Chapter 32

I made sure I had the afternoon shift today at work. I still needed this job. I had a house to take care of and I needed a new car that wouldn't give out on me every few days. I spent more on towing than getting the damn thing fixed.

I still didn't have the heart to sell the house despite what I learned about my parents. There had to be a logical explanation for how they adopted me. I couldn't sell anything they owned either. Everything was outdated or held sentimental value.

The taxes were piling up and the longer I didn't maintain the property the more damage occurred. When the problem of the house hit me early in the morning I recalled Dash telling me he owned a piece of land my Father specifically told me belonged to us.

Was my Father quietly selling land? He was proud of that place how could he?

Dash and I didn't leave things off sweet last night but we needed to talk about the land.

I walked towards the bathroom with a towel tied around my chest. My head was still in the clouds when I bumped into Kaleb's wet and naked chest.

"Oh, sorry," I said and looked up. "Oh! Sorry, I…uh…"

Kaleb smirked. "The bathroom's all yours Zora."

I watched Kaleb walk to his bedroom. A towel wrapped around his waist and water dripped down his back.

What kind of temptations are these?

I ducked into the shower. After a shower that chased the fire between my legs, I emerged from the bathroom. Kaleb leaned against the wall, waiting for me.

"Kaleb!" I gasped.

He smirked. "I'm heading out."

"So you waited for me outside the bathroom? That's not creepy."

"Might be. I wanted something."

"Oh… from the bathroom? I'm sorry, I took long."

"No, Zora, from you."

He bounced off the wall, took my face in his hands and pulled me until our lips met in a soft kiss. I gasped and tugged back.

"Kaleb."

"I can't help myself, baby. My wolf won't let me sleep."

He brushed his nose against mine. It felt like a flame burning at our centre. If I had a wolf she'd be on my neck too.

"Okay," I said pathetically.

Kaleb pulled me closer and kissed me harder. He wrapped my waist in his massive arms. I stroked his forearms, creating circles on his shirt. Our tongues met in a fiery encounter. Kaleb grunted with satisfaction but the way he held me told me wouldn't be satisfied until he was between my legs.

Kaleb broke the kiss and rested his forehead against mine.

"I want to damn everything I have to do today and spend it in your arms."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"I want to be tangled in your legs." He kisses me. "To kiss you more." He kisses me again and I giggle.

"If we keep this up we won't get anything done today."

He trailed his hand down my shoulder. Heat from his body dried me completely.

"I'll see you tonight right?" he raised his brow.

I nodded.

He pulled me close for another sizzling kiss.

"There's more we need to talk about."

He left. More talking but I didn't know how to compose my emotions. As much as Dash hurt me I didn't know I could push him aside and date Kaleb without having strings attached to Dash.

I checked my phone for texts. Cass asked me about a party tomorrow and Dash sent me a text about needing to talk.

Why does everyone need to talk?

***

"You sure you're good working, Zora?" Alexa asked.

I nodded as I went through the visiting register. "I love it here. Life's just been crazy for me."

"You were attacked don't you want another job?"

"No, no. I love it here. The real villain's my car that refused to start."

"I know a guy selling used cars. Pretty decent I'll give you his number."

I held my chest in gratitude because that's what I needed to make my life easier.

"That'll be awesome. I'm going to check on Mr Dean."

"Wait, Zora, you can't. He's been bad since you were attacked. He only gets up to take his medicine."

"He hasn't spoken?"

Alexa shook her head. "It's weird how bad he's gotten so suddenly."

"I'll just take a peak. I won't wake him."

"Okay, I just wanted you to know. I know you're fond of him. He's been moved to the isolation area."

I frowned. "That's for elderlies with dangerous illnesses why is he there?"

Alexa leaned forward and glanced over her shoulder. "Donna ordered the move. I don't think she's here so you better hurry."

Alexa couldn't know why Donna moved Mr Dean. I snuck to the isolation area while some of the elderly and caretakers were in the hall playing bingo. We didn't have any members in isolation. It wasn't a common part of old folk homes but we had an incident where an elderly had wolf illness. He needed to be kept separate from everyone else or it would have spread.

I turned the corner but doubled back when I saw Donna walk into a room with a clipboard in her left arm.

"What's she up to?"

I tiptoed forward and listened.

"Nathaniel Dean, you've caused a lot of trouble…"

A hand wrapped around my mouth and an arm snaked my waist. I panicked and kicked as someone dragged me away from the door. I was dragged into another room. It was dark and the air was thick with dust.

"Quiet Zora," he hissed.

Gunner!

"I'm going to remove my hand and you're going to be quiet. Nod if we agree."

I wanted to bite his hand but I nodded.

"Good."

"What are you doing?" I hissed into the dark.

I wasn't even sure I was scolding him or just thin air. It was so dark even with the patches of light coming through the curtain.

"Since you wouldn't speak to me I came to see the old man. Donna wouldn't let me so I snuck in."

"She just went in to speak to him."

"She would have caught you, Zora. She's a wolf she can smell you."

It would have been the second time she caught me snooping. She could fire me.

"He's not supposed to be here. I don't know if Donna's as clean as she seems."

"We can't trust anyone. Not when everyone's fighting for the same power."