Chapter Three
1179 Words
Bella’s POV
I stay where I am, Caleb’s eyes are fixed on me. I can’t get any scent, any feeling - any thought from him. I try to reach him, but I can’t… Right now, he has completely shut off our connection. He is only a few feet away from me and it feels like we are miles apart, he is completely unreachable.
Caleb just looks away and buries his fingers in the woman's long, wavy hair.
I take an instinctive, retreating step. My back hits the wall in the corridor, my chest rising heavily. I can no longer stay there, I am suddenly filled with the need to be away.
I walked blindly ahead, my vision blurred. The voice of my wolf is so loud I want to press my hands over my ears as if that would silence her. She keeps chanting Caleb’s name - a pained melody of his betrayal.
My mind is a storm, the image of Caleb, taking this woman to bed. Our bed… I find myself walking faster, unsure exactly where I am going. I remember my mother’s words, the ones I grew up with :
The most difficult position in the Bloodflame pack is the position of the woman. Regardless of who she is.
I now know what she meant - because the woman is the keeper of the family.
Caleb is my husband. We have been together for so long. Even though I am an Omega- and I wasn’t what he expected, we were happy at first. I know there was a time when he loved me. I believe he still loves me, the way a husband loves his wife. The passionate love never lasts for too long. But our mutual understanding and respect are what will keep us together through the difficult moments. We have two beautiful children. We have everything we could have asked for.
This woman most likely doesn’t mean anything to him. Caleb has never brought another woman before. Then the image of them together flashes before my eyes again.
My wolf’s pain is growing- and I know he is still with this woman. But the bond we share is sacred. My family is my entire world, and I am ready to do anything for them. My mother was right- I am the keeper of the family. I won’t just accept what is going on.
Especially not now that the Alpha Inheritance ceremony is tomorrow. I am not as weak as everyone thinks I am - especially not as useless as Olivia thinks.
I put myself together and joined the rest of the wolves in preparation for the ceremony tomorrow. Everything will go well. It has to. Once the ceremony is over, I will speak privately to my husband. For now, I will do everything that is expected of me and prepare for my role- the role of Luna, who will be by her husband’s side.
And yet, when the night falls, Caleb doesn’t come to me, even though I waited for him until dawn broke and the sun showed.
***
The Bloodflame pack’s ceremonies are always held at night. We believe this is the time the eternal flames and the moon awaken, casting their lights over the wolf nation.
The moon is full in the sky, its silver light is so strong it hides all the stats surrounding her. The torches in the yard are numerous lined in a long aisle and burning bright. Their flames are so high - from where I am standing it looks like they are almost touching the moon. The inheritance ceremony is deeply rooted in the tradition of the fire and one of the priests brings the sacred torch. It has been burning for decades, and its flames are protecting the royal family.
I step out, and my dress feels weird on me. The legend says it was sewn with sacred threads- if the fire doesn't accept me as a mate to the future Alpha, it might kill me.
But I will be here, I have to be by my mate’s side, no matter what.
I didn’t sleep the whole night, waiting for Caleb to come to me. That, and the anticipation from the day is starting to get to me. I shake off the tiredness and remind myself to be present and keep my head high.
Everyone is here, my eyes travelling the wolves that have gathered for the ceremony. I see some of my friends, but most of the wolves are royals. The most noble wolves from our neighbouring packs are here, too.
Olivia is standing only a few feet away from me and I hear her voice in my head.
Don't mess this up. Don’t do anything wrong, or you will bring disgrace to the family. And if you do, you will burn in the eternal flames of the pack.
And I almost nod at her. I rehearsed in my head the steps of the ceremony. The flames grow higher and the wind starts blowing. We all know it’s time.
I smooth my dress and I see my maid guiding Violet through the crowd. My daughter looks so beautiful in the princess gown, her hair is made exactly as per the tradition.
Violet is doing so well, walking confidently but I know she is nervous.
The marks on my palm still burn, reminding me of what happened yesterday but I ignore them.
Elder Benjamin approaches the dice and the fire grows even stronger and higher.
All the wolves start shifting in their spots, the air growing heavy with anticipation.
The fire will judge the bond- if the mate bond is weak, that would mean the future alpha will be a weak leader too. But it will also judge our bond with our children.
We can do this, I know we can. We are together in this, no matter what happens. My wolf is prepared, in fact, she is buzzing with the need to be close to her other half. To be by his side in one of the most important moments for the pack- and for our family.
The maid brings my daughter to the dice and Violet smiles at me.
Then my eyes flutter to the side expecting the maid will be back with Nicholas, or that another will guide him forward. But I discover with horror he is not here. I look around, and then I step on my toes to see better, maybe he is out there with Olivia.
He isn't.
Where is he…where is my son?
I glance frantically around. Laughter and whispers reach me from all directions as Elder Benjamin speaks the sacred words, calling Caleb. Caleb walks towards the dice, the crowd parting to make way for him.
He looks like a god- beautiful and almighty. The flames are throwing their burning hands around him, protectively. The ceremony is about to begin and the air is so hot with anticipation.
Where are you? Please be near…
I keep glancing around, terrified. But my son is not here.
Nicholas is gone.
- Writer
