The two of them sat in silence for a moment, Kaia's hand wrapped in Kaleb's. They had parked in her driveway, the big white house Kaia had returned to time and time again looming over them. She'd grown up here, and so many memories clung to the pastel walls that awaited them inside. 

Kaleb's hand squeezed a little tighter. "Do you want me to wait here? Or, I could-"

"You should come in," Kaia interrupted. She squeezed his hand back, the rough feeling of his skin on hers giving her what comfort she could get in this situation. She sighed deeply, turning her body in her seat so that she could look at Kaleb better. 

He sat there, completely tuned to her every action. He was reading her, trying to figure out what she was going to say before she even knew. Kaia could feel that he was worried, but for different reasons than Kaia was. Kaia was concerned about how her dad would react, whether he'd try to keep her home again. 

But Kaleb was worried about potential attacks, about the other Packs in the area, about what Lionel had said that morning. About what he'd said to Lionel. About Kaia's dream and what it meant and- 

Kaleb withdrew his hand from Kaia's, and the connection was severed like someone had pinched a straw shut. She hadn't even realized she'd been reading him like that again. Kaia blinked rapidly, surprised. "Don't do that," Kaleb growled. His eyes were dark, and his voice carried a warning. 

Kaia shot him a questioning look even though she knew what he meant by 'that.' Kaleb looked away from her, his hair shielding his eyes from her. "Your little snapshots," he said. Then he sighed again and looked at her. His expression urged her, implored her, "There are things I can't tell you until you're Luna and a part of the Pack. I need you to promise not to...look. At least not until the ceremony." 

Easier said than done. Kaia didn't openly will herself into Kaleb's head to witness his deepest worries and beliefs, his tantalizing emotions, or his enticing secrets. Kaia wouldn't lie, she wanted to know them. She wanted to know everything about Kaleb. But Kaia would prefer to go about it the regular way, with late night Q & A sessions over ice cream and massages. Mm, massages. The thought of sliding her palms over Kaleb's back. It was probably chiseled and sexy and-- What was going on in her head? Wait, was that how most people found out about someone? 

Kaia realized that she didn't really know. But the point was that Kaia couldn't promise Kaleb what he'd asked. She couldn't understand what the snapshots were, much less control them. "I can't." 

Kaleb hardened, and he busied himself with unbuckling himself from his place so that he wouldn't accidentally direct too much anger at her. Kaia noticed and tried to explain, "Not because I don't want to. Because I don't want to--see them, that is--but 'I can't' as in I can't manage them like you think. I don't do it on purpose. I swear. And they're actually pretty confusing, like blurry emotions coming through and tidbits of thoughts, little soundbites. It's never happened to me before. I don't really--"

The movement was so swift, like the snap of a snake. In the blink of an eye, his hands rested on either side of Kaia's face; he could probably feel the blush that spread all the way down to Kaia's neck. Kaleb's face was inches from hers. His eyes turned passionate as his thumb brushed little lightning bolts along Kaia's lips, ushering in her silence. His eyes softened, "It's alright. I'm not angry." 

Kaia exhaled a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding, letting her eyes fall as she took in the sight of Kaleb so close. She couldn't entirely drag her attention away from his eyelashes, how dark they were and how they fluttered when his eyes went to her lips. Such a small detail, but it made Kaia's heart lift. 

And then, in probably the singular most sexy event the world had ever seen, Kaleb bit his lip. Those perfectly sculpted lips, the ones Kaia had been drawn to from the moment she'd seen them, made a pulse of something new slam into her. The pressure, the buzz, spread throughout her but gathered in the pit of her stomach. And when Kaleb's lips parted, a slight shine on them, the feeling sunk lower. 

"I'm sorry, Kaia," he said, staring into her eyes. He didn't intend on putting more distance between them, and Kaia didn't mind. "I don't mean to get angry at you. I just don't know-"

"How to deal with me," Kaia echoed Lionel. She trusted Lionel's word; the guy seemed like the go-to person for intelligence on Kaleb. 

