Page 37 of Fated
Caleb settled into his seat, and Asher slid into the chair beside him, their shoulders brushing as they did. A steadying calm pulsed through their bond, centering Caleb as the group fell into easy conversation, recapping the morning’s events and joking about the chaos of the negotiations.
“Poor Kai,” Aiden remarked. “I thought he was going to burst a blood vessel by the end of that session. Not that I can blame him—dealing with Thorne and Garrick would test the patience of a saint.”
“Or a pack of them,” Asher quipped, earning a smirk from Caleb and a chuckle from Aiden.
Caleb grinned, Kai’s commanding presence still fresh in his mind alongside the sinful fantasies Asher had whispered about capturing the heir between them. “He handled it well, though. I didn’t expect him to take such a firm stance.”
Aiden nodded. “Kai’s got a lot on his plate right now. It’s not easy being Darius’s heir. The Bloodstone name carries a lot of prestige. Between the rogue threat, those northern alphas, his pending alpha ceremony, and—” He hesitated, eyes darting between Caleb and Asher. “Well, I suppose you’ve heard about the…developments last night.”
Caleb raised a brow, Fenrir stirring with curiosity. “Developments?”
Aiden sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Kai found his fated mate last night. And it just so happens to be Cian’s twin sister, Lena.”
Caleb’s hopes of seeing the Bloodstone heir unravel under his and Asher’s hands and mouths were dashed upon learning that Selene had promised him to another. To the sister of the soon-to-be-alpha he’d hoped to forge an alliance and friendship with.
Asher let out a low whistle. “Interesting timing,” he said, though Caleb didn’t miss his beta’s teasing pout.
“It gets better,” Aiden added dryly. “Kai has a long-time girlfriend back home. They’ve been planning to pursue a chosen bond. It’s a source of contention between Kai and Darius, who’s been adamant Kai prioritizes finding his fated. So, as you can imagine, things are…complicated.”
Ice water replaced his blood despite the dining hall’s warmth. How many times had he and Asher danced around discussing this very scenario? What would happen when Selene decidedit was time for one of them to meet their fated? His stomach knotted, acid rising in his throat at the thought of their connection being severed by divine decree, each breath becoming shallow as phantom loss constricted his chest.
“Trust in Her wisdom,”Fenrir rumbled, warmth flowing through their bond. “What Selene has joined, she does not easily break. Your path with Asher was never a mistake.”
Caleb gripped Asher’s hand beneath the table, their fingers intertwining as the worry receded.
Before he could speak, Cian appeared at the table, complexion unusually pale. He slid into his seat, avoiding Aiden’s gaze. Even from across the table, Caleb could scent his discomfort.
“Sorry I’m late,” Cian muttered.
Aiden frowned, brows knitting in concern. “Are you alright? Did you find Ryker?”
Cian gulped, face flushed as he avoided eye contact. “Uh…yeah. I found him. He, um…he might not be joining us.”
Aiden’s frown deepened. “Why not?”
Cian hesitated, then blurted, “Because when I got to his room, he was…getting head. And she, uh…might have been…fingering his ass.”
The table fell silent. For a moment, all Caleb could hear was the clink of silverware and the distant hum of conversation from the other tables. Fenrir’s amusement rippled through him, matching his own.
Then, Asher snorted. “Well, good for him. Nothing beats a prostate orgasm!”
The tension shattered as the table erupted into laughter.
Aiden doubled over, tears streaming down his face as he shook his head. “That boy,” he managed between gasps, “is going to be the death of me.”
Cian groaned, burying his face in his hands. “I didn’t need to see that.”
Asher slapped him on the back, still chuckling. “Consider it a lesson in the diversity of claiming rituals.”
Caleb shot Asher a look of mock exasperation. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
Asher smirked, leaning closer to Caleb, his voice just loud enough for the table to hear. “And yet, you love me anyway.”
The group fell into a more relaxed rhythm after that, their laughter dispelling the intensity of the morning. They spent the rest of lunch getting to know one another, sharing stories about their packs and histories. Fenrir stretched and curled within Caleb’s mind, muscles relaxing as the wolf basked in the warmth of genuine connections forming.
When the conversation turned to Crescent Fang, Caleb spoke openly about their isolation, their deep connection to Selene’s teachings, and the challenges of reintegration.
“Living outside the fold meant we had to be self-sufficient,” Asher chimed in, dark eyes sweeping over the group. “But it also gave us perspective. We’ve thrived, built something strong and bountiful. Something worth protecting. That’s why reintegration isn’t just about Crescent Fang. It’s about bringing that strength back to the region.”
