Shopping Spree
1406 Words
Autumn straightened her spine. “Move aside, Julian.”
“Move aside?” he barked. “You paid those men to beat me up, didn’t you?” He grabbed her wrist, fingers digging into her skin.
A flash of anger shot through her. Autumn yanked her arm back, raising her voice so every nearby coworker turned to look. “Touch me again, and I’ll tell everyone how you’ve been sleeping your way up the ladder.”
A few heads snapped in their direction. Julian’s jaw tightened.
Damn it. If she keeps going, I’m done. Jade has been already furious that she didn’t know I had a fiancée…
His grip eased instantly.
Autumn didn’t wait—she spun around and rushed down the hallway, heart pounding, lungs tight. The moment she stepped outside, she spotted Caleb waiting near the door. The second his gaze landed on her, his eyes darkened.
“What happened?” he growled. “Did you run into that motherfucker again?”
“It’s nothing,” Autumn muttered, brushing past him. “Let’s just go.”
But Caleb wasn’t fooled. His eyes turned a deeper shade, fury burning.
He mindlinked Tristan without hesitation: ‘My mate was harassed in my own damn company. Find out who it was and make him pay.’
Without waiting for a reply, he cut off the mindlink.
“Let’s get your things from your place,” he said, wrapping an arm around Autumn’s shoulders.
She nodded quietly. “Okay.”
In less than an hour, they reached her old apartment. The moment she stepped inside, memories slammed into her—Julian’s voice, his touch, his lies. Autumn forced them away and focused only on packing. Clothes, toiletries, a few books. Nothing emotional. Nothing that held pieces of the past she no longer wanted.
Caleb watched her silently—sensed the way her hands shook every time she folded something. When she zipped up the suitcase, he stepped forward and grabbed it before she could.
“I’ll take it,” he said.
“That’s fine, I can do it myself,” Autumn whispered, blinking rapidly as she swallowed down rising tears.
But Caleb didn’t budge. His voice softened. “I know you can. But I want to take care of my woman.”
Autumn’s heart clenched again. He… he is always so gentle. And his actions… Julian never carried anything for me. Not groceries, not laundry, no bag ever… nothing. And Caleb… he treats me as if I am a princess. And the way he looks at me… it takes my breath away!
He held the suitcase in one hand, casual, effortless, as if it weighed nothing while the other arm remained wrapped securely around her waist as they walked out.
“You know,” Autumn said once they hit the sidewalk, “it has wheels. You don’t have to… carry it like that.”
“It’ll get dirty,” Caleb replied simply. “And it’s light. Not a big deal.”
Of course for a werewolf, it was nothing. But for a human, it was different. Autumn was confused. How can he carry this bag so effortlessly? It’s heavy for sure. On top of that, he isn't even wearing gloves. Isn't he cold?
She watched him for a moment, a small frown tugging her brows together.
Why do I feel like he’s trying to impress me?
But she didn’t comment. Instead, she cleared her throat. “Let’s go buy you some clothes before we leave. I already got the bus tickets.”
“As my fiancée wishes,” Caleb said with a low, warm smile as he gently guided her to the mall entrance.
His words sent heat curling through her stomach. Autumn’s cheeks warmed again, turning that soft shade of pink Caleb was quickly becoming obsessed with. She shook her head and rushed into the mall, heading straight to the little boutique she always shopped at.
Inside, she drifted to the men’s section, pretending to browse casually. Caleb followed her like a tall, silent shadow—until she started holding up shirts.
She picked a soft cream henley. “Try this.”
Caleb raised a brow. “I don’t wear colors this light.”
“You do today,” she said, shoving it into his hands.
Next was a fitted charcoal tee that looked too small.
“That won’t fit,” Caleb murmured.
“It will,” Autumn said—and she was right.
Every piece she held up, every style he claimed he’d “never wear,” ended up fitting him perfectly. And worse—he looked good. Too good.
The cream henley made his eyes impossibly warm.
The charcoal tee clung to his chest and arms in a way that made her swallow.
Even the soft blue flannel she chose on a whim made him look boyish and devastating all at once.
Each time he stepped out of the changing room, Autumn found herself standing there, blushing like she was seventeen again.
Caleb smirked, tugging at the hem of the tee she picked.
“You’re enjoying this,” he said.
“No,” she lied instantly. “Wh-what’s there to enjoy?”
But her burning cheeks gave her away—and Caleb looked like he wanted to tease her forever.
“Really?” Caleb pushed the sleeves of the pullover up his forearms as he walked toward her, slow and predatory. Autumn swallowed hard.
God. He is… like a Greek god. Irresistible and all I want is to kiss him, lick every line of his abs, and do more.
She tried to steady her breathing but failed miserably.
He was close enough now that she could feel his warmth—
But the moment shattered.
“YOU!” a voice snapped across the store.
Julian.
Autumn froze as he stormed toward her, eyes wild. “You b***h. You made me lose my job. Jade broke up with me because of you!”
He lifted his hand to slap her—
But he never even got close.
Caleb’s fingers clamped around Julian’s wrist mid-air, his expression turning murderous. There was a sickening crack as Caleb twisted.
Julian screamed.
Caleb leaned in, voice low, cold, lethal. “Try to touch her again, and I will break every single limb in your body.”
“Get off me, you— you homeless fool!” Julian spat, face contorted with pain. “Changing clothes won’t change who you are. Trash stays trash.”
Caleb’s jaw flexed. “Say one more word,” he warned, “and you’re leaving this mall in a body bag.”
Julian paled but still hissed, “Throw them out! Right now! The CFO of Blackwood Corporation is my girlfriend. She’ll ruin all of you!”
Blackwoods owned half the mall. The trembling store manager rushed over—only to stop the moment his eyes landed on Caleb. His whole posture collapsed as he bowed deeply.
“A-Alpha,” he breathed.
Autumn blinked. “Did he just call you alpha? Isn’t that the same as last night’s pizza place?”
Caleb let Julian go and slipped into a casual shrug, even though annoyance flickered in his eyes. “He must be following the same trend. You know… calling out ‘alpha’ when you see a couple.”
But in the manager’s head, Caleb’s voice thundered through the mindlink:
‘Don’t f*****g say a word. Just deal with this mutt.’
The manager snapped to action. “Mister, please leave the premises before I call the security.”
“What? You can’t—!” Julian yelled.
“Please leave now. You're banned from this mall permanently for harassment and attempted assault.” the manager spoke again.
“Are you defending the homeless over me?” Julian barked. “Besides, he broke my wrist. I demand compensation.”
“Listen, it will be better if you leave now.” Security was already at his shoulders, dragging him out as he screamed threats that no one listened to.
“Served him right!” Autumn smiled slightly. Watching her, Caleb smirked too.
The manager turned back to Autumn, bowing again. “Ma’am… all the clothes you selected today are free. Please accept them as an apology.”
Autumn’s eyes widened. Free? Why do I feel like I kept getting free stuff since I met Caleb?
Caleb smirked.
And Julian’s curses faded down the hallway as he was hauled out of sight.
- Writer
