Page 23 of Fated (The Bonded Legacy #1)
CHAPTER TWENTY
CALEB
L ate-morning sun streamed through the wide conference room windows, but the natural warmth did little to ease Caleb’s simmering frustration.
The summit’s earlier sessions had gone well—Fenrir’s presence a steady anchor as they’d shared Crescent Fang’s accomplishments despite veiled skepticism from other alphas.
But all of that goodwill was obliterated the moment the northern border negotiations began.
Caleb leaned back in his chair, steepled fingers forming a tight cage.
Before him, Thorne Ironclaw and Garrick Redridge bickered like pups over a bone.
The disputed territory: a stretch of uninhabited land once belonging to the now-decimated Denali pack.
The alphas’ posturing over territorial claims made Fenrir recoil in distaste.
“This land has been adjacent to Ironclaw borders for over three decades!” Thorne barked, pounding his fist on the table.
His icy blue eyes blazed with fury, sharp gaze sweeping the room as if daring anyone to contradict him.
A lock of long, dark blond hair fell across his forehead, framing his chiseled features and emphasizing the determined set of his jaw.
Garrick leaned forward, his normally soft brown now hard with anger.
“And it’s closer to our hunting grounds,” he shot back at Thorne, face red with indignation.
The wrinkles etched around the older alpha’s mouth, usually a testament to his quick smile, now deepened into a scowl as his voiced dropped to a low, menacing growl.
“You couldn’t manage that territory if you tried, pup! ”
Caleb’s jaw locked, teeth sinking into the inside of his cheek until copper bloomed on his tongue, the urge to groan trapped at the base of his throat.
“This is absurd,” Fenrir rumbled irritably. “The Goddess didn’t give them land to squabble over like scavengers.”
Caleb couldn’t disagree.
His gaze shifted to the Bloodstone alpha-heir, seated two chairs down.
Kai had been silent for most of the morning sessions—his stillness a stark contrast to the rustle of papers and murmured conversations in the room—but Caleb didn’t miss the tightness in his jaw, the subtle rise and fall of his chest as he exhaled deeply, or the faint scent of whiskey, spiced with orange and nutmeg, that clung to him.
Fenrir expanded within their shared consciousness, both wolf and male drawn to the controlled power radiating from the heir.
Kai surged to his feet, broad shoulders taut with restrained anger. Caleb studied him, noting the strong angles of his face, the lean strength of his frame, and the way his green eyes glinted like shards of jade beneath furrowed dark brows.
The Bloodstone heir reminded Caleb of that Night Walker Gamma from a particularly wild weekend last year—broader, leaner, but with the same intensity.
He chuckled internally at the memory of how the little gamma melted between them and found himself sneaking a glance at Asher, wondering if he’d made the same connection.
Before he could share his thoughts, a sharp, resounding bang snapped his attention back to the room, the sound echoing off the polished wood paneling and making Caleb flinch.
Fenrir’s attention sharpened, recognizing the surge of alpha power about to be unleashed.
“ Enough !” Kai roared, the sheer force of his aura making the table tremble.
Thorne and Garrick fell silent, mouths clamping shut as if a spell had been cast.
Kai’s glare swept over them, his voice like ice.
“Your incessant sniveling is beneath you and beneath this summit. We’re facing a rogue threat that has already destroyed countless lives, including those of the wolves who belonged to the land you’re fighting over.
And here you are, using this crisis to further your greed! ”
Caleb’s eyebrow arched as he leaned forward, breath catching at the alpha-heir’s command. Even Fenrir rumbled a deep purr of approval, the wolf’s respect pulsing between them like a second heartbeat. The entire room held its breath as Kai continued, tone sharp and uncompromising.
“Neither of you has a reasonable claim to the Denali lands,” Kai declared.
“And even if you did, your time would be better spent focusing on the safety of your existing territories. Not overextending yourselves.” He turned his gaze to the rest of the room, addressing the gathered leaders and heirs.
“I propose we keep the land neutral for the time being. Once the rogue threat has been addressed, we can revisit its potential uses as a collective.”
