57. Caleb

**Caleb**

My heart is pounding at 300 mph. I have never been as nervous as I am right now. Beneath my fingers, I feel Red’s hand tremble, and I know she is as anxious as I am. Or more. While I was born an Alpha, Red never wanted to be a Luna. But little by little, she is transforming from a shy, abused Omega into a Luna. My Fire Luna.

Elder Adam takes the knife in his hand, his cold eyes finding mine. I smirk.

**‘Can I kill him once the ceremony is over and bury his body in the middle of the forest, where no one will ever find him?’** Raven asks.

For a moment, I am thinking about it. *‘He is not worth it. Once Red and Safia are bonded to us, he will leave. I will have a word with the Council to never send him into my territory!’*

“Rain Blackwater and C—” Elder Adam starts saying and stops at my name. I arch an eyebrow. “Caleb Black,” he finally says my name with such disgust in his tone that I can’t stop myself from grinning, “come before the Goddess to show the love they have for each other and to get their marks, as all soulmates do.” His eyes fall on Red’s right shoulder, and he frowns. “She is marked as a betrayer!”

Red inhales deeply, and I give her a reassuring squeeze. “The betrayer is the one that put such a mark on her! He betrayed her when he promised to protect her, only to harm her more!” I say and look at Jordan. “Fucker!” I mutter. At least he has the decency to look ashamed.

“Is there a way to undo the mark?” Red asks. “I don’t want to see it anymore!”

“Yes!” Tatiana says and walks over to Red and studies the mark for a few moments. “You, stupid wolf, come here!” she says and snaps her fingers at Jordan. He goes to Tatiana. “Repeat after me: ‘I, Jordan Reed, come before the Goddess and admit my mistake of marking Rain Blackwater as a betrayer and a cheater. I take back the mark and wear it until I find my second mate, and she accepts me and our bond!”

Jordan looks shocked for a moment but repeats what Tatiana told him. Moments later, the mark from Red’s shoulder disappears. Jordan rolls his right shoulder a few times before standing next to his Beta and the vampires.

“You can continue the ceremony,” I say to Elder Adam.

He looks at Red’s left shoulder but says nothing about the Crown of Fire. “Rain and Caleb, put your left palms up,” Elder Adam says. Once we do as he asks, he cuts our palms. “Now you can mark each other!”

I stand in front of Red and put my left hand against hers, interlacing our fingers. “I, Caleb Black, claim you, Rain Blackwater, as my soulmate and Luna and swear to protect and love you all my days. You have the most beautiful smile I have ever seen, and I will try to make you laugh every day. With you, all my dreams came true!” I say while I look into her beautiful green eyes. “I love you, Red,” I say and kiss her. “It will hurt for a moment,” I say before licking and kissing her shoulder. She tilts her head, giving me better access so I can mark her. My canines elongate, and I sink them into her delicate skin. Red tenses for a moment before relaxing. When I am sure I marked her, I kiss her shoulder before lifting my head.

A wicked smile appears on Red’s face, and I wonder what she is up to. “I, Rain Blackwater, claim this big, scary Alpha, Caleb Black, as my soulmate and promise to bring color to your life. Some days might be good while others might be bad, but I swear to always hold your hand when we watch horror movies!” Red says, and some pack members laugh. Her eyes shine with unshed tears. She blinks them away. “I love you, Caleb. Thank you for loving me when I hated myself!” I start removing my jacket when Red stops me. “Raven said he wants to put my mark on your face!” she says with a serious face. “So that everyone will know you are mine!”

“Go for it!” Conon yells. He looks at Katherine. “Kitty Kat, when we have our ceremony, I also want to get my mark on my face!”

Katherine narrows her eyes. “On your ass!”

Everyone laughs.

**‘Have I ever told you how much I love this female?’** Raven asks. **‘She remembered my wish!’**

*‘This wish is not happening!’* I say.

Red smiles. “I was just joking; I will not put my mark on your face.”

I remove my jacket and bowtie and undo some buttons, giving Red access to my right shoulder. Before she marks me, we intertwine our fingers once more. Red bites me, and, fuck, I never thought it could feel so erotic. I hope no one spots my hard-on.

**‘Think about Red pegging you!’** Raven says and chuckles.

*‘Raven!’* I hiss. *‘You are not helping!’* Red marks me and peppers some kisses on it. *‘If I ask her, do you think she will peg me?’* I ask Raven.

