Chapter 5 - Justin

I'm all set to call it a night, but the universe has other plans. As I flip the sign on my store's door to “Closed,” my cell phone in my pocket begins to buzz, and I pull it out. Of all the people who could be calling me, Callie was just about the last one I expected.

With a furrowed brow, I swipe to answer the call. "Hey, Callie. What's up?"

Silence greets me at first, broken only by the sound of Callie's shaky breaths. My heart lurches, and a cold knot forms in the pit of my stomach. Something's wrong.

"Callie?" I prompt, my voice tinged with concern.

"Justin," she finally speaks, but her voice is strained. "It's Champ. He's... he's gone."

My stomach drops, and my mind races with a million worst-case scenarios. "Gone? What do you mean, gone?" I demand, my grip on the phone tightening.

There's a pause, and she's breathing heavily, like she's fighting back tears. I can almost hear the turmoil in Callie's voice, the struggle to find the right words.

"He... he got out somehow," she explains. "I don't know how it happened. I left the door open for just a moment, and... and he slipped out."

"Okay, okay," I say, trying to keep my voice steady to keep from upsetting her even more. "We'll find him, Callie. We'll find Champ."

There's a hitch in Callie's breath, followed by a choked sob. "I've looked everywhere. All the woods around my cabin. It's not safe here. There are so many wild animals. He's just... he's nowhere to be found. Oh, God. Justin, what if he got hurt?"

"We'll find him, Callie," I assure her. "There's no way he's getting far. We'll look all night if we have to."

"What if..." she trails off, her voice breaking.

"Hey, hey, Callie," I say softly. "It's gonna be okay. We're going to find him."

She doesn't say anything for a minute, and it's like her silence is screaming at me. I can hear the panic in her breaths, the way they hitch and the way her voice breaks. She's fighting back tears, and I'm worried she's going to break down if I don't get her talking again.

"My dogs are trained in search and rescue," I tell her. "I'll get them in the truck and we'll head over. Don't worry, we're going to find him."

"Okay," she whispers. "Thank you. For everything."

"Don't worry about it. I'll see you soon."

I hang up, and the moment the call ends, I'm heading to the back of the store. I last saw Snowy and Stormy in the storage room, and when I let out a high-pitched whistle, they come bolting around a corner, eager for a run. They're raring to go, and that's perfect because we're going to need their help.

"Ready to load up, boys?" I ask.

The dogs bark in response, and they sit patiently while I grab their leashes and clip them onto their collars.

"Alright, let's go."

They run ahead, tugging me along behind them, and we're practically skipping across the parking lot. They're excited to get out and on the move, and I open the passenger door for them. Stormy gets in first, plopping down on the seat, and Snowy jumps in behind him, his tail wagging a mile a minute.

I hop into the driver's seat, and we're on our way.

As we drive toward Callie's cabin, I can feel the tension mounting in my chest. I hate the thought of Callie out there alone, searching for Champ in the dark. There's no way to know what could happen, especially not out in the woods where anything can hide. She's a shifter, so she has heightened senses, but she's still pretty new here and doesn't know the area well. Anything could happen.

I'm so wrapped up in my own thoughts that it takes me a minute to realize we've reached the gravel road leading to Callie's cabin. When we arrive, Callie's waiting outside, her face drawn with worry.

"Hey, guys. Sit," I instruct the dogs, and they obey, their tongues lolling out of their mouths as they pant. "Stay."

Once they're secured, I open the truck door and hop out, scanning the area for any signs of the lost pup. Callie approaches me with her arms crossed over her chest. Her eyes are red-rimmed. She looks so fragile right now, so vulnerable.

"How did you... how did you know where I live?" she asks. "I just realized I never sent you my address."

I hesitate as I search for a believable excuse. The truth dances at the edge of my tongue, ready to spill out, but I swallow it back, knowing that revealing I followed her home would only complicate things further.

"I... uh... I remember you mentioning it the other day," I finally lie. "When we were talking at the diner."

Callie's gaze lingers on me for a moment, and I hold my breath, hoping she won't see through my flimsy excuse. She's clearly not buying it, but thankfully, she doesn't press the issue. Instead, she nods, turning away and gesturing toward the woods. "Come on. I'll show you where I've searched so far."

