Chapter 32: Suspicious Happenings

Their plane from Buttercup International Airport reached New City Terminal just as the sun was setting. 'This is Ursa Minor territory,' Caph whispered to Ran as they emerged from customs and hailed a taxi to his home in The Citadel.
Ran's eyes widened. 'They live among humans?'
Caph nodded. 'They still keep their wolf form a secret like the rest of us but yeah, they have totally integrated into human society.'
It was an impressive feat. More importantly, it was her father's dream.
Ran looked around her in awe. Another pack had done it!
It was possible!
Adrenaline rushed through her.
She wanted to explore New City, meet Ursa Minor's Alpha—but the taxi had stopped in front of her and Caph was holding the door open.
Reluctantly, she retreated into the leather interior. Another time, she told herself.
Celphus and Jelsie greeted Ran enthusiastically.
She wasn't given a guest room even though there were plenty of them in this old refurbished castle. The Alpha of Cassiopeia surpassed her uncle in his enthusiasm to marry his son off.
Ran put her bags down in Caph's room and turned to go downstairs for dinner with the rest of his family.
But Caph closed the door and stood in the way.
'What is it?' she demanded warily.
His bright blue eyes darkened and he tilted his head to the side as if indicating that she should know exactly what this was about.
She didn't, her blank stare told him.
'Your uncle is suspicious of us.'
Her eyes narrowed. 'At the Eridanus manor, you stormed off without me.'
'I was angry! It was sudden.'
'I know. But you're usually more careful about putting up a front.'
The tips of her ears burned.
She hadn't realised the implications of what she had done. The whole reason she made this tedious arrangement with Caph had been to fool her uncle. In just one moment of anger, she messed it up.
'Why are you bringing this up now?' she asked.
'I took care of it,' Caph said proudly, half-grinning. 'The Regent of Eridanus thinks you have seduced me, so now his plan to use me as a figurehead is ruined.'
Ran stared into his two churning orbs of desire. 'Eh...thank you.'
'Mh-uh,' he responded disapprovingly, shaking his head. 'Not good enough. You have to do better.'
He stepped forward.
She backed away. 'What do you want?'
He stepped forward again.
She backed into the bed and could go no further.
He rested his hands on her shoulders and sat her down on his bed, bending over her. His red-brown hair tumbled playfully into his face.
'A reward,' he whispered, his eyes making her fall. 'Kiss me, Ran.'
Ran tried to push him away. She could feel herself begin to blush. 'I already said thank you. Why isn't that good enough?'
'Because it's not true,' he said huskily, 'is it?'
He leaned closer to her.
She tilted her head to meet his.
'It is. You fell for me first.'
'But you want me too,' he insisted.
'I'm still thinking about it,' she replied.
'Good.' He parted his lips to kiss her.
She closed her eyes.
The kiss never came.
The electric heat she was expected to feel never reached her.
She opened one eye.
Caph had stopped himself an inch from her lips. His eyes gleamed triumphantly.
A grin on his face.
He licked his lips and she trembled slightly from the feeling of his breath on her skin.
Her ears burned beneath her hair, her cheeks blushing.
She growled.
His grin grew.
He backed off and left her feeling strangely disappointed.
'I wanted assurance,' he admitted.
She stared at him, her coal eyes uncomprehending.
Assurance of what?
He opened the door of his room for her.
'Assurance that you're thinking about me.'
The shock on Ran's face was priceless. Her lips parted, jaw slack, eyes confused, still processing what he said. She looked vulnerable. Caph memorised this expression of hers—it was his favourite so far.

***

The sun had set.
Cars whizzed by the highway. Everyone was in a hurry to reach home.
The petrol station in the middle of nowhere was deserted. Dark. The minimart had closed and was shuttered for the night.
Then, a car turned off the highway and parked beside a petrol terminal.
A figure emerged from the vehicle, but not to fill up petrol.
He lit a cigarette and leaned against his car.
Waiting.
A motorbike turned off the highway next and stopped in front of the first figure.
The rider removed her helmet and plucked the cigarette from between his lips. 'It's been a while,' she said.
He growled in protest.
She exhaled smoke in his face.
He didn't flinch.
'What do you want?' he asked.
'You know about Caph and Ran's betrothal.'
The figure folded his arm. 'So?'
'He's brought Ran to Cassiopeia for the Full Moon Gathering,' the rider said.
'What's that got to do with me?' he grumbled.
'You're like me,' she insinuated.
He was about to protest, so she continued quickly.
'They're not good for each other.'
She returned his cigarette and smiled.
'We need to split them up.'