**‘Looks who’s horny now!’** Raven says and laughs. **‘My turn to mark Safia!’**

While wolves usually mark their mates in their wolf form, Raven wants to do it in a human form, so I give him control over my body.

“You let your wolf take control of your body?” Elder Adam asks.

Raven looks at the Elder. “If there’s one thing Caleb and I have learned in the Vampire Palace, it is how to trust each other,” he says using his Alpha voice. Raven turns his attention to Safia, her golden eyes staring at him with adoration. “Hi, love,” Raven says. “Ready to receive my mark?” Safia nods. “You are perfect the way you are, and I am proud to call you my soulmate,” Raven says before sinking his teeth into her left shoulder, next to the Rain’s Crown of Fire.

When it is Safia’s turn, I can feel her love for Raven. Safia is about to mark Raven when Elder Adam talks. “She-wolf, aren’t you going to say a few words to your mate?”

Safia’s cheeks turn red and Raven growls. “She doesn’t have a voice! But it does not matter; I talk so much, I am sure she is sick of hearing my voice!” Raven says, looking at Elder Adam. Safia marks him. “Later, I will show you how much I love you, Safia,” Raven says before letting me take control.

“Now that you have marked each other, it is time for the Alpha and Luna ceremony! Since the pack stops being a rogue one and it is new to the Werewolf Community, I need the Beta and the Delta couple for the ceremony,” Elder Adam says.

Conon takes Katherine’s hand and stands beside me while Jeremy and Sarah walk next to Red. Elder Adam makes a cut in our right palms and collects blood from each one of us  in the bowl.

“Caleb Black,” Elder Adam says, “repeat after me, ‘I, Caleb Black, swear in front of the Moon Goddess to protect and to serve the members of the Black Ruby Pack. I swear to put the pack above my needs. My strength and wisdom will be used to help my fellow werewolves. I will be an example for the pack, and together with my Luna, we will lead the pack in times of hardship or prosperity!”

Still holding Red’s hand, I repeat the words Elder Adam told me. After everything Raven and I endured and all the hard work I put into creating this pack, I finally take my oath in front of my pack.

My pack, my people howl, and Tatiana comes to me and kisses my cheek. “I am proud of you, Caleb! You are a better Alpha than your father or brothers will ever be!” the witch smirks. “I wonder what you will do if they want to apologize to you.”

“I am not interested in hearing them. Nothing my parents say could justify them leaving me in the hands of the vampires for six years,” I growl and look at Elder Adam.

The Elder clears his throat. “Rain, repeat after me: “I, Rain Black, swear in front of the Goddess to lead and protect the pack together with my soulmate. I will use my abilities and wisdom for the good of my fellow werewolves. I will be an example for others, and together with my soulmate, we will stand next to our pack in times of prosperity or hardship.”

Red repeats after Elder Adam, and I can’t be more proud of her than I am right now. My heart fills with love and happiness. Everything I went through, every time the vampires used me like a blood bag, every torture, everything Sinn did to me or made me do, all those festivities I have been fucked until I felt like dying, and I begged the Goddess to put an end to my suffering or each time I had to serve that fucking leech Queen was worth it to be with Red. If I had to go back to the Vampire Palace and endure everything again, the hope of being reunited with Red would keep me sane.

Conon and Katherine are next to take the oath as the Beta couple, followed by Jeremy and Sarah.

Once all the oaths are said, Elder Adam pours the blood over and around the altar. “Congratulations on your mating and the forming of the pack,” he says, looking at me with disgust.

“I tolerated you on my territory because of the ceremony, but if I ever see you around here again, I will make you suffer. You have five minutes to leave!” I say in a low tone to Elder Adam. He wants to say something, but I ignore him and turn my attention to Red and my pack. “Even if our pack is officially recognized starting with today, we have been a family from the day I found Jon and brought him here to heal from his trauma!” I say and look at the oldest member of my pack. Children look at him, but no one notices the scars on his face. “Now that I have finally marked my soulmate let us celebrate!” I say.

Once I fix my shirt and grab my jacket and Red puts her coat on, we leave the Ritual Stones. When we make it to the Rogue Village, I pick Red up in my arm bride-style and enter the wedding tent. I take Red to the table meant for us, put her on the chair, I sit next to her and look at the marks Raven and I left on her shoulders. “You look so beautiful, Red, and from now on, I only want you to wear my mark when you are in bed with me.”

