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Chapter Quote:
"You're a freak for not being terrified of me."
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Chapter 9

Caleb 

I paced up and down the living room of the Searcher's cabin we were staying in.  Apparently it was one of their old hideouts that wasn't in use anymore but for our purposes, it worked wonderfully.  Lily lounged on the couch watching television.  She seemed unperturbed which surprised me considering it was Spencer.  They had grown so much closer ever since our compound was attacked.  I thought she'd be more worried.

"Caleb, stop pacing, you're going to wear the floor down so much you're going to fall into the basement," she said.

"He should've been home by now," I said.

"He texted us both saying he was going to be late.  Relax.  If anything bad was happening, Spencer would tell us."  At that moment, I heard the familiar sound of a Kawasaki motorcycle coming up the driveway.  I ran out onto the front porch to see Spencer turning the motor off.  He took off his helmet and smiled at me.

"Hey Caleb," he greeted.

"What took you so long?  You said you were going to be late but I didn't think four hours late," I said.

Spencer scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry.  I didn't know it'd take that long.  Your sister is taking ballroom classes as well and I needed a way to stay to watch her and her partner for the tango competition broke his leg.  Tripped over his cat or something foolish like that so I offered to take his place.  I had to get caught up in where they are in the dance."

"Next time can you shoot me a text that says you're going to be even later or something?  I thought something happened to you."

"Yeah, it'll be normal times tomorrow.  And then once Elsa starts class, it'll be later in the day.  That okay?"

"Yeah, as long as you keep an eye on her and tell me if anything changes time-wise."

"Deal."

"Told you he was fine," Lily remarked, coming up to hug her second.  We shared him as a second now since Lily had lost Callie as hers.  I don't think Spencer minded.  He was always close with Lily so it came naturally to him to follow her orders.

"Was he worrying about me or something?"

"Would not stop pacing for the last hour.  You can probably see his tracks in the house."

"Aw, isn't he cute?"

"Shut up you two.  Come on, someone needs to help me get dinner started," I pointed out.  Spencer offered to do so, giving Lily the day off.  When he and I entered the kitchen, I said, "So how is she?  She doing okay?"

"I don't know if it's just because she doesn't know me or if it's just the way she acts, but she was really quiet.  Not like in a rude sort of way, just... quiet.  But she was really nice to me when she did talk.  She certainly acts like a Laroche, with the head-held-high thing and the way all the humans are terrified of her.

"Humans are terrified of Guardians in general," I laughed. "What else?  Were any other pack members there?"

"There were two others I think.  Their names were like... Riles and Th- The- something that started with a 'th'.  Know who I'm talking about?" Spencer grabbed the milk out of the fridge, pouring himself a big glass.

"Riley Hess and Thea Fray.  Riley is my dad's second's son.  Thea is Sam Fray's daughter.  Sam is one of the twins I told you about.  Did they suspect anything?"

"No, but they kept a careful watch on Elsa.  And me when I was with her.  Your sister is good at hiding things, but I know she knew they were watching her, and I can tell it was bugging her."

I sighed. "I'm sure my parents have become even more overprotective since I left.  Elsa was always independent, even when Anna was alive.  I'm sure that hasn't changed.  All right, what do you want for dinner?"

"Let's do something easy.  Spaghetti?" Spencer suggested.

"Sounds good.  Let's do it.  You make the noodles.  I'll make the sauce." 
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Hunter

I was lounging on the couch with Josilyn sitting in my lap when Elsa came in.  My sister was smiling to herself.  I loved seeing her that way, but it also made me wonder what, or more importantly who, was causing that smile on her face.

"Hey Elsa," I called out as she tried to sneak upstairs without being seen.

She turned around. "Hey, what's up?"

"How was dance?"

"It was great!  My dance partner for ballroom broke his leg but now I have a new one who is so much better!  I'm still able to go to the competition in December now."

"That's fantastic.  And that new dance partner of yours wouldn't happen to be the reason why you have a smile on your face that goes from ear to ear?"

"Hunter, leave her alone," Josilyn scolded. "So what if her dance partner is making her smile?  That's a good thing!"

"Thank you Josilyn," Elsa said. "Well if you don't mind, I'm going to go take a shower before dinner.  I've been dancing all day and I feel gross.  I'll see you later."

My sister ran up the stairs to her room.  I could hear her shuffling around.  Something was different about her today.  I wanted to know exactly why.  I wasn't complaining.  I mean I hadn't seen Elsa smile like that in a long time.  But I wanted to know who was causing it.  I wasn't going to let just anyone date my sister.

"Hunter, stop thinking about it," Josilyn said, poking me gently in the chest.

"Stop thinking about what?" I asked, looking at her.

"About what or who is making Elsa smile.  Be happy that she's happy, okay?"

"I know.  Listen, I was supposed to clean my room before my parents got home from being at the hotel so I need to run and do that.  I'll see you later?"

Josie kissed me on the tip of my nose, telling me she would.  We stood up and I pulled her up against me, giving her a kiss on the lips.

"What was that for?" She breathed.

"Well what was that kiss on the nose?" I countered.  She gave me a chaste kiss.

"There?  Happy?"

