Free Crimson Sunrise by J. A. Saare Page A

crossing his face for the first time since our trip. “A lunatic granny?”
    “It’s a good thing Sarah stayed behind to protect me. Otherwise I might be in trouble.” I grinned back at him, rose from the chair, and walked into his open arms.
    I breathed in his scent and realized everyone would know we’d bonded officially and that Caleb had reinstated exactly what I was to him. His unique scent would be with me no matter where I went, warning other werewolves I was claimed, belonging wholly to another. I wished I had my own unique brand to share with him, something to show he was taken just as I was. Suddenly, I knew what I wanted to give him, what he could carry along with him on his trip.
    “Wait here.” I kissed him and rushed into the house.
    I ran into his bedroom and rummaged inside the inner pocket of my suitcase. I pulled out my jewelry box and sifted through the chains until I found one of the thicker white gold ones. My parents had lavished their attention on me, jewelry being one of their favorite gifts.
    I hurried down the stairs and pulled the ring off my right hand before I thrust the front door open. Caleb remained where I left him. A curious expression appeared on his face as I approached.
    “Come here.” I motioned for him to lower his head and he looked at me quizzically, doing as I asked. I clasped the necklace around his neck, ensuring my mother’s ring was dangling from it.
    “This time,” I teased, eyes tearing up, “don’t send it back.”
    Touching the ring, he kept his eyes trained on my face. He dropped the necklace. His warm hands grasped my arms and pulled me against his body. I buried my face in his chest, taking his scent into my nose.
    “I’ll return it to you personally, how’s that?” he asked, voice thick.
    “That’s perfect.” I wanted to laugh, but I sniffed pitifully instead.
    A van cranked to life, then another. The voices behind us began lifting to speak over the engines. Caleb kissed me, his lips soft against mine.
    “I love you. I’ll be back soon.”
    “I love you too.” I kissed him hard and pulled back to look into his indigo eyes. I forced myself to let go and step back.
    He smiled sadly and turned for the van. The front door opened and Derek stepped outside with Sarah. He kissed her quickly, jumped from the porch, and jogged over to the others.
    “Thanks for staying, Sarah.” I was grateful she had stayed and hoped she didn’t resent me for having to remain behind.
    “Anything for you, Emma,” she said, her calming voice settling inside my ears.
    She reached over, clasped my hand inside hers, and we watched everyone pile inside the vans. We stood together as they pulled away, fading from sight, leaving nothing but the white dust from dry gravel lingering in the air.

Chapter 5—Character Traits
    Two days passed, and Sarah and I couldn’t take sitting around any longer. There were no leads on Sammie, and staring at the walls was slowly driving us to the brink of insanity. All of the Monopoly, Scrabble, and Lifetime movies in the world couldn’t pass the time quickly enough.
    Even with Chris and Bev against it, we decided to contact John for a meeting with his stick-wielding grandmother. It seemed like a good time to take the trip. We could make it back before the pack returned and distract ourselves in the process.
    Haven hadn’t been lying. John knew exactly who I was when I called and immediately provided detailed directions to the cabin where his grandmother lived. He also let me know she was anxiously expecting our arrival, having heard about it from the “ghosts” that visited her.
    Unsure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, I only hoped she wasn’t planning on venturing into the woods to collect the most prime branches available to use on us when we made it there. I didn’t relish the thought of being beaten with a walking stick.
    John eased that concern soon after, warning me his grandmother wasn’t as stout as she had once been,