赤裸裸的滑稽故事

“You don’t look entirely pleased to see me,” Jonas smiled brightly. “I’m almost offended.”

“No, you’re not,” Caleb sighed.

Jonas laughed.

“No, I’m not. Go ahead and roll me in, Sweet Pea.”

Nessa appeared from the other side of Jonas and took control of his chair. Axel moved back to the stool as they entered the room.

“You boys behave,” Nessa smiled as she locked the break on the wheelchair and then left the room, shutting the door as she left.

“That was a hell of a fight, boy,” Jonas said.

Caleb grunted in response.

“Is he always this much of a wet blanket?” Jonas turned to Axel.

“Don’t ask me,” Axel chuckled.

“What do you want, Jonas,” Caleb said, wishing he could turn his body away and not have to see him at all.

“A lot of things,” Jonas said, “but I’ll settle for just a few. So, let’s begin the negotiation process.”

“I don’t understand. He lost,” Axel said.

Caleb turned his head back, looking at Jonas and waiting for his response.

“He did,” Jonas nodded. “He lost the right to ask my wolves to follow him into battle. So, they will follow me instead.”_.

Jonas lifted his brows, locking eyes with Caleb.

“Why?” Caleb demanded.

“I told him already,” Jonas replied, nodding his head toward Axel. “I know the right side to take in this war.”

“Then why the song and dance,” Caleb growled.

“Well, maybe I just wanted to take that smug look off your face,” Jonas smiled.

Axel looked between them as Caleb let out another growl.

“Wait,” Axel interrupted. “You said you couldn’t decide for your wolves….”

“I can’t.”

“Then… the howl… as we left the cave,” Axel continued. “That was…”

“Them making their choice.”

Axel nodded.

“Caleb,” Jonas called to him.

Caleb was surprised. It was the first time Jonas had used his name correctly.

“My wolves needed to see you fight, to see you in silver and iron. You were never gonna win.”

Caleb scoffed.

“Boy, I been in silver and iron since before you were born!” Jonas growled.

Caleb instantly hated the way Jonas’ tone had made him clench his jaw. There was no power being used, no blessing from the Goddess. This was purely the respect that Jonas commanded. Even from Caleb.

“You are a strong wolf and a great fighter. But you avoid your weakness. I know you trained in irons before, silver too. But you trained to avoid, to forget the pain and the weakness and push through. I have trained to let it fuel me.”

Caleb listened, though he wanted to turn away.

“The strength we find in our weakness brings us to the edge of death. We see it. We taste it. We use it,” Jonas continued. “Each of my wolves accepts that every fight they go into might be their end, but they will fight like hell till that very last breath. They needed to see that you would do the same.”

Caleb didn’t like the game Jonas was playing.

He had fought long and hard to prove himself to his father while still alive. Finally, he earned his place as Alpha of Summer, even if the title had already been promised to him.

Proving himself to anyone felt like an insult.

But… he understood. Broken Crag owed him nothing and had no reason to trust him. Jonas owed him nothing, but he gave him a chance.

Caleb sighed.

Jonas chuckled.

“Why do I feel like you two just had a conversation I couldn’t hear?” Axel asked.

“He just realized something important,” Jonas grinned.

“Shut up,” Caleb groaned.

Jonas laughed.

Axel decided to ignore whatever passed between the other alphas.

“So, that means you’ll help?” he asked, looking at Jonas.

“Yes,” Jonas nodded. “Broken Crag can be considered a new ally to Summer and Winter. But as I said, I do have a few requests. One, in particular, I would like to discuss now.”

***

Jonas didn’t stick around much longer. They would iron out the details of their alliance once the two alphas had healed up a bit more. The preliminary request that Alpha Jonas has made, Caleb agreed to.

“Are you alright?” Galen asked as he answered the phone.

“I will be,” Caleb sighed.

“Silver and iron… This is why you shouldn’t have gone alone,” Galen sighed. He had been irritated and nervous since Caleb told him the night before about the fight.

“I’m not alone, and it was necessary.”

“Yea, ok, well, you explain it to Fiona and Ashleigh,” Galen grumbled.

Caleb laughed.

“Alright, I was gonna give them each a call today anyway,” Caleb said. “How is Ashleigh? You said she was in the treehouse for a while. Is she still going there?”

“Oh… ugh, so… don’t freak out,” Galen began.

Caleb immediately moved to sit up, groaning as the pain from his ribs shot through the rest of his body.

“Caleb?!” Galen shouted through the phone.

“I’m fine,” Caleb replied through clenched teeth. “Just minor bruising.”

“Doesn’t sound minor….” Galen said quietly.

“You were about to tell me something I wouldn’t like?” Caleb replied, trying to get back on track.

“Right, yea… so you know Ashleigh has been in Fiona’s game the past couple of weeks.”

“Yes,” Caleb replied, finally settling into a position that didn’t hurt.

“Well, good news, she passed.”

Caleb felt a genuine relief at Galen’s words. He knew that the losses were wearing on Ashleigh.

“That’s great. She must be so happy,” he said, wishing he could have felt their bond when she won.

“It is, right? So hold on to that thought,” Galen said. “Um, Ashleigh passed, but the final round was a little rough, and she took a few too many hits.”

Caleb growled as he felt panic rising from his stomach.

“She’s fine!” Galen shouted. “She’s fine, just a day or two of observation. Her scans are fine, just worn down. A few minor injuries but nothing that won’t heal on its own in a couple of days.”

Caleb took a deep breath.

“Galen, I need you to prepare for a guest. I am not sure how long she will be with us, but I suspect it will be a while,” Caleb said, keeping himself calm. “Her name is Nessa. She is the daughter of Alpha Jonas of Broken Crag. She has a particular interest in computers, and Jonas has requested that she visit Summer in order to explore that interest in a place that can offer her more opportunities to do so.”

“Ugh… ok, yea, I’ll get right on it.”

“Great, she will be arriving tomorrow. Please also ask Clara to be available to give her a tour.”

“Clara?” Galen asked.

“I think her cheerfulness will help Nessa feel more at ease.”

“Gotcha,” Galen said.

“Also, explain what happened to Mom. I won’t be able to call her today.”

“Why not?” Galen asked.

“There is something I need to do,” Caleb replied before hanging up the phone.

He grabbed the call button and called for the nurse.

“Are you alright?” the man asked as he stepped through the door.

“I need to flush my system; can you help me with that?” Caleb asked.