CalebLauren had canceled my nine o’clock appointment, just as I asked.I helped myself to another strong cup of coffee and slumped down at my parent’s kitchen table.“You look as if you haven’t been sleeping, son?” Dad asked, his brows scrunched with concern.“I’m fine,” I replied, scrubbing a hand over my face, letting out an exhausted sigh.My dad made a noise in the back of his throat. “That’s why you look ready to drop.”I yawned. My eyes stung with fatigue as they watered. “It’s my fault. Ruby and I were texting until three a.m.”“Ah, so it begins.&rdquo

RubyThat first split-second where you wake up and remember nothing. There’s nothing quite like that, is there? Then the realization hits you like a ton of bricks, forcing you to sit bolt upright in bed.Caleb. Fell. Asleep. On. The. Couch.Oh my God!I woke up, jumped quickly out of bed, and threw on my dressing gown, desperate to cover the horrendous SpongeBob nightgown that I was wearing. I fished it out of my bottom drawer late last night when I was getting changed in the dark.I caught a glimpse of myself in my dressing table mirror. Hell no! There was no way I could go downstairs looking like Leo Sayer’s clone. My hair was a rat’s nest!With my heart p

RubyI pulled the letter from the crumpled envelope. It looked as if someone wrote it in a hurry with it being on lined paper. It had a wax stamp on it which looked out of place in this century. I squinted my eyes to read the narrow slanted writing. I mean, who writes letters anymore?My eyes scanned the letter, stopping at words like packs, heir, and title. I knew Dad was married before, but he never talked about his late wife. I didn’t even know her name was Vanessa. It doesn’t mention me anywhere in the letter so maybe they didn’t know everything.Dad sure seemed keen on going back. He told me that he originally came from Montana but moved to Colorado shortly after his first wife died. I didn’t know these people. Mom was right when she said he never talked about his family because he didn’t. I di

CalebHer eyes widened with shock. “Huh? With you?” She stood up and walked over to the window.With her back facing me she blew out a shaky breath and pressed her hands against the sides of her face.I leaped up from my chair to approach her. “You’re eighteen. We’re together and I don’t want to lose you.” I thought I’d blown it, blurting it out forcefully like that. She stepped back, shaking her head. “There’s no way Dad would ever ... no. I couldn’t. He would freak out.”The way she backed away from me at that moment felt like someone had driven an icy blade through my heart. “Then what? You’ll move to Montana?” I replied, frustrated. If a look could speak volumes, mine would be begging and pl

Caleb I knew that he knew. Of course, he would scent her on my lips. He was waiting to see if I lied. “Aiden, please calm down and take a seat,” I spoke reasonably. “Calm down?” Aiden’s eyes narrowed as he shot me a scathing look. I owed him the truth. I had a lot of respect for the guy because, in all fairness, Aiden was a wonderful man, despite all the bad things that have happened to him. My father and I permitted him to stay in this pack, despite never becoming part of it because of the title he held. It caused a little controversy around here, and it took a while for the community to accept him. Sure, I did it for selfish reasons. I didn’t want him whisking Ruby away to another state. The chances were, I’d never see her again and I couldn’t have that.