Chapter 6

Joanna Bennett POV

Caleb looked panicked.

My eyes held genuine confusion.

Caleb couldn't meet my gaze.

I walked towards the door on my crutches.

The cold light of dawn shone on my retreating back, but I held my spine straight.

He seemed very uncomfortable.

"Joanna."

He caught up to me, bent down, and picked me up.

I didn't struggle, nor did I lean against him. I just lay quietly in his arms, like a piece of luggage.

In the car, he buckled my seatbelt. When his fingers brushed against me, I flinched away.

Caleb gripped the steering wheel in silence for a long time, then spoke. "Joanna, let's have the Mating Ceremony."

His tone became resolute. "Let's officially become mates."

The car was instantly silent.

I turned my head to look at him.

"Didn't you always say a Mating Ceremony was too soon?" I said softly. "You said you liked our current state very much."

Caleb's voice was hoarse. "We've been together for five years. We're going to have a Mating Ceremony sooner or later, so why not… now?"

I looked at the unconcealed tension in his eyes and suddenly found it amusing.

That expression, for five years, had always been on my face.

I had tested him countless times, and he always had an excuse: too busy, missions, "let's wait."

Now that I didn't care, he was suddenly anxious.

That impatient look was almost as if he was trying to forcefully bind me to him with a mate bond.

I didn't answer.

The ride was silent. When we got home, I went upstairs, and Caleb sat motionless on the sofa.

My ankle throbbed faintly. I lay on the bed and closed my eyes.

Soon after, I heard the sound of the front door closing and an engine starting downstairs.

He went to find Chloe.

It was expected, not worth losing sleep over.

The next day, Beta Cole brought me my passport, plane ticket, and all other necessary documents for going abroad.

The flight was booked for three days later.

I confirmed the details, and when I returned to the apartment, Chloe was sitting there, eating pasta Caleb had cooked.

"Morning." Chloe smiled at me, her posture like the lady of the house.

Caleb came out of the kitchen, his tone a little coaxing. "The weather's nice today, why don't the three of us go for a walk and relax?"

I thought for a moment.

"Sure."

There were large forests within the pack territory.

Werewolves usually loved transforming into their wolf forms and running freely, rolling around in the forest.

We didn't do that; Chloe and Caleb seemed to prefer walking in human form.

Chloe linked arms with Caleb, chatting about her experiences abroad, laughing and patting his shoulder.

I walked behind them on my crutches, looking at the roadside flowers, at the clouds in the sky.

No one looked back to tell me to catch up.

And I didn't need them to.

There was a lake in the forest, a famous dating spot within the pack.

As we reached the lake, Chloe walked over to me, her voice soft. "Joanna, who do you think Caleb would save first if there was danger?"

Before I could answer, two wildly sprinting werewolves suddenly rushed towards us.

Chloe screamed, didn't dodge, but instead bumped into me.

Due to my injured foot, I couldn't dodge in time, and Chloe and I fell towards the lake.

In that split second of falling, I saw Caleb rush over.

His arms firmly caught Chloe.

Chloe huddled in his embrace.

Then I plunged into the cold lake water.

Through the swirling water, I saw the two of them on the shore, tightly embracing.

Chloe was buried in Caleb's arms, and he held her shoulders tightly.

I kept my eyes open in the water. The bandage on my ankle was soaked, and blood began to seep out again.

I thought, I really wouldn't have any expectations for Caleb anymore.