The soft aroma of coffee seeped into the bedroom as I slowly opened my eyes. The rising sun bathed the room in a silky glow that helped me wake up.

I stretched my arms over my head regretting my actions instantly as I cried out quietly as a sharp pain was felt on the side of my ribs.

The pain reminded me of last night, of what I saw, of what I agreed to.

My stomach churned at the realization he was taking me home. I hadn't been home in two days but it had felt like a lifetime ago.

I slowly dropped my legs over the bed allowing my body to wake up more before I stood up.

The sound of leaves crunching and twigs snapping caught my attention. It reminded me of last night's chase and near-death experience. I walked over to the window to see what created the noise.

Looking down as I watched a blonde wolf stretching new to the dock. It sniffed along the edge of the lake taking in all of the scents it could possibly take in.

I knew who the wolf truly was but it was still so surreal when I brought myself to admit it. It was Caleb and it looked as though he was checking out the surroundings. If there really was a rat as he told me then I was sure he was being cautious about being out here away from everyone.

I wasn't quite sure how werewolf pack life was but if it was even remotely close to actual wolf packs then I'm sure he felt less confidence in keeping me safe alone than with the rest of his pack. Wolves believed in strength in numbers that what made them great teams in hunting and protecting the pack. Every member has a position in the pack and a purpose. I wondered the same was at play with werewolves.

Thinking about the different roles of a wolf pack had me thinking about what Caleb was in the hierarchy. Alpha means first or top which meant Caleb was the one that held the most power. A leader. A commander. Just like an alpha wolf in a wolf pack.

As I drifted through my thoughts I continued to watch as Caleb stopped suddenly as he stopped just before he stepped into the woods. He looked over to the cabin as if sensing my eyes from so far away. I dipped shyly behind the sheer curtain.

Caleb stood there for a few more seconds before turning around and taking off into the woods.

I took this as an opportunity to make my way downstairs to grab a cup of coffee starving. I hadn't eaten much over the past few days and I was starting to feel its effects now. I reached up on the high cupboard for a mug on my tippy toes just barely being able to reach it.

The coffee maker was on low keeping the coffee hot and fresh. I hummed at the pleasant awakening smell the coffee made. It reminded me of all the late-night studying I would do in the university library. With a large cup of coffee and a pile of textbooks to note take for it was a comforting memory.

I grabbed a slice of bread from a loaf of bread I found on the counter. Pushing it into the toaster I poured a cup of coffee pouring a dab of milk and a spoonful of sugar for sweetness. I sat at one of the stools on the kitchen island waiting for the bread to toast.

I held my warm coffee in my palms holding it up to my nose inhaling its strong caffeine scent. Gazing out the sliding glass doors to the lake I grinned faintly at the rippling orange and pink sun rays on the surface of the lake. I could get used to this scenery I told myself.

The toaster popped making me jump. The coffee in the mug splashed around my mug nearly spilling over the side. Calming myself down from the jump I placed the mug down and buttered the toast before sprinkling cinnamon and sugar.

Kicking my legs back and forth on the stool I looked around the cabin some more not having anything else I could do. The same grooves in the wall from last night brought out my curiosity again. I slowly walked up the first part of the stairs to the wall that had the gashes.

I slowly moved my hand up to them tracing the paths of the gashes with my fingers. They were deeply carved into the thick wood of the wall making me realize more today, just how strong Caleb really was. He could have easily snapped my neck and killed me in a matter of seconds and he hadn't.

My hand jerked away from the grooves when I heard the sliding glass door open. I stiffened when I heard footsteps stop at the bottom of the stairs. I was shaking slightly as I prepared myself to turn around. Taking a deep breath I slowly turned around. I wasn't surprised to see him fixated on my every movement.

My chest rose and fell faster than it had just moments ago. My breathing shortened as I looked at Caleb. His eyes enthralled by my appearance.

I had changed into something nicer than what I had been wearing since Caleb saw me the first time. I had sifted through the duffle bag Nora packed and found a pair of jeans a white turtle neck. My long black curly hair was pulled into a high ponytail.

I looked put together like I wasn't a total bum.

The way he was immersed in my appearance was creating an increased level of anxiety. Finally noticing how uncomfortable he was making me he closed his eyes focusing himself before opening them again.

He cleared his throat before he exhaled a breath he was holding.

"How did you sleep?" He asked looking over me checking how I was standing. He was giving me an impression he was searching for any discomfort I had for my ribs last night.

I didn't reply to his question still feeling immobilized on the staircase. He didn't make any advancements to me nodding his head and sighing as he realized I wasn't going to say anything to him.

He pulled a sweatshirt from his duffle bag in the living room, pulling it over the thin T-shirt he wore. I slowly walked down the stairs when I saw him in the living room a good distance away from me. I wasn't certain of his intentions and until I wanted as much distance between us as I could get.

"I see you ate." He said zipping up his duffle bag and tossing it to the front door of the cabin. I forced a small acknowledging nod to his comment moving my mug and empty plate to the opposite side of the island. Away from him.