Kaleb stared at her, and where before she hadn't really heard his words--they were distant, didn't demand as much attention as the annoyingly persistent thought of how his lips would feel on hers--the look in Kaleb's eyes captured Kaia whole. "There are so many complications, Kaia," he said, and she couldn't ignore the flare in her chest at hearing her name. 

Kaleb leaned forward until his forehead rested against hers, his breath warming her cheeks and stirring her hair. At that moment, Kaia, wrapped in Kaleb's clothes with her face in his hands, was struck by how deeply she belonged to him now. Not in a way that at all meant the robbing of her will. For once, she didn't mind giving herself to another. Maybe that was because the intensity in Kaleb's eyes, the way he leaned into her and how his breath hitched, could only mean that he was just as much hers and she was his. She knew as much just looking into his brilliantly golden eyes. 

The sensible voice in Kaia's head told her that this was insane. She'd met Kaleb, what, three days ago? To makes things worse, the first time they'd met he'd been a wolf. Kaleb was practically a stranger. But despite this, Kaia felt safe, felt that same longing, felt that buzz. And she knew that such a thing was too valuable to give up just because of a childish fear of braving the dark, unable to see where you're going. 

Kaia knew that whenever you're bold enough to venture into the darkness, there's always a reason. Something is waiting for you on the other side. Kaia wasn't afraid of the dark anymore. And she knew that if it felt like this, she didn't have to think. She just had to go. 

"But, for once, I honestly don't care," Kaleb said, taking a deep breath, "That's what surprises me more than anything. I have so much to worry about. I always do. But the affairs of the Packs, the alliances and the secrets I have to keep, pale in importance next to you. I worry more about the way you see me, how I treat you, what I say to you..." Kaleb swallowed as if his mouth had gone dry. "Whether I can touch you..."

"Kaleb," Kaia started, sitting up straighter. But he withdrew his forehead from her, willing her to just sit and listen with a look in his eyes. A tiny muscle twitched on his jaw. 

"Kaia, I'm serious. I don't even know what that means for my Pack, and honestly it scares me a bit...how much..." He took another breath, gathering Kaia's hair in his hands. His gaze was adoring like she'd been sent from heaven to lift him up from hell. For a moment, she felt as if she were his savior. "I want you more than I've wanted anyone, and I need you to understand that. I need you..." 

Thoughts spun. Anyone? Kaia remembered how he'd begged her, back in his office, to stay by his side. He'd said it as if it were a casual order, a suggestion even. But she saw in his eyes that it was more. Kaia had a sense that Kaleb was as lonely as she was, that, somewhere, he was still a little kid at a funeral, all dressed in black. He needed someone. 

Kaia reached up slowly, cautiously, as if moving too suddenly would stir her out of the blissful dream she was in. She touched Kaleb's face, felt the roughness of slight stubble on his jaw. She rested her fingertips beside his eyes, her thumbs on his cheeks. 

Kaleb was frozen, his muscles taut and his eyes slivers. They fluttered shut when one of Kaia's hands slid down to Kaleb's chest, the very tips of her fingers curling below the collar of his shirt. A pained expression took over Kaleb's beautiful face. "Kaia, don't. I'll lose it. I swear. Kaia," he said, his voice raw. "Kaia," he repeated, a whisper, a breath, a flutter of a moth's wings against Kaia's soul. 

Kaia's next words were an accident. She hadn't known that she'd thought them until they'd been spoken; Kaia had no reason to expect them because she'd never felt them before. She hadn't meant to whisper them at all, and when they came, they came in a single breath, like they'd slipped out using her exhalation as a disguise. "I want to kiss you."

And when Kaleb's eyes snapped open, it was like she had run him through with a blade made of possibilities. Inevitabilities, Kaia liked to think. Whatever hung as forbidden fruit to them now would soon be within their reach. But, at that moment, reality slammed into Kaleb with a crushing force. 

