Page 51 of Howl You Doin'

The moment completely shattered as Wade approached them. Fiona's skin still tingled where Caleb's thumb had brushed her collarbone, and she busied herself with painting the wall to hide her flushed cheeks.

"Sorry to interrupt," Wade said, not looking sorry at all. His usual easy smile was replaced with tight lines around his mouth. "But we've got trouble."

Caleb's hand dropped to his side. "Victor?"

"My sources say he's gathering his people. All of them." Wade glanced between them. "Looks like he's done playing games."

The paint brush in Fiona's hand trembled slightly. She'd seen what just three Nightfang members could do - the healingscratches on her skin were proof enough. The thought of all of them descending on the pack made her stomach twist.

"How many?" she asked.

"At least fifty fighters," Wade said. "Maybe more."

"Fantastic. Just what we needed after finally fixing the place up."

"We could always paint the walls red," Fiona quipped, earning surprised looks from both men. "What? If we're going to have a dramatic showdown, we might as well coordinate the decor."

A ghostof a smile crossed Caleb's face. "Your interior design skills are showing."

"Better than your olive green phase."

Wade cleared his throat. "As entertaining as this is, we need a plan. A fight between packs this size..." He trailed off, but Fiona could fill in the blanks. Blood. Death. Destruction of everything they'd worked to build.

"There has to be another way," she said, setting down her brush. "Something that doesn't end with half the supernatural population of Saltwater Grove in the hospital."

Caleb's jaw clenched, that familiar protective fury rolling off him in waves. "Victor won't stop until he gets what he wants."

"Or until someone makes him stop," Wade added meaningfully.

The evening sun cast shadows through the windows, painting stripes across the newly finished walls. Fiona watched dust motes dance in the golden light, her mind racing through possibilities. She'd grown to love this pack, these people who'd accepted her despite her being an outsider. The thought of them torn apart by Victor's ambition made her blood boil - literally, if the steam rising from her skin was any indication.

"You're smoking," Caleb said softly.

"I'm aware." She took a deep breath, trying to cool her temper. "Just thinking about how much I'd like to turn Victor into a walking matchstick."

Fiona's heart clenched as Caleb straightened his shoulders, that familiar determined set to his jaw that usually meant he was about to do something noble and stupid.

"I'll initiate the one-on-one challenge with him," Caleb said.

"Oh,because that's so much better than a pack war?" Fiona crossed her arms, ignoring the twinge from her healing wounds. "Trading certain death for probable death isn't exactly an upgrade."

She stepped closer to Caleb. "There has to be another way."

"Like what? Challenge him to that baking competition you mentioned?" Caleb's lips twitched.

"Victor would probably cheat," Wade muttered. "Put wolfsbane in the flour or something."

Caleb's expression sobered. "This is the only way to keep everyone safe. One fight, one winner, no pack war."

Fiona's fingers sparked with suppressed fire magic, her concern manifesting in little dancing flames. "And what if you lose?"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"I'm serious, Caleb." She reached for his hand, surprised when he let her take it. "I just got used to your grumpy face. I'd hate to have to break in a new boss."

His thumb traced circles on her palm, sending shivers up her arm. "Is that all I am? Your boss?"

"Well, you're also the only person who knows how I like my coffee." She squeezed his hand. "And I've grown rather attached to that."

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