Chapter 43

Kaleb POV

It's been a long day, chasing leads, tightening loose ends and occasionally kicking ass. Pretty much a Betas day in the Pack. To top it off I had an investment to think about. I put money in Zora's new bed and breakfast. I never thought about owning a bed and breakfast but Zora was intent on it and I couldn't let her do it on her own.

Our relationship was complicated but I had feelings for her. More than my sister's best friend. I was a douche because I let my emotions confuse me about her. I chose my casual fling over something real with someone real like Zora. I hated the way she looked at Dash with so much love. I wanted her to look at me that way.

My wolf wasn't my biggest fan anymore. He knew I blew it from the start. I wouldn't forget our kisses or her mouth on my cock. Might want to tell Dash that but I didn't want to get my face smashed in or to fight with one of my oldest friends. He was like a brother to me, Gunner too. Gunner was like an annoying younger brother who got everything he wanted from our parents.

I drove into Cassidy's driveway. I didn't tell her I was coming over. She was my younger sister I didn't need to announce myself.

"Cass!" I called.

"Kaleb?" She coughed from the hall.

"You better be alone," I scowled.

Cass might be an adult but she was still my baby sister.

I crashed on the couch and Cass appeared her face red and slightly puffy.

"What if I was with my boyfriend?" she crossed her arms.

"What boyfriend? Someone I need to beat up?" I raised a brow.

"With a brother like you, how will I ever get married?"

I barked out a laugh. "If he's a good guy I won't fuss. I love you, kid."

Since our Dad married a gold digger, Cass was all I had. We didn't speak to our old man much and when we did his new wife always came up and it ended in a huge fight.

"Speaking of getting married, Kaleb. I don't want to be the one to tell you but I know what she's like."

I adjusted in my seat. "Who?"

"Zora!" She exclaimed.

"What? She's getting married? Since when?" My heart hammered against my chest.

"No, no, she's dating Dash. It's serious. I'm really surprised I thought she'd get with Gunner."

"Cass!" I stood abruptly.

"What?" she frowned.

"You're my sister and you weren't even rooting for me."

She rolled her eyes dramatically but I was still hurt. Hurt that Zora moved on without telling me. I wanted to look into her perfect eyes and listen to her tell me we couldn't be anything anymore. Damn, I really screwed up.

"Listen, maybe this is for the best. Zora has a fated mate one that she doesn't know about. Do you really want that?"

"Cass, when you love someone you do the dirty work for them. That's what you should be looking for in your suitors."

"Shut up, Kaleb."

I narrowed my gaze on her. "You think I don't know what you're doing huh?"

"I have work to do. Are you staying? You know where I hid the keys don't wait up for me."

"No, I'm leaving."

My wolf wanted to run. He clawed at me for release and I wasn't about to deny him. I drove to my favourite spot which had been plagued with foreign wolves because of the hunt for the Pandora. Gunner doesn't know how to deal with the invaders. They're hard to keep in check when there's a lot of money on the line. It's been a quiet day because hadn't been called about any bodies yet.

I parked the car and shifted into a massive Alpha black wolf with white paws. Everyone made fun of my mittens. If I couldn't kick everyone's ass they'd take the jokes too far. I ran around the forest for what felt like two hours before my wolf craved water.

The nearest river was miles away but luckily I came to a stream. I didn't think anything of it until I found a pink shirt discarded on the ground.

Now what? I thought. It smelt familiar yet so enticing. I needed more. My nose carried me forward but I stopped suddenly when I saw a small figure hugging the edge of the stream with her knees to her chest.

This isn't possible, I thought. I shifted back to human form.

"Mate," I said.

She jumped and turned. She hugged her chest. "Who are you? When did you get here?"

I tilted my head to the side. Why did she look so damn familiar? She had wavy black hair, warm chocolate eyes and cherry lips.

"What are you looking at? My eyes are up here!"

"Oh fuck." Where did I leave my clothes?

This was my fated mate? Damn, I thought I was too old for that. I raked a hand through my hair.

"Why did you call me that?" she whispered.

She made herself small, her face was pink and her eyes wide. She felt the bond too. This was the person my wolf wanted more than anything else on earth. Which was weird because he wanted Zora not long ago. I, on the other hand wasn't sure about this. I couldn't deal with a fated mate right now.

"You're not from here," I said. "Are you hunting the Pandora too?"

"You know about the Pandora?"

I ran a hand down my face. "I don't need a mate chasing after some mythical object. I can't be trying to stop you from getting killed."

She scowled. "Who asked you to!"

"Shit, I said that out loud, didn't I?"

"Do you always let your intrusive thoughts win?"

"This time they did," I grumbled.

"I'm not hunting the Pandora. It's better off hidden."

"Then what are you doing here?" I asked.

She picked up her shirt and then searched for the rest of her clothes.

"I didn't come to find a mate that's for sure. I have to go."

"Wait," I caught her arm. "What's your name?"

"Zelda. I can't stay."

The really weird thing about Zelda is she smelt like Zora.