First Beast by Faye Avalon Page A

accompanied him to the jungles of South America, but a freak accident when he was twenty had robbed him of his warrior destiny, and he’d been forced to help protect and defend their community in other ways.
    Tynan was the first person Caleb had contacted after his escape from his captors. He’d wanted to keep his escape secret until he’d been able to follow up on his suspicions regarding who was responsible for his ordeal. Caleb knew his friend would respect his wishes.
    He trusted Tynan with his life. Literally.
    Now, with his inquiries gaining momentum, he’d made his return common knowledge, and just yesterday had been welcomed back into the community and officially declared pack leader.
    â€œThe woman Joshua’s mated to. What do you know about her?”
    Tynan shrugged in that inimitable way of his that enabled him to keep things in perspective. “Journalist. Works for the local paper. Not one of us,” he said with a wry smile. “But then you’d already know that. Seems a decent enough woman. Not much of a cook, though. They invited me over a couple of weeks back and I had to stop off on the way home and grab some takeout.”
    â€œHow come he was allowed to mate with her, marry her? How did that get past the Council?”
    â€œAh, now there’s the six million dollar question, my friend. It caused some upset around here. Some of the older folks didn’t like it one bit. Still don’t. Especially since Joshua isn’t the most traditional amongst us. People don’t like the free reign he gives her. More than anything, they don’t like that she works for the paper.”
    â€œYeah.” Caleb dropped his elbows to his knees and touched his chin to his fisted hands. “That’s a fucking problem if ever there was one. How did she find out about us?”
    â€œNobody really knows. She hooked up with Joshua, and the next thing anyone knew, he’d requested a meeting with the Council and demanded that he, as leader, be given the right to choose his own mate. When they tried to argue, he told them she already knew about him, about us, and would swear to uphold the clandestine nature of our community. Said she loved him and was prepared to help him uphold his duties as leader.”
    â€œHe allows her to keep working.” And that, Caleb thought, hit too damn close to the heart of what irritated him. The leader’s mate never took outside work. The duties of the community were far too important, besides which she should be concerning herself with the production of heirs and building a home for her family. Not gallivanting around the fucking countryside reporting on things that didn’t concern her and socializing with anyone she damned well pleased. “I heard she hangs out in the local bar with women of questionable morals.”
    Caleb frowned when Tynan let out a bellowing laugh. “Shit, Cal. Sometimes you sound like something out of the Dark Ages.” He wiped his hand across his mouth. “She has an after-work drink with colleagues now and again. Nothing untoward, as far as I can gather.”
    â€œIt should be stopped.” Caleb didn’t want to consider that his friend might be right about his old-fashioned ideals. Some things were important, like tradition, continuity, security. And none more so than in a community such as theirs. “It’s not right.”
    â€œWell, you’re back now.” Tynan patted Caleb on the shoulder. “How are you planning to handle Joshua? Now that you’re officially pack leader.”
    Caleb raised his eyebrows. “It’s my birthright. There’s nothing to handle.”
    â€œJoshua’s not going to give in gracefully. He won’t take kindly to me being chosen as your second in command. He likes the limelight.”
    â€œI’ll give him fucking limelight. He can spend his time keeping that wayward wife of his in line.”
    If it was up to