Caleb
The hum of the plane's engines was a low, constant background noise as I stretched my legs in the seat, glancing out at the vast ocean below. The island of Hawaii wasn't too far now, and for the first time in a while, I felt the anticipation of something beyond pack business. I turned my gaze to Ava, seated beside me, her fingers tracing idle patterns on the armrest.
"You doing alright?" I asked, my voice soft yet steady, trying to gauge her comfort level.
Ava's eyes flicked over to me, and she smiled, her expression relaxed but a bit distant.
"Surprisingly, yes. I thought flying for the first time would make me more anxious, but… it's not so bad." I raised an eyebrow.
"Not so bad? We've hit turbulence twice, and you haven't even blinked. Most werewolves would've been clawing their way out of the window by now." I leaned in a little, teasing her with a grin. Ava laughed, shrugging.
"Guess I'm just full of surprises."
"Surprises, huh?" I sat back, looking her over again. "Yeah, I'd say that's accurate. I've been meaning to ask… You ever get rattled by anything?" Ava smirked and gave me a side glance.
"You trying to test the waters?" There was something about the way she said it that caught my wolfs attention. A challenge, maybe? Flirting? I wasn't sure, but it sparked a curiosity I couldn't quite shake. There was an aura of mystery around Ava, one that kept me both intrigued and slightly on edge. I tilted my head, studying her.
"You're handling this whole trip better than I expected. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've done this a hundred times."
"Nope" she replied, glancing out of the window, her voice a bit quieter now. "But I've learned how to stay calm under pressure, panicking usually doesn't help at all."
I didn't push her further, though the comment lingered in my mind. Ava had always carried herself with an air of timidness it seemed, but there were moments where I sensed that might not be her true nature. And that was fine. For now.
The flight attendant approached, asking if they needed anything. Caleb ordered a drink for himself, and Ava declined, saying she'd wait until they arrived. The flight attendant smiled and left them alone again, giving Caleb the chance to bring up something that had been on his mind.
"So," I began, my tone casual but edged with curiosity, "what are you looking forward to most about this trip? Besides the obvious relaxation." Ava thought for a moment before answering.
"Honestly? Just being away from everything. I didn't realize how much I needed a break until we were on the way here." She looked at him, her eyes softening. "And spending time with you. I think we both needed this."
Caleb's heart did a small flip at her words, but he kept his voice light.
"Spending time with me, huh? Not worried I'll be a terrible travel companion?"
"You're right ....You are quite grumpy, lets turn around. "Ava smirked.
We spent the next few minutes exchanging stories about their past vacations—or in our case, the lack thereof. I told her about how most of his trips ended up being more business than pleasure, overseeing other packs and forging alliances. Ava shared a few memories from her childhood, her voice growing wistful as she talked about the forests where she used to roam, places that brought her peace.
The conversation flowed easily between them, even as I found myself more and more drawn to the way Ava spoke about nature. There was a familiarity, a connection to the land that went beyond the typical werewolf's sense of territory. She seemed to come alive when talking about it, and I wondered just how deep that connection went.
Before long, the captain's voice came over the intercom, announcing their descent. Caleb felt a slight thrill of excitement as the plane began to lower, the island's lush greenery and shimmering coastlines coming into view.
"Well," he said, grinning, "here we go. Ready for paradise?" Ava glanced out the window again, her eyes lighting up.
"More than ready." By the time we stepped out of the airport, the warm tropical air washed over us, a stark contrast to the cool confines of the plane. Ava breathed in deeply, her expression relaxing even further. I stood beside her, watching as her entire demeanor seemed to change, her shoulders dropping as if a weight had been lifted.
"Feels like a different world, doesn't it?" Caleb asked, his voice quiet but filled with awe as he took in the view. Palm trees swayed lazily in the breeze, the ocean sparkling in the distance. Ava nodded, her eyes wide as she looked around.
"It's beautiful. I could get used to this."
"Good, because I have no plans to rush back to reality anytime soon," I teased, nudging her gently. "Come on, let's get to the hotel and settle in."
They hopped into a cab, and during the short drive, the conversation flowed easily again. I found myself drawn to Ava's easy laughter and the way her eyes lit up when she talked about their plans for the week. I couldn't help but notice the subtle shifts in her body language, the way her arm would occasionally brush against mine, sending small jolts of awareness through me.
When we arrived at the resort, it was everything I had hoped for. The hotel stood right on the edge of the beach, its sprawling grounds filled with lush gardens, sparkling pools, and breathtaking ocean views. They checked in, and as they made their way to the suite, Caleb caught Ava's eyes flicking back and forth between the scenery, her lips curled in a soft, content smile.
"I think you might actually relax here," Caleb commented, smirking as they reached their room.
Ava glanced at him, her smile widening.
"Yeah… I think you're right." He opened the door to the suite, revealing a spacious room with large windows overlooking the ocean. Everything about the room was perfect—the soft, inviting bed, the subtle scent of tropical flowers in the air, the view that stretched out toward the horizon.
But there was only one bed.
I froze for a moment, my eyes locked on the bed. I could feel the tension between us rise instantly, the air around us thickening as both of us processed the situation. Ava's cheeks flushed slightly as her gaze flickered from the bed to him, but she didn't say anything.
"I, uh… I can take the couch," I offered quickly, my voice a little too casual as I gestured to the couch in the living area. "It's no problem."
Ava's eyes lingered on him for a moment longer before she gave a small nod.
"Yeah… that works if you are sure....." The silence that followed was thick with unspoken words, and I could feel my pulse quicken. I turned away, giving her some space as we both set our bags down, but the weight of the moment hung between us.
"Why don't we go check out the beach?" I suggested, trying to ease the tension. "Sun's starting to set, and the view's gotta be incredible." Ava smiled, clearly grateful for the change in topic.
"Sounds good." We spent the evening walking along the beach, the sun casting a warm, golden glow across the sand. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was soothing, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to just be in the moment.
"I've never seen a sunset like this," Ava murmured, her voice soft as she watched the sun dip below the horizon. "It's… peaceful."
"Yeah," I agreed, my eyes focused on her rather than the sunset. "It is."
The tension between us was undeniable, and with each passing moment, it grew. There was something about being here, away from the pack and the responsibilities, that made everything feel more intense. Every brush of her hand, every glance she gave me, set my pulse racing. Ava turned to me, her eyes shining in the fading light.
"Thanks for this, Caleb. I think we both needed it."
"Yeah," I said, my voice a little rougher than usual. "We did."
We stood there in silence for a few more moments, the world around us fading into the background as the pull between us grew stronger. I wasn't sure how much longer I could resist the urge to close the distance between us, to give in to the tension that had been simmering all this time.
But for now, I kept it in check. There was time. And I wanted to make sure that when it happened, it was on her terms. With a final glance at the ocean, I nodded toward the hotel.
"We should head back before it gets too late. Tomorrow's a big day." Ava smiled, her eyes lingering on me for just a moment longer before she turned to follow me.
"Yeah… tomorrow."