Open Season C. J. Box Novels & Stories

Once the man confirmed that it was safe, he finally opened up to Dustin. “Actually, Mr. Fox, our leader knew that he might face danger before he left. That’s why he made preparations accordingly. I was told to give you this secretly if he got into trouble.” As he spoke, he brought out a box and held it out to Dustin. “This box can only be opened with the pure energy of a fighter at the Apex Martial Saint level or above.” Without hesitating, Dustin slammed his pure energy into the box. The box smashed into pieces, and a piece of paper was revealed.

I push the boxes toward them, grinning. “The same gift?” Chase teases with a laugh. “Not sure I want it if it’s the same, you've been getting Blake a lot of dildos lately.” “They’re similar, but not identical,” I clarify. “And you have to open them together.” “Alright then, let’s do this.” Jax reaches for his box, but I stop him just in time. “I said together. As in, count down from three and open them at the same time!” “Fine, fine. One, two, three,” Jax counts, and they all open their boxes simultaneously. I watch, a smile spreading across my face as they pull out the tiny items inside. Chase lifts his up, frowning slightly in confusion.

Catelyn wanted to open the box to find out. She curiously walked over and picked up the box. The box was not locked. It was simply closed. Catelyn flicked it gently. With a click, the hidden button of the box was released. "Why did you come out without drying your hair?" Suddenly, a slightly dissatisfied voice came from behind. Catelyn was so frightened that her hands shook. The box rolled down to the ground, and the contents were scattered over the floor...

Slowly Dom pulled a small black box out from within the silver wrapping paper, as he laid the wrapping paper to the side, while his eyes remained on the small black box in his hands. It had been five years since the content inside the box had seen daylight, and I wondered if it would be as I remembered it. Dom’s fingers at that moment began to fumble to open the box and I could see that he was just as nervous about opening it as I was. Even back when I bought it, I worried if he would like it, but now after five years I wondered if it was even good enough to give to the soon to be Alpha.

Katara began softly, her voice steady, "we've discovered something that we believe you need to see." Jacob's gaze flickered between Katara and Sean, curiosity mingling with trepidation. "What is it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Sean stepped forward, carefully placing the box on the table before Jacob. "These photographs and letters reveal a part of your past, a hidden world that you've kept buried for so long," Sean explained, his voice gentle yet firm. "We stumbled upon this box in the attic, and it's time for the truth to be acknowledged."

“Well, by all means, don’t keep us waiting in anticipation.” Jaxsen sat on the couch, his feet several inches off the floor. Sebastian sat on the coffee table across from him. His heartbeat raced in his chest as Jaxsen began tearing the paper. He frowned at the plain white box. It was rectangular and plain like what clothes were boxed in. He broke away the tape and lifted the lid. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t move. He read the first few paragraphs before his eyes were too blurry to see the black print. He’d read enough. “Is this-this…is this real?” It couldn’t be. Couldn’t it?

POV: ISLA Finally, the advance copies arrived. A box on our doorstep. Plain. Nondescript. But inside: our story. "They're here," I called to Jaxon. He came running. We stood over the box like it might explode. "Open it," he said. "You open it." "No you open it" "Together?" "Fine" We opened it together. And there it was. "ASHES TO EMPIRE: Breaking Free from a Legacy of Violence"

Every place took its own space and would fit together when needed. As she contemplated everything that she needed to. The doorbell rang, and she went to the door. Her brother was standing there with a box in his hands. “This is a short-range one, but it works better and won’t affect cell phones or Wi-Fi.” He pressed the button, and the lights dimmed for a second, and then he did it again when everything had reset. “Just to be sure.”

Then I found it. A low cabinet was at the bottom shelf, the kind you have to crouch down to open. Inside is one plain box. No label, no date, nothing at all to show what’s inside. But it feels wrong in a way I can’t ignore. Too simple and hidden. “Jax.” I don’t need to explain further. He is already there beside me, kneeling, his knee touching mine. He looks at the box, then at me. “Open it,” I say.

His gaze drifted to the empty cabinet, lingering for a moment before meeting mine. "How did you get in?" I asked. "Your husband's men know better than to stop me," Julian said, closing the door behind him. The click of the lock sounded final. He sat in the chair opposite me and placed the velvet box on the nightstand. "You shouldn't be here," I said. "Damien will—" "Damien has bigger problems right now," Julian cut in. "After that meeting, the elders' faith in him is at an all-time low."