I return to the truck to let my boys out and grab their leashes. I tie the leads onto their collars before they hop out. Callie leads the way into the dense woods surrounding her cabin. Snowy and Stormy trot obediently at my side, their noses twitching as they catch whiffs of various scents in the air. It's getting darker by the minute, and the trees block out what little light there is. The stars are twinkling, and the moon hangs in the sky overhead.

I scan the forest floor as we walk, searching for any signs of Champ's trail, but the woods are silent, save for Callie's heavy breathing and the occasional hoot of an owl. Every rustle of leaves and every snap of a twig set my heart racing. I hope the sounds are coming from Champ and not some other wild animal lurking in the darkness.

After what feels like hours of searching, we come across a small clearing, and Snowy lets out a low growl, his hackles raised, and I tighten my grip on his leash, ready for whatever might come our way.

"What is it, boy?" I whisper, scanning the area for any signs of danger.

Callie's hand finds mine, her fingers wrapping tightly around my own, and the sensation sends a thrill up my spine that she would seek comfort in me. This woman who has spent so much time on her own, reaching out to me for protection without even seeming to think about it...

"What's wrong?" she asks, leaning in so close that her breasts brush against my arm.

"Snowy senses something," I reply. Stay close."

We proceed cautiously, ears strained for any sound out of the ordinary. Suddenly, a twig snaps to our left, and we both freeze, holding our breath as we wait to see what emerges from the darkness.

A pair of glowing eyes meet ours, reflecting the moonlight like twin beacons in the night. Snowy growls again, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive as he positions himself between us and the unseen threat while Stormy stands rigid beside me, his muscles tensed.

"Stay back," I warn Callie, my hand inching toward the pocket where I keep a small canister of bear repellent. It's a necessary precaution, considering the bears that inhabit this area, and I never step foot in the forest without it.

But before we can react, a sleek figure emerges from the shadows—one not so threatening. A fox. It stares at us for a moment before it skitters away into the distance.

I release the breath I've been holding, the tension draining from my body as Snowy relaxes at my side. "Just a fox," I announce with a chuckle.

Callie exhales shakily, her hand still clutching mine. "I hate these woods at night."

"Yeah," I agree, my grip on Snowy's leash loosening as we continue our search. "But we're going to find Champ. I promise."

We press on, the darkness enveloping us as we navigate through the trees. Snowy and Stormy are on high alert, their senses heightened as they sniff the air, searching for any trace of Champ's scent.

After what feels like an eternity of searching, we come across a small stream, its gentle babbling the only sound breaking the silence of the night. Callie crouches down by the water's edge, her fingers trailing through the cool liquid as she scans the area for any signs of the lost pup.

"We've searched everywhere," she murmurs, frustration evident in her voice. "Where could he be?"

I crouch down beside her, my gaze scanning the dense undergrowth lining the stream. "We'll find him, Callie," I assure her, my voice soft. "We just have to keep looking."

She nods, but her eyes betray her exhaustion and fear. "What if we can't find him? What if he's..."

"We'll find him," I repeat, my tone firm. "I won't give up until we do."

We fall into a tense silence, each lost in our own thoughts. But just as despair threatens to consume us, a soft whimpering breaks the silence, echoing through the trees.

Callie's head snaps up, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Did you hear that?"

I nod, my heart racing as we exchange a look of hope. "That sounds like Champ."

We rise to our feet, Snowy and Stormy leading the way as we make our way to the puppy's cries. We follow the sound into the thick of the forest until we reach another section of the stream, and there, on the other side of the bank, is a small, furry creature huddled under a tree and shivering.

"Champ!" Callie cries, rushing forward.

I grab her wrist, pulling her back before she can get too close. Champ’s eyes are wide with panic, and he cowers away from the running water.

"It's okay, Champ," I call out, my voice soft and soothing. "We're not going to hurt you, buddy."

But my words seem to fall on deaf ears as Champ backs away, his tail tucked between his legs. Callie moves forward, her hands outstretched in a gesture of reassurance, but Champ only retreats further. He's not crossing that river on his own, that much is clear.