Red puts her palm right on my face, her fingers dancing on my skin. “I have a few more marks on my body, so wearing only yours is a little impossible.” I chuckle. “Safia tells me you are smiling, and I can smell your happiness, but I want you to tell me how you are feeling.”

I kiss her palm. The cut is almost healed. “Like I have won the grand prize in the lottery. But I am also scared that somehow this is all just a dream, and when I wake up, I am still in the Vampire Palace.”

Red kisses me. “I am real, Caleb. One day, I will burn Sinn and the Vampire Queen for what they did to you.”

I rest my head on her shoulder, and she puts her arms around my neck. “Thank you for existing, Red. When you burn them, I'll stand right next to you!” The tent starts to fill with the pack members, and I lift my head. “Let’s go to our daughter!”

Tristan and his Knights are bringing Sky inside, and Red and I go to them.

“Congratulations!” Tristan says. He looks at me and seems unsure what he wants to tell me. “I stayed a long time in your pack, but I must return to the Palace and take Emma away from there.”

Sky looks at Tristan.” Are you leaving, father?"

“Just for a short while, but I will return to you as soon as possible,” Tristan replies. “Caleb and Rain will keep you safe.”

“I will come with you, but we need a plan. Sinn will expect us, and we need to be smarter than him. Today we celebrate my mating, but tomorrow we will start planning how to get inside the Palace!” I say, hoping he won’t go without me.

“I will stay a few more days,” Tristan says before his knights and he go to their table. Oana, Jordan, and Kevin are sitting with them.

We take Sky to our table, and she sits between Red and Katherine.

Conon goes to the music system and puts ‘Lady in red.’ “The first dance belongs to our Alpha and Luna!” he says.

I take Red in the middle of the tent, put my hands on her hips, and we start moving. “Jeremy and I already started working on the plan for our house,” I say to her. “I was thinking about making a studio for you where you can paint.”

Red smiles, but her eyes are sad. “When you go to the Palace, I want to come with you.”

**‘No!’** Raven roars in my head.

Her eyes go a little wide. “Red, I want you to stay in the pack with Sky. If anything happens while I am there—” I start saying.

Red stops dancing. “You are my half, Caleb, and where you go, I follow! I am coming with you, like it or not!”

"No, Red! You are staying here, where you are safe!" I say but she starts panicking and breathing hard. Fuck. “Focus on your breathing! You will be right by my side when I go to the Palace,” I finally give in.

Red relaxes, and we finish the dance.

Conon is our DJ; he makes sure everyone has fun and dances while Blade and other pack members serve the food. After my dance with Red, she dances with Mr. Smith while I dance with Tatiana.

“Thank you for everything you did for me,” I tell her and kiss her cheek.

The witch narrows her eyes. “Did you hit your head?”

“I am just happy. Why haven’t you told me Red was my soulmate from the beginning?”

She laughs. “Because I had so much fun watching Rain fight you. Remember when she called you Alpha-hole?”

I chuckle. “She was like this little Tasmanian devil, ready to rip my head off whenever I got close to her. That fucker hurt her so much, she didn’t trust anyone.”

**‘She trusted me!’** Raven says proudly. **‘I was the first to get close to her!’**

“Keep the fucker in the pack. Dark days are approaching, Caleb. I still see you back in the cell with Sinn.” It is the first time I see sadness in Tatiana’s eyes.

“If that happens, make sure Red and Sky are safe. You are the only one I trust with their safety! As for Sinn, I will use my magic this time, and Raven can hardly wait to rip him to pieces!” I growl.

A few dances later, I sit at the table and eat something while I watch Red dancing with her Theta Knights. Red puts her hands in the air, closes her eyes, and I swear I have never seen someone more beautiful than her.

Jordan sits next to me. “I made sure the Wardner put Ben in the darkest cell he has! He will never hurt Rain or anyone else again!”

I fold my arms. “What about you? Will you hurt her again?”

“I never wanted to harm—” Jordan starts saying, but I stop him.

“Cut the crap, fucker! You bullied Red and treated her as if she was a slave!” I growl. Ever since the magic trees gave us the marking from our backs, I have seen more of Red’s past and how Jordan treated her.

