Caleb
Caleb sat in his chair at the cabin window. He had his laptop propped on his thighs and clicked away while talking on the phone. “What the fuck do you mean it vanished? Is that even fucking possible wolf?” his voice raising with each word.
“Look I am just telling you what I have found. I followed the trail he left and then it just disappeared. No sign of him, no scent, no nothing. Something is not right about this. Renea is in danger and I do not like being here and her there.” Dante told Caleb.
Caleb now frustrated beyond belief, “Why do you care about her Dante?” he asked the man.
Dante sighed in his ear, “I just do okay. I am coming up there. I have already packed a bag and will be there within a few hours.” Dante hung up without waiting for a response.
Caleb let out a deep bear filled growl and tossed his laptop aside onto the end table creating a loud thud. Renea flinched from the kitchen counter where she was standing. She had been working on preparing some supper for them.
It had taken hours to drive up there and they were both starving. Caleb had been helping her until his phone had rung and Dante had dropped this new information on them. Caleb shot a look over at her and met her eyes staring back. “I am sorry hun, I didn't mean to scare you, I am just frustrated. This man has become almost impossible to find and catch. Dante is heading out here to help keep you safe apparently. Though he didn't even ask my thoughts on that. Damn wolf.”
“It’s okay,” Renea lied. “This is all a little different for all of us right now.” Renea turned back to the stove and continued to cook. She had a pot of chili cooking that was nearly done now.
Supplies had been limited at the house as he had not planned on coming back for a bit and did not want wild creatures breaking in for food. Josh was bringing supplies in a few for them. There were only a handful of people that knew about his cabin up here. Dante and Josh were two of those people.
Caleb stood and walked over to help her finish up so they could eat. He grabbed two bowls from the cabinet and some spoons from the drawer. Filling both bowls, he carried them to the table. Renea followed him with the spoons, some napkins, and a sleeve of crackers she had found in the cabinet.
They sat down to eat in silence. They would throw glances at each other occasionally but the sounds of eating were the only thing breaking the silence.
“So,” Renea broke the silence after eating most of her bowl of chili, “how do you and Dante know each other?”
Caleb leaned back in his chair. “We grew up together. We lived near his pack’s land. We became somewhat of friends as we learned how to sneak out and get ourselves into a little trouble. Despite him being older than myself by quite a few years, he was still very much a teenager at heart back then.” Caleb chuckled at the memories that surfaced.
Renea raised her eyebrows, “Ah so you have stories?”
“Maybe a few,” he laughed long and hard. “We were an adventurous bunch. We liked to explore and see how far we could push our luck at times. While I was raised differently than he was he lived in nearby woods and was very sheltered from the human world for a long while. He grew up secluding himself with the pack instead of learning to deal with the humans and life in general. Imagine decades of growing up in the world only to never actually live in it. I helped him learn the world and what it meant to live in the human realm. His family did not like that very much either. I think that pushed him to learn more from me than anything else.” Caleb took another bite before continuing his story.
“His family was very strict. They had lost too many in the hunts over the years. Farmers that were afraid of the wolves and what they could do. They had learned to hide and fend for themselves instead. Because of this, Dante learned to hide and would not let anyone in easily. He resented his wolf for so long. He eventually found out most of what his family said was not true anymore. Humans had grown since they had last been involved with them. When he realized this, he decided to become a lone wolf and make his own path. This was hard for him, wolves are pack animals and need a pack. He became part of mine for a long time. Only in the last few years have we both been so busy we have not been able to hang out as much.
We used to take monthly trips up to this very cabin. We used it as an excuse to escape the human world and the responsibilities we always had. It was a way for us to let loose and enjoy our animals too. Dante needed to release his wolf every so often or he became insufferable. Anyways, enough about the two of us.”
“I like hearing about you both. It makes me feel good knowing you both grew up together.” Renea assured him as she stood carrying her bowl to the sink to wash it out.
Caleb followed her to the sink and washed out his bowl. Turning to Renea at his side, “Look, I know you don't know me that well and we have only been on one date, but I really do want what is best for you. I saw the looks you and Dante shared back at the store. I saw the fire in his eyes and the claim that the wolf thinks he has on you. I tried to ignore it, but I know I cannot. Knowing he is heading out here means he feels the same way about you as I do.”
“Caleb…” Renea stuttered before he cut her off before she could finish.
“No, it is okay. I know it is your choice who you want. Just know that I am aware that you have a choice in front of you and I know that this isn't an easy choice for you. I will be okay with whatever you decide. I hope you will choose me, but I am also not naive enough to pretend you and wolf boy do not have something equally as special brewing.”
Renea looked down at her hands that lay on the sinks edge. She couldn’t bring herself to look up at him. Caleb turned away from the sink and walked towards the bedrooms. “Come on and I will show you which room is yours. We can get some sleep before wolf boy and Josh arrive.”
Renea nodded and followed. “Who is this Josh you keep mentioning? Is he also a childhood friend?”
“Not exactly,” Caleb chuckled as he led her up the stairs. “He is a petty thief that I helped a while back and he kind of just stuck around ever since. It's his fox nature in him that makes him so shifty all the time. He is kind of like one of those people that grow on you after a while. He usually stays with me when we come out here. He helps lighten the mood most of the time. I think you will get along well with him.”
Caleb walked through the door at the end of the hallway on the right. “Here is where you will sleep. My door is across the hall, Dante will be back up the hall next to me, and Josh will be in the room next to you. You and Josh will be sharing a bathroom, sorry about that. I am going to grab a shower and change clothes. Make yourself at home please and come find me when you want to.” Caleb backed out without waiting for her reply.
Renea
Renea looked around the room. It was big and cozy. The room held very little despite the large size of it. A large king size bed was in the middle of the room taking up much of the space. A large fur lay across the foot of the bed over the grey thin comforter. A night stand sat next to the bed on the right and a couch set off to the right of that with a television facing both the bed and the couch. There was one dresser along the other wall. It was bare other than this but still felt cozy and at home for her.
Renea unpacked her bags, sliding clothes in the dresser and leaving her toiletry bag on top of the dresser. Renea was lost once she finished and unsure of what to do. After looking around she decided maybe it was best to curl up on the bed and watch some t.v. in hopes to forget everything for the time being. Renea changed to her lounge clothes and climbed across the bed. Pulling the fur over her lower half she grabbed the remote and flipped through the channels. Landing on some sappy love story she stopped, sat the remote down, and cuddled into the pillows and fur.
Renea was only slightly paying attention to the show though. She was lost in thoughts of the man that was after her, the men she couldn't seem to forget, and where she had lost control of her own life. Renea ran the last few days over and over again in her head. Her eyes became heavy and drifted closed. Within moments she was out and her thoughts were silent but her dreams were not.
Renea walked into the bar, loud music exploding out at her as the door closed behind her. People were wall to wall inside. Many bodies writhed on the dance floor in the center. Tables around the edges were packed and overflowing. Clearly it was a good night for the club. Dita grabbed Renea’s hand and dragged her into the crowd and toward the bar. The bar had people lined up all the way down it, either nursing drinks or waiting for them. Dita pushed her way in and ordered them drinks. Renea scanned those around them, not really looking for anything in particular.