There was a beat of silence before murmurs of agreement rippled through the room. Even Darius Bloodstone looked pleased, nodding approvingly at his son. Caleb found himself studying Kai’s profile, admiring the way power flowed from him as Fenrir noted his leadership.
He leaned toward Asher, whispering through their telepathic connection, “Impressive.”
Asher smirked, catching the undertone in his alpha’s words. “Not bad. He’s got some bite to his bark, but I’d love to see if we could make him purr.”
After the session adjourned, Caleb and Asher made their way to the dining hall to meet Cian and Beta Aiden. The dining hall was bustling, but they spotted Aiden seated at a small table near the back. The Moonshadow Beta waved them over, his usual air of calm confidence evident.
“Gentlemen,” Aiden greeted, rising to shake their hands. “Cian stepped away to grab my son, Ryker, who will be his beta. They should be here shortly.”
Caleb settled into his seat, and Asher slid into the chair beside him, their shoulders brushing as they did. A steadying calm pulsed through their bond, centering Caleb as the group fell into easy conversation, recapping the morning’s events and joking about the chaos of the negotiations.
“Poor Kai,” Aiden remarked. “I thought he was going to burst a blood vessel by the end of that session. Not that I can blame him —dealing with Thorne and Garrick would test the patience of a saint.”
“Or a pack of them,” Asher quipped, earning a smirk from Caleb and a chuckle from Aiden.
Caleb grinned, Kai’s commanding presence still fresh in his mind alongside the sinful fantasies Asher had whispered about capturing the heir between them. “He handled it well, though. I didn’t expect him to take such a firm stance.”
Aiden nodded. “Kai’s got a lot on his plate right now.
It’s not easy being Darius’s heir. The Bloodstone name carries a lot of prestige.
Between the rogue threat, those northern alphas, his pending alpha ceremony, and—” He hesitated, eyes darting between Caleb and Asher.
“Well, I suppose you’ve heard about the… developments last night.”
Caleb raised a brow, Fenrir stirring with curiosity. “Developments?”
Aiden sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Kai found his fated mate last night. And it just so happens to be Cian’s twin sister, Lena.”
Caleb’s hopes of seeing the Bloodstone heir unravel under his and Asher’s hands and mouths were dashed upon learning that Selene had promised him to another. To the sister of the soon-to-be-alpha he’d hoped to forge an alliance and friendship with.
Asher let out a low whistle. “Interesting timing,” he said, though Caleb didn’t miss his beta’s teasing pout.
“It gets better,” Aiden added dryly. “Kai has a long-time girlfriend back home. They’ve been planning to pursue a chosen bond. It’s a source of contention between Kai and Darius, who’s been adamant Kai prioritizes finding his fated. So, as you can imagine, things are…complicated.”
Ice water replaced his blood despite the dining hall’s warmth.
How many times had he and Asher danced around discussing this very scenario?
What would happen when Selene decided it was time for one of them to meet their fated?
His stomach knotted, acid rising in his throat at the thought of their connection being severed by divine decree, each breath becoming shallow as phantom loss constricted his chest.
“Trust in Her wisdom,” Fenrir rumbled, warmth flowing through their bond . “What Selene has joined, she does not easily break. Your path with Asher was never a mistake.”
Caleb gripped Asher’s hand beneath the table, their fingers intertwining as the worry receded.
Before he could speak, Cian appeared at the table, complexion unusually pale. He slid into his seat, avoiding Aiden’s gaze. Even from across the table, Caleb could scent his discomfort.
“Sorry I’m late,” Cian muttered.
Aiden frowned, brows knitting in concern. “Are you alright? Did you find Ryker?”
Cian gulped, face flushed as he avoided eye contact. “Uh…yeah. I found him. He, um…he might not be joining us.”
Aiden’s frown deepened. “Why not?”
Cian hesitated, then blurted, “Because when I got to his room, he was…getting head. And she, uh…might have been…fingering his ass.”
The table fell silent. For a moment, all Caleb could hear was the clink of silverware and the distant hum of conversation from the other tables. Fenrir’s amusement rippled through him, matching his own.
Then, Asher snorted. “Well, good for him. Nothing beats a prostate orgasm!”
