Chapter 37

My jaw hung open in shock at the scene I had just witnessed. Rachel and Vic are mates? How is that possible?

I looked up to Caleb and saw the same surprise I felt mirrored in his expression. Lucas scoffed, and tried to storm out, only to be knocked out of the way by the opening grand hall doors. The massive hinges creaked, revealing the swarm of guests being allowed into the ballroom. I glanced at the clock and realized it was time for the festivities to begin.

Caleb smiled, bowing his head deeply to Vic and the Bears, and said, “I apologize, but please excuse me. I have some business to attend to.”

“By all means,” Vic responded, his attention immediately drawn back to Rachel.

“My dear?” Caleb whispered to me, offering his arm.

I hesitated for a moment before touching him, remembering the last time these arms and hands were wrapped around my face. When our lips at quite nearly touched.

This was no time for reminiscing, I told myself. We had work to do. I took my place at his side, and let him walk me to the throne platform in between the two balconies at the south wall.

I delicately pulled up the skirts of my dress as we ascended the stairs, coming to stand behind an elaborately decorated podium with flowers and several gold microphones installed for the press.

I surveyed the crowd, which contained many familiar faces and many I had never seen before. When my wedding was called off, I had thought the chapel was full of people, but I was amazed by the sheer number of faces that had come to see Caleb and participate in his Alpha Ball.

The dresses and costumes sparkled under the chandelier lights, spraying the marble floors with multicolored specks. I felt somewhat underdressed, and adjusted the tiara perched in my hair.

“Friends and citizens!” He began, speaking into the podium with warmth and charisma. “It is my great honor and privilege to welcome you to the Alpha Ball!”

The audience erupted into applause, cheering and clapping. I couldn’t stop a grin from spreading over my face. All the work we had put into this night for weeks was finally coming to fruition. We already made so much progress in our relationship with the Bears, I was sure that was going to set the tone for a successful evening.

“I will not keep you from the evening we have planned, but I do want to share a few remarks with you all before the festivities begin. Firstly, I need to thank you all for coming and showing your support. I could not wish for better subjects.”

Another round of cheering. I finally located Lucas in the very back of the crowd, scowling like he was watching something disgusting. Next to the elegantly dressed men around him, he looked small, like a pouting child.

“And secondly, it is my great wish to bring the Lycan Kingdom peace and prosperity. I hope that tonight you will experience the joy I intend to bring to my country when I rule as its King.”

I looked through the crowd, sure that there would be some negative reaction to Caleb’s assumption that he would rule. There was nothing except for some whispering on the edges of the crowd. Lucas’s expression turned a brilliant red, but even he said nothing to the people around him. So far, so good.

Caleb raised his arms, “That’s enough from me! Please enjoy the Ball and the entertainment we have selected for you!”

Instantly, brilliant white lights descended from the ceiling, gently swimming through the air. Even though I had been a part of the planning process, I still watched the whole thing in awe. The light show landed on the running fountain in the middle of the room, turning the water a dazzling array of colors.

I laughed with excitement as the droplets of water sparkled, turning everything around us into vibrant shades of the rainbow. After a few moments the light faded, and the musicians circled around the fountain began playing a beautiful piece.

It reminded me of my childhood, and although I couldn’t quite place where I had heard it before, I was sure that it had come from a Prenian folk song.

Though the crowd was dressed in gems and jewelry, with the most beautiful fabrics I had ever seen, they still took up dancing as soon as the music began. The piece was lively, but the tempo was still slow enough to allow couples to pair off and dance together in each others’ arms.

It was difficult not to notice Vic towering over the Lycan citizens around him. Rachel spun with him in gentle circles, his arms placed protectively around the small of her back. In her lovely sapphire dress, she looked like a precious gemstone, and the way Vic looked at her only amplified the effect.

Caleb took a step towards me, coming to stand just behind my left shoulder. “What do you think of the party so far?” He asked, placing his hand softly at my waist.

He used barely any pressure, like he wasn’t entirely sure if he was allowed to touch me.

“Everything is beautiful,” I breathed out, sincerely in awe of the decoration and music. I felt like I had been swept up into a dream.

“I would hope so, it cost a pretty penny.” He responded, glancing at the group of Bears nervously asking a few Lycan women to dance. “Maybe they think they’re gonna get lucky, huh?”

“Oh shut up, Caleb. Not everything is about sex.”

He laughed, tugging me ever so slightly closer. “For once, that’s not what I meant. Maybe they think they’re going to find their mates here tonight, too. I have never heard of this happening before, the odds of a Lycan and Bear being mates is… well, they’re very very low.”

I gestured to Vic and Rachel, who were looking at each other like the rest of the world didn’t exist. “But apparently they’re not zero.” I said.

“Not zero,” Caleb repeated.

As beautiful as the scene in front of me was, discussing Vic and Rachel reminded me of a difficult truth. Caleb’s mate was still out there somewhere. Even if I was becoming complacent and enjoyed some of Caleb’s company when he was behaving, I would someday have to give him back to the woman who was destined for him.

My mate betrayed me, and because of Lucas’s cruelty, I would never get to experience the love and warmth of the mate bond the way Vic and Rachel felt it now.

“Will you want that, Caleb?” I asked, without taking my eyes off the ballroom floor.

“Want what?” He asked.

“That. Your mate. What they have.” I said.

Caleb exhaled, and removed his hand from my waist. “I have told you before, it’s not something I’m interested in. Attachments like that only cause pain.”

I looked up at him, pained. I couldn’t explain how I knew that a woman who claimed to be his mate would appear soon, but I couldn’t let him be so opposed to the idea. “But how can you be sure of that? Isn’t it better to–”

“It’s better not to have your heart broken, Ruby.” Caleb said harshly, shutting me down. “You of all people should be able to understand that.”

With that, he descended the stairs, leaving me alone at the podium. I opened my mouth to shout after him, but closed it. It wouldn’t do any good. If he wanted to make a fuss, fine.

After everything I had done to help him patch up the relationship with the Bears, and all of the planning I had done to make sure the catering went well, this was how he treated me? I tried to call on my anger, but instead I just felt saddened and defeated.

Every time I thought we were improving our partnership and coming to an understanding, he blew me off and stormed away. What more did he want from me?