The hustle and bustle of the evening was getting brighter by each passing second.

The males seemed joyful and talkative while women were just happy to share food and dress up attractively.

The whole set up was done with the wooden sticks all around. Wooden tables were put on every fifth step with the big fire space in the middle, leaving more space for the dancers to move around it.

The torches and candles cases were all around, creating the perfect medieval theme with the sound of bagpipes and drums playing in the background.

The plates full of meat and glasses full of wines were everywhere. Drunkards had already started to make a mess by spilling wine over their clothes and tables. Some traditional ones actually had horns in their hands, sipping up aggressively and letting out satisfied growls.

Comparing to all other bonfire parties, this one had already turned adult-rated when I walked out of my room all dressed up and caught Adam getting cozier with a common female against the wall.

The girls of the family weren't shy to stay back at home and instead, were drinking and gossiping around one table. Even Kenny was roaming through the venue with that keen observer gaze.

I couldn't keep Keev back on someone's watch at a time like this when there was huge gathering outside our houses. Neither could I stay back with him and miss the chance to complete Chelsea's task, nor could I disturb Alma or Emily again.

So, I dressed him up nicely with extra cloak for the cold wind and carried him in my arms to have my dinner.

Knowing that I wouldn't be having a vegetarian dish among the ones decorated on the huge table, Natasha made a heartwarming gesture by offering to cook food for me.

It was a spicy spinach paste and bread for me. Meanwhile, Keev was provided his food.

It was peaceful inside her house when everything was chao outside.

The hoots and drums were getting louder. The noise of gossips and laughter were wholesome yet scary for me because of it being the perfect atmosphere for the task I had to do.

"I haven't seen Karam yet," said Natasha while wiping Keev's mouth with a cloth. We were seated around the medium sized table.

The mere mention of him, made me stop chewing on my food. A pout formed and a sigh escaped me in speechlessness.

As if I hadn't been realising that the whole day.

Any other day, Karam would return before the evening could darken. But today, the night had approached me before him. I wasn't even waiting for him as I knew that he was upset with me. Or should I say that I was upset with him?

"Might show up with the dancers," I muttered awkwardly while preparing another morsel for me.

There were two shades of Natasha. One, where she would forget everything and just focus on us being cousins. The other one would be where she would play the role of the most calm mate of the most composed brother among this family.

The second shade was on at the moment.

The kohl around her eyes lightened those orbs more when she tilted her head and gave me a smile. "He'll come back to you, at the end of the day. Marriage is not easy. He too gets bothered as much you get."

I could give him all the space he needed. Wasn't that what I had been suggesting him since the moment his Lycan form growled at my neck on the scariest rainy night of my life?

"The mistake would be to try to put salt on the wounds, Misty. As a human, you are at a responsibility to be the calmer one. It doesn't mean that it always have to be you because he is a born beast. But you can understand that he has a Lycan heart which is going through so much."

My eyes lowered and all the appetite was gone. Though, I still ate the spinach for extra boost that I needed.

In the between, the burden of Chelsea's expectations and trust on me, made me desperate to have so many urges to tell Natasha about the goal for tonight. But trusting a member of the main family was scary for now. I controlled hard not to spill anything.

The sudden change of drum beats caught our attention. Natasha's earrings dangled as she immediately turned her head towards the window and started moving her shoulder with a smile.

The sound of loud horns followed, making me and Keev excited slightly.

"The Mystic females would be arriving soon."

My heart froze and slowly it started beating faster. I finished my dinner quickly while Keev was already done filling up his stomach.

"Shouldn't we go out then?" I asked with a little enthusiasm, making Natasha smile at me in amusement.

We both got up from our chairs while I directly went to carry Keev in my arms.

"Reveka is watching over the pups. Costina is playing with Larc there. We can go laid Keev beside Annie on Amelia's big bed." She suggested nicely while I looked at the big amber doe eyes of Keev.

The curiosity in his eyes to see the cause of noise outside made me wave off the idea. Moreover, I just couldn't trust keeping him away from me so easily. I could barely keep calm even if Emily or Alma would babysit him.

"I'll leaving for bed soon anyway," I said while scrunching my nose. "It's okay. I'll manage."

Though, I didn't miss the fact that Reveka skipped socialising and chose to stay indoors with the pups tonight.

.

.

.

______

.

.

.

The crowd was bigger today. The noise was louder. While my heart was drowning deeper by each second.

The burden of performing a secret task was heavier in my mind while the hole of not having Karam around was getting deeper.

