Rina, you really know how to make a man feel used." He wandered into the bathroom and slammed the door.
Rina flopped onto the b
ed and screamed into her hands. The alarm on her phone reminded her that she was scheduled for coffee with the man she had just fantasized about. Rina wrapped the bedding around herself and shuffled off to the bathroom down the hall. She showered and dressed before meeting Damien at the door. He shoved past her without a word and drove away before she had a chance to apologize.
"Oh snap," Olivia snickered from the kitchen. "You're better at self-sabotage than Diana."
Rina left just as swiftly as Damien had. She hadn't the patience to deal with Olivia's banter. The drive into town was long and difficult with the snow built up along the roads. Rina pulled into the diner's parking lot nearly ten minutes late. She ran through the entrance just as Caleb stood up from the table. "I'm so sorry," Rina said hurriedly. "The world seems to be against me today. I can't catch a break."
He returned to his seat slowly and folded his hands on the table. "I understand. The roads aren't very safe at the moment. It's best to take things slow than to rush."
"I hope you haven't been waiting long."
"Not at all," he replied.
Rina snorted. "Thanks for lying. I appreciate the effort even if you are particularly terrible at it."
Caleb smiled brightly and gestured to the waitress. "I'll have my fourth cup of coffee, please."
"Oh, god. You've been here that long? Please tell me you're just a fast drinker."
"Sure. Whatever makes you feel better." Caleb seemed to revel in her mortification.
Rina laughed and ordered a cup of coffee as well. "I'm sorry."
"I get it. You were...otherwise engaged." There was a strange edge to his voice. For a moment, she wondered if he was more upset than he wanted to admit, but he seemed...jealous.
Rina felt her face heat up with embarrassment. She couldn't smell Damien's cologne on her after her shower. "So, enough about my massive failure. What have you been doing since early retirement?"
"Fighting with my brothers, mostly."
"I don't have any siblings, thankfully."
"Giddeon and Balor can be a pain in my ass, but I don't mind Seth so much. Out of all of them, I think he's the one that gets me the most."
Rina removed her coat and leaned over the table to touch his hand. "Casey told me he went missing. How close are you to finding him?"
Caleb stared down at her hand before he answered. "I'm not sure. Giddeon thinks it would be best if I don't get involved."
"That's total bullshit."
"No, he's right. After my injuries, I'm no use in a search. Not right now, anyway. I need to get my strength back so that I can—"
"He's your brother," Rina interrupted. "It doesn't matter what reason Giddeon gave you. You have as much a right to help as Balor and Giddeon."
Caleb was quiet for a moment. "I wish it were that easy. Sadly, Giddeon is somewhat of a leader within our tight little community and I don't want to piss everyone off more than I already have."
"I'm not cut out for following rules."
"Or arriving on time," Caleb muttered with a playful wink. "I'm afraid I can't stay for long, though. I have a few things to do here in town before I head home. There’s supposed to be another storm, so you might want to pick up some supplies before you return to the cabin.”
“Great idea. Thank you.”
They talked about the mundane things in life until Caleb was called away by his phone. She finished her coffee and walked around town. A notification popped up on her cellphone from the dating agency. Rina had forgotten to end her membership after she and her friends had drunkenly submitted applications while they had been on vacation the year before. She opened the email and was surprised to see that the agency had managed to find her a match.
Rina accepted the date offer and picked up some supplies in case she got trapped in a storm again. Part of her was tempted to take that risk just to see Caleb.
~*~
Three days after coffee at the diner, Caleb prepared for his date. The days were much shorter in the winter, but there was just enough light to make him yearn for summer. Caleb wasn’t the sort of bear that liked to hibernate, which meant he had to endure the frigid winds and snow that threatened to turn him into a yeti. He entered the restaurant right on time, and the hostess showed him to the table. Caleb saw her from behind before he saw her face. She had petite shoulders and platinum blond hair that was pulled off to the side.
But it was the curves that drew his eyes along the contours of her body. A narrow waist gave way to wide hips and thick thighs. The blue dress she wore hugged every inch of her like a second skin. Caleb bit his tongue to hold back the groan that was caught in his throat. His eyes lifted to plush lips as he rounded the table. They were painted with a vibrant shade of red. A pert nose and...no! Caleb stopped in his tracks as the waiter pulled out his chair. “Rina?”
“Caleb.” Her eyes widened. “I don’t understand. What are you doing here?”
