CHAPTER FIFTEEN: TRUST
1046 Words
Lila POV
I smile at Dove, and she seems to look curious about something, but we are distracted as Caleb comes back out of his bedroom. He sits on the sofa next to her, and she rests her head on his shoulder.
“So who is your lucky partner?”
“The other girl in the trials. She hasn’t said much. She seems like the silent but completely deadly type,” she explains with a sigh. “I gave up trying to make conversation with her, but I can hope she is an expert hunter.”
“At least you don’t have a newbie over here,” Caleb counters, pointing at me.
“Hey, I’m not that bad at fighting and figuring out demons,” I reply shortly. Truthfully, I’m clueless—but I’m a quick learner.
He laughs, and Dove shakes her head.
“I can help you train, you know, if you want. I’ve been training since I was young.”
“I can hold my own,” I state. “But thank you.”
“I hope so. The first test is tomorrow,” she replies. “It won’t be easy.”
“Don’t worry. I’m happy to carry all the weight in our partnership, songbird,” Caleb cockily states, stretching his arms across the back of the couch.
I narrowed my eyes on him.
“I’m sure I can be of some use.”
He smirks.
“I highly doubt it.”
We glare at each other until Dove clears her throat.
“So you two have made a good start to becoming partners.”
“Something like that,” I say sarcastically.
Dove very clearly and quickly changes the subject.
“What did you think of the overdramatic welcoming ceremony from the Alpha’s son?”
“Why the heck is he running this place and not training to be the next Alpha?” I ask.
“Duh, he’s estranged from his father,” Dove replies, and Caleb shoots me a warning glare. Dove laughs. “What part of Stormfire did you grow up in? Because you should know about the Alpha’s son—it’s like the most talked-about gossip in the city.”
“Her parents kept her under lock and key, so to speak,” Caleb explains, saving my ass. “Songbird over here is the daughter of a friend of my mom’s. Her mum takes the saying ‘helicopter parent’ to a new level.”
Dove gives me a sad smile.
“Strict parents can be a total buzzkill.”
Hearing the words kill and parents in the same sentence hurts my heart.
“That they can.”
“We’re totally going to take you out to the nightclubs. They are to die for… literally.”
“Yeah, no, she’s not a party type. Little Songbird here is practically a nun,” Caleb quips.
“No, I’m not,” I snap, gritting my teeth. Dove raises her eyebrows. I swallow down the urge to throw my boot at Caleb’s head.
“No nightclubs for me, though. I want to focus on the trials and not be distracted.”
“Oh, that’s a shame, but I totally get it. I should be getting back to rest for tomorrow,” she says with a welcoming smile. “Oh, I forgot to mention that there is food in the fridge—the welcoming food. The only half-decent thing about these apartments.”
Caleb is already moving toward the kitchen before her sentence has even ended.
“I’m not sharing, songbird.”
I shake my head and walk Dove to the door, considering Caleb isn’t going to do it.
She pauses after opening the door and lowers her voice.
“Caleb can be a bit of a d**k, but if he’s on your side, he’ll protect you. He’ll die for you if need be, and I’d trust him with my life. He’s loyal like that.”
“I’m not getting that impression. I fully expect him to throw me under the bus any day now.”
“Just give him a chance. Trust me,” she replies with a kind smile. “Are you and him more than friends?”
Before she leaves, I ask.
She laughs and winks at me.
“No, you and I? That could work if you want?”
I shake my head, feeling a bit relieved when I really shouldn’t be.
“Sorry, I think I only go for male dickheads. It seems to be my type.”
She laughs.
“Whether it’s female, male, or whatever, we usually end up going for the ones who are not good for us. It’s what makes it fun and sexy.”
“Isn’t that true?” I laugh.
“I think we’re going to be good friends, you and I,” she replies. “See you tomorrow, and good luck if I don’t get time to tell you.”
“Good luck to you, too,” I call after her as I watch her go down the corridor. I push the door shut and rest my head back against it.
Caleb comes out of the kitchen, a plate of steaming food in his hands, and frowns at me. I walk toward him, planning to go get some food and head to bed.
“Don’t go making friends, because trust me, when it comes down to it, every single wolf here would drop you in for the Alpha’s favor,” he warns me.
“Then why haven’t you?”
“You should ask your brother that when we see him,” he counters, avoiding the question. “I have to go out. This is for you—you haven’t eaten since last night.”
He drops the plate into my hands.
“Thought you said you don’t share?”
Ignoring me, he opens the door and nods toward the couch.
“Keep a weapon on you. If anyone but me comes through this door, stab them, run for it, and ask questions later.”
Before I can say anything, he slams the door shut, and I sigh, leaning back against the wall.
Caleb Hardling makes no sense to me, but I suspect Dove is right.
I can trust him.
I think.
- Writer
