chapter 2-promises beneath the moon
829 Words
"If you hang that ribbon any lower, Beta Rowan is going to make you decorate the whole courtyard again."
The familiar voice drifted toward me with a hint of amusement, making me smile before I even turned around.
I pretended not to hear him, stretching onto my tiptoes to tie the silver ribbon into a perfect bow around the wooden beam.
"There," I murmured proudly. "Perfect."
"It leans to the left."
"It does not."
"It definitely does."
I turned to find Kael standing a few feet away, balancing two large crates against one shoulder as though they weighed nothing. A smug grin spread across his face.
"You haven't even looked at it properly."
"I don't have to." He shrugged. "I can tell from here."
"You've suddenly become an expert in ribbons?"
"No."
"Then how do you know it's crooked?"
"Because you tied it."
I gasped dramatically, placing a hand over my chest.
"I cannot believe you just insulted my decorating skills."
"I didn't insult them." He stepped closer, his gray eyes dancing with mischief. "I merely questioned whether you have any."
"You are impossible."
"So I've been told."
I folded my arms and lifted my chin. "Fine. If you're so talented, you do it."
"Gladly."
He handed the crates to a passing warrior before walking over to the ribbon. He studied it for a moment, nodding thoughtfully as though he were solving a life-or-death problem.
"Hmm..."
"What?"
"I've discovered the issue."
"There isn't an issue."
"There is now."
Before I could stop him, he reached up and deliberately untied the neat bow I'd spent almost ten minutes perfecting.
"Kael!"
He burst into laughter as the ribbon slipped loose.
"Oh, that's a much bigger problem than I expected."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"You did that on purpose!"
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."
"Liar."
"Guilty."
I grabbed a handful of flower petals from the basket beside me and threw them straight at his face.
He blinked as white petals rained over his dark hair.
For a heartbeat, the entire courtyard fell silent.
Then someone started laughing.
Soon everyone else joined in.
"You've got flowers in your hair!" Gamma Theo shouted.
Kael reached up, pulling a petal from his shoulder before looking at me with narrowed eyes.
"Oh... we're playing that game now?"
I took one careful step backward.
"No."
Another step.
"Rory."
His voice had that dangerous calmness that always meant trouble.
"I wouldn't."
"Oh, you definitely would."
I spun around and ran.
The courtyard erupted with laughter as I darted between tables, clutching my basket while Kael chased after me.
"Get back here!"
"You started it!"
"You threw flowers at your future Alpha!"
"You untied my ribbon!"
"I improved it!"
"You destroyed it!"
Children cheered as we ran past them, and even some of the warriors had to hide their smiles.
I was laughing so hard I almost didn't notice the wooden bucket in front of me.
Almost.
I stopped just in time.
Unfortunately, Kael didn't.
He crashed into me from behind, and the force sent us both stumbling.
Strong arms wrapped around my waist to keep me from falling.
For a brief second, neither of us moved.
I could hear his breathing.
Feel the warmth of his hands through the thin fabric of my dress.
"You two planning on standing like that all day?" Beta Rowan called with a grin.
My face burned.
Kael immediately stepped back, clearing his throat.
"She stopped too suddenly."
"You were the one chasing me," I muttered.
"Because someone attacked me with flowers."
"You deserved it."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
He opened his mouth to argue, but Aunt Clara walked over carrying another basket of moonflowers.
"Enough, both of you."
We straightened instantly.
"If you spent half as much energy decorating as you do teasing each other, we'd have finished an hour ago."
"Sorry, Aunt Clara," we said at the same time.
She shook her head, trying—and failing—to hide a smile.
"I've watched you two bicker since you were children. Some things never change."
Kael looked at me with a grin.
"I told you she likes me more."
"I heard that," Aunt Clara replied without turning around.
His grin vanished.
"I was joking."
"Good. Then you can prove it by helping Aurora hang the lanterns."
I couldn't stop myself from laughing.
"Looks like you're stuck with me."
He sighed dramatically.
"My greatest punishment."
"Oh?"
"I suppose I'll survive."
I nudged his shoulder as we picked up the box of lanterns together.
The teasing never bothered me.
If anything, it had become the rhythm of our friendship.
We argued over ribbons.
We competed over the smallest things.
We annoyed each other almost every day.
Yet somehow...
Whenever I looked around for him, he was already looking for me.
And whenever the pack needed volunteers, we always ended up working side by side.
I never questioned it.
To me, it simply felt like home.
- Writer
