Chapter 19 - Justin

Something outside trips the laser-triggered security system, and the sudden blare of the alarm on the app I've downloaded to my phone jars me awake. My eyes snap open, and I'm instantly alert. Beside me, Callie stirs. She mumbles something in her sleep, but she doesn't wake.

My heart races as I quickly assess the situation. I've adjusted the sensitivity to account for animals, so the alarm can only mean one thing—an intruder.

With slow, deliberate movements, I slide out of bed, careful not to make a sound. I move towards the window, my steps silent on the wooden floorboards. Peering through the curtains, I scan the area outside, searching for any sign of movement, but there's nothing. The sun is just starting to come up on the horizon, so it's early morning, and the forest is quiet. The dogs haven't started barking, but something set that alarm off.

I retreat from the window and slide on a pair of pajama bottoms before I head out to investigate. As I approach the door, every muscle in my body is tense, ready for whatever threat awaits outside. Whatever it is, it can't be good.

I slip out the back door, quietly shutting it behind me, and head toward where I've set up the laser perimeter, following the beeping sound. It's coming from a tree a few yards away, and when I get closer, I see a broken branch. Perhaps it triggered the alarm when it fell.

Just when I'm about to turn and head back to the house, I catch a glimpse of movement by the truck. My blood turns to ice, and I immediately crouch down to hide in the shadows.

Someone's here.

I peer into the darkness, trying to get a better look, and sure enough, the shape of a figure comes into focus.

I stay down, watching silently as the man moves around. His back is to me, and I have the element of surprise on my side, which is a small comfort. Especially when he starts heading for the front door. I'm not going to just stand here and wait while he kicks the door in and invades our home.

Without hesitating, I rush at him, leaping forward with the intent to tackle him to the ground. I collide with him, and we both hit the dirt. The wind gets knocked out of me, the impact momentarily leaving me dazed.

When the stars stop swirling, I sit up, ready to fight, and it's only then that I realize he's not an intruder. He's one of us.

"Ram?" I ask, peering into the dimness.

"Justin?" he counters.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I demand.

"Can't a guy stop by for a visit?" he jokes, but the grin drops when he sees my face. "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."

"You're sneaking around the property, and you think I'm not going to be freaked out?"

"Fair point," he concedes, rubbing the back of his neck.

"What are you doing here?" I repeat, pushing myself up off the ground.

"I was just coming to let you know that the coast is clear. Our guys tracked Evan and his pack far enough away from Stardust Hollow, so it should be safe for you two to come back."

"Really?" I ask, my brows knitting together. "So, they're not still near the town?"

He shakes his head. "Nah, they've moved on. Still looking for Callie, but not anywhere nearby."

I nod, my mind going a mile a minute. For a moment, I'm not sure what to think. I'm relieved to hear that the threat is gone, and I'm anxious to get back into town. But at the same time, I'm apprehensive about the idea of putting Callie back in harm's way.

"Well, that's good news," I tell him, giving him a forced smile. "Thanks, brother."

"Hey, no problem," he says, clapping me on the shoulder. "And, uh, I'm sorry for surprising you like that. I just wanted to let you know."

"It's fine," I reply, but in reality, I'm still not quite over the shock.

"So, what's the plan?" he asks, raising a questioning brow.

"We'll head into town as soon as it's daylight. I'll go talk to Callie and let her know."

"Sounds good." He gives me a quick hug and a slap on the back. "It's good to see you, brother."

"Same."

Callie's sitting up in bed when I return. "Where did you go?"

"There was a disturbance at the perimeter," I explain. "Went outside to check it out."

She stiffens. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah." I sit beside her and wrap my arm around her shoulder. "It was just Ram. It's time to go back to Stardust Hollow."

I expect that she's going to be elated. In my mind, she's been sitting in the cabin for weeks and is more than ready to rejoin society, but her eyes widen and her features drop. There's a hesitance about her, and her reaction isn't what I had anticipated.

"Oh." That's all she says. She doesn't even look at me when she says it.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Callie, come on," I prod. "I've known you long enough to know that's not true. Something's bothering you, and I'm not going to leave the room until you tell me."

She lets out a sigh, and the tension visibly leaves her body. "Okay, fine," she concedes. She chews on her bottom lip, her gaze drifting to the floor as she seems to mull over how to respond. I can almost see the thoughts racing through her mind, the fear and uncertainty warring with the relief of being free from immediate danger. "It's just..." she starts again, her voice trailing off before she can find the words.

"Just what?" I prompt gently, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

She looks up at me, her eyes clouded with worry. "I just don't want to be trapped again," she admits.

"What are you talking about? You're not going to be trapped."

She's quiet, her expression troubled. "I've felt so safe these last couple of weeks, and I appreciate everything you and your pack have done for me. But now that we're headed back, I guess it's just all sinking in."

I draw my brows together and lean away from her so I can look at her fully. "What is sinking in? I'm lost, Callie. I need you to spell it out for me."

She looks up at me, her eyes clouded with worry. "I'm never going to be able to pay everyone in your pack back for what they've done," she admits.

It hits me like a punch in the gut because I understand what's running through her mind now. I understand her fear all too well, the dread of feeling indebted to another pack. Especially after everything she's been through with her own.

"Baby, no. No, you don't owe anyone anything."

"Yes, I do," she insists. "Every single member of your pack worked together to keep our location a secret. There's risk in that."

"They helped because they wanted to, not because they expect anything in return."

"Come on, Justin, be realistic. They didn't just help for the fun of it. They're expecting something."

"What are they expecting, Callie?"

"I don't know. Probably that I'll join your pack and─"

I cut her off with a shake of my head. "They won't pressure you into anything you don't want to do," I interject firmly. "You're your own person, Callie, and they respect that. Ram wouldn't force you into anything."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because I know my alpha, and I know my pack mates. Believe me, none of them want you to be uncomfortable. They only did what they did because it was the right thing to do. They're not the type to play dirty tricks."

She nods as if it's starting to sink in. "I just feel like I owe them something."

"You owe them nothing, Callie. And they wouldn't take advantage of you, even if you did."

She frowns. "If you say so."

"I do," I tell her.

She nods again, but her shoulders remain tense.

"Hey," I say, gently lifting her chin so that our eyes meet. "Look, it's going to be fine, okay? Trust me, Callie."

"Okay," she breathes, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Now, how about you get dressed, and I'll make us some breakfast before we hit the road? Sound good?"

"Sure."

With a lingering sense of hesitation, Callie gets out of bed and heads for the bathroom. She closes the door behind her, and I can hear the shower turn on a few moments later.

I can't blame her for having reservations, considering everything she's been through, but she really doesn't have anything to worry about. This is a different pack, and they're not going to hurt her. I won't let anything happen to her, not if I have any say in the matter.

The fact is, she's been through a lot. Not just physically, but mentally, too. The trauma she's experienced at the hands of her former pack is a wound that will take years to heal, if it ever does. I can see the pain she still carries with her. She's lost in the past, a victim of her memories.

But she's also a survivor, and she's strong. Stronger than she realizes. I can see the steel in her, the resilience in her heart, and she's still here. I can only imagine the horrors she's witnessed, the horrors she's been forced to endure. It makes me sick.

I have no doubt she's scared, but she's not alone anymore. I'm here, and I'll do anything within my power to protect her. Of course, I would love it if she joined Stardust Hollow. I would love for her to become a part of our family. She'd fit right in, and the pack would accept her, no questions asked.

But if that's not where her path lies, then that's okay, too.