68. Caleb

**Caleb**

Conon takes Red and me to the Entertainment Room while Sky goes to help Blade make sorbets in the kitchen. Many pack members are gathered in the Entertainment Room, in front of the big TV. Some turn their heads to look at me before looking back at the screen. Not everyone knows what happened to Red and me, and I am grateful that those who know are not looking at me with pity. I hate when people pity me. Red is right when she says we survived the Vampire Palace.

**‘We did more than survive! We killed Sinn!’** Raven reminds me. 

Red grabs my shirt and tugs on it before pointing at the TV. “Caleb, look!” 

I am not sure what is so important in the news today; it is only the second day of the new year, and I am sure nothing important has happened so far. 

**‘What the fuck?’** Raven says as I glue my gaze on the screen.

A reporter is showing live footage from close to Bucharest. “As you can see,” the reporter says, “this dome-like barrier has appeared overnight surrounding the capital. No one can enter Bucharest, and we tried to get a hold of our colleagues working for Pro TV or Antena 3 or other tv stations, but the lines are busy. Many people across Romania or those working in other countries have also tried contacting their relatives from Bucharest, but no luck so far. We will update everyone with more information about the capital in the coming hours,” the reporter says, and Conon turns off the TV. 

If I was wondering where the Demon King and the Leech Queen have disappeared to, now I know. And I am sure the entire world knows by now what is happening in Romania. 

“Does anyone know what’s happening in Bucharest? And what’s with that dome thing?” someone asks. 

**‘We pretty much do have an idea, yes,’** Raven mutters, **‘but I am not sure everyone will like what we have to say.’**

My eyes are still fixed on the TV. The real question should be—did the Demon King kill everyone, or is he building an army?

**‘How will we keep Red and Sky safe?’**

*‘The Emerald Realm!’* I say, and a plan forms in my head. 

I clear my voice, and everyone turns to look at me. “Some of you have family in the packs living in Bucharest, and you are probably worried,” I say, and the pack members start to speak in low voices. I ignore the whispers and keep talking. “Or not, depending on the case. I have never been a male that sugarcoats things, but things are not looking good. The Vampire Queen has found a way to open a portal and bring back the Demon King.”

More whispers follow, and pack members start to get anxious. Ever since we were pups, we heard about the Demon King. His return to Earth might mean the end of the world as we know it.

“So the gloomy guy from the Vampire Palace that looked like he had been smelling Holgan’s socks was the Demon King. Charming fella almost took my head with him,” Conon mumbles.

“So, how deep in shit are we?” Jeremy asks. 

I look at my Delta—he has an arm around Sarah’s shoulder, and she looks at me with a mix of hope and fear. I should probably lie, but I don’t keep secrets from my pack. When I learned Red was my soulmate, I told everyone. Now that I think about it, many knew or suspected something because I constantly talked about her and never left her alone for more than a few hours each day. “Very deep! We have been living in peace for a long time, and except for occasional brawls with rogue or feral wolves, we have never known what war is. Should we be afraid of the Demon King? Absolutely! But we should not live in fear! Starting today, everyone will train with me, Holgan and Jeremy. I will ask more males to patrol the pack, and the females will check the bunker. Red and I will try to get in touch with the Elders,” I say to the pack. 

All the adult males offer to patrol the territory while the young ones will keep an eye on the village. Jeremy and I work on a schedule for the pack. While Black Ruby Pack is hours away from the capital, the moment the Demon King starts his attack, not even the North Pole will be safe.

I finish talking to the pack members and return with Red to my office. I lock the door and have her sit on the sofa. “We don’t know what the Demon King is capable of. You have seen how fast he has killed the Queen of the Black Witches. You are pregnant with my pup, Red, and I must put your safety first. And that of Sky. There’s a little world, a peaceful one. I have been there after Tatiana saved me. When I was still healing. It has beautiful oceans that have the same color as your eyes. And the trees’ leaves are like your hair. Only a few packs live there, together with Light and Nature witches. I want Sky and you there.” 

“No! I am not leaving you, and you can’t make me!” Red says stubbornly. 

**‘I think our soulmate is forgetting we can use our Alpha voice to command her!’** Raven jokes, because neither Raven nor I will use our voice to force Red to do something she doesn’t want. 

“Try to command me, and I will run away, Caleb!” Red says in an angry tone. 

