The hotel suite's lights glowed dim and soft, while outside, the night deepened, with only the distant city lights flickering faintly after the rain. Serena leaned back on the sofa, a glass of red wine in hand, her gray-green eyes half-lidded as she gazed at Caleb standing before her. Fresh from a shower, he wore only a towel wrapped around his waist, droplets of water sliding down his collarbone, catching the light in an ambiguous sheen.
"Come here," Serena said, setting down her glass, her voice low and tinged with command.
Caleb's Adam's apple bobbed as he stepped closer, dropping to one knee beside her like a docile hound. His hand rested lightly on her knee, his eyes burning with intensity. "Serena, I…"
Before he could finish, she leaned down and kissed him. Her kiss was bold and direct, a release of the day's tension, while Caleb's response carried a cautious fervor. His hand slid to her waist, his breathing growing ragged.
The room's temperature soared as clothes slipped piece by piece onto the carpet. Caleb's kisses trailed along her neck, rough with a hint of his wolfish nature, yet softening when she let out a faint hum. He seemed to pledge his loyalty with his entire being, while Serena closed her eyes, savoring the fleeting indulgence.
Just as the tension peaked, a shrill phone ring shattered the haze. Caleb frowned, trying to ignore it, but the sound persisted relentlessly. Serena pushed him away, catching her breath. "Answer it. Don't keep me waiting too long."
He grabbed the phone reluctantly, his expression shifting as he listened. "What? Dead?"
A low voice crackled through the line: "Yeah, the gunman dropped dead in the police station—looks like someone silenced him. But we've got his contact. He's at a warehouse in the East District, waiting for you."
Caleb hung up and turned to Serena, his eyes apologetic. "I have to go. I'll be back soon."
Serena raised an eyebrow, her tone cool. "Go."
Twenty minutes later, Caleb arrived at an abandoned warehouse in the East District. The night wind carried the scent of dampness and rust through the air. Inside, his werewolf companion Jack—a burly man with a thick beard—stood over a figure tied to a chair. The man's face was bloodied, his eyes wide with terror, clearly having been roughed up.
"Talk. Who sent you?" Caleb stepped forward, his voice icy. His hand pressed down on the contact's shoulder, applying just enough force to draw a scream.
"I… I'm just a middleman!" the man gasped, trembling. "Some guy in a suit, wearing sunglasses—I didn't see his face! He told me to hire the gunman, said to take out the new boss of the Voss Group…"
"A suit?" Caleb's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening. "Be specific."
"He… he mentioned a name on the phone—'Richard'! And he reeked of cigars, strong ones!" The man was nearly delirious with pain, babbling incoherently.
Caleb released him and turned to Jack, his expression darkening. "Richard Voss, Serena's uncle. Looks like someone in the family isn't ready to give up."
Jack nodded, adding, "It's not just the family. That guy's car came from the port district—I smelled seawater and diesel. Could be an outside force at play, with Richard as a pawn."
Caleb fell silent, piecing the clues together in his mind. Richard had the motive, but not the speed to pull this off alone—there had to be a bigger player behind him. He opened his mouth to speak, but Jack clapped a hand on his shoulder, lowering his voice. "Brother, don't forget your mission. Serena's human. We're just here to protect her—don't get in too deep."
Caleb froze, a flicker of conflict passing through his eyes. He muttered, "I know what I'm doing."
"Do you?" Jack smirked. "I could tell when you came from her place—you're smitten. You're a werewolf, she's human. The pack won't let you get serious."
Caleb said nothing.
Jack shrugged and walked out of the warehouse, leaving one last remark: "Don't forget who you are, Caleb."
The night wind whistled through, creaking the warehouse's iron door. Caleb stood still, his gaze heavy. Serena's image flashed in his mind—her commanding presence, her cold smirk, the warmth of her kiss. His heart raced, tinged with a thread of pain.
Moonlight spilled across the ground, stretching his shadow long and lone, like a solitary wolf wandering in the dark.