CHAPTER 288: _BEFORE IT ALL BLOWS AWAY...

"Where are we going though?" I asked with a light chuckle as Kaelos grabbed my hand and led me out of the garden.

I glanced back at Caroline who gave me a knowing wink before she turned around and walked over to Althea. The latter stood, watching from a distance with an oddly solemn expression.

My eyebrows furrowed when I saw that look on her but then Kaelos tugged at my hand gently, bringing my attention back to him.

He had a warm smile curling up his lips as he spoke. "Like I said, it’s a surprise."

When we got to the compound gates, the guards bowed their heads as we walked past. A few gave judgmental glances as usual but none dared to even whisper anything about me.

After Kaelos’ statement to the world, the Blood Oak pack and indeed all the packs of North America were... Chill.

Mostly.

There were a few cases of riots or public unrest among wolves here and there but Kaelos was quick to end them with help of the pack soldiers and Alphas in those packs.

There were also no more cases of rogue sightings or attacks, making the continent seem like it was actually heading to a state of normalcy outside war and conflict.

Plus, there have been no more killings in the pack, cementing the thought that Alaric was indeed the killer who’s been terrorising it since my arrival.

But even with all this... It still felt like the calm before a storm.

Anyway, Kaelos led me through the elite district, walking past a few elite wolves who greeted us. There was still lingering doubt and dissent among the people, but no one dared speak out of line.

I soon noticed the direction we were walking to and frowned slightly.

"Why are we heading toward the event hall?" I asked, swallowing hard.

The event hall... The same one that had stood in the pack for decades but that I destroyed instantly during the Charity Ball months back, leaving it to be a pile of rubble.

After all those months, it was being rebuilt into a grander size and style.

With the stamina of the wolves and some help from Althea’s magic, it was already almost complete and needed a few finishing touches... Just in time for the blood moon festival coming up in just three days.

The construction workers who still lingered around the building bowed before Kaelos and I as we climbed the steps leading into the hall.

At the top of the steps stood Layla with a small smile on her face as she bowed when we got there. "Good morning, Alpha King and Luna Queen. Let me show you to your seats."

Seats?

I turned my gaze to Kaelos who merely smirked. "What? It’s not bad if we test out the place before the big day of the blood moon festival. We’re only hosting most of the elite wolves in the world after all."

The sarcasm at that last part was clear as day to me.

I rolled my eyes, tightening my grip on his hand and clinging closer to him as we walked into the grand hall with a high ceiling over twenty meters high.

The ceiling arched like a dome and was lined with several crystal chandeliers that painted the black and cream coloured marble tiles in a beautiful rainbow-like hue.

The chairs and tables were already arranged around the hall, covered in pretty white cloths and decorated with flowers and golden candle stands.

Layla led us to a table close to the stage, which was one heck of a walk away from the main entrance. The stage lights were a warm yellow colour, bathing our table with its ambiance.

I smiled at Kaelos when he pulled out a chair, gesturing for me to sit. I did just that, placing my right hand on my stomach.

He kissed the back of my neck softly, as if he was afraid he’d be too aggressive with it. "You’ll always be the main event."

I arched an eyebrow, watching as he sat on the chair beside me, the smile on his face never disappearing. That smile... He definitely had something in store for me.

I found that a bit nerve wracking, my mind reeling as I kept trying to guess what it could be.

Suddenly, soft slow dance music began playing from the speakers on the stage.

I knew that song... Tumblr girls by G Eazy. Except this one was slowed down to perfection.

"You don’t want to get a pregnant woman nervous now, do you?" I asked, folding my arms in front of my chest and pouting at Kaelos who chuckled at my expense.

He leaned a little closer, parting aside a few strands of my hair before whispering teasingly. "You’ve always been a curious kitten."

I gasped dramatically. "Kitten? Ew, Kaelos!"

We both laughed as the music drew out to the best part. Layla who had walked out for a couple minutes came back with a tray of food that whiffed into my nose before she even got to the table.

My mouth began to water when I saw the barbecued fish on the tray.

"Don’t mind if I do..." I grinned, already stretching my hands to grab a bite.

It wasn’t easy being pregnant with an Alpha King’s baby, talk less of one who had my Hybrid blood. I’ve been eating like a ravenous dog these past few months.

As I focused on eating the food, enjoying the music, I noticed just then that Kaelos was oddly silent. I could feel him staring at me while I ate.

Slowly, I raised my head. But then my eyes widened when I saw what he held out with his hands, placing it in front of my face.

It was a locket. With a damn ring in it!

The ring was gorgeous, a big ruby gemstone placed on it and glistening under the lights of the event hall.

I blinked, my chest swelling with warmth as I stared at Kaelos’ face.

"We had a... Pretty rough start." He began, his voice heavy with emotions. "I remember all our first moments. The first kiss when you slapped me twice for joking about basically raping you. The first time we appeared in a public gathering... Late Alpha King Leonard’s welcoming ball..."

My smile widened more with each word he spoke. I didn’t realise I was crying until a single tear drop fell on my arm.

Kaelos’ lips quivered a bit before he continued. "I... I’ve not been the best man to you. But you’ve healed me, Odessa. You’ve brought in a light that shone through the darkness in me. You’ve given me hope... And even a child."

He suddenly got on his feet and did something completely unexpected. He went down on a single knee, causing my eyes to widen as I glanced around.

The hall was empty but I knew if anyone saw the Alpha King kneeling in front of me... It would be the talk of the pack.

"Would you do me the honour of marrying me... Again?" He asked with a soft laugh. "Our actual wedding was rushed and not much of a wedding anyway so—"

"You had me the second you slung out the ring, genius." I interrupted, breaking down into tears as I grabbed his hands, nodding. "Of course, I’ll marry you... Again."

As he slipped the ring into my waiting finger, all I could feel was warmth and hope.

But alas, despite how joyous I felt, a voice at the back of my head still whispered:

"How much time do you have before it all blows away?"