I couldn't fake smile at the ladies in the party anymore.

Keev had turned sleepier during my round of observing the venue and the people. It was chaos when the main event hadn't even begin yet. His little yawns stopped when I felt his head resting against my shoulder and soft little breaths were fanning my neck. The soft chilled wind had done its magic to the little baby.

I wasted no time in reaching Amelia's house and observed the scenario.

Reveka was obediently minding the pups. Half of them were listening to his stories while little ones were already asleep. I made sure to lay Keev beside her legs as Anton's two year-old daughter, Annie was already asleep on her lap.

"Enjoy without worrying for him. He'll be sleeping peacefully." Reveka had said at seeing my conflicted face.

Believing the Severan in her, I left the house and just sat at the cemented desk in their front yard under a wooden shed. There was no one there but the whole view of the party was visible. Also, with the way I was getting exhausted and restless by each second, I knew that I needed to get away from the noise.

I needed the calm and peace. This way, I was closest to Keev too anyhow and could keep eye on Amelia's house door.

But then how would the task with Mystic dancers would be done? Guess, I still had to leave this place when the ladies would finally arrive. I was afraid if I would faint before it could happen. Because the wind was getting on to me even through these warm fabric dress.

I rested my head against the wooden pillar and stared at the party scene.

Alvena was finally laughing with the other women and it was satisfying to watch. Amelia and Kingston were still nowhere in sight. If they were not in the house and the party, I could guess that they were at the borders bringing the dancers here.

But where was my husband?

Ah! It felt weird to call him that in my thoughts.

I bit my lips and stared down at my hands. Having a little world made of Gran, Lexi and his family, and just me—I could never really expect my life to be fairytale. But on some positive nights, I had absentmindedly wished for a fairytale. Something like getting proposed with a ring by my Mr. Right.

But how unpredictable and wild my life had turned out to be.

It was nowhere near a fairytale. I felt more like a heroine of a spy movie. It had to be more about mixing in between the villains rather than being with my hero.

A Lycan couldn't be a hero. Right?

The soft sigh escaped me in extreme restlessness. I rubbed my forearms that were catching the cold when all of a sudden a warm furry jacket was spread over my shoulders.

The restlessness soared along with the pace of my heartbeats while face turned warm like the heat of the bonfire. The familiar grunt reached my ears and I saw the huge man sitting behind me on the cemented shelf, hanging his taut and thick legs just like me.

My head raised from the wooden pillar to glance at the intruder in surprise. But all the sadness from the morning incident returned the moment my eyes met those amber ones.

The warmth and intensity in his gaze softened my heart while the self-respect made me give him a blank look.

His eyes moved all over my face and hair and then down at the dress I had worn. Saying nothing, he looked back in my eyes and kept staring to the point I starting feeling shy and had to look away.

I had no energy to fight or even say a word. I just put my head back against the wooden pillar and stared at the people enjoying around the bonfire. The men were drinking and laughing around. Women were mingling and eating. Couples were dancing around while the kids were watching the scenes curiously and yet running around the area.

A moment of silence passed and Karam let out the heaviest sigh.

He took my left hand from my thigh with his big warm one and intertwined our fingers to make my heart flutter.

I blinked and couldn't stop my jaws from clenching in an attempt to avoid even looking at him. I knew that one mere glance would be triggering enough to punch him.

It turned worse when he brought our intertwined hands to his lips and kissed my knuckles. His beard rubbed against the skin of my hand, making me feel at home. Yet I was just too worn out to care.

I had to do the task. I kept chanting it in my mind while blinking and controlling not to give in to the exhaustion that was taking over me.

A moment passed and Karam replaced his left hand with the right one to hold mine. So with the left one, he could caress my cheeks slowly.

I blinked patiently for a second and then, I just ended up blurting it out. "Why don't you go there and await those mystic women?"

"My woman is here."

I sent a quick blank glance at him, hating the innocent and sincere expressions his face was holding.

Looking back at the party, I flared my nostrils and sighed. He kept caressing my cheek with the back of his finger.

I knew that my silence was killing him. So, I continued being my true self and stayed quiet.

He waited for twenty more seconds until the patience blew miles away. Those big hands slid right under my thigh and waist, picking me up effortlessly and making me sit on his lap.

Before I could even gasp and push him away, his sincere gaze caught me. My hands caught his shoulders for support while the bonfire reflected in his amber orbs. "I don't like it when you are quiet."

My blood boiled instantly. "Really? Because I think that you like it when I speak for myself."

