Chapter 55

Six weeks later

He lapped at my clit with his tongue, drinking in my taste and sending another electric shock of pleasure to my core. I gasped and clutched at the sheets by my head, riding out my orgasm. We had compeltely rumpled the bedding, our bedding.

“Goddess, Caleb, where did you learn to do that?” I breathed as he emerged from under the covers to kiss me, taking my tongue into his mouth with warm, slick lips.

“I’ve had a bit of practice,” he murmured, smiling.

I sighed into my pillow, looking out the window of the King’s suite in the Lycan palace. The doors were unlocked and open, and neither of us were worried about enemies attempting to break in. After the battle between Lucas and Caleb on the palace lawns, Caleb used his Alpha powers to ensure Lucas was never able to come near the Lycan Kingdom again.

We weren’t sure where exactly he went, he vanished like a ghost into the rain that night. I remembered watching him sulk away, hunched over like the weight of his crimes was finally catching up to him. His supporters practically dissolved when they awoke that morning to find their leader had abandoned them after a failed solo attack.

There were a few stragglers who believed the whole thing had been a hoax, and were convinced Lucas was coming back to bring them to victory. Within a month, though, this minority had totally died out.

There was no question that Caleb had won the final battle, and his father officially named him as successor a week later.

I touched his cheek gently, tracing the curving shape of his cheekbones down to his jaw. In the short time I had of the two of them together, it was obvious there was some resemblance between the new Lycan King and the old.

But his resiliency, honesty, integrity… all of those things Caleb had learned for himself.

I sighed, nestled into Caleb’s side and rested my head on his shoulder. “Are you comfortable?” I asked, looking up into his eyes.

“Very, darling.” He said, grinning and tucking me tighter into him. “And the baby?” He asked, placing a gentle hand over my abdomen.

It was much too early to feel the baby moving, but I had known I was pregnant for a few weeks. “Oh, I think he’s very cozy in there.”

“He? You think we’ll be welcoming Caleb Jr. into the family?”

I laughed, “You think I’m letting you name our child Caleb Jr.?”

“It’s a phenomenal name, I can’t think of a better one for a little boy. That way he’ll be sure to grow up strong like his father.”

I chuckled, turning my attention to the bundle of life growing inside of me. I could never forget the baby Lucas and Harper killed in my past life, and sometimes my emotions were still slightly complicated as I relived those memories.

But the past was becoming farther and farther away the more days I lived in this new reality, and I was sure that the child I had lost would be waiting for me and their new sibling.

You are glowing! Willow whispered to me, and the rush of joy I felt at hearing her voice again nearly brought tears to my eyes. A few days after my mate's bond with Lucas was shattered, I began to hear soft echoes of her at the back of my mind. Through work and focus, she slowly reemerged into the center of my mind, and the reunion felt like a piece of myself returning to me, finally letting me be whole once again.

I’m happy, Willow. I replied, reaching up to kiss Caleb on the cheek.

As happy as I had thought I was in my past life, nothing had ever compared to this. It had taken some time and some effort between us to resolve our differences and miscommunications, but I was shocked at how different the mate bond felt when you were truly loved by your mate in return.

“Coffee?” Caleb asked, nudging into my neck with his nose.

“Yes, please.” I said, stretching my arms over my head.

“I’ll be right back,” he responded, kissing me on the lips and slipping out of bed.

I looked over the slight mess of our room, clothes strewn over the floor from last night and stemmed glasses we never finished on the nightstand.

As I climbed out of bed, I wrapped my robe around my body and stepped out onto the cool air of the balcony. It was the end of summer, and all the events of the past few months seemed to finally be calming into a more peaceful routine.

The gardens of the palace were thick with gardenias, and I inhaled the delicate scent like wine. Replacing the flowers had originally been Caleb’s idea, and I was touched that he was willing to pay homage to my upbringing in Prenia by bringing their most beautiful buds into the Lycan castle.

It brought us closer together, sharing stories of our childhoods there.

Should I tell Caleb about my rebirth? I wondered to Willow, mulling over in my mind the one secret I hadn’t shared with him. What would I even say, it sounds so unbelievable I wouldn’t know where to start.

I could feel Willow chuckling, You can, if you want to. But you’re not tied to that past life anymore. You were given a chance at a new life, and you took it.

Do you think so? I asked.

Without a doubt, Willow said. The Goddess granted you new life, with new love and new opportunities for the future. Whatever happens from here, you get to decide. Not Lucas, not even Caleb.

“Ruby?” I heard him call from inside the room. Speak of the devil, I thought to Willow.

“I’m out here!” I said, waving him out onto the balcony. The coffee cup warmed my hands, and I took a few eager sips.

“What do you think of your new subjects?” He asked jokingly, leaning on the balcony rails and nodding at a colony of bees buzzing around the gardenia blooms.

“Sweet, but a bit sharp. I hear they make delicious sweets, though.” I said, laughing.

“These and everyone else will be calling you, Queen Ruby soon.” Caleb said as he slid his hands around my middle. “Is that what you’d like me to call you, too?”

“Queen Ruby, I like that.” I said. “But maybe not for you. I think the sound of my mate is so much better.”

“My mate, it is then.” He said, leaving a soft kiss on my neck.

I took another sip of my coffee and sighed. For the first time in my life, I was so excited for the future.