I watched as Caleb walked upstairs grabbing my duffle bag and bringing it down as well. Placing next to his. I placed my plate in the sink and my now empty coffee mug to clean. I was abruptly stopped however as I felt Caleb unbearable close behind me.

His presence causing my heart to speed up with unpredictability. My right hand rested on the faucet handle frozen from the intense feeling of Caleb's stare.

My eyes were glued on my hand unable to move or look anywhere else. I watched as Caleb's hand reached out to the handle. I retreated my hand quickly from it moving to the side and away from him. My back remained to him too timid to face him. I tried desperately to focus my breath and my pounding heart in my chest. It wasn't helping the pain I was already feeling.

"Why don't you put the bags in the car a while. I'll clean up the cabin and check over everything real quick." He reached for my hand exposing my palm. He placed the car keys in my hand closing my fingers around it. I was baffled at how trusting he was with my hand holding the keys to his car. A car I could use to escape. Why would he hand me these? He trusted me that much? Or was he dumb?

I glanced up at his eyes and it reminded me instantly how bad of an idea it would be to take off with the car. I swallowed hard hurrying away grabbing the bags in one swift motion. I kicked the front door open and made my way to the car.

I was a little further down the driveway than I first remembered it from yesterday. I pressed the button to pop the trunk. I tossed the duffle bags in the trunk. Being sure that the bags were secure from moving around on the drive I closed the trunk. I started to open the passenger door only for a snarling noise behind me.

Fear stricken I dropped the keys to the car making it lock the doors again. I cursed to myself as I stiffened. Another snarl was heard behind me and I whimpered expecting my impending doom.

I knew Caleb was lying. He was going to kill me all along he was just playing a sick joke getting me to trust him a little. It was all a sick joke to him.

I glanced at the reflection of myself in the window of the car. I looked terrified and rightfully so but my stomach dropped more when I noticed that the thing making the noise behind me wasn't Caleb. It was a dark gray wolf. I wasn't sure if I should be happy or afraid.

I slowly turned around facing the aggressive wolf that was pacing in front of me. My back was pressed flush against the side of the car. If it were possible I would have become part of the car with how snug I was against the car.

I whimpered again watching as the gray wolf snapped its jaws at me repeatedly slowly approach me. I cried out in hopes it would scare it off but it just seemed to speed up its pace as it stepped to me.

It was only mere inches away with it jaws open and lips pulled back. Its thick long canine teeth where long and it was coming full speed at my face. I rose my arm to protect myself just before the wolf made contact.

I didn't feel anything though as I closed my eyes for impact. Opening them slowly when nothing touched me I watched as I saw Caleb holding the wolf by the throat. It snarled and tried desperately to reach Caleb's face but to no avail. Tears brimmed my eyes as I watched Caleb place two hands on the throats of the wolf before twisting its neck killing it. I let out a choked sob as he dropped the body limp on the floor.

My breathing was hitched in my throat as I tried to get a steady rhythm again. Between soft whimpers and my labored breathing, I tried to focus on Caleb's actions.

His back was tight and stiff and I watched his back muscle rise and fall. He was breathing heavily and he was angry. His stiff muscles said it all.

I stood there wiping my tears away when Caleb faced me his face devoid of any emotion. It was as if this was just another Sunday to him.

"Get in the car." He told me. I nodded my head wanting nothing more than to get in the safe compounds of the car. I searched the ground for the dropped keys. Fumbling with the key chain I finally unlocked the car I got in quickly pressing the lock on the door down.

I was still breathing heavily completely terrified at what I just watch happen.

Caleb rolled his sleeve up before he picked up the wolf and dropping it just at the beginning of the tree line before he came back to the car. I gulped as he opened the door and started the car.

He pulled out of the driveway. I would have thought he was completely lacking in any emotion if it weren't for the death grip he had on the steering wheel. He was furious as his knuckle turned white with tension from his grip.

"Here put your address on my phone." He said handing me his phone.

I took it still studying his features stunned still from the wolf.

"Put your address in Eve." He said sternly making me snap my eyes to the phone. I entered it and the directions showed on the center screen.

I put the phone in the cup holder and sunk into the car's chair getting comfortable as I watched the travel time read five hours. It was going to be a long ride and I was intending on sleeping through most of it knowing it would be my only option in distancing myself from Caleb.

So I welcomed the nap that soon came to me.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

I woke up as I felt the car come to a stop. We hadn't really stopped moving since we left with open highways to heal with that. Opening my eyes I noticed the changing colors of a stop light. We were nearly in Los Angeles with the denser buildings and busying traffic.

It felt like home and I found myself smiling to myself as I propped myself back up in my hair. Caleb looked tired as we sat still at the stoplight. I felt a small bit of sorry for him by the way he looked. I had to remind myself that his man was my kidnapper after all. I shouldn't feel a hint of sympathy for this person, so why the hell was I?

I glanced at the center screen with the directions. We were only a few blocks away. As we closed the distance to my apartment my insides were beginning to ache with uneasiness. I was so happy to come home but not with him. I could have come home with anyone but him and had been satisfied. Hell, I was even beginning to think even Roy was more predictable than Caleb. Roy was something I could probably handle versus him.

