Runaway Rogue

Chapter Thirty: Caspian's POV

Caspian couldn't believe it, that Indigo – the woman who was all bark and all bite – was offering to open herself up to him like that. But he would be a fool to drag his feet and offer her any time to second guess her choice. He got ready in record time, pulling on whatever was closest to him.

"No, go change," Indigo said when he burst into the kitchen space.

"But I thought you wanted to go—"

"I do, but you need to understand how important this first impression is going to be," Indigo pressed, running her eyes critically over him. "Obviously, you are always going to look great to me, but showing up wearing a jacket with reflective stripes on it and sweatpants is going to be a hard sell. The last time all of us came together over a man, it was the worst time of our lives. Let's look at your closet."

All things considered, Caspian winced a little. He really did look like shit. While Indigo went to pick something suitable for him to wear, he dipped back into the washroom. He had the decency to brush his teeth before, but now he tended to his skin, knowing he didn't have time to shave, but hoping some oils would help keep his stubble presentable. A little gel in the hair, a little spray of cologne. He pulled on the clothes that Indigo had laid out for him, surprisingly average. A warm flannel, a basic black tee shirt, a pair of jeans.

When he stepped back out, her reaction alone was worth it. Her eyes widened ever so slightly and just the tip of her tongue darted out to wet her lips. Who knew she was a flannel girl?

"Better?" he asked. Anything was better than the confused construction worker he looked like this morning.

"Perfect," she said.

Despite everything she had revealed, his chest warmed. Even more so when she asked him to drive, curling up in the passenger seat of his truck that had been returned safely.

"You gonna give me directions?" Caspian asked.

"Well, you aren't going to get there on your own, now are you?" she said. "Take your first left."

He navigated the roads with her quiet directions. He was half terrified and half thrilled. She was taking him to meet her friends, the only people she had relied on since Andrew had tossed her world into a tailspin. And clearly, they were going to be judgmental. But, on the other hand, he didn't have to say goodbye. At least, not yet. And with every direction she called out, every song she hummed to, Indigo was giving a little bit more of herself to him.

He pulled into a small mountain town and let out a little laugh. "You were here this whole time?" Right under his damn nose.

Indigo couldn't help but smile a little. "Actually, we were further north. Then, when I went into heat, we decided we needed to move. I just didn't realize that we would be moving closer to any werewolf territory, much less yours. Our map is a little outdated at this point."

Caspian chuckled, moving his hand to rest on her thigh. "Mate bonds are crazy things, aren't they?"

"So it would seem."

She directed him through the old mining town until they ended up at a small house. A tiny house, really. Caspian felt his mouth twist down instantly at the sight of it. Just thinking about Indigo living there made him a little worried. It was fine, he supposed, but small. And it needed some serious work, like new paint and some boards on the porch replaced.

Indigo knocked tentatively on the door. He wasn't sure if she was aware as she did it, but she carefully moved her body in front of Caspian. His defensive reaction was to settle his hand on her hip.

The door creaked open. Caspian saw the barest flash of a brown eye and dark hair. "Indigo?" a small voice whispered. Then louder, almost like a sob, "Oh my God, Indigo!"