Caleb's Pov,
I stood at the door, my eyes fixed on the peephole as I waited for the owner to step out. This was the last place Matt's scent ended, and I could feel it strongly, like a beacon calling out to me. When the door finally opened, I was met by a woman with a flushed face and a look of slight distraction.
"Excuse me," I said, trying to sound polite. "I'm looking for someone. Has anyone... unusual come by here recently?" I described Matt, trying to gauge her reaction. "Tall, dark hair, ruggedly handsome? He's my brother, and I'm worried about him."
The woman's expression changed, and I sensed a flicker of recognition. She knew something. I leaned in, my senses on high alert, waiting for her response.
"Ah, you must mean Matt," she said, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Yes, he's been staying with me for a few days. He was in a bit of a rough shape when I found him, but he's been recovering well."
Her words were cautious, I could sense a mix of emotions behind them. I pressed on, trying to get more information. "Can I see him? I'm his brother, Caleb. I've been searching everywhere for him."
She hesitated, her eyes darting back and forth, before finally stepping aside. "Okay, come in. He's inside."
Matt's Pov,
As Ava spoke with the stranger at the door, I caught the sound of my brother's voice across the room. My heart skipped a beat as I realized that Caleb had finally found me. I felt a mix of emotions: relief that he had tracked me down, but also apprehension about how he would react to my situation.
I turned to face him, our eyes meeting across the room. Caleb's expression was a blend of concern and curiosity, I could tell he was sizing up the situation. Ava, sensing the tension, turned to me, her eyes questioning.
what are you doing here?" Caleb asked, trying to sound casual despite the turmoil brewing inside me.
"I've been...taking care of myself," I replied, trying to downplay the situation. But Caleb's gaze narrowed, his eyes scanning the room and locking onto Ava. I knew that look - he was assessing her, trying to determine if she was a threat or a friend.
Caleb's expression was stern, but I could see the relief in his eyes. He had found me, and now he would make sure I was safe. But little did he know, I had already found someone who had taken care of me, someone who didn't know about my secrets.
Ava's eyes darted between us, sensing the tension. "Would you like to sit down?" she offered, trying to break the ice. Caleb's gaze lingered on her before he nodded and took a seat, his eyes never leaving mine.
"It's time to head home," caleb said, his voice firm but controlled.
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. I turned back to Ava, who was watching us with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Thanks for everything, Ava," I said, my voice sincere. "I'll make sure to visit you again soon."
Ava smiled, we exchanged contact information. I promised to stay in touch, feeling a sense of connection with her that I couldn't ignore.
As we walked out of Ava's premises, Caleb's expression still lingered on his face, a mix of concern and warning
As we walked away, Caleb's eyes never left mine, his gaze piercing.
"What was that back there?" he asked, his voice low and even. I wasn't sure how to respond.
The pain exploded in my face as Caleb's fist connected with my jaw. I stumbled back, clutching my face in shock. "Aahh, it hurts!" I screamed, more from surprise than the actual pain.
"Did you just imprint on her?" Caleb's voice was low and menacing, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and concern. "What have you done, Matt?" he growled, his words laced with a warning.
I rubbed my jaw, trying to process what had just happened. Imprinting was a serious business, Caleb's reaction told me that I had unknowingly crossed a line. I glanced back at Ava, who was standing in the doorway, looking worried and confused.
"Caleb, calm down," I said, trying to defuse the situation. But Caleb's expression told me that this conversation was far from over.
"I would have to turn her ."caleb said , that's the only way you two could mate ..
"Caleb, I don't know if that's what I want," I said, feeling a mix of emotions. Turning Ava into a werewolf would change her life forever, I wasn't sure if she was ready for that.
Caleb's expression was serious. "If you want her to live, I'll have to turn her. You know the rules, Matt. If she's imprinted on you, she's a target. The only way to protect her is to make her one of us."
I knew he was right, the thought of putting Ava through the transformation was daunting. As an Alpha, Caleb's bite would definitely work, but I was still a beta, and my ability to turn someone was uncertain.
"Caleb, I'd want to be the one to turn her, if it comes to that," I said, my voice firm. "I don't want anyone else touching her." Caleb's eyes narrowed, and I could tell he was weighing his options.
