Chapter Two
Caleb's POV
Today had been very busy in the pack as preparations for my wedding were going to take place soon. It was going to happen on a blood moon, but tomorrow was just a formal introduction — to introduce her to the members as my queen and their Luna.
I was resting in my office, going through some files, when my sister came in. She walked right in and sat on the couch. I growled; she rolled her eyes and shot me a glare. I was already irritated and didn't need more, or I would lash out and Adam would take control. Adam is my wolf's name, and he isn't happy about the wedding like I am.
He insists on waiting till we find our mate, but the elders won't have any of it. We were twenty-eight already, and we couldn't keep waiting for her — she might as well never show up. I'd already given up hope, but he was still hopeful. The elders picked a suitable match from a nearby pack so we could form an alliance and be stronger, and so we could have a Luna even if she wasn't my fated mate.
Having a Luna would make me stronger as long as I'd marked her and she'd marked me too. We would both be strong and I wouldn't go feral. When a wolf doesn't find his mate for a long time and hasn't picked a chosen mate, they'll go feral — and in my case, I wouldn't be able to rule.
I was going deeper into my thoughts when I heard a sigh. I looked up, remembering she was still here and had barged in without knocking and asked if she could sit.
I wouldn't be offended on any other day because I was used to it by now and because she was my sister. Anyone else would have been punished by now. And today, Adam was more irritated than usual.
"What do you want, Sophie?" I asked, glaring. She smiled sheepishly and laughed, which made me feel somewhat better as I rubbed my forehead — something I do when extremely stressed.
"Well, I heard my big bro wanted to kill his beta and I came as fast as I could."
I sighed. I would have almost killed my beta if he hadn't escaped — but then again, it was because I let him, since it took control of me back. It was all Adam's fault. I don't even remember why anymore.
"That all? I'll apologize to him later. Thank you. Can you leave now? I'm really stressed and not in the best of moods," I said. She got up and moved over to me. She sat opposite and took my hand, looking very concerned. Here we go….
"Ben, please relax, okay? Maybe go for a run to calm down. It's late anyway and the forest isn't that far. I'm sure Adam would appreciate that." I managed a small smile and got up, her hands still in mine. I kissed it and turned to grab my jacket. I walked to the door and looked back, raising my eyebrow. She snapped out of her daze and followed me out of the office.
I mind-linked my gamma, telling him I was going for a run. He replied with a hm. He's probably annoyed with me. I'll talk to him when I get back. I took my car keys and drove to the forest. Opening the door as I arrived, I walked out of the car and into the trees.
I took my clothes off and hung them, immediately transforming into my wolf. He howled into the night and started running. We ran for a long while and stopped at the stream.
Deciding it was late and we needed to head back, I ran to the tree where I'd left my clothes and put them on. I was about to head back to the car when I felt Adam pacing in my head. He was growling and uneasy.
"Adam, what is it?" I asked.
"I don't know. I just feel that we shouldn't leave now. Let's walk back into the forest."
What was he going on about now? "No! We don't have the time," I said, trying to go back to the car. He managed to take control of me and started sprinting very fast into the forest. Our footsteps echoed loudly.
I managed to take control back and heard struggling up ahead. I quickened my steps and smelled the most beautiful scent I'd ever known. I stopped for a moment and breathed it in. Adam started getting excited in my mind and yelled a word I didn't think I'd ever hear after today.
MATE!!!!!
I stumbled back a little, feeling a rush of emotion. I sprinted again, running hard. I knew I was getting closer as her scent grew stronger — but there was something else mixed with it.
Blood.
I ran faster, if that was even possible, until I got there and saw two wolves surrounding her. I saw red and charged. She kicked and shoved them before falling limp. My heart slammed in my chest as I prayed to the goddess she wasn't dead.
Blinded by rage, I roared and tore into the first wolf, ripping it in two from groin to chest; warm, coppery blood sprayed the underbrush and its entrails spilled out, matted with fur. The second wolf launched itself at me — I caught it with a brutal kick to the skull that cracked bone; its head thunked against a tree and I kept kicking until it stilled, brains splattering on my boot. Adam howled in satisfaction.
Even in the middle of slaughter, an urgent thought cut through Adam's roar in my head: She's bleeding out, in case you haven't noticed.
I jumped back and lifted her up. She was still breathing, but barely — feverish sweat clung to her skin, and her hair hung across her face.
Her body was soft, curves falling in all the right places. Heat flared through me and I felt my control slip for a second. Focus! I scolded myself.
Panic clawed my chest — her heartbeat was a whisper. She wouldn't last if I walked, and I couldn't run either. I had to stop the bleeding. I looked around and found a nylon bag with a pharmacy seal. Thank God. I gently laid her down, grabbed the bag, and opened it.
Inside were bandages and supplies. I raised her head and placed it on my lap, then lifted her shirt. Bite marks and deep, ragged scratches mapped her skin; some wounds were fresh and still seeping, others older and oozing. A roar tore from my throat as I tore her shirt away. There wasn't a place that wasn't bleeding. Flesh was torn, fabric clung to raw skin, and a slick of blood glazed her ribs.
I set to work, hands steady despite the adrenaline. I cleaned and packed wounds, tightened bandages, and pressed down on arterial bleeds until my hands were slick with her blood. I wrapped strips to staunch the worst gashes and bound her torso to keep pressure on the wounds. I cleaned her neck and feet, my heart aching at every new injury I uncovered. If those wolves weren't already dead, I'd have torn them limb from limb slowly.
I quickly draped my jacket over her. Brushing hair from her face to see better, a gasp slipped out of me as I almost dropped her.
No way in hell. There must be a mistake….