The Prophecy of the Red Wolf [WattpadPrize14]

Chapter 26

“Hey Cal.. It’s three in the morning. What you doing up?” Blake’s voice startles me and jolts me out of my reverie. I must be pretty out of it to have not heard Blake shuffling across the sitting room where I’m currently sprawled over the lush sofa.

 Fidgeting with the box in my hand, I find my tongue too heavy to respond.

 “Couldn’t sleep?” Blake asks as he flops down beside me, squirming to get comfortable between the mountain of soft pillows.

 Again, I couldn’t get myself to respond so I merely nod.

 “Ari asleep?” Blake murmurs in question and I nod again.

 Gesturing to the box in my hand, Blake murmurs again. “Is that the ring?”

 My hands still for a moment before resuming to twirl the box around and I nod for the third time.

 “Mind if I see it?” Blake holds out his palm to me.

 I hesitate for a moment before dropping the box into Blake’s open palm.

 I watch as Blake’s fingers deftly pry open the box and stare at the pink brilliant cut diamond set into a slim, plain rose gold band.

 Blake emits a low whistle and lifts the box higher to glint in the moonlight.

 “Whoa… This looks like it’s at least 5 carats.”

 “Actually, it’s 5.15 carats.” I reply, my voice husky from the lack of speech.

 “Damn! I only got Reiko a 2 carat…” Blake muses as he tilts the ring around to catch the sparkle from the moonlight.

 I shrug. “Reiko’s petite… Arianna’s not. It’s just a matter of proportions.”

 Blake gives the ring another long admiring look before snapping it shut and pressing it back into my palms.

 “Got everything prepared for the big proposal?” Blake asks, stretching his arms behind his head.

 “Yeah… Mom’s helping me with setting up the venue and the food. I’ve also spoken to Trevor about it. I wanted to do it the right way, you know…”

 “So then what’s keeping you up, Cal? I assume it’s not the proposal if you’ve got everything covered.” Blake asks, slightly turning his body to me.

 I look down at the box in my hand and I exhale deeply.

 “No…no.. It’s not the proposal I’m worried about.” I say quietly.

 “It’s just… With everything that’s going on, I’m worried for her safety. There’s been fights every month for the past five months. I just can’t help but worry that…” I trail off, unwilling to put my fears into words.

 “You worry that it’s all tied to Arianna being the prophesized red wolf? Hey… She’s got Michelle and TOP and there’s you and Nate too. She’ll be safe. Besides, the Council has reported that they’re just border disputes.” Blake tries to reassure me.

 I shake my head. “Do you honestly believe that? I mean, one or two is probable but four in the last five months? Hell, we hardly hear about one a year! The most we’ve got are one every TWO years! And even then, there are barely any casualties. Heavily injured, yes. But deaths and in the dozens? Come on, Blake.” I turn completely to face him, hoping to drive my point across.

 I watch as a crease slowly forms between Blake’s brows. “Well, I do suppose the fights have increased dramatically in frequency… Do you really think there’s something going on?”