My toast and coffee were moving around disturbed by my studded awareness and anticipation.

It was close to two o'clock now and I whined and fell back into the leather of the car feeling pressed for time.

I would have to study all night now just to have a decent chance at getting an A. I inwardly glared at Caleb, he didn't even know how much stress he just added to my already not normal life. This man came into my life like a tank just running me over flat.

Caleb pulled up to the apartment building pressing the buzzer to enter the guest parking on the side of the building. The garage arm lifted allowlist Caleb to park in visitor parking.

I hurriedly jumped out of the car no longer able to sit in the unsettling atmosphere that was thick enough to chock on. I took in a fresh breath of city air the smell of gasoline and trash enveloped my sense. I turned around to Caleb who had his nose turned up to the smell. I guessed he didn't come into the city that often, I grinned a little amused at his repulsed face. It was a nice break away from his serious demeanor and occasional creep smile.

"This your apartment building?" He asked after a blaring horn from a car drove by. Oh, how I missed home.

"Yes, this is where I live," I answered him finding comfort in the busy public streets. There were witnesses I told myself to further comfort my already wrecked nerves at the fact that I was about to let this person into my home.

We walked around the back of the apartment building and up the staircase to the four-floor where my apartment resided.

I froze however as I stood in front of my door feeling Caleb's tall and dark appearance just inches behind me. I pulled the rug up revealing the spare key I always tapped to the bottom of the rug. Pulling it from the rug I fumbled with the key before I could finally put it in the lock. The click of the door unlocking broke the thick silence before Caleb reached around me to twist the doorknob and pushed it open.

I peered inside timid at the cleaned-up apartment. Taylor wasn't lying she had swung by here and cleaned the place up. I was scared I would come back to a wrecked apartment after Roy showed up. I was stuck at the front door until I heard her meow. Bastet.

She raced over to me happily chirping and meow showing just how much she missed me. Her spotted coat was white with freckled black spots everywhere with three thick black stripes from the base of her tail to the top of her forehead.

Picking her up I hugged her to my body feeling a rush of comfort at her fluffy body. I stepped inside allowing Caleb to follow behind, he closed the door behind us locking it.

I walked to the living room letting Bastet down on the sofa. She meowed in disapproval reaching up to my face again to be picked up. Rolling my eyes a picked her up letting her lay across my shoulder as I turned to face Caleb who was studying me again. He was absorbing everything that I was doing with laser focus.

"Would you like a glass of water?" I managed to say. I must have just felt more at home that I felt okay speaking up now.

Caleb snapped out of his dazed stare to look at me nodding his head. I grabbed a glass from the small kitchen. I watched as he roamed around the apartment skimming his fingers over my textbooks and notebooks that were stacked on my desk in the corner of the room. He stopped at a picture I had of Roy and me from going to the Hollywood sign. I had meaning to through the picture out but hadn't for some reason. Maybe I was hoping he would change. My heartfelt tight as I thought about Roy in a positive way.

Caleb's grip on the picture frame was firm and I watched as he struggled to put it down feeling some way about the picture.

I reached out my hand to give him the glass of water. He took it placing it to his parched lips.

I wanted to ask him about the wolf attack earlier but I wasn't sure that I was all that great of an idea. I didn't know where he was mind-wise and I didn't want to push my luck, not when I was finally home.

"Your phone. Where is it?" He asked sipping on the water and making his way to the sofa. He folded one leg over the other resting his ankle on his thigh. He looked bigger sitting on the small sofa. His long legs covered in black joggers his torse wore a gray hoodie. He looked so casual like he had just gotten out of the gym but I knew that he just killed a wolf not just a few hours ago.

"Your phone Eve." He said again looking at me this time as he said it.

I hurried up to my loft bedroom rummaging through the bedside table. If Aurora escaped she would have placed it up here. I was holding on to the hope that she did make it out with Jozy. Running my hands everywhere inside of the draw I finally felt the smooth glass of the phone screen and was relieved. She did make it home after all.

I pushed the home screen illuminating the screen. There were tens of missing texts and phone calls from Aurora. No doubt worried if I had made it home safely.

I pushed on one of the notifications to send a text.

I'm home now Rora. I'm sorry you and Jozy were pulled into this 21st birthday prank. I'll call soon to explain everything. I texted her to relieve some of her worries.

I hurried back downstairs handing Caleb my unlocked phone and moving Bastet to my arms to hold. She growled at Caleb when he reached the phone from me. He glared at her, I wondered if he hated cats because he was part wolf.

Stop Evelyn you're doing it again trying to accept this new world as normal. You could end up dead because of what you know now. You almost did already this morning.

I had dozed off in my thoughts when I was brought back out of it as Caleb handed me my phone back to me. I looked down at it to see that I was sharing my location with Caleb Pierce. He had put his contact information in my phone. It was official I was about to let this man know where I was 24/7.

I gulped as I slid the phone into my back pocket. Caleb stood up and made his way to the kitchen pulling the fridge open to look for something to eat.

"Mind if I make something to eat?"

I'm glad one of us had an appetite to eat.