Chapter Six
Home? What the fuck did that mean? He couldn’t know who she was or where she came from. Did the Canadian packs have any ties to the ones in the States? Erica doubted it as she’d never heard any of the Demon Dogs mention it. So Caleb must mean he was taking her to his home.
No fucking way.
She’d never allow another man, especially an Alpha, to control her again. With Tank, she’d been young and moronic, with fanciful expectations of a fairy-tale ending. He’d quickly proved there were no happily ever afters. Caleb might think he could take her away, but she wouldn’t let him. She had to do what it had taken her years to do the last time.
Run.
For a few moments, Erica considered leaving the clothing Carly’d brought her, but she didn’t know when she’d be able to get new ones. It wasn’t like she hadn’t stolen when she’d first shifted back to human, weeks after leaving Michigan. But if she started packing, Caleb was sure to hear and come investigate. What to do?
At last she decided maybe another bath would work. She turned on the water and left the bathroom door open. The sound of the water should mask her activities. Then, as quietly as possible, she tiptoed around the room, gathering her things together and shoving them in her backpack. She dragged it into the bathroom to do the zipper, and then she waited.
Finally, hoping enough time had passed for him to fall asleep, she padded to the bedroom door, unlocked it, and then listened for any movement from Caleb. The TV had been on earlier, but she didn’t hear it now. She closed her eyes and strained her ears, attempting to use werewolf senses she’d spent months trying to smother. Was that music? Yes. Coming from Caleb’s room. It sounded as though he’d left a clock radio on. After a few minutes of listening, she figured he was out cold. She tiptoed down the hall but her gaze snagged on a dark object protruding from the bathroom.
She picked it up and a brief investigation showed it was Caleb’s jeans, obviously kicked off and left lying on the floor. What was it with guys? The pants seemed heavier than they should, though. Erica patted the pockets and realized he’d left his wallet. Without overthinking it, she pulled the wallet out and opened it. Inside she found a wad of cash. She took it all and slipped it into her pocket before slipping out of the room.
****
Caleb awoke with a start. He glanced around the hotel room for what had woken him, but nothing seemed out of place. A slim beam of bright sunlight shone between the curtains. He’d overslept. Jumping out of bed, he grabbed his boxers off the floor in case Erica happened to see him on the way to the bathroom. Or maybe he should just leave them off, show her what she’d missed out on last night.
He gave a slight chuckle as he tugged the boxers on, trying to arrange his erection so it didn’t jut out of the hole. He walked across the hall. Erica’s bedroom door was still closed. Kicking his pants out of the way, he closed the door to the bathroom.
While in the shower, he couldn’t help thinking of the encounter in the kitchen last night. Erica might claim to not want him, but her actions said otherwise. She’d responded to him like no woman before and his balls had ached with need after she’d stormed off. When she’d gone into the tub, he’d used the opportunity to jerk off while picturing her pouty lips around his cock.
Mate.
Caleb stilled the hand that had been idly stroking his dick and concentrated. His wolf was agitated.
Mate!
Shit. Caleb bolted from the shower and raced, dripping wet and naked, to Erica’s door. He tried the handle and it turned easily. Not locked. Not a good sign. He burst through the door to find the room empty. A quick look proved the bathroom was deserted, too. There was no sign of her in the living room or kitchen, either.
“Fuck!”
Caleb hurried back to the bathroom and grabbed his jeans, pausing when his wallet tumbled to the floor. He picked it up and he smelled Erica all over it, and when he opened it, he discovered the missing cash.
“Fuck!” He drove his fist into the door. Right through the door. But fuck the security deposit. His mate was missing and with the cash he’d had on him, she could have easily bought a ticket far away from the city. His wolf longed to break free and give chase, but he knew he had to think with his head if he was going to find her.
Back in his room, he picked up the phone and called Jake.
****
“You’re not serious.”
Caleb twirled the dog collar around a finger. “I’m very serious. I have to track her and in a city like this I won’t be able to do it as a human. Remember how long it took us the other day?”
“People are going to know you’re not a dog.”
“Werewolves don’t exist, remember? People will see what they want to see, and if there’s a leash, they’ll see a dog.”
Jake shook his head. “I’m already regretting this.”
“Come on. I’d help you in a second.”
“You misunderstand. I’m regretting that I don’t have a camera to document this moment.”
In a flash, Caleb had allowed his wolf to take over and transform him. Baring his teeth, he growled at Jake.
“Take it easy. I’m just kidding.” Jake kneeled to fasten the collar and leash around Caleb’s neck, muttering, “Moody fucking werewolves.”
Caleb licked the side of Jake’s face, earning a groan, but immediately he picked up on Erica’s scent and started pulling Jake to the door. They made their way to the elevator and down, earning some surprised looks from other guests. In the lobby, Caleb found Erica’s scent again and took off out the door and onto the street.
“Slow down, buddy. Heel!”
If Caleb could have rolled his eyes, he would have. But he slowed to a quick walk so his human could keep up, and followed Erica’s trail along the city streets. It took them a while, but at last they came to the Greyhound bus terminal and Caleb’s heart sank. She could have boarded a bus to anywhere. He sat on his haunches and looked up at Jake.
Crouching down beside him, Jake leaned in close. “What now?”
Caleb didn’t know what to do and didn’t know how to communicate with Jake. And he couldn’t very well turn back into a human right in the middle of the day on the sidewalk. He searched around and spotted an alley down the street. He took off and dragged Jake behind him. The alley had a dumpster and Caleb ducked behind it before shifting back to human and yelling at Jake to toss him some clothes from the backpack he’d brought.
Once dressed, he headed back to the bus station and ducked inside.