Chapter 20: He Is Different Now
When Caph was first sent to college in Septrion County, he missed home.
He wanted to go back to The Citadel in Polemon County where he knew everyone—even if they didn't think very highly of him.
Now he was here, sitting at the dining table with his parents and three older brothers in their ancient castle, and he wanted to go home to Punggol.
To Eridanus.
To where Ran was.
Where Acamar would pat him on the back and tell him what he'd be doing tomorrow.
And Ran would scowl and make a face because he was late to the study. Again.
Instead, he was home with his family and he was invisible.
When he sat at the table, his Beta oldest brother was discussing pack politics with Celphus and his mother bickered with Covi and Cam, his other two brothers about vegetables.
Nobody noticed he was there.
Even Jelsie had forgotten to take out an extra set of utensils for him. He had to get it for himself.
It wasn't a big deal, he told himself.
He hadn't been home for quite some time. It was natural to forget.
But somehow, it made him feel a little lonely.
Like he was dispensible.
Caph never felt that way before.
In the past, he came and went as he pleased, shirked his responsibilities and chores and went around looking for his soulmate.
If anything, he wished he was invisible or that his parents would forget they had a fourth son, so that they'd stop complaining about what he did.
Well, he thought ruefully as he ate, he got what he wanted.
They handed him over to another pack to get rid of a freeloader and benefit Cassiopeia at the same time. He was no longer their responsibility.
And it didn't seem like he was missed at all.
After dinner, Celphus, his Beta oldest brother, Covi and Cam left to deal with a territory dispute he knew nothing about. Jelsie went to placate some pack elders. He was all alone in the castle, staring at the ceiling of his old bedroom.
Was he still a part of Cassiopeia?
Why didn't anyone bother explaining to him what was going on?
Did they think he wouldn't be interested?
The old him certainly wouldn't. The Caph who had no intention of caring about pack politics or of marrying into power. But he had changed.
Living under the same roof as Ran had changed him.
Finding his bonded mate had given him a new perspective.
He was different now.
Caph smiled to himself, thinking of Ran as he fell asleep.
He dreamt of her. They were sparring together in the garden behind the manor, making bets, drinking cow's blood to prove they had more stamina.
He lunged at her.
She was too slow and they fell together, tumbling across the grass.
When he opened his eyes, her bright yellow eyes smiled at him from above in the dark.
Yellow eyes?
He blinked sleep from his eyes.
A grin creased the beautiful female face in front of him.
'Good morning Caph. I'm back.'
Not Ran. Her voice was different.
Also, Ran would never smile seductively at him like that.
The young female leaned closer and whispered into his ear, 'Do you need a hint?'
Caph smiled at her.
'No need,' he said, sitting up away from her, flicking on the light switch. 'Welcome home Nusha. It's been a while.'
She flung herself at him.
Usually, he'd let her.
She was a very affectionate person by nature. He was used to it.
But this time, Ran's face flashed through his mind. He crossed his arms in an 'x'.
'Nope. I have a girlfriend now.'
Nusha's bright yellow eyes flickered. Her cheerful expression faltered for a moment but her sweet smile returned almost immediately.
'Who is it this time?' she asked. Nusha sat down next to him.
Well, next to him is putting it nicely.
She practically forced herself into his lap, one hand draped over his shoulder, head tilted to examine his face.
'Some Septrion County girl you met at college? Is she cute? When will you break up?'
Caph stared into Nusha's eyes, trying to understand what she was thinking.
He saw affection in her eyes.
Affection for him.
She was his oldest friend after all. She knew him best, her eyes said.
She knew it wouldn't last.
His relationships never did.
She was his only constant friend.
The one who never hated him no matter what, who stayed by his side even when the rest rejected him.
She was sure this time too, that this new girl wouldn't stay.
Caph took a deep breath.
He said, 'She's my bonded mate.'