Page 47

His words surprised him. The wolves were not his responsibility, but neither were they the Council’s. Get rid of his father, and the wolves might have a chance to redefine themselves.

Kael raised an eyebrow but didn’t answer, and Caleb turned away. He strode out of the room with Regan behind him. They’d only gone a few feet when the door behind them opened, and Raven hurried after them. Caleb kept on walking, but Raven placed her hand on his arm so he had no choice but to stop.

“Caleb, when you want to learn more about your people—come back.”

“I don’t think your husband will be accepting me as family anytime soon.”

“You’re wrong,” Raven said. “He’s feeling guilty—”

“Guilty? Why the hell should he feel guilty?”

“Because he gave up on his sister, because he believed her dead. He can’t bear the idea of her being a prisoner for so long, what she must have gone through. I was a prisoner of the fire-demons for seven years, and they nearly broke me. Kael saw that. Now he knows that Kyla had so many more years of such an existence. It’s hard for him, but he will come around.” Caleb nodded once, and Raven smiled. “We’ll meet again.”

Caleb wasn’t so sure. He wanted to get away from this place. He waited as she went back into the room and the door closed behind her, then started walking again with Regan beside him.

They were silent on the way back to the car, but as he made to climb in, Regan put her hand on his arm. She stared into his eyes.

“It’s full moon tomorrow night. Run with me.”

He nodded once.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” Regan said. “We’re not a pack or anything like that. I just think it will be better for both of us not to be alone. I don’t trust your father.”

“Neither do I.”

“Okay then. I have to get back.”

He nodded again, then reached out a hand, slipped it beneath her hair. His fingers curled around the back of her neck, and he pulled her toward him. He held her close, feeling the steady thud of her heart against his, then he tilted her head and kissed her.

It felt so right, and he didn’t want it to feel right. He needed to sort out his life and these feelings for Regan only muddied the waters. Raising his head, he saw the same confusion mirrored in her face. He dropped his hands from her and stepped back.

“I’ll see you tomorrow night.”