“This is the table I reserved for my date.”
“That’s not possible. This table is reserved for—”
“C.E.B stands for Caleb Extrion Black.” Caleb sat at the table and waved away the server. Once they were alone, he leaned forward and whispered, “This is some sort of mistake. I’m sure my brother’s agency didn’t mean to pair us up.”
“No offense, but I don’t usually go for athletes. And I’m sure I’m far from your type.”
Caleb chewed on the inside of his cheek. "What do you mean you don't go for athletes?"
"I just mean I'm not the all-American-girl type. I don't dream of white picket fences and fairytale weddings," she said with a shrug that caused her breast to bounce. "I'm not looking to be a celebrity's stay at home wife."
"Good thing I'm not an athlete anymore or else I might be offended."
"Come on, it's not like you're attracted to me, either." Rina lifted a glass of water to her lips. Caleb's gaze dropped to the bead of liquid that slithered along her bottom lip before she captured it with her tongue. He felt himself thicken in his slacks and shifted uncomfortably.
"No, I...I guess not."
"Well, what is your type?"
"Simple," he replied, tearing his gaze away. "And you are anything but simple."
"Seems we have the same type. I'm not exactly looking for anything permanent at the moment. I don't know why people are so keen on getting married and settling down. I'm twenty-six, I'm a successful woman, and I have a bright future ahead of me."
"Exactly! My brother always told me to date with the intention of marriage, but that's ridiculous." Caleb relaxed slightly and ordered for their table. Rina seemed content to follow his lead.
"So, what do they call this? Dinner between two people who aren't attracted to each other, I mean?"
"I guess it's just dinner." Caleb folded up the menu and looked across the table at Rina. The candlelight played off the high planes of her cheekbones and the graceful arch of her brows. There was a timeless beauty about Rina. "Unless...you want it to be more. We don't have to be one another's type to have fun together."
A seductive smile curled on her ruby lips. "Are you propositioning me?"
"Are you interested?" Caleb felt his prick twitch as her tongue poked out to taste the wine he ordered for their meal. He wasn't much of a drinker, but he wanted to taste the sweet liquor from her lips.
"It's a long drive back to the cabin. This might be simpler if we get a room at the inn." Rina crossed and uncrossed her legs beneath the table. "So long as we're clear this isn't a date."
"Right."
"Right."
Tension grew between them until Caleb slapped a couple hundreds on the table to cover the bill and more. He led Rina out of the restaurant with his hand on the small of her back. Caleb opened the passenger side door to his truck and closed it behind her. In the back of his mind, he knew something was different about this.
There was an urgency crawling through his system that he couldn't explain. It was a violent need that terrified him as much as it excited him. Caleb d
rove towards the inn as his heart rattled against his ribcage. Rina's hand reached across the center console until her hand brushed his erection. Caleb gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. He swerved into the parking lot for the inn and stomped his foot on the breaks. Rina lurched in her seat a bit, but she unlocked her door with a chuckle.
Caleb practically raced her towards the entrance and paid for the room. He grabbed the key and bounded towards the staircase. As soon as the door opened, his back hit the wall. Rina stepped away from him and lifted the tight dress over her head. Succulent curves were bared to his eyes; thin triangles of lace covered her most intimate places. He sank his teeth into his bottom lip and palmed himself. Rina beckoned him forward with a crook of her finger.
Chapter Four
Destiny, Alaska
Rina held her breath as Caleb stalked towards her. He lifted her off of her feet, causing her to gasp. There weren't many men who could pick her up so easily. She bounced off the sofa as he crawled over her. Rina wrapped her legs around him and licked the pulse point on his neck. His hips stuttered as that large body trembled with need. The image of a bear threatened to send her crashing into darkness, but she shook her head to clear her mind. Palms slid along the milky flesh of her thighs and dipped beneath her panties.
She felt a vibration against her hip and Caleb let out a stream of curse words that caused her to laugh. He dug around for his phone with a finger pressed to his lips. "What is it, Giddeon? Now? You've got to be kidding me. All right. I'm on my way."
Rina poked out her bottom lip and reached for her discarded dress as Caleb hung up the phone. "Family emergency?"
"Casey's gone into labor."
Rina jumped into action. Her heels clicked on the hardwood floors as she hurried towards the door. She straightened her hair and adjusted the dress. Caleb tried to smooth down the front of his dress slacks, but it was pointless. "That kid already has a bad sense of timing and it's not even born yet."
