“You can cook?” Kate asked. He nodded. “You can really cook?” Caleb nodded, again confused.
“Fate really did give us everything we needed!” Kate said excitedly.
Caleb smiled and shook his head. “After this is over, we’ll go to the grocery store and stock up.” He played with her necklace.
“That will be so neat! Though we may need to go into Brighton to get pots and pans and utensils and spices and wow, we need everything,” Kate said.
Caleb chuckled. “We’ll take the boys and make a day of it.”
Kate eyed him suspiciously. “You like to cook, don’t you?” she asked. He blushed.
“Caalleeebbb,” she said,
“I may have taken a course or two,” he mumbled.
“Where Caleb?”
“Le Cordon Bleu.”
Kate threw her hands up. “Okay, we really need to discuss our communication. As soon as this hyena threat is over, we are so going shopping. You owe me like…” She counted in her head. “Like at least fifteen meals.” She put her hands on her hips.
“What do I get as payment?” He tugged her necklace to bring her closer.
“Don’t play. I will totally whore myself out for gourmet food,” she said and he burst into laughter.
“Did I hear gourmet food?” Rebecca asked and walked over.
“Seems Caleb here took classes at Le Cordon Bleu and we’ve been eating take-out at the Pack house,” Kate explained.
“Ohhh, I want to try some.” Rebecca clapped her hands and turned to face Caleb.
“I could make us dinner after I get the kitchen stocked,” Caleb said. Rebecca and Kate high-fived each other.
“What did they talk you into?” Bran asked, walking back in.
“Caleb can cook, like really cook, and after the hyenas are gone, he’s going to make us a dinner,” Rebecca explained.
Bran raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t know you could cook.”
“I already told him we needed to work on our communication.” Kate twisted her necklace around her finger. Bran bent down and kissed her necklace charms.
“I miss the boys. I can’t wait to get them home where they belong,” Bran said, sighing.
“Us too,” Kate said.
Bran smiled down at Kate. “Riley is on his way with whatever pack members can function on little to no sleep. We’re meeting them at the Wade house to start perimeter patrols. Hyenas are as dumb as a bag of hammers so I bet they use the same entry points.”
Rebecca started giggling. “Bag of hammers.” She continued to giggle.
Bran smiled and continued. “I also called Liam. He’s doing the same on pride lands. Connor and Benedict are splitting the Arkadion boys and patrolling the southern borders. Ma and Pa are checking the town. With any luck, this could be over today.”
“Let’s get started then,” Caleb said, yawning.
“I need to find my little bag. I hate shifting back and being naked all the time. Why can’t they make clothes like they do my necklace?” Kate grumbled to no one in particular.
“Hurry back,” Rebecca said as Aleks wrapped his arms around her.
Caleb, Bran, and Kate said they would and then left the clinic to head toward their pack lands.
Chapter 12
It was well into the afternoon and they had been running the perimeter line for hours when Kate finally stopped and planted her paws, dropping her pink bag to the snow-covered ground. She was beyond tired and starving. She lay down and rested her head on her front paws. She watched the two giant male wolves stop and look back. The larger of the two barked and the entire pack slowed down and cantered back to where Kate lay. Many of the other wolves collapsed to the ground as well, breathing hard. Her mates came up beside her and began to lick her face. Bran’s wolf nudged his muzzle under her paws until she got the idea and brought them up for him to inspect. He knew her paws ached terribly after long runs. His warm tongue bathed her sore pads. She closed her eyes and gave a happy yip. Caleb’s wolf rubbed his head over hers. After a few moments she stood and shifted back. Both of her men and the pack followed suit.
“Bran, let’s watch this point just a bit longer and then get everyone back to town to warm up and get some food. We’re all exhausted.” She picked up the knit bag that held her clothes. Cecelia was a damn genius.
“I agree. Do you think Cecelia would make me one of those bags?” Bran asked.
Kate shrugged. “Ask her. From what she told me, they are easy to make and she has a ton of them.”
“I’d take one too,” Riley said, walking over. “I’m freezing my balls off.” He rubbed his hands up and down his arms. “What’s the plan, boss?”