Page 42 of Wolf's Providence

My eyes openedin the dark room. The small window high up had snow against it, but also soft light. I lay in Caleb’s arms, my cheek pressed against the warmth of his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. This was the first morning in a long time that I’d woken up feeling like this—safe, calm, and dare I even say, relaxed.

I didn’t feel the weight of fear looming over me, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been free of that feeling.

Caleb’s arm tightened around me, pulling me closer, and I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. After everything that we had been through, this felt like a moment of peace I never thought we’d get.

A niggling thought at the back of my mind cautioned me not to get used to it; the track record Caleb and I had wasn’t great.

I moved slightly, my fingers gliding over his skin, tracing the soft hair on his chest. It was not a blanket, not like a man-rug. It was just a few sparse hairs that broke up his smooth skin. As much as I wanted to stay like this—wrapped in him, safe in a cocoon away from everything else—I knew we couldn’t hide forever. There were still so many things we needed to address.

I fought back the sigh, pulling myself out of my thoughts, and shifting slightly against the warmth of him.

“You’re thinking very loudly,” he murmured, his voice thick with satisfaction, the kind of smugness you sometimes felt after you woke up after a really good sleep. His large hand rested over the curve of my hip, keeping me close. “You good?” His voice was low and rough, making something warm settle deep in my belly.

Looking up at him, I saw the dark of his eyes, heavy still with sleep. I smiled at him. It was so hard to stop smiling. “Just thinking of all the things we need to do. But honestly, I’m looking forward to going home.”

Caleb didn’t say anything, his hand tightening on my hip for a brief moment before he let go, sitting up on the bed. “I’m sure you are.”

The easy comfort of the morning started to fade, but I didn’t let it ruin my good mood. There was a lot to do. We needed to learn what it was between us, and we needed to learn who it was that broke into my home and why. And we needed to talk about Caleb and the darkness that threatened to consume him.

“Do you think they’ll think we’re running away?” I asked him, sitting up and watching Caleb walk in all his naked glory to the bathroom.

“Do we care?” he asked, looking over his shoulder.

“Caleb,” I reprimanded him gently, getting out of bed. “They’re only trying to help us.”

He held my stare, his gaze softening. “They won’t like it,” he conceded, walking back to me. “They don’t have to.” He dropped a kiss on my lips. “Stop worrying.”

I wished it were that simple. Caleb could act like he didn’t care what the others thought, but I knew he wasn’t as blasé as he made out.

“Cannon won’t like you leaving without seeing the shaman,” I told him. “Doc won’t like me leaving.” My sly grin held his attention. “Ned will be pissed he didn’t get to kick your ass.”

Caleb raised an eyebrow as he reached for me. “And why would he think hecould?”

I giggled as I dodged his hold. “I may have told him to find you and kick your ass.”

Caleb’s eyes widened and then narrowed. I saw his intent and yelped as I darted to the bathroom and was easily caught by strong arms. I screamed in laughter as he carried me into the bathroom, tickling me, kicking the door closed behind him.

“What’s happening?” I asked him, seeing his smirk.

“Shower time,” he answered.

“Why, sir, are you saying I’m filthy?” I said, feigning mock outrage.

“No,” he told me, his eyes darkening. “But you will be.”

It took us a little bit longer to get dressed because we kept stealing kisses, and I kept smiling because he had that effect on me. He made me happy. Something that kind of took me by surprise but also something, I thought, deep down I had hoped for, and I was pleased I was right. All of which meant I was also a little reluctant to leave this room.

We’d had one night—one moment of respite—but reality was already creeping back in. Inside this bubble of contentment, we were uninhibited and protected in our self-confinement. I didn’t think either of us expectedthisto continue like we were now,once we went beyond this door.

Caleb finally got sick of me stalling and simply opened the door and walked out of the room. I had no choice but to follow him, and as I caught up, he gave my hand a squeeze when he caught it in his.

We found Doc in a room near the main door of the bunker. It was a lab, and for a bunker three-quarters of the way up a mountain, the amount of equipment in it was impressive.

Doc looked like he’d been up all night, and I was certain he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. He looked up from the computer as Caleb leaned against the doorway, with me hovering uncertainly beside him. I didn’t want to argue with him again, so I was hoping for an easier conversation this morning than we had last night.

“Cannon says the shaman told you to make amends,” Doc started with no preamble. He glanced at me, his gaze dropping to our linked fingers. “I’m going to assume you did that.”

“Not that it’s any of…anyone’sbusiness, but Willow and I have reached an understanding.”

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