"He's scared," Callie comments.

I nod in agreement, watching Champ's fearful eyes dart between us and the rushing water. "Yeah, he doesn't like the look of the stream. I bet he fell in and that’s how he got over there. And now he's stuck."

Callie's brow furrows with worry. "What should we do?"

I glance around, assessing our options. The water isn't too deep, but it's moving fast enough to scare the puppy. "I think I'll have to go to him."

"But it's too dangerous to cross there. What if you slip?"

I give her a reassuring smile. "I'll be careful. We've got to get to him, and I don't want Champ to be scared any longer than he has to be."

With that, I loosen the dogs’ leashes and hand them to Callie. "Hold on to the boys for me, would you?"

She takes the leashes, and I can see her biting her lip in apprehension. "Please be careful."

I wink. "Don't worry. I've got this."

I kick off my shoes and socks and roll up the cuffs of my pants before stepping into the cold stream. Champ watches me cautiously as I wade through the water, his whimpering softening as I draw nearer. As I inch closer to him, the water swirls around my calves, its icy touch sending shivers down my spine. With each step, I feel the current tugging at me, threatening to pull me off-balance. Just as I'm within arm's reach of Champ, my foot slips on a moss-covered rock, and I lurch forward, my heart skipping a beat as I struggle to regain my footing. The water rushes around me, soaking through my clothes and chilling me to the bone.

"Justin!" Callie cries out.

I manage to steady myself, reaching out a hand to grab hold of Champ. He flinches at my touch, but I refuse to let him slip away.

"That's it, Champ," I encourage. "You're okay."

With a final leap, I'm within reach, and I scoop him up into my arms. He's trembling with fear, but as I hold him close, his shivering begins to subside.

"There you go, buddy," I murmur, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "You're safe now."

I hoist him up into my arms, the water dripping from my soaked clothes as I turn back towards Callie with Champ cradled against my chest. She rushes forward to meet me at the edge of the stream. "Champ!" she exclaims, her voice filled with joy as she rushes forward to scoop him into her arms.

Champ wags his tail furiously, his entire body wriggling with excitement as he licks Callie's face with unrestrained affection. It's a heartwarming sight, their reunion after the anxious search.

"I missed you, boy," Callie murmurs, her voice thick with emotion as she holds Champ close. "I was so worried about you."

Champ responds with eager kisses, his tail thumping against Callie's side as he expresses his own relief at being back in her arms. It's a touching moment, and I can't help but smile as I watch the bond between them, formed in such a short amount of time.

After a few moments, Callie looks up at me, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you, Justin. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come to help."

I shrug, trying to play it off as no big deal, but her words warm me from the inside out. "It's no problem. I'm just glad we found him."

"I can't tell you how grateful I am," she continues. "I owe you."

"Hey, you don't owe me anything," I insist.

She nods, her gaze lingering on mine for a moment longer than necessary, and I feel a flutter of something unidentifiable in the pit of my stomach. It's a strange sensation, one I haven't felt in a long time, and I don't know what it means. All I know is that it's a new feeling. One that unsettles me.

"Are you okay?" she asks. "You must be freezing."

"I'm fine," I claim, but my teeth are chattering even as I speak.

"Let's get you inside," she offers. "I can take your clothes and put them in the dryer."

My body reacts before my brain can process the implications of her words, and my heart races at the idea of being naked around her. I look down at myself, taking in the sight of my soaked clothes plastered to my skin. My pants are dark enough that it isn't obvious that I'm sporting a full-on woody, but still...

"Yeah, I would appreciate that," I reply, trying to sound nonchalant as I gesture toward the winding path that leads through the woods.

Callie adjusts Champ in her arms before falling into step beside me. The journey back to the cabin is quieter than before, and the silence is charged with a tension that wasn't present while we were searching. My dogs walk in front of us, leading the way, their noses pressed to the ground as they sniff and explore.

As we approach the cabin, the warm glow of light spilling from the windows is a welcome sight. Callie leads the way inside, and I follow close behind.

Once inside, Callie sets Champ down on the floor, where he promptly curls up in front of the fireplace, his eyes drooping with exhaustion. Snowy and Stormy circle the puppy, nudging him and licking his face as if to assure him that he's home safe and sound.

