Chapter 7

I couldn’t help but smile, watching Lucas struggle to get back on his feet after his fall. For the first time since my rebirth, it felt like I was finally catching up to him. He might have thought he had me in his grasp this morning, but there was nothing he could do from underneath my feet.

“You’ll regret opposing me.” He hissed as Harper propped him up on her shoulder. “You can’t turn around and marry Caleb, I won’t allow it!”

Caleb released a deep cackle, “You think I want to get married with these tacky decorations? No, we’re going to be rescheduling and definitely redoing this entire ceremony. I’m thinking white roses and carnations instead of these awful yellow ones, don’t you think so, Ruby?”

I smiled, “And maybe even adding them into the archway over the altar,” I said, gesturing to the empty canopy above us. Harper huffed, coughing slightly under the weight of Lucas. “You can keep him,” I said, “my new fiance and I have some business to attend to. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”

I started down the aisle, but was suddenly swept off my feet by a pair of strong arms. Caleb lifted me into his chest, his nose less than a breath away from mine. I could feel his warm, steady breaths in my hair as he carried me out of the chapel, while Harper cursed at us in a high-pitched whine.

I watched his face closely as he waltzed through the castle, taking the turns to bring us back to his chambers. His brow was creased somewhat, but beyond that he betrayed none of his emotions.

“You can put me down now, we’re well away from the wedding.” I said, not removing my hands from his neck.

“I’m not convinced you’ll be able to climb the stairs in those shoes,” he responded without looking at me.

I didn’t protest more after that, and let him place me on his bed. He strode across the room and poured himself a drink at the bureau by the door, downing it in one go.

“Thank you. For standing up for me, I mean.” I said, somewhat shyly. Sitting here on his bed, for the second time, didn’t scare me nearly as much as it had before. But still, I didn’t understand what he wanted. What was he after?

“No thanks necessary,” he said. “Lucas is an ass, he cheats on all of his women and thinks he can get away with it Frankly, it’s sickening. Someone had to stick it to him.”

“But why? After you rejected me before? What changed your mind? Was it something that the Lycan King communicated to you through the mindlink? Does he have something on you?”

He slammed the glass down on the table top, startling me and making me jump. I stammered as he brought his eyes back to my face, his brows dark and drawn. “I’ve already done everything you wanted of me, I cancelled this wedding. I think I’m well within my rights to tell you to leave me alone.”

“That’s not what I asked for.”

He raised an eyebrow, amused. “Oh? I thought this ploy was all about getting rid of your insufferable fiance.”

“I want—“

“What? To really marry me? I’m sorry Ruby, but that wasn’t exactly clear. Your seduction techniques could definitely use some work.”

I could feel the heat of a blush rising up over my neck. “You’re horrible.” I said, standing up and grasping his chin with my fingers. “But I was serious about marrying you.”

He laughed into my hands, leaning down so his lips were just above my collarbone. “Marrying me? Ruby, I am not the marrying type.”

I swallowed, his hand shifting to the back of my head, holding me and stopping me from moving. “I’m not a gentleman Ruby.” He whispered, so close, I could taste his sweat. “I fuck who I want and I keep my bed filled with women. Is that really something you think you can handle?”

I couldn’t help from squirming in his grip. I knew he was trying to put me off and make me uncomfortable. He was playing games with me, but I wouldn’t let that deter me from my plans.

This was just the way he had always presented himself to me, as the play-boy who couldn’t care less about the werewolf kingdom or our pack. That was exactly the reason we hadn’t gotten along together in the past.

This was different. “Yes.”

He pulled back from me slightly, and I could feel the surprise radiating off of him.

“You don’t mean that.” He said, questionningly.

“I do. I want to be your bride.”

He sighed into my ear and pulled away from me, looking me back squarely in the face. “What do you want, Ruby? What are your intentions, really?”

I opened my mouth to answer, thinking I could get away with some simple explanation. But all too quickly, the flood of memories from my past life came back to me, drowning every other thought in my mind.

I see my mother, sprawled out on the carpet, a knife jutting out from her chest and her blood seeping over the marble floor. I scream and fall to the floor, racked with sobs. A shadow just the same shape as Lucas slips out through the doorway, but I refuse to believe he had anything to do with this murder.

I see my father slumped over in his desk chair, saliva oozing from his lips and the poisoned wine trickling out from his nose.

I see the entirety of my werewolf pack, bowing down to Lucas and his cruelty. Lucas forces them to work only for his benefit, lining his pockets while they starve.

Finally, I see the blood of my unborn baby pooling around me as I die.

I snap myself out of my return to the past, grounded once again in Caleb’s chambers as he stares at me expectantly for an answer.

Why do I want to marry him? Because I have to do everything in my power to stop Lucas from becoming the next Lycan King.

If I leave now, letting angry and rejected Lucas continue to seek out the throne, I put everyone I know and love in danger. The madman will surely go after them again, just like he did in my past life before my rebirth. My parents are still in danger, the pack is still on the brink of chaos.

I owe myself, my unborn child, my family, and the people of werewolf all of the strength I have.

And Caleb is my best bet to help me stop Lucas. I needed a partner like Caleb at my side. With him I knew I could do it.

I raised my chin to meet his gaze, and the surprise in his face was evident. “I will help you become the Lycan King,” I said, “and you will help me eliminate Lucas once and for all.”

Caleb took a deep breath, his lips slightly parted. It seemed that was not what he thought I was going to say.