Jordan is silent for a moment. “I was arrogant and stupid, but I am trying to be better for my pack. Let me stay here until I learn how to work with abused females.”

“Fine,” I say, “but you won’t approach the females unless they are the ones to start a conversation with you!”

“No problem!” Jordan says before going back to his table.

Sometime later, Conon stops the music and looks at me. “Caleminator is the first rogue to form a pack! He has received into Black Ruby Pack rogues from all over Europe, and many packs started to fear him because a pack made only from rogues, imagine!” Conon laughs. I remember when packs called the Council, telling them they feared I would attack them. I snort. “Ever since Caleminator formed the pack, he has never taken a free day. I am sure he will be back in his office tomorrow, but I have a little gift for Rain and him!” Conon says. “I booked five days for our Alpha and Luna in Sinaia ski resort!” He looks at his watch. “You should leave soon to get there on time! Don’t worry about packing! Kitty Kat and Viki prepared two suitcases for Rain and you! They are already in the car! Before you ask, Kitty Kat and I will take care of Sky! I sent all the info about the hotel on your phone!”

**‘Five days alone with Red and Safia? Fuck yes!’** Raven says. **‘Why are we still standing here for? Let’s go!’**

I grab Red by her hand, and I look at Sky before leaving. “I will bring you some gifts when we return!” She smiles, her silver eyes shining with happiness.

**‘I can hardly wait to tell Sky she is our daughter,’** Raven says.

I go to Tristan. “Don’t leave without me!” I look at Zeke and Xenos. “Put him in a cell if you have to, but I expect you to be here when I return!”

Tristan laughs but his red eyes are sad. “If I waited until now, I can wait five more days. Have fun!”

“Oh, I will,” I say and wink at Red.

Raven snorts. **‘How many times do I have to remind you Red can’t see your stupid face? She is face blind, you moron! You can wink until** **tomorrow, and she won’t see it!’**

*‘Safia can see my face and tell Red that I winked!’* I growl in annoyance.

I lead Red to our room and get changed before going to the garage and helping her get inside my car. Before I start the car, I take out my phone and check the email Conon sent me.

“We will not be here to spend New Year with Sky and the others,” Red says.

I start driving. “We have two options for New Year. The first is to return in time to celebrate with everyone. The second is me fucking you during the fireworks!”

Red swallows hard. “Can I think about it?”

“Of course! Especially when I have my cock deep inside that tight pussy of yours!” I reply while we leave the pack behind.

Red frowns. “But I can’t think of anything when you fuck me!”

“That’s the idea!” I say and laugh.

It takes around three hours to get to Sinaia, and it is late when we make it to our hotel. Red slept a few hours in the car and looks rested.

**‘By the time we finish with Red, she won’t be able to keep her eyes open!’** Raven says, and I frown. **‘It’s our mating night! We will take turns fucking Safia and** **Red! We will fuck them until they fall asleep!’** Raven says while I carry the luggage to our hotel room.

The room isn't very big but has a king-size bed, perfect for everything I have planned to do with Red. I put our things away while Red takes a quick shower.

**'To whom the hell is that dick supposed to belong too?'** Raven asks when I take out a big dildo from Red's suitcase.

I study it for a moment, but nothing comes to my mind, so I take my phone out and search on the internet. *'An alien dick,'* I say.

**'Aliens have dicks?'** Raven asks, amazed.

I shake my head. *'How else are they supposed to reproduce? By thought?'* I put the damn thing on the nightstand. *'We are going to use this little toy a lot!'*

Raven snorts. **'I fail to see the *little* in this thing!'**

When Red gets out I am ready to jump on her and take her on the damn floor. Hard. Fast. “I want you to get on the bed and wait while I wash myself. While I am in the bathroom, I want you to think of all the ways I am going to make you scream my name, Red, and how many times I will knot you!”

She looks at me, her green eyes shining. “Promise you will knot me all night long?”

I love how greedy Red is for my knot. The room fills with the scent of her arousal, and I growl. “Get on the bed and take the bathrobe off!”

*Hi! Thank you for giving this book a chance. I know I haven't been the most consistent writer, but I am trying to keep the updates at least once every two days. So next* *update should be Sunday! I think the next 2-3 chapter will be spicy - I will put a on the title - so if anyone wants to skip them, they will know which one to skip.*