He didn't move his eyes off mine and turned serious. "I don't want to fight, my mate."

The tone was too soft for me to continue the conversation. I tried to move my legs away to get off him while he only jumped us in anger. His frustrated gaze caught me in a trap when he spoke, "It won't happen again."

My nostrils flared angrily. "Ah! Well! I don't trust you. You have done enough. I know it will happen again."

Saying that, I jumped off him, freeing myself from his hold and started walking towards the party. He immediately got up and reached me in a second, making me scared instantly.

It got scarier when he grabbed my wrist and turned me around.

My mouth opened to speak something but it closed when our restless gazes fought with each other. His shoulders tensed and chest heaved slowly with deep breaths. Giving me the apologetic and yet upset gaze, he gritted his teeth.

"I. Will. Not. Do. It. Again."

I breathed as the sudden overwhleming caught my heart.

The fury and guilt mixed in his eyes when he said, "Since I will not be able to expect any desire from you ever again. Expecting love from you is like expecting a stone to dance."

"Are you taunting me?" I asked while narrowing my glassy eyes.

He nodded cockily while flaring his nostrils and left my wrist. Turning around on his heels, he started walking away towards the jungle.

Following him in anger, I let out an angry breath. "Where are you going?"

He moved his shoulders and cracked his neck, glaring ahead at the way. "Go back to the pack."

"Disappearing just like the whole day?" I asked angrily while my vision turned blurry at his continuous footsteps. He wasn't stopping. Seeing him walking away, my heart started aching.

It was after a whole day, I got to see him.

"You enjoyed it. Didn't you, my mate?" He replied with a thick growl, still stomping away. "Well, I am giving you another day without me. Enjoy! Better to stay apart than to keep fighting!"

The distance grew when my tired self couldn't catch up with him.

The restlessness grew while his rejection had slapped my face so hard, it felt hot all over my skin fron the shame. The tears formed so easily and a sob was on its way. My throat tightened and legs turned weak.

I stopped in my tracks and felt the deepest pain in my throbbing heart.

He didn't even look back.

My whole being was forced to reveal, "I don't feel well, Karam."

My voice was breaking. The misery had somehow managed to reach his ears as he immediately stopped and turned around to walk towards me. The sudden worry appeared on his face. On reaching me, both of his hands grabbed my cheeks.

"What happened?" He asked, surprising me more.

I blinked in speechlessness while he just knew what I never realized.

He understood what I needed and wrapped his large arms around me, pushing me into his chest.

I closed my eyes and hugged him tighter. "I don't want to fight too," I mumbled, knowing that I was just letting my guard down. I didn't have to be this weak. Yet I let myself loose and breathed in his warmth.

"Do you want to rest?" He asked while pulling away and cupping my face.

I shook my head silently. I had a task to do. I couldn't go to that took without even making a successful attempt.

"Party."

Karam blinked and gave me a confused look. "You look like you don't want that noise, my mate." He whispered in his baritone.

"You don't want to dance with those mystic women behind my back. Don't you?" I asked, giving him the blank look.

A smile formed on his lips, followed by a kiss on my forehead.

Leaning downwards, he stared in my orbs. "If you dance with me. . ."

"No," I immediately said because that would be the death of me.

He squeezed his eyes shut with a knowing smile and shook his head. "Easy to abduct. But not so easy to get."

I smirked and ended up blushing slightly when he sent a loving gaze. I was still angry with him for the morning behavior. But he said that he wouldn't do it. I was taking a risk again by believing in him. But then, I had no choice but to be on his good side.

The weird thing was that my secret goals had no link with this decision of going soft with him again. It was my poor heart going weaker by his tricks. I knew I was trespassing into a dangerous territory.

"You want to drink the soup. It's not meat," he whispered while rubbing my back. "You'll be warm."

I nodded slowly and we both turned around to face the party. We checked up on Keev in the way.

Being physically and emotionally unwell, I had to do my best by being mentally alert.

Because with Karam holding me close to him during the party, reaching for any mystic dancer would be no way possible.

________

"Hope, you like it."

Let me know what you think of it.

____

So, I am writing more and would update next chapter next day. I promise, I am trying to make it up to you guys.

This chapter is just a new start for me who just suffered a little writer block. Though, I am back on track and getting deeper into my old self. Will put more energy in the next chapters. Too much to happen.

Thanks for the faith and love.

I am in the energy mode for the writings and upcoming chapter are all thrill.
Alpha Rucus' descendants are trying hard.

Sending you all love. ❤️