I grit my teeth. “I never ordered you around, and I am not going to start now, but if you try to run from the pack, putting yourself in danger, I will use my Alpha voice, Red, to prevent you from leaving the Pack House!” 

Red breaths hard. “Please don’t use your Alpha voice; I am not going to run away. And don’t send me away! I can’t be without you!” 

I know she can’t because only thinking about sending her away feels like my soul is being ripped apart. “In just one night, the Demon King captured the biggest city in Romania. This pack is nothing. We don’t stand a chance against him! But I will fight, damn it! And when that happens, you are not going to be here!” I say in a strong voice. “I will ask Tatiana to prepare a portal, and I will send as many pack members as possible with you and Sky.” 

“Why don’t we send all the pack members through the portal, and we stay here and fight?” Red suggests, and her face fills with hope.

“A portal to the Emerald Realm can be opened only once every six months, and it will stay open less than a minute. It is not enough time for everyone to get to the other realm. But it is enough for you, Sky, and the other children to go through!” I explain.

“Caleb, we can send the children with two or three females. Then we can concentrate on sending back the Demon King to his realm!” 

“You are pregnant, and I’ll be damned if I let you fight side by side with me. You lack training!” 

“I have my magic, and what I don’t know, Holgan and you can teach me. The prophecy says Fire and Ice will send the Demon King back! News flash, Caleb, we are the ones from the prophecy!” 

“Red, having you here when I know the Demon King can start his attack at any moment is stressing me!” I try to reason with Red, but she is more stubborn than I thought.**

“Caleb, my magic is strong. I have seen what I did to the Palace!” 

And you almost went feral on me, I say to myself. 

“Your Fire might be strong, but you can’t even stomach your breakfast!” I say and stand, pulling her up. “Let’s get some food inside your belly, and we will talk about this later,” I say while I take Red to the kitchen.

Blade, Sky, and a few more children are inside, making shawarma, and Red covers her nose with her hand before running into the hallway. I rush after her. “I think I will stay away from the kitchen when Blade makes food,” Red says and smirks. She looks pale.

I frown because she was fine when we made breakfast. “Do you want Reyes to see you?” 

“I think I want to nap, if that’s okay with you,” Red says. 

“Whatever you need,” I tell her and guide her to our room. “Do you want me to stay with you while you sleep?” 

“I know you must be busy with the pack and everything. I am going to be fine. When I wake up, I will look for you,” Red says. 

We get inside our room and change my clothes with those I usually use when training. Red puts on one of my t-shirts and a few around her before pulling the duvet over her. I kiss her forehead, pull the blinds down, and let Red rest. 

**‘I don’t like how our soulmate looks. She is pale and thin,’** Raven mutters. **‘What if she can’t eat because of morning sickness?’**

*‘I don’t know, Raven,’* I say in a grim voice while I head over to the gym. *‘Maybe she can eat fruits. Remember Katherine said Daphne ate fruits and pickles?’*

**‘Red is not Daphne. Besides, hybrid pregnancies are always harder than normal ones.'**

*‘Omegas also have problems with pregnancies. They need their soulmate close,’* I reply. 

**‘And if you send Red to The Emerald Realm, she will be far away from us. What if she needs us? Don't you want to be with her when she has our baby?’** Raven says. 

*‘I will think about it,’* I say as I enter the gym and see it is full of pack members. 

I spend the next two hours training males and females. Elton is getting better but needs many more hours of training to be a decent fighter. I wonder why the Moon Goddess chose an Omega as a Theta Knight. 

After training, I go to my office to check my e-mail. I sit in my chair, turn on the monitor, and see an e-mail from Elder Riad.

*‘Alpha Caleb,* 

*Due to what is happening in Bucharest, we decided to have the annual Alpha Meeting in four days. The gathering will be at the Werewolf Palace.’*

I remain in the office, trying to see if I find out more about the situation in Bucharest. It is almost lunch when I stand and decide to check on Red. She had been sleeping for more than three hours, and she needs to eat something, even if it is a few bites of a fruit, and drink some fresh juice.

I am almost at the door when I feel a sharp pain in my left shoulder, close to where Safia marked Raven.

**‘Red is hurt!’** Raven says in an alarmed voice. **‘We need to find her.’**

I rush to our room, but she is not inside. 

I feel another sharp pain, this time, in my right thigh and go to look for her outside the Pack House, but there’s no trace of her inside the Rogue Village. I start to panic.

**‘We need to find her now!’** Raven roars. He is just as scared as I am for the safety of our soulmate.