Kaleb was out of the car before Kaia could snap out of the trance he'd put her in. He hadn't even bothered to close the door behind him, he was in such a rush to put distance between them. He stood outside of the car, his hands on the back of his neck. His arms were strained like they had to hold him back else his legs would bring him back to Kaia. 

"Sorry," Kaia said immediately, popping her door open. She should have known better. The Lunar Ceremony was still lingering in the future, and Kaia had selfishly tempted Kaleb away from his Pack duties, his Alpha duties. Kaia scolded herself. For now, it didn't matter what Kaia wanted to happen between them. It had to wait. Just a little. 

"Don't apologize," he said, his back still turned to her, "Because I was thinking the same thing." Kaia smiled to herself, covering her eyes with the palms of her hands to try and calm down. A novel feeling set in, a mixture of thrilling delight and quiet comfort, the combination so perfect. Kaia at once hated that they had to wait and was grateful for the strange rule, because something was exhilarating about dancing around the fire between them, daring to see how close she could get without being burned. 

Despite the cold, Kaleb was wearing a t-shirt, and his beautiful arms were practically begging for Kaia to run her hands along them; Kaia wanted to reach out and pull his arms around her, guide them around her waist. But she didn't want to get burned--not quite yet, at least--so she looked down at her shoes, shutting the car door behind her. 

Kaia knew why Kaleb was so conflicted. She'd seen how Kaleb felt about her. It was probably all he could do not to give in and ruin the Lunar Ceremony right then and there. And Kaia wasn't making it any easier for him. So she took a deep breath and mentally tied her hands behind her back; it felt like they had a mind of their own, honestly.

"I'll...go see my dad," Kaia said quietly.

Kaleb turned around, and the look on his face almost had Kaia running back into his arms. His eyes were shining with emotion, a rare sight on someone as stoic as Kaleb usually was. Kaia felt lucky that she, she, was the one who earned that look, who could call it out of him with a simple sentence. She felt so extraordinary and couldn't recall the last time she felt that way. 

Kaleb nodded and shoved his hands into his pockets. "I'll come, then," he said, his voice rockier than usual.

Kaia watched him as he approached with his head down, not meeting her eyes. The lack of eye contact was okay with her because it meant that she could stare at her wolf for as long as she wanted. Well, not quite that long, because 'as long as she wanted' meant pretty much forever.

Soon enough, though, their moment was over, and Kaia was twisting the doorknob to her house. As she turned it, she remembered how proud her mom had been of their doorknob. It was such a small thing, but it had meant a lot to her mom. She'd thought it was beautiful, with its elegantly carved ivy. Appreciate the little things, Kaia, she'd said.They're what make all the difference, and you never know when you'll miss them. 

The knob gave its familiarly soft clicking sound when she released it. "Papa?" Kaia called. The door had always been a creaky thing, and it made no exception this time. 

Kaia barely had time to glance around the room, see the picture frames that held years of her life in them, before her dad was in front of her. She stopped short and took him in, vaguely aware of Kaleb gently creaking the front door shut behind them.

It was a long moment of silence after the door's creak flickered into memory. Kaia noticed instantly how tired her dad looked, so much worse than he had in her hospital room. He had dark circles under his eyes, and he seemed paler than usual, the contrast between the two colors haunting. He looked hollowed out like someone had reached down and scooped the light out of eyes. Even his curly hair seemed limper than usual.

"K-Kaia," he choked out. His eyes were already glistening. He was about to cry, and it was getting to Kaia. A tidal wave of guilt washed over her. She should have contacted him sooner, should have let him know she was ok. That she was more than ok.

"Don't cry, Papa," Kaia said, her voice breaking.

"I thought they'd gotten you, too," he said. The tears fell freely now.

Kaia couldn't help it. She ran to him, slamming into his embrace and wrapping her arms tightly around him. "I'm sorry," Kaia said into his chest. His sweater smelled so perfectly like home. It was strange. Kaia had never particularly liked her house, so why should she like the familiar smell of it? Maybe it was because it was simply her place, the only one she'd had. Maybe it was because it reminded her of better times, with her mom. Maybe it was because, after everything she'd been through in the past couple of days, a little bit of normal was welcome. "I'm ok."

