chapter 9

He’d salvaged the night. In the beginning, he swore he’d fucked it up every time he opened his mouth. Then he sensed it … her desire. His wolf howled within as her pheromones perfumed the air.

It took every ounce of his self-control to play the part of a human gentleman when her body called out to him.

Caleb prided himself on his good behavior during the night.

Overall, the date had gone well after the initial awkwardness had worn off. Now it was time for date number two … or three.

She’d agreed to let him show her the sunset and full moon tonight. He just hoped he could keep his wolf in check with the strength of the full moon and the mating call both conspiring against him.

“No details?” asked Reese.

He’d barely slept all night after his date. He couldn’t stop thinking about Bethany—her scent, her kiss, the way she felt in his arms. “You’re the one to tell me a gentleman never tells.”

“We all know you’re no gentleman, Caleb.

The date obviously went well if she wants to see you again. How far did things go last night?” asked Reese.

“Stop fucking nagging,” said Caleb. “You three are driving me nuts.”

He held up the jewel in his hand to the light in the room. The emerald was natural with a unique shade of green.

It was beautiful, a treasure he’d carried around with him for many years. Now it would be Bethany’s.

“Good choice,” said David.

He glared at his packmate. Their constant meddling grated on his nerves.

“I’m heading out for my date. Instead of worrying about my sex life, how about you do what I asked and make extra patrols.

When I get back, I’ll catch up. We need to root out these fucking bears.”

Brian bolted off the couch. “We know where one of them is. We should cull that bear as soon as he leaves the diner tomorrow. Fuck, we could have handled it tonight.”

He shook his head. “I’m not starting a war, especially when we have no clue what we’re dealing with. We have to use level heads.”

Tonight was the full moon, so the pack would go feral within a couple of hours.

They’d be more wolf than man, and he didn’t want them doing anything stupid. Wolves were extremely territorial.

“We’ll be in the woods tonight for our date,” he said.

“Keep away from us. I don’t want her spooked, and you all need to mind your damn business.”

Brian shrugged and sat back down on the couch.

Caleb grabbed his truck keys off the wall hook and set out. The sunset was fast approaching, and he didn’t want Bethany to miss it.

She’d agreed to let him pick her up at the rooming house which was a step in the right direction. He wanted her to trust him … but he was also keeping major secrets from her.

What if she grew to love him but couldn’t accept the fact he was an alpha wolf? He couldn’t just walk away. The mating call happened once. Without Bethany, his entire pack would be doomed.

He hoped she would be open-minded when he finally revealed the truth.

When he pulled up at the rooming house, she was already waiting outside, holding a cardigan tight to her body.

He hated her being alone, especially so close to sunset. His need to protect her was off the charts. She’d gone from stranger to his everything in the blink of an eye. The moment he picked up her scent, Caleb knew his search was over.

He parked the truck and approached her. She was such a beauty. Even her little nose was adorable. There wasn’t a thing he could find wrong with his mate. “Cold?”

“I’ll be okay. I’m sure it will only get chillier when the sun sets, so I wanted to be prepared.”

“Smart girl.” Caleb’s body always ran hot, thanks to his shifter DNA. He had to remember Bethany was human and fragile. “Are you ready to go?”

She nodded.

Caleb held the passenger door open for her, trying his best to remember all his manners. His pack had drilled the rules into him about a hundred times.

The drive was silent, save the purr of the old engine. He had to break the hush. It was important for Bethany to feel comfortable around him if they were to have a chance together.

“I had a good time yesterday,” he finally said.

She turned her body slightly in his direction. “Me too.”

“I like the bar, but this will be even better. I’m at home in the forest.” “I grew up in the city, so I’m glad you know what you’re doing,” she said. “It’ll be dark soon. Aren’t there dangerous animals in the forest at night?”

He smirked. “When you’re with me, you have nothing to worry about.”

She smiled, and his entire body reacted. “I forgot to ask you last night.

Do you have any ex-girlfriends in town? It could get awkward with me working in the diner. You know, small town and all.”

“No ex-girlfriends.”

He didn’t need to question her about past relationships. The moment he met her, his wolf already scented she was a virgin. The fact cemented his claim and only increased his desire to take her as his own.

She fiddled with the hem of her sweater, looking out the window and occasionally sneaking peeks in his direction.

“Are you scared of me, Bethany?” he asked. The trails were getting rugged, the sun low in the sky.

The truck jostled over the rocks and roots. Hints of pink were already appearing on the horizon.

They were almost at the embankment where they’d have the ultimate view. He wanted everything to be perfect.

She frowned. “No, why do you ask?”

“You seem nervous. I don’t want you to be afraid of me.”

“I’m not used to dating, to be honest. And I’m not very good at trusting people.”

“I guess I’ll have to prove myself then.” He turned and winked at her. “I’m up for the challenge.”

Caleb pulled to the side of the dirt road, cut the engine, and walked around to her side of the truck.

He held his hand out for her. It was a bit of a jump with his lifted suspension, so she dropped down into his arms.

They stood still for a few moments. Their proximity was a major distraction. He could hear her heart racing. If only she knew how much she affected him.

“Come on, we’ll miss it.” He took her hand and started plodding into the underbrush. She had a hard time keeping up, so he reminded himself to slow down.

“You sure you know where you’re going?” “Almost there,” he said.

When they emerged at the other side, the embankment was clear with only a scattering of wildflowers. The massive expanse of sky seemed to go on forever in every direction. Shades of pink, orange, and red already highlighted the few clouds.

Bethany let go of his hand and wandered close to the edge, her face in complete awe, her thick lips parted. His pack would say he’d done good because Bethany obviously loved what she saw.

“So, this is a country sunset,” she whispered.

He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She flinched at first but settled back against him.

“I’ve been coming here for many years. When I need to clear my head or remember how small I am in the grand scheme of things, this is where I come.”

“I love it. It’s perfect. Thank you for bringing me here.”

They stood like that for the longest time, watching the sky morph and darken, the colors becoming more intense by the minute.

She felt soft and delicate in his arms, and he breathed in her scent at her temple.