Page 3 of Mated By Sunrise
Her gaze lingered on the shadow at the window. The guilt always came with it. No matter how much she tried to convince herself that she had done the right thing, it was there, a persistent ache in her chest. Caleb watched over her not because he wanted to control her but because he cared. Because even after all this time, he still believed she would come around. That she would accept the bond.
A part of her wanted to. It was the wolf in her. She'd deal with her tomorrow when she left town. She'd let her beast out, let her run. That would hush the animal up… until the next full moon. Right now, the human part of her was focused on something else.
The thought of the promotion sent a ripple of excitement through her, a sharp contrast to the guilt that knotted her stomach. It was everything she’d worked for—her chance to make something of herself, to move out of the shadow of the pack and into a world where she could prove her worth on her own terms.
The door to her manager’s office opened with a soft creak, snapping her out of her reverie.
“Rochelle,” Mr. Dennings’ voice called from the office. “You got a minute?”
Rochelle blinked, quickly straightening the papers on her desk before standing and making her way to his door. The guiltwas there again, sharper now. She swallowed it down as she entered the office, pushing her conflicted thoughts aside.
Mr. Dennings smiled as she approached, his hands folded on the desk. “I wanted to check in with you about the new branch. Are you still feeling good about the move?”
Her pulse quickened. The promotion. The new territory. The chance to finally prove herself. This was it—everything she’d been working toward.
“Yes,” Rochelle said, her voice steady, but a touch of hesitation slipped into her words. “I’m very excited about the opportunity.”
"It was between you and Matthew, but he didn't want to leave his mate or pull his kids out of school. Not that he's better than you," Mr. Dennings hurried to add. "It just made my choice easier."
Rochelle didn't correct him. Mr. Dennings was fairly new to the town. She'd known more about the inner workings of the bank, its customers, and, well, everything. His job should have been hers. It wasn't that he was male, it was that he was human. Humans were the wealthiest species on the planet, and hence the ones in charge of most banks.
Humans also believed in such things as dating and divorces. It wasn't the shifter way.
"I know I'll thrive in the new position."
Mr. Dennings nodded, leaning back in his chair. “It’s a big change, but you’ve earned it. I’ve no doubt you’ll handle the transition smoothly. We’ll start making arrangements for the move next week, then?”
“Next week,” she repeated, the weight of those words pressing against her chest.
The thought of leaving—the thought of moving farther from Caleb, farther from the bond she had refused—stirred something deep inside her. It felt like pulling apart threads that had beenwoven too tightly for too long. She wanted this. She wanted to move forward. So, why did it feel like she was leaving more behind than just the pack?
Rochelle smiled at Mr. Dennings, but the expression felt thin, fragile. “Thank you for trusting me with this.”
As she stepped out of his office, she glanced once more toward the window, where the shadow still lingered. Caleb was out there, as he always was, watching, waiting. And for the first time in years, she wondered if she was truly ready to step away.
CHAPTER THREE
The tires of Caleb’s truck crunched over gravel as he drove down the winding mountain road. The early morning light cast long shadows over the landscape. The towering Moonridge Mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks draped in the soft mist that lingered from the night. The ironwood trees, ancient and steadfast, stood like sentinels along the edges of the road, their silvery bark gleaming in the sunlight.
He glanced into the back seat where a handmade lantern, crafted by one of the kids at the moon festival last night, rolled gently with the motion of the truck. Its crude form was endearing, fashioned from twigs and leaves. Caleb’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel as memories of the festival flickered through his mind—smiles, laughter, the warmth of the pack gathered around him. But as always, there was an empty space beside him. A space only she could fill.
He sighed, focusing on the road ahead. The scenery blurred by, but his mind was elsewhere, drawn to what waited for him in the valley below. The valley—a human town, far from the pack, from responsibilities, from the weight of everything that camewith being a wolf. Of being an unclaimed shifter in the light of the full moon.
The road descended, curving sharply as the trees gave way to sprawling meadows and open skies. Down in the valley, the hotel sat nestled at the edge of the woods, small and unassuming, its wooden façade weathered but sturdy. Caleb parked the truck and stepped out, the crisp morning air brushing against his skin. He grabbed his duffel from the back before heading toward the hotel entrance. The front door creaked as he stepped inside, the familiar scent of dust and old wood greeting him.
Behind the desk, the human clerk looked up. “Back again?” the man said, his eyes gleaming with a hint of knowing.
Caleb only nodded, his expression neutral. There was no need for words. The clerk knew what Caleb was.
“You know the drill,” the clerk continued, sliding a key across the counter. “Room’s ready. Enjoy your run.”
Caleb grunted in acknowledgment, swiping the key before heading back out. He didn’t linger. His wolf was already stirring beneath his skin, itching to break free. The tension that had built over the last few days—weeks, months, even—demanded release. And there was only one way to find it. He set his items just inside the room and left the key inside the unlocked door.
The woods at the edge of the valley beckoned as he crossed the parking lot, the scent of pine and damp earth growing stronger with each step. He moved swiftly, his boots crunching over the leaves and underbrush as he ventured deeper into the forest, leaving the human world behind.
Once he was far enough, the air around him felt different, charged with something wild. He stripped off his clothes, tossing them aside in a pile before letting the shift take over. His bones cracked and stretched, the familiar sensation rippling through him as his body transformed. Fur sprouted, claws lengthened, and within seconds, his human form was gone. In its place, amassive wolf stood, black fur gleaming in the shafts of sunlight that filtered through the trees.
Caleb let out a low growl, testing his muscles, feeling the raw power thrumming beneath his skin. Then, without hesitation, he took off, sprinting through the woods with a speed and grace that was impossible in human form. The wind rushed past him, carrying with it the scents of the forest—wild, untamed, and alive.