"What happened to you?" he asked, hugging her so tightly to him that she could barely breathe, "You were gone. Gone, just like your mothe-"

"I'm fine, dad," Kaia insisted. I'm not mom! I'm alive and safe! I'm not her!

Kaia pulled away so that she could look at him. "Have you been eating?" she asked, realizing how gaunt he looked compared to normal. Kaia could have sworn there were new lines on his face. Maybe she was paranoid. But her dad didn't listen to her question; he was still scrutinizing her, checking her for injuries or any signs of mistreatment. 

He wouldn't find any. Kaia felt almost completely healed from the attack. It had struck Kaia earlier that it seemed a bit fast to mend a rib, but Rosy had explained it to her. Besides, with the number of impossible things she'd already seen, what was one more? 

But it didn't really matter now. She was alive and mostly healed, so she felt she had to reassure her dad yet again. "I'm ok." 

"You're not ok, Kaia," he said immediately. There was a pain in his voice that was unfamiliar to Kaia, which was surprising because Kaia had previously thought that she'd witnessed his worst pain, his darkest depths. But this...this was a new shade. It was darker, secretive. He spoke as if he knew that she was terminally ill and hadn't told her yet.

Kaia was about to ask him what he meant, but her dad grabbed her shoulders, hard, and shoved her behind him before she had a chance to speak. "Who is that?" he demanded, his voice hostile.

Kaia followed his gaze to where Kaleb was awkwardly hovering. Kaia felt guilty that she'd been so caught up in the moment that she'd practically forgotten Kaleb had been there. "Um..." Kaia said, unsure of why her dad was suddenly acting like she'd brought a stray dog home. Kaia winced at the thought because the dog bit wasn't that far from the truth. 

Kaia couldn't really find her words. Hey, dad. Yeah, he's a werewolf. Did you know those were real? Also, he saved my life. Oh, and he's an Alpha, and my mate! Let's not forget that I'm to be Luna, right? Basically, I'm leaving you for him! Just wanted to let you know I'm alive. So. Seeya. Kaia groped in the dark for any explanation that summed it up without sounding crazy, but all she could muster was a weak, "Kaleb."

But her dad wasn't really listening. "I've seen you before," her dad said, his voice grave.

Kaia wondered if that little clench of Kaleb's jaw had really happened or if Kaleb had actually shifted uncomfortably. "I don't think so, Sir," he said. Sir. Kaia wanted to laugh. No one had ever called her dad sir before. Leave it to Kaleb, so formal. 

Kaia couldn't see her dad's face, but his voice darkened. It was almost accusatory. "You were at the Accords." 

If before Kaia hadn't known if Kaleb had stiffened at her dad's words, now she knew for sure. Kaleb's hands crossed over his chest, and his eyes narrowed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Dad?" Kaia asked, confused. 

"Yes, you do," her dad said. He didn't look at her, just stared forward at Kaleb. Had Kaia suddenly turned invisible? They were talking like she wasn't even there. And there was palpable animosity in the air, mostly from her dad, but Kaleb was offering his fair share of testosterone. Kaleb was full blown glaring now, it was a little scary. If Kaia didn't know what she knew about Kaleb, she probably would have run in the opposite direction. But her dad seemed unfazed. 

"Sir," Kaleb said, "Your daughter just wanted you to know that she was alive and well. But now you know, and we've got to leave."

Kaia's dad was standing in front of her, Kaleb still hovering near the door. Then Kaia blinked. And everything had changed. Her dad was now standing with a foot forward, his arm outstretched. Kaleb was standing, legs apart and grounded like he was going to leap into action. It took Kaia an embarrassingly long sequence of seconds to realize what was in her dad's outstretched hand, pointed directly at Kaleb's chest. Such a little thing.

A gun. 

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