Page 48 of Howl You Doin'

"Thank you, Becca." Caleb walked her to the door. "I owe you one."

"Just keep her still," Becca whispered. "She seems as stubborn as you are."

After she left, Caleb grabbed the chair from his desk and planted it firmly beside the bed. "Get some rest. I'll be right here."

"My very own guard wolf?" Fiona's voice was already drowsy from the pain medication. "Lucky me."

"Someone has to make sure you don't try to sneak out and torch anything else."

"Spoilsport." Her eyes started drooping. "You don't have to stay. I'm sure you have alpha things to do."

"Nothing more important than this." The words came out before he could stop them, but watching her nestle into his pillows, he found he didn't want to take them back.

Caleb kept his vigil through the night, waking Fiona every few hours as instructed. Between checks, he watched the steady rise and fall of her chest. The moonlight streaming through his window caught the copper highlights in her hair spread across his pillow.

His fingers itched to brush a stray strand from her face, but he kept his hands firmly on the armrests of his chair.

When had she become so essential? The thought of losing her made his chest tight in a way he'd never experienced before. She'd stormed into his life with her quick wit and fiercer determination, bringing light to places he hadn't even realized were dark.

Dawn crept in,painting his room in soft oranges that reminded him of her magic. Fiona stirred, her green eyes fluttering open.

"You look terrible," she mumbled, voice rough with sleep.

"Says the woman who got attacked by wolves last night." He leaned forward, checking her pupils. "How's the head?"

"Still attached." She tried to sit up and winced.

"Stay down." His hand moved to her shoulder, gentle but firm. "I'm going after Rachelle today."

"No, you're not." Despite her injuries, her voice carried that familiar steel that always made his wolf take notice.

"Fiona-"

"Don't 'Fiona' me with that growly voice." She grabbed his wrist gently, her touch sending warmth through his arm. "Your pack stood with you yesterday. They believe in you. Going after Rachelle now would just prove Victor right about you being ruled by anger."

"They hurt you," he said, the words coming out rougher than intended.

"And I torched them right back." A smile tugged at her split lip. "Besides, I'm not some damsel who needs avenging. I'm the witch who's going to watch you kick Victor's ass fair and square."

Caleb couldn't help but chuckle. "You make it sound so simple."

"That's because it is." She squeezed his wrist. "You're going to beat him, and then maybe take me to dinner. In that order."

His wolf preened at her confidence in him. "Dinner, huh?"

"Well, you did promise last night." She yawned, then grimaced. "Though maybe somewhere that serves soup. My jaw feels like I got hit by a truck."

"Actually, you promised to ask next time."

"Fine." She rolled her eyes. "Caleb Rivers, would you like to go to dinner with me after you're done being all alpha male?"

His heart did a strange flip in his chest. "I suppose I could pencil that in."

Caleb noticed how the morning light streaming in from his window seemed to dance across Fiona's face. His wolf practically purred at having her here in his space. Even with the bruises and scratches marking her skin, she was beautiful.

He cleared his throat. "You're staying here."

"Excuse me?" Fiona tried to push herself up, wincing at the movement. "I have my own place, you know."

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