Chapter 43 You're Beautiful

Chapter 43 You're Beautiful
It was a beautiful night, in fact it was too beautiful, that Ruella felt as if it were mocking her. She longed for a downpour and a storm to wash away her sorrow, so she would not feel so pitiful.

Ruella sat on the edge of the bed. Her hand repeatedly wiped away the tears that would not stop flowing, her cheeks remained wet. She gazed out the window at the brightly shining moon, as if seeking solace from something, whatever that might be.

"I’m tired…" she murmured softly, her voice nearly lost in the silence of the night.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. But her chest felt tight. Everything she had been holding back, the fear, the anxiety, the insecurity, all of it finally poured out uncontrollably through her tears.

"I’ve tried so hard… why is it still like this…" she whispered. "And strangely, I still want to live. I still have faith that one day I will be able to see a beautiful world… A world where I can live without feeling threatened."

Her sobs broke out again. Her shoulders shook, and this time she did not try to hold them back. No one was watching. No one would judge. She could cry her heart out in that spacious room.

Knock. Knock.

Ruella startled. She hurriedly wiped her face, wiping away the tears with the back of her hand.

"It must be Claire," she murmured softly. "Come in!" she said, inviting her in with a hoarse voice.

Ruella tried to stop her crying, then turned around. "What’s wrong-"

She froze.

"Calix…?"

Calix walked closer, his expression calm as usual, but his eyes clearly studied Ruella’s face, still wet with the remnants of her tears.

"Cal… Cal, what’s going on? I’m sorry… I thought it was Claire who came."

"I’m sorry," Calix said softly. "I’ve disturbed you."

Ruella was still a little startled, but finally gave a small nod. "It’s okay… I wasn’t asleep yet anyway."

Calix glanced toward the balcony, whose glass door was wide open, letting the night breeze in and causing the curtains to flutter loose from their ties.

"Can I join you?" he asked.

Ruella nodded. "Of course, please."

They sat on the edge of the bed. The distance between them was not too close, but close enough to make the atmosphere feel different. Ruella wiped away the last of her tears, trying to calm down so she could respond to whatever Calix was about to say.

"I-is there something you want to talk about?" Ruella asked, curious. "This is the first time you have come to visit my bedroom, there must be something important."

Calix paused for a moment before finally answering, "I want to apologize."

Ruella turned her head slightly, looking at him. "Is that all?"

"That’s something important," Calix said. "I’m apologizing for what happened in the dining room earlier," Calix continued.

Ruella did not answer right away. She just sat silently, staring at the floor. "It’s okay, you did not know what happened to me at the frostfang. I’m sorry I yelled at you earlier."

Calix took a slow breath. "Ignorance can also be a mistake. I should have been more sensitive and understood your situation better."

Ruella gave a faint smile, though her eyes were still red. "It’s okay."

Calix looked at her, as if to make sure.

"I’m serious, it’s okay. I forgive you, Cal," said Ruella.

To be honest, Ruella had not expected Calix to come see her to apologize. It was truly refreshing. Calix did not wait until tomorrow and come immediately, even though he knew there was a chance Ruella was already asleep.

"Thank goodness for that," Calix seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"But…" Ruella continued, her voice firmer now, "I don’t want something like that to happen again. The kidnapping wasn’t Rubina’s fault, but the way she keeps trying to corner me, I don’t like that."

Calix nodded slightly in understanding. "I understand. I’ll talk to her. Rubina truly regrets it. She cried for quite a while after you left the dining room earlier."

Ruella stared straight ahead. "If it happens again… I’ll report it to Alpha Yuto, my father from the Bluemoon Pack."

There was a moment of silence.

Calix was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I understand."

There was no hint of defiance or offense. Calix looked as calm as ever.

Ruella glanced at him briefly, then turned her gaze back to the moon. Deep down, she knew the threat was just an empty one. She didn’t really have the power to pressure anyone.

"Why is this? Why did he just nod like that? Did my threat work? I hope so. If he found out the truth about me, that even my own family doesn’t care about me, I’d be finished. Calix would surely banish me without hesitation, since getting rid of me wouldn’t actually spark a war between those two major packs." Ruella thought, feeling anxious.

She bit her lip gently, hoping Calix was still swayed by her threat and didn’t suspect the old scar on her back.

The conversation paused briefly, until Calix spoke again.

"About what happened in the forest..." he said.

Ruella turned to look at him again.

"That telepathy," Calix continued. "I still don’t understand why it happened. I still haven’t found the answer."

Ruella remained silent, waiting.

"Usually... it only happens once a mate has been marked," he added. "And I haven’t done that to you yet."

Ruella gave a small smile. "Maybe... our bond is strong enough that even the moon goddess brought our telepathy together early so you could find me, so you would arrive just in time before I died in that cave." She spoke, considering the possibility.

Calix chuckled softly. "What bond? We fight more often than we have calm conversations like this."

Calix looked out at the same moon.

"Why do you believe in that ritual?" Calix asked suddenly.

Ruella frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, falling in love should happen naturally, through natural encounters," Calix explained.

"That ritual just brings us together, Cal, the love itself still grows naturally," said Ruella. "I’m not wrong, am I?"

"Still, a ritual like that isn’t valid. What if the ritual is inaccurate or completely wrong? That... that would bring ruin to a relationship down the line," said Calix, his thoughts drifting to the moment his mother disappeared, choosing to leave with another man.

Ruella fell silent for a moment, then gave a faint smile. "If there were no rituals... we would never have met. In fact, some might never meet their mate either, because their mate might come from another pack, a hostile pack, just like ours."

Calix turned to look at her.

"We come from different packs," Ruella continued. "And it’s not just that we’re different, we’re enemies. The chances of us meeting are so small. Even with a peace treaty, the chance of meeting naturally is small, Cal."

Calix let out a soft sigh. "We could have met at a gathering."

"We could have," Ruella replied. "But I don't think so, I can assure you of that."

"Why?"

Ruella shook her head slowly. "Nothing, just forget it."

Ruella wasn’t even allowed to meet important guests and was always kept hidden, so it was impossible for her to roam around at a gathering with another pack.

Ruella looked at him again. "But we’ve already met, haven’t we? Through that ritual."

Calix didn’t answer.

"And that telepathy..." Ruella continued, "that wasn’t a coincidence. If we weren’t mates, it wouldn’t have happened, we would never have been able to connect."

Calix looked at her longer than before. Moonlight fell on Ruella’s face, making her expression look softer and more beautiful.

Beautiful?

Calix immediately looked away and reminded himself to stay focused on approaching Ruella and finding out her true intentions.

Ruella noticed this. “Why are you staring at me like that? Am I ugly?”

“No, you’re beautiful,” Calix replied quickly, without thinking.

Ruella smiled, her heart warming.