The tension shattered as the table erupted into laughter.
Aiden doubled over, tears streaming down his face as he shook his head. “That boy,” he managed between gasps, “is going to be the death of me.”
Cian groaned, burying his face in his hands. “I didn’t need to see that.”
Asher slapped him on the back, still chuckling. “Consider it a lesson in the diversity of claiming rituals.”
Caleb shot Asher a look of mock exasperation. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
Asher smirked, leaning closer to Caleb, his voice just loud enough for the table to hear. “And yet, you love me anyway.”
The group fell into a more relaxed rhythm after that, their laughter dispelling the intensity of the morning.
They spent the rest of lunch getting to know one another, sharing stories about their packs and histories.
Fenrir stretched and curled within Caleb’s mind, muscles relaxing as the wolf basked in the warmth of genuine connections forming.
When the conversation turned to Crescent Fang, Caleb spoke openly about their isolation, their deep connection to Selene’s teachings, and the challenges of reintegration.
“Living outside the fold meant we had to be self-sufficient,” Asher chimed in, dark eyes sweeping over the group.
“But it also gave us perspective. We’ve thrived, built something strong and bountiful.
Something worth protecting. That’s why reintegration isn’t just about Crescent Fang.
It’s about bringing that strength back to the region. ”
Cian leaned back in his chair, sharp gaze thoughtful as he posed his question. “Caleb, I have to ask. What’s it like being descended from Caelum, the first alpha? I can’t imagine what it must feel like to carry that kind of legacy.”
Fenrir’s presence surged at the mention of his original counterpart, ancestral memories flickering like shadows at the edges of Caleb’s consciousness.
Caleb’s expression pensive as he weighed his response. “Honestly? I didn’t feel much pressure growing up,” he admitted. “When rogues killed my parents, I was just a pup. Too young to understand. What I remember is the aftermath. Feeling lost, adrift in a void where my world had been.”
Asher squeezed his hand, their fingers interlocked.
Caleb offered a faint smile before continuing.
“Asher’s father, Garreth, was my dad’s beta.
He saved me. Stepped in as interim alpha and raised me not as some mythological heir, but as a pup who needed guidance and love.
He taught me loyalty, tradition, resilience.
Those years shaped me. And even after taking the mantle at eighteen, Crescent Fang’s council has guided me every step. ”
Cian nodded, empathy evident in his features. “It sounds like you have incredible mentors.”
“They are,” Caleb agreed. “But the real turning point was when I met Fenrir.”
“Your wolf?” Aiden asked, setting down his cup and bracing his forearms on the table.
Asher’s lips curved into a small, smug smile. “Not just any wolf. Fenrir’s the reincarnation of Caelum’s wolf. The first blessing.”
“I didn’t fully understand what that meant at first,” Caleb added. “Meeting him was like finding the missing piece of myself. Not just a counterpart—an anchor. My link to Selene and everything Crescent Fang stands for.”
“You honor me.” Fenrir’s presence warmed like sunlight through Caleb’s chest, the wolf’s affection vibrating through their bond.
Cian’s brows lifted. “That’s…extraordinary.”
“It is,” Caleb said softly, gaze distant for a moment as he communed with Fenrir.
“His wisdom is incredible, but he’s always been more than a guide.
He’s a reminder of what’s possible when you trust Selene’s will.
Even now, as I consider what reintegration means for Crescent Fang, Fenrir keeps me focused on the right path. ”
Fenrir rumbled again, his tone resolute. “These wolves. This connection. It feels right. Keep going, Caleb. I will see you through.”
Caleb exhaled, the sincerity of his wolf’s support grounding him. “Coming here has been eye-opening. It’s not just about politics. It’s about connection. Building something that will endure for all our packs.”
Cian leaned forward. “That’s a perspective not many alphas would have. You’ve embraced your role without letting heritage define you.”
Caleb inclined his head with a faint smile. “What drives me is the future. The wolves I lead. The lives I’m responsible for and,” he paused to kiss the back of Asher’s hand, “the people I trust to walk beside me.”
Asher smiled, his earlier humor giving way to something quieter and more intimate. “Always.”