Caleb's gaze lingered on me for a moment before he nodded. "Alright, Matt. If it's decided that Ava needs to be turned, I'll let you do it. But you need to understand the risks and the responsibilities that come with it. You need to be prepared to take care of her, to teach her how to control her shifts and live as one of us."
I nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over me. I would do whatever it took to protect Ava, even if it meant turning her into a werewolf. But first, I needed to talk to her about it, to explain the risks and the consequences.
"Caleb, I need to tell her about all of this," I said, my mind racing with thoughts of how to approach the conversation. "I need to explain what it means to be a werewolf, and what the risks are."
Caleb nodded. "I'll give you some time to talk to her, but we need to be careful. There are those who would see Ava as a vulnerability, as a way to get to you. We need to protect her, Matt."
I thanked my brother for understanding, and we walked into the woods, the trees towering above us. Normally, we would have ordered a cab, but as werewolves, we had a faster way to get home. Caleb shifted into his wolf form, his body rippling with muscle and fur as he let out a low growl.
"Come on, Matt, shift," he urged, his voice low and commanding. But I hesitated, my mind flashing back to my last transformation. The pain, the fear, the feeling of losing control. I couldn't shake off the memories, and my body refused to shift.
Caleb tried to coax me, letting out a loud howl, hoping it would trigger my shift. But I was stuck, my body frozen in human form. The pain was still there, lingering just beneath the surface, and I couldn't tap into my wolf.
"Caleb, I...I don't know if I can," I admitted, feeling a wave of frustration and fear wash over me. Caleb's expression turned concerned, and he padded closer to me, his eyes locked on mine. "Matt, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft and gentle.
"Is it about the bodies i found earlier?" Caleb asked, his voice laced with concern. I nodded, feeling a wave of emotions wash over me. "You saw that?" I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
Caleb's expression turned somber. "I saw the bodies, Matt. I saw what was done to them. It's not just about the violence, it's about the nature of the killings.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as Caleb's words echoed in my mind. The bodies ...
The truth hung in the air, heavy with implications. Caleb's eyes locked onto mine, a mix of shock, concern, and a hint of fear reflected in them. "Matt, did you...do you remember what happened?" he asked, his voice cautious.
I hesitated, my mind racing with fragmented memories. The bodies, the blood, the feeling of being out of control. I didn't remember much, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I might have been the one responsible.
"Caleb, I...I think I might have," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The weight of my words settled between us, and I could feel Caleb's gaze intensifying, as if trying to understand the depths of my involvement.
The agony coursed through my body like a wildfire, refusing to subside. I gritted my teeth, trying to force the shift, but it was no use. The pain was too much, and I stumbled, falling to my knees.
Caleb rushed to my side, concern etched on his face. "Matt, stop trying," he urged, his voice firm but gentle. "You're not ready. Whatever is blocking your shift, we need to figure it out before you try again."
I nodded, panting, the pain still throbbing through my body. I knew Caleb was right. I couldn't keep pushing myself like this. Something was wrong, I needed to find out what it was before it was too late.
I thought for a moment before responding. As a werewolf, my speed was one of my enhanced abilities, but it was typically tied to my wolf form. However, I remembered that some werewolves could tap into their supernatural speed even in human form, especially if they were highly experienced or had a strong connection to their wolf side.
"I think I can try," I said, focusing my energy. I took a deep breath and concentrated on channeling my inner wolf, trying to access the speed that lay within me. To my surprise, I felt a surge of energy course through my veins, and my senses heightened. I could feel the wind rushing past me, and my muscles felt lighter, faster.
Caleb's eyes lit up with interest. "Let's see how fast you can go," he said, and with a nod, I took off, sprinting through the woods with a speed that was definitely not human.
The trees blurred together as I sprinted through the forest, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel my speed, but I knew I was being outpaced by Caleb, who was running effortlessly in his wolf form. His alpha strength and speed gave him a significant advantage, and I could see him pulling ahead.
As we approached the house, Caleb slowed down, his wolf form gliding to a stop. I followed suit, panting slightly as I came to a halt. Caleb shifted back into his human form, a smile on his face.
"You're getting faster, Matt," he said, his eyes gleaming with approval. "But you're still no match for an alpha's speed." I grinned, feeling a mix of pride and competitiveness. I knew I had a long way to go, but with Caleb's guidance, I was determined to improve my skills.