Chapter 11: I'll Help You

He smirked at her reaction. 'So, why are you working so hard to become Alpha? Why not just take it easy and let your uncle continue leading the pack? He seems to be doing a good job of it so far.'

Ran shook her head. 'He is doing what he thinks is best. But it's not what my father wanted for Eridanus.'

'Have you talked to him about it?'

She stared at him. He seemed genuinely concerned. 'Acamar always thought my father was weak. He blamed the rogue attack on my father's misguided leadership. After the attack, Acamar took over as Regent Alpha and the pack thrived.'

Caph waited for her to continue.

Usually, she wouldn't have kept on talking. He wasn't a friend after all—just an arrangement. But the warmth of the fire and the electrical current that crackled between them caused her to lower her guard.

'One time I was playing hide-and-seek with my cousins at home. Then I overheard Acamar telling my aunt that they had to marry me off to someone who believed in his way of doing things.'

Her eyes hardened. Her voice turned bitter.

'If not, I, the daughter of the incompetent late Alpha, who did nothing to help rebuild the pack into what it is today, would make all his efforts go down the drain.'

Ran let out a bark of harsh laughter.

'I can't let him hold my father in derision. I won't. I'm going to prove that my father was a revolutionary Alpha by being Alpha in his place.'

She leaned her head back to stare up at the stars in the sky, wondering which one was her father looking down on her.

'No one thinks I'll be able to do it though,' she mumbled.

Suddenly, there was a warm hand on hers. A current jolted between them. Ran flinched. He was close.

Too close.

Yet not close enough.

'I do,' he said in a low voice. 'You can do it. I'll help you.'

Her breath caught in her throat.

She was definitely touched this time.

'Eh... Thanks.'

She ripped his empty cup out of his other hand.

'I'll get you a cold drink.'

Ran hurried away.

Caph watched her go.

His green eyes glowed, turning back to blue as the crowds of werewolves faded away and he saw only her.

His skin prickled uncomfortably.

He had always thought that when he found his mate, he would recognise her instantly. They would get along and he would want her so badly, he wouldn't be able to help himself.

Caph felt no such thing about Ran. They clashed and made each other bristle.

Yes, he found her attractive and her reactions to his antics were amusing, but that was because she was so different from the females he had met before.

If his bonded mate was out there, she would be somebody who loved him and admired him, someone who didn't see him as a threat. God couldn't be so cruel, right?

'I won't submit to something as crappy as fate,' Ran had said.

Fate...

What if...a bonded mate had less to do with attraction and more to do with the person who needed him most?

Ran returned with soda in both cups. She thrust one at him. The fizzy liquid was slightly pink from the cow's blood.

'How are you going to learn the ropes from my uncle if you're in college all the time?' she asked casually.

Caph smiled. She changed the subject. She was warming up to him but she didn't want to admit it.

He touched her fingers as he took his cup.

'I'll take a gap year to help you out,' he replied, just as casually.

She almost spat out the soda in her mouth.

'What? Are you touched? Are you confused? You're bad at acting.'

Ran swallowed the burning liquid, her face red from almost choking.

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

'I'm not confused!' she snapped. 'I definitely hate you!'

When they returned from the Full Moon Gathering, Caph moved into the Alpha's manor, into the guest bedroom at the end of the hallway. Cursa showed him where he could find bedsheets, towels and other household essentials around the manor.

Ran didn't think he had been serious about taking a gap year from college. But Acamar had made the official announcement of their betrothal so all of Septrion County believed Caph would be groomed to be the next Alpha of Eridanus.

Her uncle had requested he move in and get used to being part of the Eridanus pack immediately. He would also have to learn how the pack functioned and how to take over from the Regent Alpha and lead his people.

There was nothing either of them could do but obey.

Acamar would be keeping tabs on them all the time now and training his protege.

Ran kept her expression neutral as she trailed behind Caph and Cursa to the laundry room.

Her uncle had begun watching her.