Significance by Shelly Crane Read Free Book Online Page A

could.”
    Caleb.
    I sighed in relief as I felt a release of all the tension, the queasiness, the aching muscles, the painful breaths, everything, as I settled my arms around his waist. I felt brand new, like he was a drug and I’d just gotten a hit.
    I pulled back to look at him slightly and was wowed. He was even better looking in the daylight. I blinked up at him and he looked back down at me. I could see into his mind as if it was made of glass. He had felt me begin to panic he was already half way here. He ran. He knew I’d be upset when reality crashed down on me this morning. He was feeling withdrawals for me too and pestered Kyle for over an hour before he got out of bed to give him my address, though once the panic attack hit he didn’t need it. He could find me anywhere. He also loved my freckles and thought I looked gorgeous in blue.
    I smiled and bit into my bottom lip at his thoughts.
    “Hi,” I said.
    “Hi,” he said smiling widely, his arms still around my back. “Are you ok now?” He reached up and brushed my hair back from my forehead. “How’s the head?”
    “It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
    “Did you sleep ok?”
    “Yeah, I slept great, actually.” We both seemed to realize the awkwardness of it all and stepped back to give a little space. “And I was fine, I mean I felt a little weird, like I had the flu,” he nodded to confirm, “but it wasn’t until I started to think about things- um, you, that I freaked.”
    “I know. It happens, especially the first few days after an imprinting.”
    “Why?”
    He shrugged.
    “Doesn’t matter I’m here now. And I have no intentions of going very far.”
    “Good,” was all I could say.
    He seemed to like my answer.
    “Did you have fun with Kyle last night? I didn’t have a chance to talk to him much. I waited up for him last night but he went straight to bed. I’m sure he would have told me if something had happened.”
    “Yeah, we had an ok time, mostly.”
    “Why mostly?” he said suddenly concerned. “What-”
    He saw my arm and his eyes went wide. I’d forgotten, the angry black burned hand print. His face twisted in anger.
    “What happened? I can’t believe Kyle didn’t tell me about this. Who did this to you?”
    “Some guy called Marcus,” I rubbed it like it could come off.
    He pushed my fingers away gently to run his thumb across it, almost reverently.
    “Marcus touched you?” he said softly and I knew not to mistake the softness for anything but fighting for control.
    “He grabbed me when we tried to walk away. But as soon as he knew that I- you- we...”
    “That we imprinted.”
    “Yes. He left. I didn’t see this until this morning.”
    “It’s what happens to warn them that you don’t belong to them.”
    “I know, I felt it but, why didn’t it do that when Kyle touched me?”
    “Kyle touched you?” he said with a slight edge.
    “He held my hand a couple times,” I explained truthfully. “Mostly to make me keep up with him but, it never did that with him.”
    “It only happens if the person’s actions aren’t of pure intention. Your body can sense it when someone means you harm.”
    “So, that Marcus guy wanted to hurt me?” I said breathlessly at the prospect.
    “Don’t worry about that just yet.” His big hand came up to my cheek, making me want to shudder. “One thing at a time. I’ll explain it all to you but, right now, I need to get you over to Kyle’s. The family is all there, waiting for us.”
“Eh,” I cringed. “I don’t like crowds.”
    “You’ll like this crowd. There were so happy last night when I told them what happened. They can’t wait to meet you.”
    “Caleb,” I said and he sighed, closing his eyes like he was in ecstasy at the sound of his name from my mouth. “I have no idea what’s going on. I mean, what does all this mean? Why am I meeting your family after only knowing you for one day?”
“Well,” he looked slightly unsure. “I, uh...you’re