Chapter 27

Ruby

“What about this?” My mother asked, holding up a blouse I hadn’t worn since grade school in Prenia. “This is a sweet top.”

“Mom, I doubt I could still fit in that even if I wanted to,” I responded, folding another pair of socks to be put in my luggage. It was finally time for me to bring the rest of my things to Caleb’s home and fully move in. It had been a slow process, but as I looked at my empty room, I realized for the first time that it was actually happening.

“Alright, maybe I could still grab you some snacks for the drive over? Or a water bottle at least, there’s still some left overs from last night,” she said, bustling down the stairs.

“I’ll be fine mom, don’t worry!” I called after her.

Since Lucas’s break-in at my parents’ home, I have been in constant fear that he would go after them again. And now that I knew about his plans to frame them for the chaos he was going to cause at the Alpha Ball, it felt more important than ever that I do everything I can to protect them.

Even if it means moving away from them.

My mom appeared again at the doorway, holding a few containers of the dinner she had prepared the night before. “I just love you so much sweetheart, I only want to take care of you.” She said.

I felt a tear threatening to spill out of my eye. And now it’s time for me to take care of you, I thought.

“Thank you,” I said, smiling.

She took me into a warm embrace and kissed the top of my head like I was a young girl again. “You promise me that you’ll tell us if Caleb isn’t treating you well.”

I nodded seriously, “He’s frustrating, but he’s not unkind.” She held me tighter for a moment, then pulled away to help me carry my things to the front door, where Caleb was already waiting with his car.

“That’s everything?” He asked, taking the suitcase from my mother to be put in the trunk.

“That’s everything,” I said, sighing as I looked back at my parents’ home. I knew I was going to miss the gardens and the flowers they had planted specifically to remind us of our heritage in Prenia.

I said my final goodbyes to my parents, and buckled myself into the front seat. Caleb changed gears to pull us out of the driveway, but paused at the expression on my face.

“You can come visit them,” he said gently, like he already knew the pain I was feeling.

“It won’t feel like it used to,” I said sadly, “everything is changing.”

Caleb watched me intently, as if searching for something. “Then I guess we have to change it for the better.”

It didn’t take long to unpack my things into the apartment Caleb had designated for me on his estate. It was connected to the main house where he lived, but it had its own front and back doors.

I finally had filled out the space with furniture and a few decorations, but it didn’t quite feel like home yet. It probably just takes time, I consoled myself. I just need to get through the next few months, and this will feel normal again.

I looked through the window as Caleb helped me hang the curtains above the dining table. I had brought the light blue gauzy ones from my childhood room, since the color was soothing and familiar.

There were beautiful flowering trees that looked just like the ones my parents had planted, and much more nature on his estate than I was expecting. Caleb didn’t quite seem like the outdoorsy type.

“Does that look okay?” He asked, holding up the bar to level it so the curtains would hang correctly.

“Maybe up a little bit on the right?” I said, standing back to get a better look.

“How’s that?” He asked, adjusting the bar slightly.

“That’s perfect!” I said, and handed him another screw.

Caleb

So domestic, you’re acting like a husband already. Thor said teasingly, offering up the images of Ruby bent over looking through her things.

I brushed the thought away as I walked out of her apartment and back to the main house. I have work to do, and you’re distracting me. I said to Thor in irritation.

You’re the one making heart eyes and acting all lovey-dovey every time you two are in the same room, Thor said, in a tone that suggested he was rolling his eyes very hard.

Look, I’m not a piece of shit, I’m going to help my fiance when she needs it. You don’t have to read into everything.

I huffed out a breath as I got to my room, pulling out the drawer in the desk. There was a small stack of papers there with the official seal of the Lycan Kingdom stamped on in bright red wax.

I had requested the marriage documents a few weeks ago just to be prepared, and have been keeping them safe while we dealt with everything else going on.

With Lucas’s new moves to try to secure more power for himself and the violence he was planning to start at the Alpha Ball, I realized it might be time to sign the papers. Even if we did it in secret, it would give both Ruby and I more legal protections if anything went badly.

Joseph had been advising me that it might be time, especially with the concerning pieces of information his network of spies had collected. Lucas’s supporters were becoming more vocal, particularly those who believed the vicious lies he was spreading.

It was time to do something.

I spent the rest of the afternoon coming up with a more official plan to present to Ruby, with the details of our arrangement sorted out on paper. It was already dark out by the time I was ready to present my ideas to her.

I pulled on a light jacket, and tied the marriage documents neatly into a legal folder.

The front door of her apartment sounded hollow when I knocked, echoing strangely in the nighttime air. I waited for a few moments, and knocked again.

There was no response, and I looked around to the window she had left slightly open. Could someone have climbed in there? Is she alright? The paranoid thought popped into the back of my mind before I could squash it.

I had come to the front entrance thinking it was more polite, but I could still get in through the hallway which connected her rooms to the main house.

There’s always the chance, Thor said quietly.

I knocked one last time, finally starting to panic. Thor urged me on as I raced around the building to the other entrance, and stumbled into the living room.

Ruby was there, safe and unharmed, with a pair of earphones on. She was standing in a towel, facing the kitchen counter, with drops of water trailing sensuously down her legs.

I heaved a few breaths, my eyes wandering over her exposed body. Her shoulders sloped gently from her neck, and her wet hair rested in waves against her back.

She turned, with a yogurt in her hands, and jumped when she met my eyes. “Oh my god, Caleb, you scared me.”

My hands shook slightly, but I stuffed them into my pockets. For once, I didn’t know what to say.

“Are you okay?” She asked, coming up to face me more clearly.

I felt the sudden urge to touch her lips, that soft, sweet mouth I had tasted a few days before. Would she let me get that close to her again?

“Caleb?” She repeated, looking concerned.

I shook my head. Damn it. I think I might be more attracted to her than I thought.