"Very much so.  You should get going.  Your dad gets suspicious when you're with me too long." Josilyn laughed as she left.  I waited until she was in her house before I snuck over to see Thea.  That I forgot to clean my room was a total lie; I cleaned my room a long time ago, but I didn't want to upset Josie by not dropping the subject. 

Thea's mom, Casey, answered.  She didn't question me as I asked to go see her daughter.  I knocked politely on her door.  She opened it practically immediately.

"Hey, Hunter, what's up?" Thea inquired, moving aside so I could come in.

"I need to talk to you," I said, entering her room and shutting the door. "Elsa's new dance partner.  Who is he?"

"Don't know.  Didn't catch his name.  He's really good though, and they make a good team.  They're already entering the tango competition in Denver in December.  Hugh broke his leg so she was without a partner but the new guy offered to take his place.  Like, almost immediately."

"He wasn't scared of you?"

"No, so obviously no one's told him about the hierarchy we have here.  He'll learn soon enough.  If he tries to do anything, Elsa will put him in his place."

"You know she's soft with the humans," I commented.

"Yeah, but she also knows where they stand and where she stands.  We are above them.  She gets that," Thea said.  She started taking off her shirt.  I quickly turned my head.  She was way too liberal around the rest of us.  I mean, there was absolutely nothing going on between me and her but I still felt guilty and uncomfortable if I looked at any shirtless girl (unless it was Josilyn but that hadn't happened yet).

"So what exactly do you want me to do?  Because you don't just come here and ask about a new guy and then shut up about it."

"Put him in his place.  Let him know who runs this town and if he puts a toe out of line, he'll have an alpha to answer to," I told her firmly.

"And if Elsa defends him?"

"Remind her who she is.  She's not supposed to be fraternizing with humans.  They can go to school with her, they can dance with her, but they cannot be with her.  None of them are Guardians.  None of them will ever be Guardians."

"Aye, aye, Captain.  I'll tell Riley for you." Thea saluted me.

"Thank you.  I gotta go.  Mom and dad will be home soon." I hurriedly went back to my house.  Elsa and Ember still weren't downstairs so they had no idea what I just did.  Elsa would kill me if she found out I put Thea and Riley up to protecting her because she felt like she didn't need protecting.  I knew better though.  And under no circumstances would I allow myself to lose another sibling.

"Hello?" My mom's voice rang out through the house.

I entered the kitchen where she and my dad were placing groceries on the counter.  My mom smiled at me. "Hey Hunter, have a good day?"

"Yeah, how was yours?"

"Long.  Had to do some firing today at the hotel.  It did not go well."

"But they dared not try and argue with you," my dad said. "I'll cook dinner tonight.  You go relax."

"Oh nonsense.  I'll help.  Hunter, where are your sisters?"

"I think they're both upstairs."

"I was.  I'm not anymore.  And Ember is at the McKays I think," Elsa piped up, coming into the kitchen.

"With Noah no doubt," I added.

"What's going on with those two?  Are they dating or not?"

"We're not dating," Ember said as she came into the house. "Hi mom, hi dad."

"You two should.  You're cute together," my mom remarked. "Listen, why don't you three go hang out in the living room while your dad and I get dinner started?"

My sisters and I listened.  We collapsed onto the couch with me in the middle.  I turned to Ember with a grin on my face and said, "So.  Noah."

"What about him?"

"How's that 'friends with benefits' thing with him going?"

Ember's eyes widened. "How did you guess that?"

"Because his scent is all over you and I mean all over you.  So unless you two were just laying on top of each other, there's no other explanation."

"Well for your information, it's going splendidly well.  No strings attached, nothing.  It's nice not to worry about things like cheating because neither of us cares.  But what about you Hunter?  How are things with you Josilyn?  You can't tell me you two haven't done anything."

"We haven't actually.  You know how Josilyn is.  She's the most innocent of the entire pack next to Elsa.  I'm not going to push her to do it.  If she ever wants to go beyond making out, I gladly will but I'm going to wait for her to bring it up.  So, Elsa, any guys you're interested in?"

"A, you know the answer to that.  B, I don't like you're tone in the way you asked that because you're definitely insinuating I'm seeing someone which I'm not, and C, why are you so interested in my love life?" My sister inquired in exasperation.

"A, maybe I don't.  B, I am insinuating something after the way I saw you smiling when you came home from dance, and C, I'm your big brother.  I want to make sure that whatever guy you choose is worthy of you."

"Well for your information, I'm not interested in anyone.  Besides, I can take care of myself and I can choose a guy for myself," Elsa said firmly.  She got up and added, "Call me down when dinner is ready."

She went upstairs, leaving me and Ember with raised eyebrows.  Our little sister didn't usually get so defensive about this stuff.  It made me wonder but any train of thought on the subject was interrupted by the smell of garlic.  Every thought in my brain turned to food until dinner was ready.

Just as my parents were about to serve dinner, we heard our front door open.  Loren and Shiloh strode into our kitchen.  Instantly my parents were on alert.  Their seconds didn't just come barging in at dinner time for nothing."

"What's wrong?" My mom demanded.

Loren answered. "We have a problem.  There's a new pack of wolves in town."
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