Chapter 109

Chapter 109
Caleb's POV

I feel uneasy. I can't really explain it, but something doesn't sit right with me. The feeling has been following me since we arrived at Raven's family's home, and the more I try to ignore it, the stronger it becomes.

I feel like Raven's family doesn't like me, especially her brothers. I don't know why I keep thinking about it. Maybe I'm imagining things. Maybe I'm simply being paranoid. But every time I look at them, that little voice in the back of my head whispers the same thing.

They don't want you here. I shake my head, trying to get rid of the thought. I can't stay trapped in my own head.

The truth is, I'm incredibly happy for Raven. After everything she's been through, she's finally surrounded by people who love her. Her biological parents are here. Her brothers adore her. She has a family, a real family, and knowing that she's safe makes me feel like I can finally breathe. I just wish I could stop feeling like an intruder.

I lie on my bed staring at the ceiling for a while before I finally give in.

'I miss you, Raven.' I link her.

Her response comes almost immediately.

'Oh, babe! I miss you too.' I can hear the softness in her voice through the link, and it instantly makes me smile.

I'm sure everyone is asleep now,' she continues. 'I keep tossing and turning just thinking about you being in the same place as me while I'm all alone. Let's go for a walk, babe, please.'

I sit up immediately.

'I thought you'd never ask.' I'm already out of bed before she can respond.

'Let's meet up front then.' I quickly throw something on and sneak out. The moment I spot her, Raven runs straight into my arms. I catch her easily, lifting her off the ground as she wraps herself around me. It feels like a dream. Every single time I see her, my heart still flutters like I'm seeing her for the first time. I love this woman so fucking much. And perhaps that's why the fear of losing her is always somewhere inside me.

My heart starts pounding, I push the thought away. Tonight, I don't want to think about anything that could go wrong. I just want her.

"Oh, babe! I really missed you," she breathes as I hold her tightly. I smile against her hair.

"I missed you too, babe." I finally put her down, but I keep my hand intertwined with hers. We decide to explore the town under the moonlight. The streets are quiet, peaceful beneath the silver glow of the moon. We walk slowly, our hands joined, occasionally brushing shoulders. Neither of us says much. we don't need to. I can hear her heartbeat and She can hear mine.

Our wolves are unusually calm, almost as though they know that for tonight, nothing else matters. But that tiny voice inside my head refuses to disappear.

Something is wrong, I don't know what, all I know is something is coming. Call it a Beta's intuition.

"Babe," she suddenly calls softly.

"Yes?" Her tone is different, mostly hesitant.

"I think I lost my powers." she says, I stop walking immediately.

"What?" She turns toward me, surprisingly calm.

"Yeah. I guess the battle completely drained me." She gives me a small smile.

"It's actually a good thing. At least now my life can be normal. I hated all the chaos that came with my powers." I stare at her.

"Aren't you sad, baby?" She shrugs.

"Well... a little. My powers were pretty cool, so I'll miss them." I pull her into my arms. She smiles against my chest, but I know her better than that. She's hiding something. She doesn't want me to see how much losing her powers actually hurts. I stroke her hair gently.

"Whatever happens, I'll always be here." She looks up at me.

"I know." Then she smiles.

That beautiful smile that can make me forget everything. "I want you, Caleb. So freaking badly."

My breath catches, every muscle in my body tenses.

I look around instinctively.

"Let's go to my room," she whispers. "I can't spend another second just standing here wanting you. You're mine, and I'm pretty sure everyone is asleep by now." I chuckle softly.

"You're trouble." I stay, she's a badass, even her action make me harder. 

"And you love it." she says, she's right.

We sneak back into the house, doing our best not to make a sound. But the entire time, I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched. Someone is following us. I glance over my shoulder several times. I don't sense any hostility. Maybe it's someone curious or maybe one of her brothers.

Either way, I decide not to worry about it. The moment we reach Raven's room and close the door behind us, she grabs my collar. I barely have time to react before I scoop her into my arms. She wraps her arms around my neck, laughing softly.

I hold her close. I want to make her my wife. God, I want that more than anything, But I'm afraid to ask her again. She's just found her family. She's finally learning what it means to belong somewhere. I don't want to rush her.

I'll wait, I'll give her all the time she needs. Later, as she sleeps beside me, I can't stop smiling.Her soft breaths brush against my face. I want to pull her closer, but she's so tiny that I'm afraid I'll somehow suffocate her. I smile at the thought. She's everything to me, I want to love her, protect her and spend the rest of my life making sure she never feels alone again.

Then something catches my attention, I freeze. Someone is outside, I slowly slide Raven off my arm and onto the pillow.

I move carefully, making sure not to wake her.

Years of training have taught me how to move without making a sound. I grab my shirt. There's no time to worry about anything else. I quietly approach the door.

Then... I yank it open, the person standing outside loses his balance and falls into the room with a loud thud. I immediately lunge forward and grab him.

My grip tightens around his collar, leaving him no chance to escape.

"Who are..." I stop, my eyes widening. 

"Raymond?" He looks just as shocked to see me.

"Shit!" He quickly raises his hands. "I'm sorry, bro! I really didn't know you were in there." I narrow my eyes.

"What exactly were you doing outside my door?" He hesitates.

"Were you eavesdropping on us?"

"Not really," he says quickly. "I came to check on my little sister. I just wanted to make sure she wasn't having any trouble."

I stare at him suspiciously. "At this hour?" He shrugs.

"I'm her brother. I'm allowed to worry." I sigh and drag him outside, making sure the door closes quietly behind us. I can't have him waking Raven.

"By the way," he says, suddenly looking me up and down, "what are you doing here?" I blink.

"What?" I ask. 

"I mean, we already showed you your room earlier." He pauses. "Now you're in my sister's room..." His eyes travel downward.

"...and to top it all off, you're practically naked." I stare at him, completely dumbfounded. He folds his arms.

"So?" I release his collar.

"Okay, okay. You caught me." He grins.

"Don't worry. I'm letting it slide just for tonight, bro." I raise an eyebrow.

"Thanks?"

"But there are rules here." My expression changes.

"What rules?" He steps closer, lowering his voice.

"If you want to be free with my sister, you have to make her yours officially." I stare at him. For some reason, I swear there's an evil grin hiding behind those words. And those eyes... definitely suspicious. I shake my head.

"Okay. Thank you, bro." Raymond pats my shoulder.

"Good night, Caleb." He walks away without looking back. I remain standing outside Raven's room, staring after him.

What the hell just happened? I glance back at the closed door. Then at the direction Raymond disappeared, my uneasiness returns. Only this time, it feels different. Because suddenly, I'm starting to wonder if Raymond wasn't checking on Raven at all.

Maybe he was checking on 'me'. And if that's the case... I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be very interesting.