Chapter 4 Watch Her Myself
Ruella stood transfixed, her fingers squeezing each other's hands until her books turned pale. Her eyes were fixed on the tall, broad-shouldered figure standing not far in front of her, Alpha Calix. His sharp eyes staring at the broken wheel of the carriage with a hardened jaw and heavy breathing.
"What a beautiful morning. The wheel is perfectly split, no spare wheel either." Calix looked at Ruella. "Congratulations, the carriage that will take you to the capital is broken."
"It's... not my fault," Ruella murmured softly, almost like a whisper to herself.
"Yeah, of course. No one blames you either. You're just an honorary passenger who only knows when to arrive," Calix said blandly while girdling his loins, his body towering solidly.
Claire, Ruella's personal maid, stood not far from them, looking annoyed at Calix who always insinuated her master at every opportunity.
"Her hi-" Claire's words were held back as Ruella asked her to be quiet and stay calm. "But your highness, it's the road that's broken that makes the wheels of our carriage split like that," she whispered.
"It's okay..." Ruella said.
"The other carriage only contains your luggage, right?" asked Calix without turning around.
Ruella nodded slowly. "Yes, it's just for transporting goods, and I need all of them. I can't throw them away." she said, as if she knew that Calix would ask her to take the carriage with her goods in it.
"Don't we have a spare wheel here?" Calix asked his warrior.
"No, Alpha. And even if we did, it wouldn't fit. The adapter bolts are different from what our carriage are used to."
"Shit. There's no other choice," Calix grunted, then turned around, striding a few meters away towards his magnificent jet-black horse.
With a deft movement, he pulled the reins and patted the animal's flanks. Then he looked at the troops who had come with him for the change of border guard and the previous troops would be returning to the capital for a vacation after a 6-month stay at the border.
"Everyone get ready!!! I have no more time and must hurry to the capital," he said loudly, to all the troops around. "For all those on duty from today, this border must be guarded very strictly. No one should be caught off guard. Make sure no 'enemy' crosses that border!" he said.
Several warriors suddenly turned to look at Ruella with a cynical, suspicious look.
"Right, we don't know what kind of tactics our enemies will use to sneak in! So, stay focused and awake!" Beta Orin added, his eyes clearly looking straight at Ruella.
"We understand!" the warriors replied in unison.
Ruella looked down. Her heart was aching, really in pain. She knew the consequences and prepared herself for even the worst treatment, but still her heart could not stay strong all the time. She only had Claire by her side.
"I'm the mate of their Alpha, but... how can I be recognized if even Calix doesn't take my existence seriously?" Ruella's heart whispered to herself, trying to ignore the words that were like thorns that slowly crept into her skin.
"Calix... I-" she said softly.
"Come here," Alpha Calix's voice suddenly appeared closer. Ruella raised her face, and her heart nearly fell out. Calix was already standing beside his horse, looking at her with no expression.
"W-what?" muttered Ruella, not sure whether she had heard him correctly.
"Ride with me," Calix repeated. "We don't have a spare wheel, so you'll be riding with me. Unless you want to walk at least till we get to the first village."
Ruella's mouth opened slightly, gaping, then turned into a wide smile that she could hardly contain.
"If you don't-"
"Hey... Don't need to be angry like that, of course, I want to ride with you," she said with excitement. "Let's go!"
Then she turned to Claire with shining eyes.
"Uh, wait!" Ruella held Calix's arm, then continued to say, "What about Claire? Who is she going with?"
Claire smiled because Ruella cared about her, but she was also worried about Ruella being alone on the horse with Calix. Claire thought Alpha Calix was cruel enough to throw Ruella off the horse or harm her in some other way.
Calix turned around. "There is still a coachman that was coming with you, that servant of yours will ride the horse that pulled your carriage before."
Ruella nodded in understanding.
"We don't have time, come quickly." Calix commanded.
Ruella hurried over, looking at Calix, who had no clue why she was looking at him.
"What?" Calix raised one of his eyebrows.
"I need your help, my foot doesn't reach the stirrup." Ruella stretched out her hand, asking for help.
Calix half-heartedly gave his shoulder for Ruella to use as a fulcrum for her weight. However, she miscalculated, and the dress she was wearing got caught on the saddle, causing her body to be pulled backwards and causing her to lose her balance.
"No!"
Calix's eyes bulged, and he swiftly held Ruella's body from hitting the ground.
Ruella was stunned, her eyes closed tightly in preparation for the pain. But after so many seconds, her body was still floating thanks to Calix.
Their gazes met, locking onto each other for a few moments with Calix still holding Ruella's body in his arms.
"Her eyes..." Calix immediately blinked, realized, and immediately helped Ruella stand up.
"Sorry, I forgot to tidy up my dress so it wouldn't get caught," Ruella said as she busily folded her dress so it wouldn't get too fluffy.
As for Calix, his mind went out of zone after realizing that Ruella had beautiful blue eyes, just like his favorite color.
"I thought the color blue was only suitable for the sky and the sea… It turns out that the color still looks beautiful under the protection of someone's eyelids..." Calix thought.
"Well, now I'm ready. Give me your shoulder again," said Ruella.
Calix was still busy with his thoughts.
Ruella frowned in astonishment, then flicked her finger in front of Calix's face, and it worked, the man snapped out of his reverie.
"Are you okay? Is something bothering you?" Ruella asked.
"Stop talking and come closer."
Ruella approached with a palpitating feeling.
"Let me," and then with one lift, Ruella was already sitting on the horse. She forgot to blink in surprise. "We'll run out of time just waiting for you to make it onto the horse." Calix said.
"Sorry," Ruella smiled, even though Calix sounded rude, but still she was happy that they would be riding together. She would be close to Calix for a long time. Imagining those muscular arms wrapped around her body sitting in the front made Ruella excited.
The warriors began to prepare, mounting their respective horses. However, not all accepted the decision happily, one of them was Beta Orion, a brother who was disappointed that his sister failed to become Luna for their pack.
Beta Orion soon caught up with Calix with long strides and an unhappy look on his face.
"Calix, wait!" he half snapped, not even addressing him as Alpha. "Are you sure about this formation?"
Calix, who was about to mount the horse, turned his head. "What are you talking about?"
"Bringing her, the enemy, so close to you, even letting her ride the horse with you? This is crazy." Orion gave him a sharp look, pointing his finger at Ruella every time the word enemy was thrown around.
"Hey, sir, that's rude." Ruella lowered Orion's point, irritating him even more.
Calix sighed heavily, "You, you stay still, don't move much if you don't want my horse to throw you to the ground."
Ruella nodded, "I understand. Thank you for worrying about me."
"What a freak." Then Calix led Orion a little distance away.
Orion didn't even try to hide his annoyance.
"You think I'm doing this because I like it?" Calix raised an eyebrow, speaking with a lower voice. "I have to keep an eye on her. If I let her be with others, who knows if she'll dig up information on our warriors? We still don't know what kind of abilities that girl has that she would dare to come without any guards at all."
Orion sighed. "Then let me keep an eye on her. I can accompany her on horseback."
Calix shook his head. "No, I have to watch her myself."
Before Orion could reply, Calix was already walking away, taking his place on his horse. Ruella jumped slightly but quickly adjusted herself, finding a position that was as comfortable as possible.
Ruella glanced back with difficulty. "You-x
"Hold on tight. I won't slow down just because of you." Calix said briefly.
"We're so close, I can almost feel your heartbeat on my back. It's so thrilling, I'm so nervous. Do you feel the way I do, Cal?"
Calix didn't give any answer, he just focused on the road ahead.