Chapter Eight
Asher held onto Caleb easily. He wasn't weightless, the boy had some muscle, but he was by no means difficult to carry. Asher would have held him for hours that way, instead of for the few short seconds it took for them to walk outside of the cabin.
The space around was a little more organized than inside of the home and not quite as in a state of disuse. Asher's garden was to the left where the land got the most sun. A small plot where he grew mostly things that could survive all year if he was careful about circling the crops. Potatoes, onions and kale were his easiest crops. Ahead, was the path to the lake and to the right was a workshop of sorts where the bed frame Asher had begun constructing stood on its side.
They were surrounded by forest on all sides, thick foliage blocking out his little slice of land from the rest of the forest. Asher had taken great pains to plant and transplant bushes in the area around during his first few years, landscaping an oasis of solitude. He'd relied on camouflage countless times to survive and that included keeping his home hidden.
Caleb let his fingers graze over the smooth wood of the frame in the workshop. "Is this a bed?" he asked, his eyes looking around the small space with wonder.
"Yes, I started making it on your first day. Thought you would want to heal on something more comfortable than the floor. The padding is almost ready as well," Asher said, indicating a bear hide drying out a few feet away.
"Is that...?"
"The bear that attacked you? Yes. He was a nuisance. Kept coming closer to my camp and even injured one of the wolves a few weeks back. You don't approve?" Asher could tell from Caleb's puckered face.
Outside, Asher saw Caleb's features more clearly. Like a doll, fragile looking and covered in bruises. His black hair was shiny and wavy on his head, though parts of it were matted with blood and dirt. His big, deep blue eyes blinked at him and his red lips pouted, but it was Caleb's skin that Asher was most drawn to. Like porcelain, glowing. Asher already knew he liked it when it blushed red.
Except, now Caleb's beautiful face was drawn together in a scowl. "Were you watching us? Hunting us?"
The choice of word was an interesting one. Asher couldn't say there hadn't been a hint of predator in his actions as he stalked down the mountain to locate him, but it wasn't as if he'd chosen Caleb out of the blue.
If Caleb would calm down enough to take notice he'd see that Caleb's beast called to his own. "I didn't care about the others for one moment. If you hadn't been with them, I would have stayed completely away. It is you that I want, Caleb. Only you." Asher watched Caleb's face carefully for a reaction to his words but saw no change from the scowl.
"This is so crazy, if you hadn't been there, that bear would have killed me."
"Yes, how did that happen? You are a wolf shifter, aren't you? Can't you handle a single bear?"
Caleb's face fell and he looked down at the ground. Asher moved in front of him.
"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," he murmured but Caleb kept his face down. "Look at me, boy," he ordered.
Caleb ignored him.
Asher hooked his finger under Caleb's chin and gently guided his face up so that he had no choice but to look at him. Caleb's tongue peeked out, swiping his bottom lip and Asher reacted on instinct, leaning forward he planted a gentle kiss on Caleb's lips. Caleb moaned and stretched forward, perhaps in an attempt to deepen the kiss, but Asher pulled back. "I asked you a question," he reminded him.
His prompt was all it had taken to light the fire back in Caleb's eyes. "I was preoccupied, okay? I had four terrified kids. I was mostly just trying to get the bear away from them. I had no idea he had followed so quickly and was waiting to strike."
"Most likely saw you as a threat to his dominance once you shifted. He's been terrorizing the other bears in this area for a few years. I think the forest will be a happier place without him."
"Glad I could do my part," Caleb mumbled.
"If you are wondering why I didn't deal with him sooner, I am a member of this forest, not the ruler of it. It wasn't my place to kill the bear, until he harmed what was mine."
Caleb shivered and Asher brought him close.
"You said he hurt one of your wolves," Caleb said. Asher could tell now he wasn't shivering, but was shaking. He'd exerted himself too much.
"Those wolves don't belong to me. I may have saved them, but they are their own. If they left today I would most likely lament the loss of their company, but would understand." Asher stopped speaking abruptly as Caleb swooned. He caught the other shifter and held him against his chest.
"I'm sorry, I think I might be hungry."
"That you are, my boy. And tired as well. Let's get you back."
"I can walk," Caleb protested.
Asher didn't bother contradicting him. It was clear that he couldn't.
In the cabin, he sat Caleb down on his bed of straw. The frame and fur would be ready by tomorrow and then Caleb could rest and heal properly. He didn't seem to mind the occasionally scratchy material and nestled right in.
Asher got to work, stoking the small fire and bringing the bone broth he kept in a pot on the fire to a higher temperature. When it was ready, he dished some into a wooden bowl and brought it to Caleb who made a weak attempt to grab the spoon.
"I can feed myself," Caleb said, though his words sounded drunk.
"I know you can," Asher replied, cooling a spoonful of broth before bringing it to Caleb's lips. Caleb swallowed dutifully. "Sorry there isn't much flavor."
Caleb didn't seem to notice as Asher cooled another spoonful and brought it to his lips. He finished the bowl that way, periodically complaining about how he could feed himself. After, Asher helped him back outside to take care of personal business and then brought the now, dead tired shifter back to the bed. Caleb laid down and his eyes closed. Asher covered him with a fur blanket but he whimpered occasionally, like he was having a difficult time getting comfortable.
"It hurts," he moaned and wiggled trying to find a better position to lay. "It hurts everywhere, please, touch me."
Asher thought that Caleb was so tired at this point he didn't know what he was saying. He doubted Caleb meant for Asher to touch him the way Asher's cock was hoping. He brushed his hand down Caleb's side and the boy's frown immediately disappeared. He sighed into Asher's touch, his face relaxing into contentment.
"You have magic hands," Caleb mumbled and within seconds was sound asleep.