Chapter 2: All These Expectations

Heat warmed Ran's face. She defied her instincts and met her uncle's gaze. Anger flashed in her coal-black eyes and she expressed her hostility at the unfair command he gave her.

'That's a pleasant surprise,' Caph remarked, checking her out.

Acamar looked back at her calmly, secure in the knowledge that she had to obey because he was the current Alpha.

Yes, she had to obey now, her eyes said to him, but she won't let him get away with humiliating her like this.

Acamar's gaze was unwavering, even with the weight of resentment in her eyes. They often butted heads because the way he led the pack was different from how her father had done it. Ran realised why he chose to make this command of her in front of total strangers.

Cornering her like this in front of the Alpha of the Cassiopeia pack would ensure that she obeyed the command to preserve Eridanus' reputation.

Cassiopeia was an ancient werewolf pack that bore many generations of legendary heroes—they were still revered today.

The stocky Alpha of Cassiopeia, Celphus, cleared his throat, breaking up their silent but emotional exchange. 'Let's leave the youngsters to get to know each other.'

Acamar gave Ran a final warning glare and led Celphus to the buffet spread.

Ran watched them leave, blood roaring in her ears. The bag of marshmallows burst open in her hands.

'Nice to meet you too,' Caph said, hands in his jean pockets. His bright blue eyes were unapologetic.

She glared at him sideways, blaming him for her predicament.

He simply smiled in response, taking a step closer to her.

Ran took a step back.

'Hm...' He leaned forward.

She leaned away.

'I like what I see,' he said. He pulled one hand from his jean pocket and offered it to her. 'Let's get along.'

Was arranged marriage still a thing? Ran had no need for a partner. She didn't want one.

Why did he accept this so easily? Clearly, he hadn't been informed beforehand either.

He saw the confusion in her eyes and said with a shrug, 'I don't have a reason to reject you yet.'

Reluctantly, she took his hand.

When she touched him, a warm current jolted up her arm, lighting up her whole body, making her gasp.

She dropped her marshmallows and pulled her hand away from him.

Apparently, she wasn't the only one.

Caph also had a strange glow in his bright blue eyes.

He stared at his hand for a moment, puzzled.

Then, he picked up her bag of marshmallows and reached out for her again.

Ran pulled her arm back, out of his reach.

He smiled, a beautiful half-smirk that made the hair on the back of her neck prickle, and took her hand anyway.

The static that burned at their touch crackled once more, but this time they were prepared.

'Come with me,' he said, already dragging her towards the bonfire.

Caph pushed marshmallows into a sharp stick and held it out to her.

Ran hesitated, so he stuffed it into her hand, causing heat not from the bonfire to seep through her skin and make her heart beat faster.

He didn't seem to be affected by the electricity of their touch anymore and concentrated on making a second marshmallow skewer for himself.

They sat on a log in front of the towering fire, leaning their skewers towards the bonfire like fishing rods.

'So you're the previous Alpha's kid, huh?'

His voice was low and raspy.

Ran wasn't sure what she should do about him.

'Must be hard,' he continued when she didn't respond, 'handling all these expectations.'

His blue eyes turned green in the yellow glow of the bonfire.

'How'd you become the Beta so young? I think you must be the youngest female Beta in werewolf history.'

This was a safe topic. Everyone asked her about it when they had nothing else to say to her. If he was asking her about a fact he would have heard plenty about already, then maybe he had only been playing along with the courtship thing in front of the Alphas.

Ran relaxed and shrugged. 'I worked hard. Expectations, like you said.'

His eyes glowed when she spoke. There was curiosity in his gaze.

He didn't believe that was all.

But before he could prompt her to give an explanation, she spoke, 'Why are the two of you in Septrion County? What about your county's own Full Moon Gathering?'

Caph blew on his browned marshmallow and gulped it whole.

'I'm studying at a college here. My father came to visit for...reasons and left my brother in charge. So we decided to come to your Full Moon Gathering instead.'

'Sorry you got roped into my uncle's quest to marry me off,' she said.

Caph laughed. He leaned closer to her and draped one arm around her shoulders. The green light in his eyes was smothering hot.

'It's okay, I don't mind,' he whispered into her ear. 'I'll play along to keep the old folks happy.'

There was a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Ran almost smiled. She stabbed another marshmallow onto her stick.

Caph watched her, almost mesmerised by her reaction.

After a pause, he guessed, 'You don't attend college, do you?'

'I'm the Beta of my pack. I have things to do everyday.'

'But what about your future? If you don't marry someone eligible to be Alpha, you'll have to step down.'

Ran shook her head stubbornly.

'I'm not going to marry an eligible Alpha. I am going to be the Alpha.'

Caph snorted a bark of laughter. 'Females can't be Alphas.'

He leaned close to her again, so close she could smell the marshmallows on his breath. A hot chill ran down her spine.

'You're too precious to be just an Alpha.'

Ran slapped him across the face.

Hard.

A few werewolves nearby turned to look.

'And you're just a power-hungry mongrel like the rest of them.'

She stabbed her marshmallow skewer into the ground and stalked away.