Free TheAngryDoveAndTheAssassin by Stephani Hecht Page A

is supposed to be a pep talk, it really isn’t working, guys,” Caley groused.
    “Sorry, we’re just telling you the truth,” Alger apologized with a half-smile.
    “I just wish they would get back,” Caley said as he wrapped his arms around himself.
    “Why are you so worked up anyway? You just met Grey,” Alger asked with a curious expression on his face.
    Caley paused mid-pace. Why did he care so much? He had only known the Wolf a few days, yet Caley knew that if Grey didn’t come back, he would be devastated. Caley also knew that so long as he had Grey in his life, no other man would do. In fact, he didn’t want a life without Grey.
    “I care a lot about him,” Caley finally admitted.
    “How can you when you just met him?” Alger asked.
    “You knew right away with Nico, so don’t act like it can’t happen,” Caley snapped.
    Alger held his hands up in way of apology. “Okay, sorry. I just never thought that it would happen to somebody like you, and with a Wolf, no less.”
    “Why not?”
    “Well, you are a bit jaded when it comes to us,” Miles said.
    Caley started to argue that one but realized that he couldn’t. He then came to the startling conclusion that he’d painted all Wolves with the same blood-coated brush just because of what had happened to his family. Here this pack had taken him in, given him his own work studio to work out of, and he had continued to shun them. All because he couldn’t let go of his past hang up. Suddenly, Caley felt like a big jerk.
    “You’re right. I have been, and I shouldn’t have been that way. I’m sorry,” Caley told the Wolves in the room.
    Miles gave him a hug. “It’s okay. If we had the same thing happen to our family, we would probably react the same way.”
    “Maybe, but it still doesn’t make what I did right.”
    “No, but at least you were man enough to admit that you were wrong. That’s more than a lot of people would do,” Braxton said.
    “So, how do I make it up to the pack?” Caley asked.
    “I would just start hanging out here and other places more. Don’t keep yourself cooped up in your workroom all the time,” Alger said.
    “You could also offer to teach some sewing classes. I’ll bet there are a lot of pack members that would love to learn from you,” Braxton added.
    “I know I would take some classes from you,” Miles cut in. “I can’t even sew on a button.”
    “I would love to be able to sew my mate’s uniforms,” a female Wolf cut in.
    “So would I,” another added.
    “Really?” Caley asked.
    Several of the Wolves in the room nodded. Caley could hardly believe it. Even though he had been a snob to them all, they still wanted to learn from him and were being friendly toward him. It just showed him how wrong he had been about them all along.
    “I would love to teach you,” Caley said, surprised that he meant it.
    “We’ve always liked you, Caley. We know that you were just afraid of us,” a small male Wolf said.
    “What’s your name?” Caley asked.
    “Fabian.”
    Fabian didn’t look to be a day over twenty. He had dark hair like most of the other Wolves did, but he’d chosen to put red streaks through his, making him unique. What did make him different was his eyes weren’t brown, they were amber.
    “Why aren’t you out fighting with the other soldiers?” Caley asked.
    Fabian blushed. “I’m not that good at fighting. Computers are my thing. They’re teaching me to be part of the communications team, but until then, they left me here to guard the mates. Not that I would be much good if anybody were to attack. But I would protect you all with my life.”
    Somehow Caley could see the small Wolf doing just that. Caley could also see himself becoming good friends with Fabian, too. “You need to come to my workshop. We could make up some really cool things to go with your hair.”
    Fabian smiled. “You think so? I was thinking about updating my wardrobe. What I have now is pretty