Chapter 10: I Won't Submit To Something As Crappy As Fate

When the quick pulsing music ended, Caph tugged Ran into him. Their bodies clashed and heat that crackled between them almost produced visible sparks.

Ran could see the surprise in Caph's euphoric blue eyes as she took deep breaths to calm herself down.

This amount of exertion was nothing compared to the physical training she routinely practiced, yet she was more breathless now than she had ever been then.

And the heat...

Did the pack in charge of setting up this month make the bonfire twice as big?

Ran felt as though her skin was burning, as though she had just shifted.

She pulled herself away from Caph, surprised to find herself reluctant to part from her sticky partner.

Bear with the discomfort, Ran, she told herself. For the pack.

Her right hand tightened around Caph's fingers.

He squeezed back and met her coal-black eyes.

A calmer ballad came through the ancient-looking speakers but they forgot to dance. He was mesmerised by the flicking shadows of the flames in the abyss of her eyes and she was staring at his blue eyes now green in the yellowish light of the bonfire.

Caph had danced with females before. But this was the first time it felt so unusual, so...uncomfortably electrifying. His skin prickled and a suffocating itch rose in his chest as he whirled Ran around.

Maybe it had to do with the climate. Septrion County was nearer the equator than Polemon County after all.

'What do you want to drink?' he asked, shattering the silence between them. 'Cow's blood?'

Ran scowled at him.

Werewolves drank blood the way humans drank protein shakes and energy drinks. It revitalised them, gave them strength. Offering her cow's blood in this situation seemed like an insult.

Like Caph was implying their dance would have tired her out because she was female.

He noticed her reaction and smirked. 'We did run all the way here from Punggol,' he pointed out. 'And you were busy with your Beta duties all day.'

Ran blinked, unsure of how to react.

Was she...touched?

She shook her head. 'I'm fine.'

Caph tilted his head. She didn't answer his question.

Ran scrunched up her face. 'I mean, cow's blood is fine.'

He smirked again and let go of her hand.

'Wait for me by the bonfire.'

They sat on the same log where they roasted marshmallows one month ago, sipping metallic cow's blood. Ran examined Caph's contented expression. He was more relaxed during this Gathering than he had been in the previous one.

She knew it had nothing to do with his being from a different county—she had seen how he interacted with werewolves he had never met before.

'Your father didn't come to Septrion County this time,' she guessed.

He nodded. 'He trusts your uncle to keep an eye on me.'

Ran snorted. So even the Alpha of Cassiopeia knew how determined Acamar was to marry her off.

An awkward silence ensued.

Caph gave her an awkward grin. 'I won't cause trouble.'

She nodded. 'So long as you don't get seen by another werewolf, you can do whatever you want with whoever you want.' Ran looked into the green glow of his eyes in the firelight. 'That was the arrangement.'

His face turned rueful. 'My reputation precedes me here too, huh?'

Ran did not reply. It was pretty obvious from the way he flirted with every female in sight.

'I don't really try to seduce the females, you know.'

Ran snorted. 'Right. It just happens.'

It was his turn to scowl.

'Yes, it just happens every time i try to be nice.'

Ran bit back a remark she was about to make because his face softened. He had a faraway look in his eyes. He flushed slightly. It was cute.

'I'm looking for the mate i'm bonded to.'

She took another sip to distract herself but her cup was empty. 'You believe in bonded mates?'

'Our ancestors only married their bonded mates. It used to be the norm. I don't know why we stopped doing it.'

It was her turn to smirk. 'Because there's too many werewolves now. It's impractical. How will you ever find your bonded mate? She could be from a pack on the other side of the globe.'

Caph grunted. 'Well, that's how my reputation came about.' He smiled at Ran. 'I'm actually a hopeless romantic. Do you believe me?'

Ran turned quickly to stare into the fire. He was flirting with her again! Was he acting? Was he being serious?

'I won't submit to something as crappy as fate.'

Bathed in the glow of the fire, it was hard to tell whether the tip of her ears turned pink.