Callie turns to me, her expression softening with concern as she takes in my drenched clothes. "You're soaked," she observes. She disappears into another room, returning moments later with a fluffy towel in hand. She hands it to me, her fingers brushing against mine in a brief but electrifying touch.

"Here," she says. "You can use this to cover yourself while I put your clothes in the dryer. The bathroom is just down the hall. Let me know if you need anything else."

"Thanks," I reply, gratefully taking the towel.

I'm painfully aware of her eyes on me as I head down the hall, the damp fabric sticking to my skin and accentuating my every movement. It's an awkward situation, and I don't know how to handle it. I've never been so flustered by a woman before, but something about Callie has me off-kilter.

I strip off my wet clothes and wrap the towel around my waist before making my way back to the living room. I spot Callie sitting on the couch, watching Champ sleep with a look of longing.

"Feeling better?" she asks, not even bothering to look up at me.

I clear my throat. "Much."

"Good." She stands up and takes my wet clothes from me, and I don't miss the way she keeps her line of sight planted firmly on the floor. "I'll just throw these in the dryer, and they should be good to go soon enough. I can even make you something to eat, if you'd like. It's the least I can do."

I smile. "That'd be great. I haven't eaten yet."

As Callie disappears into the kitchen to start cooking, I settle onto the couch. My mind is still reeling from the events of the evening, from the panic of searching for Champ to the unexpected intimacy of being in Callie's home. And now, the proximity of her, the sweet, floral scent of her skin, the sight of her in the kitchen… it's all enough to drive me mad.

Snowy and Stormy settle at my feet, their tails wagging eagerly as Callie returns with a bag of treats for them. She crouches down as she offers them a treat, rubbing their ears and their backs. They eagerly accept, their tongues lolling out as they devour the snacks.

"They're such good boys," Callie comments, her voice soft with affection as she strokes Snowy's fur. "You've done a fantastic job training them."

I nod, but my mind is distracted by her nearness. When she looks up at me with those beautiful brown eyes, my mouth goes dry. There's something about the way she moves, the way she interacts with my dogs, and I can't tear my gaze away from her. She's caring and compassionate, and it's a side of her I hadn't seen before. I've only ever witnessed the snarky, guarded Callie. This is new, and it's... well, it's hot.

"Justin?"

I blink, snapping myself out of my trance. "Hmm? What?"

"Your towel is slipping."

My eyes widen, and I feel a rush of warmth spreading through my cheeks. "Oh! Sorry!"

I reach down, tugging the towel closed around my waist. It's a poor attempt to hide my erection, but I don't have anything else to cover myself with. As Callie rises to her feet, she catches my eye, and there's a flicker of something in her gaze—attraction, maybe, or perhaps it's just my imagination running wild.

"I'll start dinner," she announces, her voice breaking the silence. "Make yourself at home."

She turns and heads back into the kitchen. I take the opportunity to adjust myself, tucking myself away to make the situation a little less embarrassing. It's not long before the tantalizing aroma of garlic and onions fills the air, and my stomach rumbles in response. Suddenly, I hear a clatter as Callie accidentally knocks over a spice jar, and I'm on my feet in an instant, rushing to her side to help.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

She's crouched down on the floor, and she looks up at me with an embarrassed expression. "Sorry. I guess I'm not the most graceful cook."

I chuckle softly and extend my hand to her. "Here. Let me help you up."

Callie places her hand in mine, and a spark of electricity shoots through my veins at her touch. Her eyes are locked on mine, her gaze lingering on me as I pull her to her feet.

"Thanks," she mutters, her voice breathless.

I give her hand a soft squeeze before letting go. I want her, there's no denying it. I have no business adding to her problems. "It's no problem," I reply, my voice husky with desire. But I take a step back, putting some distance between us, and I have no doubt that if I reached out to touch her, her body would respond. But I have a sense about things, I always have. It's what makes me so good with animals. Callie's a good person, and I can tell she's dealing with a lot. She's guarded, and I'm sure there's a damn good reason for it. I have no business adding to her problems.

"Here, let me help you clean this up, " I offer. “I promise I'll keep my towel closed this time."