WIP – Caleb

“The closer he got, the harder his heart pounded. It had been so long since he’d been close to another of his kind, the effect it was having on his wolf was almost too strong for him to bear. It was hard to get a good look at the person on the wagon, being wrapped in at least two blankets that covered everything but his face. And even that was obscured by the way his head lolled on his chest.

Caleb was surprised to find the boy lashed to the seat with a rope. The sheriff saw the look on his face and placated him, explaining, “He couldn’t sit upright unaided when we left, but he made it clear he didn’t want to get in the back of the wagon.”

Caleb grunted, accepting the explanation, but angrily attacked the knots holding the boy there all the same. When the last one came free, the boy toppled sideways into Caleb’s arms. Caleb caught him easily and was disturbed that the dead weight of him felt so light, despite the length of his limbs. Gathering him into his arms like a child, he started towards the cabin, with the Sheriff striding ahead to get the door.

For a moment, Caleb could have sworn that he felt a soft, warm breath on his neck, and a murmured, “Alpha,” but it seemed unlikely, even though his wolf gave a long deep sigh and curled around the imagined word like it was a warming fire.”